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Category: Universities

  • MIL-Evening Report: Married At First Sight should be a platform to talk about domestic violence – too much is left unsaid

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Toone, Lecturer in Social Work, University of South Australia

    Nine

    Married at First Sight Australia (colloquially known as “MAFS”) is one of Australia’s most popular reality TV shows, averaging two million viewers an episode. But this year’s season has come under fire for multiple narratives plagued by domestic violence.

    In particular, one episode brought up three troubling facets of violence: physical violence, coercive control, and expectations of male dominance. Parallels between these three relationships are evident to those of us who work with gendered violence.

    Disappointingly, the show has only directly addressed physical violence. By failing to address properly these other facets of violence, MAFS missed an opportunity to examine the way men’s violence against women exists on a continuum.

    How does the show work?

    The premise of the show is simple: individuals who are unlucky in love are matched by three relationship “experts”. The first time they meet is at the end of the aisle.

    The spouses move in together and are put through a series of exercises designed to “fast track” their connection – although success rates are quite low.

    In weekly commitment ceremonies, each couple, in front of the group, receives relationship therapy from the show’s expert panel: registered psychologist John Aiken, relationship coach Mel Schilling, and sexologist Alessandra Rampolla.

    Each week, each member of the couple chooses to stay or leave. If only one member of a couple wants to leave, both must stay.

    ‘This is deeply troubling’

    At the commitment ceremony in the episode that aired on March 2, groom Paul Antoine confessed he punched a hole in a door during an argument with his wife Carina Mirabile.

    The experts appear to take Antoine’s violence seriously. They threaten to expel him from the show. Other grooms speak directly to camera about the seriousness of physical violence.

    Mirabile downplays his behaviour. She says the incident happened after she talked about a previous relationship, and Antoine’s actions show “he does have strong feelings towards me” and it is “a real relationship”.

    Expert Schilling responds, saying:

    I cannot sit here and listen to this justification from you […] This is not normal behaviour, sweetheart […] This is deeply troubling.

    The incident is being investigated by New South Wales Police. At the time of writing, the couple remain in the series.

    A difficult relationship

    Before the season began airing, it came to light that a member of one couple, Adrian Araouzou, was previously charged with domestic assault, before being acquitted. At the time of writing, this history has not been addressed on screen.

    At the same commitment ceremony, Araouzou whispers requests to his wife, Awhina Rutene, that she not talk about an argument between his sisters and Rutene’s sister.

    Another groom, Dave Hand, criticises Araouzeou’s behaviour, saying

    let her say how she really feels […] She looks at you for permission to speak, mate.

    Aiken says this is a “serious statement”. Rutene says she doesn’t need permission, although she sometimes feels speaking will cause “a rift between us” and she does not want to “hurt Adrian’s feelings”.

    Rutene votes to leave. Because Araouzeou chooses to stay, she is also compelled to stay.

    Looking for ‘domination’

    In the same episode, bride Lauren Hall says she was horrified to come home and find her husband, Clint Rice, cleaning. Hall says she expects a husband to be “very dominating”.

    Sexologist Rampolla suggests Rice embracing domination could “grow the spark” within the relationship. The experts ask Rice whether he feels he can live up to Hall’s gendered expectations. He agrees to try.

    A national emergency

    Given the national platform of the show, and the “national emergency” of domestic and family violence, the failure to seize any opportunity to send a strong message about gender equality to the public is deeply disappointing.

    A 2021 survey found 23% of Australians believe domestic violence is a normal reaction to stress. This points to a mainstream acceptance of violence within intimate relationships. There is a need for further public discourse – and MAFS is very well positioned to contribute to it.

    When MAFS allows people to stay on the show after they have enacted violence, the show sends the message that violence is not enough of a reason to leave a relationship. A 2016 survey from the Australian Bureau of Statistics found that 46% of women who have experienced violence from their partner and have never separated have wanted to leave the relationship.

    People should be able to leave a relationship at any time, and for any reason. It is estimated it takes seven attempts for a woman to leave a relationship characterised by violence. In MAFS, one member of a couple can effectively force the other to stay. This suggests the ultimate goal of marriage is lasting commitment, rather than happiness, fulfilment and safety.

    While the experts openly addressed Antione’s violence in the March 2 episode, there has been no further discussion of the incident since. This sends the message intimate partner violence is easily solved, and not important enough for ongoing attention.

    When the experts supported the idea that Rice should be “dominant” in a relationship, they missed an opportunity to explore the intricate ways patriarchal expectations play out in intimate relationships. Research shows relationships characterised by dominant forms of masculinity are precursors for male violence against women.

    Had MAFS seized this opportunity to open up this discussion (perhaps in a group therapy session with all of the grooms, including with quietly supportive Rice, and strong and respectful Hand) they could have used their platform to push back on the idealised image of a dominating man.

    Research from 2020 found most representations of masculinity on Australian television show men as “inherently chauvinistic, sexist, and misogynist”. MAFS has an opportunity to delve into Australian masculinity and question these stereotypes. What a shame this opportunity has been missed.

    Kate Toone is a member of the Australian Association of Social Workers.

    – ref. Married At First Sight should be a platform to talk about domestic violence – too much is left unsaid – https://theconversation.com/married-at-first-sight-should-be-a-platform-to-talk-about-domestic-violence-too-much-is-left-unsaid-251485

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Dozens of surfers fell ill after swimming in seas that turned into a ‘bacterial smoothie’ of sea foam. What was in it?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ipek Kurtböke, Associate Professor in Microbiology, University of the Sunshine Coast

    Anthony Rowland

    Two windswept beaches 80km south of Adelaide have been closed to the public after locals reported “more than 100” surfers fell ill on the weekend. Their symptoms included “a sore throat, dry cough and irritated eyes” or blurred vision. Dead sea dragons, fish and octopuses have also washed up on the beaches.

    Water samples have been taken for testing and health authorities suspect toxins from an algal bloom may be to blame.

    But the “mysterious foam” in the water is a health hazard in its own right.

    My research shows people should not go in the sea when it is foaming. These bacterial smoothies can contain more harmful pathogens than a sewage treatment plant – and you wouldn’t go swimming in sewage.

    Beware of sea foam

    Sea foam doesn’t look dangerous. But looks can be deceiving. This foam is likely to contain a mixture of many different types of microbes and pollutants.

    On beaches with lots of sea foam, people should avoid all contact with the water – and definitely avoid surfing or breathing in the contaminated water droplets in the air.

    I have been studying sea foams since 2003. In 2021, my PhD student Luke Wright and I published research on our discovery of infectious disease-causing microbes in the sea foams of the Sunshine Coast in Queensland.

    Named Nocardiae, these microbes are filamentous bacteria that can cause foaming in wastewater treatment plants, particularly when there’s a high load of fats, oils and greases. We now know the bacteria can cause foaming in the sea too.

    We detected 32 strains of Nocardiae in samples of sea foam from beaches at Noosa and south to Caloundra.

    Some of these species were new to science. So we named them Nocardia australiensis and Nocardia spumea (“spumea” meaning froth or foam).

    Nocardiae bacteria are known to cause skin, lung and central nervous system infections in both humans and animals. But the infection usually only takes hold in people with weakened immune systems. The bacteria can cause abscesses in the brain, lungs and liver.

    The incubation time can range between one and six months, depending on the strain of bacteria and the health status of the person involved.

    This means it will take some time for people to get infected and show symptoms. Long-term medical monitoring is required to detect the condition, as it can be masked by other disease-causing microbes such as the infectious agent that causes tuberculosis.

    Where is the sea foam coming from?

    During heavy winds, microbial spores from the soil can end up on the surface of the ocean.

    If the water is polluted with floating fats and grease as well as asphaltene, motor oil and hydrocarbons, these spores soon form bacterial colonies or biofilms that go forth and multiply.

    That’s because these microbes use pollution as a food source. Seawater is increasingly polluted by runoff from farmland or hard surfaces such as roads. Everything washed into the stormwater drains out to sea. During heavy storms accidental overflow from sewage systems can also occur, as Rockhampton has experienced in the past.

    Algae is another food source for these microbes, as they can crack open algae cells to access the nutritious oils inside. Sea foams have been observed in northern France during algal blooms.

    Warm water makes matters worse, as the warmth increases the survival rate for Nocardiae. In our laboratory on the Sunshine Coast, we were able to replicate a foaming event. We found foaming started at water temperatures of 24°C and above.

    What can be done about it?

    Reducing stormwater pollution will reduce the growth of sea foams. Any potential incident of infections of these surfers can raise awareness of the problem.

    But sea foam can also be found in pristine environments such as national parks, where it is mostly due to oils leached from trees. We proved this fact at Noosa National Park.

    In my experience on the Sunshine Coast, the council and other local authorities have been very receptive to advice on how to fix the problem. They have supported our research and also completed major upgrades at sewage treatment plants over the last 20 years.

    Once there’s an outbreak in the environment it is very difficult to control. That’s because ocean is an open system, as opposed to the closed system of a sewage treatment plant, where operators can use special chemicals or mechanical equipment to break the foam down. In open sea it’s impossible. So we just have to wait for it to go away.

    In this case, teams of researchers from different disciplines should come together to explore the issue. Microbiologists, marine scientists, meteorologists and chemists should team up to find out what’s going on. Ocean currents should be followed to determine where the pollutants end up.

    Sea foam is a global issue

    Earlier this month Tropical Cyclone Alfred whipped up sea foam all the way along the coast from South East Queensland to northern New South Wales. I was horrified to see footage of people playing in the thick, sticky sea foam, blissfully unaware of the dangers.

    But the problem is not confined to Australia, sea foam can be found at polluted beaches all over the world. Examples include India and Turkey.

    I have been telling this story ever since I first observed it on the Sunshine Coast in 2003. Every time there’s a major sea foam event, the media is interested. But research support is also needed in the gaps in between. We scientists need to monitor the shorelines continuously.

    As long as humanity continues to produce pollution, the problem will increase. It will also worsen as the world warms, because sea foams like it hot.

    Ipek Kurtböke 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. Dozens of surfers fell ill after swimming in seas that turned into a ‘bacterial smoothie’ of sea foam. What was in it? – https://theconversation.com/dozens-of-surfers-fell-ill-after-swimming-in-seas-that-turned-into-a-bacterial-smoothie-of-sea-foam-what-was-in-it-252506

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Sand-sized fossils hold secrets to the history of climate change

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Yuhao Dai, Research Fellow in Earth Sciences, Australian National University

    N-2-s/Shutterstock

    Between 18,000 and 11,000 years ago, the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere suddenly shot up. This caused rapid global warming, the mass melting of glaciers, and the end of the last ice age.

    Much of this sudden influx of atmospheric CO₂ came from the Southern Ocean around Antarctica, highlighting the key role this body of water plays in regulating the global climate.

    However, we have a poor understanding of how and why CO₂ release from this region changed during periods such as the end of the last ice age. But our new study, published in Nature Communications, reveals how much CO₂ was released to the atmosphere from the polar Southern Ocean during this period – and what factors were responsible.

    We reached these conclusions by examining the chemistry of sand-sized fossils, called foraminifera, from the seafloor south of Tasmania.

    Tiny shells preserved in mud

    Foraminifera are tiny single-celled organisms, either floating in the ocean surface or living on the seabed. Most of them build shells made of calcium carbonate to protect themselves. After death, these foraminifera shells are preserved in the mud on the seabed.

    Newer generations of foraminifera shells stack over older ones, like adding new pages to a book. Over time, these foraminifera shells form a book on the seabed that can be dated back to millions of years ago.

    Even more fascinating, trace amounts of elements in the seawater are incorporated into the calcium carbonate shells of foraminifera. In some foraminifera species, the amount of these elements is sensitive to the environment they live in.

    For example, the amount of boron in a species called Cibicidoides wuellerstorfi is sensitive to carbonate ion concentrations, and the amount of cadmium in another species (Hoeglundina elegans) is sensitive to phosphate concentrations.

    By looking at trace elements in these foraminifera shells found in the sequence of mud on the seabed, we can decipher mysteries about the past seawater condition in the book left by foraminifera on the seabed.

    In some species of foraminifera, such as Cibicidoides wuellerstorfi (pictured here), the trace amount of elements found in their shells is sensitive to their environment.
    Le Coze, François/WoRMS, CC BY-SA

    A giant metal straw

    How do scientists do this? First we go out to the ocean to collect mud.

    In this process, a giant metal straw is dropped to the seabed and then raised to our research ships, fully filled with mud. We take these mud samples back to our lab. There, we slice them into pieces and examine them separately.

    This allows us to extract information from each page of the book in chronological order. Foraminifera shells are washed out of the mud, and specific shells are picked out under a microscope, cleaned, and finally analysed for their chemical composition.

    Foraminifera have lived almost everywhere in the ocean for millions of years. Based on their chemical composition, scientists have reconstructed a continuous record of seawater temperature during the past 66 million years in great detail.

    Among a few places in the ocean where you cannot find foraminifera is the polar Southern Ocean. Although some foraminifera live there, seawater in this region is often too corrosive for their shells to preserve on the seabed. The lack of foraminifera in the polar Southern Ocean brings a huge challenge for scientists eager to understand past changes in CO₂ exchanges between the ocean and the atmosphere.

    Among a few places in the ocean where you cannot find foraminifera is the polar Southern Ocean.
    Mathias Berlin/Shutterstock

    From Antarctica to Tasmania

    We decided to tackle the problem using mud on the seabed 3,300 metres below the surface just south of Tasmania.

    Seawater at that depth near Tasmania is ideal for studying the chemistry of the polar Southern Ocean. That’s because seawater from the polar Southern Ocean sinks to the bottom of the ocean, moves northwards, and eventually occupies the seabed south of Tasmania.

    Seawater chemistry – including concentrations of carbon, phosphate and oxygen – does change along its way at the bottom of the ocean.

    These changes are, however, generally proportional to each other. So if all these concentrations are known for seawater at depth near Tasmania, we can work out their concentrations in the polar Southern Ocean.

    Fortunately, there were plenty of foraminifera shells in the mud for all these reconstructions at the site we examined near Tasmania.

    Reconstructing ancient chemical concentrations

    Using the chemistry of foraminifera, we reconstructed changes in concentrations of carbonate ion (which is largely related to carbon), phosphate and oxygen at the bottom of the ocean near Tasmania during the end of the last ice age roughly 20,000–10,000 years ago. This period is known as the last deglaciation.

    Based on these reconstructions, we calculated the amount of CO₂ released from the polar Southern Ocean during the last deglaciation. Some of this CO₂ came from biological processes – changes in the amount of carbon used by microscopic organisms living near the ocean surface. The rest was from physical processes – CO₂ molecules escaping from seawater directly to the air.

    We found that biological processes were more important for CO₂ releases during the earlier stages of the deglaciation, while the physical processes contributed more during the later stages.

    From the polar Southern Ocean, seawater sinks to the bottom of the ocean and moves northwards to reach the seabed south of Tasmania.
    Steve Todd/Shutterstock

    So why is this important?

    Scientists use climate models to predict future climate and to reproduce past atmospheric CO₂ changes.

    Our results provide testing targets for climate models to reproduce.

    Better reproduction of past changes will improve climate model design for predicting future changes.

    This will help us understand how future changes in the polar Southern Ocean can affect atmospheric CO₂, contributing to making effective plans to mitigate CO₂ emissions.

    Yuhao Dai receives funding from the Australian Research Council Special Research Initiative, Australian Centre for Excellence in Antarctic Science.

    – ref. Sand-sized fossils hold secrets to the history of climate change – https://theconversation.com/sand-sized-fossils-hold-secrets-to-the-history-of-climate-change-250928

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI: WuBlockchain Talks with BitMart Founder Sheldon: From Bitcoin in College to 7 Years of Entrepreneurship and U.S. Regulations

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Mahe, Seychelles, March 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Celebrating BitMart’s 7th anniversary, Wu Blockchain—one of the cryptocurrency industry’s leading media platforms—conducted an exclusive interview with BitMart founder Sheldon. The interview provides an in-depth retrospective on Sheldon’s journey from discovering Bitcoin as a college student to founding and scaling BitMart into a global digital asset exchange. It also explores the exchange’s evolution over the past seven years, key industry trends, and insights into the regulatory landscape shaping the future of crypto trading.

    The full interview is presented below.

    Sheldon, founder of BitMart, first encountered Bitcoin as a college sophomore in 2013 after reading about an ASIC mining breakthrough. That summer, he attended a Bitcoin conference in Hangzhou, meeting industry figures like CZ, Star Xu, Mo Buyi, and James Gong.

    After earning his master’s degree in 2017, he founded BitMart, which later secured investment from Fenbushi Capital in 2020. In 2024, BitMart launched its in-house derivatives system. With a CCO in place from day one, the exchange has maintained a relatively light regulatory burden.

    BitMart’s user retention hinges on data asset appreciation and interactive services. While Bitcoin’s downside risk appears limited, the broader crypto market remains sluggish. If political leadership shifts in four years, stricter regulations could follow.

    Encountering Bitcoin in Sophomore Year: Thought It Was Really Cool

    Colin: Sheldon, this year marks the 7th anniversary of BitMart. Congratulations on your continued growth and overcoming numerous challenges along the way. Could you start by briefly introducing your background, including your educational experience and your story before entering the crypto space?

    Sheldon: Recently, our platform celebrated its 7th anniversary. The company has actually been established for over 7 years, with about 9 months spent in preparation before our official launch on March 15, 2018, coinciding with the date of 3.15.

    Let me briefly introduce my past experiences. I studied computer science at Hangzhou Dianzi University. This background allowed me to come into contact with blockchain early on, given the close relationship between computer science and blockchain. I first encountered Bitcoin in early 2013 while I was a sophomore, filled with interest in new technologies and eager to explore cutting-edge innovations.

