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Category: Universities

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Academician Alexander Sergeev told students about the technologies of the future

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    The lecture on the topic “Forecast 2045: Artificial Intelligence, Artificial Life and… Physics” for students and postgraduates of SPbPU was given by the famous physicist, academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, scientific director of the National Center of Physics and Mathematics Alexander Sergeev.

    Introducing the guest to the students, the rector of SPbPU, academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Andrey Rudskoy noted that the event was organized with the support of the Rosatom State Corporation as part of the Time of Science project and was timed to coincide with the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the nuclear industry.

    I am confident that this significant meeting will give a special impetus to both students and employees to develop their research activities to ensure Russia’s technological sovereignty, Andrei Ivanovich emphasized.

    ‘

    In his lecture, Alexander Sergeev reviewed the challenges facing modern physics and technologies using artificial intelligence that are changing our present and future. He quoted the famous physicist Vitaly Ginzburg, who identified three problems of all sciences: the irreversibility of time; the problem of interpreting and understanding quantum mechanics; the problem of reductionism – the question of the connection between physics and biology. And today, Alexander Sergeev emphasized, science is looking for answers to the questions of what is life and what is thought. And an important role here is given to physics, which allows us to describe a very complex system in the simplest possible way.

    Alexander Mikhailovich spoke about modern trends in the development of artificial intelligence technologies, describing their pros and cons. The main advantage is the acceleration and optimization of all processes, and the main problem that the academician identified is depriving people of the ability to make decisions and take responsibility.

    It is possible that there will be a very thin layer of people who own and manage information, then a powerful machine layer and 99% of people who will be a crowd living according to the laws and algorithms dictated to them, chosen by artificial intelligence. To prevent this, one must remain a thinking and critical person, and not trust all decisions to artificial intelligence.

    After the lecture, which also presented the latest developments of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and answered questions from students, Alexander Sergeev held a meeting with the scientific community of SPbPU. The scientist spoke about the key areas of the scientific program of the NCPhM and projects for the creation of advanced laboratories and installations of the “midiscience” and “megascience” class, about schools and seminars for students based at the National Center for Physics and Mathematics. Alexander Mikhailovich called on students and scientists of the university to participate more actively in scientific events of the NCPhM and invited them to the XXVI Kharitonov Thematic Scientific Readings “Artificial Intelligence and Big Data in Technical, Industrial, Natural and Social Systems”, which will be held on April 14-18 this year in Sarov.

    The busy program of the visit of the scientific director of the NCFM also included a visit to the Peter the Great SPbPU Supercomputer Center, accompanied by the first vice-rector of the university Vitaly Sergeev and a meeting with the vice-rector for digital transformation Alexey Borovkov, where they discussed prospects for cooperation, including in the field of creating digital twins.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Combating Misinformation on Social Media

    Source: Universities – Science Po in English

    In addition to regulation and long-term policies, an inexpensive way of curbing the spread of false information online would be to take action as early and as upstream as possible, influencing internet users themselves.

    The desire of individuals not to appear ill-informed in the eyes of their audience, thereby damaging their reputation, could be an effective lever, as shown by the different treatments tested with a group of internet users in a recent empirical survey to which Émeric Henry, Head of Sciences Po Department of Economics, contributed.

    This article was originally published in the second issue of Understanding Our Times, Sciences Po Magazine.

    flip through the full magazine

    Social media has fundamentally changed the way we interact, communicate and access information. Its potential to spread misinformation is a major concern for citizens and politicians alike. Political misinformation is rife on platforms such as Facebook, X/Twitter and Reddit. This is worrying given that a substantial share of users rely on these platforms to get information.

    A delicate balance needs to be struck between combating false information and protecting freedom of expression. In the United States, constitutional limits hinder the regulation of content moderation. The European Union does plan to regulate platforms via the Digital Services Act (DSA), but for the time being the focus is on illegal content while significant political misinformation continues. Some researchers are advocating for the introduction of digital education programmes to teach citizens to distinguish between accurate information and fake news as a long-term solution to combat the phenomenon.

    A completely different approach consists of influencing users before they decide whether or not to share content on social media, that is, taking action as early as possible. Such a policy would be less costly and some of its components would be easy to implement. It could involve requiring confirmation clicks when the decision is made to share, encouraging users to think about the consequences of sharing false information – an intervention known as a “nudge” that was recently demonstrated to be effective by psychologist Gordon Pennycook and David Rand, professor of management science, brain and cognitive sciences – or even offering fact-checking, as some platforms already do.

    How can we encourage people to think before they share?

    How effective could these various interventions be? What mechanisms do they activate? A recent experimental study on “Curtailing False News, Amplifying Truth” provides some answers.

    Conducted by Sergei Guriev, Émeric Henry, Theo Marquis and Ekaterina Zhuravskaya during the 2022 mid-term legislative campaign in the United States, it used different treatments to assess their impact on the circulation of both false and true information. The study exposed 3,501 American X/Twitter users to four political news tweets: two containing misinformation and two containing facts. The participants, who had to decide whether or not to share one or more of these tweets on their X/Twitter account, were randomly divided into groups to receive different treatments.

    In the first group (the No policy control group) they could do whatever they wanted with these four tweets. In the second group (Require extra click), they had to click one more time to confirm their sharing decision – a slightly more tedious process. In a third group (Prime fake news circulation), they received a “nudge” message prior to sharing, inspired by the incentives proposed by Pennycook and Rand: “Please think carefully before retweeting. Remember that a significant amount of fake news circulates on social networks.” The fourth group, Offer fact-check, were informed that two tweets contained false information detected by PolitiFact.com, a well-known fact-checking non-governmental organisation. They were given the link to access the fact-check.

    The effects of various treatments to combat misinformation (credits:  S. Guriev, É.Henry, T. Marquis and E. Zhuravskaya, ‘Curtailing False News, Amplifying Truth’, CEPR Discussion Paper, No. 18650, 2023. https://cepr.org/publications/dp18650)

    At the end of the survey, all participants were asked to rate the veracity and partisan tendency of each post. The figure above illustrates the effects of the different treatments on the sharing of false information (left-hand panel) and true information (right-hand panel). It shows that all the treatments helped to reduce the rate of sharing false information. In the Require extra-click, Prime fake news circulation and Offer fact-check groups, the sharing rates were respectively 3.6, 11.5 and 13.6 points lower than in the control group, bearing in mind that 28 per cent of the latter’s members shared one of the tweets containing false information.

    However, not all the interventions had the same effect on the rate of sharing true information, which was 30 per cent in the control group: asking for an extra click before sharing had no discernible effect; offering access to a fact-check reduced the sharing of truthful tweets by 7.8 percentage points; but sending a behavioural warning message (Prime fake news circulation) increased the average rate of sharing truthful tweets by 8.1 points.

    All these results establish a clear hierarchy of the effectiveness of policies designed to improve the accuracy of shared content. The Prime fake news circulation policy, which encourages users to think about the consequences of sharing false information, appears to be more effective, as it encourages the “sharing discernment” advocated by Pennycook and Rand: it increases the sharing of true information while decreasing the sharing of false information.

    The major impact of reputation effects

    To understand the mechanisms underlying the differentiated effects of these treatments on the sharing of true and false information, the study looked at the motives that encourage users to share information on social media. It shows that the perception of veracity reinforces the sense that sharing information is useful for reputational reasons, that’s to say not wanting to appear ill-informed in the eyes of one’s audience.

    Information matching the user’s opinion also increases feelings of satisfaction when sharing it, be it to convince an audience or to signal political identity. The study confirms that it is possible to influence sharing through three processes: updating, salience and cost of sharing.

    The first process leads users to revise their beliefs about the veracity or partisan alignment of content. For example, exposure to fact-checking aims to change one’s perception of information accuracy. The second process increases the salience of reputational concerns over partisan motives, so that the user pays more attention than before to the veracity of information when deciding to share it. Treatments that encourage caution (Prime fake news circulation), for example, are designed to affect this salience. The third process, which consists of requesting an additional click for confirmation, regardless of information veracity, increases the cost of sharing for the user. Each process impacts this cost.

    The figure below breaks down the effects of these three processes. Surprisingly, treatments designed to revise beliefs about the veracity of information, such as fact-checking, have little impact. In fact, the overall effect of each treatment stems from a combination of the salience of reputational concerns, partisan motives and the cost of sharing.

    The breakdown of the effects of different treatments to combat disinformation  (credits: S. Guriev, É. Henry, T. Marquis, and E. Zhuravskaya, ‘Curtailing False News, Amplifying Truth’, CEPR Discussion Paper, No. 18650, 2023.  https://cepr.org/publications/dp18650)

    Salience in particular explains the difference between the effects of the treatments on the sharing of true and false information. Improving (or protecting) one’s reputation increases the sharing of true information and reduces the sharing of false information. All the treatments, to varying degrees, increase salience, with the message encouraging caution (Prime fake news circulation) having the greatest effect.

    At the same time, the friction associated with the different treatments reduces the sharing of both true and false information. The additional costs of the Prime fake news circulation treatment are considerably lower than those of the Offer fact-check treatment, which makes this type of intervention more effective in increasing the sharing of true information.

    A question of efficiency

    The results of this study have two implications for policies aiming to fight misinformation.

    First, they confirm the effectiveness of shortterm actions to encourage users to think about the consequences of circulating false information, as recommended by Pennycook and Rand. This method reduces the sharing of false information and increases the sharing of true facts, without reducing the overall engagement of social media users.

    Second, these results show that with fact-checking users share less false information, not because they discover that it is false, but because at the moment of sharing they become aware of the need to check the veracity of the information. As a result, despite involving significant investment, fact-checking by professional verifiers could be less effective than fact-checking by an algorithm, which is faster (occurring earlier in the sharing process) and less costly, but more prone to error.

    In the latter case, the user is quickly informed that the content was flagged as suspect by the algorithm, heightening concern for veracity. These short-term policies are obviously complementary to, and not a substitute for, long-term policies such as digital literacy.

    Sign outside a hot dog restaurant in Chicago, after the televised presidential debate on 11 September 2024, during which Donald Trump claimed that in Springfield, Ohio, immigrants were stealing people’s dogs and cats to eat them. (credits: Scott Olson / Getty images via AFP)

    The study also shows an interesting mechanism that underscores this complementarity: if the users, concerned about their reputation, know that their audience is more alert to misinformation as a result of better education, they are less likely to spread misinformation.

    However, short-term policies are likely to foster habituation, which may reduce their effectiveness. It might be wise to use them only during periods of heightened risk, such as election campaigns.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Dubai is closer than it seems: a meeting with a famous architect from the UAE was held at the State University of Management

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    On February 25, 2025, as part of the Project Days at the State University of Management, a meeting was held between students and the famous architect Najmus Chowdhry, founder of the ZneraSpaceLab architectural bureau located in Dubai.

    The architect spoke about the projects implemented by his bureau. Thus, in 2018, together with the Znera Space team, the Smog Project was developed – a network of filter towers for air purification in Delhi. Each tower was to be 100 meters high and generate a volume of semi-clean air that would spread over two kilometers.

    Najmus Chowdhry was also involved in the creation of the concept of the Downtown Circle, a spherical megastructure that will surround the Burj Khalifa tower in the center of Dubai. The ring, 550 meters high, located on five pillars, is planned to have a circumference of three kilometers. It will house residential, public, commercial and cultural spaces.

    The meeting was organized by the General Director of the architectural bureau DOITPROJECT and co-founder of the brand PATRIKI_20 Olga Shibkova and the head of the project and educational laboratory of urban development of the State University of Management Irina Milkina. Communication with the famous architect is aimed at transferring practical experience and inspiring students to create sustainable projects.

    Students from GUU and MSTU-MASI who took part in the meeting asked questions about the image of the city of the future, the significance of the bureau’s work, and the necessary skills for a modern architect.

    The guest advised students to develop their observation skills and always analyze what competitors are doing and form their own opinion. In the future, this will help to do something new and innovative. The architect also noted that a professional should have equal qualities such as productivity and creativity so that the idea does not remain unimplemented.

    MSTU-MASI student Stepan Bosalygo asked the guest how he sees his projects in the future. Nadjmus Chowdhry replied that when developing projects, it is necessary to take into account the context of the objects that are nearby – their culture, heritage, in order to fit the object into the culture of the nation.

    As a memento of his visit to the State University of Management, the architect was presented with souvenirs with the university’s symbols and a group photo was taken with all the participants.

    1st year student of the State University of Management Maria Naumocheva shared her impressions of the meeting: “I was very interested in the project called “The Breeze Tower” – Wind Tower. Quite an interesting idea to introduce a vertical garden into part of the building. It was also interesting that instead of windows there is a net, thanks to which the breeze blows into the tower and cools the air.”

