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Category: Universities

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Moscow schoolchildren and college students staged 745 performances last academic year

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    The number of children’s and youth theaters in Moscow has grown by almost 10 percent compared to the previous academic year. Currently, more than 780 groups work in the capital’s schools, colleges, and centers for additional education. This was reported on World Theater Day Anastasia Rakova, Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Social Development.

    “We try to create as many ways as possible for the comprehensive development of children, paying special attention to the creative direction. Theater is not only art, but also an opportunity to develop flexibility of thinking, concentration, imagination and communication skills. Therefore, theater workshops are organized on the basis of the capital’s schools, colleges and centers of additional education, where children, under the guidance of famous directors and actors, participate in master classes and master stage professions. Two years ago, we launched a large-scale project “Commonwealth of School Theaters”, which has already united more than 22 thousand young artists. In the 2023/2024 academic year, the children staged 745 performances and held 1.5 thousand shows,” said Anastasia Rakova.

    According to her, within the framework of the festival “Live Stage” young Muscovites performed at prestigious professional venues. These are the stages of the Boris Shchukin Theatre Institute, the Children’s Musical Theatre of the Young Actor, the Moscow New Drama Theatre, the theatre and concert hall “Palace on the Yauza” and the culture and arts centre “Shchukino”.

    The repertoire of children’s and youth theaters includes both modern original productions adapted for teenagers and classical works. It is important that the capital’s schoolchildren and college students have a unique opportunity to study with recognized masters, including Vladimir Mashkov, Evgeny Knyazev and others.

    At the same time, children not only master acting skills, but also try to create scenery, work with different types of puppets and plastic arts. There are more than 20 puppet theaters in Moscow educational institutions.

    In addition, children’s and youth theaters stage performances in foreign languages. They can be organized both in schools with a special language focus and in regular schools.

    A landmark event for young artists of the Commonwealth is the Moscow Theatre Festival-Competition of School Theatres “Live Stage”. In the 2023/2024 academic year, more than 500 creative groups took part in it. Schoolchildren and college students presented 30 dramatic and musical productions, which were watched by about seven thousand spectators.

    The project “Theatre Backstage” is popular among students. More than 700 children and 100 teachers have already visited the backstage of the Moscow Oleg Tabakov Theatre School, the Museum of the Moscow Art Academic Theatre named after Maxim Gorky and the Puppet Theatre named after S.V. Obraztsov, where they got acquainted with the work of makeup artists, costume designers, sound engineers and other theatre specialists.

    Special conditions have also been created for the professional growth of teachers. The Moscow Workshop of Theatre Pedagogy club was organized for the heads of school theatres. At meetings with cultural figures, they discuss the repertoire, methods of working with young actors and the specifics of the staging process. In 2024, the first enrollment was opened for the master’s program at the Moscow City Pedagogical University in the specialty of “school theatre teacher”. Students study the psychology of creativity, acting, directing and other disciplines under the guidance of experienced practitioners.

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

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

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/151848073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Voice of America took jazz behind the Iron Curtain. Now, its demise signals the end of US soft power

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ben Hammond, PhD Student, Flinders University

    Since taking office in January, the Trump administration has adopted a heavy-handed approach to cutting any perceived wasteful spending in the US government.

    One of the more recent institutions targeted by Trump’s team, Voice of America, holds a potentially staggering implication: the end of American soft power.

    Soft power earned the US government a significant amount of goodwill over the course of the 20th century, with Voice of America one of the most effective conduits. Taking VOA off the airwaves could signify a new era in geopolitics.

    A short history of Voice of America

    The Voice of America (VOA) has been in operation for over 80 years and was one of the first major campaigns conducted by the American government to promote positive sentiments towards the US as a leader of the free world.

    The government-funded radio station began as a method of keeping US troops informed during the Second World War and was administered by the Office of War Information.

    After WWII, Congress passed the Smith-Mundt Act of 1948, which aimed to promote a “better understanding” of the US around the world and to “strengthen cooperative international relations”.

    This act put the VOA under the domain of the United States Information Agency (USIA). It became one of the US government’s many assets in combating Soviet propaganda during the Cold War.

    The VOA was essentially a method of generating soft power, an invaluable tool in international diplomacy made famous by the American political scientist, Joesph Nye.

    As Nye believed, a nation can use military intervention (“hard power”) to achieve its foreign policy aims, or it can create familiarity with other nations by promoting its culture, educational institutions and ideology (“soft power”).

    During the Cold War, VOA broadcasts were an invaluable method of cultivating soft power. People all over the world relied on them as a source of news and commentary, especially in countries where the media was state-controlled.

    Additionally, Voice of America effectively became an advertisement for the American way of life. The Music USA program, for instance, took Western popular culture to a global audience. This was especially effective in the Eastern Bloc, where jazz, in particular, became incredibly popular.

    Voice of America and the other US-funded radio stations operating during the Cold War, such as Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, had their share of critics. The majority came from the Eastern Bloc. Some, however, were American.

    In the 1970s, Senator William J. Fulbright, for instance, maintained that radio broadcasts such as VOA hindered diplomacy with the Soviet Union by disseminating American propaganda. He called them “Cold War relics”.

    They were not mere propaganda mouthpieces, though. Although these stations and many of the other radio outlets under the control of the United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM) were funded by the American government, they demonstrated a reliance on journalistic integrity.

    The VOA has also not shied away from reporting on negative aspects of American society. This is likely one reason why Trump has been so critical of its mandate.

    The end of US soft power?

    The short-term implications of Voice of America’s potential demise are worrying. Many journalists are out of work and a respected institution promoting international diplomacy hangs in the balance.

    The long-term geopolitical implications, however, could be far greater. First, Voice of America and other stations managed by USAGM have long provided an alternative to state-run media in countries such as Russia and China.

    Outlets like Russia’s Sputnik news organisation, which was recently removed from the airwaves in Washington for promoting antisemitic content and misinformation about the war in Ukraine, will now face fewer challenges reaching a global audience.

    Taking VOA off the air also signals the Trump administration is done with soft power as a diplomatic tool and has little regard for the harm this will cause America’s reputation on the global stage.

    If the US abandons the principles of appealing to other governments through soft power, it could resort to other means to achieve its geopolitical aims. This includes hard power.

    One soft power advocate, General James Mattis, told Congress in 2013 when he was overseeing US military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, “If you don’t fund the State Department fully, then I need to buy more ammunition ultimately.”

    The Trump administration’s rejection of soft power as a diplomatic tool could also allow China, in particular, to take its place.

    As Nye himself pointed out in a recent Washington Post essay, polling in 24 countries in 2023 found the US was viewed much more positively than China. Another survey showed the US had the advantage over China in 81 of 133 countries surveyed.

    Nye concluded: “If Trump thinks he will easily beat China by completely forgoing soft power, he is likely to be disappointed. And so will we.”

    Ben Hammond has received funding from the Harry S. Truman Foundation and the Dwight D. Eisenhower foundation.

    – ref. Voice of America took jazz behind the Iron Curtain. Now, its demise signals the end of US soft power – https://theconversation.com/voice-of-america-took-jazz-behind-the-iron-curtain-now-its-demise-signals-the-end-of-us-soft-power-252898

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: High-level dialogues held during Boao Forum for Asia

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

    High-level dialogues held during Boao Forum for Asia

    Updated: March 27, 2025 13:45 Xinhua
    A high-level dialogue themed on “Building Trust in the Shifting Global Landscape” is held during the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 in Boao, south China’s Hainan Province, March 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Jeffrey D. Sachs, professor of Columbia University, speaks at a high-level dialogue themed on “Building Trust in the Shifting Global Landscape” during the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 in Boao, south China’s Hainan Province, March 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Portugal’s Minister of State and Foreign Affairs Paulo Rangel speaks at a high-level dialogue themed on “Building Trust in the Shifting Global Landscape” during the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 in Boao, south China’s Hainan Province, March 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Ban Ki-moon, chairman of Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) and former secretary-general of the United Nations, speaks at a high-level dialogue themed on “Global Governance after the UN Summit of the Future” during the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 in Boao, south China’s Hainan Province, March 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Maurizio Massari, permanent representative of Italy to the United Nations, speaks at a high-level dialogue themed on “Global Governance after the UN Summit of the Future” during the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 in Boao, south China’s Hainan Province, March 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A high-level dialogue themed on “Global Governance after the UN Summit of the Future” is held during the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 in Boao, south China’s Hainan Province, March 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A high-level dialogue themed on “Global Governance after the UN Summit of the Future” is held during the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 in Boao, south China’s Hainan Province, March 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Volkan Bozkir, president of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly, speaks at a high-level dialogue themed on “Global Governance after the UN Summit of the Future” during the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 in Boao, south China’s Hainan Province, March 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong speaks at a high-level dialogue themed on “Global Governance after the UN Summit of the Future” during the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 in Boao, south China’s Hainan Province, March 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Danilo Turk, former Slovenian president and president of the World Leadership Alliance Club de Madrid, speaks at a high-level dialogue themed on “Global Governance after the UN Summit of the Future” during the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 in Boao, south China’s Hainan Province, March 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Wang Huiyao, founder and president of Center for China and Globalization (CCG), speaks at a high-level dialogue themed on “Global Governance after the UN Summit of the Future” during the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 in Boao, south China’s Hainan Province, March 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Munir Akram, permanent representative of Pakistan to the United Nations, speaks at a high-level dialogue themed on “Global Governance after the UN Summit of the Future” during the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 in Boao, south China’s Hainan Province, March 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Liu Zhenmin, China’s special envoy for climate change, speaks at a high-level dialogue themed on “Achieving Sustainable Development in a Transforming World” during the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 in Boao, south China’s Hainan Province, March 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Andrew Forrest, executive chairman and founder of Fortescue Metals Group, speaks at a high-level dialogue themed on “Achieving Sustainable Development in a Transforming World” during the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 in Boao, south China’s Hainan Province, March 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    CEO of Astra Zeneca Pascal Soriot speaks at a high-level dialogue themed on “Achieving Sustainable Development in a Transforming World” during the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 in Boao, south China’s Hainan Province, March 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A high-level dialogue themed on “Achieving Sustainable Development in a Transforming World” is held during the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 in Boao, south China’s Hainan Province, March 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Not just the stadium: what Brisbane Olympic organisers are planning for

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By H. Björn Galjaardt, PhD Candidate, The University of Queensland

    Brisbane was awarded the Olympics and Paralympics more than 1,300 days ago, and much has happened in between.

    On Tuesday, upbeat Queensland premier David Crisafulli revealed the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games plan.

    This came after a 100-day review by the Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority (GIICA).

    More than 5,000 submissions were received from the general public. The review included topics such as precincts and transport systems, while evaluating topics such as demand and affordability.

    So, what’s going to be happening in Queensland before, during and after the games?

    The main event: venues

    Get ready for the likes of Taylor Swift, Pink, Coldplay and others to finally come to Brisbane with the announcement of a new world-class 63,000 seat Olympic Stadium to be built in Victoria Park in Brisbane.

    All indications are major codes, such as the Australian Football League (AFL) and cricket, are also very pleased, as they will have a new home replacing the outdated Gabba.

    Other venues, both in South East Queensland and in regional areas such as the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Cairns and Townsville, were also outlined.

    One of these is a new 25,000-seat swimming complex at Spring Hill, making it one of the world’s best facilities.

    As Australia is a swimming powerhouse with major medal hauls expected in 2032, this news was well received.

    However, a few of the GIICA recommendations were not accepted. The government has announced rowing will take place in Rockhampton – and not interstate – in an existing flat water venue.

    Why the delays?

    There had been plenty of criticism of the decision-making delays on facilities and their locations. But the Queensland government’s 2032 Games Delivery Plan indicates there is no need to panic.

    Previously, the International Olympic Committee chose a host city seven years out, but under new protocols, Los Angeles in 2028 and Brisbane in 2032 have been given 11 years to finalise planning.

    Previous Australian games (Melbourne in 1956 and Sydney in 2000) only had seven years to organise their events.

    In the case of Melbourne, several controversies erupted due to the costs of building a new stadium at proposed sites such as the Royal Showgrounds or Princes Park.

    Eventually, politics and economics intervened, and a refurbished Melbourne Cricket Ground within an impressive Olympic Park precinct was agreed on.

    In the case of Sydney, the original idea back in the 1960s was to host either the Commonwealth Games or the Olympic Games at Moore Park, an inner-city region home to the Sydney Cricket Ground, a golf course and parklands.

    But many local residents were vehemently opposed to that suggestion, so other sites were sought.

    Eventually, the uninhabited Homebush site was chosen in 1973. This was an unexpected decision because it was the most polluted environment in Australia and its remediation, however noble, would be an enormous challenge.

    And so it proved.

    When Sydney was awarded the games in 1993, timeline pressures prompted organisers to bulldoze toxic waste into mounds on site, where they were covered with clay and landscaped.

    Meanwhile, the promised remediation of toxic waterways in Homebush Bay never proceeded.

    All that said, the Sydney games provided tangible legacies. The Olympic Village is now the suburb of Newington, there are parklands and cycle paths for visitors, and from a sport perspective several facilities remain in use today. In 2024, more than 10 million people visited the Sydney Olympic Park precinct, attending sport, concerts, or participating in social activities.

    Opportunities and hurdles

    The initial hiccups associated with the Brisbane games have resulted in some interesting and healthy debate, but this major project now has a positive vibe.

    There is more than enough time to build the new facilities (including the athletes’ villages), upgrade existing ones, build the necessary transport infrastructure, and ensure community engagement.

    The “Queensland way” seems not only to be referring to a better games, but also the legacy that comes with it.

    Generational infrastructure (for example, the upgrade of transport connectivity), housing (such as the conversion of the RNA Showgrounds and a multimillion dollar investment into grassroots clubs can enable the next generations of Queenslanders to compete.

    Tourism and regionalisation of the games through a 20-year plan should ensure the impact of the games goes far beyond 2032.

    Some fine-tuning is expected the next few years though, and there may be unforeseen issues that arise – here are some.

    1. Beyond the 31 core sports that must feature, will new sports necessitate changes or additions to proposed venues? Host cities are now allowed to have 4-5 sports added to the program which could cause increases to the budget.

    2. Will the federal government fund the games on the currently agreed 50-50 basis with the Queensland government? This currently sits at around $7 billion split two ways, but it is likely to rise based on cost over-runs on virtually all major builds across Australia.

    3. Will there be some tweaking of chosen venues due to local issues, lobbying by Olympic sports, political decisions and other factors?

    4. Will a global health issue (such as COVID during the Tokyo 2021 games) or a major world problem (such as the current Gaza or Ukraine conflicts) impact the games in some way?

    The Brisbane games are following the footsteps of Melbourne 1956 (affectionately referred to as the “friendly games”) and Sydney 2000 (the “best games ever”).

    The eventual Brisbane label has yet to be determined. But the Brisbane games will no doubt add to the Olympic folklore of Australia in their own unique way.

    Björn is a PhD Candidate in Olympic Coaches’ Learning at the University of Queensland and a casual academic in Sports Coaching subjects.

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

    – ref. Not just the stadium: what Brisbane Olympic organisers are planning for – https://theconversation.com/not-just-the-stadium-what-brisbane-olympic-organisers-are-planning-for-251247

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Alone Australia is back. An expert explains what happens to your body and mind when you’re starving

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Therese O’Sullivan, Associate Professor in Nutrition and Dietetics, Edith Cowan University

    SBS Publicity

    Alone Australia is back this week for a third season on SBS. And its ten contestants are learning what it means to be really hungry.

    They’ve been dropped alone into separate areas of the Tasmanian wilderness to film their experiences of the elements, isolation and hunger. The person who lasts the longest wins the A$250,000 prize.

    The contestants are trying various methods to find food. But not everyone’s had success in fishing, trapping and foraging. And the effects on their bodies and minds are already evident.

    Here’s what happens when hunger and starvation kick in.

    Shelter, water, food

    After shelter and water, food is a main concern for long-term survival – not just for Alone Australia contestants.

    Many of us are familiar with the feeling of hunger – discomfort caused by a lack of food. Hunger is a complex process that involves regulation of blood glucose levels and release of hormones that control appetite and how full you feel. For instance, when we are hungry, the stomach produces the hormone ghrelin, telling us it’s time to eat.

    Starvation is a much more serious state. It’s a long period without enough food that results in severe disruption to how the body normally works.

    A healthy person may be able to survive without food for around one to two months. However, the length of time is likely to be affected by many factors including age, sex, fitness, health, sleep and access to clean drinking water.

    Last year’s winner of Alone Australia made it to 64 days, much of it without enough food.

    But even successful survivalists can struggle to find and eat enough food to meet their requirements. One previous contestant lost as much as 11 kilograms over eight days.

    Hunger is already an issue for contestants, most of whom are struggling to find food.

    What happens if you don’t have enough food?

    A lack of food doesn’t just affect your body size. It also affects the way your body functions. People can experience extreme tiredness, have trouble remembering recent events, and feel colder due to a drop in body temperature.

    Prolonged starvation can also have psychological impacts and affect the way you think, reason and make decisions.

    We have some clues from a study that would be unethical to reproduce today.

    The Minnesota Starvation Experiment started in 1944 to examine the effects of starvation on the body. The idea was to replicate the degree of starvation experienced in areas of Europe during world war two.

    Thirty-six healthy young men who were conscientious objectors to war service volunteered to undergo a six-month semi-starvation phase where their calorie intake was halved, followed by a three-month rehabilitation.

    Data showed they lost an average of one-quarter of their body weight (including a reduced heart mass).

    But other impacts included depression, fatigue and irritability. One participant said:

    little things that wouldn’t bother me before or after would really make me upset.