    At that time, I was still using Renren, a social media platform, where I operated my own small site on a platform called “Renren Xiaozhan,” writing code and collecting interesting news in the tech field to share. One day, I came across a news article about Brooklyn, New York, mentioning two young people who improved ASIC mining algorithms, increasing Bitcoin mining speeds by hundreds of times. This news piqued my interest, and I began to delve deeper into Bitcoin.

    At first, I was extremely excited, but to be honest, I only understood computers and programming and had no knowledge of finance. I considered Bitcoin to be a revolutionary technology that could change the world. From the perspective of financial freedom, it made global transfers free and convenient, which was an attractive concept for me at that time. Young people always pursue freedom, and I thought Bitcoin was really cool.

    2013 Hangzhou Bitcoin Conference: Met CZ, Star, and Others

    Colin: So, did you mine back then?

    Sheldon: Yes! While I was still studying, I tried mining using my own computer. The industry was still small back then, and I often met people at offline events. For instance, during the summer of 2013, I attended a Bitcoin conference in Hangzhou and met people like CZ, Star Xu from OK, Jame Gong, Mo Buyi, and Nick Chong. Everyone participated out of enthusiasm for blockchain, and there was quite a bit of interaction, which allowed me to meet many future industry partners.

    Colin: Did you continue to explore the industry after that?

    Sheldon: During college, I did some blockchain development and even created my own coin, which was quite well-known in 2013. Afterwards, I chose to focus on my studies and went to Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey, USA, to pursue a master’s degree in computer science. While academically returning to the traditional computer field, I continued to follow developments in blockchain.

    Overall, Bitcoin indeed inspired me, especially the financial innovations it brought. What truly deepened my understanding of this industry was in 2016, when a fellow alumnus from my university, who had gone to the US before me and was working at SAP in Seattle, became the group leader of our overseas alumni association. We often chatted and exchanged views on blockchain and Bitcoin. During those years, I also attempted algorithmic trading and discussed related issues with him.

    Sheldon: Later, I read the Ethereum white paper, and after finishing it, I felt invigorated. At that time, Ethereum’s vision was to build a “world computer,” putting computation and storage entirely on-chain. This model was more intuitive compared to Bitcoin, with a grander vision and broader imaginative space, along with richer practical application scenarios.

    Colin: Was this in 2015?

    Sheldon: It was in the second half of 2016, just before Ethereum’s explosive growth. After reading its white paper, I felt it was a completely new world. Unlike Bitcoin’s philosophy, Ethereum could support smart contracts and had greater extensibility, which elevated my understanding of blockchain to another dimension.

    Subsequently, I and some classmates began to try coding and created some small applications on Ethereum. At the same time, I also participated in the cryptocurrency trading frenzy, accumulating some initial capital in the market. I experienced two bull market cycles and made some profits, but compared to those early players fully devoted to the industry, my capital accumulation was not that large.

    2017: The Opportunity and Preparation for BitMart’s Establishment

    In 2017, after graduating with my master’s degree, the market was particularly favorable for cryptocurrencies. I began considering my next direction and ultimately decided to start a business with some friends I met in 2013. Our idea was to establish a trading platform, so we began preparations in September 2017 and officially launched on March 15 of the following year. During those 8 to 9 months, we faced many challenges, including team building and fundraising. The entire process was quite tortuous, but we managed to launch the exchange right at the end of the bull market.

    Since then, BitMart Exchange has officially entered a fast-paced development track. The seven years have been both long and filled with challenges. Joining the crypto space was actually a coincidence, but fundamentally, it was driven by my interest in technology and the intriguing nature of blockchain. On the other hand, my understanding of traditional finance was limited, while blockchain offered a brand-new financial paradigm that could potentially disrupt the traditional financial system from a technical standpoint. Therefore, I ultimately decided to immerse myself in this industry and have persevered ever since.

    Colin: What was your strategy when you first started the exchange? Did you have a clear direction at that time?

    Sheldon: Our initial idea was quite simple. On one hand, the crypto market was in a rapid development phase, and on the other hand, competition in the exchange industry was not as fierce as it is now, with a high demand for listing coins. From the perspective of market demand, we believed there was significant potential for growth in exchange operations.

    Additionally, we identified three core areas in the industry: exchanges, mining, and chips. Ultimately, we chose exchanges as our entrepreneurial direction since the other two fields were not our areas of expertise.

    Our competitive strategy has actually remained largely unchanged from that time to now. The core value of an exchange lies in providing a trading venue, liquidity, and quality trading assets, so we decided from the outset to adopt a rich listing strategy. However, in 2017, the industry infrastructure was still underdeveloped, and optimizing product richness, liquidity, and technical foundation was much more challenging than it is today.

    At that time, there was a severe shortage of talent in the entire industry. There were almost no real blockchain practitioners, and most of the talent had to be cultivated or solutions had to be explored independently, making technical difficulties relatively high. However, we consistently adhered to our competitive strategy, which has continued to this day.

    Our team had a strong global presence, which led to BitMart being highly regarded worldwide. When the exchange launched, it garnered significant attention, and the subsequent user structure remained consistent across the globe.

    2017-2021: BitMart’s Journey from Startup to Rapid Development

    Colin: If you were to divide BitMart’s 7 to 8 years of development into different phases, how would you define these phases? What are their characteristics?

    Sheldon: I believe that BitMart’s development phases are closely linked to changes in the company’s organizational structure, talent framework, and business scale. If we were to categorize the phases, I believe the company is currently in the fourth phase.

    The first phase includes the years 2017 to 2019, during which BitMart was in its startup stage as a company. At that time, our team was small, and our business level and market share were still in the early stages of development.

    The bear market in 2019 and the market slump in early 2020 were significant tests for the team. The entire industry was extremely cold at that time, leading us to undergo a wave of personnel adjustments, with many early core members choosing to leave due to the changing market environment. I believe that during that phase, every exchange faced immense survival pressure. It was the most challenging period.

    Following that, from 2020 to 2021, we entered the second phase, which was a rapid development phase. In early 2020, Fenbushi Capital invested in our equity, which, although not a large amount, was highly significant for us.

    In 2020, we upgraded the team comprehensively, and the organizational structure underwent a major adjustment. Many key core members joined at that time and have remained with the company, becoming the backbone of today’s organization, taking on crucial management roles. This organizational adjustment laid the foundation for BitMart’s rapid growth thereafter.

    Sheldon: In 2020 and 2021, with the optimization of our talent structure, we also welcomed a bull market. During those two years, asset issuance was exceptionally frantic, and DeFi summer drove the expansion of the entire crypto industry’s asset scale, also creating numerous opportunities for the appreciation of emerging assets. This industry trend directly propelled the business growth of BitMart Exchange.

    Especially in mid-2021, our performance data reached an extraordinarily exaggerated growth level, with monthly trading volume increasing by 100 times compared to 2020. In terms of user growth, the number of retail traders and app downloads surged, and we briefly entered the top 20 of the Apple Store, even surpassing PayPal at one point. During that time, BitMart’s daily downloads reached hundreds of thousands, with daily registrations peaking in the tens of thousands, rapidly increasing our market share. It can be said that at that time, our exchange business ranked at least in the top five globally.

    Our success primarily relied on a rich asset issuance strategy and the user-friendliness of our platform products.

    2022-2023: Strengthening Risk Control and Security Investments

    Sheldon: We define the years 2022 and 2023 as the “consolidation phase” of development. The main focus of our investment has been on products, research and development, security, and risk control. We have conducted another round of upgrades and optimizations for our internal management processes, product research systems, operational SOPs, and team structure.

    The years 2017 to 2019 were led by the first generation of BitMart’s management team, while 2020 to 2021 saw the introduction of the second generation of core leadership. In 2022 to 2023, we welcomed the third generation of core leadership, gradually moving towards a professional managerial approach, bringing in many key personnel from traditional finance industries and other leading exchanges. At the same time, we also undertook large-scale upgrades and iterations of our technical systems, optimizing the exchange’s infrastructure.

    Moreover, the construction of our risk control and security systems has also been further strengthened, with substantial investment in security facilities. To some extent, we view the bear market as an opportunity to focus on internal optimization and enhance overall stability and risk resistance.

    2024: Launching an In-house Developed Derivatives System

    Sheldon: I believe that the period from 2024 to 2025 will be the fourth development stage for BitMart, marking a new growth phase. The core growth areas during this phase will primarily focus on contracts and derivatives business.

    In 2024, we officially launched a brand-new an in-house developed derivatives system, which is a fully in-memory trading clearing and settlement system that greatly enhances trading efficiency and performance. In terms of derivatives products, this system has nearly bridged the gap between us and first-tier exchanges. The launch of this complete clearing and settlement system has made the expansion of our derivatives business much smoother. Over the past year, the growth rate of derivatives trading has been rapid, becoming a new growth engine for the company.

    Additionally, to accommodate this growth, we have also made adjustments and optimizations to our fourth-generation leadership team, further introducing new core management. This evolution of organizational structure is actually an inevitable trend, as it is difficult to advance the company to the next stage without adapting the organizational structure to changes in business models.

    BitMart’s Core Strategy for Compliant Development

    Colin: I remember you have always emphasized compliance. Compared to other trading platforms, your strategy seems somewhat different. How did you formulate your compliance strategy back then?

    Sheldon: Yes, BitMart established a CCO (Chief Compliance Officer) from the very beginning. Our core executive team also includes someone specifically responsible for legal affairs. In the early stages, we conducted in-depth analyses of the compliance environment for business development and formulated a comprehensive compliance operation plan, closely cooperating with law firms to ensure our business operations were legal and compliant. Thus, we have a relatively light historical burden.

    Sheldon: I believe that the founders of each exchange have different personalities and decision-making styles. As entrepreneurs, the most important thing is to clearly understand what you truly want, what you have, and what you are willing to give up.

    Some exchanges choose an extremely aggressive growth model, willing to take compliance risks in pursuit of excess returns. We, on the other hand, clearly chose a more stable development path from the outset, unwilling to take unnecessary legal risks. This reflects the differing considerations of various entrepreneurs regarding risk and return; each exchange will have its unique considerations.

    Future Market Expansion Directions: Focus on Asia and Europe

    Colin: Has your user base changed? You just mentioned the derivatives business, and in certain markets, you clearly cannot conduct derivatives trading. Has there been any adjustment in the geographic distribution of your users?

    Sheldon: Our derivatives business was relatively small before 2024. Compared to derivatives trading, spot trading has relatively lenient regulatory requirements, so we have remained in a relatively controllable state regarding regulatory pressure.

    From 2021 to 2024, there has been a noticeable change in our user distribution, shifting from primarily North American users to being dominated by Asian and European markets. Currently, our derivatives trading remains mainly concentrated in the Asian market, where user activity and trading demand are still the highest.

    Core Value of Retaining Users Lies in “Appreciation of Data Assets” and “Interactive Services”

    Colin: So, how is your overall revenue and profitability situation now? How has the company performed in terms of revenue?

    Sheldon: Overall, the situation is quite good. Our ability to list coins has always been strong. If you conduct market research, you will find that we are consistently one of the exchanges with the most and fastest listings in the industry. Our accelerated listing strategy has kept our overall revenue at a relatively stable high level, especially in terms of revenue from spot trading fees, where we have always maintained a leading position.

    In 2023, we explicitly proposed a strategy for diversifying our “revenue pillars,” expanding from solely spot revenue to include derivatives revenue. In 2024, the growth of derivatives trading significantly boosted our overall revenue. This has also led to some expansion within our team, though we still maintain streamlined operations. Currently, the company has nearly 500 employees, more than doubling in size compared to 2021.

    Colin: Will there be any new changes in the company’s strategy this year?

    Sheldon: Yes, BitMart’s core strategy has been evolving, but there is a core vision and mission that has never changed. Over the past five years, during every annual and quarterly meeting, we have repeatedly emphasized our vision—to become the infrastructure of the future Web3 world.

    Colin: You mentioned the vision that the company has consistently adhered to. If you were to summarize the core values of BitMart’s development over the years or the most important aspects of corporate culture, how would you define them?

    Sheldon: From a user-facing perspective, we have always aimed to provide a free trading venue, offering users the opportunity for asset selection, and creating an open, free, and trustworthy Web3 platform. Therefore, our products and trading tools are always designed from the user’s needs, striving to meet user demands as much as possible in terms of trading experience and asset support. This philosophy has enabled BitMart to maintain a high user retention rate and continuously expand its market.

    Colin: What kind of values do you advocate in terms of the company’s internal culture?

    Sheldon: The core values of our internal culture can be summarized in five keywords: trust, reliability, simplicity, efficiency, and persistence.

    These values permeate the company’s daily communication, strategy formulation, and business execution processes. Whether in team collaboration or decision-making in response to market changes, we consistently adhere to these five core principles.

    From the revenue strategy perspective, we are promoting the expansion from spot income to derivatives income to achieve diversified growth. From a long-term strategic viewpoint, this year we also formulated a “decentralized wallet strategy.” In the third quarter of 2025, we plan to launch our own decentralized wallet and integrate it with existing CEX wallets.

    For exchanges, the core value of retaining users lies in the “appreciation of data assets” and “interactive services.” The wallet strategy is extremely important to us as it is not merely a storage tool but also serves as the gateway for users to enter the Web3 world. Based on this entry point, we can establish a complete asset appreciation system and provide services such as asset management and information interaction. This aligns with the core direction of our long-term vision and mission.

    Colin: Is it necessary to develop a wallet in-house? For instance, acquiring existing on-chain products or wallets might also be a good choice, much like Binance acquiring Trust Wallet back in the day?

    Sheldon: Indeed, acquisition is a feasible option, but we have already built substantial technical expertise in this area. Our asset management framework also collaborates with some third-party custodians, such as Copper, Fireblocks, and Cobo. However, our internal team has accumulated significant experience in wallet technology over a long period. The year 2025 is a suitable time, so we decided to develop it in-house rather than pursue an acquisition directly.

    The Trend of Integration Between CEX and DEX

    Colin: Your strategy is also an issue that all CEXs must face. Just like in 2017 when Binance capitalized on the altcoin market boom, today CEXs may face challenges from DEX and on-chain economies. Do you think this challenge will fundamentally impact CEXs?

    Sheldon: I believe that CEX and DEX each have their distinct advantages, and the user groups they serve differ significantly. Currently, it is unlikely that the product forms of the two will fully merge in the short term, but in the medium to long term, CEX and DEX will gradually converge, borrowing from and integrating with each other’s technologies.

    For example, many DEXs rely on decentralized backends for clearing and settlement, but the front-end presentation and interaction still use centralized methods. Similarly, CEXs are beginning to integrate decentralized self-custody wallets into their internal centralized wallets, enhancing users’ control over their assets.

    I think that in the future, both CEX and DEX will continue to grow in market size and ultimately form a state of integration. DEXs have clear advantages in terms of transparency, self-custody, and censorship resistance, while CEXs still dominate in high-frequency trading, high liquidity, and support for complex trading strategies. Therefore, neither will completely replace the other; instead, they will continually move closer in their respective areas of expertise, forming a complementary relationship.

    Colin: Do you think the market space for CEX will become smaller? On one hand, it faces competition from DEX, and on the other, local compliance exchanges are also developing rapidly.

    Sheldon: This question needs to be analyzed separately. In terms of absolute market value, the market size of CEXs will continue to grow over the next 5 to 10 years. However, in terms of market share, the outlook may not be as optimistic.

    Currently, regulation on DEX is relatively lenient. For instance, the withdrawal of lawsuits against DEX-driven protocols like Uniswap has provided many opportunities for DEX to grow. Therefore, the market share of DEX may continue to rise.

    However, the growth of CEXs still relies on the overall expansion of assets in the crypto industry. Especially with the trend of digital financial assets, the advent of the AI era will generate a large number of new data assets, significantly increasing their application and interaction frequency. Overall, the market size of the industry (especially for CEX exchanges) will continue to grow and is unlikely to stagnate at least in the next 5 to 10 years.

    Nonetheless, changes in market share may suggest that more emerging entrepreneurs will find greater opportunities in DEX or other DeFi areas.

    Bitcoin Market Prediction: Long-Term Target of $1 Million, Short-Term Influenced by Federal Reserve Policies

    Colin: You have a lot of observations about the US market, and we’ve discussed the current market state. How do you see the upcoming market trend? What impact might adjustments in US policies have on the market? The US government is indeed loosening regulations and providing greater support to the industry, but at the same time, macro factors like rising inflation may have some influence on the market. How do you view the future market trends? From the company’s perspective, you must also assess these factors, as they will directly impact future investments and growth planning. Additionally, how do you view the opportunities that changes in the US regulatory environment may bring to the industry?

    Sheldon: From the perspective of the secondary market, Bitcoin has gradually decoupled from other asset classes, but it still remains highly correlated with US macroeconomic policies. Therefore, in the long term, most people’s view is consistent—Bitcoin will eventually rise to $1 million. However, in the short term, Bitcoin’s price movements are still largely dependent on the Federal Reserve’s interest rate cut policies, the inflow of funds for Bitcoin spot ETFs, and any potential national Bitcoin reserve plans.

    Currently, the downside potential for Bitcoin seems limited, and while market liquidity is somewhat constrained, Bitcoin’s fundamentals remain solid. However, aside from Bitcoin, the market situation for other crypto assets is relatively bleak. The market currently lacks new capital influx, and there are no truly valuable “trust-level” protocols or applications emerging from the product side. Therefore, in terms of value creation and liquidity, the entire market remains in a sluggish state.