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 02/26/2025

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: More than £100 million in Indian investment creating UK jobs

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    More than £100 million in Indian investment creating UK jobs

    New Indian investment deals worth over £100 million demonstrate investors’ confidence in the UK.

    • UK welcomes latest Indian investments, demonstrating investors’ confidence in doing business 

    • New deals will create jobs as the government continues to focus on delivering economic growth under the Plan for Change 

    • Recent Indian budget drives more opportunity for UK insurance companies to expand presence in India 

    Recent investment wins for the UK worth over £100 million from Indian companies are being celebrated as proof the government’s Plan for Change is providing global investors with the confidence they need to do business in the UK. 

    Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has been in New Delhi this week, as the UK Government relaunched talks on a trade deal with India to bring more opportunity to UK businesses and deliver on its core mission to grow the economy, as part of the Plan for Change.  

    UK Investment Minister Poppy Gustafsson is in Bangaluru on the second leg of a two-city visit to India to bang the drum for Britain, champion free trade and promote exciting investment opportunities in the UK economy.   

    Recent Indian investments in the UK cover a range of sectors including AI, professional services and textiles and are expected to create hundreds of new jobs over the next three years. 

    This continues the trend of strong Indian investment into the UK in recent years, with the last year-on-year change showing the value of inward FDI stock from India having increased 28% at the end of 2023. India has remained the second largest investor in terms of number of projects into the UK for five consecutive years. 

    The deals come as UK insurance companies gain more potential to expand in India thanks to the recent Indian budget which increased the amount of FDI permitted in the insurance sector from 74% to 100%. 

    Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: 

    “These investment deals will deliver more than £100 million for the UK economy, creating jobs, strengthening growth, and helping working people.  

    “They prove that the government’s Plan for Change is giving Indian businesses the confidence they need to continue investing in Britain.  

    “Now the UK will strive to be more ambitious and collaborative than ever before as we show the world why the UK is the best place to invest.” 

    The investment announcements include: 

    • Aaseya Technologies, professional services company specialising in digital transformation through automation, is growing its presence in London and creating up to 250 new jobs over three years with a £25 million investment.  

    • Sastra Robotics is investing £8 million in Manchester over three years, creating 75 new jobs. The investment aims to expand the company’s robotics innovation and development. This is the first time a robotics company from South India has invested in the UK. 

    • AI CyberIntel company Deepcytes has set up its global headquarters in London, investing £5 million and creating 80 jobs in the next three years to combat problems of anti-bullying and cyber frauds.  

    • University Living, a global student housing managed marketplace, plan to open a new UK office, investing £10 million and creating 50 jobs over three years. 

    • One of the largest producers of hand-knotted rugs in India, Jaipur Rugs have opened a store in London and are looking to create 75 jobs through a £5 million investment over the next three years.  

    • Time Cinemas have established their global headquarters in the UK, introducing The Black Box by Time, an innovative, patent applied, cloud platform solution that empowers filmmakers, content creators, producers, and distributors to reach out to a much wider cinema audience across geographies. This expansion will create 75 new jobs in London over the next three years, supported by a capital expenditure of £20 million. 

    • Novigo solutions, a technology-focused organisation specialising in end-to-end IT services, technology consulting, business consulting, analytics, and robotic process automation, has started its operation in Warwick by investing £12 million and creating 75 jobs over three years.  

    • Test Yantra, one of India’s largest testing and training services companies, is investing £10 million and creating 100 jobs over the next three years.  

    • Zoondia software, a leading provider of technology solutions, AI solutions, custom software development, IOT, data analytics and resource augmentation areas, is investing £10 million and creating 60 jobs over three years.   

    Notes to editors 

    Updates to this page

    Published 26 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Jewish Council slams Australian universities’ ‘dangerous, politicised’ antisemitism definition

    Asia Pacific Report

    An independent Jewish body has condemned the move by Australia’s 39 universities to endorse a “dangerous and politicised” definition of antisemitism which threatens academic freedom.

    The Jewish Council of Australia, a diverse coalition of Jewish academics, lawyers, writers and teachers, said in a statement that the move would have a “chilling effect” on legitimate criticism of Israel, and risked institutionalising anti-Palestinian racism.

    The council also criticised the fact that the universities had done so “without meaningful consultation” with Palestinian groups or diverse Jewish groups which were critical of Israel.

    The definition was developed by the Group of Eight (Go8) universities and adopted by Universities Australia.

    “By categorising Palestinian political expression as inherently antisemitic, it will be unworkable and unenforceable, and stifle critical political debate, which is at the heart of any democratic society,” the Jewish Council of Australia said.

    “The definition dangerously conflates Jewish identities with support for the state of Israel and the political ideology of Zionism.”

    The council statement said that it highlighted two key concerns:

    Mischaracterisation of criticism of Israel
     The definition states: “Criticism of Israel can be antisemitic when it is grounded in harmful tropes, stereotypes or assumptions and when it calls for the elimination of the State of Israel or all Jews or when it holds Jewish individuals or communities responsible for Israel’s actions.”

    The definition’s inclusion of “calls for the elimination of the State of Israel” would mean, for instance, that calls for a single binational democratic state, where Palestinians and Israelis had equal rights, could be labelled antisemitic.

    Moreover, the wording around “harmful tropes” was dangerously vague, failing to distinguish between tropes about Jewish people, which were antisemitic, and criticism of the state of Israel, which was not, the statement said.

    Misrepresentation of Zionism as core to Jewish identity
     The definition states that for most Jewish people “Zionism is a core part of their Jewish identity”.

    The council said it was deeply concerned that by adopting this definition, universities would be taking and promoting a view that a national political ideology was a core part of Judaism.

    “This is not only inaccurate, but is also dangerous,” said the statement.

    “Zionism is a political ideology of Jewish nationalism, not an intrinsic part of Jewish identity.

    “There is a long history of Jewish opposition to Zionism, from the beginning of its emergence in the late-19th century, to the present day. Many, if not the majority, of people who hold Zionist views today are not Jewish.”

    In contrast to Zionism and the state of Israel, said the council, Jewish identities traced back more than 3000 years and spanned different cultures and traditions.

    Jewish identities were a rightly protected category under all racial discrimination laws, whereas political ideologies such as Zionism and support for Israel were not, the council said.

    Growing numbers of dissenting Jews
    “While many Jewish people identify as Zionist, many do not. There are a growing number of Jewish people worldwide, including in Australia, who disagree with the actions of the state of Israel and do not support Zionism.

    “Australian polling in this area is not definitive, but some polls suggest that 30 percent of Australian Jews do not identify as Zionists.

    “A recent Canadian poll found half of Canadian Jews do not identify as Zionist. In the United States, more and more Jewish people are turning away from Zionist beliefs and support for the state of Israel.”

    Sarah Schwartz, a human rights lawyer and the Jewish Council of Australia’s executive officer, said: “It degrades the very real fight against antisemitism for it to be weaponised to silence legitimate criticism of the Israeli state and Palestinian political expressions.

    “It also risks fomenting division between communities and institutionalising anti-Palestinian racism.”

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Over 100 Chevening and Commonwealth Scholars return to Pakistan after UK studies

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    World news story

    Over 100 Chevening and Commonwealth Scholars return to Pakistan after UK studies

    British High Commissioner to Pakistan, Jane Marriott CMG OBE, welcomed back 43 Chevening and 71 Commonwealth Scholars, celebrating their studies in the UK.

    The 2023-24 cohort include scholars from every part of Pakistan, studying public policy, health sciences, climate change, and business at institutions across the UK.  As they return, these scholars become part of a thriving network of over 3,500 alumni, spanning government, media, business, and civil society.  

    Many Chevening and Commonwealth alumni have become leaders in their fields, shaping policy and driving social change. Notable alumni include the Honourable Chief Justice of Pakistan, Yahya Afridi; the Honourable Supreme Court Judge, Justice Athar Minallah; Muhammad Ali Randhawa, Chief Commissioner of Islamabad Capital Territory; Zulfiqar Younis, Additional Secretary for Climate Finance; Abia Akram, Founder of the National Forum of Women with Disabilities; and Maha Kamal, Co-Chair of Women in Energy. 

    British High Commissioner, Jane Marriott CMG OBE, said: 

    “Chevening and Commonwealth scholarships are among the UK’s most prestigious opportunities for Pakistanis. These scholars return empowered by a world-class education, global networks, fresh ideas, and the ambition to create real impact in Pakistan. Studying at UK universities is no easy feat, and I offer them my highest congratulations.”  

    Oneir Raza, a scholar from Pakistan’s education sector, said:  

    “Chevening was a remarkable experience. Studying at the University of Cambridge allowed me to gain practical skills, learn from a diverse faculty, and connect with people from different cultures. Beyond academics, Chevening broadened my horizons and helped me build lifelong bonds. I am super grateful for this opportunity.” 

    The British High Commission has launched climate-focused Chevening alumni engagement initiatives, including debates on the impacts and solutions to climate change in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, and a climate mentorship scheme pairing 13 mentees with 8 Chevening alumni mentors. These programmes are helping to grow Pakistani climate leadership, sparking critical dialogue, convening experts to come together to find tangible solutions to Pakistan’s climate challenges. 

    Applications for Commonwealth Scholarships will next open in September 2025. To find out more information, visit the CSC website. Applications for Chevening scholarships will open in August 2025. Interested candidates can register for alerts by visiting Chevening.

    Notes to editors 

    Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships – Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK are highly competitive scholarships provided by the UK government to provide financial assistance to talented international students from across the Commonwealth nations who wish to pursue a postgraduate degree in the UK. In Pakistan, there are over 1,500 Commonwealth alumni to date. The scholarships have been available to Pakistani students since 1960.  

    Chevening Scholarships are the UK government’s global scholarships programme. Established in 1983, these scholarships support study at UK universities – mostly one-year Masters’ degrees – for students with demonstrable potential to become future leaders, decision-makers and opinion formers. In Pakistan, there are over 2000 alumni to date.

    For updates on the British High Commission, please follow our social media channels:

    Updates to this page

    Published 26 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: University of Aberdeen Principal announces his retirement Professor George Boyne, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Aberdeen, has announced that he will retire in December 2025 after reaching his 70th birthday and completing the seven-year term he began in 2018.

    Source: University of Aberdeen

    Professor George Boyne, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Aberdeen, has announced that he will retire in December 2025 after reaching his 70th birthday and completing the seven-year term he began in 2018.
    Julie Ashworth, Senior Governor (Chair) of the University’s governing body, University Court, expressed her “deepest thanks for outstanding service”.
    Professor Boyne took up the leadership when the University had more modest placings in higher education rankings. Now Aberdeen is ranked 12th by the Guardian – up from 46th in 2018 – and 15th by the Times and Sunday Times – up from 40th in 2018 – in their most recent assessments of over 120 Universities across the UK.
    The University, which has a strong reputation for helping students from every background reach their full potential, is also ranked second in Scotland and 15th in the UK in the prestigious National Student Survey.
    Professor Boyne has led the organisation, which dates back to 1495 and is the 5th oldest in the UK, through challenging times such as the global pandemic, the impact of Brexit on universities, the cost-of-living crisis and unprecedented financial challenges for the higher education sector.

    It has been the honour of my life to be the internal advocate and external ambassador for the extraordinary range of very high-quality work that is carried out in the Schools and Professional Services at the University of Aberdeen.” Professor George Boyne, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Aberdeen,

    He said: “It has been the honour of my life to be the internal advocate and external ambassador for the extraordinary range of very high-quality work that is carried out in the Schools and Professional Services at the University of Aberdeen. It has also been a privilege to lead the development of our academic and financial strategies during this eventful time in higher education.
    “We have made very strong progress on a wide range of activities including student recruitment, student employability, research funding, research impact, and regional and global partnerships; and most fundamentally, the creation of new knowledge and scientific discoveries.
    “I will miss the University very much but the time is now right to pave the way for a successor. In December I will be five months beyond the seven-year term of office as Principal that I accepted in 2018, and two months beyond my seventieth birthday. The sevens in my professional and personal life are in close alignment.”
    As is customary when Principals retire, Professor Boyne is offering advance notice so that the University has sufficient time for the recruitment process and the notice period that the new Principal may be required to give their current role.
    The Senior Governor added: “I would like to express my deepest thanks to George for his unwavering commitment to the University. He has achieved an enormous amount in seven years and clearly leaves the University in a very strong position to attract outstanding candidates. Our financial position is stable, our research awards grew by 30% last year, student satisfaction is consistently among the best in the UK, and we have achieved our highest ever UK rankings. I wish him the very best for the rest of his tenure.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Streaming Science: The Film “FKN” Is Now on Kinopoisk

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    Documentary about Faculty of Computer Science (FKN) Vyshki has appeared in the online cinema “Kinopoisk”. Now millions of viewers will be able to learn first-hand about the development of one of the country’s flagship IT faculties, which was opened by the Higher School of Economics and Yandex in 2014.