    Participants had difficulty concentrating, and their attitudes towards food changed dramatically. They had constant thoughts about food, hoarded food and even started collecting cookbooks. Many of these attitudes and behaviours lasted even after rehabilitation back to a normal diet.

    Yes, feeling ‘hangry’ is real

    Most Australians will be fortunate to never experience the same levels of starvation as in the Minnesota experiment or in Alone Australia.

    But even skipping a meal can have an impact on our wellbeing. We become
    “hangry” – when hunger leads us to be irritable or angry.

    A study of 64 participants from Europe tracked their hunger and emotions over 21 days. The more hungry the participants were, the more hangry they felt and the more unpleasant feelings they reported (for example, feeling depressed or stressed versus feeling relaxed or excited).

    When people are hungry, they are also more likely to have intrusive, mind-wandering thoughts.

    In a complex reading and comprehension task, the minds of people who hadn’t eaten for five hours wandered more than the minds of people who had eaten recently. Those who were hungry also performed worse on the task.

    So in Alone Australia, it’s easy to see how hunger can lead people to lose focus on what they’re doing, and their minds wandering. Rather than focusing on the best spot to go fishing, contestants’ minds can wander to feelings of self-doubt.

    Muzza from Victoria caught some fish early on. But will his success continue?
    Credit Narelle Portanier/SBS

    Hunger also affects decision making

    Feeling hungry also affects how you make rational decisions, but there’s conflicting evidence.

    Hungry people are more likely to make impulsive decisions about food. In Alone Australia, this might result in a decision to eat fish raw rather than cooking it first, a more hazardous choice due to an increased risk of infection from parasites.

    However, hungry people can show better judgement when making complex decisions with uncertain outcomes – like a gambling task. So being mildly hungry (in this study, overnight fasting) might sharpen your survival instincts. In Alone Australia, hungrier contestants may make better decisions around where to place hunting traps.

    But hunger’s effect on decision making is likely to depend on the context. It may make people more impulsive in some situations, but more strategic and willing to take risks in others.

    For the contestants in Alone Australia, some risk taking will be required to secure an ongoing food supply. This will be crucial to successfully surviving in the Tasmanian wilderness.

    Therese O’Sullivan 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. Alone Australia is back. An expert explains what happens to your body and mind when you’re starving – https://theconversation.com/alone-australia-is-back-an-expert-explains-what-happens-to-your-body-and-mind-when-youre-starving-249937

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: St. Petersburg State University Graduates Discuss Marketing and PR Trends | Saint Petersburg State University

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Saint Petersburg State University – Saint Petersburg State University –

    Such meetings, as noted by Kamilla Nigmatullina, Head of the Department of Digital Media Communications at St. Petersburg State University, create a unique space for strengthening ties within the university community. Here, former students can not only talk about their professional path and demonstrate their achievements, but also participate in planning future projects, enriching themselves with the experience of their colleagues.

    The SPbU professor emphasized that maintaining close contact with graduates is a strategically important process. Two-way communication allows the academic environment to quickly respond to the challenges of the real sector, and university students to use the resources of the educational organization for professional development, achieving career heights and increasing competitiveness as specialists.

    “One of the tasks of St. Petersburg University is to create a space for alumni networking, since each of them is an integral part of a huge community united by the common values of university culture,” said Kamilla Renatovna, adding that the event’s program is structured in such a way as to provide participants with both the theoretical foundation and the practical tools necessary for the successful realization of their professional potential.

    St. Petersburg State University graduates can joinprofessional chat to exchange vacancies and experience in implementing their own projects.

    During the conference, graduates of various educational programs shared the results of their analysis of practical cases. VK UX researcher Polina Vanevskaya explained the differences between marketing and product research, revealing the specifics of each area. She also highlighted the strengths and weaknesses of the approaches, allowing you to optimize the decision-making process when choosing a work methodology. “Research for business is trending today. However, the key is choosing a relevant approach that will best meet the goals set, including studying customer (CX) and user (UX) experience,” the graduate said.

    Noting the practice-oriented format of the event, Tatyana Kolesnikova, Head of Marketing at Smartlight, shared recommendations for developing a personal brand in social networks. She argued for the growing importance of social capital for career growth and focused on the key features of creating an effective digital resume, noting that it is becoming not just an addition to a traditional portfolio, but a full-fledged alternative to it.

    The trend towards using social networks as a means of self-presentation is driven by three factors: expanding a professional network of contacts, creating a unique personal image, and establishing a direct link between the level of personal brand development and income level.

    Head of Marketing Department of Smartlight Tatyana Kolesnikova

    Editor-in-chief of the content marketing agency Palindrom Ekaterina Bezruchko revealed the secrets of successful regulation of creative copywriting and SEO optimization, explaining the algorithms for creating headlines that attract both readers and search engines. As part of her presentation, she analyzed the existing project “Datebook”, highlighting the principles of forming key positions and methods for integrating original elements into SEO-oriented content, and also gave practical advice on implementing similar strategies in other brand media.

    Anastasia Zubova, Product Marketing Manager (PMM) of ADAS at Atom, spoke about the role of a project management specialist in optimizing processes that link advanced technological solutions with the needs of the target audience. She presented an analysis of the mechanisms by which PMM ensures synergy between innovative technologies and market demand and accelerates the commercialization of products. According to the expert, in order to ensure the competitiveness of production, it is important to constantly interact with end users to identify their hidden needs.

    Senior Blogger Manager Anna Grakhova, based on eight years of experience and cases of successful advertising campaigns, described adaptive strategies for cooperation with media people in the conditions of the modern advertising environment. She reported on the current state of the online content market, taking into account the impact of new legislation, and proposed long-term solutions for planning and evaluating the effectiveness of marketing projects. As a key argument, she put forward the assumption that the distribution of investments between several medium-sized bloggers is more profitable than concentrating on one popular one.

    At the end of the event, the Head of the Alumni Relations Department of St. Petersburg University, Maria Edinova, noted the high level of involvement of the participants and expressed confidence that the conference would become a starting point for new partnerships and initiatives. “Creating a platform for communication between graduates of different years contributes to the formation of a strong professional community, where everyone can find support, advice and new opportunities for development. We strive to create an ecosystem where graduates feel their involvement in the University and actively participate in its life, benefiting themselves and their alma mater,” she emphasized.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Universities – AI leads to breakthrough in knee surgery – UoA

    Source: University of Auckland (UoA)

    A combination of robotic surgery and AI has facilitated to a breakthrough in knee-replacement surgery, which a study shows gets better results for patients with bowed legs.

    Patients whose legs are naturally curved are responding well to a novel form of knee-replacement surgery that uses AI to find the best alignment of the new components for their body.

    Research published in full today, 27 March, involved patients randomised to receive either conventional knee-replacement surgery or the new ‘functionally aligned’ knee surgery.
    “The results are positive for patients whose legs are naturally bowed,” says lead author Associate Professor Simon Young of Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland. See Journal of Arthroplasty.

    Young is also an orthopaedic surgeon at Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora Waitemata. He operates at the Elective Surgery Centre that is part of Auckland’s North Shore hospital campus, where they started using a robot for the knee operations in 2017, allowing greater accuracy.

    Traditionally, knee-replacement surgery is not universally successful, with around one in five patients not fully satisfied with their knee following the procedure. There are number of factors that may contribute but one reason could be because they had naturally bowed legs.

    Young saw the potential to use the surgical robot  to compare imaging of the patient’s knee with thousands of possible options for placement of the replacement knee, allowing the surgeon to select the best match for that person’s natural knee alignment.

    Conventional surgery puts the knee on straight, whereas the patient’s knee may have never been perfectly aligned with the leg bones to begin with.

    “We developed an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm to use with the robot to help surgeons position the knee components in a way that better matches each patient’s natural anatomy,” says Young, an associate professor in the University’s Department of Orthopaedics.

    Around thirty percent of the population have bowed legs either naturally or because of conditions such as arthritis, which cause the knees to wear out, Young says.

    “If you look around on a football pitch, you will see a lot of people who are young, fit, and healthy, who have naturally quite bowed legs. If, when they get older, they get arthritis and you put the new knee in straight, it will be in a position it has never been in their lives.

    “For these people, usual knee replacements that assume the leg is straight may not work as well as ones that are functionally aligned.”

    The new AI software takes the patient’s knee alignment and surrounding soft tissue and allows the surgeon to test different options – digitally.

    “When we are in the operating room, we’re virtually positioning the components, then we consider that patient’s native alignment, and also their soft tissue tension. The computer model goes through and analyses the 20,000-25,000 potential positions and ranks them according to what would be optimal for that patient.

    “We then we choose what we think is the best option.”

    For the study, Young and colleagues randomised 244 knee-replacement patients to traditional or AI-assisted alignment and then followed the patients for two years, assessing their recovery with x-rays and questionnaires.

    Overall, both groups had good outcomes and were happy with their knee replacements.

    However, patients who naturally had more bowed legs reported better results with the newer functionally aligned knees.

    Based on the study, Young would recommend surgeons consider a patient’s natural leg shape when planning knee replacement surgery.

    Young has developed an app for use by orthopaedic surgeons wishing to use functional alignment in New Zealand, Australia, and Asia.

    The study won the prestigious John N. Insall, MD award from The Knee Society in the US. This meant the paper that described the study was submitted to The Journal of Arthroplasty and Young received US$1,000.

    Young travelled to San Diego to attend the society’s annual meeting on March 14, where he received the award.

    The research is ongoing to refine and expand the tool to ensure the best possible outcomes for all patients, Young says.

    Read the paper here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arth.2025.02.065

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: The Glass Menagerie: the haunting beauty of Tennessee Wiliams’ play endures in this Sydney revival

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexander Howard, Senior Lecturer, Discipline of English and Writing, University of Sydney

    Prudence Upton

    Tennessee Williams (1911-1983) is widely regarded as one of America’s greatest playwrights. A prolific and unabashedly autobiographical writer, Williams’ career spanned four decades of the 20th century.

    The Glass Menagerie, which premiered in Chicago on December 26 1944, was the writer’s first major success. It won scores of national theatrical awards and catapulted Williams to enduring fame.

    An engrossing new production of the classic play, currently running at Sydney’s Ensemble Theatre, does more than simply revive the famous piece of theatre. It revitalises it for modern audiences.

    A troubled family from St. Louis

    The Glass Menagerie is a lyrical exploration of memory, longing and familial obligation.

    Set in the 1930s in St. Louis, the play revolves around three adult members of the Wingfield family: Tom, a restless and possibly closeted young man torn between duty and desire; Laura, his painfully shy sister, whose physical disability and introversion leave her isolated from the world; and Amanda, their domineering but fragile mother who clings to faded Southern dreams.

    The plot is simple, and draws direct inspiration from Williams’ troubled family life. The Wingfields are struggling to get by. They live in a cramped apartment, in the shadow of an absent patriarch who we hear “fell in love with long distances” a long time ago.

    Amanda is desperate to secure a future for Laura. She pins her hopes on the arrival of a “gentleman caller”, convinced that marriage is the only hope for her daughter’s security.

    The plot follow the Wingfields, a small family struggling to get by in the 1930s in St. Louis.
    Prudence Upton

    When Tom – who is also the play’s narrator (a cutout for Williams himself) – invites a colleague to dinner, the overbearing Amanda seizes the opportunity to present Laura in the best possible light. Suffice to say, things do not end well.

    Lifting lyricism to its highest level

    Potted plot summaries don’t really do The Glass Menagerie justice.

    As Liesel Badorrek, director of the new production at Sydney’s Ensemble Theatre, points out, “Williams wanted to break with the prosaic realism that he felt had dominated the American theatre” and fashion a new, more symbolic approach to theatre, where memory and emotion take precedence over conventional forms of dramatic action.

    According to Williams himself, his aim was to demonstrate

    that truth, life, or reality is an organic thing which the poetic imagination can represent or suggest, in essence, only through transformation, through changing into other forms than those which were merely present in appearance.

    To bring his vision to life, Williams combined heightened poetic dialogue, repeated musical motifs and unconventional stagecraft. In doing so, he intentionally blurred the lines between reality and memory, allowing the audience to experience the emotional truth of the characters, rather than a literal depiction of events.

    This innovative approach to dramatic form was revolutionary at the time and became a hallmark of Williams’ mature work. As Arthur Miller once wrote:

    The Glass Menagerie in one stroke lifted lyricism to its highest level in our theatre’s history, but it broke new ground in another way. What was new in Tennessee Williams was his rhapsodic insistence that form serve his utterance rather than dominating and cramping it.

    Ensemble Theatre revives Williams’ play in a way that is both timeless and transcendent.
    Prudence Upton

    A fresh take with remarkable depth

    Miller’s observations about poetic rhapsody and form are worth keeping in mind when discussing the Ensemble Theatre’s impressive take on The Glass Menagerie.

    One of the great merits of the production is how it does justice to Williams’ formal innovations while also engaging the audience on an emotional level.

    Making excellent use of expressionistic lighting (Verity Hampson) and sound design (Maria Alfonsine and Damian de Boos-Smith), Badorrek’s production strikes a fine balance between preserving the play’s delicate, dreamlike structure and grounding its characters in charged performances that feel immediate and often painfully real.

    Deftly blending humour and pathos, the cast of four delivers strong performances that ensure the play’s vivid lyricism enhances (but does not overwhelm) its emotional core.

    Blazey Best’s Amanda delivers a tour de force performance.
    Prudence Upton

    Blazey Best’s Amanda is in equal measure maddening and charming, a true tour de force. Her verbal sparring with Danny Ball’s Tom was an early high point of the evening. One particularly striking moment was staged entirely in silhouette – elongated shadows stretching across the stage’s backdrop.

    That said, to me the true standouts were Bridie McKim and Tom Rogers, whose interpretations of Laura and the gentleman caller, Jim, lifted the entire production.

    In particular, McKim, who has called for greater disability representation in Australian theatre, brings remarkable depth and dynamism to the role of Laura. She imbues Laura with vulnerability and, crucially, strength.

    McKim imbues Laura with both vulnerability and strength.
    Prudence Upton

    McKim and Rogers breathe new life into this 81-year old staple of the dramatic canon. Their performances render Williams’ work fresh and contemporary, ensuring the play feels as urgent today as it would have in its post-war heyday.

    Alexander Howard 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. The Glass Menagerie: the haunting beauty of Tennessee Wiliams’ play endures in this Sydney revival – https://theconversation.com/the-glass-menagerie-the-haunting-beauty-of-tennessee-wiliams-play-endures-in-this-sydney-revival-252293

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: This budget’s tax tinkering isn’t the same as meaningful tax reform. Here’s why

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kristen Sobeck, Research Fellow, Tax and Transfer Policy Institute, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University

    Miha Creative/Shutterstock

    Labor’s tax changes this week do not tackle tax reform, or why we desperately need it. They only address the amount collected from personal income tax, which is the largest source of tax revenue.

    Real tax reform would review taxes such as the GST, taxes on savings (including housing and super), and personal and corporate income tax – and ensure they are sustainable over the long term.

    Tax cuts and tax revenue relate to the amount of tax the government collects. Reform needs to tackle both the amount of tax and how we collect it.

    It involves redesigning how we collect tax revenue in a way that is efficient, equitable, simple and resilient, to improve the well-being of all Australians.

    And the quantum – how much we collect as part of tax reform – depends on the demand for government services, which is growing, with structural budget deficits forecast for the next 10 years.

    So how does the income tax system work?

    When you earn a salary from your job, every dollar earned above A$18,200 is taxed. Income earned between $18,201 to $45,000 is taxed at 16 cents per dollar. Three higher tax brackets follow, as the table below shows. This is known as a progressive tax system, where the tax rate increases as your income rises.

    Mathematically, this means that if a worker named Jane has a $130,000 salary, the first $18,200 of her income is tax free, the next $26,800 of her salary is taxed at 16 cents for each dollar and so on. Her total income tax bill is $29,788.

    In the budget, the Labor government announced from July 1 2026, it would cut the 16 cents marginal income tax rate to 15 cents and from July 1 2027 to 14 cents. As the example above shows, the proposed reductions will affect all Australian income taxpayers, not just low income earners.

    The legislation passed parliament late on Wednesday night, but the Coalition has said it will repeal the cuts if it wins the election.

    What is bracket creep?

    Workers generally receive an increase in their wage each financial year. But in recent years, the increase in wages received by some workers hasn’t been enough to keep up with inflation (changes in prices).

    This is the case for our imaginary worker, Jane. Where she lives, prices have increased by 10%. Her employer has offered her a wage increase of 5%, so now she earns $136,500. However, everything where Jane lives is now 10% more expensive, so while her salary has increased, the purchasing power of her wage has declined.

    Unfortunately for Jane, the income tax system completely disregards her decline in living standards. Since her salary has increased she owes more income tax.

    This is what’s referred to as bracket creep. It’s also known as fiscal drag. It arises when our income tax bill goes up, our take-home pay (our disposable income) goes down as a result, and our standard of living declines.

    Sometimes inflation can push a person into a higher income tax bracket. This is the case for Jane, who now pays 37 cents per dollar on $555 of her income. However it also applies if a taxpayer remains in the same income tax bracket (since their salary still goes up and they owe more income tax).

    Is bracket creep a good or a bad thing?

    For workers, bracket creep is bad news because it reduces their after-tax income while their standard of living declines.

    However, for governments it can be a useful tool.

    First, bracket creep allows governments to collect more revenue than they would in the absence of inflation. Higher inflation means more revenue. This approach enables governments to increase expenditure and/or offer tax cuts to offset bracket creep. The government is doing the latter even in a period of budget deficit.

