Category: Universities

MIL-OSI Global: Britain can still be a bridge between the US and Europe – here’s how Starmer can prove it

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Nick Whittaker, Subject Lead in Social Sciences & Law, University of Sussex

The US-EU relationship is at its most fragile point since the build-up to the Iraq war in 2003. While President Donald Trump openly questions Nato and President Volodymyr Zelensky’s desire for peace, EU leaders have continued to voice their unequivocal support for Ukraine against Russian aggression.

Between the two lies Britain. In a flurry of diplomacy, Keir Starmer has attempted to navigate the country’s tricky position: close to the US diplomatically, while staying aligned with the EU’s Ukraine policy.

I argue that Starmer could use Britain’s island identity – separated from its closest neighbours just enough to allow a global outlook – to his advantage. Acting as an effective link between the US and the EU could turn this time of crisis into an opportunity. What Britain may lack in material capabilities, it can make up for in skilful diplomacy.

Britain’s position as a “geopolitical bridge” stretches far back into the last century. As Britain was decolonising and reckoning with the growing power of the US and a uniting European continent, acting as a bridge was an effective way of ensuring relevance and maintaining alliances while its status as an imperial great power waned.

This position was especially favoured by Labour politicians keen to emphasise how a socialist Britain could act as a link between the capitalist and communist worlds. In (sometimes reluctantly) arguing for Britain’s entry into the European Economic Community, some Conservatives posited membership as allowing Britain to bridge the Atlantic, given the UK’s strong postwar ties with the US.

Even older is the idea of Britain as an “offshore balancer”. The UK’s proximity to the European continent meant it has always had an eye on political developments there. It has thus sought to maintain alliances in order to prevent Europe being dominated by one power (Napoleonic France, Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union) who could threaten the island sanctuary.

With Britain no longer in the EU, this time of heightened transatlantic tensions provides an opportunity to reclaim these geopolitical stances (and some lost relevance) as a vital interlocutor between America and Europe.

Nato on the brink

Trump is notoriously erratic and unpredictable, yet one of his most consistent motifs has been to question Nato and “free-riding” allies. Herein lies the spectre of the most terrifying British nightmare: an American withdrawal from Nato.

Britain and the US have, historically, both articulated their role as that of offshore balancer in relation to continental Europe. The threat against which they have been balancing since the end of the second world war is the Soviet Union and then Russia.

If the Trump administration ceases to regard Russia as a threat or sees no utility in acting in its historic balancing role, the UK-US relationship will be placed under serious threat. For all of the importance of Anglo-Saxon identity tropes, kith and kin and the special relationship, alliances are best nurtured in conditions of shared interests.

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Nato has been the real cornerstone of UK foreign, defence and security policy since the North Atlantic treaty’s inking in 1949, and is beloved of both Labour and Conservative politicians. US abandonment would be devastating. Thus it is Starmer’s greatest challenge and opportunity.

The reality is that Nato is centred on continental Europe and always has been. Starmer can gain common ground with Trump at this critical juncture by emphasising Britain’s islandness, and the US’s similar separation from the continent.

Starmer could position Britain as a mid-Atlantic interlocutor, close to Europe but not of Europe – appealing to the antipathy of some in the Trump administration about the continent. And his government has already gained Trump’s approval by increasing defence spending, an act that will also please nervous European governments.

Global Britain?

At this moment, Britain seems closer to the EU than it has been since 2016. Foreign and defence policy remain, to some extent, unfulfilled gaps in the EU’s portfolio. If Starmer can forge a close relationship around these issues, he can undercut some of the disappointments around Brexit, such as Britain being viewed as less relevant internationally and losing a seat at European security discussions.

Notwithstanding the latest increase in defence spending, the British Army is smaller than it has been for several hundred years. Cuts to foreign aid, along with the merging of international development with the Foreign Office have prompted questions around Britain’s international clout.

Yet its leaders remain high profile and listened to, with Starmer managing to cut a dignified figure in an era of posturing strongmen. He will need to convince Trump and his team that Europe (and Nato) is worthy of their time and attention. He must emphasise their common ground as offshore balancers, capable of providing a counterweight to Russia.

EU leaders will also need to be reassured of Britain’s commitment to the continent after Brexit. Pressing harder for a UK-EU security pact is one way Starmer could signal this.

Starmer’s White House visit was seen as a diplomatic success, but the mood has changed after Zelensky’s visit.
Number 10/Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND

Trump repeatedly emphasises the personal aspect of politics, seeing states and alliances through a prism of which leaders are willing to flatter him or, at the very least, be “respectful”. Starmer grasped this early on and thus has a shot at forging a productive relationship with Trump, however painful it might be for some in his party.

Yet the stakes are much higher than disgruntled backbenchers. The Labour party, with its internationalist roots, is deeply proud of the foreign policies of Clement Attlee and Ernest Bevin (although less so of Tony Blair’s). Although it may be stressed in different terms to their Conservative opponents, the party is just as concerned with retaining relevance and influence on the world stage.

If this Labour government can find a way to successfully act as a bridge – by interesting Trump in Europe and convincing the EU that they are a reliable partner – then this not only salves some of the wounds of Brexit, it also potentially keeps Nato alive, for now.

Nick Whittaker 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. Britain can still be a bridge between the US and Europe – here’s how Starmer can prove it – https://theconversation.com/britain-can-still-be-a-bridge-between-the-us-and-europe-heres-how-starmer-can-prove-it-251405

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

March 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Women are three times as likely as men to feel unsafe in parks – here’s how we can design them better
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Anna Barker, Associate Profession in Criminal Justice & Criminology, University of Leeds

FotoDuets/Shutterstock

Parks and other green spaces are vital for life in a city, providing places to exercise, relax or meet friends. But for many women, these spaces can feel unwelcoming and unsafe. Concerns about personal safety can create significant barriers for women and girls, reducing their access to the benefits these spaces can provide.

A 2022 survey revealed that four out of five of women in Britain feel unsafe in parks after dark, compared to two out of five men. Although women feel safer during the day, they are still three times more likely than men to feel unsafe (one in six women compared to one in 20 men).

This gender gap in perceived safety leads to unequal access, reduced physical activity and lowers the restorative benefits of green spaces for women. This matters because women, particularly those with time pressures like caregiving responsibilities, have the most to gain from time in green spaces.

Public spaces are often designed with male users as the norm, overlooking the specific needs of women and girls and other vulnerable groups. For example, common recreational facilities in parks often include games areas, skateparks and BMX tracks, all traditionally considered male interests.

One study found that men are five times more likely to use basketball courts, four times more likely to use exercise areas, and almost 20 times more likely to use skateparks compared to women and girls. This results in girls feeling unwelcome and unaccommodated, avoiding spaces that do not cater to their essential needs, or are dominated by men and boys.

Safety work

Women often engage in what researchers call safety work. This is the hidden mental and physical effort needed to navigate public spaces in the threat of male violence and harassment. This can take the form of avoidance, where women bypass parks entirely, or at certain times. After dark or when alone, women often elect, to take longer routes to avoid parks, even if going through them is the most direct and efficient route.

Women are more likely to feel unsafe and more likely to change their behaviour as a result. In 2022, a survey revealed revealed that 37% of women and 24% of men reported avoiding quiet places, such as parks, after dark due to safety concerns. Generally speaking, men face fewer safety related inhibitions and use parks more frequently in their daily routines.

Women also engage in hidden safety work to access the benefits of parks. They preemptively plan their visits, considering time of day, busyness of the space and location. Once in the park, they are hyperaware of their environment, assessing social situations and monitoring unfamiliar men for potential threats. These strategies highlight the extra mental load women carry simply to use public spaces.

Research suggests that women are significantly more likely than men to experience “dysfunctional worry”, when worry and precautionary behaviour negatively impacts their quality of life and wellbeing.

What makes parks feel unsafe?

We have conducted research into what makes parks feel safe and unsafe for women. We found that it is a mix of things, from the immediate social and physical features of environments to broader patriarchal structures, misogyny and fear of men.

A few examples highlighted in our research and other studies show what features make parks feel (un)safe:
- lighting – poorly lit areas discourage visits, particularly after dark
- visibility – dense foliage, secluded pathways, and hidden corners make parks feel less safe
- maintenance – signs of neglect, like litter or vandalism and poor-quality paths make spaces feel less welcoming
- presence of others – well-used parks feel safer and the absence of people including families and women make spaces feel less inclusive and welcoming, while the presence of women is a sign of a safety
- threats – threats of bullying, inappropriate behaviour and harassment in green spaces harms girls’ mental health.
Factors like socioeconomic status, race, disability and age can exacerbate the experience of feeling unsafe for some people. And people in marginalised communities are already more likely to live near small, unsafe poorly maintained parks and further away from larger and higher quality green spaces. These combined factors are the subject of an innovative new study we are leading to ensure parks meet the needs of different users.

Features like exercise equipment and skateparks may not be welcoming to all users.
Macrovector/Shutterstock

Urban planners and policymakers must prioritise, and actively incorporate women’s safety in park design and management. Community engagement with women from different backgrounds is essential for creating safe and inclusive parks and green spaces.

Initiatives like the Safer Parks Guidance, which one of us (Anna Barker) produced with Keep Britain Tidy, Make Space for Girls and West Yorkshire Combined Authority, aims to improve perceptions of safety by incorporating better lighting, open sight lines, regular maintenance and inclusive programming.

Simply having a park nearby is not enough – they must be welcoming and safe for all.

Anna Barker receives funding from Mayor of West Yorkshire via the Home Office Safer Streets Fund and the Economic and Social Research Council. She is affiliated with University of Leeds and a Trustee of Love Leeds Parks.

Jennie Gray receives funding from the Economic and Social Research Council. She is affiliated with the University of Leeds.

Vikki Houlden receives funding from the Economic and Social Research Council, and the Medical Research Council. She is affiliated with the Univesity of Leeds.

– ref. Women are three times as likely as men to feel unsafe in parks – here’s how we can design them better – https://theconversation.com/women-are-three-times-as-likely-as-men-to-feel-unsafe-in-parks-heres-how-we-can-design-them-better-248465
MIL OSI – Global Reports –
March 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: ‘Pac-Man with a ponytail’ proteins regulate everything from night vision to heartbeats – studying what GRKs look like could improve an array of drugs

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Priyanka Naik, Ph.D. Candidate in Structural Biology, Purdue University

Rhodopsin kinase – GRK1 – is a GRK found in the retina of your eyes. Priyanka Naik, CC BY-ND

Each cell in your body relies on precise communication with other cells to function properly. At the center of this process are the molecular switches that turn communication signals in the body on and off. These molecules are key players in health and disease. One such molecular switch is G protein-coupled receptor kinases, or GRKs for short.

From vision to heart function and cell growth, GRKs play a vital role in maintaining physiological balance. When they go awry, they can contribute to cardiovascular disease, inflammatory illnesses like rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis, neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, and multiple types of cancer.

Their involvement in a broad range of diseases makes GRKs an attractive drug target. Around 30% to 40% of all drugs currently on the market focus on these proteins. However, designing drugs that selectively target specific GRKs is a difficult task. Because they are structurally similar to each other and to other proteins, molecules binding to one GRK might also bind to many other enzymes and cause unwanted side effects.

A better understanding of how GRKs interact with their targets can help researchers develop better drugs. So my work in the Tesmer Lab at Purdue University focuses on uncovering more information on the structure of GRKs.

What do G protein-coupled receptor kinases look like?

What researchers know about the structure of GRKs has advanced significantly over the past two decades, revealing the intricate mechanisms by which they function.

The ability to physically look at proteins is highly useful for drug development. Seeing a protein’s structure is like looking at a jigsaw puzzle – you can find the missing piece by knowing its shape. Similarly, knowing a protein’s shape helps scientists design molecules that fit perfectly into it, making drugs more effective.

GRKs consist of several modules, or domains, that serve a particular purpose. Together, these modules assemble into a structure resembling a Pac-Man with a ponytail.

The kinase domain – the Pac-Man – is the catalytic center where the protein does its main job: adding a phosphate group to its target to control its activity. It has two subdomains – one small and one large lobe – connected by a hinge that can open and close. Like Pac-Man, this domain closes around reactants and reopens to release products.

The three domains of GRKs resemble a Pac-Man with a ponytail. Shown here is GRK2.
Priyanka Naik, CC BY-ND

The RH domain – the ponytail – stabilizes the kinase domain. It guides and docks the GRK to its target protein.

Humans have seven GRKs, each specialized for different tissues and functions, and each unique in structure. Some regulate vision, while others affect your brain, kidney and immune functions, among others. Their structural differences dictate how they interact with their targets, and understanding these distinctions is key to designing drugs that can selectively target each one.

In 2003, researchers in the lab where I work uncovered the first known structure of a GRK – specifically, GRK2, which is involved in heart functions and cell proliferation – by using a technique called macromolecular crystallography. This involved bombarding a GRK2 sample with X-rays and tracing where they bounce off to determine where each atom of the protein is located.

Current state of GRK research

By determining how the three modules of GRK2 are arranged and where its target molecules would bind, my colleagues and I can design drugs that strongly interact with GRK2.

GRK2 with Paxil bound to its active site.
Priyanka Naik, CC BY-ND

For example, in 2012, one of my colleagues discovered that the antidepressant Paxil could inhibit GRK2. To build on this discovery, our team designed drugs with similar shapes to Paxil to identify ones that effectively and selectively inhibit GRK2. The goal was to develop treatments that could target GRK2-related diseases such as heart failure and breast cancer without interfering with other proteins, thereby minimizing side effects.

After determining what Paxil looks like when bound to GRK2, we designed a series of derivative compounds that better fit into GRK2’s active site – the missing jigsaw puzzle pieces. Some of these compounds were able to better block GRK2 compared with Paxil, improving the ability of heart muscle cells to contract. While the research is still in its early stages, our findings suggest that these compounds could potentially be used to treat heart failure.

An important missing piece of the story is what GRK2 looks like when bound to its primary target in the cells. These protein complexes are highly shape-shifting, making traditional imaging methods very difficult.

However, recent advances in imaging have made it possible to determine the structure of these molecules. Cryogenic electron microscopy, or cryo-EM, flash-freezes proteins and bombards them with electrons to capture their structure. These studies have thus far revealed what GRK1 and GRK2 look like when bound to two different target proteins, offering critical insights into how they work.

Cryo-EM was the subject of the 2017 Nobel Prize in chemistry.

My work focuses on uncovering how GRK2 function is different from GRK1. These proteins play different physiological roles – GRK1 primarily regulates vision, while GRK2 is involved in heart function and cell proliferation. Identifying structural differences in different GRKs will help researchers design drugs that only target the GRK of interest, thus preventing side effects.

By combining cutting-edge imaging techniques with decades of research, scientists in my lab and others hope to one day unlock the full therapeutic potential of GRKs, offering pinpointed treatments for a wide range of diseases.

Priyanka Naik receives funding from Purdue University. The Tesmer Lab, discussed here, is funded by Purdue Institute for Cancer Research, National Institutes of Health and the Walther Cancer Foundation.

– ref. ‘Pac-Man with a ponytail’ proteins regulate everything from night vision to heartbeats – studying what GRKs look like could improve an array of drugs – https://theconversation.com/pac-man-with-a-ponytail-proteins-regulate-everything-from-night-vision-to-heartbeats-studying-what-grks-look-like-could-improve-an-array-of-drugs-248298

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

March 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Welfare cuts won’t succeed without healthier jobs

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Alice Martin, Head of Research, Work Foundation, Lancaster University

PeopleImages.com – Yuri A/Shutterstock

The UK could be poised to cut billions of pounds from its welfare spend as the Treasury takes the view that there is less room for manoeuvre in the finances than hoped. Only last October, Chancellor Rachel Reeves believed she had almost £10 billion of so-called “fiscal headroom”, essentially a buffer in her budget if the economy changed. But things have changed very quickly for Reeves.

Welfare spending in the UK is around £50 billion a year – and predicted to rise to more than £75 billion by 2030. Regardless of other pressures, the government had already been expressing concern about the size of the bill, even attempting to make a “moral case” for ensuring people who can work are doing so.

But none of this gets around the fact that the UK has been dubbed the “sick man of Europe”. The rise in health-related economic inactivity since COVID – people leaving the workforce because they’re too ill – has certainly attracted widespread political attention. Some commentators have recently challenged the narrative however, pointing to differences in how economic activity is measured in other countries.

We have researched the reasons why British workers leave their jobs after their health declines. When deciding whether to make cuts, the government should try to understand what is really happening with the health of the UK workforce.

The overall picture is stark. More working-age people have a diagnosed major health problem than ever before and numbers are due to rise by 500,000 by 2030. Improvements in life expectancy have stalled and regional differences in health are large and growing.

Almost one in four working-age people are classed as disabled, a diverse and growing minority. Meanwhile mental ill health rates are rising, particularly among young people.

Poor work quality is one of the things that is harming health in many ways. Long hours, shift work and work-related stress all take their toll.

In 2023-24, half of all UK work-related ill health was due to stress, anxiety or depression. Ultimately a bad job can be worse for health than no job.

These problems are not unique to the UK. Other countries are grappling with similar issues but have been quicker to respond, including with high-quality occupational health systems and specific legislation around work-related “psychosocial risks”.

These are factors like workloads, long hours, a lack of autonomy and support at work and workplace harassment. The UK has been slower to grasp the nettle and act.

Our recent study explored why British workers quit their jobs following a decline in their health. We surveyed 1,117 business leaders, reviewed occupational health approaches and studied the employment journeys of 9,169 workers aged 16-60 over a four-year period.

We found that nearly one in ten employees (9%) who experienced a decline in their health left their job within four years. Critically, nearly half of these exits were in the first 12 months, suggesting that once sick pay entitlements run out, people who have not recovered may face little choice but to quit and enter the welfare system.

Workers grappling with multiple health challenges face even greater risks. Those with three or more conditions are 5.6 times more likely to quit work than their healthier peers. And those with poor mental health are almost twice as likely to leave.

The role of healthy ‘job design’

Our study found that workers without flexibility were four times more likely to leave after their health declined. And for those with low levels of control in their job, the risk was 3.7 times higher.

A previous study found that people in insecure work, for example through a temporary or zero-hours contract, become workless at higher rates when their health deteriorates.

Despite the fact that job design can determine whether people stay in work, in the UK it has largely been left to employers to decide the types of jobs and protections they offer. This hands-off approach to workforce health is what sets the UK apart – and not in a good way.

In the Netherlands, employers carry the financial burden for statutory sick pay for up to 104 weeks. This has motivated them to help people return to work by adapting their jobs. In Australia, employers have to implement return-to-work programmes, assisted by regional coordinators.

Our survey of UK business leaders revealed that while 64% recognise the economic impact of poor employee health, only 48% offer flexible working arrangements. And just 37% provide occupational health services. They acknowledged several workplace factors that exacerbate problems, such as excessive workloads (75%), long working hours (73%) and a lack of breaks (74%).

But implementation of preventive measures is low. Only 36% assess mental health risks and 37% adjust workloads to ensure they are manageable.

The state pension age is set to rise to 67 by 2028 and potentially to 71 by 2050, meaning more people may have to work for longer. Yet, as people live and work longer they are also becoming sicker.

In this context there is an urgent need to promote healthy, sustainable work. This means achieving living and working conditions that can be sustained across a lifetime. It requires a joined-up employment and welfare system that supports people to take breaks when they need to, such as for health-related and caregiving needs.

Practical measures include raising statutory sick pay and ensuring working time protections and flexible work rights mean everyone has a healthy work-life balance.

Government must also legislate to ensure that employers take steps to address known work-related causes of ill health.

The UK government’s Get Britain Working agenda aims to support inactive people, including those with long-term illnesses, back into suitable work. And the employment rights bill should strengthen worker protections. But these changes will take time. Cutting welfare now will affect hundreds of thousands of people who are out of work on health grounds, and do not have a viable alternative.

Britain’s welfare bill is not about sudden mass exits from the workforce but rather a steady drip of workers leaving, compounded by insufficient protections and workplace insecurity. With a growing population of older workers and rising health challenges, guaranteeing good-quality work is no longer optional for the UK — it is essential.

Alice Martin works for the Work Foundation, an independent UK think tank focused on overcoming labour market inequalities and improving working lives.

Stavroula Leka is Professor of Organisations, Work & Health and Director of the Centre for Organisational Health and Well-being at Lancaster University. She is also the President of the European Academy of Occupational Health Psychology.

Stavroula’s research is currently funded by the Institution of Occupational Safety & Health, ESRC, and the European Commission.

– ref. Welfare cuts won’t succeed without healthier jobs – https://theconversation.com/welfare-cuts-wont-succeed-without-healthier-jobs-251556

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

March 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Women and girls are on the frontline of climate change – but their stories are seldom heard

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Sanam Mahoozi, PhD Candidate in Journalism, City St George’s, University of London

Jacob Lund/Shutterstock

Women and girls are disproportionately affected by the climate crisis. They are more likely to suffer health consequences as a result of floods, droughts, heatwaves, air pollution, wildfires and other environmental disasters.

At the same time, women also tend to be responsible for securing food, water and energy for the rest of their families. When extreme weather makes these resources scarce, their lives and livelihoods are at risk.

Despite all of this, women are alarmingly underrepresented in climate change and environmental reporting. A global analysis by the non-profit Media Diversity Institute found that only one in four sources quoted in online news stories about climate change, published between 2017 and 2021, were women. That means the stories being told about climate change are mostly through the eyes and experiences of men.

I study how the media covers environmental issues in authoritarian countries like Iran and throughout the Middle East and North Africa, one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable regions, which faces extreme heat, water shortages and sand and dust storms.

As part of research for my recently completed PhD, I have found that women are rarely quoted as sources in news about climate change and environmental degradation, and those that do speak up are often threatened.