    This recent market surge’s funding primarily comes from traditional financial institutions and the inflow of US ETFs. Bitcoin’s ultimate destination is to be held by banks and a few compliant custodians, rather than flowing into DEXs or unregulated entities as it did in the past. Thus, the overall leverage in the market has significantly decreased. In previous bull markets, offshore exchanges or unregulated entities had very high leverage, leading to market over-expansion, while the deleveraging process frequently resulted in liquidation waves, creating massive volatility. However, in this round, the leverage spillover effect is relatively weak; even though Bitcoin’s turnover rate is high, the proportion of retail holdings has significantly decreased. Consequently, the entire secondary market, especially the altcoin market, remains in a relatively challenging phase.

    Sheldon: From the perspective of the US policy environment, the potential return of Trump could bring certain opportunities to the market. In the past, the US government’s regulatory model was primarily enforcement-driven, as the crypto industry has long lacked clear legal foundations. Enforcement mainly relied on securities laws and anti-money laundering regulations. Furthermore, multiple agencies (SEC, CFTC, DOJ, etc.) have regulated the crypto industry under a traditional financial framework, with a very tough stance. This multi-agency regulatory model has led to a significant outflow of domestic companies, causing market funds to remain in a prolonged wait-and-see state.

    Trump’s election, while not immediately resulting in new legislation, could positively influence the regulatory attitude. From the legislative process perspective, after a bill is proposed in the House, it needs to be reviewed by the Senate, followed by multiple rounds of amendments. Therefore, forming a stable regulatory framework will take a long time. However, the Trump administration’s attitude might bring short-term positive impacts on the market, especially for institutional investors who are currently hesitant, as this could serve as an important incentive, releasing suppressed market capital and the energy for product innovation.

    Currently, enforcement agencies maintain a strong crackdown on illegal activities and financial crimes in the crypto industry. However, in terms of securities regulation, especially regarding innovative businesses involving crypto assets, such as tokenization and DeFi compliance, there is a possibility of greater policy leniency. Overall, the trend suggests that the future US crypto industry will gain a more stable policy environment to a certain extent, rather than being in a high-pressure and uncertain state as in the past few years.

    Colin: But are you concerned that US policies may undergo drastic changes with party shifts? For instance, two or four years down the line, if Congress changes, could there be a significant reversal in policy direction?

    Sheldon: That possibility does exist, and it can even be said to be highly likely. This four-year period is better described as a postponement of enforcement rather than a cessation. For example, several crypto-related companies were prosecuted right before the election last year, and some significant fines and settlements were also finalized during Biden’s term. If political parties change again in four years, the likelihood of stricter regulatory policies remains high. 

    About BitMart
    BitMart is the premier global digital asset trading platform. With millions of users worldwide and ranked among the top crypto exchanges on CoinGecko, it currently offers 1,700+ trading pairs with competitive trading fees. Constantly evolving and growing, BitMart is interested in crypto’s potential to drive innovation and promote financial inclusion. New users can register here to unlock an $8,000+ welcome bonus.

    Disclaimer:
    Use of BitMart services is entirely at your own risk. All crypto investments, including earnings, are highly speculative in nature and involve substantial risk of loss. Past, hypothetical, or simulated performance is not necessarily indicative of future results.

    The value of digital currencies can go up or down and there can be a substantial risk in buying, selling, holding, or trading digital currencies. You should carefully consider whether trading or holding digital currencies is suitable for you based on your personal investment objectives, financial circumstances, and risk tolerance. BitMart does not provide any investment, legal, or tax advice.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: The Oppression the Left Forgot

    Source: ACT Party

    The Haps

    Your property is safe as Parliament is shut and David Seymour is the Acting Prime Minister. Yesterday, ACT made the big announcement that for the first time ever, we’re seeking candidates to stand in local council elections. We want common-sense Kiwis to champion lower rates, less waste, equal rights, and an end to the war on cars. If that sounds like you, learn more at actlocal.nz.

    Meanwhile ACT MPs have been out in force at A&P Shows and Field Days, they report tremendous support from rural New Zealand and we are grateful to hear it.

    The Oppression the Left Forgot

    Besides a pandemic, the last decade has consisted of economic paralysis and cultural division as Governments dumped years of live-and-let-live liberalism to focus on identity politics. Jacinda Ardern and Justin Trudeau were the pin ups for this dismal movement, managing to tank their respective countries’ economies and make everyone angry at each other.

    Free Press regrets to inform you that the DEI brigade missed a large oppressed group. This group has disastrous education statistics, lives years less than the national average, in part because of their high suicide rates, and is far more likely to be arrested, charged, sentenced, and imprisoned. Some speculate this is due to years of violence, including being held in state institutions, and in armed conflict.

    In recent years, prominent members of this group have been forced by their managers into public humiliation, pronouncing that they’re sorry for being part of this group. The group is regularly ridiculed in media and advertising, and not expected to complain.

    The group is, of course, men. If any other group had the social statistics men do, there would be a special ministry, a ‘day,’ targeted support programs, and probably quotas to help them on their way.

    That there is none of that, and that some people will be angry to read any of this, is just one of those modern mysteries. Why are men such a blind spot for all the luvvies, despite dismal social statistics that would normally justify an entire Government department?

    Some will point out that women do face serious problems. Domestic and sexual violence are overwhelmingly problems for women. Even today there is a connection between domestic work and earned income. Claudia Goldin won the Nobel prize for explaining the remaining gender pay gap this way.

    Other people having problems, or even causing other peoples’ problems, has never stopped the luvvies before. There must be some better reason why men’s abysmal suffering is not the subject of some major leftie sympathy.

    Our best theory is that men doing badly blows up the whole DEI identity politics movement of the past decade. The movement’s basic story is that if anything is wrong in the world it’s because bad people have been oppressing them, perhaps for hundreds of years.

    Why are Māori doing badly in the stats? Colonisation. Women? The patriarchy. LGBTQI+. So many reasons. There is even a fattist movement claiming ‘society’ has designed its aeroplane seats, magazines, and institutions to silence fat voices (we are not making this up).

    But who oppressed men? Men can’t be oppressed. They are needed to play the villain of the piece. In a play where everyone is a victim or a villain for historic reasons, not everyone can be good, and certainly not those needed to be bad.

    A worse conclusion would be that women are oppressing boys. Practically all early childhood teachers, six-out-of-seven primary teachers, and two-out-of-three high school teachers are women.

    If it was the other way around the picture would seem sinister. Perhaps teacher gender is why last year 42 per cent of girls came out of high school with University Entrance compared with 32 per cent of boys. Oddly this explanation of oppression by a dominant group has not been emerged.

    Nor should it. The whole idea that we are not thinking and valuing individuals but instead members of a group is bunk. It’s led to more division and anger than it’s worth (which is not much to start with). It’s disempowered people by making them think they are products of history, instead of masters of their own destiny.

    A better way is to let people problem solve by innovating. Charter schools are a pin-up example of this. Vanguard Military School (run by ex-servicemen), and Te Aratika Academy (run by a civil construction firm) offered different education that some might see as filling the male role-model gap in education.

    The same could be said for most problems we’re currently blaming on colonisation, the patriarchy, or whatever cause du jour is on people’s minds. More innovation in social services, more economic opportunity for people who want to take it, a more dynamic and innovative society generally is what’s needed.

    For all those who still think the world is made up of victims and villains, with the past made up of endless oppression, what are you doing for men?

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cantwell Leads Seattle Doctors and Patients in Saying No to Medicaid Cuts

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell

    03.18.25

    Cantwell Leads Seattle Doctors and Patients in Saying No to Medicaid Cuts

    Cantwell releases second snapshot report featuring new data about Medicaid’s crucial role in keeping Seattle-area residents healthy

    SEATTLE, WA  – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), senior member of the Senate Finance Committee and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, held a press conference with Seattle-area health care professionals and patients to discuss the harms that would result from proposed cuts to Medicaid.

    “This is a tsunami of cuts coming at the people of Washington and the United States of America,” said Sen. Cantwell, “And I guarantee you this is not a drill.”

    Whitney Stohr, advocate and mother of Malachi, who was born with spina bifida, spoke about Medicaid’s role in her son’s treatment: “While I was taking care of him in those early days in the hospital I knew that there was no way my family could afford the care. We couldn’t pay for it then, we couldn’t pay for it now – at least not without Medicaid.”

    “For families like mine, for kids like Malachi, Medicaid is the lifeline,” Stohr added.

    McKenzi Fish, a childhood cancer survivor and founder of Forever Fighters, who was covered by Medicaid during her fight against Hodgkin lymphoma as a teenager, said: ”Fourteen months of my treatments, scans, medications, and tests would have cost her [single mom] $500,000 … Cancer fighters endure many challenges emotionally, mentally, and physically during their fight. Financial worries and complications should not serve as an additional stress to an already exhausting struggle.”

    “Cuts of the magnitude that are being discussed are existential for Harborview,” said Sommer Kleweno-Walley, CEO of Harborview Medical Center. “We simply could not exist as we do today if the proposals being discussed were to move forward.”

    On February 25, House Republicans voted to advance President Trump’s budget resolution, which proposes up to an $880 billion cut from Medicaid.

    Also today, Sen. Cantwell released a second snapshot report with new data showing the crucial role that Medicaid – known as Apple Health in Washington state – plays in funding Seattle-area health care.

    • Medicaid funded 22.6% of inpatient care and 18.1% of outpatient care at hospitals in Western Washington in 2023. Western Washington hospitals saw 623,549 Medicaid patients in 2023.
    • In the Federal Way, Burien, SeaTac, and Kent areas, more than 70% of children are enrolled in Apple Health (Medicaid in the State of Washington).
    • Medicaid is the largest payer at Seattle Children’s, accounting for over 50% of patients. 39% of Harborview’s revenue came from Medicaid in 2024.
    • The State of Washington ranks 51st in the nation in patient-to-bed ratio, at 1.6 beds per 1,000 residents. By causing likely closures of hospitals in rural areas, Medicaid cuts would worsen our state’s patient-to-bed ratio.

    “We need everyone to call their member of Congress and the White House and say ‘this level of massive cuts to Medicaid is not what we want,’” said Sen. Cantwell.

    Last month, Sen. Cantwell released a snapshot report highlighting the impact that slashing Medicaid to fund tax cuts for corporations and the ultra-wealthy would have on the health care system statewide.

    That snapshot included new data on the percentage of Medicaid patients in each of the State of Washington’s U.S. congressional districts, as well as by region. In the 7th Congressional District, 26% of children and 12% of adults are on Medicaid. In the 9th Congressional District, 56% of children and 21% of adults are on Medicaid.

    The other speakers at today’s event were Dr. Jason Deen, Associate Professor of Pediatrics and pediatric cardiologist at the University of Washington; Dr. Ettore Palazzo, CEO of Evergreen Health; and Yi-Hui Chi, Behavioral Health Director at Neighborcare Health. Their comments can be viewed on video.

    Video of today’s entire press conference is HERE; video of Sen. Cantwell’s remarks is HERE; photos are HERE; and a transcript is HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: As the rescued astronauts return, space law is still in orbit over who’s responsible when missions go wrong

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anna Marie Brennan, Senior Lecturer in Law, University of Waikato

    Getty Images

    Now back on Earth thanks to Space X’s Dragon capsule, astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore will be breathing fresh air again after a gruelling nine months onboard the International Space Station.

    Stranded in June 2024 after their experimental Boeing Starliner spacecraft malfunctioned and was deemed too risky to carry passengers back to Earth, their stay was further extended last week when the recovery mission was postponed due to launchpad problems.

    A successful rescue mission will be a relief to NASA, which had the unprecedented task of figuring out how to get the astronauts home. But the crisis has also raised difficult questions about space missions and what happens if they don’t go to plan.

    This is complicated by civilians now going into space, including actor William Shatner and business tycoons Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson. Later this year, pop star Katy Perry and talk show host Gayle King will blast off on board Blue Origin’s NS-31 Mission.

    Corporations such as SpaceX, Blue Origin, Rocket Lab and Virgin Galactic are increasingly at the forefront of the new space race, but they operate in a legal vacuum as well as an atmospheric one.

    With the law not keeping pace with this rapid rise in commercial space exploration and exploitation, just who has a duty to rescue so-called space tourists and astronauts is unclear. Urgent legal reform is needed.

    Privatisation of space

    International space law contains a special duty for countries to rescue astronauts, regardless of their nationality.

    According to the United Nations Agreement on the Rescue of Astronauts, all member countries of the treaty, not just the country that launched the mission, have a duty to take “all necessary steps” to assist spacecraft crew in distress.

    This includes missions still in space as well as spacecraft that crash land in another state’s territory or at sea. The state conducting the rescue mission must safely return the astronauts to Earth – and to the country they originally launched from.

    But it’s not clear whether private space companies will have a similar duty. Some experts worry space tourists may have no real legal protection.

    Space law dates from the 20th century, when the 1967 Outer Space Treaty was adopted. But the original space race involved superpowers, and the possibility of corporations one day crossing the “final frontier” wasn’t even considered.

    So, if space tourists become stranded like Williams and Wilmore have been, there’s a possibility – in law at least – they could be left to fend for themselves.

    NASA’s Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams on their way to the launch craft of the ill-fated mission in June 2024.
    Getty Images

    Who is an ‘astronaut’?

    Space policy experts are now calling on the international community to adopt a broad interpretation of the term “astronaut” to ensure anyone has a right to be rescued regardless of their legal status.

    They’re also calling for new rules to determine who is responsible for rescuing private citizens if they get into trouble. Despite the several treaties and conventions regulating space activity, none address space tourism.

    Currently, space tourism involves lower atmosphere travel, but SpaceX’s Elon Musk has talked about sending tourists to Mars. However realistic that is, space law is struggling to keep up with such ambitions.

    With the rise of private space missions, there is now a strong argument for the companies involved being required to shoulder or share the associated costs and responsibilities.

    Described by the UN Office of Outer Space Affairs as “envoys of humankind”, astronauts undergo years of arduous training before taking part in space missions. They are acutely aware of the risks of space travel – but have embraced it.

    The same can’t be said for civilians. Space tourism is still in its early days, but the companies promoting it will need to act responsibly and sustainably. This means making their customers aware of the dangers and implementing rescue procedures and protocols.

    Without proper regulatory oversight, however, space tourism companies could require prospective customers to sign legal agreements waiving their right to rescue if they are in danger.

    The challenge for space law now is to find a workable compromise between human safety and corporate profit motives.

    Anna Marie Brennan 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. As the rescued astronauts return, space law is still in orbit over who’s responsible when missions go wrong – https://theconversation.com/as-the-rescued-astronauts-return-space-law-is-still-in-orbit-over-whos-responsible-when-missions-go-wrong-252594

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Putin makes paltry concession to Ukraine in Trump’s self-aggrandizing ceasefire effort

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By James Horncastle, Assistant Professor and Edward and Emily McWhinney Professor in International Relations, Simon Fraser University

    Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to a proposal by United States President Donald Trump for Russia and Ukraine to stop attacking each other’s energy infrastructure for 30 days, according to statements by both the White House and the Kremlin.

    The deal, however, falls short of an unconditional 30-day ceasefire proposed by U.S. and Ukrainian officials earlier this month.

    Russia’s response to the initial U.S. ceasefire proposal has been predictable. Putin has argued that considerable changes need to be made to the original proposal, though he didn’t outright reject it.

    Given the earlier proposal is highly vague, this leads to one conclusion. Russia is playing for time to maximize its negotiating position.

    Trump’s latest phone call with Putin seemingly didn’t amount to any substantive changes, except for Russia’s agreement to refrain from targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure — a concession that might actually benefit Russia.

    The winter, when Ukraine is most vulnerable to Russian attacks on its energy infrastructure, is almost done. Russia’s dependence on energy exports to support its war effort, however, remains constant, and any Ukrainian attacks on Russian energy facilities will be framed as a breach by Russian authorities.

    Russia exploiting Trump’s desire for peace at any cost will probably be an ongoing trend.

    Trump’s goal

    The U.S. is playing an important role in peace negotiations. Under former president Joe Biden, this was due to the fact that the U.S. provided Ukraine with arms and moral support.

    Like most aspects of American policy, however, Trump dramatically pivoted, even attacking Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an infamous White House meeting in February. Now Trump is seeking a ceasefire, no matter what form it takes, to build a reputation as a statesman and distract Americans from domestic policy issues.



    Read more:
    What the U.S. ceasefire proposal means for Ukraine, Russia, Europe – and Donald Trump

    This development places Zelenskyy in a political bind. The U.S. in the past provided most of the military aid to Ukraine and the relationship between the Ukrainian leader and Trump is acrimonious.

    As such, even if Zelenskyy doesn’t agree with American ceasefire proposals, he must give the appearance of agreement or risk permanently alienating the mercurial Trump. Putin, in the meantime, will exploit any Ukrainian-American tensions.

    Current military situation

    The first year of the current phase of the Ukraine-Russia war was marked by mobility as both Russia and Ukraine made considerable advances and counteroffensives.

    Since the start of 2023, however, the conflict is increasingly defined as a war of attrition and a stalemate.

    Many analysts argue that such a war favours Russia. Wars of attrition are defined by slow, grinding advances whereby large casualties are a necessary byproduct for success. Given Russia’s material and personnel advantages, it can afford to suffer higher casualties.

    For the past several months, Russian forces have been making slow, steady advances against Ukrainian positions. Russia has suffered significant casualties in these advances, and they may not be sustainable over the long term.

    Putin is gambling that Ukraine’s and the international community’s will to fight will be broken by the time this is an issue. Trump’s push for a ceasefire at any cost suggests Putin may have a point.

    Any immediate ceasefire agreement between Russia and Ukraine would leave Ukraine occupying Russian soil in the Kursk region, which Russia cannot accept.