    Second, bracket creep can be useful for governments during periods of high inflation. Governments need to rein in spending to reduce high inflation and bracket creep is one way of achieving this goal.

    Given these benefits, Australia is not alone among developed countries that opt to change their income tax thresholds on a discretionary basis. Just over half (55%) of OECD countries took this approach in 2022 for their personal income tax systems.

    The remaining OECD countries (45%) applied automatic indexation in 2022. Indexation ensures that taxpayers’ income tax bills only increase (in real terms) when their wages increase by more than inflation.

    But ensuring tax brackets keep pace with inflation is only one part of the tax picture. Neither side of politics is addressing the sort of major tax reforms needed to make the tax system more sustainable and match fit for the 21st century. But the Tax and Transfer Policy Institute is prepared with ideas when they are.

    Kristen Sobeck 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. This budget’s tax tinkering isn’t the same as meaningful tax reform. Here’s why – https://theconversation.com/this-budgets-tax-tinkering-isnt-the-same-as-meaningful-tax-reform-heres-why-253121

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: WATCH: Baldwin, Welch Lead Schumer, Colleagues Spotlighting Trumps Cuts to Cancer and Alzheimer’s Cures

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Tammy Baldwin
    A full recording of the forum is available here
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Peter Welch (D-VT) led Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and 14 of their Senate colleagues at a forum to spotlight Elon Musk and President Donald Trump’s efforts to cut cancer, Alzheimer’s, and other diseases treatments and cures. The forum, “Cures in Crisis: What Gutting NIH Research Means for Americans with Cancer, Alzheimer’s, & Other Diseases,” featured witnesses that highlighted the dire impact of cuts at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), including former Director of the NIH, Dr. Monica Bertagnolli, M.D., two Alzheimer’s disease researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Emory University, and two patients who have benefitted from NIH clinical trials.
    “I truly wish I didn’t need to host this forum but Elon Musk’s DOGE and Donald Trump are quite literally on a path to rip away cures to cancer and Alzheimer’s disease – all to make room in their budget for tax breaks for the richest of the rich. Today, we heard from the people who will be paying the price – and I hope my Republican colleagues and the President were listening,” said Senator Baldwin. “Right now, we are wasting precious time that we cannot get back for American families hoping that their loved one has a chance to get better.”
    “The Trump Administration has taken a wrecking ball to the National Institutes of Health without a care about who gets hurt in the process. The first to feel the impact of these cuts will be American patients who rely on NIH’s cutting-edge research to get new therapies and cure diseases like Alzheimer’s and cancer. DOGE’s mass firing spree has also left our nation’s top scientists on the chopping block, stifling American innovation and weakening our leadership in biomedical science for years to come. These cuts and layoffs mean the difference between life and death for communities in both red and blue states,” said Senator Welch. “I’m proud to join Senator Baldwin and our colleagues today to defend our commitment to science, research, and care across America.”
    “I resigned my post as NIH Director in January of this year. Since then, I have had no insight into how decisions are being made by our current leaders at HHS. I can speak, however, about the downstream effects of their decisions, and some irreparable damage that their policies are producing. To date more than 300 grants terminated; and about $1.5 billion in funding delays and barriers that are preventing NIH’s role of ensuring that funding is delivered to outstanding researchers across the nation,” said Dr. Bertagnolli, former Director of the NIH. “Today, we are just beginning to see progress against devastating diseases which have long been hopeless – Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, even pancreatic cancer – all because of NIH funding. And this has proven to be a great investment for American taxpayers – producing both extraordinary improvements in health, and significant profits for our nation’s economy. How can we afford to see this progress stalled? Overall, the loss to our nation on so many levels will be too great.”
    “I’m here to emphasize the critical importance of NIH funding in the fight against Alzheimer’s—a disease that is one of our greatest public health and economic challenges. While deaths from heart disease and cancer have leveled off or declined thanks to decades of NIH investment, deaths from Alzheimer’s and related dementias have increased. Over 6.9 million Americans live with Alzheimer’s today—a number projected to double by 2050 without effective solutions,” said Dr. Sterling Johnson, PhD, University of Wisconsin-Madison Professor and Associate Director of Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. “Our patients who have this progressive disease don’t have the luxury of time to shoulder the unnecessary delays and uncertainty that we are currently experiencing. The clock is ticking for them and their families. Now more than ever we need the continued full resolve and commitment of the federal government to meet their need.”
    “I am here today as a scientist who has had 2 NIH grants abruptly terminated in the past month. On February 28th my first NIH grant was terminated, which had only 6 months remaining on a 4-year award… While these terminations are devastating for me and my team, particularly junior faculty and students, my primary concern is for the patients, research participants and the families who are already being impacted by the NIH’s recent radical shift in funding priorities,” said Dr. Whitney Wharton, PhD, Emory University Associate Professor and Alzheimer’s Disease researcher. “Termination of my peer reviewed grants, and hundreds of others, which were awarded based on merit, has potentially devastating implications for all Americans. It sets a concerning precedent where scientific inquiry and peer reviewed and awarded projects are turned off and on based on a set of changing priorities. Not only can this cause confusion, but it could also impact the pipeline of new and talented young investigators, and erase entire communities of patients, who are the most impacted by diseases like Alzheimer’s, from research entirely.”
    “I speak here today not only for myself, but for every patient who has ever held out hope that research would buy them another year — or another decade. Without robust, sustained, and predictable funding from the NIH, those bridges to the next treatment won’t be there when patients need them. The bridge that saved me was built through decades of investment, innovation, and relentless commitment from our nation’s scientific community. But those bridges don’t build themselves,” said Dr. Larry Saltzman, M.D., retired physician living with leukemia and former Executive Research Director for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. “I am living proof of what NIH research can do, and I don’t think I would be here today without the commitment that Congress has shown by prioritizing NIH funding over the past many decades. I ask you to protect this funding — so that more people can outlive their expiration dates.”
    “The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other federal agencies have been critical in funding groundbreaking research that offers hope to thousands of individuals like me, including by providing access to experimental treatments for ALS. The experimental drug I am taking could not only extend my life but could also lead to a cure. Access to this drug could mean seeing my son and grandson graduate high school and college, something I did not think was possible when I was diagnosed,” said Mr. Jessy Ybarra, veteran living with ALS and Board of Trustees member for the ALS Association. “But now funding cuts and reductions to funding at NIH and other research agencies threaten to derail decades of progress right when we are at the tipping point of finally finding a cure. But to be clear, this isn’t just about me, and everyone else impacted by ALS now and in the future. ALS costs our nation over one-billion dollars a year. Investing in finding a cure is not only fiscally responsible, but very simply, good public policy. I urge Congress to reject these harmful cuts to NIH and support the funding necessary to make ALS a livable disease and cure it. My life, our lives, and our economy depend on it.”
    Over the last two months, the Trump Administration has attacked, compromised, and gutted research at the NIH for lifesaving cures and treatments, including:
    Cutting Funding for Research Facilities: NIH announced last month that it was planning to arbitrarily cap indirect cost rates at 15%, which would slash billions of dollars in funding that helps research institutions, like the University of Wisconsin, operate their facilities and labs, pay staff, and buy equipment needed for groundbreaking work to find cures for diseases and treatments for patients.
    Funding Freeze for Alzheimer’s Disease: The Trump Administration is jeopardizing $65 million in funding for Alzheimer’s disease research at 14 research institutions across the country. 14 of the 35 Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers (ADRCs) have had their funding halted because the Trump Administration continues to cancel NIH Advisory Council meetings, which are the final required step in the grant approval process.
    Terminating Grants for Lifesaving Research: The Trump Administration stopped all grant funding at NIH for ten days in February and is continuing to block funding for lifesaving disease research, like finding a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. This halt in funding is despite two court orders directing the Trump Administration to end its unlawful efforts to freeze all federal grants. This is in addition to Elon Musk indiscriminately terminating hundreds of active NIH grants every week, in direct defiance of federal court orders to stop NIH funding changes amid ongoing litigation.
    Gutting Critical Staff: Mass layoffs at HHS under Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s direction are impacting everything from research to clinical trials, including scientists, nurses, pharmacists, and experts tracking disease spread. Reports show the NIH is expected to cut between 3,400 and 5,000 positions from its workforce of 20,000.
    NIH funding contributed to research for roughly 99 percent of drugs approved between 2010 and 2019, including heart medications, according to the Center for American Progress. The advocacy group United for Medical Research found that in fiscal year 2023, funding from the agency supported more than 410,000 jobs, with 10,000 NIH-supported jobs in some states. In that same year, NIH-funded research fueled nearly $93 billion in economic spending. Overall, the economic benefit of NIH funding is more than twice the investment made through NIH appropriations. For a breakdown of how much funding each state receives from the NIH, click here.
    Joining Senators Baldwin and Welch at the forum were Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Patty Murray (D-WA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Tina Smith (D-MN), Ed Markey (D-MA), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).
    A full recording of the forum is available here. Witnesses opening statements are available here.
    A one-pager on President Donald Trump’s actions to gut the NIH and its impacts is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Apple boosts China presence

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    U.S. tech giant Apple on Wednesday announced it is accelerating its support for the next generation of developers in China with a new 30 million yuan (about 4.18 million U.S. dollars) donation to Zhejiang University.

    “We believe coding is a powerful tool that empowers people to create, communicate, and solve problems in entirely new ways,” said Apple CEO Tim Cook while visiting the university in east China on the same day.

    “We are proud to expand our decade-long partnership with Zhejiang University to support the next generation of coders with the skills to create innovative apps and build dynamic businesses,” he said.

    The fund will connect students with industry leaders and investors through workshops, internships, and mentorships, providing more business-related training for students to succeed in the growing iOS app economy and beyond, the company said in a statement.

    In collaboration with Apple, Zhejiang University will establish the Apple App Incubation Fund to offer training in the latest technologies, with specialized curricula in app development, product design, marketing, and business operations.

    The new donation follows Apple’s decade of support for the Mobile Application Innovation Contest organized by Zhejiang University, which has benefited some 30,000 participants from nearly 1,000 universities across the country.

    The donation followed a new clean energy fund worth 720 million yuan set up in China by Apple on Monday, amid Cook’s latest visit to China, during which he attended the opening ceremony of the China Development Forum in Beijing.

    The investment fund seeks to create an additional annual wind and solar energy generation capacity of approximately 550,000 megawatt-hours for China’s power grid, with the figure expected to increase as more investors join, the tech firm said in a statement.

    Apple’s Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams visited the company’s suppliers in east China’s Jiangsu and Shandong provinces on Monday and Tuesday.

    “China is a central part of our critical supply chain and we’ve been investing here for 30 years,” said Williams. “We will continue to invest in China in a big way.”

    “What I consistently see here in China is this attitude of trying to figure out how to do what’s next. It really is inspiring to me,” Williams said.

    During his visit, he also paid close attention to the impact of technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) on smart manufacturing.

    Whether it’s something as simple as glue dispensing or cosmetic inspection, it can now be done with AI in a way that is much more efficient and also much more effective than what a human can do, Williams said. “We’re seeing the growth of AI and its importance in our supply chain.”

    Apple began business operations in China in 1993. Currently, over 80 percent of its top 200 global suppliers maintain manufacturing facilities in China. The company said that over the past five years, it has invested 20 billion U.S. dollars in China, focusing on smart manufacturing and green initiatives.

    Some 59,000 new foreign-invested enterprises were established in China last year, reflecting an increase of 9.9 percent. Over the past five years, the rate of return on foreign direct investment in China has averaged approximately 9 percent, ranking among the highest globally.

    While meeting with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao in Beijing on Monday, Cook reaffirmed Apple’s commitment to increasing investments in sectors such as supply chains, research and development, and social responsibility in China. He also emphasized the company’s readiness to play an active role in promoting the stable, healthy development of China-U.S. economic and trade relations. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: When a 1-in-100 year flood washed through the Coorong, it made the vital microbiome of this lagoon healthier

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christopher Keneally, Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in Environmental Microbiology, University of Adelaide

    Darcy Whittaker, CC BY

    You might know South Australia’s iconic Coorong from the famous Australian children’s book, Storm Boy, set around this coastal lagoon.

    This internationally important wetland is sacred to the Ngarrindjeri people and a haven for migratory birds. The lagoon is the final stop for the Murray River’s waters before they reach the sea. Tens of thousands of migratory waterbirds visit annually. Pelicans, plovers, terns and ibises nest, while orange-bellied parrots visit and Murray Cod swim. But there are other important inhabitants – trillions of microscopic organisms.

    You might not give much thought to the sedimentary microbes of a lagoon. But these tiny microbes in the mud are vital to river ecosystems, quietly cycling nutrients and supporting the food web. Healthy microbes make for a healthy Coorong – and this unassuming lagoon is a key indicator for the health of the entire Murray-Darling Basin.

    For decades, the Coorong has been in poor health. Low water flows have concentrated salt and an excess of nutrients. But in 2022, torrential rains on the east coast turned into a once-in-a-century flood, which swept down the Murray into the Coorong.

    In our new research, we took the pulse of the Coorong’s microbiome after this huge flood and found the surging fresh water corrected microbial imbalances. The numbers of methane producing microbes fell while beneficial nutrient-eating bacteria grew. Populations of plants, animals and invertebrates boomed.

    We can’t just wait for irregular floods – we have to find ways to ensure enough water is left in the river to cleanse the Coorong naturally.

    Under a scanning electron micrograph, the mixed community of microbes in water is visible. This image shows a seawater sample.
    Sophie Leterme/Flinders University, CC BY

    Rivers have microbiomes, just like us

    Our gut microbes can change after a heavy meal or in response to dietary changes.

    In humans, a sudden shift in diet can encourage either helpful or harmful microbes.

    In the same way, aquatic microbes respond to changes in salinity and freshwater flows. Depending on what changes are happening, some species boom and others bust.

    As water gets saltier in brackish lagoons, communities of microbes have to adapt or die. High salinity often favours microbes with anaerobic metabolisms, meaning they don’t need oxygen. But these tiny lifeforms often produce the highly potent greenhouse gas methane. The microbes in wetlands are a large natural source of the gas.

    While we know pulses of freshwater are vital for river health, they don’t happen often enough. The waters of the Murray-Darling Basin support most of Australia’s irrigated farming. Negotiations over how to ensure adequate environmental flows have been fraught – and long-running. Water buybacks have improved matters somewhat, but researchers have found the river basin’s ecosystems are not in good condition.

    Wetlands such as the Coorong are a natural source of methane. The saltier the water gets, the more environmentally harmful microbes flourish – potentially producing more methane.
    Vincent_Nguyen

    The Coorong is out of balance

    A century ago, regular pulses of fresh water from the Murray flushed nutrients and sediment out of the Coorong, helping maintain habitat for fish, waterbirds and the plants and invertebrates they eat. While other catchments discharge into the Coorong, the Murray is by far the major water source.

    Over the next decades, growth in water use for farming meant less water in the river. In the 1930s, barrages were built near the river’s mouth to control nearby lake levels and prevent high salinity moving upstream in the face of reduced river flows.

    Major droughts have added further stress. Under these low-flow conditions, salt and nutrients get more and more concentrated, reaching extreme levels due to South Australia’s high rate of evaporation.

    In response, microbial communities can trigger harmful algae blooms or create low-oxygen “dead zones”, suffocating river life.

    The big flush of 2022

    In 2022, torrential rain fell in many parts of eastern Australia. Rainfall on the inland side of the Great Dividing Range filled rivers in the Murray-Darling Basin. That year became the largest flood since 1956.

    We set about recording the changes. As the salinity fell in ultra-salty areas, local microbial communities in the sediment were reshuffled.

    The numbers of methane-producing microbes fell sharply. This means the floods would have temporarily reduced the Coorong’s greenhouse footprint.

    Christopher Keneally sampling for microbes in the Coorong in 2022.
    Tyler Dornan, CC BY

    When we talk about harmful bacteria, we’re referring to microbes that emit greenhouse gases such as methane, drive the accumulation of toxic sulfide (such as Desulfobacteraceae), or cause algae blooms (Cyanobacteria) that can sicken people, fish and wildlife.

    During the flood, beneficial microbes from groups such as Halanaerobiaceae and Beggiatoaceae grew rapidly, consuming nutrients such as nitrogen, which is extremely high in the Coorong. This is very useful to prevent algae blooms. Beggiatoaceae bacteria also remove toxic sulfide compounds.

    The floods also let plants and invertebrates bounce back, flushed out salt and supported a healthier food web.

    On balance, we found the 2022 flood was positive for the Coorong. It’s as if the Coorong switched packets of chips for carrot sticks – the flood pulse reduced harmful bacteria and encouraged beneficial ones.

    While the variety of microbes shrank in some areas, those remaining performed key functions helping keep the ecosystem in balance.

    From 2022 to 2023, consistent high flows let native fish and aquatic plants bounce back, in turn improving feeding grounds for birds and allowing black swans to thrive.

    A group of black swans cruise the Coorong’s waters.
    Darcy Whittaker, CC BY

    Floods aren’t enough

    When enough water is allowed to flow down the Murray to the Coorong, ecosystems get healthier.

    But the Coorong has been in poor health for decades. It can’t just rely on rare flood events.

    Next year, policymakers will review the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, which sets the rules for sharing water in Australia’s largest and most economically important river system.

    Balancing our needs with those of other species is tricky. But if we neglect the environment, we risk more degradation and biodiversity loss in the Coorong.

    As the climate changes and rising water demands squeeze the basin, decision-makers must keep the water flowing for wildlife.

    Christopher Keneally receives funding from the Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. His research is affiliated with The University of Adelaide and the Goyder Institute for Water Research. Chris is also a committee member and former president of the Biology Society of South Australia, and a member of the Australian Freshwater Sciences Society.