Not enough women ‘on record’

Finding sources in authoritarian countries is already difficult, but finding women who are willing to share their testimonies with journalists is even harder.

In Iran, environmental issues are highly politicised. Discussing water shortages or air pollution can be interpreted as criticism of the government. Anyone speaking to a journalist can expect intimidation, arrest or even death. Naturally, many sources hesitate to talk. But for women, the barriers are even greater.

In 2024, I reported on a heatwave in Iran where temperatures exceeded 50°C in some provinces. Through “off-the-record” conversations, I learned that the extreme heat was causing women to suffer heatstroke, menstrual problems, even miscarriages.

Yet, when I analysed the media coverage, there was little mention of this. Most articles focused on how the government had to shut down schools and offices.

I reached out to women in different parts of Iran, including mothers, students and medical professionals. Some spoke to me anonymously, but even women in leadership positions within the government or environment sector wouldn’t talk for fear of a reaction from the state intelligence apparatus.

This is a pattern I’ve seen throughout my research and reporting. If women cannot safely speak out, their struggles remain invisible.

Women are leading, but where’s the coverage?

Here’s the irony: while women are missing from climate reporting, they are in fact leading many environmental efforts. Evidence suggests that women are more likely than men to volunteer for environmental causes or act in an environmentally friendly way, for example. Countries with more women in political leadership tend to have stronger climate policies.

Though, there is some imbalance in media coverage of women too. For example, Swedish activist Greta Thunberg has been recognised in media consumed mostly in wealthier countries in Europe, North America and Australasia (what is often called the global north). But in Asia, Africa and Latin America (often called the global south) where climate change is hitting hardest, I have found women leading environmental movements rarely get the same level of attention.

This is despite the fact there are numerous women environmental leaders in this part of the world. In Iran, wildlife and conservation activists Niloufar Bayani and Sepideh Kashani were imprisoned and tortured for over six years after being falsely accused of espionage by the intelligence arm of the Islamic revolutionary guard corps.

Their work was dedicated to protecting Iran’s environment, particularly the critically endangered Asiatic cheetah, highlighting the risks faced by those advocating for conservation under repressive regimes. Bayani wrote a manifesto about the climate crisis and educated women in Tehran’s notorious Evin prison in 2023, when she was still serving a decade-long sentence.

Another woman, Juliet Kabera of Rwanda, is an advocate for banning plastic bags and single-use plastics and attended global treaty negotiations to tackle plastic waste and cut global production. These women, and their work and sacrifices, are often missing from media coverage about the environment.

My PhD research on environmental reporting in the Middle East and North Africa, which echoes other work in this area, found that women are often depicted as victims of climate disasters rather than experts, leaders or solution-makers. Women in the global north are more frequently included in discussions about climate policy, activism or research, than their counterparts in the global south.

When the media misses the perspectives of women living through crises, we miss their ideas and experience. As a result, environmental policies may not reflect the breadth of the problem, or address the needs of those who are most affected.

If women are more impacted by climate change and are leading the fight, why aren’t they also leading the conversation in the media?

Sanam Mahoozi 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 and girls are on the frontline of climate change – but their stories are seldom heard – https://theconversation.com/women-and-girls-are-on-the-frontline-of-climate-change-but-their-stories-are-seldom-heard-251631

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

March 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Seven ways feminism has improved the world for young women – compared to our mother’s generations
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Hind Elhinnawy, Senior Lecturer, School of Social Sciences, Nottingham Trent University

wavebreakmedia/Shutterstock

International Women’s Day is the perfect time to celebrate how far we’ve come in transforming the lives of women and girls around the world.

Historically, women have faced subjugation and limited freedom, with societal expectations confining us to marriage and child-rearing. In the UK, the suffragette movement in the early 20th century was a pivotal moment in the fight for women’s rights. The efforts of activists like Emmeline Pankhurst and the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU), along with parallel movements worldwide, laid the ground for future advancements.

Fast forward to the 21st century and increased access to education and healthcare has shattered the notion of women as passive, opening up a world of new opportunities. Here are eight examples of social changes that have made the world a more equitable place for women in their 20s and 30s than things were for our mothers.

No one’s 20s and 30s look the same. You might be saving for a mortgage or just struggling to pay rent. You could be swiping dating apps, or trying to understand childcare. No matter your current challenges, our Quarter Life series has articles to share in the group chat, or just to remind you that you’re not alone.

Read more from Quarter Life:
1. We are crushing career barriers

In the 1960s, career options for women were generally limited to roles like domestic servants, teachers, nurses or dressmakers.

Thanks to decades of relentless advocacy and progress, today, women are breaking barriers across all industries. Although challenges still exist, we can now find roles in traditionally male-dominated fields such as technology, engineering and finance.

Policies supporting work-life balance and combating discrimination are more prevalent. And the rise of remote work and flexible schedules allow many women to more effectively balance their careers with their personal lives.

2. We are experiencing an education revolution

Women’s education was limited in the 1960s by societal norms that prioritised marriage over academic achievement. Young women often left school early, and few could pursue higher education.

Today, the education landscape has transformed dramatically, offering more opportunities for women to pursue higher education and specialised training. Scholarships and grants, as well as online education platforms have made education more accessible and affordable.

Women are now earning degrees at higher rates than ever before. In the UK, 57% of graduates are women and in the US, that jumps to 58%.

In many countries, women now outpace men when it comes to university enrolment.
Jacob Lund/Shutterstock

3. We are taking charge of our relationships

For many women in our mothers’ and grandmothers’ generation, marriage was seen as the ultimate goal, with family life centred on traditional roles.

Over the past six decades, divorce has lost much of its stigma, allowing women to make choices that better prioritise our wellbeing. In many countries now, forced marriage has been outlawed and crimes like domestic violence and stalking – overwhelmingly perpetrated against women – are finally being taken seriously by both the law and the media.

In the UK, diverse family structures, including single parenthood, cohabitation and LGBTQ+ partnerships are now recognised by the law. This means we have the freedom to make choices in our relationships based on our own needs and desires.

4. We have gained control over our reproductive choices

Reproductive rights were severely limited in the 1960s. Most women had little access to birth control and limited knowledge about family planning.

Today we have greater control over our reproductive choices, supported by legal rights and medical advances. Increased access to contraception and comprehensive reproductive health services are empowering us to make informed decisions.

While challenges remain, particularly in the US, the strides made highlight the importance of continued advocacy for reproductive justice.

Read more:
Roe v Wade overturned: what abortion access and reproductive rights look like around the world

5. We are socially and culturally more empowered

The social and cultural landscape has undergone a seismic shift, empowering women like never before.

Movements such as #MeToo (a social campaign against sexual abuse and harassment, empowering survivors to share their experiences), and Time’s Up (a movement founded in 2018 by celebrities that aimed to support victims of workplace sexual harassment and advocate for gender equality), have shattered the silence on gender inequality and harassment.

Oprah Winfrey’s Golden Globes speech marked an important moment in the Time’s Up movement.

6. We have gained legal rights and political influence

In the course of a generation, women have gained substantial legal rights, with laws supporting gender equality and protection against discrimination coming into force.

More women are now lawyers, judges and lawmakers, leading to more equitable laws and policies addressing workplace discrimination, domestic violence and reproductive rights. As of 2024, women make up over 50% of law firm associates and more than 40% of the nation’s lawyers. In the 1980s women comprised only about 8% of the legal profession.

Our political influence has also grown. Today, women occupy more significant positions in government globally than ever before , from local councils to prime ministers and presidents. Our voices are now crucial in shaping policies and representing diverse perspectives.

7. We are making strides internationally

Worldwide, between 2012 and 2020, the proportion of girls completing lower secondary school rose from 69% to 77%, while the proportion completing upper secondary school rose from 49% to 59%.

The adolescent birth rate has fallen globally from 51 to 42 births per 1,000 girls aged 15-19 since 2012. Meanwhile, the proportion of young women married as children has declined globally from 23% to 19% over the past decade.

And the proportion of girls aged 15-19 who have undergone female genital mutilation in countries where it is highly concentrated has decreased from 41% to 34% over the past decade.

The fight continues

Despite significant progress, many outdated and oppressive laws against women persist globally. In conflict zones, women often bear the brunt of brutality, and the continuing refugee crisis puts thousands of women and girls at risk of sex trafficking and exploitation.

The recent overturning of Roe v Wade in the US has also set back reproductive rights, leading to increased restrictions on abortion access.

Education also remains a critical issue. Nearly 30% of girls worldwide still do not complete lower secondary school, and around 48% do not complete upper secondary school. And in the least developed countries, adolescent birth rates remain alarmingly high at 94 births per 1,000 girls aged 15-19. The barriers to accessing effective contraceptives include cost, stigma, lack of accurate information and limited decision-making autonomy.

We’ve made incredible strides in advancing women’s rights, but these setbacks remind us that the fight isn’t over. We must continue to advocate and take action to ensure equality and protection for all women, not just on International Women’s Day, but all year round.

Hind Elhinnawy 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. Seven ways feminism has improved the world for young women – compared to our mother’s generations – https://theconversation.com/seven-ways-feminism-has-improved-the-world-for-young-women-compared-to-our-mothers-generations-251532
MIL OSI – Global Reports –
March 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Why a US minerals deal with Ukraine won’t deter Russian aggression

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Patrick E. Shea, Senior Lecturer in International Relations and Global Governance, University of Glasgow

The US vice-president, J.D. Vance, recently told Fox News that “the very best security guarantee” to prevent Russia from invading Ukraine again was “to give Americans economic upside in the future of Ukraine”.

The implication is that the much-debated minerals deal, in which an investment fund managed by Kyiv and Washington would receive revenue from Ukraine’s natural resources, would create American economic interests in Ukraine. American security interests, it is suggested, could soon follow.

Vance’s comments came with the deal hanging in the balance. A meeting at the White House on February 28, where the deal was expected to be signed, turned into a shouting match between Vance, the US president, Donald Trump, and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky.

Zelensky has since attempted to patch up relations with the Trump administration, announcing that he is ready to sign the deal at “any time and in any convenient format”. And Vance, when asked whether an agreement was still on the table, said Trump “is still committed” to reaching a deal.

Having access to Ukrainian minerals is an important opportunity for America’s missile system electronics and electric vehicle industries. Ukraine is, for example, home to around one-third of all European lithium deposits, the key component in batteries.

This access is particularly important now that China, which currently accounts for a high proportion of certain US mineral imports, has imposed a ban on exporting rare minerals to the US in retaliation for Trump’s tariff policies.

But, while Ukraine’s minerals are tempting to the US and other world powers, a deal with Trump won’t help Ukraine’s security situation.

Trump’s approach has two main flaws. First, research shows that investment typically follows security commitments, not the other way around. Investors seek markets that are stable and protected, rather than hoping their investments create those conditions.

Previous US presidents have touted similar strategies without success. President William Howard Taft (1857-1930) championed “dollar diplomacy” in the early 20th century, promising that American investments would create stability across Latin America by “substituting dollars for bullets”.

The reality proved quite different. Throughout this period, the US frequently used military force to protect oil interests in Latin America. But, because these interventions focused on extraction sites rather than defending entire countries, instability continued elsewhere in the region.

Trump’s “America first” mantra suggests a similar pattern of defending American assets, and not necessarily the countries in which the assets reside.

Second, the overall US commitment to protect American assets abroad is uncertain. The US has, since the end of the cold war, been selective about when and how it uses military force to protect overseas assets.

Since 1991, the US military has intervened to protect American property in only four documented instances: Haiti in 2004, Lebanon in 2006, Egypt in 2011 and Yemen in 2012. These cases involved embassies and other smaller properties during periods of civil unrest, rather than defending economic interests.

Recent presidents, including Trump, have been reluctant to use force to protect threatened American investments. US agribusiness giant Cargill, for example, had to close its operations in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region following Russia’s invasion in 2014.

Building state capacity

That said, economic relations with America can indeed bolster a partner state’s security. But my own research shows that this is largely through indirect channels, rather than the threat of military intervention.

For example, US government departments, such as the US patent and trademark office, provide comprehensive training to partner states. Programmes involve training judges, police officers, prosecutors and policymakers to enforce intellectual property protections, administer land registries, combat counterfeiting and develop legal frameworks that protect investments.

This capacity building not only helps American investors in these countries, but also improves the partner state’s overall capacity. More effective and capable bureaucracies are better able to manage and finance their military capabilities.

Following Russia’s 2014 invasion of Ukraine, the US launched the agriculture and rural development support program. The initiative aimed to develop Ukraine’s institutional capacity for managing property rights and attracting diverse investments.

The US Treasury brought in loan advisory firm First Financial Network to help Ukraine navigate its financial crisis after the invasion, while simultaneously building frameworks for foreign investment.

By 2020, this partnership facilitated US investment firm Allrise Capital’s purchase of Odessa’s Chornomorets football stadium. This deal was described by John Morris, the president of First Financial Network, as demonstrating Ukraine’s ability “to sell assets to the international community”.

These efforts did not deter Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. But they helped the Ukrainian government implement several administrative reforms in the years leading up to the invasion, including more efficient tax collection and professionalisation of civil servants. The government was better prepared for war than it would otherwise have been.

The Ukrainian and Russian armies have been locked in battle for over three years.
Kutsenko Volodymyr / Shutterstock

If the US wants to enhance Ukraine’s security through economic means, the Trump administration would need to make two drastic changes.

First, it would need to reinstate programmes that promote American investment abroad. After assuming office, Trump froze and began dismantling the United States Agency for International Development (USAid). The agency’s capacity-building efforts have security consequences.

Second, for the US to have both an economic and security impact, Trump needs to reassure America’s allies. Assurances are not Trump’s speciality. On February 26, for example, Trump declined to say whether the US would defend Taiwan if it was attacked by China.

Research suggests that investments follow alliances. But markets do not care about agreements alone. They respond to other signals too, like explicit statements of support. These statements of support also help to reassure allies and deter rivals.

Unless Trump changes how he operates on the international stage, the economics of the mineral deal will not help Ukraine’s security situation.

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

– ref. Why a US minerals deal with Ukraine won’t deter Russian aggression – https://theconversation.com/why-a-us-minerals-deal-with-ukraine-wont-deter-russian-aggression-251436

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

March 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Unique developments for the oil industry: RosGeoTech approved by the PIS Council

Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

On March 6-7, 2025, a meeting of the Council for the consideration of issues and coordination of activities of advanced engineering schools was held, in which, together with other 20 teams, the team of the PIS “RosGeoTech” took part, headed by the rector of the Grozny State Oil Technological University named after Academician M.D. Millionshchikov Magomed Mintsaev and the rector of the State University of Management Vladimir Stroev.

Over the course of two days, participants in the second wave of selection for the Advanced Engineering Schools project shared the results achieved in 2024. Following the meeting and assessment of the work done, the Council, co-chaired by the Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation Valery Falkov and the head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia Anton Alikhanov, will compile a rating of engineering schools and determine the amount of state support within the framework of the project for 2025.

The head of the Ministry of Education and Science recalled that universities face two key tasks: – to propose changes in engineering education, focusing on improving its quality; – to attract an industrial partner who will put forward a request for the training of highly qualified personnel and the transformation of education, and will also involve teachers and students in solving real engineering problems aimed at ensuring technological leadership.

The advanced engineering school “RosGeoTech” is called upon to become a recognized industry center of competence in technologies for the cost-effective exploitation of oil fields and wells at the final stage of development by building a first-class ecosystem for training engineers, as well as to create a new promising market based on the integrated use of geothermal fields and oil fields at the final stage of development.

In 2024/2025, 52 students are studying at the RosGeoTech PIS (20 undergraduate, 10 master’s, 22 specialist). Six new educational programs have been developed. The number of graduates in additional professional education programs is 80 people.

“Graduates of the RosGeoTech PIS of the M.D. Millionshchikov GGNTU have unique industry competencies and skills that are formed thanks to advanced teaching methods, practical knowledge obtained from leading specialists of industrial partners during the implementation of educational programs, practical training and internships in the leading oil companies of the country and the implementation of the final qualifying work as a scientific project for the needs of industrial partners. Graduates of the RosGeoTech PIS will have a qualification commensurate with a year of work experience at the enterprise,” said Magomed Mintsaev, Rector of the M.D. Millionshchikov GGNTU.

The ABRIS (Autonomous unmanned and robotic innovative systems in oil and gas, energy and construction engineering, as well as in ensuring the safety of facilities in various industries) and GeoMap (Formation of an interactive map of Russia’s geothermal resources) projects are being implemented directly on the basis of the State University of Management.

“ABRIS is one of the projects that SUM scientists are implementing in the field of artificial intelligence. The project involves creating unmanned systems for monitoring oil and gas facilities and geophysical surveys, as well as an autonomous drone port for servicing UAVs. These developments can be applied in other areas. Other major SUM projects in the field of artificial intelligence include the creation of software and hardware systems and intelligent platform digital solutions in the field of developing agro-industrial technologies of the full life cycle, or, in simpler terms, the “Digital Village”. Cooperation with GGNTU named after M.D. Millionshchikov is of utmost importance for us, because in addition to implementing scientific projects, we are opening new higher education programs and continuing professional education programs for the oil and gas industry, which contribute to the strategic goal of Russia’s development – achieving technological leadership,” said SUM Rector Vladimir Stroyev.

The key partners of the RosGeoTech Scientific and Educational Institute were PJSC NK Rosneft, JSC Grozneftegaz, JSC Chechenneftekhimprom and others.

The volume of attracted funding amounted to 120.4 million rubles in the form of a federal subsidy, 221 million rubles as extra-budgetary funding for the school’s activities, and 63.78 million rubles for R&D in the interests of business.

Today, there are 50 advanced engineering schools in the country, involving more than 250 high-tech companies, including Rostec, Rosatom, Roscosmos, Sibur, Gazprom Neft, KAMAZ, Tatneft and others. Another 30 schools will present the results of their activities for 2024 in April.

On the instructions of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the project will be scaled up and 100 advanced engineering schools will be created by 2030.

Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 03/07/2025

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

MIL OSI Russia News –

March 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: Consumer Housing Sentiment Down Year over Year for First Time Since 2023
Source: Fannie Mae

WASHINGTON, DC – The Fannie Mae (FNMA/OTCQB) Home Purchase Sentiment Index® (HPSI) decreased 1.8 points in February to 71.6, driven largely by consumers’ increased pessimism that mortgage rates will go down in the next year. The share of consumers who say it is a good time to buy a home inched up last month to 24%, while the share who say it is a good time to sell dipped to 62%. February also saw a notable decline in consumers’ optimism toward their personal financial situation, including household income and concern they could lose their job. Year over year, the HPSI is down 1.2 points.

“In February, the HPSI saw its first year-over-year decline in nearly two years, which was mostly due to a shrinking share of consumers expressing optimism about the direction of mortgage rates,” said Mark Palim, Fannie Mae Senior Vice President and Chief Economist. “This growing pessimism makes sense, as mortgage rates had remained near the 7% threshold for a few months, including when we fielded this survey. The decline in sentiment was further impacted by consumers’ growing concerns about their own personal financial situations. While some consumers may be slowly acclimating to the higher mortgage rate environment, the vast majority continue to believe it is a ‘bad time’ to buy a home – with high home prices cited as the primary sticking point. We continue to expect home sales activity to remain relatively light over our forecast horizon due to the ongoing lack of supply and overall unaffordability.”

Home Purchase Sentiment Index – Component Highlights
Fannie Mae’s Home Purchase Sentiment Index (HPSI) decreased 1.8 points in February to 71.6. The HPSI is down 1.2 points compared to the same time last year. Read the full research report for additional information.
- Good/Bad Time to Buy: The percentage of respondents who say it is a good time to buy a home increased from 22% to 24%, and the percentage who say it is a bad time to buy decreased from 78% to 76%. The net share of those who say it is a good time to buy increased 2 percentage points month over month to negative 53%.
- Good/Bad Time to Sell: The percentage of respondents who say it is a good time to sell a home decreased from 63% to 62%, and the percentage who say it’s a bad time to sell increased from 36% to 37%. The net share of those who say it is a good time to sell decreased 3 percentage points month over month to 25%.
- Home Price Expectations: The percentage of respondents who say home prices will go up in the next 12 months decreased from 43% to 41%, while the percentage who say home prices will go down increased from 22% to 23%. The share who think home prices will stay the same increased from 34% to 35%. As a result, the net share of those who say home prices will go up in the next 12 months decreased 2 percentage points month over month to 18%.
- Mortgage Rate Expectations: The percentage of respondents who say mortgage rates will go down in the next 12 months decreased from 35% to 30%, while the percentage who expect mortgage rates to go up increased from 32% to 33%. The share who think mortgage rates will stay the same increased from 33% to 36%. As a result, the net share of those who say mortgage rates will go down over the next 12 months decreased 6 percentage points month over month to negative 3%.
- Job Loss Concern: The percentage of employed respondents who say they are not concerned about losing their job in the next 12 months decreased from 78% to 77%, while the percentage who say they are concerned increased from 22% to 23%. As a result, the net share of those who say they are not concerned about losing their job decreased 1 percentage point month over month to 55%.
- Household Income: The percentage of respondents who say their household income is significantly higher than it was 12 months ago increased from 17% to 18%, while the percentage who say their household income is significantly lower increased from 9% to 11%. The percentage who say their household income is about the same decreased from 73% to 70%. As a result, the net share of those who say their household income is significantly higher than it was 12 months ago decreased 1 percentage point month over month to 7%.
About Fannie Mae’s Home Purchase Sentiment Index
The Home Purchase Sentiment Index® (HPSI) distills information about consumers’ home purchase sentiment from Fannie Mae’s National Housing Survey® (NHS) into a single number. The HPSI reflects consumers’ current views and forward-looking expectations of housing market conditions and complements existing data sources to inform housing-related analysis and decision-making. The HPSI is constructed from answers to six NHS questions that solicit consumers’ evaluations of housing market conditions and address topics that are related to their home purchase decisions. The questions ask consumers whether they think that it is a good or bad time to buy or to sell a house, what direction they expect home prices and mortgage interest rates to move, how concerned they are about losing their jobs, and whether their incomes are higher or lower than they were a year earlier.