    Russia’s immediate goal

    Ukraine’s 2024 incursion into the Kursk region provided the country and its people with a necessary respite from the war of attrition. Ukrainian forces, attacking an under-defended and unprepared part of the Russian front line, made significant advances into Russia.

    Ukraine’s ability to maintain territory around Kursk has also proven to be an embarrassment for Putin and the Russian establishment.

    Putin recently said Russian forces encircled Ukrainian forces in the salient, although Ukraine denies it. Regardless of the statement’s validity, it speaks to the importance both parties attach to the battle.

    Russia’s reputation

    This issue highlights a particular problem for the Russian leadership. Russia has done its utmost to frame its so-called “special military operation” in Ukraine as a success. An example is Russia’s formal annexation of four Ukrainian areas in 2022, despite not actually possessing the territory at the time.

    Any perception of the invasion of Ukraine as a failure is a non-starter for a Russian government concerned about its domestic standing.

    Ukraine possessing Russian territory, however, leads to questions in Russia about the war’s success. Ukraine, in exchange for relinquishing any Russian territory it seized during the war, would undoubtedly seek the return of Ukrainian territory.

    Russia has not even achieved its minimal goals of seizing the four Ukrainian regions it’s officially annexed. Therefore, it’s unlikely Putin would ever agree to the exchange of the territory it has actually already seized in exchange for the Kursk salient.

    Putin is following the Russian playbook of negotiating from strength. So long as Ukraine maintains Kursk, Russia will not negotiate in good faith.

    While Kursk is the most prominent area of Russia concern, there are other conditions that will become important in the future as Putin seeks to improve Russia’s negotiating position.

    It’s a lesson that Trump will soon learn, despite any and all efforts he or his administration make to frame things positively.

    James Horncastle 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. Putin makes paltry concession to Ukraine in Trump’s self-aggrandizing ceasefire effort – https://theconversation.com/putin-makes-paltry-concession-to-ukraine-in-trumps-self-aggrandizing-ceasefire-effort-252368

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Investing nearly $5B in Alberta’s north

    [. In the province’s latest budget, $4.4 billion is being allocated in operating expenses and $475 million for capital expenses to Alberta’s north region.

    Alberta’s northern communities are vital to the province’s identity, prosperity and success. There is no question, Alberta’s northern communities face unique opportunities and challenges that must be addressed today. Budget 2025, if passed, is meeting the challenges faced by Alberta with continued investments in economic development, education, health, transportation and more.

    Jobs, Economy and Trade:

    If passed, Budget 2025 strengthens northern Alberta’s workforce and regional economies through strategic supports and investments, including $9 million over the next three years through the Northern and Regional Economic Development Program (NRED) and $1.5 million allocated over three years for the Northern Alberta Development Bursary, to attract and retain skilled professionals to grow and diversify northern economies. Alberta’s government is also investing $111 million in affordability and wage-top-up grants to child care operators in northern Alberta so northern families can access quality child care.

    Regarding regional supports, $45 million is being allocated over three years to the Investment and Growth Fund to increase Alberta’s competitiveness and attract investment across the province, including in the north. Budget 2025 invests $3 million in the Alberta Export Expansion Program over three years to enhance access for Alberta-based businesses to international markets for export-ready organizations. Alberta’s government is also investing $235 million in the Alberta Film and Television Tax Credit over the next three years to grow the film and television sector in Alberta, with 30 per cent tax credits available for qualifying northern and rural productions.

    “By driving strategic economic development, attracting investment with a business-friendly environment and empowering our northern workforce, our government is ensuring Alberta’s north remains an economic engine, fueling growth and industry diversification for years to come.”

    Matt Jones, Minister of Jobs, Economy and Trade

    Northern Development:

    Alberta’s government has engaged with business owners, municipalities and economic development organizations from communities across northern Alberta who shared their specific barriers to economic growth, such as workforce retention and attraction, transportation, infrastructure and affordable housing. If passed, Budget 2025 makes important investments to address those challenges and create more opportunities for Albertan workers and business owners based in the north.

    “Northern Alberta has limitless opportunity. Investing in much-needed supports today, like the Northern and Regional Economic Development Program and Northern Alberta Development Bursary, will empower communities to succeed, setting the foundation for northern communities to thrive for generations to come.”

    Tany Yao, parliamentary secretary for small business and northern development

    Education:

    Last fall, Alberta’s government announced a program to accelerate school construction and build new classroom spaces. If passed, Budget 2025 would invest $225 million over three years for school projects across Alberta, including for planning and design of five new school projects in the north. Alberta’s government is investing in Cold Lake, Fairview, Grand Prairie and two schools in Fort McMurray. In Cold Lake, a new school will replace the Art Smith Aviation Academy, North Star Elementary School and Cold Lake Junior High. An addition to the Grande Prairie Composite High School will make room for more students in the community, while families in Fairview can look forward to new schools to replace existing and aging ones. In Fort McMurray, families can look forward to an addition to Holy Trinity Catholic High School and a modernization of École Dickinsfield School which will accommodate growing student populations.

    “Budget 2025, if passed, will provide five new schools and the teachers and staff needed to support them to northern Alberta communities. Alberta’s government remains committed to providing a world-class education to students in every corner of the province.”

    Demetrios Nicolaides, Minister of Education

    Health:

    If passed, Budget 2025 includes $15 million in planning funds for eight new urgent care centres, including in Cold Lake and Fort McMurray. It also includes an increase of $12 million for the existing Rural Remote Northern Program and $12 million annually for physician support programs. Alberta’s government is also upgrading hospitals and facilities across the province and is investing in innovation to make Alberta an in-demand destination for researchers. Capital projects include $80 million over three years for the La Crete Maternity and Community Health Centre, and $18 million over two years to fund furnishings, equipment and IT infrastructure for the new Mountview Health Complex in the town of Beaverlodge, as well as a $170-million capital lease to operate the new facility. Additionally, Budget 2025 includes funding to complete the expansion of the town of Slave Lake’s EMS station.

    “Budget 2025 prioritizes the health of people in northern Alberta with investments in urgent care centres and vital infrastructure upgrades. These initiatives will help strengthen communities, improve access to care and support sustainable growth across the region.”

    Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Health

    Transportation and Economic Corridors:

    If passed, Budget 2025 also includes funding for multiple highways and bridges, with funding already announced earlier this month. Alberta’s northern communities are vital to our province’s identity and success, and that is why Budget 2025 invests $1.25 billion in the north to expand emergency routes in northern Alberta – because when disaster strikes, every second counts.

    “Alberta’s rapid growth demands bold action. That’s why we are making historic investments in transportation and water infrastructure to keep our communities thriving, businesses competitive and families supported. These projects will create jobs, boost trade and ensure Alberta remains the best place to live, work and build a future.”

    Devin Dreeshen, Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors

    Advanced Education:

    If passed, Budget 2025 also invests $2 million in 2025-26 for the expansion and upgrades of Keyano College in Fort McMurray to provide an enhanced learning environment for in-demand programs like nursing and paramedicine to help address labour needs in Alberta’s health care system. Budget 2025 also invests $1 million towards planning for the skilled trades expansion at Northwestern Polytechnic in Grande Prairie, which will help meet demand for skilled tradespeople to build Alberta’s growing economy. Further, Budget 2025 allocates a total of almost $9 million for capital maintenance and renewal projects at the following northern Alberta post-secondary institutions:

    • Athabasca University
    • Keyano College
    • Lakeland College
    • Northern Lakes College
    • Portage College
    • Northwestern Polytechnic

    “Alberta’s government is ensuring students in northern Alberta and across the province have access to high-quality post-secondary education. That is why we are making significant investments in northern Alberta through Budget 2025 that will upgrade facilities and create more seats in high-demand programs.”

    Rajan Sawhney, Minister of Advanced Education

    Other Supports:

    As extra support for the 2024-2025 Northern and Regional Economic Development (NRED) program, Alberta’s government is pleased to announce an additional $7 million will be allocated towards last year’s grant intake. For 2024-25, NRED will provide over 80 grants worth approximately $10 million.

    “The Northern and Regional Economic Development grant supports business growth in Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo. More than 100 local businesses have benefited from programs funded through this grant so far – and we’re very excited to continue the success in 2025.”

    Melonie Doucette, director of entrepreneurship and innovation, Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo Economic Development and Tourism

    “The 2025 Alberta provincial budget provides continuing support for the work of regional economic development and continues to support the growth of rural Alberta. Investments in infrastructure are key to ensure our commodities move to market and our rural economy continues to grow and provide for the needs of all Albertans today and into the future.”

    Gerald S. Aalbers, mayor, City of Lloydminster and chair, Northeast Alberta Information HUB

    “The province’s investment in northern Alberta is good news for supporting the region’s continued economic growth and acknowledging the unique difficulties of maintaining infrastructure and delivering services in the rural north. Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) is hopeful that government will work with the region’s rural municipalities to ensure the investments are targeted for maximum community and regional benefit.”

    Kara Westerlund, president, RMA

    Through strategic investments in the north, Alberta’s government is tackling challenges head-on, laying the foundation for long-term prosperity and success.

    Budget 2025 is meeting the challenge faced by Alberta communities with continued investments in education and health, lower taxes for families and a focus on the economy.

    Quick facts:

    If passed, Budget 2025 invests:

    • $264 million in new funding for highway projects across northern Alberta, including:
      • Paving Highway 58 to improve mobility for more than 5,500 local residents, boost economic activity and allow unimpeded access for emergency vehicles.
      • Paving Highway 686 between Peerless Lake and Trout Lake and commencing design work to extend the highway from Fort McMurray to Peerless Lake.
      • Detailed design work to improve safety on Highway 28, a critical transportation route serving the Cold Lake oil sands deposits and the Cold Lake 4th Wing Air Base.
    • $225 million over three years for school projects across Alberta, including for planning and design of five new school projects in the north
    • $189 million over three years for the Beaverlodge Health Centre replacement
    • $111 million is being provided for affordability and wage-top-up grants to child care operators in northern Alberta.
    • $101 million over three years to twin Highway 63 North of Fort McMurray
    • $87 million over three years for the La Crete bridge
    • $80 million over three years for the La Crete Maternity and Community Health Centre
    • $2 million in 2025-26 for the expansion and upgrades of Keyano College in Fort McMurray to provide an enhanced learning environment for in-demand programs like nursing and paramedicine to help address labour needs in Alberta’s health care system.

    Related information

    • NRED Program
    • NADB
    • Northern Alberta Development Council (NADC)
    • Film and Television Tax Credit

    Related news

    • Enhancing safety and economic growth in the north (March 4, 2025)
    • Cultivating economic growth in rural Alberta (May 3, 2024)

    Multimedia

    • Watch the news conference

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Funding for Modul University Vienna – E-000458/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The Council Implementing Decision 2022/2056 (CID)[1] sets out measures to protect the EU budget from breaches of the principles of the rule of law in Hungary under the mechanism established by the Conditionality Regulation[2].

    Under Article 2(2) of the CID no legal commitments shall be entered into with any public interest trust established on the basis of the Hungarian Act IX of 2021 or any entity maintained by such a public interest trust.

    The CID stipulates in its Article 2 that the Commission (and the implementing bodies that it entrusts with budget implementation in indirect management such as the Erasmus+ National Agency in Hungary) cannot enter into legal commitments with these public interest trusts or entities maintained by them, as listed in the annex to this Act.

    This list includes 25 higher education institutions where there is a risk of possible conflicts of interest in the boards of these trusts.

    As regards the Modul University Vienna, an assessment of its ownership structure, carried out by the Erasmus+ National Agency in Austria on the basis of documentation provided by the university itself, concluded that since 12 May 2023 it is to be considered an entity maintained by Mathias Corvinus Collegium, a public interest trust listed in the annex to the Hungarian Act IX of 2021. Communication on this assessment was conducted exclusively with Modul University.

    EU-funded projects, including under Erasmus+, managed by entities that are not concerned by the Hungarian Act IX of 2021, continue to be implemented.

    • [1] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2022/2506/oj/eng
    • [2] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2020/2092/oj/eng
    Last updated: 18 March 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Highlights – Exchange of views on the future of European University Alliances – Committee on Culture and Education

    Source: European Parliament

    University © Adobe Stock

    On March 19th, the Committee on Culture and Education will hold an exchange of views on the future of European University Alliances. The discussion will focus on plans to make the European University Alliances sustainable and strengthen them to enhance Europe’s global competitiveness and innovation and touch upon the European Degree.

    The Key speakers will be Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, Prof. Szeptycki for the Polish Presidency and Ms. Susanne Conze from the European Commission.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Universities – Research finds significant shortfalls in early intervention psychosis services – Vic

    Source: Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington

    A survey of early intervention services for people suffering from psychosis has found medical care is not being provided early enough, with many patients not seen until after they have been hospitalised. Researchers say these shortfalls are linked to a lack of resources.

    “A key purpose of early intervention is to provide care before a person’s condition worsens and they need hospital treatment. However, we found the ‘early’ part of early psychosis care is significantly lacking in New Zealand,” said Dr Rebecca Grattan, lead author of the study and a psychology lecturer at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.

    The study surveyed all 12 early intervention psychosis services in New Zealand, assessing them against international standards for care. These services were set up to provide treatment for people suffering from psychosis symptoms, such as hallucinations and delusions, in the first two years of symptoms occurring.

    “One of the accepted international standards for early psychosis care is that at least 80 percent of patients are seen before their symptoms are so severe they end up in hospital. However, just one of the 12 services we surveyed was able to meet this standard,” said Dr Grattan.

    The study also found most services restricted access by setting age limits for treatment.

    “Age limits for care differed across the services. The lower end of the age range varied from 13 to 18 years and the upper end from 25 to 30 years. While younger people are more at risk of psychosis, people in older age groups can also experience symptoms. Age restrictions mean there will be at-risk people who won’t be eligible to receive care.”

    A lack of services in some areas, particularly rural areas, was also identified by the study.

    “Some areas don’t have a dedicated early intervention psychosis service. This is more likely to affect people living in rural areas, including rural areas with a high Māori population, which are not well-served.”

    When early intervention services can be accessed, the survey results suggest the care patients receive is comparable to that in Canada and California where similar studies have been done, said Dr Grattan.  

    “Services in New Zealand appear to be meeting many of the standards considered to be best practice, such as completing comprehensive initial assessments and providing care for up to two years. The big problem they face is having the resources to provide care early enough to everyone who needs it,” she said.

    Results of the study have been published in the journal Early Intervention in Psychiatry. The study was carried out from 2022 to 2024.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Invites Media to 62nd Annual Goddard Space Science Symposium

    Source: NASA

    Media are invited to meet leaders in the space community during the 62nd annual Goddard Space Science Symposium, taking place from Wednesday, March 19, to Friday, March 21, at Martin’s Crosswinds in Greenbelt, Maryland. The symposium will also be streamed online.
    Hosted by the American Astronautical Society (AAS) in conjunction with NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, the symposium examines the current state and future of space science and space exploration at large by convening leading minds across NASA, other government agencies, policy, academia, and industry – collectively navigating a path forward by identifying the opportunities and challenges ahead.
    This year’s theme, “Pathways and Partnerships for U.S. Leadership in Earth and Space Science,” highlights the evolving collaborative landscape between the public and private sectors, as well as how it is helping the United States remain and grow as a leading space power. 
    “Earth and space science are complex by nature, with a growing list of public and private enterprises carving out their space,” said Christa Peters-Lidard, co-chair of the symposium planning committee and Goddard’s director of sciences and exploration. “It’s an exciting time as we work to determine the future trajectory of space exploration in this new era, and the Goddard Space Science Symposium is an instrumental tool for gathering the insights of leading experts across a broad spectrum.”
    AAS President Ron Birk and Goddard Deputy Center Director Cynthia Simmons will deliver the symposium’s opening remarks on March 19, followed by panels on enabling science and exploration from the Moon to Mars and navigating space science and exploration policy. Greg Autry, associate provost for space commercialization and strategy at the University of Central Florida, will deliver the keynote address. The first day will conclude with an industry night reception.
    The second day of the symposium on Thursday, March 20, will feature panels on enhancing U.S. economic leadership through science, the Habitable Worlds Observatory, and the confluence of public science and the private sector. Gillian Bussey, deputy chief science officer for the U.S. Space Force, will serve as the luncheon speaker.
    Panels on the third and final day, March 21, will discuss integrating multi-sector data to advance Earth and space science, the Heliophysics Decadal Survey, and the space weather enterprise. Mark Clampin, acting deputy associate administrator for the NASA Science Mission Directorate, will provide the luncheon address.
    Media interested in arranging interviews with NASA speakers should contact Jacob Richmond, Goddard acting news chief.
    For more information on the Goddard Space Science Symposium and the updated program, or to register as a media representative, visit https://astronautical.org/events/goddard.
    For more information on NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, visit https://www.nasa.gov/goddard.
    Media Contact:Jacob RichmondNASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Atomic Layer Processing Coating Techniques Enable Missions to See Further into the Ultraviolet

    Source: NASA

    Astrophysics observations at ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths often probe the most dynamic aspects of the universe. However, the high energy of ultraviolet photons means that their interaction with the materials that make up an observing instrument are less efficient, resulting in low overall throughput. New approaches in the development of thin film coatings are addressing this shortcoming by engineering the coatings of instrument structures at the atomic scale.
    Researchers at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) are employing atomic layer deposition (ALD) and atomic layer etching (ALE) to enable new coating technologies for instruments measuring ultraviolet light. Conventional optical coatings largely rely on physical vapor deposition (PVD) methods like evaporation, where the coating layer is formed by vaporizing the source material and then condensing it onto the intended substrate. In contrast, ALD and ALE rely on a cyclic series of self-limiting chemical reactions that result in the deposition (or removal) of material one atomic layer at a time. This self-limiting characteristic results in a coating or etchings that are conformal over arbitrary shapes with precisely controlled layer thickness determined by the number of ALD or ALE cycles performed.
    The ALD and ALE techniques are common in the semiconductor industry where they are used to fabricate high-performance transistors. Their use as an optical coating method is less common, particularly at ultraviolet wavelengths where the choice of optical coating material is largely restricted to metal fluorides instead of more common metal oxides, due to the larger optical band energy of fluoride materials, which minimizes absorption losses in the coatings. Using an approach based on co-reaction with hydrogen fluoride, the team at JPL has developed a variety of fluoride-based ALD and ALE processes.