    Matt Gibbs receives funding from the Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.

    Sophie Leterme receives funding from the Australian Research Council (ARC). Her research is affiliated with Flinders University, with the ARC Training Centre for Biofilm Research & Innovation, and with the Goyder Institute for Water Research.

    Justin Brookes 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. When a 1-in-100 year flood washed through the Coorong, it made the vital microbiome of this lagoon healthier – https://theconversation.com/when-a-1-in-100-year-flood-washed-through-the-coorong-it-made-the-vital-microbiome-of-this-lagoon-healthier-252633

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Resident of the Institute of Medicine and Medical Technologies of NSU took first place in the poster competition

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    On March 20, the XX International (XXIX All-Russian) Pirogov Scientific Medical Conference was held. Ivan Makhrov, a 2nd-year resident in the specialty “Therapy”, participated from the Center for Postgraduate Medical Education of the Institute of Medicine and Medical Technologies (CPME IMMT) of NSU. The head of the residency is PhD, Associate Professor of the Department of Internal Medicine of the Faculty of Medicine and Psychology of NSU Denis Andreevich Deev. Ivan Makhrov won first place in the poster competition in the section “Diseases of the Cardiovascular System”.

    Ivan’s work is devoted to the very complex topic of “Study of risk factors affecting the effectiveness of drug cardioversion in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.”

    — I chose this topic because I like arrhythmology. The complexity of the work is due to the fact that only a small number of institutions in Novosibirsk can perform transesophageal echocardiography (a method of ultrasound examination of the heart using an endoscope with a transesophageal ultrasound sensor) and then perform electropulse therapy, which requires general anesthesia in the patient, — said Ivan Makhrov.

    The work is carried out at the clinical base of the Central PMO IMMT State Budgetary Healthcare Institution of the Novosibirsk Region “Novosibirsk Clinical Central District Hospital” (Krasnoobsk workers’ settlement).

    — There were a large number of participants at the conference, mostly students and residents, with serious clinical work. The level of work on idiopathic pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary embolism was very high. Therefore, it is doubly honorable to win such a competition, — Ivan noted.

    We congratulate Ivan Makhrov on his award and wish him further professional growth.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Defence spending: our research shows how Australia can stop buying weapons for the wars of the past

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Pi-Shen Seet, Professor of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Edith Cowan University

    Department of Defence

    Australia’s defence spending is on the rise. The future defence budget has already been increased to 2.4% of GDP. There is pressure from the new Trump administration in the United States to raise this further to at least 3%.

    The Albanese government has brought forward A$1 billion in defence spending for the 2025 federal budget. The Coalition in turn has promised to spend even more if elected.

    However, it is unclear whether the money will be spent wisely. Our recent research found that current defence planning may leave the Australian Defence Force (ADF) poorly prepared for future conflicts.

    To keep up, Australia must develop capabilities for contemporary “grey zone” operations (coercive statecraft activities that blur the line between peace and war, or fall short of war), as well as future 21st-century conflicts. Priority areas are cyber, information and space technologies.

    Positive signs and missteps

    In the past two years, we have seen a slew of announcements about the current and future capabilities of the ADF.

    Some have been positive. A new Defence Space Command has been set up. The 2023 Defence Strategic Review and 2024 Defence Industry Development Strategy were both promising.

    There have also been missteps. The MRH90 helicopters have been stood down. A $7 billion military satellite project was cancelled. And the Collins class submarines face ongoing problems.

    Defence experts have complained of “a lack of clear purpose and intent, a lack of direct connection between strategic objectives and industry policy, and a continuing project-by-project approach”.

    The ADF acknowledges the need for advanced technological capabilities. However, in practice it is still too focused on platforms and hardware suited more for the conflicts of the past.

    The current context and challenges

    Several Defence reviews over the past 50 years have found that the ADF procurement and acquisition system lacks the agility and resources to adapt to changes in the strategic environment.

    Defence spending as a share of GDP has been declining in Australia since the end of the Vietnam War. Notably, the ADF has focused on reducing costs, lowering errors in defence procurement, outsourcing to industry, and speeding up acquisition.



    Read more:
    FactCheck: is Defence spending down to 1938 levels?

    Despite the recent plans to increase defence budgets, critics argue the strategy is too little, too late. It delays the acquisition of most new capabilities to beyond five years from now.

    On October 30 2024, Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy announced a major acquisition of missiles, other guided weapons and explosive ordnance. Many of these acquisitions were simply plugging existing gaps, and would not be ready until at least 2029.

    Many of the acquisitions (such as missiles, 155mm ammunition and submarines) did not quite align with the government’s Defence Innovation, Science and Technology Strategy (DISTS) launched the previous month.

    The hard task of planning ahead

    Making plans for defence procurement is a difficult task. The strategic environment changes quickly, and technology can move even faster. As a result, planned acquisitions may be irrelevant by the time they arrive.

    However, there are ways to get better at forecasting. These include horizon scanning, to spot potentially important developments early, and systemic design for a big-picture approach. These approaches can also be combined with AI-supported analysis tools including scientometrics (which analyses the amount of research in different areas and how it is all linked) and natural language processing.

    We used these tools in recent research funded by the Australian Defence Department to explore the impact of emerging technologies on ADF capabilities.

    Scanning the horizon

    In our first project, we conducted a comprehensive horizon scan of emerging technologies, focusing on cyber, internet of things (or networked smart devices), AI, and autonomous systems.

    We used scientometric research methods, which provide a bird’s-eye view of research into disruptive and converging technologies.

    This was supplemented by a survey asking industry professionals and experts to evaluate emerging technologies. In particular, we asked about their potential impact, likelihood of deployment or utilisation, extensiveness of use, and novelty of use in future conflicts.

    The survey data was analysed using a qualitative, machine-driven, AI-based, data analysis tool. We used it for text mining, thematic and content analyses.

    We found the likelihood of deployment and utilisation of cyber technologies in conflict is very high in the near term, reflecting the growing challenges in this area. Similarly, AI technologies were also singled out for their immediate potential and urgency.

    We concluded that to maintain a competitive edge, the ADF must invest significantly in these priority areas, particularly cyber, network communications, AI and smart sensors.

    Designing better systems

    Our second project was a systemic design study evaluating Australia’s opportunities and barriers for achieving a technological advantage in light of regional military technological advancement.

    The study highlighted ten specific technologies or trends as potential force multipliers for the ADF. We found three areas with immediate potential and urgency: cybersecurity of critical infrastructure, optimisation and other algorithmic technologies, followed by space technologies.

    These findings were reinforced in further research supported by the Army Research Scheme. It found the ADF’s capabilities for operating effectively in the “grey zone” will be strongly facilitated by ensuring it is maintaining its technological edge in the integration of its cyber capabilities and information operations.

    A widespread challenge

    The ADF is not alone in these challenges. For example, successive UK governments have also identified persistent challenges in defence acquisition. These have included issues with budgetary planning due to limited competition, significant barriers to entry for new enterprises, and the constantly evolving geopolitical landscape.

    However, this should not be an excuse. Instead, in line with the Defence Innovation, Science and Technology Strategy, and as our research has found, it should serve as a catalyst for action.

    The ADF should focus on fostering emerging technologies and enabling the development of disruptive military capabilities to deliver asymmetric advantage for the ADF. As Australia’s Chief Defence Scientist notes, this will help get emerging technologies into the hands of our war fighters faster.

    The authors would like to acknowledge the following people from Edith Cowan University who contributed to the research: Helen Cripps, Jalleh Sharafizad, Stephanie Meek, Summer O’Brien, David Suter and Tony Marceddo.

    Pi-Shen Seet received funding from the Australian Department of Defence’s Strategic Policy Grant Program and the Australian Army Research Scheme.

    Anton Klarin receives funding from the Australian Department of Defence’s Strategic Policy Grant Program and the Australian Army Research Scheme.

    Janice Jones receives funding from the Australian Department of Defence’s Strategic Policy Grant Program and the Australian Army Research Scheme

    Mike Johnstone receives funding from the Australian Department of Defence’s Strategic Policy Grant Program and the Australian Army Research Scheme.

    Violetta Wilk receives funding from the Australian Department of Defence’s Strategic Policy Grant Program and the Australian Army Research Scheme.

    – ref. Defence spending: our research shows how Australia can stop buying weapons for the wars of the past – https://theconversation.com/defence-spending-our-research-shows-how-australia-can-stop-buying-weapons-for-the-wars-of-the-past-242788

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Humans are bad at reading dogs’ emotions – but we can learn to do better

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Juliane Kaminski, Associate professor of comparative Psychology, University of Portsmouth

    Seregraff/Shutterstock

    A lot of dog owners believe that they can tell what their dogs are feeling. They believe that they can assess their dog’s emotions no matter the context.

    Yet newspapers frequently publish stories about dogs who attack “out of nowhere”, where owners claim there were “no signs” prior to the attack. A recent US study has found the answer may lie with humans – as it turns out, we’re not very good at interpreting dogs’ emotions.

    Previous research has shown that experience with dogs affects how successful people are in assessing a dog’s emotional state. As a psychologist, the more I know about dogs and the more I study and observe them, the better I become in assessing their behaviour. However, even experts can struggle to get it right.

    In the recent US study, researchers looked at how successful people are at assessing dogs’ emotions from looking at pictures. The images showed the dogs in different postures such as submissive or anxious. Sometimes the context around the dog was positive (for example, the owner approaching the dog with a lead) and sometimes the context around was negative (a person about to scold the dog).

    The study found that the context influenced whether people assessed the dog’s behavioural response as positive or negative even though the posture and other signals didn’t change.

    Research also suggests we have the tendency to misinterpret some facial expressions of dogs. A 2018 University of Lincoln study examined how children aged three to five years old and their parents interpret dogs’ facial expressions.

    Participants were shown pictures of dogs, for example showing bare teeth, which signals high levels of distress. The children especially misinterpreted that as a smiling and happy dog. The study also showed that interventions, which educated participants on how to interpret dogs’ behavioural signals, increased their understanding of dogs’ stress signals (though this was mostly true in the adults).

    We tend to anthropomorphise and attribute human emotions to our dogs. A good example of this is the so-called guilty look. You often see videos on social media in which a dog avoids eye contact with humans, for example turning its head slightly to the side.

    If this happens after the dog has done something they shouldn’t have, the owner may classify this as indicative of shame or guilt. In reality, dogs avoid eye contact as a kind of deescalation behaviour.
    It indicates that they do not want a confrontation. Perhaps the owner has already reacted to the mishap. Or the dog has learned to expect a reaction from the owner in certain situations. Insecure or fearful dogs also often avoid eye contact because they feel threatened or intimidated. However, this behaviour has little to do with shame.

    Another classic misconception is that a dog that wags its tail is a happy and friendly dog. In reality, a wagging tail only means that the dog is aroused. To assess the dog’s emotional state, you also have to consider the position of the tail. If it is standing upright, then this is more a sign of a tense dog. If it is positioned lower and the movement of the tail is relaxed and wide from left to right, then it is probably a friendly signal.

    We anthropomorphise dogs because we have evolved a human-specific way to interpret others’ emotions. If we see a person who pulls up the corners of their mouth and smiles, then we understand them to be happy or at least cheerful. That leads to problems if we apply that system to interpret other species’ emotional expressions.

    So how can we analyse dogs’ emotional expression in an objective way? One approach that scientists use is a technical method called DogFACS. In this method, each facial muscle is assigned a movement on the surface of the face. Facial movements are documented by numbers and analysed separately from each other.

    In 2013 University of Portsmouth researchers went to dog shelters across the UK and filmed dogs for two minutes each. They then analysed the dogs’ behaviour, including their facial expressions.

    The animal shelter told the researchers how long it took for the filmed dogs to be adopted by new owners. Neither barking nor wagging tails influenced the adoption rate, but only a specific eyebrow movement: the so-called puppy dog eyes look. The more often the dogs raised their eyebrows and produced the puppy dog eyes, the quicker they were rehomed. Nothing else had an effect. This could be because the puppy dog eyes resemble a facial movement that we produce when we are sad and makes us want to care for the dog.

    Could you resist those puppy dog eyes?
    SakSa/Shutterstock

    In fact my 2019 study showed that the facial muscle anatomy of dogs has evolved for facial communication with humans. My team compared the facial muscle anatomy of dogs and wolves and demonstrated that the facial muscles of dogs and wolves are identical – except for one muscle, the levator anguli oculi medialis. This muscle is responsible for the lifting of the inner eyebrow in dogs.

    We may not be much good at reading dogs’ emotions but as the University of Lincoln study shows, we can learn to be.

    Juliane Kaminski receives funding from ASAB.

    – ref. Humans are bad at reading dogs’ emotions – but we can learn to do better – https://theconversation.com/humans-are-bad-at-reading-dogs-emotions-but-we-can-learn-to-do-better-252773

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI China: Japanese researcher donates WWII documents on Japan’s crimes in HK

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Seiya Matsuno, a Japanese researcher at the International Peace Research Institute of Meiji Gakuin University in Japan, donated a collection of rare Japanese wartime documents to the Guangdong Provincial Archives on Tuesday, disclosing new evidence of the counterfeit currency war waged by Japanese invaders in Hong Kong during World War II.

    The materials, including classified military telegrams and documents written in Japanese, provide details on how the Japanese invaders orchestrated the mass counterfeiting of the then-Nationalist government’s fiat currency in Hong Kong, according to the Guangdong Provincial Archives in Guangzhou, the capital of south China’s Guangdong Province.

    The documents record specifics such as counterfeiting quantities, manufacturing locations and processes, distribution channels, and guidelines for the use of the fake money.

    Matsuno has made multiple previous donations to the Chinese mainland, including historical evidence of Japan’s infamous Unit 731 and chemical warfare in China.

    These donations have also showed that there were precedent uses of counterfeit money by the invading Japanese army, meaning the Japanese officials at the time were accustomed to their army’s shameless practice of currency counterfeiting to steal the wealth of the Chinese people and disrupt China’s economic and financial order, according to the Guangdong Provincial Archives. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Ahead of 2025 NAB Show: How Microsoft tech is transforming sports

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: Ahead of 2025 NAB Show: How Microsoft tech is transforming sports

    In the dynamic world of sports, where every second counts, technologies such as cloud computing, AI, and real-time data analysis have emerged as pivotal forces for optimizing strategies and captivating audiences. Ahead of the 2025 NAB Show, we’re sharing how Microsoft is at the forefront of this transformation, partnering with sports organizations worldwide to integrate technology and gain a competitive edge.

    Join Microsoft at the 2025 NAB Show

    Technology integration opportunities in sports 

    Microsoft technology helps drive the quality of the game and create new business opportunities for organizations by:

    • Enhancing performance with real-time data insights and analytics for data-driven decision-making. 
    • Improving operational efficiency through streamlined workflows, increased collaboration, and seamless data integration. 
    • Elevating fan engagement with AI and real-time customer insights to create a comprehensive ecosystem of personalized experiences.   
    • Unlocking broadcast and media integration opportunities by using advanced cloud and AI technologies to scale content operations and reach more audiences.  
    • Supporting secure data storage and processing by implementing advanced cloud technologies to secure content with high-speed data storage and processing. 

    Whether it’s supporting Formula One engineers to make split-second race decisions, empowering tennis players with AI-assisted match analysis, or delivering personalized experiences to fans, Microsoft technology is redefining the future of sports—making organizations faster, smarter, and more connected than ever before.  

    Learn more about Microsoft’s technical solutions through key partnerships below. 

    Data-driven decision-making 

    In high-performance sports, every decision can alter the course of the game. From AI-powered analytics that provide real-time insights for athletes to cloud-based solutions that optimize operations, learn more about how Microsoft technology is driving data-led decision-making and reshaping how teams compete in the Women’s World Cup of Tennis, the NFL, and Formula One. 

    Billie Jean King Cup: Transforming tennis strategy with AI 

    The Billie Jean King Cup uses Microsoft AI and cloud technologies to provide players and coaches with data visualizations and real-time insights during matches.  

    Key highlights include: 

    • Match Insights App: Azure hosted application that delivers critical gameplay data, such as player movement, ball trajectories, and shot accuracy, to coaches and players in near real-time. 
    • AI-powered analytics: Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service analyzes vast datasets to provide actionable rally and serve insights, helping coaches anticipate opponent strategies and make informed decisions. 
    • Secure data management: Microsoft Azure Cloud Services help to ensure the secure storage and processing of high-volume data generated during matches. 

    Read more about how Microsoft and the Billie Jean King Cup are elevating competition through data-driven insights.

    NFL: Game-changing technology on the sidelines 

    The NFL uses Microsoft hardware and software to enhance game-day operations and team collaboration. 

    Key highlights include: 

    • Microsoft Surface Sideline Viewing System (SVS): Hardware and software solution that provides coaches and players with near real-time, high-resolution images of plays, enabling rapid strategic adjustments. 
    • NFL Combine App: Application that streamlines talent evaluation by providing real-time access to key performance metrics. 
    • Enhanced collaboration: Microsoft Teams and Azure facilitate seamless communication and collaboration among NFL teams. 

    Read more about how Microsoft and the NFL are changing the game with new levels of operational efficiency.

    BWT Alpine Formula One Team: Data-powered racing innovation 

    BWT Alpine Formula One Team uses advanced AI and Azure’s robust cloud infrastructure to unlock new capabilities in data insights, regulatory compliance, and business operations.  