About Fannie Mae’s National Housing Survey
The National Housing Survey (NHS) is a monthly attitudinal survey, launched in 2010, which polls a representative sample of adult household financial decision makers in the United States, to assess their attitudes toward owning and renting a home, purchase and rental prices, household finances, and overall confidence in the economy. Each respondent is asked more than 100 questions, making the NHS one of the most detailed longitudinal surveys of its kind to track attitudinal shifts, six of which are used to construct the HPSI (findings are compared with the same survey conducted monthly beginning June 2010). For more information, please see the Technical Notes.

Fannie Mae conducts this survey and shares monthly and quarterly results so that we may help industry partners and market participants target our collective efforts to support the housing market. The February 2025 National Housing Survey was conducted between February 1, 2025, and February 18, 2025. Most of the data collection occurred during the first two weeks of this period. The latest NHS was fielded through AmeriSpeak®, NORC at the University of Chicago’s probability-based panel, in coordination with Fannie Mae and PSB Insights. Calculations are made using unrounded and weighted respondent-level data to help ensure precision in NHS results from wave to wave. As a result, minor differences in calculated data (summarized results, net calculations, etc.) of up to 1 percentage point may occur due to rounding.

Detailed HPSI & NHS Findings
For detailed findings from the Home Purchase Sentiment Index and National Housing Survey, as well as a brief HPSI overview and detailed white paper, technical notes on the NHS methodology, and questions asked of respondents associated with each monthly indicator, please visit the Surveys page on fanniemae.com. Also available on the site are in-depth special topic studies, which provide a detailed assessment of combined data results from three monthly studies of NHS results.

To receive e-mail updates with other housing market research from Fannie Mae’s Economic and Strategic Research Group, please click here.

About the ESR Group
Fannie Mae’s Economic and Strategic Research Group, led by Chief Economist Mark Palim, studies current data, analyzes historical and emerging trends, and conducts surveys of consumer and mortgage lender groups to provide forecasts and analyses on the economy, housing, and mortgage markets.
MIL OSI Economics –
March 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: AFRICA/TANZANIA – Erection of the diocese of Bagamoyo, Tanzania, and appointment of first bishop

Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

Friday, 7 March 2025

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – The Holy Father has erected the new diocese of Bagamoyo, Tanzania, with territory taken from the metropolitan archdiocese of Dar-es-Salaam and the diocese of Morogoro, making it a suffragan of the metropolitan see of Dar-es-Salaam.The Holy Father has appointed Bishop Stephano Lameck Musomba, O.S.A., until now titular bishop of Perdices and auxiliary of Dar-es-Salaam, as first bishop of the newly-erected diocese.Bishop Stephano Lameck Musomba, O.S.A., was born on 25 September 1969 in the village of Malonji, metropolitan archdiocese of Mbeya. He studied philosophy and theology at the Jordan University of Morogoro and was awarded a licentiate in patrology from the Augustinianum Patristic Institute in Rome.He entered the Order of Saint Augustine and received priestly ordination on 24 July 2003.He has held the following offices: parish assistant (2003-2004 and 2014-2016) and parish priest (2018-2021) of Immaculate Conception in Mavurunza in Dar-es-Salaam; formator in the House of Formation of the Order in Morogoro (2008-2009 and 2016-2018); lecturer in the Faculty of Theology of Jordan University in Morogoro (2008-2009); parish priest of Saint Augustine in Ternboni in Dar-es-Salaam (2009-2014); and prior of the Community of Saint Monica (2018-2021).He was appointed titular bishop of Perdices and auxiliary of Dar-es-Salaam on 7 July 2021, and received episcopal consecration the following 21 September.The Diocese of Bagamoyo [nom. lat. Bagamoyensis] was dismembered from the Archdiocese of Dar-es-Salaam and the Diocese of Morogoro and made suffragan of the Metropolitan See of Dar-es-Salaam. The See of the Diocese is in the city of Bagamoyo. The Cathedral church of the new ecclesiastical circumscription will be the church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, in Bagamoyo. (Agenzia Fides, 7/3/2025)

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MIL OSI Europe News –

March 8, 2025
MIL-OSI: NANO Nuclear Energy Appoints Leading Advanced Nuclear Reactor Engineer Florent Heidet, Ph.D. as its Chief Technology Officer and Head of Reactor Development
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Former Head of Engineering at Ultra Safe Nuclear Corp. brings firsthand knowledge of recently acquired advanced reactor technologies and extensive reactor building experience

New York, N.Y., March 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: NNE) (“NANO Nuclear” or “the Company”), a leading advanced nuclear energy and technology company focused on developing clean energy solutions, today announced that Florent Heidet, Ph.D. has joined NANO Nuclear as its Chief Technology Officer and Head of Reactor Development.

Dr. Heidet is a world-renowned expert on advanced nuclear reactor technologies, leveraging two decades of nuclear engineering and project management expertise. Dr. Heidet was previously the Head of Engineering at Ultra Safe Nuclear Corp. (USNC), where he led a multidisciplinary team of over 100 experts working around the globe to advance the development of the KRONOS MMR^TMEnergy System and LOKI MMR^TM technologies prior to their acquisition by NANO Nuclear earlier this year.

Prior to his leadership role with USNC, Dr. Heidet spent 12 years at Argonne National Laboratory, where he played a central role in most of the laboratory’s reactor design projects. He led the design of the Versatile Test Reactor, a $2 billion program under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy, served as the Argonne manager for the Transformational Challenge Reactor program, coordinated the Nuclear Thermal Propulsion efforts in support of NASA, and provided expertise and leadership to numerous federal, commercial, and international projects.

Dr. Heidet will be primarily responsible for advancing all of NANO Nuclear’s reactor projects and will have general oversight of all the Company’s various other technologies in development. His decades of experience and status as an innovator in the nuclear energy industry will be invaluable to NANO Nuclear as it seeks to position itself as a global leader in advanced nuclear energy solutions. He will report to both James Walker, NANO Nuclear’s Chief Executive Officer, and Jay Yu, NANO Nuclear’s Chairman and President. Mr. Walker is relinquishing the position of NANO Nuclear’s Head of Reactor Development to accommodate the hiring of Dr. Heidet.

“I am very proud to join the NANO Nuclear team, and I plan to hit the ground running and play a leading role in the development of our innovative suite of nuclear reactor and related technologies,” said Dr. Florent Heidet, Chief Technology Officer and Head of Reactor Development of NANO Nuclear Energy. “The management and technical teams at NANO Nuclear have proven themselves to be innovators with the development of proprietary microreactor systems like ODIN and ZEUS, and it is a pleasure to continue my work on the KRONOS MMR^TM and LOKI MMR^TM systems alongside them. I’ve had the opportunity to examine the several microreactor technologies being developed in the marketplace, and I believe NANO Nuclear is the ideal home for the KRONOS MMR^TM and LOKI MMR^TM. I am dedicated to seeing the development of all of NANO Nuclear reactor designs, as well as its other innovative technologies, from testing, to regulatory approvals and through to commercialization.”

Figure 1 – NANO Nuclear Energy Appoints Leading Advanced Nuclear Reactor Engineer Florent Heidet, Ph.D., as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and Head of Reactor Development

Dr. Heidet has a proven track-record of assembling highly effective teams and consistently delivering impactful outcomes. His organizational skills are widely acknowledged through several institutional awards. Dr. Heidet holds a Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Nuclear Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, a M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from the ENSAM (Paris, France), and business program certificates from both Berkeley Haas School of Business and Chicago Booth School of Business. He has published numerous peer-reviewed technical papers and authored several chapters of the Encyclopedia of Nuclear Energy.

“There are very few experts in the nuclear energy sector who can drive and build advanced reactor developments as effectively as Dr. Heidet,” said Jay Yu, Founder and Chairman of NANO Nuclear Energy. “His career has been dedicated to pursuing innovative reactor solutions that address growing energy demands here in the U.S. and around the world. His comprehensive industry knowledge and the technical expertise required to oversee the design and construction of these sophisticated reactors, as well as our other innovative technologies, will be crucial to NANO Nuclear and will help to solidify our position as a leader in the field.”

“Dr. Heidet’s appointment at NANO Nuclear marks another milestone in our efforts to commercialize advanced, portable microreactor and related technologies,” said James Walker, Chief Executive Officer of NANO Nuclear Energy. “He has contributed to numerous innovative breakthroughs in the field and has overseen major development projects worth billions of dollars, including those with government funding. His exceptional experience and expertise in the nuclear industry will be instrumental in advancing our technology through development, licensing, and eventual commercialization.”

About NANO Nuclear Energy, Inc.

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

Led by a world-class nuclear engineering team, NANO Nuclear’s reactor products in development include “ZEUS”, a solid core battery reactor, and “ODIN”, a low-pressure coolant reactor, each representing advanced developments in clean energy solutions that are portable, on-demand capable, advanced nuclear microreactors. NANO Nuclear is also developing patented stationary KRONOS MMR^™ Energy System and space focused, portable LOKI MMR^™.

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

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

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

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

For further NANO Nuclear information, please contact:

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

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Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements

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

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The MIL Network –
March 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: The G20: how it works, why it matters and what would be lost if it failed

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Danny Bradlow, Professor/Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Advancement of Scholarship, University of Pretoria

South Africa took over the presidency of the G20 at the end of 2024. Since then the world has become a more complex, unpredictable and dangerous place. The most powerful state in the world, the US, seems intent on undermining the existing order that it created and on demonstrating its power over weaker nations. Other influential countries are turning inward.

These developments raise concerns about how well mechanisms for global cooperation, such as the G20, can continue to operate, particularly those that work on the basis of consensual decision making. Danny Bradlow sets out how the G20 works, and what’s at stake.

What’s the G20’s purpose?

The G20 is a forum in which the largest economies in the world meet regularly to discuss, and attempt to address, the most urgent international economic and political challenges. The group, which includes both rich and developing countries, accounts for about 67% of the world’s population, 85% of global GDP, and 75% of global trade.

The G20, in fact, is a misnomer. The actual number of G20 participants in any given year far exceeds the 19 states and 2 international entities (the European Union and the African Union) that are its permanent members. Each year they are joined by a number of invited “guests”. While there are some countries, for example Spain and the Netherlands, that are considered “permanent” G20 guests, the full list of guests is determined by the chair of the G20 for that year. This year, South Africa has invited 13 countries, including Denmark, Egypt, Finland, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates. They are joined by 24 invited international organisations such as the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the United Nations and eight African regional organisations, among others.

The G20 should be understood as a process rather than a set of discrete events. Its apex is the annual leaders’ summit at which the participating heads of state and government seek to agree on a communiqué setting out their agreements on key issues. These agreements are non-binding and each of the participating states usually will implement most but not all the agreed points.

The communiqué is the outcome of a two track process: a finance track, consisting of representatives of the finance ministries and central banks in the participating counties, and a “sherpa” track that deals with more political issues. In total these two tracks will involve over 100 meetings of technical level officials and policymakers.

Most of the work in each track is done by working groups. The finance track has seven working groups dealing with issues ranging from the global economy and international financial governance to financial inclusion and the financing of infrastructure. The sherpa track has 15 working groups dealing with issues ranging from development and agriculture to health, the digital economy, and education.

The agenda for the working group meetings is based on issues notes prepared by the G20 presidency. The issues notes will discuss both unfinished business from prior years and any new issues that the president adds to the G20 agenda.

The working group chairs report on the outcomes of these meetings to the ministerial meetings in their track. These reports will first be discussed in meetings of the deputies to the ministers. The deputies will seek to narrow areas of disagreement and sharpen the issues for discussion so that when they are presented at the ministerial meeting the chances of reaching agreement are maximised.

The agreements reached at each of these ministerial meetings, assuming all participants agree, will be expressed in a carefully negotiated and drafted communiqué. If the participants cannot agree, the minister chairing the meeting will provide a chair’s summary of the meeting. These documents will then inform the communiqué that will be released at the end of the G20 summit. This final communiqué represents the formal joint decision of the participating heads of state and government.

The G20 process is supplemented by the work of 13 engagement groups representing, for example, business, labour, youth, think tanks, women and civil society in the G20 countries. These groups look for ways to influence the outcomes of the G20 process.

What is the G20 troika and how does it operate?

The G20 does not have a permanent secretariat. Instead, the G20 president is responsible for organising and chairing the more than 100 meetings that take place during the year. The G20 has decided that this burden should be supported by a “troika”, consisting of the past, present and future presidents of the G20. This year the troika consists of Brazil, the past chair; South Africa, the current chair; and the US, the future chair.

The role of the troika varies depending on the identity of the current chair and how assertive it wishes to be in driving the G20 process. It will also be influenced by how active the other two members of the troika wish to be.

The troika helps ensure some continuity from one G20 year to another. This is important because there is a significant carryover of issues on the G20 agenda from one year to the next. The troika therefore creates the potential for the G20 president to focus on the issues of most interest to it over a three year period rather than just for one year.

How successful has the G20 process been?

The G20 is essentially a self-appointed group which has designated itself as the “premier forum for international economic cooperation”.

The G20 was first brought together during the Asian financial crisis in the 1990s. At that time, it was limited to a forum in which ministers of finance and central bank governors could meet to discuss the most important international economic and financial issues, such as the Asian financial crisis.

The G20 was elevated to the level of heads of state and government at the time of the 2008 global financial crisis.

The G20 tends to work well as a cooperative forum when the world is confronting an economic crisis. Thus, the G20 was a critical forum in which countries could discuss and agree on coordinating actions to deal with the global financial crisis in 2008-9.

It has performed less well when confronted with other types of crises. For example, it was found wanting in dealing with the COVID pandemic.

It has also proven to be less effective, although not necessarily totally ineffective, when there is no crisis. So, for example, the G20 has been useful in helping address relatively technical issues such as developing international standards on particular financial regulatory issues or improving the functioning of multilateral development banks. On other more political issues, for example climate, food security, and funding the UN’s sustainable development goals, it has been less effective.

There’s one less obvious, but nevertheless important, benefit. The G20 offers officials from participating countries the chance to interact with their counterparts from other G20 countries. As a result, they come to know and understand each other better, which helps foster cooperation between states on issues of common interest. It also ensures that when appropriate, these officials know whom to contact in other countries and this may help mitigate the risk of misunderstanding and conflict.

These crisis management and other benefits would be lost if the G20 were to stop functioning. And there is currently no alternative to the G20 in the sense of a forum where the leading states in the world, which may differ on many important issues, can meet on a relatively informal basis to discuss issues of mutual interest. Importantly, the withdrawal of one G20 state, even the most powerful, should not prevent the remaining participants from using the G20 to promote international cooperation on key global challenges.

In this way it can help manage the risk of conflict in a complex global environment.

– The G20: how it works, why it matters and what would be lost if it failed
– https://theconversation.com/the-g20-how-it-works-why-it-matters-and-what-would-be-lost-if-it-failed-251500

MIL OSI Africa –

March 8, 2025
MIL-OSI: Advantage Solutions names Dean General new Chief Operating Officer of Branded Services business segment

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

ST. LOUIS, March 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Advantage Solutions Inc. (NASDAQ: ADV), a leading provider of business solutions to consumer goods manufacturers and retailers, today announced the appointment of Dean General as the new Chief Operating Officer of its Branded Services business unit effective March 24. General will join the company’s executive leadership team.

General will replace Jack Pestello, who elected to leave Advantage effective May 1 to pursue new leadership opportunities in retail.

General, a seasoned retail executive with more than 30 years of experience at consumer goods companies, will oversee the Advantage business unit that serves as a strategic extension of consumer-packaged goods companies’ sales and marketing teams, with services that include selling to retailers, retail merchandising and omnichannel marketing.

In this role, Dean will lead Advantage’s efforts to leverage its expansive retail connectivity, leading technology and network scale to bring value-added services to clients — guiding how best to perform and pivot to enhance productivity, unlock cash and fuel growth.

“We’re excited to welcome Dean to the team,” said Advantage Solutions CEO Dave Peacock. “Dean’s extraordinary track record driving organizational transformation has helped companies improve capabilities, enhance team and client relationships and drive profitability. I’m confident he will build on our strong foundation and bring new momentum for our Branded Services business at Advantage.”

General joins Advantage from Henkel Consumer Brands where he spent nearly four years as general manager of retailer brands and senior vice president of commercial development, implementing strategies that drove profitable revenue and share growth.

Prior to his time at Henkel, General served as Chief Commercial Officer at Treehouse Foods, where he led the private-brand manufacturer’s commercial transformation, driving profitable revenue and share growth. A dynamic driver of organizational transformation, General also held leadership positions at Newell Brands, The Kraft Heinz Co., Kraft Foods Group, Nabisco and General Mills.

“I am honored and excited for the opportunity to join the Advantage team and build upon its history of extraordinary success helping CPG companies and retailers thrive,” General said. “Advantage is a trusted leader in the industry, and I know first-hand that our CPG clients need, trust and value our best-in-class performance and leading capabilities.”

General earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business from Rider University and holds an Executive Scholar credential from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Business.

Pestello, who joined Advantage in 2023, played an integral role in the company’s transformation journey, helping re-segment its business and simplify its operating model.

“Jack has been a trusted partner in streamlining operations across our Branded Services segment amidst an increasingly competitive backdrop, and we wish him the best in his future endeavors,” Peacock said.

About Advantage Solutions

Advantage Solutions is the leading omnichannel retail solutions agency in North America, uniquely positioned at the intersection of consumer-packaged goods (CPG) brands and retailers. With its data- and technology-powered services, Advantage leverages its unparalleled insights, expertise and scale to help brands and retailers of all sizes generate demand and get products into the hands of consumers, wherever they shop. Whether it’s creating meaningful moments and experiences in-store and online, optimizing assortment and merchandising, or accelerating e-commerce and digital capabilities, Advantage is the trusted partner that keeps commerce and life moving. Advantage has offices throughout North America and strategic investments and owned operations in select international markets. For more information, please visit YourADV.com.

Investor Contact:
Ruben Mella
investorrelations@youradv.com

Media Contact:
Peter Frost
press@youradv.com

The MIL Network –

March 8, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Scottish Secretary speech on driving economic growth in Scotland

Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Speech

Scottish Secretary speech on driving economic growth in Scotland

Speech at the University of Edinburgh setting out how Scotland has the potential to be the engine room of UK growth [political content removed]

WELCOME

Thank you for having me today

And can I begin by thanking Chris Deerin and Reform Scotland

for helping us bring such a great audience together for the event.

I look forward to speaking with Chris later and taking some questions.

And thanks to both Chris Murray, MP and Christina Boswell, Vice Principal here at University of Edinburgh, for their kind introductions.

And for welcoming us to the Informatics Forum at Edinburgh University,

home to AI excellence since 1963!

1963 – the same year that Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, delivered his “white heat of technology” speech.

And that speech could be delivered today given the pace of technological change and the huge opportunities with AI. Of course, this university, with the passion and expertise of Christina and her colleagues are driving this agenda.

This university will be at the heart of the government’s AI strategy.

The implications for industry, our economy, government, services and society are unlimited and we must grab this with both hands.

I’ve just visited the robotics lab downstairs and it’s mindblowing.

Harold Wilson, of course, warned his audience that if the country was to prosper a “new Britain” would need to be forged in the “white heat” of this “scientific revolution”.

History is indeed repeating itself.

The AI revolution is happening as we enter a golden age of opportunity.

And Scotland should and will be at the heart of it. Thank you for all you do Christina.

I came to this university as a fresh faced 16 year old,

straight from 5th year at Wester Hailes Education Centre

as the first in my family to go to university.

The Lothians Equal Access Program for Schools was my entry point to this university,

and the gateway to a different life.

The support of dedicated, inspiring and role model teachers at WHEC,

alongside the chance to study here are the reasons I’m able to make this speech today.

The power of education to tear down societal barriers should never be underestimated.

We hear a lot about attainment gaps and Scotland’s failure to close them.

And I promise that is no statistical abstraction or political point to score.

It is about the life chances of every child in Scotland,

and until it is seriously addressed then, make no mistake,

it translates directly into the waste of human talent and denial of opportunity that currently holds Scotland back.

Whether it is an apprenticeship, re-skilling, a degree, a postgraduate qualification,

or simply giving a wee boy from Wester Hailes a chance,

education and training are the biggest and best investments we can make in our economy and our society.

At a conference a few weeks ago I outlined my own journey from growing up in a council estate,

to sitting down at the Cabinet table in Keir Starmer’s government.

That’s a journey that took many twists and turns, from the Codfather Chippy to the Edinburgh Festival.

I had a long career in business and as an entrepreneur before getting into politics.

I actually almost didn’t get into university because I was so bad at the drums.

I was set to fail Higher Music with aplomb!

My music teacher pulled me aside and persuaded me that if I wanted any chance of getting into uni,

I had to sing instead!

And no… it wasn’t the Hearts song

So after all of that, when I finally sat at that Cabinet table

and looked around at the faces that made up the most working class Cabinet in history,

I thought of my parents.

I haven’t often talked about this, but my father passed away when I was nine.

My mother raised two boys on her own, working multiple jobs to get by:

Woolworths as a cleaner; the Busy Bee Bar as a cook; a bookies as a cashier.

She worked these jobs because she wanted to give her boys the best possible opportunities in life.