    In addition to these metal-fluoride materials, layers of aluminum are often used to construct structures like reflective mirrors and bandpass filters for instruments operating in the UV.  Although aluminum has high intrinsic UV reflectance, it also readily forms a surface oxide that strongly absorbs UV light. The role of the metal fluoride coating is then to protect the aluminum surface from oxidation while maintaining enough transparency to create a mirror with high reflectance.
    The use of ALD in this context has initially been pursued in the development of telescope optics for two SmallSat astrophysics missions that will operate in the UV: the Supernova remnants and Proxies for ReIonization Testbed Experiment (SPRITE) CubeSat mission led by Brian Fleming at the University of Colorado Boulder, and the Aspera mission led by Carlos Vargas at the University of Arizona. The mirrors for SPRITE and Aspera have reflective coatings that utilize aluminum protected by lithium fluoride using a novel PVD processes developed at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, and an additional very thin top coating of magnesium fluoride deposited via ALD.

    The use of lithium fluoride enables SPRITE and Aspera to “see” further into the UV than other missions like NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope, which uses only magnesium fluoride to protect its aluminum mirror surfaces. However, a drawback of lithium fluoride is its sensitivity to moisture, which in some cases can cause the performance of these mirror coatings to degrade on the ground prior to launch. To circumvent this issue, very thin layers (~1.5 nanometers) of magnesium fluoride were deposited by ALD on top of the lithium fluoride on the SPRITE and Aspera mirrors. The magnesium fluoride layers are thin enough to not strongly impact the performance of the mirror at the shortest wavelengths, but thick enough to enhance the stability against humidity during ground phases of the missions. Similar approaches are being considered for the mirror coatings of the future NASA flagship Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO).
    Multilayer structures of aluminum and metal fluorides can also function as bandpass filters (filters that allow only signals within a selected range of wavelengths to pass through to be recorded) in the UV. Here, ALD is an attractive option due to the inherent repeatability and precise thickness control of the process. There is currently no suitable ALD process to deposit aluminum, and so additional work by the JPL team has explored the development of a custom vacuum coating chamber that combines the PVD aluminum and ALD fluoride processes described above. This system has been used to develop UV bandpass filters that can be deposited directly onto imaging sensors like silicon (Si) CCDs. These coatings can enable such sensors to operate with high UV efficiency, but low sensitivity to longer wavelength visible photons that would otherwise add background noise to the UV observations.
    Structures composed of multilayer aluminum and metal fluoride coatings have recently been delivered as part of a UV camera to the Star-Planet Activity Research CubeSat (SPARCS) mission led by Evgenya Shkolnik at Arizona State University. The JPL-developed camera incorporates a delta-doped Si CCD with the ALD/PVD filter coating on the far ultraviolet channel, yielding a sensor with high efficiency in a band centered near 160 nm with low response to out-of-band light.

    Next, the JPL team that developed these coating processes plans to focus on implementing a similar bandpass filter on an array of larger-format Si Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (CMOS) sensors for the recently selected NASA Medium-Class Explorer (MIDEX) UltraViolet EXplorer (UVEX) mission led by Fiona Harrison at the California Institute of Technology, which is targeted to launch in the early 2030s. 
    For additional details, see the entry for this project on NASA TechPort
    Project Lead: Dr. John Hennessy, Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: QuEra Joins NVIDIA Accelerated Quantum Research Center (NVAQC) as Founding Member

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BOSTON, March 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — QuEra Computing, the leader in neutral-atom quantum computing, today announced its role as a founding collaborator in the newly established NVIDIA Accelerated Quantum Research Center (NVAQC), located in Boston, MA. This center will bring together industry leaders, academic institutions, and quantum innovators to harness the power of NVIDIA’s cutting-edge GPU supercomputing technologies for the next generation of quantum computing research and development.

    As part of this collaboration, QuEra will participate in research using a NVIDIA GB200 NVL72 connected and scaled with NVIDIA Quantum-2 InfiniBand networking—an unprecedented resource for quantum computing teams. This system offers NVIDIA AI superchips not previously available for quantum computing work, enabling QuEra and other NVAQC partners to explore groundbreaking avenues in hybrid quantum-classical computing and accelerate crucial advances in quantum error correction, hardware development, and novel application discovery.

    “We are thrilled to be among the founding collaborators of the NVAQC,” said Andy Ory, CEO, QuEra. “By combining NVIDIA’s remarkable accelerated computing capabilities with our leadership in quantum technologies, we’re able to collaboratively tackle critical scaling challenges, rapidly iterate on simulations for our hardware and push the boundaries of quantum circuit design.”

    Collaborating at the NVAQC will accelerate QuEra’s roadmap through:

    1. State-of-the-Art AI Supercomputing

    The NVIDIA GB200 NVL72 Grace Blackwell supercomputer provides a high-performance computing environment not typically accessible to quantum researchers. This system will drive a new era of quantum research by enabling high-fidelity simulations, accelerating algorithm development, and supporting faster prototyping cycles.

    2. Advancing Quantum Error Correction

    As a critical milestone for large-scale quantum computing, quantum error correction requires extensive computational support. The NVAQC will serve as a robust testbed for tackling the complex scaling and performance challenges involved in error correction protocols.

    3. Rapid Iteration for Quantum Computing Simulations

    With unparalleled hardware resources and NVIDIA’s advanced CUDA-Q development platform, the NVAQC allows for quick and thorough dynamical simulations for hardware development and circuit-level testing. This accelerated workflow significantly reduces the time from conceptual design to proof-of-concept.

    4. Building on DGX Quantum for Accelerated Quantum Supercomputers

    Through the NVAQC, partners can build on NVIDIA’s DGX Quantum reference architecture to develop, test, and optimize the integrations between classical and quantum hardware needed for the next generation of accelerated quantum supercomputers.

    5. Harnessing AI for Quantum Breakthroughs

    Partners will benefit from NVIDIA’s deep AI expertise and advanced AI hardware to propel quantum computing forward. By leveraging state-of-the-art AI models, researchers can more effectively investigate complex quantum phenomena, optimize algorithms, and devise novel solutions.

    “Progress towards useful quantum computing will come by integration.”, said Tim Costa, senior director of CAE, Quantum and CUDA-X at NVIDIA. “The NVAQC will advance quantum computing by working with expertise from collaborators such as QuEra.”

    About QuEra

    QuEra Computing is the leader in developing and productizing quantum computers using neutral atoms, widely recognized as a highly promising quantum computing modality. Based in Boston and built on pioneering research from Harvard University and MIT, QuEra operates the world’s largest publicly accessible quantum computer, available over a major public cloud and for on-premises delivery. QuEra is developing useful, scalable and fault-tolerant quantum computers to tackle classically intractable problems, becoming the partner of choice in the quantum field. Simply put, QuEra is the best way to quantum. For more information, visit us at quera.com and follow us on X or LinkedIn.

    Media Contact

    Merrill Freund
    press@quera.com
    +1-415-577-8637

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: ACM Research Appoints Charlie Pappis to Board of Directors

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FREMONT, Calif., March 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ACM Research, Inc. (“ACM”) (NASDAQ: ACMR), a leading supplier of wafer processing solutions for semiconductor and advanced packaging applications, today announced the appointment of Charlie Pappis to its Board of Directors, effective March 15, 2025. With the addition of Mr. Pappis, ACM’s Board of Directors now comprises five members, further strengthening its leadership and expertise as the company executes its long-term growth strategy.

    “We are thrilled to welcome Mr. Pappis to our Board of Directors,” said Dr. David Wang, President and Chief Executive Officer of ACM. “His deep industry knowledge, proven leadership in scaling global operations, and commitment to customer-driven innovation align perfectly with ACM’s mission to become a key supplier of capital equipment to major global semiconductor companies. His insights will be invaluable as we increase our investments and business expansion in the U.S. to support our growth initiatives to new markets beyond mainland China.”

    Charlie Pappis is a semiconductor industry veteran with more than 40 years of leadership experience in global operations, customer engagement, and business growth. He currently serves as President of Pappis Consulting, advising semiconductor equipment and supply chain companies. Previously, he spent more than 30 years at a major global U.S.-based semiconductor equipment company, where he held key executive level leadership roles. Mr. Pappis holds a Bachelor of Science in Materials Science from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and an Executive MBA from Stanford University.

    About ACM Research, Inc.

    ACM develops, manufactures and sells semiconductor process equipment spanning cleaning, electroplating, stress-free polishing, vertical furnace processes, track, PECVD, and wafer- and panel-level packaging tools, enabling advanced and semi-critical semiconductor device manufacturing. ACM is committed to delivering customized, high-performance, cost-effective process solutions that semiconductor manufacturers can use in numerous manufacturing steps to improve productivity and product yield. For more information, visit www.acmr.com.

    © ACM Research, Inc. The ACM Research logo is a trademark of ACM Research, Inc. For convenience, this trademark appears in this press release without a ™ symbol, but that practice does not mean that ACM will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, its rights to such trademark.

    For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

    In the United States: The Blueshirt Group
    Steven C. Pelayo, CFA
    +1 (360) 808-5154
    steven@blueshirtgroup.co
       
    In China: The Blueshirt Group Asia
    Gary Dvorchak, CFA
    gary@blueshirtgroup.co

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CENTRALLY ADMINISTERED AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare

    CENTRALLY ADMINISTERED AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES

    Posted On: 18 MAR 2025 5:58PM by PIB Delhi

    The State-wise list of centrally controlled/ administered Agricultural Universities/ colleges is placed at Annexure.

    The agriculture including agricultural education is a state subject, therefore, state governments establish agriculture universities/colleges as per their requirement.

    Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has developed ‘ICAR Model Act (Revised 2023)’ for Higher Agricultural Educational Institutions in India and ‘Minimum Requirements for Establishing the Agricultural Colleges’. 

    There is no such proposal to open an agricultural school in the aspirational district of Sirohi.  However, Sirohi district has 01 Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) which provides skill development trainings to farmers including local youth.

    Agricultural education, being the State subject, the State Governments have their own policies and guidelines to promote private universities and colleges.  ICAR only provides accreditation to agricultural colleges and universities based on their demand.  During last five years, number of private accredited agriculture colleges increased from 05 (2020-21) to 22 (2024-25) in the country.

    This information was given by Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Bhagirath Choudhary in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

    ******

     MG/KSR

    Annexure

    State

    Name of Universities

    Constituent Colleges

    Central Agricultural Universities:

    Bihar

    Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, Samastipur, Bihar
    1. Tirhut College of Agriculture, Dholi, Muzaffarpur, Bihar
    2. College of Fisheries, Dholi, Muzaffarpur, Bihar
    3. Pandit Dindayal Upadhayay College of Horticulture and Forestry, Piprakothi, Motihari, Bihar
    4. College of Community Science, Pusa, Samastipur, Bihar
    5. College of Agriculture Engineering, Pusa, Samastipur, Bihar
    6. College of Basic Science and Humanities, Pusa, Samastipur, Bihar
    7. Post-Graduate College of Agriculture, Pusa, Samastipur, Bihar
    8. School of Agri-business and Rural Management (SAB&RM), Pusa, Samastipur, Bihar

    Manipur

    Central Agricultural University, Imphal, Manipur
    1. College of Agriculture, Imphal, Manipur
    2. College of Food Technology, Imphal, Manipur
    3. College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Jalukie, Nagaland.
    4. College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Aizawl, Mizoram.
    5. College of Horticulture, Thenzawl, Mizoram
    6. College of Post Graduate Studies in Agricultural Sciences, Umiam, Meghalaya
    7. College of Agriculture, Kyrdemkulai, Meghalaya
    8. College of Community Sciences, Tura, Meghalaya
    9. College of Agricultural Engg. And Post Harvest Technology, Ranipool, Sikkim
    10. College of Horticulture, Bermiok, Sikkim
    11. College of Fisheries, Lembucherra, Tripura
    12. College of Horticulture and Forestry, Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh
    13. College of Agriculture, Pasighat, Arunachal Pradesh

    Uttar Pradesh

    Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh
    1. College of Agriculture, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh
    2. College of Horticulture and Forestry, Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh
    3. College of Fisheries, Datia, Madhya Pradesh
    4. College of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Datia, Madhya Pradesh

    Deemed to be Universities:

    Delhi

    ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi

    Haryana

    ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana

    Uttar Pradesh

    ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Uttar Pradesh

    Maharashtra

    ICAR-Central Institute on Fisheries Education, Mumbai, Maharashtra

    ******

    (Release ID: 2112391)

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: ADOPTION OF HYBRID TECHNOLOGIES IN CULTIVATION OF PULSES AND OILSEEDS

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare

    ADOPTION OF HYBRID TECHNOLOGIES IN CULTIVATION OF PULSES AND OILSEEDS

    Posted On: 18 MAR 2025 5:56PM by PIB Delhi

    • The Government has launched the National Mission on Edible Oils- Oilseeds (NMEO- OS), for enhancing domestic oilseed production and achieving self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat) in edible oils. The Mission has provision of creating 600 Value Chain Clusters across the country, collectively covering more than 10 lakh hectare annually.
    • A Consortia Research Platform on Hybrid Technology for higher productivity in selected field crops including oilseeds (Indian Mustard) and Pulses (Pigeonpea) is in operation since 2014-15 to accelerate the development of hybrids.
    • For promotion of sunflower hybrids, a scheme “Revival of sunflower cultivation project” is in operation for production and distribution of about 15000 q of certified seeds of 10 hybrids in sunflower growing regions of the country.
    • National Food Security Mission, Government of India, supported Front-Line Demonstration on Pigeonpea, sunflower and castor hybrids on farmers’ field. 
    • A network project on “Enhancing Pigeonpea production and productivity in India using short duration high yielding Pigeonpea varieties and hybrids” is operated.
    •  In order to address the issue of availability of quality seed to farmers, 34 oilseeds and 150 pulses seed hub centres are established at Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) institutes and State Agricultural Universities (SAUs).

    All India Coordinated Research Projects on different oilseeds and pulses are the nodal agencies for assessing yield performance and stability of the hybrid technology in specific zone and make final recommendation for its release at the national level. After release and notification, the hybrids/varieties are included into seed chain for seed multiplication. Simultaneously, the Front-Line Demonstrations are also conducted to demonstrate the production potential and estimating benefit cost ratio of the technology in the farmers field for first time under the supervision of the scientists.

    This information was given by Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Bhagirath Choudhary in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

    ******

     MG/KSR

    The details of current hybrids of different oilseeds and pulse crops are given at Annexure.

    Details of current hybrids of different pulses & oilseeds

    S.No.

    Crop

    Year

    Hybrid

    Maturity days

    Productivity

    (q/ha)

    Recommended States

    1.

    Pigeonpea

    2020

    IPH 15-03

     

    153-155

    16.0 q/ha

    Punjab, Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh

    2021

    IPH 09-5

    150-155

    18.22 q/ha

    North Western Plain Zone (NWPZ)

    2024

    Pusa Arhar Hybrid 5

    163 – 170

    23.24 q/ha

    Delhi

    2.

    Sunflower

    2020

    KBSH- 78

     

    82-85

    17-23 q/ha (I) and 10-12 q/ha (R)

    Zone 5 of Karnataka

    2021

    Tilhan Tech SUNH-1

    (IIOSH-15-20)

    90–100

    20.0 q/ha, oil yield 7.46 q/ha

    Uttarakhand, Jammu & Kashmir, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana.

    2021

    PSH 208

    97-100

    24.2 q/ha, oil yield 10.8 q/ha

    Punjab

    2022

    KBSH-85

     

     

    90–100

    yield 18.3 q/ha, oil yield 6.62 q/ha

    Gujarat, Maharashtra and Northern Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Southern Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Telangana

    (Karnataka Zone- 4,5,6 and 7)

    2022

    BLSFH-15004

     

     

    95–100

    19.6 q/ha, oil yield 7.38 q/ha

    Bihar, Haryana, Punjab, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Telangana

     

    Arko Provo (WBSH-2021)

    105–110

    32.5 q/ha

    West Bengal

     

    2023

    RSFH-700

    90-95

    16-17 q/ha

    Karnataka

    2023

    Sunflower COH 4 (CSH 15020)

    90-95

    21.82 q/ha (Kharif), Rabi 18.98 q/ha

    Tamil Nadu

    2024

    Tilhan Tec-SUNH-2 IIOSH-460

     

     

    90-100

    15.70 q/ha

    Uttarakhand, Jammu & Kashmir, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Northern Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Southern Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Telangana and All India

    2024

    KBSH-88

     

     

    86-88

    15.59 q/ha

    Uttarakhand, Jammu & Kashmir, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Northern Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Southern Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Telangana

    2024

    PDKV Suraj (PDKVSH 964)

    89-90

    18-22 q/ha

    Maharashtra

    3.

    Safflower

    2023

    ISH-402

     

     

    121-125

    23.25 q/ha,

    Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh

    4.

    Sesame

    2020

    KBSH- 78

     

    82-85

    17-23 q/ha (I) and 10-12 q/ha

    Zone 5 of Karnataka

    2021

    Tilhan Tech SUNH-1

    (IIOSH-15-20)

    90-100

    20.0 q/ha, oil yield 7.46 q/ha

    Uttarakhand, Jammu & Kashmir, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana.