    Film “FKN” presents leading teachers, industry experts and scientists from various fields of computer science, as well as the best students from all over Russia – winners and prize winners of the All-Russian School Olympiad, the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMC), and the International Computer Programming Contest (ICPC). In honor of the tenth anniversary of the Faculty of Computer Science, the heroes of the film share their memories of how the faculty and the field of computer science as a whole developed, talk about how they teach and study at the advanced faculty today, how education is changing and science is developing in the context of rapid technological progress.

    Who is driving science and is at its forefront, how close and effective interaction between education, industry and science was built in the field of mathematics, data analysis and machine learning, software engineering and development – you can learn about all this by watching the film.

    The following people worked on the painting:

    director and screenwriter Polina Manturova;

    Director of photography Andrey Krupnov;

    motion graphics director Vladislav Vazhnik;

    editor Vladislav Zaitsev;

    composer Vsevolod Mironov;

    sound engineers Arseniy Tishkin and Sergey Nikolaev;

    project curator Dilyara Nurgayazova.

    The premiere took place on September 24, 2024, at the Karo 11 Oktyabr cinema. On January 24, FKN was shown at the Library of Foreign Literature as part of the IT version of Student’s Day.

    The film “FKN” will be shown on the big screen on April 20 at the Atom Museum at VDNKh.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: MROpenEVO at ECR 2025 with an AI-ready upgrade for further enhanced image quality and faster examinations; new system soon available in Georgia

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    GENOA, Italy, Feb. 26, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Unlocking the future of joint and spine imaging with the Latest Evolution of MROpenEvo: the only truly open MRI System at ECR 2025.

    Thanks to the optimization of key technical features, the latest version of the helium-free, MgB2-based MRI scanner delivers exceptional image quality while reducing scan times by up to 50%.

    Discover the innovative features of MROpenEvo, a groundbreaking MRI system specifically designed for joint, neuro, and spine imaging. It offers ample space for children, larger patients, and individuals with claustrophobia, ensuring comfort for all.

    The new image acquisition algorithm, based on the “compressed sensing” technique, combines parallel imaging with sparse data sampling and iterative reconstruction. This combination leads to faster scan times and enhanced resolution. The “compressed sensing” technique is applicable to both 2D and 3D sequences across all anatomies.

    In the meantime, the patient centric design MRI system developed by ASG Superconductors arrives in another new country: MROpenEvo will be shortly available in Georgia @ Tbilisi State Medical University and Ingorokva High Medical Technology University Clinic.

    Prof. Giorgi Ingorokva declared: “I am proud announcing that our hospital will be the first clinic in Georgia to install the groundbreaking Open MRI system. It will enhance diagnostic capabilities and improve patient care in the region.”

    Nowadays MROpen Evo is available in USA, Canada, UK, Italy, Portugal, Kuwait, and the innovative MgB2 superconducting technology – the key element driving the unique and distinctive open design – has reached over 2.5 million hours of operation.

    Join us at ECR2025 in Vienna, Hall X4, Booth 410, to experience MROpen Evo with our experts and discover how this innovative and unparalleled MRI system can enhance your practice.

    A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available by clicking on this link.

    Contact:

    Silvia Frigato Bonello
    frigato.silvia@as-g.it 

    Luca Pezzoni
    lpezzoni@hofima.it 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: SPbPU PISh “Digital Engineering” and TsKBM opened a laboratory to study technologies for producing hydrogen and its derivatives

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    On February 25, the SPbPU PISh “Digital Engineering” ceremonially opened the scientific and technological educational space “Laboratory of integrated development of the main equipment of chemical-technological and energy systems of the new generation”.

    The laboratory was created jointly with the Central Design Bureau of Mechanical Engineering (part of the mechanical engineering division of the Rosatom State Corporation) as part of the implementation of the SPbPU PISh program.

    This space is focused on studying chemical technologies for hydrogen energy projects using digital solutions. The laboratory occupies 125 square meters and can accommodate up to 15 people at a time.

    The latest Russian-made equipment allows for science-intensive research and development, and also enables undergraduates and postgraduates to conduct research in the field of chemical technology, develop kinetic models of catalytic processes, including the production of hydrogen and derivatives based on it, and collect data to create and validate digital twins of physical, mechanical and chemical processes.

    The only catalytic unit in St. Petersburg, LKU-1, for studying high-temperature processes with a fixed catalyst bed is located here. It will allow studying the processes of catalytic processing of natural gas (steam reforming), testing catalysts and developing promising technologies for producing hydrogen.

    In the 2024-2025 academic year, with the support of the Central Design Bureau of Machine Building, a new master’s program was opened at the SPbPU PISH “Digital Engineering” “Digital engineering of the main technological equipment of hydrogen technologies and energy systems of the new generation”It trains advanced specialists capable of developing, modeling, optimizing and designing high-tech production proprietary equipment for chemical technologies, including hydrogen production, using digital twin technology.

    Let us recall that the agreement on cooperation in educational, scientific and innovative activities for the purpose of implementing joint basic and additional educational training programs for current tasks between the Central Design Bureau of Mechanical Engineering and the Saint Petersburg Polytechnical University’s PIS “Digital Engineering” signed On November 21, 2022, at the Atomexpo International Forum, the main event of the global nuclear industry.

    In the new laboratory, master’s students will not only master the methodology of scientific research and gain research experience, but will also be able to conduct important research within the framework of the promising projects implemented by the Central Design Bureau of Mechanical Engineering in the field of hydrogen energy.

    The opening ceremony of the space was attended by representatives of the Polytechnic University and the Central Design Bureau of Mechanical Engineering, including the Vice-Rector for Digital Transformation of SPbPU, the Head of the Advanced Engineering School of SPbPU “Digital Engineering” Alexey Borovkov, the Vice-Rector for Organizational and Economic Work of SPbPU Stanislav Vladimirov, the Deputy Head of the Advanced Engineering School of SPbPU Oleg Rozhdestvensky, the Head of the Central Design Bureau of Mechanical Engineering Yuri Gordienkov, and the First Deputy Head of the Central Design Bureau of Mechanical Engineering Alexey Mikhailov.

    The ceremony’s guests of honor included representatives of the industrial partner of the SPbPU PISh — the Krylov State Research Center. These were Deputy Director General for Scientific and Production Activities Igor Marenich, Deputy Head of the Hydrogen Energy Scientific and Production Complex Aleksandr Karpovich, and Head of the Experimental Production of the Hydrogen Energy Scientific and Production Complex Aleksandr Datskevich.

    “One of the important tasks in the implementation of the federal project “Advanced Engineering Schools” is the development of the infrastructure of the participating universities. The competencies of teachers of advanced engineering schools and representatives of the high-tech industry, the formulation of engineering challenges, as well as modern laboratory equipment – all this gives a synergistic effect, allowing us to train engineers with world-class competencies. Seven scientific and educational spaces have already been opened in the Advanced Engineering School of SPbPU “Digital Engineering”.

    The opening of the Laboratory for Complex Development of the Main Equipment for New-Generation Chemical-Engineering and Energy Systems together with the TsKBM company will allow us to carry out R&D in the interests of the key partner of the Advanced Engineering School of SPbPU — the State Corporation Rosatom — and, within the framework of solving frontier engineering problems, train students in the promising area of chemical-engineering and energy systems,” noted Alexey Borovkov.

    The head of the Central Design Bureau of Mechanical Engineering, Yuri Gordienkov, emphasized the long-term and fruitful cooperation with the Polytechnic University and noted that the opening of the laboratory will be an important step in the development of joint projects.

    In the new laboratory, TsKBM plans to focus on the development of chemical technologies, including the production of hydrogen and synthesis gas for use in industrial processes and energy systems. In the next decade, hydrogen energy may become one of the main areas of development for TsKBM, which will lead to diversification of the order portfolio, sustainable development of the enterprise and ensuring the technological sovereignty of the Russian Federation. Training highly qualified specialists in the field of chemical technologies and hydrogen energy is a key factor for the successful development of this promising area, emphasized Yuri Gordienkov.

    The development of a joint scientific and technological infrastructure of the Advanced Engineering School of SPbPU “Digital Engineering” and the Central Design Bureau of Mechanical Engineering will ensure comprehensive interaction with an industrial partner in terms of solving urgent frontier problems in the energy sector.

    After the opening of the laboratory, a working meeting was held to discuss current joint projects and promising areas of cooperation. The high-tech projects of the Advanced Engineering School of SPbPU in the interests of CBMD represent the “foundation” for creating a new generation of equipment that will allow the industrial partner to become a technology licensor and take a leading position in the new industry.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The Polytechnic discussed the use of injection technologies in construction

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    The first all-Russian conference on injection technologies in construction, “Injection Days 2025”, is taking place at the Polytechnic University.

    Key construction industry specialists, from leading experts and project developers to companies specializing in the implementation of injection technologies, gathered at the site to exchange practical experience and the latest achievements in this field.

    Injection is the restoration of the integrity of buildings and structures made of stone, concrete, brick, strengthening of soil and rocks by filling cracks and voids with viscous polymeric materials by injection (under pressure). Injection is carried out to increase the bearing capacity of soils during their deformation, foundations and structures during their long-term operation, as well as to protect against the penetration of water or harmful substances.

    The principle of operation of this technology is the point pouring of reinforcing materials into problem areas, which ensures reliable sealing of damage and returns the foundation or structure to its original solidity.

    On the first day of the conference, experts discussed such issues as: structural repair using injection methods in construction, repair of cracks in foundation pylon structures using epoxy resin; sealing of underground parts of buildings and structures; repair of expansion joints of buried structures; deep injection of expansion joints; sealing of expansion joints using the deep injection method; elimination of jet seepage in concrete structures and junctions of metal cladding, stabilization of the soil base and lifting of a nine-story residential building using the polyurethane resin injection method, stabilization of foundation soils at industrial facilities, etc.

    The participants also learned about the experience of their colleagues in using non-destructive methods of monitoring the condition of concrete and soil structures when planning and implementing repair and restoration work; the experience of stabilizing thawed permafrost soils; using the example of the Svetlinskaya hydroelectric power station, they learned about methods for restoring the tightness of a temperature joint, etc.

    On the second day of the conference, reports were presented on the following topics: “Inspection of structures and foundation soils before their strengthening using modern non-destructive testing methods”, “Combined approach to comprehensive inspection of hydraulic structures for the purpose of developing design solutions”, “Experience in implementing projects to stabilize soil foundations in the Middle East”, etc.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to study looking at continuous glucose monitors and measuring blood sugar levels in people without diabetes

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition looks at continuous glucose monitors in people without diabetes. 

    Dr Adam Collins, Associate Professor of Nutrition, University of Surrey, said:

    “The appeal of CGMs lies in their non-invasiveness, coupled with their ability to automatically measure glucose every 5 minutes for up to 2 weeks at a time.  This provides the user with a mass of real time data which can be informative for dietary and lifestyle changes, particularly useful on those who are diabetic.  However, this study by Prof Gonzalez and his team is highly relevant and informative given the increasing use of CGMS by healthy, non-diabetic individuals.

    “This study nicely illustrates potential issues of accuracy with CGMs.  The robustness of the study lies in its measurement of postprandial glucose excursions on multiple occasions, under standardised conditions, in a well-controlled crossover design.  By design, CGMs sample interstitial fluid, which we assume is directly reflective of blood glucose, but yet could be influenced by other factors that impact glucose movement into tissues.  In addition, there will inevitably be some time lag between blood glucose and interstitial fluid changes.  This lag could be as short as a few minutes or as long as half an hour.  Such a lag can be problematic when detecting rapid changes in blood glucose.

    “We are in the middle of a similar validation study investigating the accuracy and reliability of CGMS and have observed that discrepancies can be as high as 1-1.5mmol/L.  Such a discrepancy can be significant in those who are healthy and have normal blood glucose control, as their normal range of blood glucose is typically far smaller.  This can lead to misinterpretation and “misdiagnosis” of apparent blood glucose excursions that still remain within the boundaries of normal.  Indeed, often individuals are basing dietary and lifestyle changes on what are essentially variations of normal any way, compounded by a magnitude of error in the data itself.

    “To add to this, in our current study, we are examining an agreement between two CGM devices fitted to participants at the same time, and have observed discrepancies between devices on the same person.  For example, differences between having the device fitted on your dominant or non-dominant arm.  I would also suggest that using handheld devices for measuring capillary blood, as has been the traditional practice (and used in this AJCN study), can also be subject to error.  Similarly, we have observed discrepancies between two handheld devices measuring the same individual’s blood.

    “With all this said, I very much agree with the lead authors’ conclusions.  The use and interpretation of CGM devices in healthy individuals should be undertaken with caution.  They certainly shouldn’t be used as the sole basis for dietary changes, restrictions, or extreme lifestyle changes.”