Sitting down at that Cabinet table for the first time I made a promise that every decision I make in government will be in service to working people.

A government of service.

I learned a lesson from those years to take into my job now.

My mum wasn’t afraid to roll up her sleeves to get things done.

Neither am I – and neither is this government.

And we have had no choice.

But I am proud of how our Plan for Change has already started to work:

The biggest upgrade in workers rights in a generation

an industrial strategy to make sure we can take advantage of the jobs of the future:

GB Energy, publicly owned, headquartered here in Scotland

Glasgow City Region chosen as one of the priority investment areas for the National Wealth Fund

£1.4 billion in local growth spending across Scotland

Harland and Wolff saved thanks to a deal brokered by the UK Government, with sites in Arnish and Methill in Scotland protected

And of course, the announcement from our Prime Minister that we will allocate £200 million from the National Wealth Fund,

to drive investment in a viable industrial future for Grangemouth.

Delivered after the Prime Minister asked me and the Scotland Office to lead a cross-government taskforce to make it happen.

Grangemouth was the first issue on which I was briefed on as Secretary of State.

In just eight months, we have put together a plan for the future.

That £200 million is a signal that this government does not see Grangemouth as a political problem to be solved,

but a huge opportunity for industrial renewal.

And on top of all that, we have delivered the largest budget settlement for the Scottish Government in the history of devolution.

An end to austerity – we promised it in the manifesto and the budget delivered it.

That’s how we fix the foundations, deliver our Plan for Change and begin to turn things around for Scotland.

Turning things around will take time, but I know a thing or two about the hard graft it takes to do that.

My journey from Wester Hailes to Westminster included time working as a small business owner and entrepreneur.

I was broadcasting on the internet years before YouTube.

I was doing live televised karaoke before Pop Idol was even a glint in Simon Cowell’s eye.

I was doing festival events and concerts,

I refurbished and re-opened a derelict hotel in West Linton,

opened a bar in Newington,

and sports bistro in Edinburgh city centre.

It’s amazing what you learn in a tough industry like hospitality.

Being a small business owner means you have to turn your hand to everything,

from pulling pints, to cleaning toilets.

Though thankfully not always at the same time!

I know the ups and downs of running my own business.

More than once, I had to put the staff wages on a personal credit card,

because no matter how hard it got, the team came first,

they needed to pay their bills.

That’s why, by the way, I am so proud of this government’s make work pay agenda.

Boosting the minimum wage,

banning exploitative zero hour contracts,

ending fire and rehire,

day one rights for workers.

As a former business owner let me be clear:

page one, line one of your business plan should be how you will pay your staff properly.

More security and better pay for working people will help drive growth.

It’s good for workers and it’s good for business.

It drove growth in that West Linton Hotel.

By working together we turned things around.

That once derelict hotel is still thriving.

There are derelict hotel stories in every community and every sector right across Scotland.

I think of that when I consider how this government has reset the relationship with the Scottish Government.

And we are starting to see fruits of that productive relationship – such as bringing the Commonwealth Games to Glasgow.

And in the range of areas where the Scottish Government has accepted the UK government legislating in devolved areas,

to deliver change, faster.

On tobacco, renters rights, public railways, children’s protection and more.

Too many people are keen to suggest this reset is “over” at the first sign of political disagreement.

It doesn’t work like that.

These are different governments,

Led by different political parties with different priorities and policies.

But just because we don’t agree on everything,

doesn’t mean we can’t agree on anything.

I am certain that the single most important outcome which Scotland’s two governments should seek,

is economic growth.

Growth with a purpose.

to raise living standards, improve public services,

and tackle the unacceptable levels of poverty that continue to scar our communities.

Scotland can be the engine room of UK growth.

We have so much potential.

Potential that for too long has gone untapped,

World class universities,

advanced manufacturing,

food and drink,

life sciences,

Financial and professional services.

And the government will leave no stone unturned to unleash that potential.

Tearing up red tape,

harnessing the power of Artificial Intelligence to boost productivity,

and delivering a proper industrial strategy, developed in partnership with businesses and trade unions.

But delivering economic growth for Scotland is not something either of Scotland’s governments can do alone.

It requires partnership and co-operation.

Because the alternative costs us dearly.

If Scottish growth had simply matched the sluggish UK growth in the last decade our economy would be nearly £10 billion larger.

That is why we need a decade of national renewal.

I know the will is there across Scotland’s cities, towns and villages.

I know the will is there in Scotland’s businesses and trade unions.

I know the will is there in Scotland’s third sector and charities.

People up and down the country are full of enthusiasm and ideas for how to make their communities flourish.

I was intrigued to read last week the leader of Glasgow City Council call for a ‘devolution deal’ for the city region.

Not just money but powers too.

This was echoed in a recent meeting with the Edinburgh region growth deal partners,

who are calling for more powers over skills and transport.

Devolution of powers to local communities.

Just look at the impact an empowered Mayor has made to Greater Manchester.

From 2014 to 2022 the Greater Manchester economy grew by almost 50%.

If the Glasgow City Region had achieved that same level of growth,

it would be £7.7 billion larger today.

That’s an awful lot of jobs and opportunities lost.

And we can see the real world impact on the high streets of Scotland’s towns and cities.

As an entrepreneur, it’s painful to see boarded up shops and shuttered restaurants which once represented someone’s dreams and a community’s promise.

That’s something both governments should be coming together to sort out, by empowering local communities with place based growth.

That place based growth is central to our Plan for change.

Money and power needs to be pushed out to communities,

To give them all a fair kick of the ball,

and create their own jobs and investment.

And the single biggest opportunity to create good jobs is ensuring that Scotland wins the race to clean energy.

With GB energy located in Aberdeen, and billions of pounds of investment on the table we need to grasp those opportunities.

Re-skilling and retraining our workforce will be key to delivering a just transition,

ensuring the job opportunities of the future are accessible to all.

And when I think about the future, I think of my daughters.

Zola, aged four years, and Lois just five weeks old.

The jobs and careers they will enjoy have likely yet to even be invented.

(although Zola does want to be a police officer)

Businesses and unions constantly tell me they worry about the skills landscape in Scotland.

The Fraser of Allander Institute found a quarter of employers report vacancies,

with 31% of these being classified as skill-shortage vacancies, up 10 per cent from 2020.

We won’t grab these clean energy jobs for Scotland unless we equip our young people,

and our existing workforce with the skills to do them.

Now we gather today, at the end of Scottish Apprenticeship Week.

Apprenticeships and further education should be at the heart of how we take advantage of the race to clean power.

There are 8,000 fewer college places today than there were just last year.

Those places are at their lowest level in nine years.

Just last week we saw that the attainment gap in Scottish schools between the richest and the poorest kids has widened again.

Everyone deserves the opportunity and dignity that comes with good work.

Yet Scotland’s rate of economic inactivity is above the rest of the UK.

That’s people out of work, and not looking for work for various reasons.

If we simply matched the UK average, we would get over 40,000 people back to work and generate millions more for our economy and communities.

The UK Government’s £240 million Get Britain Working Plan will overhaul Jobcentres so they focus on skills and careers.

We need to see the Scottish Government engage with that plan and help us make it work.

One of the reasons why Scotland’s inactivity rate is higher,

is because more people in Scotland are out of work due to ill health.

Many of those people want to work, but can’t.

And far, far too many of them are stuck on an NHS Scotland waiting list.

As it stands, NHS waiting times are one of the biggest blocks to growing our economy.

Almost 300,000 Scots are out of work and not looking for work because they are either temporary or long term sick..

Over 700,000 Scots are on an NHS waiting list for treatment.

Cut NHS waiting lists and you will grow our economy.

A record settlement from the UK Government for public services in Scotland should deliver that.

I know that some of the decisions the UK Government took to fund that record settlement have been difficult and won’t please everyone…

but we live in a world where 100,000 Scots have been stuck on an NHS waiting list for more than a year,

28,000 Scots in the past 18 months have been forced to go private for health care.

That is an unacceptable situation and we make no apology delivering the funding our NHS needs.

Scotland has a proud industrial past,

and we can have a bright industrial future, which delivers jobs and wealth for families for generations to come,

but only if we get the race to clean power right.

For too long Scottish workers missed out on the work.

Now I worry a new generation will miss out on the skills.

As my wonderful Scotland Office ministerial colleague and friend, Kirsty McNeill, often says:

“We feel it in our bones.”

It is why we believe in delivering the kind of economic growth that delivers jobs and opportunities for working class people and communities.

And one area where those jobs and opportunities could be created, is nuclear power.

The Scottish Government has a long-standing opposition to nuclear power.

That is their prerogative, but doing so means investment, jobs and opportunities for Scottish communities will continue to head south.

Both Hunterston in North Ayrshire and Torness in East Lothian are prime spots for development.

They have made fantastic contributions to the Scottish economy in the past and they can do so again in the future.

For Hunterston, that could be 800 new jobs with £50-60 million in direct local wages.

For Torness, up to 1,000 jobs with £100m in direct wages.

Together it would mean tens of millions of pounds being paid in business rates.

My message to the Scottish Government today is simple:

stop blocking this investment, allow those jobs to be created, and let that revenue flow into Scotland.

And crucially – please work in partnership with the UK Government to deliver it.

Nuclear power stations aren’t built overnight.

But they are an investment in our future.

And another long term investment, for which our country is crying out, is aviation infrastructure.

Or to put it simply – runways.

I’ll be clear – I support a third runway at Heathrow.

It is a huge opportunity for Scotland’s economy and a massive opportunity for our Brand Scotland agenda,

to sell Scotland to the world.

Most passengers leave Scotland on a plane, not knowing that beneath their seat are crates of Scottish salmon and whisky.

Connectivity to get our world leading goods overseas is critical as an enabler to growth.

But incredibly, Scottish exports as a percentage of GDP lag behind the rest of the UK.

The Scottish Government’s export target is to increase the value of Scotland’s international exports to 25% of GDP by 2029.

But that would still leave us behind the rest of the UK,

and missed opportunities to improve connectivity to our own airports is partly why.

It was the current First Minister himself who cancelled the Glasgow Airport Rail Link, over 16 years ago in 2009.

That was a missed opportunity for growth,

given Glasgow Airport already adds over £1.4 billion to the Scottish economy and supports 30,000 jobs.

It is incredible that in 2025 you can get a direct train from Glasgow Central to Manchester Airport, over 200 miles away.

but not to Glasgow Airport, just a few miles from the centre of Scotland’s largest city.

We need UK and Scottish government cooperation, to ensure that all Scotland’s airports,

including the publicly owned Prestwick Airport,

makes the most of Heathrow expansion, and have a proper strategy to drive economic growth.

The UK industrial strategy identifies eight growth driving sectors, and Scotland can benefit from all of them:

advanced manufacturing, clean energy industries

creative industries, digital and technologies

financial services, life sciences

professional and business services

and most relevant this week – defence.

The decision to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP is an act of generational leadership from our Prime Minister.

as we chart a new course in an uncertain world and do what is necessary to defend our country and our continent.

National security is the first duty of any government,

but that increase in spending also represents a massive industrial opportunity for Scotland.

More than £2 billion was spent by the Ministry of Defence in Scotland last year,

the industry in Scotland employs more than 30,000 people, including 1,500 apprentices.

The role must be to defend our nation,

to stand in solidarity with our European partners,

and to help Scottish industry lead the way in defence technology and manufacturing.

On this issue, at this crucial time, we need cooperation between Scotland’s two governments,

and I am determined that it should happen,

in our national interest.

So on these issues: skills, nuclear, aviation,

infrastructure, defence, and employability,

I will reconvene the Scottish Business Growth group

co-chaired by me and the Deputy First Minister.

We will bring together voices from across Scottish business, industry,

trades unions and civic society,

to find a way through these challenges.

It will be Scotland’s Growth Commission.

Last year heralded a new era for the Scotland Office.

An era of delivery.

An era that will grasp the new golden age of opportunities for Scotland.

The vast majority of Scots want their two governments to work together to increase living standards and improve public services.

Under my leadership, that is what this Scotland Office is determined to do.

Since the election last July, I have completely reformed and restructured the department,

so it can deliver the government’s missions for Scots.

This new direction for the Scotland Office will have four strategic priorities:

economic growth

green energy

Brand Scotland

and tackling poverty.

This new Scotland Office is the UK Government’s delivery arm for Scotland

and Scotland’s window to Whitehall.

We will deliver economic growth.

But growth with a purpose:

to reduce and one day eradicate the poverty which scars our communities.

Taking advantage of our enormous green energy potential and our world class brand to get there.

So as we enter a third era of the Scotland Office post devolution,

I am reminded of the words of a Scottish Secretary from long before the devolution era, the great Tom Johnston, who wrote:

“…if only we could lift great social crusades like better housing and health from the arena of partisan strife,

what magnificent achievements might yet be ours.

“In unity lies strength: in concurrence, the possibility of great achievement in better housing,

better health,

better education, better use of leisure,

greater security in income, and employment.”

That is a lesson that the Scottish public have been demanding both their governments learn.

And that lesson is the path to deliver better living standards and ensure that

plenty more boys and girls

from communities like Wester Hailes,

and from all over Scotland,

have the opportunities in life that can lead them to the Cabinet table.

That is my motivation.

That is my ambition for Scotland.

Thank you for your time this morning.

Updates to this page

Published 7 March 2025

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

March 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: What Amazon MGM’s creative control over the James Bond film franchise means for the future of 007

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Colin Burnett, Associate Professor of Film and Media Studies, Washington University in St. Louis

Daniel Craig played James Bond in five films from 2006 to 2021. Greg Williams/Eon Productions via Getty Images

James Bond was front and center at the 2025 Academy Awards – and in a somewhat curious way.

In a musical number, Lisa of Blackpink, Doja Cat and Raye sang the Bond theme songs “Live and Let Die,” “Diamonds Are Forever” and “Skyfall,” respectively. No Bond films had been nominated for an award, and none of these singers has a connection to the Bond franchise, though they did all recently collaborate on the single “Born Again.”

The strange exercise felt less like a celebration and more like a big flashing question mark for a screen icon whose future has never felt more uncertain.

Since the shocking news dropped on Feb. 20, 2025, that Jeff Bezos’ Amazon MGM Studios would assume creative control over the James Bond film franchise, commentators and fans have wondered why.

Why would the Broccoli family, which has long held the rights to Bond movies through their company, EON, cede control of the film series to a tech partner they’ve been at odds with?

Two possibilities have emerged.

First, EON’s Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli, the stepson and daughter of legendary EON producer Albert R. “Cubby” Broccoli, may have reached a point of creative exhaustion. There could be something to this theory. According to Puck’s Matthew Belloni, the 83-year-old Wilson and 64-year-old Broccoli were having difficulty figuring out their next step after 2021’s “No Time to Die.”

A second reason could be Amazon’s impatience with EON. In December 2024, The Wall Street Journal reported that Barbara Broccoli balked when Amazon Studios executive Jennifer Salke proposed several Bond spinoff projects, including a Bond series with a female lead, for Prime Video. Perhaps frustrated with the stalemate, Amazon may have made Wilson and Broccoli an offer they couldn’t refuse to get them out of the way and get production of Bond content rolling.

The speculation is certainly intriguing. But a more central question shouldn’t be overlooked: the “what.”

What, precisely, has Amazon MGM acquired? And what can it actually do with the Bond story?

Breaking down the Bond rights

In my research on the 007 franchise, I’ve discovered that this property has never been a traditional film series.

Long before “Star Wars” launched in 1976 and the Marvel Cinematic Universe launched in 2008, Bond relied on a range of mediums to tell its story.

The Bond franchise began in 1953, not with a film but with a novel, Ian Fleming’s “Casino Royale.” One year later, “Casino Royale” was adapted for American TV as a live anthology show. Four years after that, in 1958, a popular Bond comic strip made its debut.

It was only in 1962, with “Dr. No,” starring Sean Connery, that the now-iconic film series began.

Since then, James Bond has been spun off into a children’s animated show, choose-your-own-adventure books, a “Young Bond” novel series, video games, a reality show, radio dramas and more.

Here’s what’s crucial: With its new deal, Amazon MGM has a controlling stake only in the rights that EON holds. EON has licensed the right to produce future films and TV shows from Fleming since 1961. EON secured worldwide merchandising rights in 1964 and production rights to video games in the early 1990s.

Other 007 media – the literary, comic and audio series – are managed by the Fleming Estate and Ian Fleming Publications.

EON produced most of the James Bond films, such as 1969’s ‘On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.’
EON/United Artists

The James Bond media franchise is what I call a shared rights and licensing network.

No one company controls all of the Bond rights, and no one company produces all of Bond media. Though this arrangement is a complicated one, the sharing and licensing of rights has allowed Bond to emerge as a lucrative and fecund product line. According to my calculations, it now boasts over 330 original stories in 72 years of media production.

In other words, Bond is much more than the 25 films released by EON.

James Bond’s many lives

Until now, rights sharing and licensing have ensured that the Bond franchise remains creatively distinct from “Star Wars” and Marvel.

The companies that produce these series – LucasFilm and Marvel Studios – are owned by The Walt Disney Company. With their rights pooled under one corporate entity that also oversees all production, “Star Wars” and Marvel have been able to drive toward high levels of creative consistency and unity among their stories. Across films, TV, comics and video games, “Star Wars” and Marvel aspire to what media specialists call “transmedia storytelling.”

By sharing rights, the Bond franchise has arrived at a very different type of storytelling, one that fragments the story and multiplies the James Bonds to be experienced across distinct media. The effect isn’t transmedia storytelling, or even a Marvel-style multiverse. In Bond, characters can’t cross over to alternate realities and meet other versions of themselves.

James Bond exists in many different worlds and leads many different lives.

The James Bond in Ian Fleming’s novels has a biography that differs from the version of Bond who appears in other media.
Jim/flickr, CC BY-NC-SA

To name a few: There’s the Bond of Fleming’s 1950s and 1960s novels, who loses his first love, Vesper Lynd, and hunts down her killers, who are members of SMERSH, the assassination arm of Soviet intelligence agencies. Fleming’s Bond also lives on in the novels of Kingsley Amis and John Gardner, which were published in the 1970s and 1980s.

There’s EON’s silver screen Bond, who, from 1962 to 2002, never falls in love with Vesper, but loses his wife, Tracy di Vicenzo, to the crime syndicate SPECTRE and remains scarred by the loss. And in the modern era, there’s the Bond who appears in author Samantha Weinberg’s “Moneypenny Diaries.” Published from 2005 to 2008, the series depicts a version of Bond who has retired to a small Scottish isle with his lover, MI6’s Miss Moneypenny.

The effect of Bond’s shared structure is what I dub “threaded storytelling.” The novels present various versions of Bond’s life, at different points in history. The film series creates two of its own. The comic series offers yet more lives of 007.

Each version of Bond runs alongside the others in the market, focusing on a Bond character who exists only within his unique story world. This gives fans an unpredictable, ever-expanding canon of stories to follow and even compare, like one grand spot-the-difference game in time.

Where next for Bond?

The deal between Amazon MGM and EON awaits regulatory approval in the U.S. and U.K.

If it goes through, Amazon MGM will have a strong property on its hands. Over the decades, EON has reinforced certain elements to the character and the story: James Bond is a debonair hitman. MI6 chief M gives him high-stakes missions. MI6 armorer Q fits him with the latest gadgets. And Bond lives large, enjoying beautiful women, fine dining, Savile Row fashions and Omega timepieces.

Amazon MGM is unlikely to tinker with these Bondian elements. They’re also likely to preserve the movies’ “Bond formula” – the gun barrel visual that kicks off each film, elaborately designed credit sequences, film-specific theme songs, and the closing title card that reads, “James Bond Will Return.”

Yet some fans fear that Amazon MGM will develop “woke” storylines. Others foresee the product being diluted with countless streaming spinoff series.

To me, the more intriguing possibility is whether Amazon will try to create a more unified Bond universe, akin to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Yes, the Fleming Estate will continue to manage the novels, comics and radio. But with creative control over EON’s rights, Amazon MGM could, in theory, develop an elaborate transmedia strategy never before explored in this franchise.

A relaunched film series, perhaps serving as Amazon MGM’s “mothership,” would feed into satellite series in video games and streaming shows. These games and shows, in turn, would tie into and expand the universe of the films.

Were that to happen, the Bond franchise would truly enter a new phase and risk losing much of the creative flexibility it’s possessed in the past.

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

– ref. What Amazon MGM’s creative control over the James Bond film franchise means for the future of 007 – https://theconversation.com/what-amazon-mgms-creative-control-over-the-james-bond-film-franchise-means-for-the-future-of-007-251011

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

March 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Knocking down abandoned buildings has a lot of benefits for Detroit − but it’s costly for cities

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Mark Skidmore, Professor of Government Finance and Policy, Michigan State University

Detroit has knocked down more than 20,000 homes since 2014. The process continues. Patrick Gorski/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Few cities have experienced a sharper economic change of fortune than Detroit.

It was one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation between 1900 and 1950.

In the nearly 75 years since then, it has lost over 60% of its population, becoming the defining example of a postindustrial city in decline.

Chronic population loss creates a significant mismatch in the housing market. An ongoing reduction in the demand for housing leads to an oversupply of vacant properties. Vacant properties can quickly deteriorate due to neglect, arson, vandalism and crime.

Shuttered and repossessed homes line the streets of a middle-class neighborhood on the East side of Detroit.
Charles Ommanney via Getty Images

Rehabilitating abandoned and neglected properties is often not possible. It can take just a few years for vacant homes to transition from being habitable to blighted. What should policymakers do with the growing unwanted inventory?

One option is to do nothing and wait for real estate developers to clean up the parcels and hopefully rebuild.