    Key highlights include: 

    • AI-powered race strategies: Azure Computer Vision and Multi-Agent Resourcing Optimization (MARO) reinforcement learning allows Alpine to optimize race day strategy and car setup based on real-time telemetry. 
    • High-speed data processing: Azure provides secure, high-speed data storage and retrieval, allowing split-second decisions during races. 
    • Regulatory compliance: Azure AI Search and Microsoft Copilot Studio streamline compliance processes, helping to ensure adherence to Formula One regulations. 

    Read more about how Microsoft and BWT Alpine Formula One Team are maximizing performance on and off the track.

    Integrated fan engagement 

    In today’s digital world, sports leagues are expected to meet fans at multiple touchpoints with highly personalized and easily accessible content. Learn more about how leagues such as LALIGA and the NBA are using Microsoft technology to redefine the sports and entertainment industries and take the fan ecosystem to the next level. 

    LALIGA: Enhancing fan engagement with data-driven insights 

    LALIGA uses real-time data processing and AI-powered analytics with Azure to deliver match insights and personalized digital experiences across platforms. 

    Key highlights include: 

    • Beyond Stats: Fan-facing data and insights platform powered by Azure that captures and analyzes more than 3.5 million data points per match to provide engaging content for fans across multiple platforms including social media, broadcast, and the LALIGA app. 
    • Data Sports Platform (DSP): Comprehensive system powered by Azure that unifies fan interaction data across touchpoints to generate tailored content and products to match fan preference. 
    • Seamless infrastructure: Azure’s high-performance infrastructure helps to ensure reliable content delivery and enhanced fan experiences across digital platforms. 

    Read more about how Microsoft and LALIGA are personalizing the experience for fans around the world.

    NBA: Building a next-generation fan engagement platform 

    The NBA integrates Azure and AI technology to provide fans with personalized content, real-time insights, and tailored experiences across digital platforms.  

    Key highlights include:  

    • AI-integrated platform: The NBA Insights and Top Performances platforms within the NBA App provide real-time game updates and AI-generated highlights to enhance the fan experience by utilizing Microsoft AI technology. 
    • The reimagined NBA App: Powered by Azure, the NBA App offers personalized content recommendations, real-time game insights, and a social-style video experience. 

    Read more about how Microsoft and the NBA are deeply engaging fans at every level.

    Transforming the sports industry

    Microsoft innovative technologies are transforming the sports industry, driving performance, enhancing fan engagement, and streamlining operations. From the racetracks of Formula One to the courts of the NBA, Microsoft’s partnerships are setting new standards for excellence in sports. As technology continues to evolve, the future of sports looks brighter than ever, with Microsoft leading the way in this exciting journey.

    Learn more about how Microsoft is transforming sports and other media and entertainment organizations around the world through our customer stories page. 

    Microsoft allows media organizations to achieve more through a trusted and secure platform, built to empower content creators and distributors, enhance the viewer experience, and reimagine monetization strategies. More information can be found on the Microsoft media and entertainment industry solutions website. 

    Next steps 

    Microsoft will be showcasing some of these case studies and more at our upcoming exhibition with NAB Show, April 5–9, 2025, in Las Vegas. Go through a journey of interactive demos that illustrate the capabilities needed to deliver fan-focused content and that highlight key aspects of the transformation process required to implement cutting-edge technologies for enhanced performance and fan engagement.

    Microsoft at the 2025 NAB Show

    See how Microsoft is helping to shape the future of broadcast and entertainment

    Silvia Candiani

    Vice President WW Telecommunications, Media and Gaming, Microsoft

    Silvia Candiani leads Microsoft’s Worldwide Telecommunications, Media and Gaming Industry, overseeing industry strategy, go-to-market plan, ecosystem growth, and solution development. Silvia was formerly CEO of Microsoft Italy, focused on accelerating digital transformation. Prior to Microsoft, Silvia led Consumer Marketing for Vodafone in Italy and was previously a consultant at McKinsey in the Media and Telecommunication industries. She has a BA from Bocconi University and an MBA from INSEAD. Silvia is also a member of the Bocconi University Alumni Advisory Board and Lavazza Group.

    See more articles from this author

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cortez Masto Reintroduces Bipartisan Legislation to Boost the American Mining Workforce

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nevada Cortez Masto
    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) introduced bipartisan legislation with Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) to bolster America’s mining workforce. The Mining Schools Act will establish a grant program for use by higher education institutions to recruit students and carry out research projects related to mineral production.
    “Nevada is on the forefront of the growing critical mineral industry,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “This legislation will provide needed resources to universities in the Silver State to prepare young Nevadans for good-paying jobs that support our state’s economy and promote green energy production.”
    The Mining Schools Act of 2025 would establish a grant program for mining schools to receive funds in order to recruit students and carry out studies, research projects, or demonstration projects related to the production of minerals. In addition to the grant program, the Act would establish the Mining Professional Development Advisory Board to evaluate applications and recommend recipients to the Secretary of Energy, as well as conduct oversight to ensure that grant funds are appropriately used. University of Nevada, Reno’s Mackay School of Earth Sciences and Engineering is one such mining school that would qualify for funding under this act.
    Cosponsors of this legislation include U.S Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), John Curtis (R-Utah), Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.).
    Full text of the legislation can be found here.
    Senator Cortez Masto has led efforts in Congress to support Nevada’s mining industry, protecting more than 83,000 local jobs and paving the way for Nevada to power the clean energy economy. She has consistently blocked burdensome taxes on mining and wrote important provisions of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to bolster Nevada’s critical mineral supply chain and fund battery recycling programs in the state. She’s also introduced bipartisan legislation to strengthen the domestic supply chain for rare-earth magnets.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Apple boosts China presence, partners on green initiatives, AI

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    U.S. tech giant Apple on Wednesday announced it is accelerating its support for the next generation of developers in China with a new 30 million yuan (about 4.18 million U.S. dollars) donation to Zhejiang University.

    “We believe coding is a powerful tool that empowers people to create, communicate, and solve problems in entirely new ways,” said Apple CEO Tim Cook while visiting the university in east China on the same day.

    “We are proud to expand our decade-long partnership with Zhejiang University to support the next generation of coders with the skills to create innovative apps and build dynamic businesses,” he said.

    The fund will connect students with industry leaders and investors through workshops, internships, and mentorships, providing more business-related training for students to succeed in the growing iOS app economy and beyond, the company said in a statement.

    In collaboration with Apple, Zhejiang University will establish the Apple App Incubation Fund to offer training in the latest technologies, with specialized curricula in app development, product design, marketing, and business operations.

    The new donation follows Apple’s decade of support for the Mobile Application Innovation Contest organized by Zhejiang University, which has benefited some 30,000 participants from nearly 1,000 universities across the country.

    The donation followed a new clean energy fund worth 720 million yuan set up in China by Apple on Monday, amid Cook’s latest visit to China, during which he attended the opening ceremony of the China Development Forum in Beijing.

    The investment fund seeks to create an additional annual wind and solar energy generation capacity of approximately 550,000 megawatt-hours for China’s power grid, with the figure expected to increase as more investors join, the tech firm said in a statement.

    Apple’s Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams visited the company’s suppliers in east China’s Jiangsu and Shandong provinces on Monday and Tuesday.

    “China is a central part of our critical supply chain and we’ve been investing here for 30 years,” said Williams. “We will continue to invest in China in a big way.”

    “What I consistently see here in China is this attitude of trying to figure out how to do what’s next. It really is inspiring to me,” Williams said.

    During his visit, he also paid close attention to the impact of technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) on smart manufacturing.

    Whether it’s something as simple as glue dispensing or cosmetic inspection, it can now be done with AI in a way that is much more efficient and also much more effective than what a human can do, Williams said. “We’re seeing the growth of AI and its importance in our supply chain.”

    Apple began business operations in China in 1993. Currently, over 80 percent of its top 200 global suppliers maintain manufacturing facilities in China. The company said that over the past five years, it has invested 20 billion U.S. dollars in China, focusing on smart manufacturing and green initiatives.

    Some 59,000 new foreign-invested enterprises were established in China last year, reflecting an increase of 9.9 percent. Over the past five years, the rate of return on foreign direct investment in China has averaged approximately 9 percent, ranking among the highest globally.

    While meeting with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao in Beijing on Monday, Cook reaffirmed Apple’s commitment to increasing investments in sectors such as supply chains, research and development, and social responsibility in China. He also emphasized the company’s readiness to play an active role in promoting the stable, healthy development of China-U.S. economic and trade relations. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Interview, ABC Ballarat Breakfast

    Source: Workplace Gender Equality Agency

    STEVE MARTIN: It’s a bit of a rare thing these days where we spend this half hour of the program talking to politicians back to back, but we’re going to do that today. Catherine King is the federal member for Ballarat and also the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, and is with us this morning to talk about last night’s Federal Budget.

    Catherine King, good morning. Welcome.

    CATHERINE KING: Good morning. I’m not sure your listeners will thank you for too many politicians back to back there, but there you go.

    STEVE MARTIN: It was my gentle reminder that we don’t do this often, but we have to do this today. It is circumstance.

    CATHERINE KING: It is post-Budget day, yes.

    STEVE MARTIN: Post-Budget day and leading into an election at some point. I won’t ask you again when that’s going to be. What I do want to know, Catherine King, is from this Budget, it doesn’t sound like there was anything new for your electorate or Western Victoria more generally, other than the overall things, such as the tax cuts that have taken a few by surprise. So is there any extra in there for Western Victoria that isn’t already on the table?

    CATHERINE KING: Yeah. So what Budgets do is account for both decisions that we’ve already announced before the Budget and then any new initiatives. And obviously, last night the single biggest new initiative was the tax cuts. So every single Ballarat, Western Victorian taxpayer will receive an additional tax cut. And whilst they’re – and they are solely focused on how can we continue to help with cost of living pressure, trying to keep costs down, but also make sure people keep more of what they earn and that’s what they’re focused on building on the tax cuts of previous Budgets. Of course, what the Budget accounts for then is the significant investments that we’re making in Sunshine Station, for example. And I think that sort of – it’s gone – it hasn’t been spoken enough about, but in essence, what Sunshine Station does is detangle the regional rail and the other rail lines that are coming in there, builds almost the Southern Cross of the west, and then allows for airport rail to happen. It will see significant improvements for regional rail services that come through Sunshine and then head on to Southern Cross Station, which will still continue to happen. But it means we get our own –basically our own dedicated line through and our own dedicated platform. So that’s a good thing.

    It accounts for the money, obviously for the Western Highway, the $1.1 billion. And of course, there is already a billion dollars that is already being invested from the border down to the Ballarat. And that money and those programs – projects continue. But what we’ve also noticed and known is that we’ve had this huge housing growth down around Caroline Springs, Melton and the highway is just not keeping up with demand. And if you’re driving, you know, during peak hour or trying to get home, that is a really congested part. And so we’re trying to resolve that. And then obviously the issue we’ve had in Ballarat around Brewery Tap Roads is starting to get the detailed design work really finalised for that project, and it’s kick started.

    STEVE MARTIN: So most of that is city spend, but regional benefit for our purposes. There has been criticism that the federal government hasn’t committed enough to regional roads, for example, that most of the money has been going into metropolitan areas. And this Budget doesn’t address that in any way that hasn’t already been addressed as you’ve just outlined. So what do you say in response to that?

    CATHERINE KING: Well, I’m really proud of our record on regional roads. As I just said, there’s already a billion dollars that is committed to the Western Highway. For example, in – you know, in our rural and regional areas, I was out on the weekend announcing $54 million for 32 regional and rural level road crossing treatments, $13 million for local government road projects across the entire state. One of the things that really shocked me when I first came to government was that the previous government had cut money for maintenance of our national highways, the vast majority of which are in our regions. We have fixed that. We’ve re-indexed – so, re-indexed the maintenance money, but also then backdated it. So all that missing gap, that hole of money that was there has been paid back to states. So that’s now allowing states to really improve their road maintenance on our regional highways as they go through the regions.

    And of course I have doubled Roads to Recovery money. So instead of using a colour coded spreadsheet to say one council gets $40 million or $100 million to seal their roads, which is what the previous government did – there are councils that got substantial money just on their own – every single council in the country now gets- will now get double the amount of road money. And they are those local roads that, you know, farmers are getting their produce to market on, people are driving every day to get to work or to get to their families. And I am really proud of that commitment. And the vast majority of our councils are in our regions.

    STEVE MARTIN: Some of the reaction to the Budget has been around the energy rebate, and questions as to why it hasn’t been means tested. Now, I know some politicians have raised this, but also listeners. I’ve been watching the SMS system this morning. That’s being raised about means testing for the energy rebate. While people welcome it, many people think it should be more targeted. So is it a misstep not to means-test it?

    CATHERINE KING: We looked at this last time when we obviously provided the $350 million. The way in which we are delivering it is through the energy companies themselves. And so dropping that off your bills. The difficulty we had if you administer something based on income is that, you know, energy companies obviously don’t know their individual customers’ incomes. So that’s – and nor should they. So the most efficient way for us to deliver it is the way that we’ve done it. It actually costs quite a bit of money to do it the different way, and that’s really why it’s just more efficient to do it. We understand there may be people who say, I don’t deserve an energy relief. You know, I think that is a matter for people to think about. But really that’s the – it was the most efficient way to deliver it. That’s basically the reason we’ve done it that way. And it was the same with the 350 million. We had to deliver it that way because it’s basically cheaper for government to deliver it that way. It would have cost us money to do it any other way.

    STEVE MARTIN: Catherine King, I know you have appointments you have to get to shortly, so I won’t go for too long. But just in relation to the HECS debt, one thing I would like to ask you, and this is in relation to regional universities, particularly Federation University, you’ve offered more HECS debt relief for people with a debt. Is there also an ability or a change to the way people will accumulate HECS debt? Because that seems to be a resistant force for young people to go to university, not wanting to acquire that debt in the first place. And as I say, I ask this in light of Fed University and the fortunes of other regional universities.

    CATHERINE KING: Well, a couple of things. We’ve already passed legislation that looked at the way in which the sort of interest rate was applied to HECS debt, and that’s had a significant impact already, and this obviously new commitment around cutting the student debt by 20 per cent. In terms of the incentives, and I think one of the really big things you’ve got to remember, Federation University, we are very lucky is a dual sector university, and as a dual sector university, a large proportion of the students who are going there are TAFE students. So fee free TAFE has been an absolute game changer. I meet people right the way across our communities who are mature aged students who’ve gone back and are retraining in the building sector, childcare workers, aged care workers who are getting now qualifications that they couldn’t afford to. And I think if you ask Federation Uni, they will tell you that TAFE is going gangbusters.

    Obviously through the universities accord, there is significant work being done around university funding and governance structures and we’ll continue that work if we’re privileged enough to form government at the next election.

    STEVE MARTIN: Just finally on that wage cut, the tax breaks that were getting. ACOSS put out a press release saying: astounded, more dollars for everyone except those with the least. And there’s an SMS that says nothing in this Budget regarding homelessness. Has your side of politics ignored those who are facing the most challenges with the cost of living crisis?

    CATHERINE KING: Not at all. And I think that what we’ve done, one, you know, if you remember, we’re the only government who actually – we increased the base rate, both of JobSeeker. We have had two increases to Commonwealth rent assistance, and we have the single largest investment in building new social and affordable homes through the Housing Australia Future Fund. There is a $33 billion program to actually get and help social community housing providers to actually build more homes. That has been the really big thing that we’ve got. We just do not have enough homes being built, particularly in that social sector, what we used to call public housing; getting that done, and we’ve delivered that. We’ve delivered increases to funding to the states for homelessness services as well through our partnership agreements. So there is always more to do, always more that you can do. And Budgets are about trying to do what we can to provide relief right the way across the community.

    But the other thing I’d say, the really significant investment we’re making in making medicines cheaper is a really – again, about helping the most vulnerable in our community, people who are really highly dependent on our Medicare system through our urgent care clinics, making sure we’re improving bulk billing. They are really important services for vulnerable people.

    STEVE MARTIN: Catherine King, thanks for your time.

    CATHERINE KING: Really good to be with you, Steve.

    STEVE MARTIN: Catherine King, member for Ballarat and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, just in the wake of the Budget that was handed down last night.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: New sentencing laws will drive NZ’s already high imprisonment rates – and budgets – even higher

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Linda Mussell, Senior Lecturer, Political Science and International Relations, University of Canterbury

    Paremoremo Maximum Security Prison near Auckland. Getty Images

    With the government’s Sentencing (Reform) Amendment Bill about to become law within days, New Zealand’s already high incarceration rate will almost certainly climb even higher.

    The new legislation essentially limits how much judges can reduce a prison sentence for mitigating factors (such as a guilty plea, young age or mental ability). A regulatory impact statement from the Ministry of Justice estimated it would result in 1,350 more people in prison.

    This and other law changes are effectively putting more people in prison for longer. By 2035, imprisonment numbers are expected to increase by 40% from their current levels, with significant cost implications. Last year, the Corrections budget was NZ$1.94 billion, up $150 million from the previous year.

    In sheer numbers, the Ministry of Justice projects the prison population will increase from 9,900 to 11,500 prisoners over the next decade. But Minister of Corrections Mark Mitchell recently said government policies could see a peak of 13,900 prisoners over that period.

    New Zealand’s imprisonment rate is already high at 187 per 100,000 people. That’s double the rate of Canada (90 per 100,000), and well above Australia (163 per 100,000) and England (141 per 100,000).

    Accounting for imprisonment and population projections, New Zealand’s prisoner ratio could be between 238 and 263 per 100,000 by 2035. That is higher than the current imprisonment rate in Iran (228 per 100,000).

    The role of remand

    Much of this increase is driven by the number of people awaiting trial or sentencing on remand. This has risen substantially in the past ten years and is expected to keep rising.