    Dr Nicola Guess, academic dietitian and researcher specialising in the dietary prevention and management of type 2 diabetes, University of Oxford, said:

    “This was a well conducted randomised controlled trial which compared the glucose response to standard meals using two methods: a CGM (continuous glucose monitor) and capillary blood testing (“finger prick” testing) in 15 healthy males and females.  The investigators found that CGMs overestimate glucose to a clinically-relevant degree in healthy people without prediabetes or diabetes.  This means that people who have normal glucose may be led to believe they have prediabetes.

    “This is one of a growing number of studies which demonstrate how cautious we need to be when interpreting CGM data from a person without diabetes.  In this study, the CGM estimated the “time out of range” as 4-fold higher compared to the capillary value.  Other studies have found CGMs can also underestimate glucose (for example during exercise) and are particularly inaccurate when glucose concentration changes rapidly.

    “Taken together, I would advise people without diabetes using CGMs to interpret the output with a pinch of salt.”

    ‘Continuous glucose monitor overestimates glycemia, with the magnitude of bias varying by postprandial test and individual – A randomized crossover trial’ by Katie M. Hutchins et al. was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition at 08:00 UK time on Wednesday 26 February 2025. 

    DOI: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2025.02.024

    Declared interests

    Dr Adam Collins: “No conflict of interest.”

    Dr Nicola Guess: “No conflicts with any CMG company.  Nutrition adviser to Beyond Meat (I advise on fortification questions, ingredients etc., and have written blogs for them).  For MyFitnessPal I provide input into their behavioural programmes and have written blogs for them.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: World-first technology can see ‘previously undetectable’ cancer spread A groundbreaking new scanner developed by scientists at the University of Aberdeen could change the way breast cancer is diagnosed and treated, meaning patients could receive fewer surgeries and more individually-tailored treatments.

    Source: University of Aberdeen

    Side by side image of same breast tissue in MRI and FCI. (l) MRI image of breast with cancerous tumours circled in red (r) FCI image of same breast shows same tumour in red with secondary tumour spread in blue. Spread not visible in MRI. The patient had a mixed tumour i.e two different types of tumour and one of them is not visible in MRI.A groundbreaking new scanner developed by scientists at the University of Aberdeen could change the way breast cancer is diagnosed and treated, meaning patients could receive fewer surgeries and more individually-tailored treatments.

    Scientists from the University, in collaboration with NHS Grampian, used a prototype version of the new Field Cycling Imager (FCI) scanner to examine the breast tissue of patients newly diagnosed with cancer. They found that the FCI scanner could distinguish tumour material from healthy tissue with more accuracy than current MRI methods.  

    This innovation could change the course of treatment for millions of people with cancer.  Currently, around 15 percent of women need a second surgery after a lumpectomy as the edges of the tumour may still be involved. This new technique could potentially more accurately outline these tumours and reduce the need for those repeat operations.  

    A University of Aberdeen innovation, the FCI scanner follows in the footsteps of the full body MRI scanner, also invented at the University around 50 years ago which has gone on to save millions of lives around the world. The Field Cycling Imager derives from MRI but can work at ultra-low magnetic fields which means it is capable of seeing how organs are affected by diseases in ways that were previously not possible.   

    While similar to MRI in that MRI uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to produce detailed images of the inside of the body without touching it – the FCI scanner can vary the strength of the magnetic field during the patient’s scan.  This means the FCI acts like multiple scanners in one and can extract multiple different types of information about the tissue.  

    A further benefit of this new technology is that it can detect tumours without having to inject dye into the body, known as contrast, which has been associated with kidney damage and allergic reactions in some patients. 

    Dr Lionel Broche, senior Research Fellow in Biomedical Physics and lead researcher in the study said: “We found that images generated from FCI can characterise breast tumours more accurately. This means it could improve the treatment plan for the patients by improving the accuracy of biopsy procedures by better detecting the type and location of tumours, and by reducing repeated surgery so really, the potential impact of this on patients is extraordinary.  

    “My colleagues in the University of Aberdeen built the world’s first clinical MRI in the 1970s so it is both fitting and exciting that we are making waves again with an entirely new type of MRI called Fast Cycling MRI – FCI. 

    “This is a truly exciting innovation and as we keep improving the technology for FCI, the potential for clinical applications is limitless.” 

    Dr Gerald Lip, consultant radiologist in NHS Grampian and co-investigator in the study, has recently been appointed President of the British Society of Breast Radiology.  

    He added: “This data is very promising, and we still need more prospective work, but these results will really support future clinical applications. 

    “We treat between 400 and 500 women with breast cancer in NHS Grampian every year and the potential this technology has to reduce the need for women to return for extra surgery is huge, benefitting them and reducing wait times and operating theatre resource. 

    “We hope it will have a future role in supporting cancer diagnosis and management.” 

    The research is published in Nature Communications Medicine  

    … it could improve the treatment plan for the patients by improving the accuracy of biopsy procedures by better detecting the type and location of tumours, and by reducing repeated surgery so really, the potential impact of this on patients is extraordinary.” Dr Lionel Broche

    To find out how you can help support medical research at the University of Aberdeen please contact giving@abdn.ac.uk. If you would prefer to make a gift of your time, please contact alumni@abdn.ac.uk to find out more about our alumni volunteering opportunities.

    Related Content

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Global: 15 million South Africans don’t get enough to eat every day: 4 solutions

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Stephen Devereux, Research Fellow, Institute of Development Studies

    At least 15 million South Africans suffer from food insecurity. That means they don’t have enough nutritious food to live healthy lives.

    This is due to a combination of factors, including unemployment, poverty, inequality and food system failures.

    More than 1,000 children die from malnutrition each year. This compares unfavourably with 350 child deaths from malnutrition in Brazil, which has more than three times South Africa’s population, and 269 child deaths in Colombia, which has about the same per capita income as South Africa.

    A robust indicator of chronic hunger is child stunting. Stunting in South Africa has flatlined at around 25%, or one in four children, since the early 1990s. Other middle-income countries such as Brazil and Peru have made impressive progress. Peru halved its rate from 28% in 2008 to 13% in 2016, after the president committed to reducing stunting.



    Read more:
    South Africa’s hunger problem is turning into a major health crisis

    How can South Africa’s government deliver on the right to food and begin the urgent process of eradicating hunger?

    We have worked on food security and food justice for many years. We’ve researched the links between social protection and hunger and between food systems and nutrition, and the cost of hunger.

    Based on this experience, our view is that food shortages are not a cause of hunger in South Africa. The country produces and imports all the food it needs. Instead, the problem is unequal access to food. While some South Africans live in a world of abundance, with no budget constraints, millions more survive below the food poverty line, unable to afford even a basic nutritious diet for their families.

    We believe that the government must deliver on the constitutional right to food and begin the urgent process of eradicating hunger. It can do this by expanding the social grant system, extending the school nutrition programme, reducing food waste, and ensuring access to land for low-income rural and peri-urban households.

    Above all, a coherent and coordinated strategy for tackling hunger is needed, led by a minister of food, following models like Brazil’s Zero Hunger initiative. In December 2024, Brazil handed over the G20 presidency to South Africa, after it launched the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty. South Africa should embrace the embrace the spirit and focus of the alliance to develop its own Zero Hunger strategy.

    Four steps to end hunger

    The South African government pays out 19 million social grants a month, or 26 million if the 9 million recipients of the special social relief of distress grant are included. Without these cash transfers, poverty and malnutrition in the country would be even higher. But they are inadequate, especially in a context of high and rising food prices.



    Read more:
    South Africa’s fight against extreme poverty needs a new strategy – model shows how social grants could work

    Firstly, the following changes should be made to social grant payments.

    • An immediate increase in the child support grant, followed by further increases. The goal should be to get this grant, which is currently below the food poverty line at R530 a month (US$28), to R1,634 (US$34). This is the minimum amount of money needed to meet basic needs, including nutritious food, clothing and shelter.

    • Pregnant women should receive a maternal support grant from 12 weeks of pregnancy, to reduce the risk of low birth weight.

    • Social grants should increase to match inflation every year.

    Secondly, the National School Nutrition Programme, which provides one nutritious meal to all learners in poorer primary and secondary schools, has limited impact because meals are provided only on weekdays during school terms.

    The programme should be boosted in the following ways:

    • The Department of Basic Education must deliver adequate nutrition to all children in early learning programmes, all year round.

    • Programmes for school-age children should be extended to ensure that they all receive at least one nutritious meal every day, including on weekends and school holidays.

    • Adequate funding should be given to school food gardens and nutrition education. Moreover, the national school nutrition programme starts too late to address under-5 stunting. It only begins when children enter grade R, aged 5.



    Read more:
    Malnutrition in South Africa: how one community wants resources to be spent

    Thirdly, interventions are needed in the food system.

    • Prices of essential food items should be regulated, to keep them affordable for low-income South Africans and to encourage shifts in consumption choices towards healthier, more nutritious diets.

    • Positive dietary choices can also be promoted through the use of subsidies, discounts or vouchers on “best buy” foods, either for all consumers or for shoppers receiving social grants. They could be given vouchers for nutritious food items along with their cash transfers. Food subsidies or vouchers must include foods that are protein-rich (meat, fish, eggs, dairy), since protein is highly inaccessible to the poor.



    Read more:
    How do people choose what food to buy? Answers depend on what you ask – so we built a research tool for African countries

    • Government must extend social security protections to seasonal and informal workers during periods of unemployment and underemployment. Seasonal hunger requires specific attention. Seasonal farm workers – most of whom are women – have low incomes, few savings, and limited access to unemployment insurance. They face food insecurity and hunger during the off-season winter months.

    • The government’s land redistribution programme should prioritise securing access to land for poor agrarian or peri-urban households, and providing support (water, inputs, extension advice) to farm that land. This would help vulnerable groups which derive most of their food from production.

    Agrarian households (smallholder farmers, farm workers, farm dwellers) are poorer and more food insecure, especially the female-headed households who survive below the food poverty line. When farm women with food gardens have direct access to fresh vegetables, their dietary diversity improves, and they earn income by selling produce to meet their basic needs.

    Lastly, steps must be take to reduce loss and waste in the food system.

    A third of food produced in South Africa, 10 million of 31 million tons, goes to waste each year. This is equivalent to 30 billion meals, in a context where an estimated 20 billion meals would be enough to end hunger. The government has committed to halving food waste by 2030, in its draft food losses and waste strategy of 2023. It must be finalised and operationalised.

    Next steps

    These interventions would cost money. And the government will argue that it is doing all it can to address hunger with the resources available.

    There are many options for raising additional resources to address the hunger crisis – as seen when the government found R500 billion (US$33 billion) to address the COVID-19 crisis in 2020.

    The government should also consider raising additional revenue by introducing a wealth tax targeting high-net-worth individuals. This could be used to increase social grants or subsidise nutritious foods.



    Read more:
    Urban food gardens produce more than vegetables, they create bonds for young Capetonians – study

    Finally, government needs to tackle hunger in a coordinated way. Several government departments, including agriculture, social development and health, address issues related to food security. However, no government ministry focuses specifically on hunger.

    The president should appoint a minister of food to address the hunger crisis along the lines of the special minister of electricity position established in 2023 to deal with the country’s energy supply problem.



    Read more:
    South Africa needs to change direction on maternal health to solve child malnutrition

    At the same time, a national food commission should be established, to monitor and coordinate all initiatives that focus on the goal of eradicating hunger.

    The government should be guided by the priorities set down by a new coalition – the Union Against Hunger – which is due to be launched on 26 February. The initiative is a coalition of civil society organisations and academics (the authors are among the founding members). It has compiled a list of 10 demands that reflect our analysis of the causes of hunger and recommended solutions. They include realising everyone’s constitutional right to food, halving child stunting by 2030 and making nutritious food accessible to all.

    Stephen Devereux receives funding from the National Research Foundation (NRF). He holds a Research Chair in Social Protection for Food Security, affiliated to the DSI–NRF Centre of Excellence in Food Security and the Institute for Social Development at the University of the Western Cape, South Africa.

    Busiso Moyo previously received funding from the Centre of Excellence in Food Security – UWC and the IDRC-Canada. He is affiliated with the Union Against Hunger (UAH) initiative.

    Mark Heywood previously headed Section 27, which receives funding and received funding for the Justice and Activism Hub. He is affiliated with the Union Against Hunger initiative.

    – ref. 15 million South Africans don’t get enough to eat every day: 4 solutions – https://theconversation.com/15-million-south-africans-dont-get-enough-to-eat-every-day-4-solutions-250700

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-Evening Report: View from The Hill: the mud flies, but will the voters take much notice?

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

    In these scrappy days before the prime minister announces the election date, the mud and the personal insults are flying, despite the politicians knowing voters hate this sort of thing.