In the absence of private sector action, which often fails to take hold, city officials may implement policies to remove blighted properties and stabilize neighborhoods. That’s what Detroit has been doing since 1974. As a result, 17% of the city’s land area is now composed of vacant land where houses once stood.

As a group of economists who study municipal finance of cities experiencing population decline, we took a deep look at the success of razing blighted properties in Detroit.

Detroit removes thousands of blighted homes

Between 2014 and 2019, the city demolished 20,800 blighted properties through the Detroit Demolition Program. The heaviest concentration of demolitions occurred in the lowest-valued areas of the city such as the Brightmoor, Burbank and Midwest neighborhoods.

Location of demolitions and property sales prices in Detroit from 2009 to 2019. The heaviest concentration of demolitions occurred in the lowest-valued areas of the city, as shown in red and orange.
Alvayay Torrejón, Paredes, Skidmore (2023), CC BY-NC-ND

From 2014 to 2019, many of the demolitions were funded by the federal government’s Hardest Hit Fund. The goals of the fund are to help reduce homeowner foreclosures and stabilize neighborhoods. This fund spent US$52 million tearing down homes in Detroit.

As with any government intervention, it is critical to evaluate costs and benefits so leaders can be sure they are implementing the most effective revitalization strategy.

Costs and benefits of demolition

Research demonstrates that demolitions not only eliminate blight, they also stabilize neighborhood housing values, improve property tax compliance, reduce crime and eliminate toxic materials such as asbestos and lead paint.

From the perspective of city finances, the success of razing a property can be assessed in two ways.

First, does it increase the value of nearby properties? A study that two of us published in 2017 answered this question in the affirmative: Tearing down an abandoned building in Detroit does increase the value of nearby properties by a small amount: $162.

Second, how do changes in the value of those nearby properties affect Detroit’s property tax revenue? If property values increase, property taxes increase too, so it is possible to calculate how long it takes for the city to recoup its costs. On average, demolishing a blighted structure in Detroit costs $21,556.

In the case of Detroit during the period examined, our research shows the benefits of the program in terms of increased property values are limited and do not fully cover the demolition costs.

Even if you optimistically assume the benefits of demolition extend to properties as far as about 2½ blocks away, the increase in property tax revenue generated from the demolition is too small to cover demolition costs.

To understand why, imagine drawing a circle around the razed property with a radius of about 0.125 miles, which is how we defined 2½ city blocks, and then examining the change in property value and tax revenue of the properties within the circle. While removing a blighted property is a win in many other ways, it doesn’t have much effect on neighboring home values.

Our findings indicate that vacant lots also have a negative effect on the property values of surrounding homes. For example, for homes within 2½ city blocks, the net effect of a demolition without redevelopment is an increase in neighboring home prices of $162. In this case, it would take 50 years for money collected via property taxes to equal the costs of demolition. It’s hard to say what happens if the lot is redeveloped because so few are.

If you measure the effect using smaller rings around the razed property, full cost recovery times get even longer.

State and federal assistance

Yet over the long run, these demolitions are essential for maintaining quality of life and positioning the city for future redevelopment. Some would argue that it is the role of government to pay for programs like this in struggling cities. Under President George W. Bush, for example, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development implemented the Neighborhood Stabilization Program, which included funds for the demolition of blighted structures.

The federal Hardest Hit Fund covered many of the demolitions in Detroit from 2014 to 2019. When that program ended, city voters showed their enthusiasm for removing blighted properties by approving Proposal N, a $250 million Detroit-funded plan to continue the demolition program.

However, additional property taxes to cover demolition costs may further put the city at competitive disadvantage in the region, nationally and globally. Detroit already has among the highest property taxes in the country.

Allowing the state to foot the bill would keep property taxes affordable, but support for such programs is mixed in the state Capitol in Lansing due to resource constraints and the fact that other Michigan cities such as Flint have also struggled with declines in population.

Lessons learned from Detroit’s razing

Detroit and other postindustrial American cities such as Cleveland, Ohio, and Gary, Indiana, have experienced population declines in recent decades, but these challenges are by no means exclusively a United States phenomenon.

Throughout history, cities such as Rome have experienced enormous drops in population. Paris lost population in medieval times. Some ancient cities such as Carthage and Petra have been fully abandoned.

In the coming years, Japan, Korea and a number of European countries are on track to experience significant population decline. Many resource-dependent cities in China have the same problem.

That means lessons learned from Detroit may be helpful to policymakers in other places. Many leaders in Detroit did not imagine that the population would decline over decades, and they didn’t plan for that happening.

Other cities have an opportunity to prepare. They can start by diversifying their economies and city revenue streams so that government has the funding to step in and ensure that quality of life is maintained as population shrinks.

Mark Skidmore receives funding from the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy.

Camila Alvayay-Torrejon receives funding from Lincoln Institute of Land Policy.

Dusan Paredes Araya receives funding from Lincoln Institute of Land Policy.

– ref. Knocking down abandoned buildings has a lot of benefits for Detroit − but it’s costly for cities – https://theconversation.com/knocking-down-abandoned-buildings-has-a-lot-of-benefits-for-detroit-but-its-costly-for-cities-248994

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

March 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: NIH funding cuts will hit red states, rural areas and underserved communities the hardest

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Prakash Nagarkatti, Professor of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of South Carolina

Protesters on the University of Illinois Chicago campus raise concerns over funding cuts for medical research on Feb. 19, 2025. Scott Olson via Getty Images

The National Institutes of Health is the largest federal funder of medical research in the U.S. NIH funds drive research and innovation, leading to better understanding and treatment of diseases and improved health outcomes.

The NIH provided more than US$35 billion in grants to over 2,500 universities and other institutions in 2023 to support biomedical research. Thus, it came as a shock to these institutions when the NIH, based on a new Trump administration policy, announced on Feb. 7, 2025, that it intends to cut the funding used to support the grantee institutions by $5.5 billion annually.

On March 5, a U.S. district judge in Boston issued a nationwide injunction blocking the administration from implementing the proposed cuts to NIH funding, arguing that the planned cuts were unlawful. However, the White House will almost certainly appeal.

We are a husband-and-wife team of immunologists who have been funded by the NIH for several decades. We believe our research has led to a better understanding of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. In addition, one of us (Prakash Nagarkatti) served as vice president for research at the University of South Carolina for over a decade, managing all NIH grants awarded to the university.

While we believe such cuts will be detrimental to the entire country, they will disproportionately hurt states that traditionally have received very low levels of NIH funding, the majority of which are red states that supported Trump’s election to a second term. This is because such states lack resources to develop advanced research infrastructure necessary to compete nationally for NIH funding.

Several Republican senators have vocally opposed the funding cuts, including Susan Collins of Maine, who said they “would be devastating, stopping vital biomedical research and leading to the loss of jobs.”

Support for cancer, Alzheimer’s research

NIH funding is crucial for advancing biomedical research, improving public health and fostering innovation. It has a broad impact on different facets of society.

The agency funds biomedical research leading to the development of vaccines or new drugs to prevent and treat infectious diseases and clinical disorders. The NIH played a crucial role in funding research on pandemics and global health crises caused by HIV/AIDS and COVID-19.

In addition, the NIH supports advanced research in focused areas such as cancer, through the establishment of designated centers that offer cancer prevention, diagnosis, clinical trials and advanced treatment. Each year, approximately 400,000 patients receive cancer diagnoses and treatment at such centers.

Similarly, the NIH supports research in other focused areas, such as Alzheimer’s disease, through the establishment of specialized research centers.

The NIH also supports Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer opportunities. These programs stimulate technological innovation by funding small businesses to commercialize new research ideas.

Moreover, the agency provides funding to train the next generation of biomedical scientists, clinicians and public health professionals. Thus, the NIH awards create jobs at universities, biotechnology companies and related industries. Together, such NIH programs promote local and national economies.

In 2024, NIH funding generated an estimated US$92 billion in economic activity. Every $100 million in NIH funding generates 76 patents, which creates $598 million in further research and development, as reported by NIH.

Therefore, any cuts to the agency’s budget will have far-reaching and significant consequences on health outcomes and the economy.

How the NIH funding process works – and how the cuts will affect research.

Caps on indirect costs

When the NIH awards grants, it is divided into two separate categories: the direct costs, which include expenses that are necessary to pursue the proposed work and that are provided to the scientists, and the indirect costs. These cover expenses such as maintenance of lab space, utilities, grant management, federal regulatory compliance, security and other miscellaneous needs. These funds are provided directly to the institution.

Indirect costs are negotiated between the institution and the federal agency and expressed as a percentage of the direct costs. Because each institution has unique operational expenses, the indirect cost rates vary from 30% to 70%.

The new policy rolled out by the NIH capped the indirect costs for all institutions at a fixed rate of 15%. In 2023, NIH spent $35 billion to support research at various institutions, of which $9 billion was used to cover indirect costs. Thus, NIH estimates it could save $4 billion by capping indirect costs at 15%.

Inside an NIH lab in Bethesda, Md., where researchers work on treatments and cures for disease, including cancer.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

How red states get hurt the most

There is a significant geographic disparity in NIH funding that most people are unaware of. There are 27 states in the U.S. that receive 94% of NIH funding, while the other 23 states receive only 6%. Moreover, the NIH funding received by the 23 states has remained relatively unchanged for the past 20 years.

There are many reasons why the latter states are less competitive. These include: lack of large medical centers, hospitals and research-intensive universities; thin and more rural populations; less robust economies; and lack of cutting-edge research infrastructure driven by less investment by the states in research and development.

It is for these reasons that Congress in 1993 authorized the NIH to start a new program called the Institutional Development Award, or IDeA, to support the 23 states plus Puerto Rico that have traditionally received low levels of NIH funding. Such states are commonly called IDeA states and contain predominantly rural and medically underserved communities.

These awards, which constitute less than 1% of the total NIH budget, are expected to help these states grow their research infrastructure and make them more competitive nationally.

The IDeA states are: Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming, plus Puerto Rico. All the states but Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Rhode Island and Vermont voted for Trump in the 2024 election.

Indirect costs pay for cutting-edge technologies

Indirect costs, in addition to supporting the management of specific grants, are also helpful in promoting the institutions’ research infrastructure.

The indirect costs help purchase and upgrade state-of-the-art research equipment and technologies. They help institutions develop high-performance computing facilities that are critical for research missions and provide access to journals and books through the library facilities. These costs also renovate old labs and help create new cutting-edge facilities such as germ-free facilities for microbiome research.

Thus, the indirect costs are critical for IDeA states that have limited resources such as state support for pursuing research.

According to the Higher Education Research and Development Survey, in 2023, non-IDeA states like California invested $548 million and New York over $303 million in R&D. In contrast, IDeA states Kentucky and West Virginia invested $49 million and $15 million, respectively, in R&D.

Such data clearly demonstrates how challenging it would be for IDeA states to face cuts in NIH funding and advance research infrastructure.

In our view, it is critical that all states have access to NIH research funding to enable the states to solve the unique challenges they face, such as environmental issues and population health disparities.

For example, biomedical scientists and clinicians trained by NIH grants are addressing locally relevant issues such as coal workers’ pneumoconiosis, commonly known as black lung disease, which occurs when coal dust is inhaled. This is an occupational hazard linked to the coal industry in West Virginia and Kentucky.

Similarly, Hawaii, with its tropical climate, has mosquitoes that can carry dengue virus, so dengue infection can pose a unique health and economic problem for this state when compared with the others in the U.S.

Training the biomedical workforce and physicians in IDeA states also helps with retaining health providers in the state to further address these local challenges and prevents brain-drain to other non-IDeA states.

IDeA states heavily rely on NIH funds to pursue and advance their research capabilities and address local and general health challenges. For such states, already struggling to receive NIH funding, reducing indirect costs would further exacerbate their disadvantages, increasing the risk of falling behind in medical research, patient care and regional economic growth.

Prakash Nagarkatti receives funding from NIH.

Mitzi Nagarkatti receives funding from NIH.

– ref. NIH funding cuts will hit red states, rural areas and underserved communities the hardest – https://theconversation.com/nih-funding-cuts-will-hit-red-states-rural-areas-and-underserved-communities-the-hardest-250592

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

March 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Why getting the numbers right isn’t enough for pollsters to be credible in today’s polarized climate

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Clifford Young, Adjust Professor and Pollster, Johns Hopkins University

Pollsters serve as an interpreter between those who govern and those who are governed. Ivan Burchak, iStock / Getty Images Plus

President Donald Trump launched his second term with a series of executive orders, asserting his authority more decisively than in 2017. His moves, shaped directly by unfiltered public opinion, align – for now – with what many Americans want. Pollsters are tracking this public sentiment in real time.

A pollster – of which I am one – measures and analyzes public opinion, serving as an interpreter between those who govern and those who are governed. While the horse race poll during elections is the most visible aspect of our work, our role is much broader.

Pollsters wear multiple hats, ensuring accuracy while also advising decision-makers on how to communicate with the public and to anticipate shifts in sentiment. At its core, polling is both an analytical and interpretive discipline. Pollsters do more than measure public opinion — they amplify the public’s voice, ensuring that leaders understand the concerns of those they represent.

Because truth reveals itself on Election Day, a pollster’s credibility is always at stake. If the industry collectively misses the mark, public trust erodes, and confidence in the democratic system itself is called into question.

2024 polls: A mixed verdict

How did pollsters perform in 2024? The answer depends on perspective.

From an analytical standpoint, the broad story that pollsters told was correct. Americans were frustrated by inflation and the cost of living, unable to reconcile their financial struggles with the Biden administration’s assurances that the economy was strong. Polls also revealed deep disillusionment with the political system, with many believing it was rigged against them. Trump successfully positioned himself as the champion of this discontent.

Statistically, the industry performed well by international standards. A 2018 Nature Human Behavior study analyzing 30,000 polls from 351 elections in 45 countries since 1942 found the average polling error to be about 2 percentage points. In 2024, national and swing-state polls outperformed this historical benchmark.

In the 2024 presidential race between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, the political right claimed that polls systematically underestimated Trump, while the left accused pollsters of falsely portraying the race as close.
Scott Olson/Getty Images; Bill Pugliano/Getty Images

Compared with the last 17 presidential elections, polling in 2024 was more accurate than in eight, roughly on par with five and worse than four. A postmortem will reveal areas for improvement, but from a technical standpoint, the numbers fell well within the 2-percentage-point standard mentioned above.

Yet, despite statistical accuracy, public perception tells a different story. The gap between what pollsters measure and how the public interprets their work continues to widen.

Facing a trust crisis

Many Americans across the political spectrum viewed pollsters as unreliable, if not outright deceptive, in 2024.

The political right claimed polls systematically underestimated Trump, while the left accused pollsters of falsely portraying the 2024 race as close.

Journalist and Trump biographer Michael Wolff even declared: “One of the lessons from this campaign, as it should have been from prior campaigns, is, kill all the pollsters.” His sentiment, while extreme, reflected a broader frustration.

A deeper issue is that pollsters are increasingly seen as part of an establishment that no longer represents the public. Pollsters are now lumped in with politicians and the media, being trusted by only 21% of Americans, according to an Ipsos poll, where I serve as head of polling. This climate of distrust means that even minor polling errors are interpreted as signs of bias.

Yes, pollsters underestimated Trump in 2016, 2020 and again in 2024. These errors have clear methodological explanations: Some Trump voters were hard to reach, others were reluctant to disclose their preferences, and flawed turnout models assumed lower Republican participation.

While such methodological challenges are common in any scientific field, polling faces an added burden – its results are immediately tested in high-stakes elections. But to many, getting it wrong three times in a row suggests not error, but intent.

Trust, once lost, is difficult to regain.

Illusion of precision

This credibility problem is compounded by the rise of probabilistic forecasting – an approach that, while mathematically sound, often creates misleading narratives.

For two decades, these poll-based probability models have dominated election coverage. Forecasters like Nate Silver have shaped public expectations about such metrics.

Probabilities describe what might happen – but they fail to explain why events unfold as they do. This lack of diagnostic power makes probability-based forecasts feel both vague and misleading. They provide an illusion of precision while obscuring critical data trends.

Consider Silver’s 2024 forecast, which gave Harris and Trump each a 50% chance of winning. The final result – Trump 49.8%, Harris 48.2% – fell within the expected range of outcomes. Yet to the public, a 50/50 probability implied total uncertainty, masking underlying factors that pointed to Trump’s advantage.

Other indicators consistently suggested Trump had the upper hand, such as weak Biden approval ratings, belief that the country was on the wrong track, and the strength of candidates on the main issue, inflation.

Polling is just one tool. The industry has other ways to tell a more nuanced story. But the overreliance on poll-based probabilities – by both analysts and the media – has narrowed the focus, limiting our ability to contextualize broader electoral dynamics.

Put differently, pollsters failed to set the correct expectations for 2024.

Google graphic with the final 2024 U.S. presidential results is screened on a mobile phone.
Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Restoring credibility

To rebuild public trust, perception matters as much as accuracy.

When polling errors consistently lean in one direction, many assume bias rather than statistical uncertainty. Addressing this requires both technical precision and clear storytelling.

Polls do more than predict winners. They reveal shifts in public sentiment, offering insight into how and why opinions change.

Yet accuracy alone no longer suffices. While the 2024 polls performed within historical norms, public expectations have raised the bar for what qualifies as accurate polling. In a polarized climate, even small perceived failures fuel distrust.

Meeting this challenge means refining polling methods – in particular, ensuring that pollsters are vigilant in capturing a representative sample of Americans.

But pollsters are more than election forecasters; they are interpreters of public sentiment. The overreliance on the horse race poll has narrowed the field’s impact. Polling must be framed within the broader context of political and social change, making sense of uncertainty rather than just quantifying future likelihoods.

Election surprises stem from incomplete narratives. Precision matters, but a pollster’s job is ultimately about understanding and communicating what drives public opinion.

Restoring trust will require embracing this broader role with clarity and conviction. The polling industry’s problem isn’t just about data – it’s about narrative failure.

If pollsters get the story right, the future shouldn’t surprise. This requires more than just methodological adjustments – it demands a fundamental shift in how pollsters communicate their findings to the public.

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

– ref. Why getting the numbers right isn’t enough for pollsters to be credible in today’s polarized climate – https://theconversation.com/why-getting-the-numbers-right-isnt-enough-for-pollsters-to-be-credible-in-todays-polarized-climate-247955

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

March 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Exhausted by the news? Here are 6 strategies to stay informed without getting overwhelmed − or misled by misinformation
Source: The Conversation – USA – By Seth Ashley, Professor of Communication and Media, Boise State University

Not all news sources are created equal. Noah Berger/AP Images

Political spin is nothing new, and identifying reliable news and information can be hard to do during any presidency. But the return of Donald Trump to the White House has reignited debates over truth, accountability and the role of media in a deeply divided America.

Misinformation is an umbrella term that covers all kinds of false and misleading content, and there is lots of it out there.

During Trump’s chaotic first presidency, the president himself promoted false claims about COVID-19, climate change and the 2020 election.

Now, in his second term, Trump is again using the bully pulpit of the presidency to spread false claims – for example, on Ukraine and Canada as well as immigration, inflation and, still, the 2020 election.

Meanwhile, social media platforms such as Meta have ended fact-checking programs created after Trump’s first election win, and presidential adviser Elon Musk continues to use social media platform X to amplify Trump’s false claims and his own conspiracy theories.

To stay informed while also arming yourself against misinformation, it’s crucial to practice what I call good “news hygiene” by developing strong news literacy skills.

News literacy, as I argue in my open-access 2020 book “News Literacy and Democracy” and in recent research with colleagues, is about more than fact-checking and detecting AI-generated fakes. It’s about understanding how modern media works and how content is influenced, from TikTok “newsfluencers” to FOX News to The New York Times.

Here are six ways to become a smarter, saner news consumer.

1. Recognize the influence of algorithms

Algorithms are the hidden computer formulas that mediate everything news consumers read, watch, click on and react to online. Despite the illusion of neutrality, algorithms shape people’s perceptions of reality and are designed to maximize engagement.

Algorithmic recommendation engines that power everything from X to YouTube can even contribute to a slow-burn destabilization of American society by shoving consumers into partisan echo chambers that increase polarization and erode social trust.

Sometimes, algorithms can feed falsehoods that warp people’s perceptions or tell them to engage in dangerous behavior. Facebook groups spreading “Stop the Steal” messages contributed to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection. TikTok algorithms had people drinking laundry detergent in the “borax challenge.” Dylann Roof killed nine Black people based on falsehoods from hate groups he found in search results.

Rather than passively consuming whatever appears in your feeds – allowing brain rot to set in – actively seek out a variety of sources to inform you about current events. The news shouldn’t just tell you what you want to hear.

And spread the word. People who simply understand that algorithms filter information are more likely to take steps to combat misinformation.

2. Understand the economics of corporate news

Media outlets operate within economic systems that shape their priorities.

For-profit newsrooms, which produce the bulk of news consumed in the U.S., rely heavily on advertising revenue, which can reduce the quality of news and create a commercial bias. Places such as ABC, CNN and FOX, as well as local network TV affiliates, can still do good work, but their business model helps to explain sensational horse-race election coverage and false-balance reporting that leaves room for doubt on established facts about climate change and vaccines.

At the same time, the economic outlook for news is not good. Declining revenues and staff cuts also reduce the quality of news.

Nonprofit newsrooms and public media provide alternatives that generally prioritize public interest over profit. And if you have the budget, paying for quality journalism with a subscription can help credible outlets survive.

Traditional journalism has never been perfect, but the collapse of the news business is unquestionably bad for democracy. Countries with better funding for public media tend to have stronger democracies, and compared with other rich nations, the U.S. spends almost nothing on public service broadcasting.