    2021

    PSH 2080

     

    97-100

    24.2 q/ha, oil yield 10.8 q/ha

    Punjab

     

    2022

    KBSH-85

     

     

    90-100

    18.3 q/ha, oil yield 6.62 q/ha

    Gujarat, Maharashtra and Northern Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Southern Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Telangana

    (Karnataka Zone- 4,5,6 and 7)

    2022

    BLSFH-15004

     

     

    95-100

    19.6 q/ha, oil yield 7.38 q/ha

    Bihar, Haryana, Punjab, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Telangana

    2022

    Arko Provo (WBSH-2021)

    105-110

    32.5 q/ha

    West Bengal

     

    2023

    RSFH-700

    90-95

    16-17 q/ha,

    Karnataka

     

    2023

    Sunflower COH 4 (CSH 15020)

     

    90-95

    21.82 q/ha (Kharif), Rabi 18.98 q/ha

    Tamil Nadu

     

    2024

    Tilhan Tec-SUNH-2 IIOSH-460

     

     

    90-100

    15.70 q/ha

    Uttarakhand, Jammu & Kashmir, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Northern Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Southern Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Telangana and All India

    2024

    KBSH-88

     

     

    88-90

    15.59 q/ha

    Uttarakhand, Jammu & Kashmir, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Northern Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Southern Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Telangana

    2024

    PDKV Suraj (PDKVSH 964)

    89-90

    18-22 q/ha

    Maharashtra

     

    5.

    Mustard

    2021

    SVJH-108

     

     

    140-145

    2.4 t/ha, oil content 41.3%, black and bold seed (6.1 g/1000 seed)

    Haryana (irrigated conditions under high and low fertility)

     

    2021

    RCH 1

     

     

    149-155

    26.66 q/ha, oil yield 1040 kg/ha, oil content 39.5%

    Jammu, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and northern Rajasthan.

    2021

    PHR 126

    145-149

    22. 7 q/ha

    Punjab

     

    2024

    PA 5210 (5 I J 1110)

    130-135

    23-30 q/ha

    Rajasthan

    Gobhi Sarson

    2021

    PGSH 1699

     

     

     

    168-170

    15.81 q/ha, oil yield 642 kg/ha, oil content 41.92%, maturity 168 days, low erucic acid (1.7%) and low glucosinolate (16.87 µmoles/g)

     

    Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab.

     

     

    2021

    PGSH 1707

    162-165

    21.93 q/ha

    Punjab

     

    6.

    Castor

    2020

    Gujarat Castor Hybrid 10 (GCH 10: Charutar Gold) (SCH 53)

    89-112

    38.98 q/ha

    Gujarat

     

     

     

    RHC-2 (Rajasthan Hybrid Castor-2)

    55-60

    33.78 q/ha

    Rajasthan

     

     

    ******

    (Release ID: 2112390)

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: California strengthens its position as the global AI leader with new working report issued by experts and academics

    Source: US State of California 2

    Mar 18, 2025

    What you need to know: With the release of a new draft working report by leading artificial intelligence experts, California continues to lead in advocating for the responsible use of emerging AI technology and the study of its impacts and opportunities. 

    SAN FRANCISCO – California’s leadership in the AI industry is helping to guide the world in the responsible implementation and use of this emerging technology. Today, a group of world-leading AI academics and experts, convened at the request of Governor Newsom, released a new draft report on workable guardrails based on an empirical, science-based analysis of the capabilities and attendant risks of frontier models — which will help pave the way for the use of AI for the benefit of all Californians. 

    “The future happens in California first – including the development of powerful AI technology. As home to over half of the world’s top AI companies, our state carries a unique responsibility in leading the safe advancement of this industry in a way that improves our communities, maintains our economic dominance, and ensures that this fast-moving technology benefits the public good.” 

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    AI is already changing the world, and California will play a pivotal role in defining that future. As the fifth-largest economy in the world and the birthplace of the tech industry, California continues to dominate this sector as the leader in AI. The state is home to 32 of the 50 top AI companies worldwide. In addition to championing responsible use of this emerging industry, California is harnessing its potential to increase efficiency and support state operations.  

    Studying AI’s risk and opportunities 

    Today’s working report is a result of the Governor’s convening of leading experts on artificial intelligence and policy to help California develop workable guardrails for deploying generative AI (GenAI), focusing on developing an empirical, science-based trajectory analysis of frontier models and their capabilities and attendant risks. Authors include the  “godmother of AI,” Dr. Fei-Fei Li, Professor of Computer Science at Stanford University and Founding Co-Director of Stanford’s Human-Centered AI Institute;  Mariano-Florentino “Tino” Cuéllar, President of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and member of the National Academy of Sciences Committee on Social and Ethical Implications of Computing Research; and Dr. Jennifer Tour Chayes, Dean of the College of Computing, Data Science, and Society at UC Berkeley.

    The working report includes recommendations on ensuring evidence-based policymaking, balancing the need for transparency with considerations such as security risks, and determining the appropriate level of regulation in this fast-evolving field.  As a working white paper, the authors invite public participation. Academics, experts, and other stakeholders can submit comments or suggestions regarding their recommendations here. 

    California’s AI global leadership 

    California has launched efforts to help the state take advantage of this emerging technology, while also creating responsible policy guardrails to protect Californians, businesses, and workers. In 2023, Governor Newsom signed an executive order laying out California’s measured approach to state GenAI procurement. That EO has shaped the future of ethical, transparent, and trustworthy GenAI deployment, all while California remains the world’s GenAI leader. 

    Harnessing the power of AI

    In 2024, Governor Newsom announced the state’s efforts to help utilize GenAI technologies to solve challenges, everything from reducing traffic to helping address homelessness.

    Governor Newsom also co-hosted a GenAI summit in May 2024 with leaders across academia, industry, civil society, and government to discuss how the state can best use this transformative technology on behalf of Californians.  

    First-of-its-kind effort with NVIDIA 

    In August 2024, the state partnered with NVIDIA to launch a first-of-its-kind AI collaboration. The initiative, signed by Governor Gavin Newsom and NVIDIA founder & CEO Jensen Huang, aims to:

    • Train students, educators and workers
    • Support job creation and promote innovation
    • Use AI to solve challenges that can improve the lives of Californians

    Among other goals, it strives to bring new AI resources into community colleges from NVIDIA – including curriculum and certifications, hardware and software, AI labs and workshops, and more – to open new pathways for students, educators, and workers to learn new skills and advance their careers.

    Staying ahead of threats 

    Last year, Governor Newsom also signed a series of bills to crack down on sexually explicit deepfakes and require AI watermarking, protect performers’ digital likenesses, and combat deepfake election content. 

    Press Releases, Recent News

    Recent news

    Mar 17, 2025

    News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom issued the following statement regarding the death of San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Deputy Hector Cuevas Jr.:“Jennifer and I are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Deputy Cuevas. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his…

    Mar 17, 2025

    News Lo que necesita saber: California tiene un nuevo compañero en Sonora, México para impulsar el desarrollo de recursos energéticos renovables, la resiliencia de la cadena de suministro y el transporte limpio. To read this release in English, click here. Sacramento,…

    Mar 17, 2025

    News What you need to know: California has a new partner in Sonora, Mexico to boost the development of renewable energy resources, supply chain resilience, and clean transportation. Para leer este comunicado en español, haga clic aquí. Sacramento, California –…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Consumer awareness is key to a sustainable and secure digital experience: Shri Pralhad Joshi

    Source: Government of India

    Consumer awareness is key to a sustainable and secure digital experience: Shri Pralhad Joshi

    Department of Consumer Affairs and Meta Strengthen Partnership to Enhance Consumer Protection

    Posted On: 18 MAR 2025 7:24PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Minister for Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Ministry for New and Renewable Energy, Shri Pralhad Joshi along with Mr. Joel Kaplan, Chief Global Affairs Officer, Meta announced a new collaboration ‘Be an Empowered Consumer’ to empower consumers through digital literacy initiatives under the government’s flagship consumer awareness campaign ‘Jago Grahak Jago’.

    Speaking at the launch of the partnership, Shri Joshi said, “We are pleased to partner with Meta on this crucial initiative to equip citizens with the knowledge and tools that will enable them to navigate the digital landscape and protect themselves online.”

    “Consumer awareness is key to a sustainable and secure digital experience and the campaign will strengthen consumer protection measures and reinforce our commitment to empowering Indian consumers,” he added.

    Shri Joshi emphasised that with the collaboration, the efforts of Department of Consumer Affairs, Government of India, towards consumer protection will reach to the remote areas of the country.

    The joint campaign ‘Be an Empowered Consumer’ seeks to educate Indians on recognizing online threats and promoting healthy online habits, including the use of strong passwords, verification of online information, and reporting suspicious activity. This was discussed in a meeting before the launch.  

    During the meeting, the Union Minister was also apprised about a joint project commissioned with IIT Bombay by the chair established by the Department at the National Law School of India University Bangalore, and supported by Meta.  The project explores the feasibility of leveraging Llama 2, Meta’s openly available large language model, in creating a citizen-centric chatbot: GrahakNyay. The chatbot will enhance access to consumer rights information, a robust grievance redressal tool that will help individuals file complaints and resolve queries more efficiently. The chatbot is now ready for a closed group beta testing and will be officially launched and integrated into DoCA’s website once its testing is complete.

    Smt. Nidhi Khare, Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs, present while addressing the event, said that the government remains steadfast in its commitment to upholding and safeguarding consumer rights. To make this commitment effective, it is important that consumers are aware of online threats and are able to perceive the unethical business practices, she said. Also, having right to have their grievances heard and addressed is essential for fostering accountability, transparency, and fairness. The chatbox will make it possible through the process of seamless complaint filing and resolution of queries, she stated.

    Mr. Joel Kaplan, Chief Global Affairs Officer, Meta during the event said, “With technology progressing so quickly, it can be hard for people to stay up to date with the best ways to keep themselves safe online, which is why we’re pleased to work with the Department of Consumer Affairs and contribute to India’s digital consumer protection efforts. At Meta we think AI can help people protect themselves and be informed online consumers. By making AI more accessible, we hope to improve consumer awareness, streamline redressal processes, and equip people with the knowledge they need to make informed choices online.”

    The above initiatives are steps in direction of Department’s efforts towards consumer protection and empowerment through enactment of progressive legislations and launching of technology driven programmes. With evolution of technology consumer has been rendered vulnerable to new forms of unfair trade and unethical business practices such as misleading advertisements, Tele-marketing, direct selling, e-commerce etc., thereby, requiring appropriate and swift executive interventions to prevent consumer detriment.

    To address the myriad and constantly emerging vulnerabilities of the consumers and to promote, protect and enforce the rights of the consumers, an executive agency, Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has been established under section 10 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. Section 18 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 empowers CCPA to protect, promote and enforce the rights of consumers as a class, prevent unfair trade practices, ensure no false or misleading advertisement is made and ensure that no person takes part in the publication of any advertisement which is false or misleading.  Additionally, under section 18 (2) (j) and (l), CCPA can issue safety notices to alert consumers against dangerous or unsafe goods or services and issue necessary guidelines to prevent unfair trade practices and protect consumers’ interest respectively. As per section 19 of the Act, CCPA may, on receiving information or complaint or directions from central government or of its own motion, conduct or cause to be conducted a preliminary inquiry as to whether there exists a prima facie case of violation of consumer rights or unfair trade practice or any false or misleading advertisement and if satisfied, it shall cause investigation to be made by the Director-General. Under section 20 and 21, CCPA has power to impose penalties up to 50 lakh rupees against such practices.

    In this direction, CCPA has passed appropriate orders in the past against companies and online platforms, in addition to issuing advisories against illegal sale and facilitation of wireless jammers, sale of drugs without prescription, sale of car seat belt alarm stopper etc. Further, Consumer Protection (E-commerce) Rules, 2020 and Guidelines for Prevention of Misleading Advertisements and Endorsements for Misleading Advertisements, 2022 were notified to make e-commerce platforms more transparent and accountable to consumers. The Department also published booklet on “Endorsements know-hows for celebrities, influencers and virtual influencers on social media platforms”. In addition to these, time and again, CCPA has issued guidelines to strengthen the legislative framework against unethical business practices in the form of Guidelines on Prevention of Dark Pattern 2023, Guidelines for the Prevention and Regulation of Greenwashing, 2024 and Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Misleading Advertisement in Coaching Sector 2024.

    Now, this two-pronged approach – leveraging AI for consumer grievance redressal through GrahakNyay chatbox and enhancing digital literacy through ‘Be an Empowered Consumer’ campaign, marks a significant step in strengthening consumer rights in India.

    *****

    Abhishek Dayal/Nihi Sharma

    (Release ID: 2112470) Visitor Counter : 83

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Hoeven: BlueHalo Partnerships Link Area’s Counter-Drone, Hypersonic Missile Testing & Space Operations

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for North Dakota John Hoeven

    03.18.25

    Senator Outlines Efforts to Build Project ULTRA, Grand Forks into Proving Ground for Counter-UAS Tech

    EMERADO, N.D. – Senator John Hoeven and representatives from BlueHalo today announced that the company is expanding its operations to the Grand Forks region, tying into a range of operations critical to the future of the nation’s defense, like counter-drone, while laying the groundwork to also connect with the region’s growing space operations. Specifically, BlueHalo:

    • Has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with GrandSKY to install its VigilantHalo system in support of Project ULTRA at the unmanned aerial systems (UAS) technology park.
      • Project ULTRA is an effort to make Grand Forks the proving ground for developing the technology needed to protect U.S. military installations and service members against the malicious use of UAS.
      • VigilantHalo will significantly enhance Project ULTRA’s ability to track unmanned aircraft by providing a seamless link between the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) unfiltered radar data feed, the state’s Vantis network and other sensor systems.
    • Will provide on-site support for the Sky Range program, which is operated by the Test Resource Management Center (TRMC) at GrandSKY.
      • BlueHalo will be supporting the use of its PANTHER phased array antenna, which is the technology used to convert Grand Forks’ Global Hawks into Range Hawks, enabling them to track hypersonic missiles and other airborne and space-based threats, while communicating with satellites.
      • The company will also partner with the University of North Dakota (UND) on further development of phased array technology.
    • Continues working to adapt its phased array antenna for spaced-based platforms, including the low-Earth orbit mission at Grand Forks Air Force Base.
      • The STAPS Project is funded under the $8.3 million Hoeven secured in Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 to partner BlueHalo with Bismarck State College.
      • This effort seeks to miniaturize and enhance the phase array antenna so it can be packaged and launched on satellites.
      • This would allow for additional tracking data in hypersonic missile testing, with the potential for future applications such as tracking adversary missiles.

    “Partnerships are the foundation on which North Dakota’s UAS ecosystem is built, and these initiatives being undertaken by BlueHalo are adding new capabilities and opportunities to link the many exciting operations going on in the Grand Forks region,” said Senator Hoeven. “Importantly, BlueHalo is bringing the VigilantHalo system to GrandSKY at the same time as we are establishing access to the unfiltered FAA radar data feed, giving private companies a unique advantage as they work to develop counter-UAS technologies under Project ULTRA. Combined with the company’s support for the Sky Range hypersonic missile testing and the potential to bring their phased array technology to our satellite mission, today’s announcement ties together North Dakota’s role in some of the most critical missions for the future of our nation’s defense.”

    “North Dakota is a hub for national security research, development, and operations–from drones to hypersonic missiles to total airspace command and control,” said Trip Ferguson, BlueHalo Chief Operating Officer. “The state’s unique blend of leaders like Senator Hoeven who understand these urgent priorities with organizations like GrandSKY who are leaning forward to bring solutions to the table is creating an environment of rapid innovation. BlueHalo is already hard at work here to develop and transition solutions to the frontlines. We’re excited to expand these efforts alongside partners who share the same focus and commitment to the mission.”

    “This agreement with BlueHalo allows GrandSKY to further expand its capabilities in BVLOS operations, and the integration of VigilantHalo as a ground-based sense-and-avoid system strengthens the safety and efficiency of uncrewed flights,” GrandSKY President Tom Swoyer Jr. said. “This collaboration addresses the critical challenges of integrating UAS into the national airspace system while also integrating counter-UAS capabilities which are becoming increasingly critical to national security.”

    Installing VigilantHalo at GrandSKY

    VigilantHalo is an advanced command and control system capable of combining multiple feeds from radars and sensors, enabling:

    • More robust UAS traffic management, detect and avoid capabilities and beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) unmanned flights.
    • Companies that partner with GrandSKY under Project ULTRA a unique set of capabilities as they develop UAS and counter-UAS technologies.

    The new system supports Hoeven’s efforts to increase the size and scope of Project ULTRA to develop new tools and methods for the U.S. to counter the malicious use of drone technology. To this end, the senator continues working to secured an increase contract ceiling for Project ULTRA, which would enable it to serve as a bridge between an existing Department of Defense contracting vehicle and new counter-UAS capabilities being developed in the private sector.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: US Department of Labor announces confirmation of Keith E. Sonderling as Deputy Secretary

    Source: US Department of Labor

    WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced Keith E. Sonderling as the 38th Deputy Secretary of Labor.

    Sonderling returns to the department, where he served as Acting and Deputy Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division. He most recently served as the Commissioner of the United States Equal Employment Opportunity from 2020-2024. 

    During his first stint at the Department of Labor from 2017-2020, the Wage and Hour Division set records for enforcement collections and educational outreach events. Sonderling also oversaw the development and publication of large-scale deregulatory rules and authored numerous Opinion Letters, Field Assistance Bulletins, and All-Agency Memorandums. In addition, Sonderling was instrumental in developing the division’s first comprehensive self-audit program, which collected more than $7 million for nearly 11,000 workers.