    On Wednesday morning TV, shadow finance minister Jane Hume, usually reasonably restrained with her language, called Employment Minister Murray Watt “king grub” of the “grubbiest people you will ever come across” – a reference to Labor’s pursuit of Peter Dutton’s past share trading. As Watt remarked, “That’s quite an accusation”.

    Hume was later on the warpath in a Senate estimates hearing, where Treasury Secretary Steven Kennedy fended off an opposition attack suggesting, in essence, that Treasurer Jim Chalmers had sought to make Treasury his political pawn.

    Dutton spent most of his Wednesday news conference pushing back on attacks on his integrity relating to his purchase of bank shares during the global financial crisis, and dealing with questions about his acquisition of an extensive property portfolio over decades.

    What the opposition dubs Labor’s “dirt unit” apparently drove the share story. The core of it is that Dutton bought bank shares just before the Rudd government announced its guarantee to ensure the financial security of the banks.

    Labor demanded to know whether Dutton had insider knowledge of the imminent guarantee through a Rudd government briefing of the opposition. Dutton, who declared the share purchase, says he had no information other than what was in the public domain.

    The story about Dutton’s property portfolio – which he has unloaded, no doubt as part of preparations in pursuit of the prime ministership – ran in Nine media. The report said

    Peter Dutton has made $30 million of property transactions across 26 pieces of real estate over 35 years, making him one of the country’s wealthiest-ever contenders for prime minister.

    Dutton was late with declaring on the parliamentary register some of the transactions.

    Nine says the story didn’t come from a Labor “dirt unit”, but it was grist for an embattled government.

    Dirt digging, mud throwing, and exploitation of the politics of envy are recurring features of election campaigns. Whether they’ll have much resonance this time is doubtful.

    The share story, going back the best part of a couple of decades, doesn’t sound like a smoking gun. We’ve heard about Dutton’s property buying before. We know he has plenty of money. Not as much, of course, as earlier PMs Malcolm Turnbull and Kevin Rudd.

    Dutton, working on the assumption these stories will be brief wonders, kept his cool.

    He hasn’t provided more details about the bank shares, relying on a general response that everything had been above board. On his property purchases, he made it clear he’s proud of his climb up the aspirational ladder since he was a “butcher’s boy” in those days when he had a job in a butcher’s shop.

    For Dutton, the mud is all in a day’s work. The attack on Kennedy is in a rather different category.

    In the run-up to an election, Treasury often finds itself in a awkward position, as a government seeks to use it, while an opposition objects. This time, Chalmers employed it to discredit the opposition’s policy to give a tax break to small businesses for taking their workers or clients to a meal.

    Treasury doesn’t cost opposition policies. So the government asked it to cost a theoretical policy that was similar to that of the Coalition. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Treasury came up with a much bigger cost than the opposition said was produced by the Parliamentary Budget Office.

    Kennedy insisted to the Senate hearing, “we do not act politically”.

    “I have behaved no differently with this government, nor have I observed the department’s behaving any differently,” he said. “I understand how the circumstances might lead you to question that, but all I can do is assure you that that has not been the case.”

    If Dutton became prime minister, would Kennedy’s position be at risk?

    It shouldn’t be. Kennedy, appointed by the Coalition, served the previous Liberal government very well and was a key figure in its ambitious economic response to the COVID pandemic. That response kept many people in jobs and the economy out of recession.

    While Kennedy was taking the flak in estimates, Chalmers had been in Washington making Australia’s case for an exemption of the Trump aluminium and steel tariffs.

    Chalmers’s visit was timely and carefully managed. The treasurer said before he left Australia he wouldn’t obtain an outcome on tariffs – it was about making Australia’s case. So when there was not an outcome, it was not a disappointment. “My task here in DC wasn’t to try and conclude that discussion, it was to try and inform it,” Chalmers told a news conference after his talks.

    Chalmers spent time with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett. He said the discussion was “wider-ranging than just steel and aluminium”. Bessent also was a speaker at the superannuation summit held at the Australian embassy (a coup for ambassador Kevin Rudd as well as Chalmers).

    In his 2023 Monthly essay, Chalmers argued for the super funds to invest more widely in Australia, notably in social housing.

    At the embassy conference, Chalmers was able to look to a much wider horizon for the funds.

    The current value of Australian super fund investments in the US is around $400 billion – due to reach $1 trillion over the next decade. So, Australia’s superannuation sector has the size, scale and presence to play a big role in driving new American industries and creating jobs.

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

    – ref. View from The Hill: the mud flies, but will the voters take much notice? – https://theconversation.com/view-from-the-hill-the-mud-flies-but-will-the-voters-take-much-notice-250897

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: New report skewers Coalition’s contentious nuclear plan – and reignites Australia’s energy debate

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Quiggin, Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland

    Debate over the future of Australia’s energy system has erupted again after a federal parliamentary inquiry delivered a report into the deployment of nuclear power in Australia.

    The report casts doubt on the Coalition’s plan to build seven nuclear reactors on former coal sites across Australia should it win government. The reactors would be Commonwealth-owned and built.

    The report’s central conclusions – rejected by the Coalition – are relatively unsurprising. It found nuclear power would be far more expensive than the projected path of shifting to mostly renewable energy. And delivering nuclear generation before the mid-2040s will be extremely challenging.

    The report also reveals important weaknesses in the Coalition’s defence of its plan to deploy nuclear energy across Australia, if elected. In particular, the idea of cheap, factory-built nuclear reactors is very likely a mirage.

    A divisive inquiry

    In October last year, a House of Representatives select committee was formed to investigate the deployment of nuclear energy in Australia.

    Chaired by Labor MP Dan Repacholi, it has so far involved 19 public hearings and 858 written submissions from nuclear energy companies and experts, government agencies, scientists, Indigenous groups and others. Evidence I gave to a hearing was quoted in the interim report.

    The committee’s final report is due by April 30 this year. It tabled an interim report late on Tuesday, focused on the timeframes and costs involved. These issues dominated evidence presented to the inquiry.

    The findings of the interim report were endorsed by the committee’s Labor and independent members, but rejected by Coalition members.

    What did the report find on cost?

    The report said evidence presented so far showed the deployment of nuclear power generation in Australia “is currently not a viable investment of taxpayer money”.

    Nuclear energy was shown to be more expensive than the alternatives. These include a power grid consistent with current projections: one dominated by renewable energy and backed up by a combination of battery storage and a limited number of gas peaking plants.

    The Coalition has identified seven coal plant sites where it would build nuclear reactors. Some 11 gigawatts of coal capacity is produced on those sites. The committee heard replacing this capacity with nuclear power would meet around 15% of consumer needs in the National Electricity Market, and cost at least A$116 billion.

    In contrast, the Australian Energy Market Operator estimates the cost of meeting 100% of the National Electricity Market’s needs – that is, building all required transmission, generation, storage and firming capacity out to 2050 – is about $383 billion.

    What about the timing of nuclear?

    On the matter of when nuclear energy in Australia would be up and running, the committee found “significant challenges” in achieving this before the mid-2040s.

    This is consistent with findings from the CSIRO that nuclear power would take at least 15 years to deploy in Australia. But is it at odds with Coalition claims that the first two plants would be operating by 2035 and 2037 respectively.

    The mid-2040s is well beyond the lifetime of Australia’s existing coal-fired power stations. This raises questions about how the Coalition would ensure reliable electricity supplies after coal plants close. It also raises questions over how Australia would meet its global emissions-reduction obligations.

    Recent experience in other developed countries suggests the committee’s timeframe estimates are highly conservative.

    Take, for example, a 1.6GW reactor at Flamanville, France. The project, originally scheduled to be completed in 2012, was not connected to the grid until 2024. Costs blew out from an original estimate of A$5.5 billion to $22 billion.

    The builder, Électricité de France (EDF), was pushed to the edge of bankruptcy. The French government was forced to nationalise the company, reversing an earlier decision to privatise it.

    EDF is also building two reactors in the United Kingdom – a project known as Hinkley C. It has also suffered huge cost blowouts.

    Recent nuclear reactor projects in the United States have also fallen victim to cost overruns, sending the owner, Westinghouse, bankrupt.

    What does the Coalition say?

    The committee report included dissenting comments by Coalition members.

    As the Coalition rightly points out, global enthusiasm for nuclear power remains steady. The UK, France and the US all signed a declaration in 2023 at the global climate change conference, COP28, pledging to triple nuclear power by 2050.

    And in the UK and France, advanced plans are afoot to construct new nuclear reactors at existing sites.

    But even there, progress has been glacial. The UK’s Sizewell C project has been in the planning stage since at least 2012. The French projects were announced by President Emmanuel Macron in 2022. None of these projects have yet reached a final investment decision. Delays in Australia would certainly be much longer.

    The Coalition also draws a long bow in claiming Australia’s existing research reactor at Lucas Heights, in New South Wales, means we are “already a nuclear nation”.

    At least 50 countries, including most developed countries, have research reactors. But very few are contemplating starting a nuclear industry from scratch.

    At least one issue seems to have been resolved by the committee’s inquiry. Evidence it received almost unanimously dismissed the idea small modular reactors (SMRs) will arrive in time to be relevant to Australia’s energy transition – if they are ever developed.

    The Coalition’s dissenting comments did not attempt to rebut this evidence.

    Looking ahead

    Undoubtedly, existing nuclear power plants will play a continued role in the global energy transition.

    But starting a nuclear power industry from scratch in Australia is a nonsensical idea for many reasons – not least because it is too expensive and will take too long.

    In the context of the coming federal election, the nuclear policy is arguably a red herring – one designed to distract voters from a Coalition policy program that slows the transition to renewables and drags out the life of dirty and unreliable coal-fired power.

    The Conversation

    John Quiggin is a former member of the Climate Change Authority. His submission to the nuclear electricity generation inquiry was cited in the interim report

    – ref. New report skewers Coalition’s contentious nuclear plan – and reignites Australia’s energy debate – https://theconversation.com/new-report-skewers-coalitions-contentious-nuclear-plan-and-reignites-australias-energy-debate-250912

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Address to the CommsDay Regional and Remote Forum

    Source: Australian Ministers 1

    THE MOST CONNECTED CONTINENT 

    I acknowledge the Traditional Owners, the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people, and those with connections to the lands of the ACT.
     
    I pay my respects to Elders past and present, and First Nations people joining, including First Nations Digital Inclusion Advisory Group co-chair Associate Professor Lyndon Ormond-Parker.
     
    The Advisory Group continues to progress digital inclusion for First Nations people, particularly those in regional and remote Australia.
     
    In December, the Group delivered the First Nations Digital Inclusion Roadmap: 2026 and Beyond, a blueprint for government and industry as we work towards closing the digital divide.
     
    This follows the Advisory Group’s initial report to Government, which helped to inform the First Nations Community Wi-Fi Program – which has been rolled out in around 20 communities.

    Last week, I announced a contestable program to provide the next tranche of Community Wi-Fi.  
     
    We have also set up a First Nations Digital Support Hub and Network of Digital Mentors, and improved national data collection.
     
    These initiatives are making a real difference to First Nations communities, which remain some of the nation’s most digitally isolated.
     
    Of course, there is a lot more work to do – collectively – to close the digital divide.
     
    I thank the Advisory Group for their on-going commitment and progress on this, and I welcome their participation at the CommsDay Regional and Remote Forum.
     
    It is wonderful to be part of this inaugural – and very timely – forum focussed on the future of regional and remote connectivity in Australia.
     
    Thank you, Grahame Lynch, for bringing together industry, consumer advocates, and government representatives in the nation’s capital.
     
    It’s great to see so many familiar faces; I know many of you have travelled far to take part.
     
    From Forthside in Tasmania to Belyuen in the Top End, from Moruya on the NSW South Coast to Port Augusta in South Australia, from King Island to Palm Island, everywhere I travel across regional, rural and remote Australia, I see the work of building Australia’s future is gathering pace.
     
    Whether it’s Medicare, superannuation, childcare, or the National Broadband Network, Labor governments have a proud history of expanding universal access to essential services that Australians rely on.
     
    Labor founded the NBN to provide fast, reliable and affordable internet to all people in Australia, regardless of where they live.
     
    Families and businesses in our regions and suburbs should have equal access to the opportunities the NBN delivers.
     
    And Labor’s NBN is already saving households more than 100 hours and $2,580 per year in avoided travel time and costs.
     
    And we are very proud of our record on delivery.
     
    When we came into office, fewer than 300,000 premises had access to NBN fibre upgrades. Today, more than 4.3 million premises do.
     
    The Albanese Government is on track to reach our commitment of extending fibre upgrades to 5 million premises by the end of 2025 – on time and within budget.
     
    Today, there are an additional 2.7 million higher-speed plans taken up – an 80 per cent increase from when we came into office.
     