3. Focus on source evaluation and verification

Particularly with AI-generated content on the rise, source evaluation and verification are essential skills. Here are some ways to identify trustworthy journalism:
- Quality of evidence: Are claims verified with support from a variety of informed individuals and perspectives?
- Transparency about sources: Is the reporter clear about where their information came from and who shared it?
- Adherence to ethical guidelines: Does the outlet follow the basic journalistic principles of accuracy and independence?
- Corrections: Does the outlet correct its errors and follow up on incomplete reporting?
Be cautious with content that lacks the author’s name, relies heavily on anonymous sources – or uses no sources at all – or is published by outlets with a clear ideological agenda. These aren’t immediate disqualifiers – some credible news magazines such as The Economist have no bylines, for example, and some sources legitimately need anonymity for protection – but watch out for news operations that routinely engage in these practices and obscure their motive for doing so.

A good online verification practice is called “lateral reading.” That’s when you open new browser tabs to verify claims you see on news sites and social media. Ask: Is anyone else covering this, and have they reached similar conclusions?

4. Examine your emotional reactions

One of the hallmarks of misinformation is its ability to provoke strong emotional responses, whether outrage, fear or validation.

These reactions, research shows, can cloud judgment and make people more susceptible to false or misleading information. The primitive brains of humans are wired to reject information that challenges our beliefs and to accept information we like, a phenomenon known as confirmation bias.

When encountering content that sparks an emotional reaction, ask yourself: Who benefits from this narrative? What evidence supports it? Is this information informative or manipulative?

If the answers make you suspicious, investigate further before acting or sharing.

5. Guard against propaganda

Everyone in politics works to shape narratives in order to gain support for their agenda. It’s called spin.

But Trump goes further, spreading documented lies to pump up his followers and undermine the legitimacy of basic democratic institutions.

He also targets media he doesn’t like. From discrediting critical outlets as “fake news” or calling journalists the “enemy of the people,” these tactics silence dissent, undermine public trust in journalism and alter perceptions around acceptable public discourse and behavior.

Meanwhile, he amplifies information and people who support his political causes. This is called propaganda.

Understanding the mechanics of propaganda – its use of repetition, emotional appeal, scapegoating, scare tactics and unrealistic promises – can help inoculate people against its influence.

6. Stay engaged

Democracy relies on an informed and active citizenry to hold accountable their government and the officials who work in it as well as other powerful players in society. Yet the sheer volume of misinformation and bad news these days can feel overwhelming.

Rather than tuning out – what scholars call “news avoidance” – you can practice critical consumption of news.

Read deeply, look beyond headlines and short video clips, question the framing of stories, and encourage discussions about the role of media in society. Share reliable information with your friends and colleagues, and model good news hygiene for others.

Correcting misinformation is notoriously hard, so if someone you know shares it, start a dialogue by asking – privately and gently – where they heard it and whether they think it’s really true.

Finally, set goals for your consumption. What are your information needs at any given moment, and where can you meet that need? Some experts say 30 minutes a day is enough. Don’t waste your time on garbage.

Touch grass

While it’s important to stay engaged, so is getting outside and connecting with nature to calm and soothe your busy brain. Logging off and connecting with people in real life will keep your support system strong for when things are tough. Protect your mental health by turning off notifications and taking breaks from your phone.

Practicing good news hygiene isn’t just about protecting ourselves – it’s about fostering a media environment that supports democracy and informed participation.

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

– ref. Exhausted by the news? Here are 6 strategies to stay informed without getting overwhelmed − or misled by misinformation – https://theconversation.com/exhausted-by-the-news-here-are-6-strategies-to-stay-informed-without-getting-overwhelmed-or-misled-by-misinformation-248807
MIL OSI – Global Reports –
March 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: PhysMech and SPbPU PISh “Digital Engineering” presented research at the Winter School on Continuous Media Mechanics

Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

Representatives of the Institute of Physics and Mechanics of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University (SPbPU) and the Advanced Engineering School “Digital Engineering” (AES) took part inXXIV Winter School on Continuous Media Mechanics in Perm. The event was held within the framework of the Program for the creation and development of a world-class scientific center “Supersonic” for 2020-2024 with the support of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation.

The event was organized by the Institute of Continuous Media Mechanics of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences – a branch of the Perm Federal Research Center of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

The Winter School on Continuous Media Mechanics is held to build a systematic discussion on current issues in this field and is aimed at developing research activities, including among young specialists. The event included a competition of reports among students, postgraduates and young scientists.

The XXIV Winter School on Continuous Media Mechanics was attended by 320 people from 21 cities of Russia, including St. Petersburg, Moscow, Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Izhevsk, Kazan, Samara and others. The event featured 319 reports in eight sections, the abstracts of which were included in the collection of papers on the results of the school.

The main topics of the event program:

computational continuum mechanics, physics and mechanics of meso- and nanostructured systems, mechanics of functional materials, convection, hydrodynamic stability and turbulence, hydrodynamics of non-Newtonian fluids and fluids with special properties, fundamental and applied magnetohydrodynamics, continuum mechanics in biology and medicine, mining mechanics, monitoring of natural and man-made systems.

Scientists, postgraduates, and students of the Institute of Physics and Mechanics of SPbPU presented the results of research and development by research teams on current issues in computational continuum mechanics, mechanics of functional materials, hydrodynamic stability, physics and mechanics of meso- and nanostructured systems, chemomechanics, fundamental and applied hydrodynamics, and gas dynamics. The research results contribute to the development of engineering applications of microelectronics, hydrogen technologies, modern electronic and optoelectronic devices, boiler equipment, methods for testing thermal conductivity at the nanoscale, and calculations of fracture mechanics parameters.

Plenary reports:

Krivtsov Anton-Irzhi Miroslavovich, Director of the Higher School of Theoretical Mechanics and Mathematical Physics of the Physics and Mechanical Institute of SPbPU, Head of the Laboratory of Modeling of Production Technologies and Processes of the PISh SPbPU, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Associate Professor, Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences. Topic of the report: “Using Approaches Based on the Bernoulli-Euler and Schrödinger Gas Dynamics Kinetics Equations to Describing Transport Processes”; Freidin Alexander Borisovich, Senior Researcher, Professor of the Higher School of Mechanics and Control Processes of the Physics and Mechanical Institute of SPbPU, Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences. Topic of the report: “Related Problems of Chemomechanics: Statements and Solutions”.

Sectional reports:

Belyaev Aleksandr Konstantinovich, Director of the Higher School of Mechanics and Control Processes of the Institute of Physics and Mechanics of SPbPU, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Associate Professor, Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences. Topic of the report: “Models of Hydrogen Motion in an Extruder at Low Temperatures”; Kovalev Igor Alekseevich, student of the Institute of Physics and Mechanics of SPbPU. Topic of the report: “Dislocation Relaxation of Stresses in a Cylindrical Quantum Ring Near the Free Surface”; Kuzkin Vitaly Andreevich, Professor of the Higher School of Theoretical Mechanics and Mathematical Physics of the Institute of Physics and Mechanics of SPbPU, Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences. Topic of the report: “Ballistic Thermoelasticity of Nonlinear Chains”; Savikovsky Artem Viktorovich, postgraduate student of the Institute of Physics and Mechanics of SPbPU. Topic of the report: “Calculation of Stress Intensity Factors through Jk-Integrals for Anisotropic Materials”; Sedova Yulia Sergeevna, postgraduate student of the Physics and Mechanical Institute of SPbPU. Topic of the report: “Analysis of the results of testing ring samples of boiler tubes using mechanical models of hydrogen embrittlement”; Ivanova Alexandra Borisovna, postgraduate student of the Physics and Mechanical Institute of SPbPU. Topic of the report: “Related problems of chemomechanics for an elastic and viscoelastic reaction product”.

The winners of the competition of reports among students, postgraduates and young scientists were awarded diplomas for the presentations of student Igor Kovalev, postgraduates Artem Savikovsky, Alexandra Ivanova and Yulia Sedova, as well as professor of the Higher School of Theoretical Mechanics and Mathematical Physics of the Physical-Mechanical Institute of SPbPU Vitaly Kuzkin.

The laureates were awarded at a meeting of the Academic Council of the Physics and Mechanics Institute of SPbPU. Acting Director of the Physics and Mechanics Institute of SPbPU Nikolay Ivanov congratulated the winners and presented them with diplomas.

The council members highly appreciated the contribution of young scientists to the development of their research areas.

It is gratifying that such a representative delegation from the Polytechnic University participated in the Perm Winter School. Young scientists and venerable professors confirmed the high level of the St. Petersburg school of mechanics. We wish everyone further success, and especially students who are just starting their path in science, – noted Nikolay Georgievich.

The team of the Advanced Engineering School of SPbPU “Digital Engineering” demonstrated research in the field of continuum mechanics, implemented using systems digital engineering technologies for the tasks of medicine, healthcare, construction, automotive and aircraft manufacturing.

Sectional reports:

Antonova Olga Vladimirovna, Associate Professor of the Higher School of Advanced Digital Technologies of the Advanced Engineering School of SPbPU “Digital Engineering”, Candidate of Technical Sciences. Topic: “Application of hyperelastic material models to describe the mechanical behavior of high-tech medical devices and biological tissues”; Sadovchenko Ekaterina Alekseevna, Master’s student of the Primorsky Polytechnical School of SPbPU, engineer in the Applied Research and Development direction of the Engineering Center (CompMechLab®) of Primorsky Polytechnical School of SPbPU. Topic: “Modeling the process of installing dental implants using finite element analysis”; Nezhinskaya Liliya Sergeevna, Master’s student of the Primorsky Polytechnical School of SPbPU, engineer in the Applied Research and Development direction of the Engineering Center (CompMechLab®) of Primorsky Polytechnical School of SPbPU. Topic: “Study of elastic-plastic properties of meta-biomaterials. Full-scale and virtual tests” in the section “Physics and mechanics of meso- and nanostructured systems”; Ivanov Maxim Vyacheslavovich, engineer of the Department of development of cars and equipment of the Engineering Center (CompMechLab®) of PISh SPbPU, assistant of the Higher School of Advanced Digital Technologies, graduate of the Advanced Engineering School of SPbPU “Digital Engineering”. Topic: “Optimization of the bearing capacity of metal panels with a tetrahedral filler”.

In the course of Olga Antonova’s research, an analysis was conducted of the features of the application of hyperelastic models of materials to describe the behavior of various medical devices and biological tissues used in modern medical practice, primarily in the field of cardiology.

In the future, the obtained results can be used as a basis for modeling the processes of installing coronary and endobiliary stents, prosthetic rings for annuloplasty, optimizing the methods of these medical interventions, as well as in developing recommendations for medical workers, concluded Olga Vladimirovna.

Ekaterina Sadovchenko spoke about the methodology for modeling the process of installing dental implants in bone blocks of different densities using the finite element method.

The research presented by Liliya Nezhinskaya within the framework of the XXIV Winter School on Continuous Media Mechanics will allow the formation of mathematical models of meta-biomaterials of various topologies for their further application in the development of products in the field of tissue engineering for the treatment of bone defects.

It should be noted that the project represents a part research, supported by the Russian Science Foundation, which is carried out by a research group led by the Vice-Rector for Digital Transformation of SPbPU, Head of the SPbPU Digital Engineering School Alexey Borovkov.

Maxim Ivanov spoke about a project to optimize the load-bearing capacity of metal panels with a tetrahedral filler, which is part of his PhD thesis. Layered panels with such a filler are actively used in construction, the automotive industry, and aircraft manufacturing. The results obtained can be used to optimize the technological process of manufacturing a filler of complex shape.

The presentations of Liliya Nezhinskaya and Ekaterina Sadovchenko were also noted at the competition of reports among students, postgraduates and young scientists. The winners received diplomas.

The research of the participants of the XXIV Winter School on Continuous Media Mechanics was highly appreciated by the scientific committee, which noted their relevance and practical focus while maintaining the fundamental nature of the approaches used.

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

MIL OSI Russia News –

March 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurates and launches various development works worth over Rs 2580 crore in Silvassa,Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu

Source: Government of India (2)

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurates and launches various development works worth over Rs 2580 crore in Silvassa,Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu

Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, are our pride, our heritage: PM

Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu have reached a saturation level in several schemes: PM

Jan Aushadhi means guarantee of affordable treatment! The mantra of Jan Aushadhi is – lower prices, effective medicines: PM

We all should reduce 10% of the cooking oil in our food,manage with 10% less oil every month,This will be a significant step towards reducing obesity: PM

Posted On: 07 MAR 2025 5:59PM by PIB Delhi

The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi launched various development works worth over ₹2580 crore in Silvassa, Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu today. He also inaugurated the Namo Hospital in Silvassa earlier to the event. Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister expressed his gratitude towards the dedicated workers of the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu for giving him the opportunity to connect and engage with the region. He acknowledged the warmth and the long-standing connection he has had with the people, sharing that his bond with the region is decades old. He highlighted the progress the region has made since his government came to power in 2014, transforming the potential of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu into a modern and progressive identity.

“The natural beauty of Silvassa and the love of its people, as well as Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, you all know how long my connection with you has been. This decades-old bond, the joy I feel when I come here, only you and I understand it”, Shri Modi added. The Prime Minister mentioned that when he first visited, the area was vastly different, with people questioning what could come of a small coastal region. However, he always had faith in the people of this place and their capabilities. The Prime Minister pointed out that under the leadership of his government, this faith has been transformed into progress, turning Silvassa into a cosmopolitan city, thriving with new opportunities for all its residents.

Shri Modi also shared an example of Singapore, which, in its early days, was a small fishing village. He emphasized that the transformation of Singapore happened due to the strong willpower of its people. The Prime Minister encouraged the citizens of the Union Territory to adopt a similar resolve for development, assuring them that he would stand by them, but they too must take the initiative to move forward.

“Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu is not just a Union Territory but a source of pride and heritage. This is why we are transforming the region into a model state known for its holistic development”, Shri Modi emphasized. The Prime Minister stated how he envisions the region to be recognized for its high-tech infrastructure, modern healthcare services, world-class educational institutes, tourism, blue economy, industrial progress, new opportunities for youth, and women’s participation in development.

Shri Modi noted that under the leadership of Shri Praful Patel and with the support of the central government, the region is fast progressing towards these goals. Over the last 10 years, significant progress has been made in development. The region is now emerging on the national map with a distinct identity in terms of development. Various government schemes, such as One Nation One Ration Card, Jal Jeevan Mission, BharatNet, PM Jan Dhan Yojana, PM Jeevan Jyoti Bima, and PM Suraksha Bima, have brought substantial benefits to the people, especially the underprivileged and tribal communities.

The Prime Minister announced that the next goal is to achieve 100% saturation in initiatives like Smart Cities Mission, Samagra Shiksha, and PM Mudra Yojana. He highlighted that for the first time, the government is reaching out directly to people with these welfare schemes, ensuring that every citizen benefits from the government’s plans.

The Prime Minister highlighted the transformation of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu in infrastructure, education, employment, and industrial development. He pointed out that earlier, youth from the region had to go outside for higher education, but today, the region is home to six national-level institutes. These include Namo Medical College, Gujarat National Law University, IIIT Diu, National Institute of Fashion Technology, Institute of Hotel Management and Catering Technology, and the Daman Engineering College. These institutions have made Silvassa and the region a new education hub. “To further benefit the youth, seats have been reserved for them in these institutes. Earlier, I was happy to see that this is a region where education is provided in four different mediums: Hindi, English, Gujarati, and Marathi. Now, I am also proud to say that children in primary and junior schools here are studying in smart classrooms”, Shri Modi added.

Shri Modi said that in recent years, modern healthcare services have expanded significantly in the region. “In 2023, I had the opportunity to inaugurate Namo Medical College here. Along with this, a new hospital with a capacity of 450 beds has been added, which was also inaugurated today. The healthcare facilities in Silvassa will greatly benefit the tribal community in the region”, Shri Modi underscored.

The Prime Minister highlighted the significance of today’s healthcare projects, as it coincides with Jan Aushadhi Diwas. He emphasized that Jan Aushadhi ensures affordable treatment. Under this initiative, the government is providing quality hospitals, free treatment under Ayushman Bharat, and affordable medicines through Jan Aushadhi centers. More than 15,000 Jan Aushadhi centers across the country offer medicines at up to 80% lower prices. Around 40 Jan Aushadhi centers are benefiting the people of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu. The government aims to open 25,000 Jan Aushadhi centers nationwide in the future. “Since the launch of this initiative, nearly ₹6,500 crore worth of affordable medicines have been provided to the needy, saving over ₹30,000 crore for the poor and middle class. This initiative has made the treatment of several critical diseases more affordable, demonstrating the government’s sensitivity to the needs of ordinary citizens”, Shri Modi emphasised.

The Prime Minister addressed the rising concern of lifestyle diseases, particularly obesity, which has become a major health threat. He referred to a recent report predicting that by 2050, over 440 million Indians will suffer from obesity. “This alarming figure indicates that one in every three people could face serious health issues due to obesity, potentially making it a life-threatening condition”, Shri Modi stated.

To combat this, the Prime Minister urged everyone to take proactive steps to reduce obesity. He emphasized the importance of reducing the consumption of cooking oil by 10% each month, asking people to commit to using 10% less oil in their daily cooking. He also encouraged the inclusion of regular physical activity, like walking a few kilometers daily, to maintain a healthy lifestyle and prevent obesity. “India is committed to achieving the vision of a developed nation. Only a healthy nation can achieve such a goal”, Shri Modi emphasised.

Shri Modi highlighted the rapid industrial growth in Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu over the past decade. With the launch of the Mission Manufacturing initiative in the recent budget, the region is poised to benefit significantly. Hundreds of new industries have started, and several existing industries have expanded, attracting thousands of crores in investment. These industries are providing large-scale employment opportunities, especially for the tribal community, women, and marginalized groups. “The Gir Adarsh Jeevika Yojana has been implemented to empower SC, ST, OBC, and women, while new self-employment opportunities have been created with the establishment of small dairy farms”, Shri Modi added.

The Prime Minister underscored that tourism has also emerged as a major source of employment. The region’s beaches and rich heritage are attracting tourists from both India and abroad. Developments like the Ram Setu, Namo Path, Tent City in Daman, and the popular Night Market are enhancing the region’s appeal. Shri Modi stated that a large bird sanctuary has been established, and plans for an eco-resort in Dudhani are underway. Coastal promenade and beach development work is being carried out in Diu. “The Diu Beach Games in 2024 boosted interest in beach sports, and the Blue Flag certification has made the Ghoghla Beach in Diu a popular tourist destination. Additionally, a cable car project is being developed in Diu, offering spectacular views of the Arabian Sea, making the region one of India’s top tourist destinations”, Shri Modi added.

Highlighting the significant connectivity improvements in Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi said that a bullet train station is being built near Dadra, and the Mumbai-Delhi Expressway passes through Silvassa. Over the past few years, several kilometers of new roads have been constructed, with over 500 kilometers of road work currently underway, involving investments worth thousands of crores. “The region is also benefiting from the UDAN scheme, and the local airport is being upgraded to enhance connectivity. The government is committed to ensuring comprehensive development and improving infrastructure in the region”, Shri Modi added.

The Prime Minister expressed his happiness that Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu are becoming models of development, good governance, and ease of living. He pointed out that in the past, people had to visit government offices repeatedly to resolve their issues, but now most government-related tasks can be completed with just one click on their mobile phones. This new approach has greatly benefited the tribal areas that were neglected for decades. Special camps are being organized in villages to listen to people’s problems and resolve them on the spot. The Prime Minister congratulated Shri Praful Patel and his team for these efforts and assured the people that the government will continue working towards the development of the region.“I congratulate the people of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu for the successful development projects launched today. I express my heartfelt gratitude for the warm welcome, affection, and respect shown by the citizens of the Union Territory”, the Prime Minister concluded.

Background

Boosting healthcare facilities in all corners of the country has been a primary focus of the Prime Minister. In line with this, he inaugurated NAMO Hospital (Phase I) in Silvassa. This 450 bedded hospital, built at the cost of over Rs 460 crore, will significantly strengthen healthcare services in the Union Territory. It will provide state-of-the-art medical care to the people in the region, especially the tribal communities.

The Prime Minister also inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of multiple development projects for the UT worth over Rs 2580 crore at Silvassa. These include various village roads and other road infrastructure, schools, health and wellness centres, Panchayat and administrative buildings, Anganwadi centres, water supply and sewage infrastructure among others. These projects aim to improve connectivity, promote industrial growth, encourage tourism, create employment opportunities and aim at enhancing public welfare initiatives in the region.

Gir Adarsh Aajeevika Yojana aims to boost economic empowerment of women belonging to scheduled castes (SCs), scheduled tribes (STs), other backward classes (OBCs), minorities and divyangjan in the region through setting up small dairy farms and bringing social and economic changes in their lives. The Sylvan Didi scheme is an initiative to uplift women street vendors by providing them with aesthetically designed carts, with co funding from PM SVANIDHI scheme.

दादरा और नगर हवेली, दमण और दीव… ये प्रदेश हमारा गर्व है… हमारी विरासत है। pic.twitter.com/CN1ZjijEOH

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) March 7, 2025

दादरा और नगर हवेली, दमण और दीव… ये कई योजनाओं में सैचुरेशन की स्थिति में पहुंच गए हैं: PM @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/xRjJqsmScw

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) March 7, 2025

जनऔषधि यानी- सस्ते इलाज की गारंटी!