    Remand prisoner numbers are projected to nearly equal sentenced prisoners in 2034. Among women and young people, remand numbers are already higher than for sentenced prisoners.

    In October 2024, 89% of imprisoned youth were on remand, a 15% increase in seven years. In December 2024, 53% of women prisoners were on remand, more than double the 24% rate a decade ago. Men on remand comprise 41% of prisoners, nearly double the 21% rate a decade ago.

    Māori are affected most by these increases, making up 81% of imprisoned youth, 67% of imprisoned women and 53% of imprisoned men.

    Some 30% of those on remand are not convicted. Of those who are, data released to RNZ last year showed 2,138 people (15% of remand prisoners) were not convicted of their most serious change, almost double the 2014 figure of 1,075 people.

    Significant court delays can mean people are remanded for a long time. By 2034, it is projected the average remand time will be 99 days, compared with 83 days in February 2024. As well as being a human rights concern, this is very expensive.

    Minister of Corrections Mark Mitchell: prisoner numbers could reach 13,900 over the next decade.
    Getty Images

    Putting more people away for longer

    Crime and imprisonment rates fluctuate independently of each other, as the former Chief Science Advisor acknowledged in a 2018 report. Increasing imprisonment rates are the result of political decisions, not simple arithmetic.

    The Bail Amendment Act 2013 reversed the onus of proof in certain cases, meaning the default rule is that an accused person will not be granted bail. This results in more people being sent to prison while awaiting a hearing, trial or sentencing.

    When this week’s changes to the Sentencing Act come into effect, they will further constrain judges’ discretion, capping sentence reductions for mitigating factors at 40% (unless it would be “manifestly unjust”).

    At the same time, it has become more difficult for prisoners to return to the community. For example, some are kept in prison or recalled because they do not have stable housing. (Dean Wickliffe, currently on a hunger strike over an alleged assault by prison staff, was arrested for breaching parole by living in his car.)

    Last year, Corrections received $1.94 billion in operating and capital budget, a $150 million increase to account for rising imprisonment numbers and prison expansion. There was no meaningful increase in funding for rehabilitation programmes or investment in legal aid.

    Imprisoning people is expensive. The cost of a person on custodial remand has almost doubled since 2015, from $239 a day to $437. For sentenced prisoners, it is $562 per day. This comes to between $159,505 and $205,130 per year to confine one person.

    The Waikeria expansion and beyond

    Corrections has developed a Long-Term Network Configuration Plan to meet anticipated prison population growth. This year’s budget in May will fund 240 high-security beds and 52 health centre beds at Christchurch men’s prison, at a cost of approximately $700-800 million.

    Those 240 beds will fit within 160 cells, meaning “double-bunking”. This is known to have a significant impact to prisoner health and rehabilitation, and can also add to staffing costs.

    Former corrections minister Kelvin Davis acknowledged this before the first 600-bed expansion of Waikeria prison, costed at $750 million in 2018. By June 2023, that had increased by 22% to $916 million.

    The second Waikeria expansion will deliver another 810 beds for an estimated $890 million, although the exact budget has been unclear. These projects will involve public private partnership, a model known for not always delivering the cost savings and service quality initially promised.

    There will be other costs for facilities maintenance, asset management services and financing. And there can be unanticipated costs, too. For example, the government’s partner in the Waikeria expansion, Cornerstone, claimed $430 million against Corrections in 2022 for “time and productivity losses” due to COVID-19.

    These overall trends are happening while the government is also cutting funding for important social services. Shifting resources to improve social supports would be a better option – and one that has worked in Finland – than pouring more money into expanding prisons.

    Linda Mussell 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. New sentencing laws will drive NZ’s already high imprisonment rates – and budgets – even higher – https://theconversation.com/new-sentencing-laws-will-drive-nzs-already-high-imprisonment-rates-and-budgets-even-higher-253119

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Australia may no longer be a ‘deputy sheriff’, but its reliance on the US has only grown deeper since 2000

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By David Andrews, Senior Manager, Policy & Engagement, Australian National University

    The year 2000 marked an inflection point for many Western countries, including Australia, in their outlook towards the world.

    The focus began to shift away from the peacekeeping interventions that had dominated the previous decade to one shaped by counter-terrorism operations and deployments to the Middle East.

    The threat of terrorism hasn’t gone away. But Australia is much more preoccupied by threats of a different nature 25 years later, largely emanating from China. These include cyber attacks, economic coercion, political interference, and the harassment of Australian Defence Force (ADF) ships, aircraft and personnel.

    Though our international outlook has changed a lot over the past quarter century, Australia’s alliance with the US has remained a constant throughout.

    However, as our militaries have grown closer, the US-China competition has also intensified. Combined with the array of unpredictable and destabilising decisions coming from the second Trump administration, this closeness has caused some unease in Australia.

    Evolving threats and challenges

    In December 2000, the Howard government released its first Defence White Paper. This marked the beginning of a period of major change in Australia’s international outlook and presence.

    It emphasised that “two interrelated trends seem likely to shape our strategic environment most strongly – globalisation and US strategic primacy”. It also noted that “military operations other than conventional war [were] becoming more common.”

    The paper was prescient in respect to China’s rise, as well. It said:

    The United States is central to the Asia-Pacific security system […] It will be in Asia that the United States is likely to face the toughest issues in shaping its future strategic role – especially in its relationship with China.

    There is a small but still significant possibility of growing and sustained confrontation between the major powers in Asia, and even of outright conflict. Australia’s interests could be deeply engaged in such a conflict, especially if it involved the United States.

    Yet, nine months after that document’s release, the terrorist attacks of September 11 2001, followed by the Bali bombings of 2002, began to dramatically reshape the global security outlook.

    A few days after the September 11 attack, Howard invoked the ANZUS Treaty for the first and only time, joinging US President George W. Bush’s “war on terror”. Australian forces then deployed to Afghanistan as part of the US-led invasion in October 2001.

    By the time the 2003 Foreign Policy White Paper was released, it highlighted “terrorism, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, regional disorder and transnational crimes such as people smuggling” as the key features of Australia’s “more complex security environment”.

    A month later, Australia joined the US-led “coalition of the willing” to invade Iraq to overthrow the regime of Saddam Hussein and locate and destroy stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction believed to be there. (It later emerged that evidence of the existence of these weapons was erroneous.)

    Australia contributed 2,000 troops to the mission. Our soldiers remained actively engaged in training, reconstruction and rehabilitation work in Iraq until July 2009.

    Both of these events tied Australia’s foreign policy interests to the US to a greater degree than any time since the Vietnam War.

    Although the relationship with the US had been critical to Australian defence and foreign policy for decades, it had become less prominent in Australia’s strategic planning in the years following the end of the Cold War.

    US support – and diplomatic pressure on Indonesia – had been vital in securing the post-referendum presence of Australian peacekeepers in East Timor in 1999. However, it was the “war on terror” that really re-centred the relationship as core to Australian foreign policy.

    In fact, Australia was even referred to as the US’ “deputy sheriff” in the Asia-Pacific – a nickname used by Bush in 2003 that caused some unease at home and in the region.

    This image has since gone on to have significant staying power, and it’s proved difficult for Australia to dislodge.

    History repeating?

    Though the accusations of war crimes levelled against Australian special forces in Afghanistan continue to reverberate, our foreign policy focus has shifted firmly back to our own region.

    This change was driven in large part by the perceived threat posed by a rising China. While the need to focus more on China was acknowledged as early as the 2009 Defence White Paper, this emphasis became most pronounced under Scott Morrison’s leadership.

    The 2024 National Defence Strategy portrayed Australia as facing “its most challenging strategic environment since the Second World War”.

    It advocated for a significant change in the ADF’s strategic objectives and structure, noting the optimism of the 1990s had been “replaced by the uncertainty and tensions of entrenched and increasing strategic competition between the US and China”.

    Today, the military ties between the US and Australia are arguably as close as they have ever been.

    The ADF operates top-tier US platforms like the F-35 combat aircraft, P-8 maritime patrol aircraft, M1 Abrams tanks, and AH-64 Apache helicopters. Defence Minister Richard Marles has gone so far as to say the ADF should not only interoperable with the US, but interchangeable.

    If all goes to plan, Australia will also build and operate its own fleet of nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS partnership in the coming decades.

    At the same time, US President Donald Trump’s “America First” positioning has made the US’ closest allies nervous.

    His early moves have put paid to the notion that globalisation is the goal all major states are pursuing. In fact, some argue that deglobalisation may be taking hold as the US aggressively enacts tariffs against its allies, pursues economic onshoring and withdraws from key international bodies.

    These actions have led to many to question whether Australia has become too dependent on its major ally and if we need to emphasise a more self-reliant defence posture. However, this is much easier said than done.

    Looking back, the year 2000 represented the beginning of a period of major change for Australian foreign policy. Such is the pace of change now, we may view 2025 in the same light in another quarter century.

    Whether Australia’s alliance with the US will face long-term harm is yet to be seen. No matter how the bilateral relationship may change, the Indo-Pacific region will continue to be at the core of Australia’s foreign policy outlook, much as it was at the turn of the century.

    This piece is part of a series on how Australia has changed since the year 2000. You can read other pieces in the series here.

    David Andrews has not personally received funding from any relevant external bodies, but he has previously worked on projects funded by the Departments of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Home Affairs, and Defence. David is a member of the Australian Labor Party and Australian Institute of International Affairs, and previously worked for the Department of Defence.

    – ref. Australia may no longer be a ‘deputy sheriff’, but its reliance on the US has only grown deeper since 2000 – https://theconversation.com/australia-may-no-longer-be-a-deputy-sheriff-but-its-reliance-on-the-us-has-only-grown-deeper-since-2000-252501

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sens. Scott, Luján Lead Efforts to Grow Access to Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Treatment for Pregnant and Postpartum Women

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for South Carolina Tim Scott
    WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) reintroduced the Pregnant and Postpartum Women Treatment Reauthorization Act, which ensures pregnant and postpartum women across the U.S. are able to access mental health and substance use disorder care.
    “By extending and strengthening these essential programs, we are ensuring pregnant and postpartum women are receiving the support and care they need to navigate substance abuse use disorders and mental health challenges,” said Senator Scott. “I’m proud to lead legislation that helps to build a future where every mother and child can thrive.”
    “I’m proud to reintroduce bipartisan legislation that strengthens resources for pregnant and postpartum women, supports families, and tackles health disparities in reproductive care,” said Senator Luján. “Substance use disorder continues to significantly impact New Mexico, and this legislation will help address the issue by reauthorizing funding to ensure that all communities have access to the necessary resources for preventing health complications and treating substance use disorders.”
    The Pregnant and Postpartum Women Treatment Reauthorization Act would also reauthorize a South Carolina pilot program called Mom’s IMProving Access to Maternal Health and Substance Use Disorder Care Through Telemedicine and Telemonitoring (IMPACTT). Mom’s IMPACTT is part of an ongoing partnership between the Medical University of South Carolina and SC Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services.
    Senators Scott and Luján were joined on the legislation by Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.).
    Read the full text of the Pregnant and Postpartum Women Treatment Reauthorization Act here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Happy dogs make happy humans, and 9 other reasons science says dogs need to chew

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Paul McGreevy, Professor, School of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney

    Chernika 888/Shutterstock

    In the wild, dogs spend a lot of their time chewing on bones, carcasses, sticks and kernels. For example, Australian dingoes can feed for up to 108 minutes in a single session.

    But most domestic dogs chew far less than their free-roaming counterparts. This is largely because of the introduction of easy-to-eat, processed pet foods such as kibble, which now comprises the majority of domestic dogs’ diet.

    This is a problem because although chewing carries some risks, overall it has significant benefits for dogs.

    As our new review, published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science, demonstrates, it enriches the physical, psychological and emotional health of dogs in many interconnected ways.

    1. Food acquisition and nourishment

    Dogs chew primarily to nourish themselves.

    Their large canine, premolar and molar teeth and wide gape help them to capture and dismember prey. Chewing whole carcasses provides them access to marrow, fibre and minerals that would otherwise be inaccessible.

    When they are not chowing down on body parts, free-ranging dogs forage on nuts, berries, and insects – a portion of which are also hidden in kernels, shells or exoskeletons and require chewing.

    Wild dogs such as dingoes can feed for up to 108 minutes in a single session.
    Cynthia A Jackson/Shutterstock

    2. Clean teeth and oral hygiene

    Dental disease is one of the most common health issues in companion and kennelled dogs. It is more common in smaller and older dogs.

    The abrasive action of chewing on hard and fibrous materials helps to remove and prevent the formation of plaque.

    This reduces bad breath, gum disease, tooth loss and therefore the requirement for dental procedures at the vet clinic.

    Of course, dogs with existing dental issues might find it impossible to chew. And it is recognised that some dental fractures may arise from chewing.

    3. Gastrointestinal health

    Chewing between meals can help facilitate digestion in all mammals.

    It can also prevent stomach inflammation and stimulate peristalsis (waves of contractions) in the gastrointestinal tract.

    This helps maintain regular bowel movements and stool consistency.

    4. Healthy microbiome

    The action of chewing promotes resident bugs that comprise a healthy microbiome and reduces harmful microbes, both in the oral cavity and in the lower intestine.

    The microbes of the microbiome work for their own survival and also for that of their dog host, for whom they help maintain healthy oral hygiene and gut health.

    5. Stress management

    Chewing stimulates the rest-and-digest elements of a dog’s life and can reduce acute stress.

    This gives dogs a potential mechanism to manage some of the challenges of both boredom and over-arousal.

    In this way, providing long-lasting chewables can help to alleviate anxiety associated with challenging situations such as being home alone.

    6. Bone density

    Stress is common to all mammals. It causes a release of cortisol, a hormone that can reduce bone density and, over time, lead to osteoporosis.

    Because chewing makes dogs less stressed, it can help to prevent some forms of osteoporosis by reducing corticosteroid concentrations in the blood.

    Chewing helps dogs destress and relax – especially when they’re at home alone.
    Olga Popko/Shutterstock

    7. Performance and focus

    Dogs can moderate their own arousal levels if they have the opportunity to chew.

    This appears to be bidirectional in that chewing can be stimulating for a bored dog or calming for an unsettled dog.

    As such, chewing may be a unique means of bringing dogs into the Goldilocks zone of arousal, also known as “eustress”. This zone improves a dog’s ability to focus, learn and perform complex tasks.

    8. Ageing well

    Dogs are living longer than they have in the past. Because of this, more are experiencing cognitive decline.

    Chewing on a bone or even a stick can help facilitate digestion in dogs and other mammals.
    Drew Rooke, CC BY-NC

    Research has shown that in other mammals, such as humans and rodents, chewing can protect cognitive function.

    For dogs already suffering some loss of cognitive function, chewing, with its variety and manipulative challenges, may be a valuable management tool to help sustain quality of life.

    9. Positive welfare

    The pet industry supplies myriad chewable products ranging from toys, dried or fresh animal products and commercially made chews.

    They are meeting the market populated by carers who’ve noticed their dogs relish chewing.

    Dogs usually become enlivened when offered chews, seeking them out and playing with them.

    Some even find a chew so highly valuable that they risk breaking bonds with dog or human family members by exhibiting resource-guarding behaviours.

    When we fail to provide chewables, dogs will instead select other less appropriate articles to serve their purpose. In the smorgasbord of potential targets in our homes, leather shoes are often toward the top of the menu.

    Providing dogs with healthy chewables will help stop them chewing on our shoes instead.
    Reddogs/Shutterstock

    10. Happy dogs make happy humans

    The very latest study on dog-human relationships has revealed a correlation between dogs’ cardiac responses to positive interactions and those of their human guardians.

    Although this study focussed on co-operative breed types, such as herding dogs, known to be highly responsive to humans, it demonstrated that cardiac activity of dogs and their owners mirrored each other. It also indicated cross-species connections comparable to those found in attachment relationships between humans.

    So, providing your dog with a way to de-stress can have the same benefits for your own emotional and physiological state.

    Incorporating chewing into the daily lives of our dogs may be one simple yet important way to ensure they are living happy and healthy lives. Note that chewing ability is individual and advice on the type of chew and its suitability for your dog should be sought from your veterinarian.

    We would like to acknowledge the enormous contribution of Rimini Quinn to this article.

    Paul McGreevy has received funding from the Australian Research Council, RSPCA Australia and animal welfare focussed philanthropy. He is a member of the British Veterinary Association and currently sits on the NSW Veterinary Practitioners Board.

    Kathryn Mills is affiliated with University of Sydney School of Veterinary Science

    – ref. Happy dogs make happy humans, and 9 other reasons science says dogs need to chew – https://theconversation.com/happy-dogs-make-happy-humans-and-9-other-reasons-science-says-dogs-need-to-chew-244028

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: New Regional University Study Hub for Katanning

    Source: Historic Cooma Gaol listed on the NSW State Heritage Register

    A new Regional University Study Hub opened to students this week at Katanning, bringing university closer in regional Western Australia.

    Nearly half of young people in Australia have a university qualification but not in regional and remote Australia. In Katanning, only 12.9% per cent of young people have a degree.

    Regional University Study Hubs are one of the ways to change this. The evidence shows that where they are, university participation goes up.

    This new Study Hub in the centre of Katanning, will provide student support and facilities for students who are studying a university or TAFE course without having to leave their community.

    The new Katanning University Study Hub is part of the Albanese Government’s $66.9 million investment to double the number of University Study Hubs across the country.

    The hub will be operated by Regional Development Australia Great Southern who operate the existing Great Southern Universities Centre in Albany which has supported over 400 students since opening. 

    So far, the Katanning Study Hub has 12 registered students. Katanning is one of Western Australia’s most multicultural regional areas. 