    We have delivered our $480 million upgrades to NBN Co’s Fixed Wireless and Satellite services, more than doubling average speeds.
     
    Around 800,000 households and businesses in regional, remote and peri-urban areas can now benefit from faster broadband and increased data.
     
    This includes 122,000 premises formerly in the satellite footprint.
     
    This freed up satellite capacity and enabled NBN Co to launch a Sky Muster Premium service with download speeds of up to 100 Mbps and unmetered data.
     
    This resulted in a 75 per cent surge in data consumption for active Skymuster users, delivering important economic and social benefits in health and education.
     
    Our Government is listening to the community – including through the 2024 Regional Telecommunications Review – about the importance they place on increasing minimum regulated broadband speeds to reflect today’s needs.
     
    The current legislated guarantee is for only 25Mbps download speeds, which does not reflect the growing capability of the NBN and other telecommunications networks in Australia, consumer expectations or emerging international norms.
     
    I have asked my Department to commence work on a public consultation on the pathway to increase the minimum download speed to 100Mbps.
     
    An increase over time to Australia’s regulated broadband speeds will bring Australia in line with international best practice and help to power the economy.
     
    And ensure fair and equitable access to services that better meet the needs of users in our increasingly digitally-driven economy.
     
    It’s no secret I have a passion for my portfolio.
     
    As Communications Minister, I’ve seen the transformation connectivity is having at every level of our society and economy.
     
    The difference it is making to people, businesses and communities and our regions.
     
    Building Australia’s future to be the most connected continent is more than critical infrastructure – it’s about the long-term interests of consumers.
     
    It demands forward-looking regulatory environments that facilitate competition.
     
    Over the past few years, 5G has been deployed, fibre access expanded, and low orbit satellites are providing next generation services.
     
    Yet the Universal Service Obligation remains stuck in a different era, entirely at odds with society’s needs for mobility.
     
    Introduced in the 1990s, the USO is a consumer protection to support reasonable access to landlines and payphones for people in Australia.
     
    This was a time when the voice-only ‘brick’ phone was exciting and expensive!
     
    The very first 1G phone was introduced in Australia by Telecom in 1987, retailing at a massive $4,250 or nearly $12,000 in today’s dollars.
     
    The idea of being able to walk and talk was novel. The concepts of mobile web browsing or video calling were almost non-existent.
     
    Today, mobile phones are comparatively affordable, and their use is ubiquitous.
     
    The Universal Service Obligation is as dated as those brick phones of the past.
     
    The only way to build regional Australia’s mobile future is with a modern USO, where mobile coverage is an explicit policy objective for the first time.
     
    And I am proud to say this is what Labor will deliver.
     
    The Albanese Government, if reelected, will legislate a Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation, known as UOMO.
     
    This is about recognising, in the truest sense of the word, that mobile connectivity is an essential service.
     
    UOMO will require mobile operators to provide outdoor mobile coverage nearly everywhere in Australia where you can see the sky.
     
    This includes the around 70 per cent of our vast continent that does not have mobile connectivity. 
     
    UOMO will enable more Australians to send messages and make voice calls, including calls to Triple Zero, during emergencies and natural disasters.

    This responds to a key piece of feedback from the Regional Telecommunications Review about the need for multiple connection paths.
     
    And unlike universal landline and broadband where Telstra and NBN Co are effectively the sole providers of the obligation, an express policy objective of Labor’s Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation is to facilitate competitive coverage.
     
    This reform will ensure up to 5 million square kilometers of new and competitive outdoor mobile coverage across Australia, including more than 37,000 kilometers of new coverage along roads and highways in regional and rural communities.
     
    Just think about what this means for the farmer out in the paddock, the injured hiker on the trail, or the distressed parent whose car has broken down.
     
    I welcome the strong endorsements of ACCAN, the National Farmers’ Federation, regional telecommunication stakeholders like the Better Internet for Regional and Rural Australia group, the Regional Telecommunications Independent Review Committee, the NSW Rural Fire Service, the First Nations Digital Advisory Council and a growing list of local and regional councils.
     
    The only mindless opposition is coming from the Coalition.
     
    The Nationals say we are going too slow.
     
    The Liberals say we should not be doing this at all or going too fast.
     
    This smorgasbord of incoherence and freewheeling incompetence is emblematic of a Liberal-National Party that does not know what it stands for.

    In contrast, the Labor Party is very clear on where we want to go.
     
    The Albanese Government will work closely with industry, regulators and stakeholders to introduce legislation in 2025, and work on this has commenced.
     
    The initial focus will be on increasing access to messaging and voice services, with a public-safety focus.
     
    We expect the voice and SMS obligation to be implemented by late 2027, with many Australians likely to benefit well before then.
     
    Given our audience here, I’d like to take this opportunity to provide further detail around the regulatory and policy context, and thank them for their participation in this reform process.
     
    Firstly, we understand this is a rapidly-developing market and our implementation timeline has been designed with regard to this.
     
    Where warranted by global supply, spectrum or capability factors, our legislation will afford mobile operators appropriate flexibility on implementation.
     
    Our Government will also engage with industry and examine incentives to promote competition objectives and public interest outcomes.
     
    As I outlined earlier, a top priority of the Government is to facilitate a healthy supply side market, that offers carriers and consumers choice.
     
    Promoting competition is an express policy feature of UOMO’s design.
     
    This aim is to bring forward investments and product partnerships, and remove market barriers to enable Australians to contact emergency services through D2D.
     
    Our policy announcement is a demand signal to global low orbit providers – we want you to expand your capability in Australia.
     
    The D2D capability is initially expected to provide baseline text messaging, then voice calls and, in time, limited mobile data.
     
    Broadly, industry is targeting the availability of D2D messaging from late this year, followed by voice from 2026 onwards.
     
    Our Government’s expectation is that these services will be well and truly in the market by late 2027.
     
    Secondly, D2D is not a replacement for terrestrial mobile networks or the USO.
     
    It will complement existing networks with a thin coverage layer, and ensure we cover as much of Australia as possible, for the benefit of all.
     
    Labor is filling a giant “black spot” that could simply never be addressed through mobile tower deployment at this scale or speed.
     
    As you are well aware, terrestrial-based network expansion can be a “law of diminishing returns” up against challenging geography and customer ratios that do not stack-up to commercial viability.
     
    The Government remains committed to existing co-investment programs, such as the Mobile Black Spot Program, and the Mobile Network Hardening Program.
     
    These programs will evolve with UOMO to deliver the best public policy outcomes for regional communities – of this I am very confident.
     
    Thirdly, I want to affirm our commitment to engagement.
     
    The expanded Universal Service Obligation framework follows two years of evidence-based groundwork, consultation and engagement.
     
    Early this term, I recognised the potential of the opportunity of LEOSat technology.
     
    I established the LEO Satellite Working Group to bring together the perspectives of global operators, Australian telcos, spectrum and engineering experts, and regional stakeholders.
     
    The Working Group, and data emerging from our LEOSat technical trials, is helping to inform our ongoing work on universal services modernisation.
     
    We have also been engaging with:

    • Global and domestic industry on D2D technology roadmaps;
    • the Australian Communications and Media Authority on radio communications spectrum considerations;
    • the Regional Telecommunications Review, local councils and the First Nations Digital Inclusion Advisory Group;
    • And, importantly, regional and remote consumers and communities.

    The Albanese Government, if re-elected, will continue this collaborative approach, working with the satellite industry, regulators, mobile network operators, consumer groups and other stakeholders as we develop, and introduce, legislation this year.
     
    Finally, we have expectations of industry around providing clear, accurate and accessible public information for consumers.
     
    Consumers need a clear understanding of the capability of D2D services and device compatibility.
     
    We are not talking about streaming Netflix from the Pilbara.
     
    I’ve been advised by industry that different devices are being rigorously tested for compatibility, and that more handsets are becoming eligible. 
     
    This is in keeping with international developments.
     
    We now have in place a more robust handset testing scheme built around the collaboration of the CommsAlliance, test labs at the University of Technology Sydney and the overarching regime administered by the ACMA.
     
    This will be leveraged to ensure consumers are better educated and receive reliable information.

    Because LEOSats orbit close to the Earth, they can provide services to mobile phones that usually communicate through terrestrial networks.
     
    Even during emergencies, when power outages impact the availability of local mobile towers, LEOSats can provide a thin layer of coverage.
     
    Last month, from Los Angeles, we saw this capability in action.
     
    As the highly destructive and deadly wildfires struck, thousands of messages were sent via D2D by thousands of people using standard unmodified devices.
     
    In the depths of crisis, people could text loved ones, neighbours, and, most importantly, emergency services – even when terrestrial networks were silenced.
     
    The public safety implications of D2D cannot be underestimated, particularly during natural disasters – which are becoming far more frequent and destructive.
     
    Closer to home, over the Summer, Australians were transfixed by the disappearance of bush walker Hadi Nazari who got lost in Kosciuszko National Park.
     
    Almost two weeks after he went missing in the unforgiving wilderness he was, thankfully, found alive.
     
    The significant search and rescue operation included a dozen SES teams, 200 personnel, more than 4000 volunteer hours and specialist aircraft.
     
    Hadi’s location could have been known within minutes with a charged mobile phone, Direct 2 Device technology, and a clear view to the sky.
     
    D2D will substantially expand opportunity for people to seek help if they are lost, injured or facing natural disasters in areas without terrestrial mobile coverage.
     
    It will give consumers more connectivity options, as mobile networks are already required to carry all Triple Zero voice calls over their networks.
     
    Early mover markets include the US and New Zealand, where we are seeing limited text to emergency services emerge as an early D2D capability.
     
    In the US, T-Mobile has opened registration for a Beta program, with priority given to first responder agencies and individuals.
     
    One New Zealand provider currently offers D2D text services across a number of premium phones. 
     
    My Department is exploring the feasibility and desirability of expanding the Triple Zero service to have message-based capability – recognising that access to Triple Zero by voice is preferred in time critical situations.
     
    It is also important that people know which devices can access D2D services, and the Government will work with the industry regulator to ensure there is clear public information on this.
     
    This is just the first step towards reform to the USO.
     
    The Department will commence consultation to inform the development of legislation, and we encourage all stakeholders to engage in that process.
     
    The Government has also sought advice on incentives and the removal of barriers to support competition outcomes and public interest objectives.
     
    That work is also underway, and if the Government is returned to office, will gather pace as this would be our top communications legislative priority for 2025.
     
    As part of this process, we will develop a roadmap for a basic data obligation, alongside voice and text as technology evolves.
     
    The Government continues to work through the recommendations of the 2024 Regional Telecommunications Review alongside progress on USO reform.
     
    Undertaken every three years, the review is an opportunity for people living and working outside major cities to share their experiences, views and expectations regarding connectivity and telecommunications services.
     
    The community response to the 2024 review represented a four-fold increase in participation on the previous review.
     
    The unprecedented interest in the work of the Regional Telecommunications Review reflects the importance placed on connectivity in these communities.

    The Committee conducted online consultations and 20 in-person sessions across Australia from Thursday Island to Geraldton, Katherine and Benalla.
     
    In total, more than 4,000 stakeholders took part and more than 3,000 survey responses were received.
     
    The Committee engaged with industry throughout the process to address issues raised during consultations and potential reform options were workshopped.
     
    I’d like to thank Committee Chair, the Honorable Alannah MacTiernan – who will be addressing the Forum this morning.
     
    As well as Committee Members Kristy Sparrow, the Honorable Fiona Nash, Dr Jessa Rogers and Ian Kelly for their extensive work, expert advice and engagement on the ground.
     
    The report’s 14 recommendations address a diverse range of telecommunications issues – from enhanced mobile coverage, consumer affordability, universal service modernisation and the role of LEOSats, through to First Nations inclusion and digital literacy.
     
    We are considering the report’s findings and recommendations and continue to work with key partners like all of you here in the room.
     
    As I noted at the outset, Labor governments have a proud history of expanding universal access and UOMO is the next important piece of architecture.
     
    Australians are proud and early adopters of technology, and we are ambitious to leverage this advantage as part of building a better future.
     
    There is tremendous activity and buzz in the communications space right now.
     
    It’s a time of reform, in-sync with incredible innovation that is making once unviable goals a reality.
     
    This Forum is shining a spotlight on the opportunities this presents for regional, rural and remote Australia.
     
    We know some of these communities face connectivity challenges their city counterparts do not.
     
    Since coming to office, we have been working hard to bridge this divide.
     
    At the last election, we took a record regional telecommunications and connectivity package to the election.
     
    Since then, the Government and NBN Co have expanded fibre access and upgraded fixed wireless, collectively enabling higher speeds to a footprint of nearly 5 million homes and businesses.
     
    Government and industry co-investment has delivered 146 local projects under our Regional Connectivity Plan.
     