जनऔषधि का मंत्र है- दाम कम, दवाई में दम! pic.twitter.com/4GscUrLDb9

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) March 7, 2025

हम सभी को अपने खाने के तेल में 10% की कटौती करनी चाहिए।

हमें हर महीने 10% कम तेल में काम चलाने का प्रयास करना है।

मोटापा कम करने की दिशा में ये एक बहुत बड़ा कदम होगा: PM @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/61lgZ4XAFc

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) March 7, 2025

A landmark day for Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu as key development projects are being launched. Speaking at a programme in Silvassa. https://t.co/re1Am2n62t

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 7, 2025

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MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

March 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Drug abuse and drug situation in Hong Kong in 2024 (with photos)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Drug abuse and drug situation in Hong Kong in 2024 (with photos)
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The Action Committee Against Narcotics (ACAN) noted at its meeting today (March 7) the figures of the Central Registry of Drug Abuse (CRDA) and other drug-related figures for 2024. ACAN noticed that the total number of reported drug abusers in 2024 was lower than that in 2023. Figures from the CRDA revealed that the total number of reported drug abusers in 2024 decreased by 9 per cent (from 5 540 to 5 068) compared with that in 2023. The three most common types of drugs abused in 2024 were heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine (commonly known as “Ice”). Nevertheless, the number of reported young drug abusers aged under 21 in 2024 increased by 8 per cent (from 664 to 720), of which 226 vaped the “space oil drug”. In this group, the most common type of drugs abused was cannabis, followed by cocaine and the “space oil drug”. Since the first half of 2024, the “space oil drug” has continued to be the third most common type of drugs abused by this group. To step up the control of the “space oil drug”, the Government has listed etomidate, the main ingredient of the “space oil drug”, and its three analogues, (metomidate, propoxate and isopropoxate) as dangerous drugs. A spokesman for the Security Bureau (SB) said, “Etomidate, the main ingredient of the ‘space oil drug’, has been listed as a dangerous drug, which has significantly enhanced deterrence against ‘space oil drug’-related crimes. The move has also facilitated the law enforcement agencies to take more stringent enforcement actions against ‘space oil drug’-related crimes.” Recently, Hong Kong Customs arrested a 20-year-old man who carried a vape stick containing the suspected “space oil drug”. In addition, the Police have arrested an 18-year-old man, a 16-year-old male and a 16-year-old female on suspicion of “outraging public decency”. Police later seized “space oil drug” electronic cigarette cartridges suspected to contain etomidate from the residences of two of the arrested persons. The Police arrested the three persons on suspicion of “possession of dangerous drugs” and other offences. The Chairman of ACAN, Dr Donald Li, said, “I am glad to see that the Government has adopted the suggestions from ACAN and promptly listed the main ingredient of the ‘space oil drug’ as a dangerous drug. I suggest that the Government continues to step up anti-drug publicity on all fronts. I also hope that primary and secondary schools can take the initiative to continuously inculcate in their students the proper knowledge and values of resisting drugs.” He added, “The wickedness of the ‘space oil drug’ has been laid bare in recent controversial incidents. Teenagers who have mistaken vaping the ‘space oil drug’ as just a trivial matter should come to realise the drug harm of the ‘space oil drug’ from the cases in which young people have been arrested. I urge everyone to stay away from the ‘space oil drug’.” The Government’s new TV Announcement in the Public Interest (API), “Don’t fall into ‘space oil drug’ traps!”, has been launched on various television and radio channels. In addition, relevant advertisements and publicity materials have been displayed on public transport networks, large outdoor advertising spaces, cinemas, public housing estates, private housing estates, Community Living Rooms and villages in the New Territories, etc. The advertisements will also be pushed to mobile phone users on popular mobile application websites. Information and videos about the ‘space oil drug’ have been uploaded onto the dedicated webpage of the Narcotics Division (ND) of the SB (www.nd.gov.hk/en/space_oil_drug.html) for reference by the public. The Anti-“Space Oil Drug” Week has just been co-organised by the ND and the Education Bureau, which was held in all schools in Hong Kong. At the time, teachers and students participated together in a number of interactive activities, which included game booths and interactive drama shows, to enable students to understand the harm of the “space oil drug” and the severity of committing “space oil drug” crimes. Anti-drug education activities in schools will not stop after the Anti-“Space Oil Drug” Week. The Government will continue to spread anti-“space oil drug” messages through different activities in schools, with a view to cultivating proper values among students and building a stronger anti-drug barrier for them. As regards drug treatment and rehabilitation services, the Government will continue to foster cross-sectoral collaboration, including the social welfare, healthcare and education sectors, to enhance the awareness and handling capability of social workers, healthcare professionals and teaching staff in relation to the “space oil drug” to facilitate early identification of and assistance to “space oil drug” abusers. According to statistical figures from law enforcement agencies, the number of persons arrested for drug offences in 2024 dropped by 5 per cent (from 3 407 to 3 243) when compared with 2023. The number of young arrestees aged under 21 decreased by 7 per cent (from 323 to 301). Cannabis, cocaine and “Ice” were the main drugs involved in these arrests. According to court cases concluded for the same period, the conviction rate of persons being prosecuted for drug offences was as high as nearly 90 per cent. As for young offenders aged under 21 who were sentenced to imprisonment for drug trafficking, more than half of them were sentenced to over five years in prison, and the longest period of imprisonment was 22 years. This year marks ACAN’s 60th anniversary. ACAN and the ND are taking the opportunity to co-organise a series of commemorative events, including an interactive roving exhibition in education institutions and the community, community engagement activities and competitions, with a view to consolidating anti-drug awareness in the community. In addition, the roving exhibition features a theme zone dedicated to the 60th anniversary of ACAN, where a number of precious historical posters, photos, anti-drug videos and TV APIs are displayed. The roving exhibition is divided into different theme zones with interactive games and digital exhibition panels etc. By incorporating the old and the new, visitors will be able to learn from the past and have a better understanding of the harm caused by drugs. The next stop of the roving exhibition will take place at City University of Hong Kong from March 11 to 14. For more details of the roving exhibition, please visit the dedicated webpage on the ND’s website (www.nd.gov.hk/en/ACAN60A_exhibition.html). The statistical figures of the CRDA for 2024 are available on the ND website (www.nd.gov.hk/en/crda_main_charts_and_tables.html). The ND’s website (www.nd.gov.hk) as well as its official accounts (narcotics.divisionhk) on Facebook and Instagram also contain detailed information about drugs including the “space oil drug” for the public’s reference.

Ends/Friday, March 7, 2025Issued at HKT 19:09

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MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

March 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: The G20: how it works, why it matters and what would be lost if it failed

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Danny Bradlow, Professor/Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Advancement of Scholarship, University of Pretoria

South Africa took over the presidency of the G20 at the end of 2024. Since then the world has become a more complex, unpredictable and dangerous place. The most powerful state in the world, the US, seems intent on undermining the existing order that it created and on demonstrating its power over weaker nations. Other influential countries are turning inward.

These developments raise concerns about how well mechanisms for global cooperation, such as the G20, can continue to operate, particularly those that work on the basis of consensual decision making. Danny Bradlow sets out how the G20 works, and what’s at stake.

What’s the G20’s purpose?

The G20 is a forum in which the largest economies in the world meet regularly to discuss, and attempt to address, the most urgent international economic and political challenges. The group, which includes both rich and developing countries, accounts for about 67% of the world’s population, 85% of global GDP, and 75% of global trade.

The G20, in fact, is a misnomer. The actual number of G20 participants in any given year far exceeds the 19 states and 2 international entities (the European Union and the African Union) that are its permanent members. Each year they are joined by a number of invited “guests”. While there are some countries, for example Spain and the Netherlands, that are considered “permanent” G20 guests, the full list of guests is determined by the chair of the G20 for that year. This year, South Africa has invited 13 countries, including Denmark, Egypt, Finland, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates. They are joined by 24 invited international organisations such as the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the United Nations and eight African regional organisations, among others.

The G20 should be understood as a process rather than a set of discrete events. Its apex is the annual leaders’ summit at which the participating heads of state and government seek to agree on a communiqué setting out their agreements on key issues. These agreements are non-binding and each of the participating states usually will implement most but not all the agreed points.

The communiqué is the outcome of a two track process: a finance track, consisting of representatives of the finance ministries and central banks in the participating counties, and a “sherpa” track that deals with more political issues. In total these two tracks will involve over 100 meetings of technical level officials and policymakers.

Most of the work in each track is done by working groups. The finance track has seven working groups dealing with issues ranging from the global economy and international financial governance to financial inclusion and the financing of infrastructure. The sherpa track has 15 working groups dealing with issues ranging from development and agriculture to health, the digital economy, and education.

The agenda for the working group meetings is based on issues notes prepared by the G20 presidency. The issues notes will discuss both unfinished business from prior years and any new issues that the president adds to the G20 agenda.

The working group chairs report on the outcomes of these meetings to the ministerial meetings in their track. These reports will first be discussed in meetings of the deputies to the ministers. The deputies will seek to narrow areas of disagreement and sharpen the issues for discussion so that when they are presented at the ministerial meeting the chances of reaching agreement are maximised.

The agreements reached at each of these ministerial meetings, assuming all participants agree, will be expressed in a carefully negotiated and drafted communiqué. If the participants cannot agree, the minister chairing the meeting will provide a chair’s summary of the meeting. These documents will then inform the communiqué that will be released at the end of the G20 summit. This final communiqué represents the formal joint decision of the participating heads of state and government.

The G20 process is supplemented by the work of 13 engagement groups representing, for example, business, labour, youth, think tanks, women and civil society in the G20 countries. These groups look for ways to influence the outcomes of the G20 process.

What is the G20 troika and how does it operate?

The G20 does not have a permanent secretariat. Instead, the G20 president is responsible for organising and chairing the more than 100 meetings that take place during the year. The G20 has decided that this burden should be supported by a “troika”, consisting of the past, present and future presidents of the G20. This year the troika consists of Brazil, the past chair; South Africa, the current chair; and the US, the future chair.

The role of the troika varies depending on the identity of the current chair and how assertive it wishes to be in driving the G20 process. It will also be influenced by how active the other two members of the troika wish to be.

The troika helps ensure some continuity from one G20 year to another. This is important because there is a significant carryover of issues on the G20 agenda from one year to the next. The troika therefore creates the potential for the G20 president to focus on the issues of most interest to it over a three year period rather than just for one year.

How successful has the G20 process been?

The G20 is essentially a self-appointed group which has designated itself as the “premier forum for international economic cooperation”.

The G20 was first brought together during the Asian financial crisis in the 1990s. At that time, it was limited to a forum in which ministers of finance and central bank governors could meet to discuss the most important international economic and financial issues, such as the Asian financial crisis.

The G20 was elevated to the level of heads of state and government at the time of the 2008 global financial crisis.

The G20 tends to work well as a cooperative forum when the world is confronting an economic crisis. Thus, the G20 was a critical forum in which countries could discuss and agree on coordinating actions to deal with the global financial crisis in 2008-9.

It has performed less well when confronted with other types of crises. For example, it was found wanting in dealing with the COVID pandemic.

It has also proven to be less effective, although not necessarily totally ineffective, when there is no crisis. So, for example, the G20 has been useful in helping address relatively technical issues such as developing international standards on particular financial regulatory issues or improving the functioning of multilateral development banks. On other more political issues, for example climate, food security, and funding the UN’s sustainable development goals, it has been less effective.

There’s one less obvious, but nevertheless important, benefit. The G20 offers officials from participating countries the chance to interact with their counterparts from other G20 countries. As a result, they come to know and understand each other better, which helps foster cooperation between states on issues of common interest. It also ensures that when appropriate, these officials know whom to contact in other countries and this may help mitigate the risk of misunderstanding and conflict.

These crisis management and other benefits would be lost if the G20 were to stop functioning. And there is currently no alternative to the G20 in the sense of a forum where the leading states in the world, which may differ on many important issues, can meet on a relatively informal basis to discuss issues of mutual interest. Importantly, the withdrawal of one G20 state, even the most powerful, should not prevent the remaining participants from using the G20 to promote international cooperation on key global challenges.

In this way it can help manage the risk of conflict in a complex global environment.

Danny Bradlow, in addition to his position at the University of Pretoria, is working as a G20 senior advisor to the South African Institute of International Affairs and is co-chair of the T20 Taskforce on Financing of Sustainable Development.

– ref. The G20: how it works, why it matters and what would be lost if it failed – https://theconversation.com/the-g20-how-it-works-why-it-matters-and-what-would-be-lost-if-it-failed-251500

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

March 8, 2025
MIL-OSI: Orion Funded Launches Orion V2 with New Funding Models, Trader Dashboard, and AI-Powered Tools
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, March 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Orion Funded has announced the launch of Orion V2, an update to its proprietary trading program that introduces new funding models, an enhanced trader dashboard, and AI-powered trading tools.

The Orion V2 update introduces a revised funding model in which traders pay a portion of the challenge fee at the start of their evaluation and complete the remaining payment upon successful funding. Previously, traders were required to pay the full amount upfront. This adjustment restructures the cost framework for evaluation and funding.

Orion Funded was recognized with the Best Challenge Prop Firm Award by Funded Trading, an industry-ranking platform. The award highlights firms that offer evaluation structures designed to align with trader interests. The award details can be found at FundedTrading.com.

“Orion V2 is the evolution of our commitment to transparency, and trader success. While most firms follow the same outdated models, we are here to truly change the space, revolutionizing the funding process, reducing conflicts of interest, and giving traders the best opportunity to succeed with the most innovative model in the industry,” said David Viota, CEO of Orion Funded.

Key Updates in Orion V2
- Updated Challenge Funding Model – Traders now have the option to pay a portion of the evaluation fee upfront, completing payment upon funding.
- Customizable Evaluation Options – New add-ons allow traders to adjust evaluation structures.
- Redesigned Trader Dashboard – A new interface providing real-time performance tracking and data analysis.
- WebTrader Integration – Traders can now access Orion Funded’s platform directly through a web-based trading terminal.
- AI-Powered Trading Tools – New analytics and risk management features supported by artificial intelligence.
- Orion University – A structured education platform with expanded learning resources.
Institutional Trading Pathway

Orion Funded continues to offer selected traders the opportunity to engage with Zenith Global, a trading firm managing its own capital, through the Pro & Ultimate Program. This initiative provides a structured pathway for traders who meet specific criteria to transition from proprietary trading to institutional trading roles.

“We believe in creating real career opportunities for traders. The best-performing traders should have a pathway to professional, institutional-level trading, and that’s exactly what we’re offering,” said David Viota, CEO of Orion Funded.

Expansion in the Spanish-Speaking Trading Community

Orion Funded has also expanded its presence within the Spanish-speaking trading community, offering live mentorship, educational content, and a dedicated community platform. Additionally, Orion Room, the #1 trading podcast in Spanish, continues to provide traders with insights, interviews, and expert discussions.

Orion V2 is now available for traders worldwide. Further details can be found at orionfunded.com.

About Orion Funded

Orion Funded is a proprietary trading firm that provides traders with access to capital through one-phase, two-phase, and instant funding models. The firm offers a range of funding options, trading analytics, and educational resources designed to support trader development.

Contact
Chief Executive Officer
David Viota
Orion Funded
david@orionfunded.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b764c18f-174e-4194-8e87-d32dc4d9a6d6

The MIL Network –
March 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: In Novosibirsk, the results of the school track of the National Technology Olympiad in the profile “Genome Editing” were summed up

Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

The final stage of the National Technology Olympiad (NTO) in the profile “Genomic Editing” has ended in Novosibirsk. 51 schoolchildren from 18 regions of Russia aged 14 to 17 took part in the final stage. The organizers of the profile “Genomic Editing” are Novosibirsk State University, SUNC NSU, Advanced Engineering School of NSU and the Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The partner of the profile is the regional center “Altair”.

The final stage of the profile “Genome Editing” was invented at Novosibirsk State University and has been held here for the seventh year. The finalists of the Olympiad used technologies for managing the properties of biological objects to edit the properties of green fluorescent protein. All stages of the Olympiad took place in the premises of the leisure and educational centers of the NSU SUNC, which are among the first-priority facilities modern campus of NGThey were built within the framework of the national project “Youth and Children.

During the week, schoolchildren solved Olympiad problems proposed by researchers from Novosibirsk State University, the Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. All final tasks were practice-oriented and aimed at implementing the country’s scientific and technical development strategy.

— Holding the National Technology Olympiad in the field of “Genome Editing” in Novosibirsk is a logical choice. It is here, in the heart of Siberian science, that one of the strongest genetic schools in the country was formed. Akademgorodok, institutes of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, such as the Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, the Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, have been setting the tone in molecular biology and genetics research for decades. This is a unique environment where schoolchildren can already immerse themselves in the atmosphere of advanced science, work with leading scientists and adopt their experience. The finalists have proven that they are capable of solving problems at the level of current scientific trends. Such projects not only strengthen the continuity of generations in science, but also emphasize the role of Novosibirsk as a center of attraction for young talents ready to change the future of bioengineering and medicine. I am sure that these guys will continue the traditions of the Siberian scientific school, and their ideas will become the basis for breakthrough discoveries in Russia. The Novosibirsk Region Government will continue to build a system of support for gifted children and stimulate their early involvement in science, including through specialized classes with in-depth study of disciplines and the Altair regional center, commented Vadim Vasiliev, Minister of Science and Innovation Policy of the Novosibirsk Region.

Sergey Sedykh, PhD in Biology and head of the master’s program “Advanced Engineering Solutions for Biotechnology and Medicine” at the NSU PIS, noted the high level of training of schoolchildren from the Novosibirsk Region, who won prizes in both the team and individual championships at the Olympiad.

The head of the project office of the National Technology Olympiad, Dmitry Kutsenko, gave a welcoming speech at the closing of the final.

— Dear participants, I am glad that you dared to take part in our event. You applied and reached the final. I want you to take the maximum from this Olympiad, regardless of what place you will have in the end. I think that we will be glad to see you next year on the school and student tracks. I would like to separately note the leadership of the Novosibirsk Region in the number of applications — the gap was more than ten thousand people from another region. It seems that this is the result of the fruitful work of the organizers and the university management, — Dmitry Kutsenko emphasized.

Rector of Novosibirsk State University Mikhail Fedoruk also addressed the finalists:

— I sincerely congratulate the winners, those guys who received an invitation to the summer school of the NSU SUNC. But I think that you are all winners, because you had a few days to come into contact with the most wonderful place on Earth. Of course, we are waiting for you here again, waiting as schoolchildren, students, research workers. Therefore, I sincerely congratulate you on this wonderful event. The most important thing is that you found friends, perhaps for life. And I think that the memory of the Olympics will remain with you for the rest of your lives.

The organizers note that the results shown by the schoolchildren demonstrate the importance of the NTO Olympiad in developing the scientific and technical potential of the younger generation and the need to support students who are interested in modern technologies.

According to the terms of the NTO Olympiad, victory gives applicants a 100-point discount on the Unified State Exam when entering the country’s leading engineering universities.

Results of the track “Genome editing” NTO

10-11 grades

Winners:

Maria Kuznetsova, Krasnoyarsk region

Timofey Nikonov, Irkutsk region

Prize winners:

Polina Kotovshchikova, Primorsky Krai

Victoria Krivich, Omsk region

Maria Polovnikova, Novosibirsk region

Ekaterina Chernukhina, Moscow

Anastasia Sidorkina, Perm region

Roman Kobzar, St. Petersburg

Winning Team: Le Gen da

Polina Kotovshchikova, Primorsky Krai

Maria Polovnikova, Novosibirsk region

Ekaterina Chernukhina, Moscow

8-9 grades

Winner:

Yulia Chechenina, Novosibirsk region

Prize winners:

Matvey Dubovsky, Novosibirsk region

Alexandra Parshikova, Novosibirsk region

Marina Lazareva, Leningrad region

Winning Team: Molecular Machines

Yulia Chechenina, Novosibirsk region

Matvey Dubovsky, Novosibirsk region

Alexandra Parshikova, Novosibirsk region

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

MIL OSI Russia News –

March 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CSIR-NIScPR, India and CNRS, France Organised Indo-French Seminar on Open Science

Source: Government of India (2)

Posted On: 07 MAR 2025 5:20PM by PIB Delhi

The CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research, New Delhi (CSIR-NIScPR), in collaboration with the CNRS- Department for Open Research Data, Open Science, Publications, Research Data and High Performance Computing, Paris (CNRS-DDOR), organized a two-day Indo-French Seminar on “Open Horizons: Integrating Open Access, Open Data, and Computational Innovation” on March 5-6, 2025 at CSIR-NIScPR, Satsang Vihar Campus, New Delhi-110067.

Glimpses of Indo-French Seminar

This significant seminar was organized to deliberate on how India and France are taking a stride towards open access, open data and open science; how digital technologies and Open Source platform offer great promise in implementing an information-driven approach to advance science, promote collaborations, increase transparency and utilize tools for partnerships between science and society. The seminar was attended by researchers, scientists, and policymakers from India and France; provided a unique opportunity for open access information sharing and networking opportunities.

The inaugural session was attended by esteemed dignitaries from India and France with Dr. Antoine Petit, Chairman and CEO, CNRS, France; Prof. Ranjana Aggarwal, Director, CSIR-NIScPR; Prof. Nitin Seth, Director, CEFIPRA; Dr. Srinivasa Reddy, Director, CSIR-IICTon the dais.

“We are delighted to organize this event with CNRS, France, to promote open science and research data sharing,” said Prof. Ranjana Aggarwal, Director, CSIR-NIScPR setting the tone for the conference. Describing the relevance of the event she said, “This seminar marks an important step towards fostering international collaboration and advancing sharing of scientific research for all sections of the society.” She also mentioned “One Nation One Subscription” initiative of Indian Government and its role in providing open access to larger number of stakeholders.

Prof. Nitin Seth, Director, Indo-French Centre for the Promotion of Advanced Research (CEFIPRA) recollected how they started with 1-2 calls annually to now with so many several dedicated partnerships in S&T between the two countries. He also shared his views about the expectations from this seminar. “Open access made scientific knowledge accessible, it brings a lot of opportunities”, Dr. Srinivasa Reddy, Director CSIR-IICT shared his thoughts in theinaugural session. He also mentioned the collaborations CEFIPRA has had with CSIR-IICT from last several years.