    There are now 56 Regional University Study Hubs located across the country.45 of these Hubs are open with the other 11 Hubs expected to open during 2025. 

    This builds on the recent announcement for 15 Suburban University Study Hubs, located in the outer suburbs for the first time.

    This is one of the ways the Albanese Labor Government is helping more people get a crack at going to TAFE or university, including:

    • wiping $3 billion in student debt from around three million Australians
    • cutting a further 20 per cent off of all student loans if re-elected, wiping around $16 billion in student debt
    • introducing a Commonwealth prac payment for teaching, nursing, midwifery and social work students
    • making free TAFE permanent.

    For more information: Regional University Study Hubs – Department of Education, Australian Government

    Quotes attributable to Minister for Education Jason Clare MP:

    “Today, almost one in two young people in their 20s and their 30s have a university degree. But not everywhere. Not in the outer suburbs and not in regional Australia.

    “In the years ahead more jobs will require more skills.

    “The Government has set a target that by 2050, 80 per cent of workers will have a TAFE or university qualification.

    “To hit that target we have to break down that invisible barrier that stops a lot of people from the bush getting a crack at going to university.

    “The evidence is that where University Study Hubs are, university participation goes up that’s why we are doubling the number of Regional University Study Hubs.”

    Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister for Education, Regional Development, and Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Anthony Chisholm:

    “Each time we’ve opened a new study hub, just like this one in Katanning, we’ve removed educational barriers that can stop people from attaining a tertiary qualification.

    “Around 44 per cent of students who are registered at the existing Hubs across the country are the first in their family to attend university, which is fantastic to see.”

    “The hubs in Broome, Albany and Geraldton have changed the lives of hundreds of students. Now Katanning locals will get the same opportunity.”

    Quotes attributable to Senator for Western Australia, Senator Glenn Sterle:

    “So far, 12 students have registered to use the new Katanning Study Hub.

    “Study Hubs provide student support and campus-style facilities for students who are studying a university or TAFE course without having to leave their community.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Hickenlooper Hears from Coloradans Harmed by Trump Administration Cuts

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Colorado John Hickenlooper
    Hickenlooper toured CU Anschutz, hosted roundtables in Denver and Aurora on proposed VA and Medicaid cuts, and joined postal workers at a rally
    In case you missed it, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper recently held multiple events throughout the Denver metro area to talk with Coloradans affected by the Trump administration’s chaotic actions.
    Hickenlooper held a roundtable at Inner City Health on the impacts of potential Medicaid cuts and the significant consequences they’d have on Coloradans. Hickenlooper voted against the Republican budget resolution, which would strip critical services that Coloradans rely on like Medicaid.
    He then visited CU Anschutz to tour the facility and hear from researchers concerned about how the funding cuts impact their research and scientific progress.
    Hickenlooper also heard from veterans and laid off VA employees at the Aurora Mental Health Center. Veterans make up 30% of the federal workforce, and the Trump administration has fired an estimated 6,000 veterans so far. The Trump administration also has plans to cut 80,000 VA employees.
    Hickenlooper also joined postal service workers and supporters on the steps of the Colorado Capitol to show support for USPS employees in the face of attempts by the Trump administration to privatize and reduce service.
    Check out the headlines below:
    Colorado Public Radio: Sen. Hickenlooper Tours CU Anschutz and Hears from Young Researcher Hurt by NIH Cuts
    A young researcher wearing a lab coat, transfers fluids using a pipette. The lab where the postdoctoral student is working was on a stop on Senator John Hickenlooper’s visit at CU Anschutz medical center on Tuesday. Cancer researcher Heidi Ford told him about how the student is studying how the immune system responds to breast cancer cells.
    …Hickenlooper told the group he thought his Republican colleagues see the damage that’s being done, and most Americans, “may be suspicious about certain aspects of science, but they believe in the progress that it creates. They believe that long term, this is the right thing to invest in.”
    9 News (Denver): Sen. Hickenlooper Comments on Harms of NIH Funding Cuts to Colorado Research
    Today Senator John Hickenlooper took a walk through the CU Anschutz Cancer Lab, one of many medical research centers across the country in danger of losing millions in federal funding.
    “They’re doing research back there that I saw where they’re actually being able to differentiate between which cells the chemo will attack and letting the normal cells go on about their business keeping you healthy. That’s so exciting, and now we’re suddenly going to give them a gut punch and pull their funding?”
    Colorado Sun: Funding cuts to CU-Anschutz could erase years of medical research contributed by patients, advocates fear
    As the ALS disease that will one day claim her life progressed, Barbara Johnson enrolled in a clinical trial at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus funded by the federal National Institutes of Health.
    …Then, in the statement recorded by her daughter and played through her voice assistant, she directed a message to the man sitting on the other end of a long conference table from her, U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper, a Colorado Democrat.
    “Does NIH really want to cut loose these years of research, one study building on the results of another, and all those lifesaving waves?”
    Hickenlooper toured a lab and participated in a panel discussion Tuesday at the Anschutz Campus as part of an effort to understand how proposed cuts to NIH funding would impact research on the campus — and, in fact, already are.
    …Researchers who participated in the panel discussion with Hickenlooper talked of the worry coursing through their labs and weighing on the long-term planning of their graduate students.
    “There’s a lot of stress in academia right now,” Heide Ford told Hickenlooper during a tour of her lab, which studies cancer cells.
    …Hickenlooper vowed to take these stories back to Washington, D.C., with him in the hopes of persuading Senate colleagues to oppose the funding cuts.
    He rejected a more confrontational approach, saying that he believes many Republicans in Congress support science and believes a number are “getable” by finding common ground.
    “Telling someone why they’re wrong and why you think you’re right never works,” he said. “Our country needs to figure out how we’re going to get unified around science again.”
    The most powerful way to do that, he said, is by sharing the stories of researchers and the work they do — and the risk that funding cuts could derail it.
    “I think as more people in Colorado or across the country hear about these setbacks in terms of consistent funding for real medical research that changes the world, I think people are going to be pissed off,” Hickenlooper said. “I think we’re going to hear from them, and we should. This is irresponsible.”
    Denver Gazette: Amid Trump cuts, Colorado medical leaders worry about losing ‘generation of researchers’
    A group of Colorado medical leaders on Tuesday expressed fears that proposed cuts to the National Institutes of Health medical research grants would not only hurt current research but risk losing “a generation of researchers.”
    Colorado Sen. John Hickenlooper sat at a roundtable with 16 local medical CEOs, presidents and researchers to discuss NIH’s decision to cut “indirect cost” rates for medical research grants.
    …Prior to the discussion, Hickenlooper toured the campus’ cancer lab, which focuses on cancer research treatments. The entire lab is funded by NIH grants.
    Sentinel Colorado: Hickenlooper collects stories at Aurora round-table to persuade Republicans to halt cuts to VA, veterans
    Colorado veterans, Veteran Affairs employees and a Colorado senator say they are angry and fearful over the way the Trump Administration is handling massive federal government cuts and layoffs.
    …Democratic Sen. John Hickenlooper held the group discussion along with Aurora Mental Health and Recovery to talk with veterans and VA employees about the administration’s cuts and firings and how they affect veterans and military-connected families in Colorado.
    Hickenlooper said it made him angry, which he says is rare for him, adding that he can count on one hand the times congress has made him angry.
    “The talk about waste, fraud and abuse in the Veterans Administration drives me nuts,” Hickenlooper said. “Any time I hear people discrediting and tearing down the Veterans Administration in any way, it gets me in a place that I don’t usually go to.”
    …“This is egregious,” Hickenlooper said.
    Hickenlooper said he knows “for a fact” from the years he was Colorado governor that the VA never had enough funding, so the Trump cuts will hurt veterans significantly.
    Hickenlooper said he enjoys “good” relationships with 20 to 25 Republican senators right now. He said he hopes to take the veterans’ stories from Aurora to share with those GOP senators and persuade them to make changes.
    “The more stories I can give to them about what’s really happening, the better,” Hickenlooper said. “The sooner we’re going to turn this around and begin to recognize and deliver on some of that funding that you guys are all deserving of.”
    Colorado Newsline: Colorado veterans cut under Trump feel ‘like trash,’ Hickenlooper told
    Ryan Bevard worked at a hospital within the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for eight years before he got a position he had been vying for as a social work associate.
    …U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper, a Colorado Democrat, listened to Bevard and about two dozen other veterans talk about how the Trump administration’s funding cuts and layoffs have affected their ability to access health care and other benefits at the Aurora Mental Health Center Tuesday.
    “These veterans put their life on the line,” Hickenlooper said. “In many cases they suffered debilitating consequences to their physical health, to their mental health, things that are never going to be back 100% the way they were.”
    …Hickenlooper said the notion that the VA is riddled with “waste, fraud and abuse” — which is what Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency is tasked with targeting — angers him. He called the “draconian cuts” to the VA “egregious,” and said he doesn’t think his Republican colleagues in the congressional majority have heard how cuts and layoffs have affected veterans. He said he has good relationships with about 20 to 25 Republican senators, and the sooner they hear stories like those shared with him in Aurora, the sooner VA funding will be restored.
    “I don’t think they’ll be happy with what they’re going to hear,” Hickenlooper said. “They believe in the military, they believe that people that have served our country in defense deserve to be cared for. I think almost all of them do.”
    Veterans losing their jobs without cause will further worsen the increasing suicide rates among veterans, Hickenlooper said. He said he supports shrinking the government, but “random firings without cause” is “not how to do it.”
    “Everyone who’s still working is filled with doubt and anxiety, so they’re not doing a good job,” Hickenlooper said. “You’re not making government more efficient, you’re making them less efficient.”
    CBS (Colorado Springs): Sen. Hickenlooper speaks at postal workers rally
    “Liberal or conservative or in between, wherever you fall on the political spectrum: you deserve your mail and the services that the post office provides and that’s very important”
    Colorado Springs isn’t the only place where the rallies popped up; workers up in Denver were also protesting. Senator John Hickenlooper spoke at that rally: “What President Trump is doing here (and he’s doing it elsewhere) is not only illegal, it’s unconstitutional, and I think when you look at what the postal service does, it delivers mail to every person regardless of your zip code, and I recognize how hard that is, right? I’ve traveled to every corner of this state, you know, there’s some pretty remote towns, but everybody in this state gets the mail.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Speech to open new building at Lincoln University

    Source: New Zealand Government

    I am very pleased to open the redeveloped George Forbes Building at Lincoln University.
    The original building was opened by Governor-General Viscount Cobham on 11th August 1960. He inherited Viscount Cobham from his father but his birth name was actually Charles Lyttelton, Lyttelton being named after his great grandfather. 
    The building has undergone significant changes since then that have made it a notable landmark in the area. 
    This latest development creates a vibrant new student hub, which will contribute to a world-class campus. 
    I know Lincoln has a strong focus on its students, both in terms of their campus experience but also a commitment to supporting their success in study and moving into employment.
    This space demonstrates your focus on your learners and their future, by providing a mix of areas for relaxation and recreation, as well as places to work and collaborate with others.
    And collaboration is one of the hallmarks of the university. 
    We can see it today in your strong domestic and international partnerships in research and teaching. 
    An excellent example is Bioprotection Aotearoa, a Centre of Research Excellence that features a collaborative partnership of 11 universities and CRIs to train the next generation of bioprotection researchers. It also delivers pioneering, multi-disciplinary research to protect our productive and natural landscapes from pathogens, pests and weeds in a warming climate.
    Scientists from Lincoln along with Plant & Food Research have contributed to the discovery of a new gene – the PAR gene – that will make it possible to produce seeds from crops that are genetically identical to the mother plant, without pollination. This was done with scientists in the Netherlands and Japan, and it is expected to lead to major innovations in plant breeding.
    You also have a strong history in commercial collaboration. The New Zealand Agricultural Engineering Institute (NZAEI) established in 1965, now Lincoln Agritech, has a history of finding practical engineering solutions to agricultural issues, supporting sustainable production. That contributes social, environmental and economic benefits to the community but also to your researchers and helps maintain the university’s reputation as a partner in innovation.
    It’s not an exaggeration to say that Lincoln has been making vital contributions to our country and to the wider world, in agriculture, horticulture and viticulture, for nearly 150 years. That’s quite an achievement and something to be proud of.
    Your focus on the agricultural sector has positioned you well in our nation’s economy and helped build our reputation as an agricultural innovator, as well as a successful and reliable supplier of high-quality food and associated technologies.
    These are some of the things that place this small university in the top 150 for agriculture and forestry, according to the QS World University Rankings.
    It is also in the top 150 for hospitality and leisure, another significant industry for economic growth, and one that relies for much of its appeal on the quality of our rural environments and the products that are so important to this country’s economy. 
    I know that you have a long-term plan which is driving the shape of the campus, with both new and redeveloped facilities. 
    With Plant & Food Research and Landcare Research across the road, we have a hub of research excellence that is important to New Zealand’s agricultural future.
    These combine to make Lincoln an attractive place to study. You have rapidly rebuilt your domestic and international student population, and achieved a position of financial sustainability while continuing to be recognised as a leader in research for the land-based sectors.
    Keeping all of your achievements in mind, it gives me great pleasure to turn to the opening of this new development and the opportunities still to come. 
    I want to thank a great-grandson and namesake of George Forbes, who provided very helpful information on his history. I know he was invited today and I hope he is here.
    The Right Honourable George William Forbes was MP for Hurunui from 1908 to 1943 and Prime Minister from 1930 to 1935. He was also the first leader of the National Party. 
    Before that he was farmer in Cheviot – on his farm called Crystal Brook – which he farmed until his death. He had a keen and enduring interest in the industry throughout his political career, and he regularly attended agricultural events here at Lincoln. 
    The George Forbes Memorial Library was developed in recognition of his advancement of the interests of Canterbury Agricultural College, as it was then, in the mid-1920s, when plans for Massey Agricultural College were underway.
    The library has moved but the building retains his name. It is now the new entry point to the university. 
    For learners just starting their tertiary education journey, this will be a place of welcome and connection with each other and the studies that will support their success in years to come.
    Many Lincoln alumni have gone on to play, and continue to play, prominent roles in New Zealand life.  There is an impressive list of scientists, All Blacks and business leaders, as well as politicians and media personalities, who have passed through these halls. There are a few international leaders in there as well.
    Lincoln was a key part of their leadership journey. 
    That’s as it should be. We expect our tertiary institutions to produce leaders in all areas – science, arts, public service, sports, community and commerce.
    I believe George William Forbes would be proud and pleased with this place and the contribution Lincoln is continuing to make to New Zealand, as well as the continuing association of his name with the university. 
    Thank you Chancellor and Vice Chancellor for your continuing efforts, and congratulations to you and the university community on this occasion. 
    I now take great pride in officially declaring the George Forbes Building open. 
    Nō reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Booker, Velázquez Introduce Bicameral Legislation to Support Music Education for More Students