    And more than 150 base stations have been built under the Mobile Black Spot Program this term.
     
    These projects have helped carry over 43 million calls, including 48,000 emergency calls.
     
    We are backing Aussie farmers and ag-tech suppliers through our hugely popular On Farm Connectivity Program, which the National Farmers Federation has singled out as one of the best Commonwealth initiatives ever for their sector.
     
    NBN Co has delivered free Community Wi-Fi for First Nations communities, and free home broadband to school kids who would otherwise go without.
     
    And just this week, we have tripled down on our ambition and optimism for the future with our announcement of a Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation.
     
    The fact is the Albanese Government is delivering with competence, and with a Labor heart.
     
    And the biggest risk to this progress is a Liberal-National Coalition Government.
     
    Let there be no doubt that if Peter Dutton becomes Prime Minister he will privatise the NBN to pay for his $600 billion nuclear fantasy.
     
    It is Australian consumers and regional communities who will pay the price.
     
    In nine years, the Coalition took Australia back from fibre to copper, and created a new acronym for the universal access framework which they were unwilling to reform.
     
    And just before they were voted out, they sneakily tried to push up NBN wholesale prices by inflation plus three per cent on some products.

    Their new Shadow Minister – the third in three years – never once mentioned connectivity during her six years in Parliament before coming into the portfolio.
     
    And Mr Dutton will ensure the Shadow’s effective title will be the ‘Minister for Privatisation’ – not the Minister for Communications.
     
    Australia can do much better than that.
     
    I want to close by thanking the industry, consumer groups, and indeed regional and stakeholders across this portfolio for your engagement throughout this term.
     
    We have learnt much from you. We have left nothing on the field, and sought to do our best.
     
    As a marginal seat holder, and as I’ve said before previous elections, I’ll either be seeing a lot more of you or a lot less of you.
     
    And an important election contest will be fought over the coming month or two.
     
    What I do want you to know is that I and the Albanese Government genuinely value your expertise, and your voice has made a difference.
     
    Now is not a time for thinking small, looking back or aiming low.
     
    This is a time to lean-in to opportunities and forge ahead in making Australia the most connected continent.
     
    Labor is doing this with one eye on the sky, and the other watching out for what’s best for all Australians – regardless of who – or where – they are.

    Every Australian deserves access to fast, reliable and affordable connectivity.
     
    Let’s keep working together to build our future, and deliver the modern world-class communications network our country demands and deserves.
     
    Thank you.
     

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Church hymns and social beers: how Australia is reviving the magic of singing together

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Wendy Hargreaves, Senior Learning Advisor, University of Southern Queensland

    State Library of Victoria

    It was 2009. John Farnham walked on stage at the disaster relief concert for the most devastating bushfires in Australian history. He belted out You’re The Voice to 36,000 people at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Then, as he lowered his microphone, 36,000 voices belted it right back.

    Farnham knew the real star that day was not himself, but the thousands of everyday Australians singing in solidarity with their hurting nation.

    Singing together is electrifying, but can Australians tap into this magic without the tragedy?

    We’re all the voice.

    The science behind the magic

    Group singing has a proven ability to produce positive social bonding and help us tune in to others’ feelings.

    That sense of connecting and relating can boost our mental health; particularly crucial given many Australians seriously neglect self-care.

    After taking part in a year-long community singing program, Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander adults reported reduced depression, increased resilience and a greater sense of social connection.

    Physiologically, research shows group singing can increase the hormone oxytocin which helps us bond with people and feel good. It can decrease cortisol levels to positively modulate our immune system. Making music together may also release endorphins that help our tolerance of pain.

    Rewinding on Australian singing

    Australia’s identity as a singing nation has never quite matched countries like Wales, “the land of song”. Centuries-old singing traditions are well-suited to huddling indoors in snowy northern hemisphere villages.

    Indeed, the tradition of singing Christmas carols was devised as a cure for the European winter blues. Our warmer Australian climate, in contrast, coaxes us outdoors for other activities in wide open spaces.

    Hymn singing at Melbourne’s Royal Exhibition Building in 1882.
    State Library of Victoria

    Australia’s choral tradition grew initially through church music; printed on tiny 12x7cm pages, books from the early 1800s provide a glimpse at the hymns church choirs and congregations once sang.

    Music researcher Dianne Gome reports these books were also used for official state occasions and in the home. They were so popular, Australians began to create their own versions.

    Singing was part of 19th century Australian life. At home, pianos were treasured for family singalongs and a sign of wealth and culture. Choirs blossomed, such as the The Brisbane Musical Union (now The Queensland Choir) which formed in 1872 with 112 members. Singing was valued, and local journals critiqued technique. Even The Wireless Weekly reported a radio poll “to decide the worst singer” in 1942.

    Work songs – morale boosters as workers labour through repetitive tasks – also showed our early singing culture. One Queensland man recently described life as a 14-year-old in a 1930s tram track foundry:

    Every night I came home exhausted. It was hard work, but we used to sing […] How many people sing at their work today?

    Alongside its presence in churches, work places and social gatherings, singing became a pillar of Australian education.

    A book on education history in Victoria reports singing was introduced in the 1850s for “harmonising and refining the mind” and as a “most favourable influence […] on the moral associations of the goldfields”.

    While some traditions in schools continue today, claims of a crowded curriculum and de-valuing of the arts have pushed school singing from essential to optional.

    There also exists a social pressure on Australian boys to play sport rather than sing in choirs.

    Today’s Aussie group singing style

    A fair dinkum Aussie singing style is well established in sporting circles.

    The 1978 World Cricket Series jingle C’mon Aussie C’mon was so simple and catchy its tune still rings through stadiums today. Likewise, Mike Brady’s Up There Cazaly – inspired by the 1910s footballer whose name was used in World War II battle cries – has been a favourite crowd singalong at AFL Grand Finals for decades.

    Footy club theme songs aside, Brisbane Lions fans will be particularly familiar with a modern opportunity for sports singing: goal songs. After every goal at a Lions’ home game, a snippet from a player-chosen track blares across the stands.

    Not all of these song selections make successful singalongs, but Charlie Cameron’s choice of Take Me Home Country Roads is a clear favourite. Tellingly, the crowd keeps singing after the music stops.

    At the other end of the spectrum of group size and vocal expertise is the small Australian-bred a capella group The Idea of North. Their expert musical arrangements and blended sound perfectly encapsulates collaborative singing with unity, harmony and joy.

    For a quirky Australian choral option, a group of men from Mullumbimby formed the “fake” Russian choir, Dustyesky (a wordplay on the famous Russian writer Dostoevsky). They don’t speak the language, yet their energy and passion for singing made them a hit in Russia and brought about an invitation to sing in Moscow.

    With millions of internet views, another highly successful Australian response to group singing came from Astrid Jorgensen, creator of Pub Choir. With laughter and a drink, members of the public meet at a licensed venue to learn a song in three-part harmony.

    Jorgensen’s tailored musical arrangements of popular songs suit untrained singers, don’t require music reading skills and make singing in harmony with complete strangers easy and fun. Jorgensen found the key to motivating Aussies to sing together is crowds, humour and a social beer.

    Wendy Hargreaves 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. Church hymns and social beers: how Australia is reviving the magic of singing together – https://theconversation.com/church-hymns-and-social-beers-how-australia-is-reviving-the-magic-of-singing-together-250254

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Politics with Michelle Grattan: Tom Rogers calls for national digital literacy campaign and more civics teaching

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

    We see the political parties’ frantic election campaigns, but behind the scenes the Australian Electoral Commisison is working just as hard.

    An often overlooked part of Australia’s democracy, the AEC is vital in ensuring our elections are both efficient and fair, a task full of challenges.

    We’re joined today by Tom Rogers, recently retired as Electoral Commissioner. As commissioner, Rogers oversaw three federal elections and the Voice referendum. He is now a member of the advisory board of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance and provides his expertise on elections globally.

    Rogers describes running a modern Australian election as

    the largest peacetime logistic exercise in the life of Australia […] it’s so complex administratively to run these events.

    It’s a bit like setting up a fortune 500 company in four weeks, running it, then dismantling it a couple of weeks after the event. It is just phenomenally complex. And the amazing thing is that because we’ve got good systems in place, it works pretty well.

    The agency goes from, I’ll use very rough figures here, about a thousand people all over Australia during the non-electoral period up to about 105,000 people during that very short period.

    There are a lot of calls for truth in advertising laws and some calls for it to be managed by the AEC. Rogers insists the AEC should not be involved,

    I was a firm believer that that would be very inappropriate for the AEC. It’s one of those rare things where we were very, very proactive in talking to people about that. And one of the reasons is because I think it would ruin the AEC’s reputation for neutrality. It’s as simple as that.

    It will impact on the AEC’s level of trust with the community.[…] given trust is so important, that people trust electoral outcomes, I think it’s incredibly dangerous.

    While not wanting to be involved with truth in advertising, Rogers does see the importance in the AEC countering misinformation on Australia’s electoral process,

    We’ve established a ‘defending democracy unit’. We ran a national campaign called Stop and Consider to get people to think about the source of information.

    But I think the bit that we can do and that’s still missing is we really need a national digital literacy campaign for our citizens. When you correct disinformation about electoral matters, there’s a whole body of research that shows that it’s kind of effective. What is more effective rather than debunking is ‘prebunking’ and what is more effective again, is giving citizens the skills they need to make up their own mind about the accuracy of information.

    The Stop and Consider campaign, I might be wrong, but is still the only national campaign focussed on giving citizens skills. We need to run something like that all the time. I think there’s a real need for this in the modern era and that’s what we should be doing.

    Rogers also highlights the importance of civics education

    It’s critical. The AEC is already doing good work in this space. Up until I left at the end of last year, generally speaking the AEC was getting about 100,000 kids a year through the Electoral Education Centre in Canberra, which is excellent. They are in the process of digitising much of the materials so that that could be spread to schools that are unable to visit Canberra.

    I do think we need to do more.

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

    – ref. Politics with Michelle Grattan: Tom Rogers calls for national digital literacy campaign and more civics teaching – https://theconversation.com/politics-with-michelle-grattan-tom-rogers-calls-for-national-digital-literacy-campaign-and-more-civics-teaching-250901

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Jason Bohrer Named Communications Director for Senator Kevin Cramer

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)

    ***Click here to download audio.***

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) has named Jason Bohrer, former President and Chief Executive Officer of the Lignite Energy Council, to serve as Communications Director in his Washington, D.C. office. 

    Bohrer is leaving the Lignite Energy Council after nearly 12 years with the trade association headquartered in Bismarck, N.D. A graduate of North Dakota State University and the George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School, Bohrer previously held Capitol Hill positions as a Chief of Staff, Legislative Counsel/Director and Director of Constituent Communications for members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.  

    “My team and I started working with Jason shortly after we went to Congress,” said Cramer. “He was working for Congressman Raul Labrador, who is now Idaho’s Attorney General and a good friend of mine. We worked closely together on natural resources and energy issues, but many others as well.  When Jason came to North Dakota to be president of the Lignite Energy Council I was happy to be a strong advocate for that. Now, after 12 years in the state, I’m thrilled he’s coming back to Washington and will continue working for North Dakota and North Dakotans in my office. He’s a great communicator, organizer, and manager. He’s also a team leader and will be a tremendous asset to the people of North Dakota. I’m honored he’s chosen to come to work for us and help us in this very new and important session of Congress.” 

    “I met Senator Cramer when he was first elected to Congress in 2012,” said Bohrer. “I was impressed by his authenticity, consistency and dedication to his principles. Obviously, from my work at the Lignite Energy Council I am familiar with his national leadership on energy policy. But I have also watched him rise to become one of the nation’s strongest voices for other common sense and constitutionally-consistent solutions. Senator Cramer has been a huge part of the North Dakota success story, and I’m excited to join him as he continues to take proven North Dakota policies to Washington, D.C., to unleash American energy and return to sound federalist principles of law and order.”

    Elected to his second term in the U.S. Senate in November, Cramer’s Senate committee assignments are Armed Services; Environment and Public Works; Veterans’ Affairs, and Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs. An energy policy expert, in 2003 he began serving nearly a decade as a North Dakota Public Service Commissioner and helped oversee the most dynamic economy in the nation.

    Bohrer will begin his position on April 7.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Sergey Netesov, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Head of the Laboratory of Bionanotechnology, Microbiology and Virology of the Faculty of Natural Sciences of NSU: “The new coronavirus does not pose a visible danger to people yet”

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    Sergey Netesov, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Head of the Laboratory of Bionanotechnology, Microbiology and Virology Faculty of Natural Sciences of NSU: “The new coronavirus does not yet pose a visible danger to people”

    — Having studied the primary sources — articles published in February 2025 in the journals Cell and Nature — I can say that the discovery of the HKU5-CoV-2 virus, which is a type of the HKU5 virus, is an interesting fact, but so far this virus does not pose a visible danger to humans.