From the National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), Dr. Antoine Petit, Chairman and CEO; Dr. Sylvie Rousset, Senior Scientist & Head, Open Research Data Department (DDOR) gave a brief of CNRS and DDOR, its objectives functions and roles they are playing in making open access of articles and data, a norm in scientific research. Dr. Kasturi Mandal, CSIR-NIScPR and Dr. Sylvie Rousset, CNRS-DDOR provided the overview of the program of two days seminar like topics of discussions, and takeaways from the sessions.

The first session of the seminar was designed on theme “Policies for Open Access, Open science in France and in India” was, chaired by Prof. Vivek Kumar Singh, Senior Adviser, NITI Aayog, Govt. of India. Dr. Marin Dacos from the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research discussed the benefits of open science like increase in academic efficiency, reproducibility, prevention of duplication, and increasing citation. He also shared highlights of French open science policies in the country. Dr. Remya Haridasan from the PSA Office, Govt. of India, discussed flagship ‘One Nation One Subscription’ (ONOS) initiative in detail like why it was needed, the impact it has on science dissemination and the hurdles faced by the stakeholders during the implementation. The other speakers who shared their thoughts on open science and data includes Dr. Sylvie Rousset and Mr. Mukesh Pund Chief Scientist, CSIR-NIScPR.

The second session was based on topic “Open Access: A Diversity of Routes”. The session was chaired by Prof. Anirban Chakraborti, School of Computational and Integrative Sciences (SCIS), JNU, New Delhi. Dr. Bénédicte Kuntziger, CCSD, CNRS, during his talk said, “At CCSD, we promote open access through HAL, the French national open access repository, ensuring long-term, barrier-free access to publications. Notably, 167,751 full-text documents were deposited in 2024 alone, bringing the total to over 1.4 million full-text documents available through HAL as on January 2025”, he added. Dr. Françoise Rousseau, Couperin Consortium shared the model through which they negotiate with major science publishers to advance open science. Other speakers including Dr. Subbiah Arunachalam from DST-CPR, IISc Bangalore, presented an overview of open access in India, highlighting the country’s progress in promoting open access to research and Dr. Geetha Vani Rayasam, Head, CSIR-HRDG presented a perspective on open source and drug discovery, highlighting the potential of open source approaches in accelerating drug discovery and development.

The third session of day 1 was extension of session 2 under the theme “Open Access: A Diversity of Routes (Part II)”. Session was chaired by Dr. Laurence El Khouri from CNRS-DDO. The speakers including Dr. Lidia Borrell-Damian, Science Europe discussed the benefits of Diamond Action Plan which proposes to align and develop common resources for the entire Diamond OA ecosystem. Prof. Rajeswari Raina from Shiv Nadar University asked researchers and policy makers to think step ahead while saying it’s not about one scheme, one nation or one sector, we have to see the global aspects and thus need to set the horizons and limits of open access at global level. Dr. Raphael Tournoy from Episciences discussed the importance of Overlay Journals.

All the sessions of day 1 concluded with Q&A, where experts answered questions from the audience and shared their insights on the future of open science. This was followed by Felicitation of the guests and speakers of the event.

The second day of the India-France seminar on Open Science and Research Data concluded successfully, featuring insightful discussions and presentations on computational innovation, research evaluation, and open data sharing.The day’s proceedings began with a session on “R&D in Computational Innovation and Open Source Software,” chaired by Dr. Avinash Kshitij, Principal Scientist, CSIR-NIScPR. The speakers included- Prof. Roberto Di Cosmo, INRIA, who discussed the “Software Heritage initiative. Prof. P. K. Suri, Delhi Technological University, delivered a talk on “Data Standardization in Agricultural.Dr. Sridhar Gautam, ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, spoke on “Advancing R&D with Open Source Software, Open Access, and Open Data”.Sh. G Mayli Muthu Kumaran Deputy Director General, National Informatics Center (NIC) discuss on the computational innovation and open source and elaborated on the initiative towards the R&D in computational innovation at NIC. This was followed by a session on “Reforming the Evaluation of Research,” which featured presentations from:Dr. Lidia Borrell-Damian, Science Europe, discussed “Reforming Research Assessment and CoARA Initiative”. Dr. Vinayak, Principal Scientist, CSIR-NIScPR spoke on “Some New Methods for Measuring Phases of Science.” Dr. Moumita Koley from IISc, Bengaluru, discussed on the topic “Rethinking Research Assessment: Building an Efficient and Innovative Research Ecosystem in India” and Dr. Nishy. P, CSIR-NIIST, spoke on “Open Source for Research Evaluation and Future Trends”.

The seminar also featured a session on “Open Data Sharing,” with presentations from Ms. AlkaMisra, Deputy Director General, NIC, who discussed the “Open Data sharing initiative of Govt. of India”. Dr. Marin Dacos, French Ministry of Higher Education and Research, presented “An ecosystem for sharing and opening research data” and Dr. Naresh Kumar, Chief Scientist, CSIR-NIScPR, presented his talk on “Sharing data in Science.

The seventh session of the seminarhaving a panel discussion on “Future for Open Science, Open Data, and Open Source,” featuring experts from various fields, including Dr. Sujit Bhattacharya; Dr. Laurence El Khouri, CNRS-DDOR; Dr. Roberto Di Cosmo, INRIA Software Heritage; Dr. Deepali Kuberkar, Tata Memorial Hospital; Dr. Kasturi Mandal, CSIR-NIScPR, New Delhi; Dr. Yogesh Dhoble, CSIR-IPU, New Delhi and Dr. Sandhiya Lakshmanan, CSIR-NIScPR.

The Indo-French Joint Seminar concluded with the valedictory session during which Dr. Naresh Kumar, Scientists, CSIR-NIScPR delivered the welcome address and highlights of the two-days intense deliberation on the Open Science, Open Source and Open Data in the R&D in Computational Innovation. Prof. Anirban Chakraborti from JNU address the need of balanced approach in moving towards the conduct of Open Science, Dr. Laurence and Dr Avinash Kshitij summarise the two-days deliberation amongst the 6 different topics, Mr.Mukesh Pund, CSIR-NIScPR shows his gratitude towards the Indian and French speakers, scholars, delegates and the all individuals involved in different roles during his address for Vote of Thanks.

About CSIR-NIScPR

The CSIR-National Institute of Science Communication and Policy Research (NIScPR) is a premier institute in India, engaged in science communication, STI based policy studies and research.

About CNRS

The French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) is a government-funded research organization, dedicated to advancing scientific knowledge and innovation in France and globally.

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MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

March 8, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Sealing the Deal

Source: NASA

Written by Melissa Rice, Professor of Planetary Science at Western Washington University

This week, the Perseverance team faced a stubborn engineering challenge. After successfully collecting a core called “Green Gardens” from the “Tablelands” location, the rover struggled to seal the sample tube, despite multiple attempts. This isn’t entirely unprecedented — for a previous sample called “Mageik,” it took 40 days before being successfully sealed. The Green Gardens core is particularly exciting for our science team because it contains serpentine minerals, which may have formed billions of years ago when water interacted with rocks before the Jezero crater impact. On Earth, serpentine-rich environments can support microbial communities, making this sample particularly important to understanding ancient Mars’ potential for life.
The science team was torn with competing priorities: sealing up Green Gardens as quickly as possible vs. continuing to our next important science stop, “Broom Point.” Several options were considered: (1) stay put and focus on sealing, (2) start driving and keep trying to seal Green Gardens on the road, or (3) dump the Green Gardens sample from the tube and try extracting another core at Tablelands (this was the most drastic option). The science team went with (2), a dual-track strategy that would allow us to keep mission momentum while giving our engineers time to develop new approaches to the sealing challenge. The risk was that option (2) would keep the Green Gardens sample open for potentially a long time — depending on how obstinate the sample sealing would be — leaving the rock core exposed to the harsh conditions of Mars’ surface.
It was a trade that mission scientists were willing to make, and Perseverance has been making impressive progress down the west side of Jezero crater’s rim. With a downhill tilt there of 16 degrees, rover imagery is providing sweeping views of the landscape ahead toward Broom Point, where the rover will be tasked with studying the bright bedrock bands in the week to come.
And our optimistic approach paid off, because — voila! — our latest attempt to seal Green Gardens worked! The image above shows the seal successfully topping the sample tube. The next time the science team sees Green Gardens will be in a laboratory here on Earth, when we will finally learn what story the serpentine minerals have to tell. Until then, this sample’s lips are sealed, so to speak.

MIL OSI USA News –

March 8, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Sols 4473-4474: So Many Rocks, So Many Textures!

Source: NASA

Written by Susanne Schwenzer, Planetary Geologist at The Open University
Earth planning date: Wednesday, March 5, 2025
The Martian landscape never ceases to amaze me, there is so much variation in texture and color! As a mineralogist, I marvel at them, but my colleagues trained in sedimentology regularly teach me how to see even more than the beauty of them: they can discern whether the materials that make up a rock were transported and laid down by the action of water or wind. The image above shows a rather unusual texture alongside more normal-looking laminated rocks. Just compare the small, brighter block in the foreground with the darker bigger rock in the center of the image. How should we interpret it? Well, that jury is still out. Are they sedimentary textures formed when the rock first was laid down, or shortly after, or are they textures that formed much later when water entered the rock and formed new minerals in the already existing rock? The latter would be more my area of research, and they are often called concretions. And I vividly remember the first concretions a rover ever found, the “blueberries.” Curiosity, of course, found many concretions, too. There is an interesting comparison between rocks that the Mars Exploration rover Opportunity found, and the one that Curiosity found very early in the mission, back at Yellowknife Bay. We have seen many more since, and the above might be another example.
The landscape directly around the rover today also has some interesting textures and, most important, some more regular-looking bedrock targets. Bedrock is what the team perceives to be the rocks that make up the part of the hill we are driving through. The dark blocks, like the one above, that are also strewn occasionally in the path of the rover are called float rocks, and we always look higher up into the hills to find out where they might have come from. As interesting as all those blocks and boulders are, they pose a huge challenge for the rover drivers. Today, they had managed to get us all the way to the intended stopping point, which in itself is a huge achievement. A mixture of large rocks and sand is just not conducive to any form of travel, and I always wonder how tiring it would be to just walk through the area. But we made it to the intended stopping point, driving just under 20 meters (about 65 feet), as intended. Unfortunately though, one of the rover’s wheels was perched on a rock in ways that posed a risk of dropping off that rock during an arm move. So, as is usual in those cases, we accept that contact science is not possible. The risk would just be too great that the rover moves just at the wrong moment and the arm bumps into the rock that an instrument is investigating at that moment. So, safety first, we decided to keep the arm tucked in and focus on remote science.
The team quickly pivoted to add some remote science to the already existing observations. As you might imagine in a terrain as interesting as this, Mastcam did get a workout. There are seven different observations in the plan! It looks into the distance to the Texoli Butte we are observing as we drive along it, and at a target, “Brown Mountain.” Looking into the many different features are also imaging activities on the targets “Placerita Canyon,” “Humber Park,” and two others just named “trough,” which is a descriptive term for little trough features the team is tracking for a while with the quest to better understand their formation. ChemCam has a LIBS investigation on target “Inspiration Point,” and two long-distance RMI (Remote Micro Imager) observations. One is truly at a long distance on Gould Mesa, another of the mounts we are observing as we go along. There is another RMI activity closer to the rover, to investigate more of those very interesting structures.
We also have environmental observations in the plan, observing the opacity of the atmosphere and of REMS investigations are occurring throughout the plan. REMS is our “weather station” measuring atmospheric pressure, temperature, humidity, winds, and ultraviolet radiation levels. DAN looks at the surface to measure the water and chlorine content in the rocks that the rover traverses over and RAD is looking up to the sky to measure the radiation that reaches the Martian surface. We do not often mention those in our blocks, because we are so used to seeing them there every single sol, doing their job, quietly in the background.
With so much to do, the only remaining question was where to drive. That was discussed at length, weighing the different science reasons to go to places along the path, and after much deliberation we decided to go to one of the float rocks, but reserve the option to make a right turn in the next plan, to get to another interesting place. All those discussions are so important to make sure we are making the most of the power we have at this cold time of the year, and getting all the science we can get. I am excited to see the data from today’s plan… and to find out where we end up. Not with a wheel on a rock, please, Mars — that would be a good start. But if we do, I am absolutely confident there will be lots to investigate anyway!

MIL OSI USA News –

March 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Ditches and canals are a big, yet overlooked, source of greenhouse gas emissions – new study

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Teresa Silverthorn, Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Liverpool

Dick Kenny/Shutterstock

It’s a cold winter morning in the bleak and bare arable fields of the East Anglian fens. At the edge of a field, a scientist dips a long pole into a ditch. So, what is a climate researcher doing here?

We are measuring greenhouse gas emissions from ditches and canals by collecting samples of ditch water and analysing them in the laboratory. We also use floating chambers – a low-tech creation (sometimes coupled with high-tech sensors) made of a plastic bucket and noodle-shaped swimming floats that sit on top of the water and collect the gases emitted from it.

As freshwater biogeochemists, we investigate how elements like carbon and nitrogen are cycled through freshwater ecosystems such as rivers, lakes and ponds. We study how human-induced pressures including eutrophication – when excess nutrients cause algal blooms that deplete oxygen – and climate change affect these cycles.

Unlike many other scientists, we have a fondness for ditches and canals (we’ll call them all ditches from now on), which don’t tend to receive a lot of attention in the freshwater research world.

Researchers have previously calculated that ditches emit up to 3% of the total global methane emissions from human activities. In our new study, we find they also emit a lot of CO₂ and nitrous oxide.

In fact, when comparing the same surface area, ditches emit more CO₂ and nitrous oxide than ponds, lakes and reservoirs – probably due to the high nutrient inputs that go into ditches.

Using a rough approximation of the global surface area of ditches, we estimate that including ditches would increase global freshwater CO₂ emissions by up to 1% and nitrous oxide emissions by up to 9%.

These percentages might seem small, but they add up. When accounting for all three greenhouse gases, the world’s ditches emit 333Tg CO₂e (teragrams of CO₂ equivalents – a common unit to express the total climate impact of all greenhouse gases). This is nearly equivalent to the UK’s total greenhouse gas emissions in 2023 (379Tg CO₂e).

For this study, we collaborated with ditch experts from the UK, Netherlands, Denmark, Australia and China. We collected existing data of greenhouse gas emissions from 119 ditches in 23 different countries, across all major climate zones.

We estimated that global ditches cover about 5,353,000 hectares – about 22% of the UK’s total land area, or the whole of Costa Rica. However, researchers still don’t definitively know the global extent of ditches – they may actually cover a much larger area.

Ditches are human-made, linear waterways built to serve a variety of purposes. By draining wetlands, they can help create productive soils for growing crops or trees.

They also transport water for irrigating crops. Some are built to create desirable waterfront properties. Bigger canals play a role in shipping and transportation, while roadside ditches serve to redistribute storm water runoff.

The global length of ditches is unknown but very large. In many European countries, the total ditch length rivals that of their streams and rivers. The Netherlands has 300,000km of ditches criss-crossing agricultural land. In Finland, networks of forestry drains total around 1 million km.

Ditches can emit large amounts of greenhouse gases (CO₂, methane and nitrous oxide) that contribute to global warming and climate change. Ditches often contain stagnant water and are commonly found in agricultural and urban landscapes, which means they can receive high nutrient inputs from agricultural runoff containing manure and fertilisers, and from stormwater runoff containing lawn fertilisers, pet and yard waste.

This creates the low-oxygen, high-nutrient conditions ideal for the production of greenhouse gases – especially methane and nitrous oxide, whose global warming potentials are much higher than CO₂. Given their extent, ditches therefore make a notable contribution to freshwater greenhouse gas budgets in many countries throughout the world.

Fence, plant and dredge

By considering ditches when reporting their annual greenhouse gas emissions, nations can build a more accurate picture of the problem. Proper quantification can also help researchers target ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from ditches. For example, stronger legislation can limit the use of fertilisers and manure near ditches.

In Australia, installing fences to prevent cattle from entering farm dams has reduced methane emissions from dams by half. A similar strategy could be applied to ditches to minimise the amount of nutrient-rich manure flowing into them.

Planting more trees along ditch banks could help take up some of the nutrients and lower water temperature through shading, which also reduces greenhouse gas production. Dredging ditches can remove nutrient-rich sediments, while aerating ditch water can make conditions less ideal for the production of methane.

So, solutions do exist – but they’ll only be employed and scaled up once the significance of emissions from ditches is quantified and more widely recognised.

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Teresa Silverthorn has received funding for ditch research from from Defra, the Environment Agency, and EPSRC (UK research councils).

Mike Peacock has received funding for ditch research from Defra, the Environment Agency, NERC and EPSRC (UK research councils), and Formas and VR (Swedish research councils).

– ref. Ditches and canals are a big, yet overlooked, source of greenhouse gas emissions – new study – https://theconversation.com/ditches-and-canals-are-a-big-yet-overlooked-source-of-greenhouse-gas-emissions-new-study-250240

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

March 8, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Ilona Maher and the myth of feminine fragility – how one rugby player is reshaping sport

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Sheree Bekker, Associate Professor, Department for Health, University of Bath

American rugby player Ilona Maher has risen to global fame. Not just because of her athletic ability (though that is remarkable, winning an Olympic bronze in 2024 in the USA rugby sevens team, and now signing a professional contract with England’s Bristol Bears), but because of what she represents.

Maher received widespread attention during the Paris Olympics as she shared her journey to sporting success and acceptance on TikTok. It’s a streak she’s continued with a recent turn on the US reality contest Dancing With the Stars, in which she finished second.

Now in Bristol to play 15-a-side rugby in preparation for the 2025 World Cup, Maher’s popularity (she has 3.4 million followers on Tiktok, more than any other rugby player in the world, of any gender) signals a generational shift. One that is increasingly rejecting outdated notions of femininity, fragility and women’s place in sport.

Maher is unapologetically big, strong and bold, embodying traits that women have historically been told they shouldn’t possess. She doesn’t shy away from expressing herself. Instead, she has expanded the western cultural model of what strength and confidence can look like.

On Dancing with the Stars, Maher reversed conventional gender roles by lifting her partner during routines. After the show, she spoke candidly about the financial challenges of being a professional athlete in women’s rugby. She highlighted how lack of investment in the sport has forced her to find additional ways to sustain her career, such as participating in the dance show.

Maher lifted her partner on Dancing with the Stars.

Breaking barriers

This rebellion against gender norms is both personal and political. Sport has long been a site of this struggle for women.

Participation itself was once radical, as women had to fight just to step onto the field. When American runner Bobbi Gibb broke the rules to run the Boston Marathon in 1966, it was a subversive act that sparked backlash. She ran without permission, having been told women weren’t capable enough, and completed the race easily.

In our new book, Open Play: The Case for Feminist Sport, we explain how women who excelled in physically demanding sports were often vilified for threatening the traditional gender norms that placed them in passive or nurturing roles, rather than active, competitive ones.

Athletes who showed strength, endurance and skill in these domains challenged deeply ingrained stereotypes of women as physically inferior and fragile. As a result, they faced intense scrutiny, both socially and publicly. Their achievements were often dismissed as anomalies, and they were frequently subject to sexist criticism, questioning their femininity or even whether they were “real” women at all.

Maher, too, has faced this misogynistic criticism, with online trolls questioning her gender identity. She has spoken openly about the shame she felt as a child, growing up in a body which defied traditional expectations of femininity that are defined by smallness. Yet by confronting these prejudices, she offers the world a new example of what a woman’s body – and a woman’s power – can look like and do.

Feminism and sport

Feminism has historically focused on achieving equality in social, political and economic realms. Yet thinkers like Mary Wollstonecraft recognised early on that physicality was central to maintaining men’s dominance. Wollstonecraft argued in 1792 that women’s perceived physical inferiority wasn’t natural, but a product of their subjugation.

Sport has since become a pivotal arena for challenging the myth of feminine fragility, which persists in part because of the supposedly objective proof that men outperform women in many physical feats. But Wollstonecraft’s insights remain relevant: men and women still do not compete on equal terms. Women’s sports receive a fraction of the funding, resources and cultural support of men’s.

And the inequalities extend far beyond economic and cultural support. Women are often discouraged from participating in sport, and shamed if they excel.

We argue that the segregation of women’s sport, often framed as necessary to “protect female athletes”, actually perpetuates inequality. Around the world, women are still barred from competing against men no matter how exceptional they are, while men retain access to the best facilities, funding and opportunities.

In our book, we argue that this structural segregation reinforces the myth of women’s inferiority while denying women and other athletes with marginalised gender identities the chance to push boundaries and showcase their full potential. Ending this segregation would challenge the narrative of feminine fragility and open the best of sport to everyone.

We believe that Maher embodies this challenge. Her fans see in her a bold rejection of outdated gender stereotypes and a celebration of what women can achieve when given the chance. But her visibility also threatens those invested in maintaining traditional hierarchies. The backlash she faces is a reminder of how high the stakes are.

Sheree Bekker is Co-Director of the Feminist Sport Lab. She is also affiliated with the UK Collaborating Centre on Injury and Illness Prevention in Sport, an International Olympic Committee Research Centre.

Stephen Mumford is Co-Director of the Feminist Sport Lab.

– ref. Ilona Maher and the myth of feminine fragility – how one rugby player is reshaping sport – https://theconversation.com/ilona-maher-and-the-myth-of-feminine-fragility-how-one-rugby-player-is-reshaping-sport-248395

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

March 8, 2025