    “Keith’s institutional knowledge and policy expertise will continue to be invaluable in our fight to put the American Worker First,” Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer said. “I’m thrilled to have him on the team and look forward to working alongside him to renew the American Dream.”

    “Returning to the U.S. Department of Labor, where I began my career in government, is truly an honor,” said Deputy Secretary Keith Sonderling. “In my new role, I am committed to helping Secretary Chavez-DeRemer in advancing President Trump’s labor agenda and most importantly putting American Workers first!” 

    Before entering government service, Sonderling was a partner at Gunster, one of Florida’s oldest and largest law firms. There, he counseled employers and litigated labor and employment disputes. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Florida and a Juris Doctor at Nova Southeastern University. He has also been a Professional Lecturer in the Law at the George Washington University Law School, teaching employment discrimination.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: NVIDIA to Build Accelerated Quantum Computing Research Center

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN JOSE, Calif., March 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — GTC— NVIDIA today announced it is building a Boston-based research center to provide cutting-edge technologies to advance quantum computing.

    The NVIDIA Accelerated Quantum Research Center, or NVAQC, will integrate leading quantum hardware with AI supercomputers, enabling what is known as accelerated quantum supercomputing. The NVAQC will help solve quantum computing’s most challenging problems, ranging from qubit noise to transforming experimental quantum processors into practical devices.

    Leading quantum computing innovators, including Quantinuum, Quantum Machines and QuEra Computing, will tap into the NVAQC to drive advancements through collaborations with researchers from leading universities, such as the Harvard Quantum Initiative in Science and Engineering (HQI) and the Engineering Quantum Systems (EQuS) group at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

    “Quantum computing will augment AI supercomputers to tackle some of the world’s most important problems, from drug discovery to materials development,” said Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA. “Working with the wider quantum research community to advance CUDA-quantum hybrid computing, the NVIDIA Accelerated Quantum Research Center is where breakthroughs will be made to create large-scale, useful, accelerated quantum supercomputers.”

    Propelling Quantum Innovation
    Through the NVAQC, commercial and academic partners will work with NVIDIA to use state-of-the-art NVIDIA GB200 NVL72 rack-scale systems, the most powerful hardware ever deployed for quantum computing applications. This enables complex simulations of quantum systems and the deployment of the low-latency quantum hardware control algorithms essential for quantum error correction. NVIDIA GB200 NVL72 systems will also accelerate the adoption of AI algorithms in quantum computing research.

    To address the challenges of integrating GPU and QPU hardware, the NVAQC will employ the NVIDIA CUDA-Q™ quantum development platform, enabling researchers to develop new hybrid quantum algorithms and applications.

    The HQI — a community of researchers dedicated to advancing the science and engineering of quantum systems and their applications — will collaborate with the NVAQC to advance their research on next-generation quantum computing technologies.

    “The NVAQC is a very special addition to the unique Boston area quantum ecosystem, including word-leading university groups and startup companies,” said Mikhail Lukin, Joshua and Beth Friedman University Professor at Harvard and a co-director of HQI. “The accelerated quantum and classical computing technologies NVIDIA is bringing together has the potential to advance the research in areas ranging from quantum error correction to applications of quantum computing systems, accelerating quantum computing research and pulling useful quantum computing closer to reality.”

    Researchers from the EQuS group, a member of the MIT Center for Quantum Engineering — which serves as a hub for research, education and engagement in support of quantum engineering — will use NVAQC to develop techniques like quantum error correction.

    “The NVIDIA Accelerated Quantum Research Center will provide EQuS group researchers with unprecedented access to the technologies and expertise needed to solve the challenges of useful quantum computing,” said William Oliver, professor of electrical engineering and computer science, and of physics, leader of the EQuS group and director of the MIT Center for Quantum Engineering. “We anticipate the future will also include other members of the Center for Quantum Engineering at MIT. Integrating the NVIDIA accelerated computing platform with qubits will help tackle core challenges like quantum error correction, hybrid application development and quantum device characterization.”

    The NVAQC is expected to begin operations later this year.

    Learn more about NVIDIA’s quantum computing initiatives and hear from industry leaders by joining Quantum Day at NVIDIA GTC, which runs through March 21.

    About NVIDIA
    NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA) is the world leader in accelerated computing.

    For further information, contact:
    Alex Shapiro
    Enterprise Networking
    1-415-608-5044
    ashapiro@nvidia.com

    Certain statements in this press release including, but not limited to, statements as to: the benefits, impact, availability, and performance of NVIDIA’s products, services, and technologies; third parties adopting NVIDIA’s products and technologies and the impact and benefits thereof; quantum computing someday augmenting AI supercomputers to tackle some of the world’s most important problems, from drug discovery to materials development; and working with the wider quantum research community to advance CUDA-quantum hybrid computing, the NVIDIA Accelerated Quantum Computing Research Center being where breakthroughs will be made to create large-scale, useful, accelerated quantum supercomputers are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause results to be materially different than expectations. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include: global economic conditions; our reliance on third parties to manufacture, assemble, package and test our products; the impact of technological development and competition; development of new products and technologies or enhancements to our existing product and technologies; market acceptance of our products or our partners’ products; design, manufacturing or software defects; changes in consumer preferences or demands; changes in industry standards and interfaces; unexpected loss of performance of our products or technologies when integrated into systems; as well as other factors detailed from time to time in the most recent reports NVIDIA files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, including, but not limited to, its annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Copies of reports filed with the SEC are posted on the company’s website and are available from NVIDIA without charge. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and speak only as of the date hereof, and, except as required by law, NVIDIA disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances.

    Many of the products and features described herein remain in various stages and will be offered on a when-and-if-available basis. The statements above are not intended to be, and should not be interpreted as a commitment, promise, or legal obligation, and the development, release, and timing of any features or functionalities described for our products is subject to change and remains at the sole discretion of NVIDIA. NVIDIA will have no liability for failure to deliver or delay in the delivery of any of the products, features or functions set forth herein.

    © 2025 NVIDIA Corporation. All rights reserved. NVIDIA, the NVIDIA logo, CUDA and CUDA-Q are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of NVIDIA Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. Other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated. Features, pricing, availability and specifications are subject to change without notice.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9baec2e8-036a-4c70-b868-1af4797fc282

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rosen Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Bring More Doctors to Nevada

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)

    Every County In Nevada Is Experiencing A Shortage Of Medical Professionals
    WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and John Boozman (R-AR) introduced a bipartisan bill to bring more doctors to areas currently facing severe shortages, like Nevada. The bipartisan Physicians for Underserved Areas Act would revise the graduate medical education process to increase the likelihood of areas with physician shortages getting more medical residency slots after hospital closures take place elsewhere in the country. Every county in Nevada is experiencing a shortage of medical professionals, and in 2024, Nevada was ranked 45th in the nation with regard to the availability of physicians per 100,000 residents.
    “The dire shortage of doctors in our state is hurting Nevadans’ ability to get quality medical care,” said Senator Rosen. “We know that when more doctors train in our communities, they are more likely to stay here. That’s why I’m working across the aisle to bring more doctors to Nevada by increasing medical residency slots. I’ll keep working on commonsense solutions to ensure families can access affordable, quality health care.”
    “Rural communities in Arkansas and across the country continue to face health care challenges starting with a lack of available medical providers,” said Senator Boozman. “I’m proud to help lead this bipartisan solution to ensure more medical school graduates practice in the communities that desperately need them so all Americans, no matter where they live, get the care they need.”
    “At the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV, we recognize the critical need to expand Graduate Medical Education (GME) opportunities to address physician shortages in underserved areas,” said Marc J. Kahn, Dean of the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. “The Physicians for Underserved Areas Act is a crucial step toward ensuring that residency slots are redistributed in a way that prioritizes communities with the greatest need. By streamlining the process and expediting the timeline for GME slot reallocation, this legislation will help fill gaps in healthcare access and strengthen our medical workforce. We fully support this bipartisan effort led by Senator Rosen and Senator Boozman and appreciate their commitment to improving healthcare for all.”
    “Nevada continues to struggle with expanding residency positions to address enduring physician workforce shortages,” said Dr. John Packham, Associate Dean of the University of Nevada, Reno’s School of Medicine. “This important legislation will support efforts by medical schools and teaching hospitals across the state to expand graduate medical education opportunities to prepare and retain tomorrow’s doctors in Nevada.”
    “It is critically important for a clear and immediate pathway to exist from medical school to residency in areas with physician shortages or that are otherwise underserved,” said Dr. Renee Coffman, Co-Founder and President of Roseman University. “Without adequate GME spots, future doctors have no practical ability to stay in communities that need them most. Roseman University thanks Senators Rosen and Boozman for the Physicians for Underserved Areas Act and for their continued efforts in supporting the growth of the health care workforce.”
    “The Nevada Primary Care Association, representing the state’s Community Health Centers, is grateful to Senator Rosen for re-introducing this important legislation,” said Nancy Bowen, CEO of the Nevada Primary Care Association. “Nevada has been blessed with rapid population growth throughout its modern history, but this has come at a cost of persistent and profound health provider shortages. The Physicians for Underserved Areas Act is an important step to increasing the number of providers who are trained in the state and stay to deliver health care to our residents.”
    “The National Rural Health Association strongly supports the Physicians for Underserved Areas Act as a critical step in addressing physician shortages in rural communities,” said Alan Morgan, CEO of the National Rural Health Association. “By ensuring that unused residency slots are swiftly redistributed to hospitals that need them most, this bill will help strengthen the rural health workforce and expand access to care in underserved areas. We applaud Senators Rosen and Boozman for their leadership in advancing policies that prioritize rural patients and providers, and we urge Congress to move quickly on this important legislation.”
    Senator Rosen is working to address Nevada’s health care professional shortage and improve medical care access in the state. Last week, she introduced the  bipartisan REDI Act to increase the number of doctors and dentists in underserved areas by allowing them to defer student loan payments without interest until the completion of their residency or internship programs. Last month, she introduced the bipartisan Train More Nurses Act to address the nursing shortage affecting communities across the nation. Rosen’s bipartisan Maximizing Health Outcomes through Better Investments in Lifesaving Equipment for (MOBILE) Health Care Act was signed into law in 2022 to allow community health centers to use federal funds to establish new mobile health care units to increase access to health care services in rural and underserved communities.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Dome Manufacturer to Create 72 New Jobs, Invest $4.6 Million in Fayetteville for Manufacturing Facility

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Dome Manufacturer to Create 72 New Jobs, Invest $4.6 Million in Fayetteville for Manufacturing Facility

    Dome Manufacturer to Create 72 New Jobs, Invest $4.6 Million in Fayetteville for Manufacturing Facility
    lsaito

    Raleigh, NC

    Today, Governor Josh Stein announced Yeadon Fabric Domes, LLC, a manufacturer of air supported structures, will create 72 new jobs in Cumberland County. The company will invest $4.6 million to build a manufacturing facility in Fayetteville.

    “We are delighted to welcome Yeadon Fabric Domes to Cumberland County,” said Governor Stein. “Our manufacturing leadership and textile legacy woven with our strategic location and excellent quality of life will continue to attract innovative, global companies to our great state.” 

    Yeadon Fabric Domes is a leading designer and manufacturer of climate-controlled domed structures. From professional sports to swimming pools, the company’s air-supported facilities provide large, open spaces for a variety of sporting venues and applications. Yeadon Fabric Domes have been installed in more than 30 countries for customers including several professional football teams, University of Pennsylvania and Marquette University. Headquartered in Minnesota, Yeadon will build its own 72-foot-tall domed structure in a 50,000-square-foot space production site at the Fayetteville Regional Airport, adding more manufacturing capacity and service space for its operations.

    “Yeadon Domes is thrilled to be expanding our operations to Fayetteville,” said Matt Mejia, CEO of Yeadon Fabric Domes. “Throughout the process, it has become clear that Fayetteville is the perfect place to build our manufacturing facility, and to continue producing world-class air-supported domes. We’re grateful for the support of Governor Stein, and our many partners throughout North Carolina. We look forward to joining the community and expanding Yeadon’s 55-year legacy in Cumberland County.”

    “North Carolina is one of the fastest growing states in the nation as it continues to be recognized as the top state to do business in America,” said N.C. Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley. “Yeadon Fabric Domes will benefit from a friendly business environment, a world-class workforce, and a rewarding lifestyle in Cumberland County, and we believe they will find great success here.”

    While salaries for the new positions will vary, the average annual salary will be $47,734, exceeding the Cumberland County average of $47,175. These new jobs could create a potential annual payroll impact of more than $3.4 million.

    A performance-based grant of $225,000 from the One North Carolina Fund will help the company locate to Cumberland County. The OneNC Fund provides financial assistance to local governments to help attract economic investment and to create jobs. Companies receive no money upfront and must meet job creation and capital investment targets to qualify for payment. All OneNC grants require a matching participation from local governments and any award is contingent upon that condition being met.

    “We welcome Yeadon Fabric Domes and its investment to our region,” said N.C. Senator Val Applewhite. “They will greatly benefit from our transitioning military families which offer a uniquely skilled and prepared workforce that a company of this impact will need.”

    “This is a great win for Cumberland County and the entire state,” said N.C. Representative Diane Wheatley. “We extend our sincere appreciation to the partnership of state and local officials and the economic development professionals that supported Yeadon Fabric Domes in making its next home in Fayetteville.”

    In addition to the North Carolina Department of Commerce and the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, other key partners in this project include the North Carolina General Assembly, North Carolina Community College System, Cumberland County, the City of Fayetteville, and the Fayetteville Cumberland County Economic Development Corporation. 

    Mar 18, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Laws governing space are 50 years old. New ones are needed to prevent it becoming a ‘wild west’

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Yucong Wang, Lecturer, School of Law and Justice, University of Newcastle

    In the first few months of 2025, there’s been a flurry of private venture space missions. Some have been successful, such as American company Firefly Aerospace landing its spacecraft Blue Ghost Mission 1 on the Moon. This was the first successful lunar landing of a privately owned spacecraft.

    But there have also been several recent failures. None have been more spectacular than the repeated explosions of tech billionaire Elon Musk’s SpaceX Starship rockets in January and March.

    In theory, there are a range of international laws governing these activities. However, most were established roughly half a century ago, before space was within reach of private companies eager to explore it and exploit its untapped resources.

    With this development, there is an urgent need to update laws governing what happens in space, in order to prevent it becoming a kind of “wild west” where tech billionaires and the companies they own can do as they please with little to no accountability, consequence or regard for the public good.

    Laws as old as the Cold War

    Space activities are mainly governed by United Nations treaties. These include the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, the 1972 Liability Convention, and the 1979 Moon Agreement.

    But these agreements were created during the Cold War, when space exploration was shaped by military sensitivities and mainly conducted by nation states.

    Yet private companies are now major players in space. They can bring the allure of space to the masses, for a pretty penny. For example, most of the roughly 11,000 active satellites orbiting Earth are privately owned.

    NASA now relies on partnerships with companies to combine expertise and save costs. The European Space Agency does the same, as do many of the 77 countries with space programs

    Elon Musk has expertly tapped into this trend, securing US$22.6 billion in United States government funding for SpaceX.

    Private spacecraft journeys may combine commercial and national goals. For example, the Blue Ghost Mission 1 was contracted by NASA through its Commercial Lunar Payloads initiative. It carried a suite of NASA science and technology instruments.

    Just days later, another company put a spacecraft on the Moon. Yet the Intuitive Machines Athena spacecraft landed awkwardly. It toppled over and was soon declared dead. It too was carrying expensive NASA cargo.

    National space agencies will continue to rely on company partners in more ambitious ventures. But what happens when things go wrong? How can private companies be held accountable if they damage the property of others, or cause environmental harm on celestial bodies?

    Space traffic

    There is an increasing risk of collisions among satellites, spacecrafts and space debris. And while there are some mechanisms for collision warnings, there is no global approach to assess the risk of collisions.

    The 1972 Liability Convention provides guidance about addressing liability after satellite collisions. However, it only directly applies to states, not private companies.

    If a private company’s spacecraft causes damage, the affected party can only initiate a claim via diplomatic channels against the launching state, not the company itself. The claims pathway can be complex, slow and subject to diplomatic negotiations.

    Also, some satellite operators purchase insurance to cover damage from collisions, wisely bypassing the convention. Insurance creates an efficient private mechanism to address damages, avoiding the need to involve states or navigate the diplomatic processes required under the Convention.

    But space insurance is incredibly expensive, so most satellites are not insured.

    The Outer Space Treaty says countries must avoid contamination of space. But it does not specifically address the problem of accumulated space debris.

    The long-term sustainablity of space activities, including the build up of debris, was not the pressing issue for the treaty’s drafters. Moreover, the treaty’s language is vague, requiring states to act with “due regard” for others’ interests and conduct “appropriate” consultation before undertaking potentially harmful activities. However, it does not define what these terms mean.

    Who owns the resources in space?

    The prospect that humans will be able to collect and sell mineral resources from astronomical objects is edging closer to reality. Initial focus is on the Moon. But who owns the resources on the Moon?

    There is no internationally agreed-upon property rights regime beyond Earth. The US is trying to achieve private ownership of space resources through its 2020 “Artemis Accords”.

    This effort is a big boost to the privatisation of space. But it contrasts with the “common heritage of mankind” concept – the cornerstone of the 1979 Moon Agreement.

    So far 53 countries have signed the Artemis Accords. But only 17 countries are parties to the Moon Agreement. Without clear rules applicable to all space players, lunar exploration and mining by private entities may run into trouble.

    There are many worrying scenarios. A private spacecraft might crash into a country’s lunar accommodation facility due to a lack of “rules of the road” on the Moon. Lunar traffic and mining might cause damage to the Moon’s surface.