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and U.S. Representative Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY-7) introduced a resolution that aims to support and provide students with more access to music and arts in our schools. The Music In Our Schools Month Resolution would support music in schools by affirming the importance of music education, highlighting the benefits students receive from its instruction, and recognizing the hard work of music educators across the country. 
    “Music has been in America’s schools since before our nation’s inception, and research shows that access to a music education promotes development and teaches valuable skills that kids carry with them into adulthood,” said Senator Booker. “However, many kids today lack access to music education in their schools. This resolution recognizes the impact music has made on the culture of the United States, and the importance of ensuring every public school has the resources and support they need to include music in their curriculum.” 
    “Music education opens doors for students in so many ways, whether creatively, emotionally, or academically,” said Congresswoman Velázquez. “With arts federal arts funding under threat, we must recognize the importance of music education to students across the country and honor the teachers who make it possible.”
    The resolution is endorsed by a broad coalition of organizations and institutions, including ArtPride New Jersey Foundation, New Jersey Council for the Humanities, New Jersey Music Educators Association (NJMEA), Newark School of the Arts, Wharton Arts, Art Educators of New Jersey, Arts Ed NJ, NJ Symphony, and the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), Music Will, El Sistema USA, Conn Selmer, Inc., Music Travel Consultants, Musicians Abroad, Heart of America Choir, Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation, Bennett Travel, Education Through Music, A. Cuthbertson Consulting, the Rhythm and Blues Preservation Society, JazzSLAM, the Tullman Family Office, Hawaii Youth Symphony, Springfield Symphony Orchestra, Percussive Arts Society (PAS), Rock and Soul Forever Foundation / TeachRock, George Mason University, League of American Orchestras, New Harmony Line, Feierabend Association for Music Education (FAME), the American Orff-Schulwerk Association, and the Music Teachers National Association, National Association for Music Education.
    “Music is a powerful force that brings people together, fosters creativity, and strengthens communities. By supporting Music in Our Schools Month, we affirm the vital role that music education plays in shaping an innovative and empathetic society,” said Adam Perle, President & CEO of ArtPride New Jersey Foundation.
    “Music, like the humanities, helps us explore and share the stories that embody the human experience. It connects us across time and culture, fostering understanding, creativity, and community. The New Jersey Council for the Humanities is proud to support Music in Our Schools Month because every student deserves the opportunity to engage with this essential part of our shared heritage,” said Carin Berkowitz, Ph.D., Executive Director, New Jersey Council for the Humanities.
    “On behalf of the members of the New Jersey Music Educators Association, I’d like to thank Senator Booker for sponsoring this important resolution in recognition of the 40th anniversary of Music in Our Schools Month. This year’s theme, United Through Music, reminds us that despite our differences, music has the power to challenge perspectives, inspire action, and bridge divides. For four decades, this initiative has highlighted the critical role of high-quality music education in shaping well-rounded, career-ready students. As a core academic subject, music education fosters essential skills such as collaboration, teamwork, and critical thinking. Beyond performances, it nurtures creativity, self-discipline, and resilience while supporting students’ social-emotional well-being. We urge communities to recognize and celebrate music education as a vital part of every student’s learning experience,” said David Westawski, President, New Jersey Music Educators Association (NJMEA).
    “At Newark School of the Arts, we believe music education fosters creativity, discipline, and emotional expression. Our inclusive program develops technical proficiency while instilling an appreciation for the cultural and historical significance of music, encouraging collaboration and innovation. We support Senator Booker’s Resolution for March 2025 as Music in Our Schools Month and urge others to join us,” said Sharon Salvador, Interim Executive Director, Newark School of the Arts.
    “As a proud product of a public school music program, I know firsthand the transformative power of music education. At Wharton Arts, we see every day how music fosters creativity, confidence, and community. Senator Booker’s ‘Music in Our Schools’ bill ensures that all students, regardless of background, have access to these life-changing opportunities. We strongly support this initiative and applaud his commitment to music education,” said Helen H. Cha-Pyo, Artistic Director, Wharton Arts.
    “Art Educators of NJ (AENJ), proudly stands in support of our colleagues across all artistic disciplines, including the resolution of Music in Our Schools Month. We recognize the invaluable role that music plays in the development of our youth and we are thrilled to celebrate the creative journey of New Jersey’s young artists. Together, we champion the importance of the arts in education and the endless possibilities it brings to our future creators,” said Tamika Diaz, President, Art Educators of New Jersey.
    “Arts Ed NJ proudly supports the Senate resolution designating March 2025 as Music in Our Schools Month. As a national leader in arts education access, New Jersey understands that music and the arts are essential to student wellbeing, engagement, and academic success. Every day, we see how the arts provide a vital space for students to express themselves, build resilience, and develop the critical skills needed to navigate an increasingly complex world. A comprehensive arts education is not a luxury—it is a cornerstone of creativity, critical thinking, and innovation, ensuring a vibrant and thriving future for our communities and our nation,” said Wendy Liscow, Executive Director, Arts Ed NJ.
    “As President & CEO of New Jersey Symphony, I express my support for the designation of March 2025 as Music in Our Schools Month. As both a patron of the arts and President & CEO of an arts organization, I believe that this resolution is vital to the Garden State and is in line with our mission of bringing the arts and music education to all residents in New Jersey. I am proud to be a part of such a dynamic organization that has been a key contributor to the arts in the state. I am especially proud of our Youth Orchestra, which is celebrating its 35th anniversary season, as well as our other education and community programs in Newark, N.J., and throughout the state. We will continue this expansion of music education into Jersey City, N.J., and serve even more youth with the opening of a new Symphony Center arts venue and education complex. New Jersey is the place to be for music, and this Music in Our Schools Month resolution is a vital step to ensuring future generations receive an opportunity to develop musical talent and a love for the artform,” Terry D. Loftis, President & CEO, NJ Symphony.
    “Since 1997, the New Jersey Performing Arts Center has offered music education programs in Greater Newark schools, from assemblies on jazz history to programs that teach middle-schoolers to write musicals,” says John Schreiber, NJPAC’s President and CEO. “Our arts education programs touch more than 50,000 students every season through performances, masterclasses, in-classroom residencies and instruction in jazz, hip hop, acting and musical theater. We know the latest science shows us that the arts are profoundly beneficial to our physical and mental well-being, at every age. And we see every day how engagement with the arts is life-enhancing for our students — and how sometimes it can transform a young person’s future,” said John Schreiber, President and CEO, New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC).
    “On behalf of the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association, I am honored to support this Resolution for Music in Our Schools Month. Music is a means to speak across cultures and generations – a communication tool that often transcends spoken language, uniting us where other means fail. Students in schools with strong music programs often see improved academic performance, enhanced social interaction, and higher motivation,” said Karen Bingert, Executive Director of NJPSA. “As every principal in New Jersey can attest, music education and programming can provide students with a powerful outlet for self-expression, allow them to explore emotions and creativity in ways that words sometimes cannot, develop essential life skills, improve communication, and collaborate with others toward a common goal. We thank Senator Booker for his leadership in introducing this  important Resolution, and we urge all Senators to demonstrate their commitment to the value of arts in education by supporting this pertinent measure.”
    The Music In Our Schools Month Resolution is cosponsored by U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA).
    To read the full text of the resolution, click here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Peters Rated The #1 Most Effective U.S. Senator For Third Congress In A Row

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Michigan Gary Peters

    WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) has been rated the most effective U.S. Senator for the third time in a row by the nonpartisan Center for Effective Lawmaking, which released its biannual effectiveness ratings for the 118thCongress (2023-2024). Peters was also rated the most effective Senator by the Center in the 116th (2019-2020) and 117th (2021-2022) Congresses. In the 118th Congress, Peters earned the highest effectiveness score for a U.S. Senator ever recorded in the fifty years since the Center for Effective Lawmaking began tracking this data. He also becomes the first Senator in more than four decades to be named most effective three times in a row. Peters achieved this recognition by authoring 15 standalone bills that were passed and signed into law. He also authored 10 additional bills that were passed into law as part of larger legislative packages, including bipartisan legislation that established a Northern Border Mission Center at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Macomb County. 

    “My top priority in the Senate has always been working in a bipartisan way to get things done for Michiganders, from supporting Michigan manufacturing, to protecting our Great Lakes, to strengthening our national security,” said Senator Peters. “I’ve found that building relationships based on trust, respect, and compromise, with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, is the key to finding commonsense solutions to the challenges we face, and I’ll keep fighting every day to deliver results for Michiganders and Americans across our country.”

    “At the top of the list—for the third congress in a row—is Sen. Gary Peters of Michigan, who (as we noted previously) had the rare distinction of being the overall most effective lawmaker in the Senate in the 116th Congress, despite Democrats being the minority party in the Congress. As we noted in our analysis four years ago, Sen. Peters’s feat cannot be found anywhere else in the Center for Effective Lawmaking data,” wrote the Center for Effective Lawmaking.

    The Center continued by saying, “every bill that he sponsored that became law had at least one Republican cosponsor who was also advocating for its passage. For several of his sponsored bills, we likewise see that the only cosponsors of the legislation were Republican senators. As such, Sen. Peters’s practice of coalition building and cosponsorship continues to comport with Center for Effective Lawmaking research showing that bipartisan lawmakers are much more effective than partisan lawmakers, even when in the majority party.”

    “With the announced retirement of Senator Peters… it is clear that the United States Senate has lost a notable degree of lawmaking capacity, in comparison to more recent congresses, such that it is less obvious as to who will serve as the most prominent legislative leaders in future years,” the Center said.

    The Center for Effective Lawmaking is a joint initiative between the University of Virginia and Vanderbilt University, which rates each member of Congress based on a number of factors including the bills they sponsor, how far those bills move through the lawmaking process, and how substantial their bills are. To read the full report from the Center for Effective Lawmaking, click here. 

    Peters has been repeatedly named one of the most effective and bipartisan senators. During the 117th Congress, Peters was the author and principal sponsor of 19 bills signed into law, the most by a U.S. Senator during a single Congress in more than 40 years, according to the Congressional Research Service and the Senate Historical Office. Peters was recognized as the 2nd-most bipartisan Senator – and the most bipartisan Democrat – in 2023, according to rankings released by the nonpartisan Lugar Center and McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University. The Lugar Center also ranked Peters the 3rd-most bipartisan Senator for his work during the 117th Congress (2021-2022).

    Below is a recap of the key bills Peters authored that were passed and signed into law during the 118th Congress: 

    Established Northern Border Mission Center at Selfridge Air National Guard Base: Peters secured his bipartisan Northern Border Coordination Act as a provision in the annual national defense bill that was signed into law last year. The provision expanded the operations and duties of the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Northern Border Mission Center. Peters secured $3 million last March to establish and operate this Center at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, where it is collocated with current DHS components. The Center, which DHS is already working to set up, will coordinate with state, local, and Tribal governments, and other key stakeholders, to ensure DHS and its operational components are able to fulfill their security mission at the Northern Border.   

    Protecting Burial Benefits for Military Families: Peters passed bipartisan legislation into law to ensure our military families can continue to be laid to rest together in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) national cemeteries. This law grants the VA the authority to bury the spouse or child of a service member in the tragic case that their death precedes the servicemember.  

    Supporting Firefighters and Emergency Responders: Peters’ Fire Grants and Safety Act was signed into law, reauthorizing key federal grant programs that help support fire departments across the country. The bill reauthorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program, the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program, and the United States Fire Administration (USFA). These programs are used by local fire departments to address staffing needs, purchase equipment, develop fire training and education programs, and improve emergency medical services. 

    Reducing Confusion for Disaster Relief Applicants: Peters authored a bill that was signed into law to create one application deadline for two Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) programs that individuals use for disaster assistance. The law ensures that both the Disaster Unemployment Assistance Program (DUA) and Individuals and Households Program (IHP) has the same deadline, making it easier for applicants to apply for assistance when rebuilding their lives after a disaster.  

    Expanding Financial Support for Maritime Students: Peters authored and passed into law his CADETS Act, expanding the Student Incentive Payment Program eligibility for financial assistance to cadets who attend one of the six State Maritime Academies and commit to a post-graduation service obligation to include any qualified student who will meet the age requirements for enlistment in the U.S. Navy Reserve at their time of graduation. This law will encourage more cadets to continue serving our country after graduation, strengthening Michigan’s robust maritime sector and national security. 

    Reusing Federally Owned Property: Peters passed a bill into law to ensure federal agencies are reusing excess federal property, including office supplies, automobiles, and heavy machinery, before buying new products in order to save taxpayer dollars.  

    Improving Oversight of Federal Grant Programs: Peters’ bipartisan Financial Management Risk Reduction Act was signed into law, helping to safeguard taxpayer dollars by making audit data more accessible and increasing opportunities to identify potential misuse of federal grant programs.  

    Holding Federal Agencies Accountable for Performance Goals: Legislation authored by Peters was signed into law to ensure federal agencies are effectively carrying out their missions for the American people. The law requires the White House Office of Management and Budget to regularly conduct reviews of agency performance and ensure they are following strategic plans.  

    Strengthening National Safety System for Commercial Drivers: Peters’ bipartisan bill was signed into law to safeguard funding for the Commercial Driver’s License Information System (CDLIS). The CDLIS is a crucial, nationwide computer system that ensures commercial drivers have only one license and one complete driver record. State driver licensing agencies utilize the CDLIS to complete safety procedures such as sharing out-of-state convictions and withdrawals, transferring the driver record when a commercial driver license holder moves to another state, and responding to requests for driver status and history.

    Bolstering Department of Homeland Security Joint Task Forces: Peters authored and passed a bill into law extending the Joint Task Forces authority, allowing DHS to establish joint operations using DHS personnel and resources to secure U.S. land and maritime borders, address homeland security threats, and establish regional operations to tackle ongoing homeland security challenges like drug smuggling and trafficking. 

    Supporting Victims of Human Trafficking: Peters’ bipartisan legislation to enhance the Department of Homeland Security’s ability to combat human trafficking was signed into law. The law makes permanent and expands the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Victim Assistance Program that helps provide support to individuals impacted by human trafficking. It will also help to provide additional support to the dedicated HSI personnel who are working to combat these horrific crimes. 

    Strengthening Federal Building Security: Bipartisan legislation authored by Peters was signed into law requiring federal agencies to adequately respond to security recommendations issued by the Federal Protective Service (FPS) within 90 days to protect visitors and employees in federal buildings from a range of security threats. 

    Improving Efficiency of Legislative Process: Peters passed bipartisan legislation into law to help eliminate procedural delays and improve efficiency in the legislative process. The law provides the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) with timely access to the information they need to complete their analysis of the budgetary impacts of legislation, which is required prior to almost all votes in the Senate. 

    Recognizing the Contributions of Trailblazing Michiganders: Peters also led several bills that were signed into law to honor trailblazing Michiganders and their extraordinary contributions to our state, including: 

    • A bill to designate the United States Postal Service office located at 2075 West Stadium Boulevard in Ann Arbor, Michigan, as the “Robert Hayden Post Office.” Robert Hayden – born in Detroit in 1913 – achieved national and international recognition for his poetry, as well as essays and other works of literature, with much of his work touching on the Black American experience as part of the greater human experience. In 1976, he became the first African American to be appointed Consultant in Poetry by the Library of Congress – a role that is now known as Poet Laureate.  
    • A bill to designate the United States Postal Service office located at 90 McCamly Street South in Battle Creek, Michigan, as the “Sojourner Truth Post Office.” After escaping slavery in 1827, Sojourner Truth embarked on a path to preach for emancipation. Throughout her life, Truth fought bravely against racial injustices and spoke up for women’s suffrage. In 1857, Truth moved to Harmonia, a former utopian community that was later incorporated into Battle Creek, Michigan, and spent the rest of her life advocating in various spheres.             
    • A bill to designate the United States Postal Service office located at 155 South Main Street in Mount Clemens, Michigan, as the “Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Jefferson Post Office.” Alexander Jefferson – born in Detroit – served in the military during World War II. During his time with the Tuskegee Airmen, Jefferson was shot down in France and captured by Nazi ground troops. He was a prisoner of war in German-occupied Poland before he was freed by General George Patton’s U.S. Third Army. Jefferson returned to Michigan, where he became a U.S. Postal Service letter carrier, earned a teaching certificate, and obtained a master’s degree in education from Wayne State University. In 2016, Senator Peters helped honor Jefferson at a ceremony for France’s Knight of the Legion of Honor Medal – the highest honor France bestows on people who have carried out actions of great value to their nation.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA’s Webb Sees Galaxy Mysteriously Clearing Fog of Early Universe

    Source: NASA

    Using the unique infrared sensitivity of NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, researchers can examine ancient galaxies to probe secrets of the early universe. Now, an international team of astronomers has identified bright hydrogen emission from a galaxy in an unexpectedly early time in the universe’s history. The surprise finding is challenging researchers to explain how this light could have pierced the thick fog of neutral hydrogen that filled space at that time.
    The Webb telescope discovered the incredibly distant galaxy JADES-GS-z13-1, observed to exist just 330 million years after the big bang, in images taken by Webb’s NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) as part of the James Webb Space Telescope Advanced Deep Extragalactic Survey (JADES). Researchers used the galaxy’s brightness in different infrared filters to estimate its redshift, which measures a galaxy’s distance from Earth based on how its light has been stretched out during its journey through expanding space.

    The NIRCam imaging yielded an initial redshift estimate of 12.9. Seeking to confirm its extreme redshift, an international team lead by Joris Witstok of the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom, as well as the Cosmic Dawn Center and the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, then observed the galaxy using Webb’s Near-Infrared Spectrograph instrument.
    In the resulting spectrum, the redshift was confirmed to be 13.0. This equates to a galaxy seen just 330 million years after the big bang, a small fraction of the universe’s present age of 13.8 billion years old. But an unexpected feature stood out as well: one specific, distinctly bright wavelength of light, known as Lyman-alpha emission, radiated by hydrogen atoms. This emission was far stronger than astronomers thought possible at this early stage in the universe’s development.
    “The early universe was bathed in a thick fog of neutral hydrogen,” explained Roberto Maiolino, a team member from the University of Cambridge and University College London. “Most of this haze was lifted in a process called reionization, which was completed about one billion years after the big bang. GS-z13-1 is seen when the universe was only 330 million years old, yet it shows a surprisingly clear, telltale signature of Lyman-alpha emission that can only be seen once the surrounding fog has fully lifted. This result was totally unexpected by theories of early galaxy formation and has caught astronomers by surprise.”

    Before and during the era of reionization, the immense amounts of neutral hydrogen fog surrounding galaxies blocked any energetic ultraviolet light they emitted, much like the filtering effect of colored glass. Until enough stars had formed and were able to ionize the hydrogen gas, no such light — including Lyman-alpha emission — could escape from these fledgling galaxies to reach Earth. The confirmation of Lyman-alpha radiation from this galaxy, therefore, has great implications for our understanding of the early universe.
    “We really shouldn’t have found a galaxy like this, given our understanding of the way the universe has evolved,” said Kevin Hainline, a team member from the University of Arizona. “We could think of the early universe as shrouded with a thick fog that would make it exceedingly difficult to find even powerful lighthouses peeking through, yet here we see the beam of light from this galaxy piercing the veil. This fascinating emission line has huge ramifications for how and when the universe reionized.”
    The source of the Lyman-alpha radiation from this galaxy is not yet known, but it may include the first light from the earliest generation of stars to form in the universe.
    “The large bubble of ionized hydrogen surrounding this galaxy might have been created by a peculiar population of stars — much more massive, hotter, and more luminous than stars formed at later epochs, and possibly representative of the first generation of stars,” said Witstok. A powerful active galactic nucleus, driven by one of the first supermassive black holes, is another possibility identified by the team.
    This research was published Wednesday in the journal Nature.
    The James Webb Space Telescope is the world’s premier space science observatory. Webb is solving mysteries in our solar system, looking beyond to distant worlds around other stars, and probing the mysterious structures and origins of our universe and our place in it. Webb is an international program led by NASA with its partners, ESA (European Space Agency) and CSA (Canadian Space Agency).
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    Laura Betz – laura.e.betz@nasa.govNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.
    Bethany Downer – Bethany.Downer@esawebb.orgESA/Webb, Baltimore, Md.
    Christine Pulliam – cpulliam@stsci.eduSpace Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, Md.

    Read more about cosmic history, the early universe, and cosmic reionization.
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