    Can private entities be held accountable for this damage? The current space law regime does not address such hypothetical problems that may become real in coming years.

    NASA now relies on partnerships with private companies such as SpaceX to combine expertise and save costs.
    SpaceX/Flickr, CC BY-NC

    Safe and sustainable space exploration

    Space law must evolve to ensure safe and sustainable commercial space travel and lunar exploration. This can only be achieved by building international consensus on new rules for space missions.

    This requires many challenging discussions.

    What types of damage to the Moon should be remediated, and by who? What is the most suitable avenue for affected entities to apply for compensation? What rules should be in place to manage the increased traffic volume in outer space? How can countries be incentivised to strengthen their oversight of their private entity partners in joint missions?

    Perhaps the easiest issue to solve is which side of future lunar highways to drive on. With the US and China leading the way at the moment, it would be on the right side.

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

    – ref. Laws governing space are 50 years old. New ones are needed to prevent it becoming a ‘wild west’ – https://theconversation.com/laws-governing-space-are-50-years-old-new-ones-are-needed-to-prevent-it-becoming-a-wild-west-252014

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Adolescence is a technical masterpiece that exposes the darkest corners of incel culture and male rage

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Cantrell, Senior Lecturer – Writing, Editing, and Publishing, University of Southern Queensland

    Netflix

    Filmed in a one-take style, Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham’s new crime drama Adolescence is being hailed by critics as a technical masterpiece.

    Out now on Netflix, the four-part series follows the fallout surrounding 13-year-old Jamie Miller (Owen Cooper) after he is arrested and later charged for the murder of his classmate, Katie. Co-creator Stephen Graham stars as Jamie’s father, Eddie.

    Adolescence draws inspiration from the United Kingdom’s knife crime epidemic, the rise of incel culture and the brutality of online bullying. These malignant forces combine to create every parent’s worst nightmare.

    However, unlike true crime, where there is often a resolution, there is no escape from the horror.

    The show’s continuous filming style offers no reprieve, and the story itself provides no easy outs – refusing to provide a simple explanation for why an intelligent boy from an “ordinary” loving family would borrow a knife from a friend and, on a casual Sunday evening, stab another child to death.

    While Jamie’s motives remain murky, the show makes one thing clear: today’s teens inhabit an online world that adults, however well-intentioned, are incapable of understanding if they do not listen.

    Anxieties distorted by algorithms

    At the centre of the show’s broken heart is a devastating truth: the most dangerous place in the world for a teenager is alone in their bedroom.

    Trapped in the dark mirror of social media, Jamie – like a growing number of teenage boys – turns to the digital “manosphere” and the grim logic of online misogynists.



    Read more:
    The draw of the ‘manosphere’: understanding Andrew Tate’s appeal to lost men

    He subscribes to the “red pills” of incel culture, so-called truth groups and the 80/20 rule (the theory that 80% of women are attracted to 20% of men, and that women only seek out men who are physically and socially desirable).

    While Jamie is, for the most part, an outwardly “normal” and well-adjusted teen, his explosive rage and aggrieved entitlement is revealed in a climatic scene in episode three, when he intimidates and shouts down a female psychologist (Erin Doherty).

    “You do not control what I do!” he yells. “Get that in that fucking little head of yours!”

    Jamie is quick to apologise when a guard intervenes. “I shouted,” he says. “I’m sorry. Can I have another hot chocolate, please?”

    In one particularly unnerving moment, Jamie recalls his decision to ask Katie out after receiving a topless photo of her on Snapchat.

    “I thought she might be weak cause everyone was calling her a slag,” he says. “I just thought that when she was that weak, she might like me. It’s clever, don’t you think?”

    While the sinister child-teen killer trope has been a mainstay of horror, from Child’s Play (1988) to The Exorcist (1973), Adolescence out-scares its predecessors in its unflinching portrayal of a radicalised misogynist-turned murderer.

    A nightmare with no end

    The show’s most stunning achievement is without a doubt its one-take style. Each hour-long episode is filmed in a single take which, as director Philip Barantini explains, “basically means that we press record on the camera, and we don’t stop until the very end of the hour”.

    Tapping into today’s true crime zeitgeist, the series renders Jamie’s story more real than it actually is by imitating the cinéma vérité style of documentary filmmaking.

    Each episode creates an immersive fly-on-the wall experience that is deeply compelling and uncomfortable. The lack of breaks forces viewers to feel as trapped as the characters, in an unfathomable spiral through confusion, guilt and shame.

    This unease is heightened when the action is shot in claustrophobic spaces, such as inside the family van or a police interrogation room.

    The continuous shooting style makes the viewer feel as trapped as the characters as they spiral through confusion, guilt and shame.
    Netflix

    The soundtrack adds another layer of gritty true crime trauma, with random sirens, slamming doors and thumping discordant notes designed to mirror the inner turmoil of the characters.

    As the story unfolds, it charts the devastating impact of Jamie’s crime on those around him. While Katie’s school friends struggle to process their unfathomable grief, Jamie’s parents must also confront their son’s capacity for cruelty.

    “We made him,” despairs Jamie’s mother (Manda Miller).

    The unbroken style, in this regard, is important for understanding how broken this family is. Because there are no cuts, there is no escape from the nightmare.

    Indeed, Jamie seems to have fallen through the cracks of the social institutions we relied on in the pre-internet age: the schooling system, the judiciary and the family itself.

    Jamie has fallen through the cracks of the schooling system – a social institution that is supposed to help keep him and his peers safe.
    Netflix

    The generational chasm

    The show’s true sympathy lies not with its cast of troubled teens but with the baffled adults around them. Like Jamie’s parents, viewers must surrender to the sorrow and disbelief of never truly understanding what went wrong.

    Adolescence is a convincing portrayal of the widening chasm between parents and their teenage children in a savage, unregulated digital age.

    It is also a social commentary on how little we know about how to communicate with teens effectively.

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

    – ref. Adolescence is a technical masterpiece that exposes the darkest corners of incel culture and male rage – https://theconversation.com/adolescence-is-a-technical-masterpiece-that-exposes-the-darkest-corners-of-incel-culture-and-male-rage-252390

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: First Nations Australians are more likely to present to hospital with asthma and allergies – new research

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Desalegn Markos Shifti, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Child Health Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland

    Nils Versemann/Shutterstock

    Australia is often called the allergy capital of the world. Allergic diseases – such as allergic asthma, hay fever, eczema and food allergies – affect almost one in five people. And this figure is expected to rise in the years to come.

    An allergy happens when the body’s immune system mistakenly reacts to certain foods or other substances as if they were dangerous.

    But do allergies affect all Australians equally?

    In a recent study, we looked at emergency department (ED) presentations related to asthma and other allergic diseases in central Queensland. The region has a population of 228,246 according to the most recent Census data, and 7.2% of residents identify as First Nations.

    We found First Nations Australians were almost twice as likely to present to hospital with asthma or other allergy-related illnesses compared to other Australians.

    What we did and found

    We analysed 813,112 ED presentations from 12 public hospitals in central Queensland from 2018 to 2023. The hospitals were spread across regional and remote areas.

    Of the conditions we looked at, asthma was the most likely to bring patients to the ED. This was followed by unspecified allergies, atopic dermatitis (or eczema) and anaphylaxis (a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction). First Nations people were more likely than other Australians to present with each of these conditions.

    Overall, we found First Nations people were almost twice as likely to visit an ED for asthma or allergic diseases compared to other Australians. It should be noted that asthma is not always caused by allergies, and in this study we looked at all presentations for asthma, regardless of the cause.

    Our study also found ED visits for allergic diseases among First Nations people increased over time. They were around 1.5 times more common in 2023 compared to 2018.

    Further, we found a notable peak in asthma-related visits to the ED among First Nations people in 2019. This increase may have been partly due to Australia’s Black Summer bushfires during 2019–20.

    Other research has shown ED visits and hospitalisations for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease increased during the Black Summer bushfires. Exposure to bushfire smoke significantly increases the risk of breathing problems and other health issues.

    The increase in asthma-related ED visits could also be linked to the severe flu season in 2019, as flu is known to trigger asthma attacks.

    We looked at ED presentations for allergic conditions such as eczema and anaphylaxis.
    Ternavskaia Olga Alibec/Shutterstock

    Are these findings surprising?

    National data shows asthma is one of the most commonly reported chronic illnesses for First Nations Australians. More than 16% of First Nations Australians reported they had asthma in 2022–23 compared to 10.8% of the general Australian population.

    So it’s not entirely surprising that hospital presentations for asthma were higher among First Nations people.

    However, we were surprised to find First Nations people visited the ED more often for other allergic diseases. Allergies have not necessarily been recognised as an important concern among First Nations people, particularly in remote areas.

    That said, international studies have reported a higher burden of allergic and atopic diseases (eczema, hay fever and asthma) among the Indigenous peoples of Canada.

    How about food allergies?

    Interestingly, we didn’t find any food allergy cases in our data. But some of the “unspecified” allergies could be linked to food allergies, as could some of the cases of anaphylaxis.

    Australian researchers have found differences in the prevalence of food allergies among different groups, but they lacked specific data on First Nations populations. We know little about how common food allergies are in First Nations Australians.

    In a recent national survey, 12% of First Nations people self-reported an allergy to a food, drug, or other substance (compared to 14% in the overall population). But some cases might go unrecognised or unreported, and these data were not broken down into different types of allergies.

    Allergies have not necessarily been recognised as an important concern among First Nations people.
    Bobbi Lockyer/Refinery29 Australia – We Are Many Image Gallery/Getty Images

    Some limitations

    This is the first comprehensive study, to our knowledge, that looks at asthma and allergic disease-related ED visits among both First Nations people and other Australians in an under-researched part of Australia.

    However, we only looked at asthma and allergic diseases treated in the ED, which doesn’t encompass all cases. For example, some people might visit other health services such as GPs when they’re having a less severe allergic episode.

    Ultimately, we need more research to better understand how common allergies and allergic diseases are among First Nations Australians.

    Why do these gaps exist?

    We don’t know exactly why there are disparities in ED presentations for allergic diseases between First Nations people and other Australians.

    One possibility is that asthma and allergic diseases might be more severe in First Nations people, leading to more hospital visits, even if they’re not more common.

    Another reason could be limited access to specialists, especially in rural and remote First Nations communities. Long wait lists to see allergy doctors and their limited availability in some areas could lead to delays in care and make it harder to get the right treatment. This can worsen asthma and allergic disease symptoms, causing patients to seek ED care instead.

    We want to learn more about how allergies affect First Nations people, especially in regional and remote areas, and whether people have unmet needs. In initial conversations with First Nations Australians living with a food allergy, we’ve heard allergies might not be well understood in rural areas. This could be because they’re rare or because traditional lifestyles offer some protection.

    We’re interested in finding out more, especially whether allergies are a concern for First Nations people, and, if so, how we can support communities to develop targeted and culturally respectful strategies to address them.

    Desalegn Markos Shifti is supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)-funded Centre for Food and Allergy Research (CFAR) Postdoctoral Funding.

    Jennifer Koplin receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia. She is a member of the Executive Committee for the National Allergy Centre of Excellence (NACE), which is supported by funding from the Australian government.

    Renarta Whitcombe 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. First Nations Australians are more likely to present to hospital with asthma and allergies – new research – https://theconversation.com/first-nations-australians-are-more-likely-to-present-to-hospital-with-asthma-and-allergies-new-research-251720

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Women’s sexual pleasure is still taboo – but the Kamasutra tells a different story

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sharha Sharha, PhD Candidate in Kamasutra Feminism, Cardiff Metropolitan University

    A carved erotic scene on the outer wall of temple in Khajuraho complex, India. Cortyn/Shutterstock

    For some people, the Kamasutra is little more than a name associated with condom brands, scented oils and chocolates shaped into erotic positions. In India, where sex remains a taboo subject, this ancient sex manual has often been reduced to merely a “dirty book”.

    But beneath this narrow view lies a deeper message: the Kamasutra is a treatise on sexual autonomy, one that could be revolutionary for women.

    In Indian society, women’s sexual pleasure is often invisible, buried beneath layers of cultural silence. Women are often taught to suppress their desires, their voices stifled by traditions that prioritise male needs. Yet, it was in this very country that the Kamasutra was written.

    Composed in the ancient Sanskrit language in the 3rd century by the Indian philosopher Vatsyayana, the Kamasutra is more than a book about sexual positions. The word “kama” means love, sex, desire and pleasure, while “sutra” translates to a treatise. The text explores relationships, ethics and social norms. It offers a framework for mutual respect and understanding between partners.

    In her 2016 book Redeeming the Kamasutra, scholar of Indian culture and society Wendy Doniger argues that Vatsyayana was an advocate of women’s pleasure as well as stressing their right to education and the freedom to express desire. Far from reinforcing male dominance, the Kamasutra originally emphasised the importance of mutual enjoyment and consent. It presents sex as a shared experience rather than a male conquest.

    Sir Richard Francis Burton (1821 – 1890).
    Rischgitz/Stringer/Wikimedia

    The perception of the Kamasutra as a male-centred sex manual can be traced back to its first English translation by Sir Richard Burton in 1883.

    Burton, a British soldier and explorer, omitted or altered passages that highlighted women’s autonomy. It shifted their role from active participants to passive recipients of male pleasure.

    In contrast, scholars such as Ganesh Saili have argued that the Kamasutra originally depicted women as equal partners in intimacy. According to the text, women communicated their needs through gestures, emotions and words, ensuring that their pleasure was just as valued as men’s. Importantly, conversation played a central role in intimacy, reinforcing the necessity of a woman’s consent before having sex.

    Despite this rich history, Indian society continues to largely suppress discussions around female sexuality. Indian sex educator and journalist Leeza Mangaldas argues that women’s sexual pleasure remains a taboo topic, policed by cultural expectations that dictate women must remain silent, subservient and sexually inactive before marriage.

    Social scientist, Deepa Narayan, argues that this suppression begins at home. Girls are often taught to deny their own bodies and prioritise male desires.

    The title page of the 1883 edition of Sir Richard Burton’s translation.
    Ms Sarah Welch/Wikimedia, CC BY

    This control extends to patriarchal social norms that uphold virginity as a virtue for women while imposing no such expectation on men. Sex is framed as something women “give” rather than something they experience. Pleasure is seen as a right for males but merely an afterthought for females. Sex is for men but for women, it is only for producing babies.

    Yet the Kamasutra itself tells a different story. In its original form, it described women as active participants in their pleasure and compared their sensuality to the delicacy of flowers – requiring care, attention and respect.

    My own research explores “Kamasutra feminism”. This is the idea that this ancient text is not just about sex but about sexual autonomy. It challenges patriarchal norms by promoting women’s freedom to articulate their desires and take control of their pleasure. The Kamasutra rejects the notion that women’s sexuality should be regulated or repressed. Instead, it advocates for mutual satisfaction and consent.

    Doniger describes the Kamasutra as a feminist text, citing its emphasis on women choosing their partners, expressing their desires freely and engaging in pleasurable sexual relationships. It recognises economic independence as a crucial factor in women’s sexual autonomy. Financial freedom is linked to the ability to make personal choices.

    An original Kamasutra manuscript page preserved in the vaults of the Raghunath Temple in Jammu & Kashmir.
    Ms Sarah Welch/Wikimedia, CC BY

    Patriarchy versus sexual liberty

    Ultimately, the Kamasutra represents a clash between patriarchy – where women’s sexuality is controlled – and a vision of sexual liberty. It offers an alternative narrative, one where seduction is about mutual enjoyment rather than male domination. Its teachings encourage open discussions about intimacy, allowing women to reclaim their voices in relationships.

    For more than a century, the Kamasutra has been misinterpreted, its radical message buried beneath layers of censorship and cultural shame. But if we look beyond its erotic reputation, we find a text that speaks to the importance of consent, equality and female agency.

    Reclaiming the Kamasutra as a guide for sexual empowerment could help dismantle deeply ingrained taboos and reshape the conversation around women’s pleasure. In a world where female desire is still widely policed, this ancient manuscript reminds us that women’s pleasure is not a luxury, but a right.

    Sharha Sharha 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. Women’s sexual pleasure is still taboo – but the Kamasutra tells a different story – https://theconversation.com/womens-sexual-pleasure-is-still-taboo-but-the-kamasutra-tells-a-different-story-251987

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Dr. Linda S. Durst Elevated to Fellow of The American College of Psychiatrists

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    New recruit Dr. Linda S. Durst, associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry at UConn School of Medicine and medical director of the Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic at UConn Health, has been named a fellow of The American College of Psychiatrists.

    Durst was prestigiously elevated to the rank of fellow at the Annual Meeting of the American College of Psychiatrists in Hawaii on February 20.

    Durst has been a member of the ACP since 2017. Membership in ACP is limited to psychiatrists who have demonstrated outstanding competence in the field of psychiatry, and who have achieved national recognition. The ACP is a not-for-profit honorary association dedicated to providing continuing education to its members, promoting the latest advances in the specialty, and supporting the highest standards in psychiatry.

    In January Durst joined UConn’s faculty from MaineHealth, where she served as chair of psychiatry. She is a board-certified psychiatrist who practices in general behavioral health and specializes in suicide and violence prevention, grief therapy, quality, and safety.

    She received her medical degree from the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine and completed residency training at The Institute of Pennsylvania Hospital.

    “Dr. Durst has an impressive background as a leader in psychiatry, and this important national award from the ACP reflects just that,” shared Dr. David C. Steffens, chair of the Department of Psychiatry at UConn School of Medicine.

    “I am happy to join the UConn Health family and share my knowledge around suicide care, violence screening and quality initiatives with my team,” said Durst. “Returning to the role of Clinician/Educator is very rewarding to me.”

    MIL OSI USA News –