    The HKU5 virus was first identified in bats in China back in 2006. The above-mentioned articles indicate that one of its variants seems to have a binding site in the S protein for the same human cell receptors as the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes Covid-19. However, this virus has not yet caused disease in any human, although it has the potential to do so. However, almost any animal virus has this potential.

    It should be noted that the bats from whose organisms it was isolated are carriers of hundreds of different viruses, but only a few are capable of infecting people. This means that the danger of the newly discovered virus to people is highly questionable.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Your super fund is invested in private markets. What are they and why has ASIC raised concerns?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Melatos, Associate Professor of Economics, University of Sydney

    If you are a member of a super fund, some of your long-term savings are probably invested in private markets.

    Public markets are familiar to most of us – the stock market and government and corporate bond markets. Private markets include unlisted assets such as companies owned by private equity firms, infrastructure investments and private credit markets.

    Corporate watchdog the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), has today released a discussion paper that emphasises the growth in private capital, seemingly at the expense of public markets. While the number of listed companies and the value of initial public offerings has shrunk, private equity and infrastructure funds have boomed.

    Should we be worried about this?

    Public vs private markets

    Public markets tend to be transparent, tightly regulated and liquid. Companies listed on the stock exchange publish their financial accounts, hold annual general meetings and their shares can be readily traded.

    In contrast, private markets are lightly regulated. Private capital investments are more opaque, less liquid and, hence, more risky. But they can deliver much higher returns (or losses).

    Often, obtaining capital from private sources makes sense. For example, entrepreneurs whose startup firms are short of revenue, profit and tangible assets are unlikely to be able to raise capital in public markets, or from banks. Instead, they turn to private equity firms for funding.

    What are the concerns?

    In its report, ASIC raises several concerns:

    • the shrinking of Australia’s public equity markets might hurt the economy

    • the rise of private markets may create new or amplified risks

    • the lack of transparency of private markets poses a challenge for investors and regulators.

    Public markets play an important role connecting investors with companies seeking capital. The shrinking of public markets, therefore, has important economic implications. Will private markets be able to pick up the slack?

    Notwithstanding the growth in private capital markets, they are still small compared to their public counterparts. The total capitalisation of the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) is $3 trillion. Total private capital funds under management are only $150 billion.

    The lack of disclosures in private capital markets might also create more and different risks for financial markets and the economy; risks that regulators may not understand, nor know how to anticipate or effectively mitigate.

    The role of Australian super funds

    ASIC is concerned about the implications for the superannuation industry of the growth of private capital markets and decline in public markets.

    Australia’s superannuation assets now total $4.1 trillion, greater than the value of Australia’s GDP and more than the total value of all companies listed on the ASX. Anything that alters the playing field for Australian super has the potential to create outsized risk (or opportunity) for the Australian economy.

    The ASIC report highlights the growing involvement of Australia’s superannuation funds in private markets. Australia’s two largest super funds, Australian Super and Australian Retirement Trust, each have about 20% of their total funds invested in private markets.

    The fact is that Australia’s superannuation sector has outgrown Australian public markets. They cannot trade shares on the ASX without moving share prices significantly to their detriment. On the other hand, having super funds, which are highly regulated to protect member savings, investing in unregulated private capital markets is jarring, if not potentially risky.

    Having said this, the size of Australia’s super funds means they can set the terms and price at which they invest. This power is most valuable in private deals; less so in public markets where a company’s stock price and its financial accounts are public knowledge.

    Increasingly, super funds directly invest in infrastructure projects such as ports and airports rather than buy shares in listed infrastructure firms.

    What’s behind the shift in markets?

    The ASIC report points the finger at the usual culprits for the shift from public to private capital markets, including the regulatory burden on public companies and the rise of technology companies that prefer to tap private capital.

    However, another problem is bedevilling policymakers everywhere: too much capital is chasing too few profitable investment opportunities. Companies have lots of cash on their books and nothing to spend it on.

    Increasingly, such companies have resorted to share buybacks (reducing the number of their shares on issue) to reward investors in a tax-effective way. A lot of the shrinkage in public equity is due to share buybacks that in 2022 alone totalled US$1.3 trillion.

    Why does all this matter?

    The ASIC report is notable for what it does not say; nothing, for example, on its own chequered history of investigative and enforcement action.

    The growing importance of opaque private markets matters more if regulators are asleep at the wheel. ASIC’s tendency for weak oversight and sclerotic enforcement can hardly have raised investor confidence in Australia’s public capital markets.

    Its oversight of initial public offerings (IPOs) has also been questionable over a long period. How can ASIC be expected to adequately manage complex private capital market risks given its woeful performance managing simpler public market risks?

    The apparent decline of public markets has been spooking even sophisticated private financial market players – including, most notably, Jamie Dimon, CEO of JP Morgan. If Dimon is concerned, then ASIC – and all of us – should probably also be concerned.

    Mark Melatos 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. Your super fund is invested in private markets. What are they and why has ASIC raised concerns? – https://theconversation.com/your-super-fund-is-invested-in-private-markets-what-are-they-and-why-has-asic-raised-concerns-250788

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: NSU scientists are the first in the world to use a time-projection chamber for accelerator mass spectrometry

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    Researchers of the Center for Collective Use “Accelerator Mass Spectrometry of NSU-NNC” have tested for the first time an ion detector based on a low-pressure VPK on the MICADAS accelerator spectrometer and obtained the first results. This device was installed instead of the native MICADAS detector (ionization chamber), in which the ions of the C14 isotope are counted, based on the results of which the dating of the studied sample is performed.

    In 2023, this time-projection chamber was installed for the first time on a domestic accelerator mass spectrometer, which is made and maintained by the G.I. Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics SB RAS and is located in the Cenozoic Geochronology Shared Utility Center of the Institute of Archeology and Ethnography SB RAS. It was successfully tested on a beam of 14C ions with an energy of 4 MeV and proved to be operational. Later, this chamber was tested on a beam of 14C ions with an energy of 0.4 MeV at the MIKADAS UMS. If the experiments are successful, a smaller VPK will be created in the future for installation on the prototype of the first domestic low-voltage universal accelerator mass spectrometer, which is being created by NSU scientists within the framework of the Priority-2030 program.

    Time-projection chamber (TPC) — in application to accelerator mass spectrometry, this is a method of identifying low-energy heavy ions based on measuring their path lengths in gas. The principle of operation is as follows: ions fly into the chamber through a thin entrance window. Then they lose energy due to ionization losses. As a result, a trail of gas ions and electrons is formed along the track. These electrons, under the influence of an external electric field, drift in the gas at a constant speed in the direction of the GEM, where they are amplified. At the end, the amplified electrons are collected on a collector and digitized by the data acquisition system. Thus, the electron collection time corresponds to the ion path length.

    — Previously, the time-projection chamber was developed for the INP UMS to separate ions with the same atomic masses and different nuclear charges. This gas detector will separate Be10 (beryllium) ions from B10 (boron). Since the nuclei of boron and beryllium have different charges, with equal initial energies, their path lengths in a gas environment are different and the VPK will separate them. Be10 has a longer half-life (1.39 million years) compared to 14C (5730 years), so measuring the 10Be content will allow scientists to date geological samples, — explained Ekaterina Parkhomchuk, Director of the UMS NSU-NNC Collective Use Center.

    The MICADAS accelerator mass spectrometer, unlike the domestic multiisotope, is aimed only at detecting and determining the amount of the rare isotope C14 in the samples being studied. C14 ions pass through the entire accelerator mass spectrometer and then enter the gas detector, where they are identified and counted.

    — Accelerator mass spectrometers are equipped with various types of detectors. For example, the MICADAS UMS has an ionization chamber. We replaced it with a time-projection chamber. One of the important parts of the MICADAS ionization chamber is the preamplifier. If it fails, MICADAS will stop, and we will have to either buy a new preamplifier, which is very difficult in the current circumstances, — said Alexey Petrozhitsky, engineer at the Center for Collective Use “Accelerator Mass Spectrometry NSU-NNC”.

    It is important that ionization chambers have one significant drawback – they operate in a mode where the signal-to-noise ratio is far from optimal. In addition, the preamplifier is very demanding of electronics, unlike the gas analyzer, which is equipped with a time-projection chamber.

    — In our detector, we amplify the signal using a gas electron multiplier, which significantly reduces the requirements for the electronics of the data acquisition system. In addition, our VPK produces a much better signal-to-noise ratio, is easy to manufacture, operate and repair. We needed to find an answer to the question: is it possible to use the VPK as a detector of 14C ions with an energy of 0.4 MeV? And in the course of our work, we came to a positive answer. We are confident that the time-projection chamber we have developed can be used as the final detector in the first domestic universal low-voltage accelerator mass spectrometer, which we are currently working on. The experiments we are currently conducting are aimed precisely at testing the detector for the first domestic UMS, and the MICADAS setup acts as an ion beam source available to us. This can be called the first brick for building our own setup. When a project already has a detector that registers particles, it means that a significant area of problems has already been covered and other specialists can join in the creation of a new UMS, ensuring the execution of work at the next stage, commented Tamara Shakirova, a junior researcher at the Institute of Nuclear Physics SB RAS, the Center for Collective Use “Accelerator Mass Spectrometry NSU-NNC”.

    Currently, tests of the time-projection chamber at MICADAS are carried out on two types of samples: the ANU standard sample (IAEA-C6, sugar) with a 14C content close to the modern level and a “blank” (polyethylene CH – Elemental Microanalysis B2024 standard) with a 14C content of 0.002 of the modern level. The purpose of the tests is to optimize the operating parameters: working gas pressure, gain, electron drift velocity.

    — We have collected a sufficient amount of data, and are currently processing and analyzing it. The main thing is that we have made sure that the time-projection chamber works in the mode we expect and produces clearly readable signals above background values. We can certainly say that we can read C14 from them, which is quite suitable for conducting radiocarbon analysis of samples, — said Alexey Petrozhitsky.

    Reference:

    Accelerator mass spectrometry is a method for measuring the concentration of rare long-lived cosmogenic isotopes in a sample: 10Be, 14C, 26Al, 36Cl, 41Ca, 129I. It is based on the extraction of atoms from the sample with subsequent “piece by piece” counting of the isotopes of interest. The high accuracy of AMS analysis allows measuring the concentration of a rare isotope. This method is used in many sciences, for example, in archeology, geology, biomedicine, ecology, astrophysics. It is most widely used in radiocarbon dating of archaeological objects, that is, recording the concentration of the carbon-14 isotope. The time interval of dating for 14C goes back as far as 50 thousand years. Determining the concentration of another cosmogenic nuclide 10Be is also of interest, since the time interval of dating is much wider – up to 10 million years.

    Currently, the NSU-NSC Accelerator Mass Spectrometry Shared Utility Center has two UMS installations. The first was created by scientists from the Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics SB RAS more than 10 years ago. The second Swiss-made MICADAS accelerator mass spectrometer was purchased in 2019. Scientists from Novosibirsk State University, the Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics SB RAS, the Institute of Archeology and Ethnography SB RAS, and the Boreskov Institute of Catalysis as part of the Center’s research group are working on creating a domestic low-voltage universal accelerator mass spectrometer that will combine the advantages of the first two installations. The project is designed for five years and is being implemented with the support of the Priority-2030 program.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Beijing conference examines AI’s transformative role

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    The 2025 Enterprise Management Annual Conference is held at the National School of Development of Peking University in Beijing on Feb. 23, 2025. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

    Entrepreneurs and scholars gathered at the 2025 Enterprise Management Annual Conference in Beijing on Feb. 23 to explore how AI innovations, such as DeepSeek and Unitree Technology’s humanoid robots, are reshaping industries, the workforce and society.

    The conference was co-organized by Enterprise Management magazine, Entrepreneur magazine, and the National School of Development of Peking University.

    During the keynote speech session, Yu Yong, chairman of Hebei Iron and Steel Group Co., Ltd. (HBIS), highlighted DeepSeek’s groundbreaking role in demonstrating China’s growing strength in AI, elevating the global AI conversation to new heights.

    “AI has ushered in a new technological revolution,” he said. “It has far-reaching implications, especially for manufacturing industries.”

    Yu noted that AI is changing how productivity is generated, emphasizing computational power and data over traditional capital and labor. This fundamental shift is reshaping business management models, replacing hierarchical, assembly-line practices with flat, borderless organizations. AI-driven technologies are making it possible to optimize processes in ways previously unimaginable, both improving efficiency and reimagining how value is created.

    “AI will liberate workers from routine tasks, allowing them to focus on higher-level work,” Yu said. “Human workers will transition into roles such as AI managers and strategists, similar to what we’ve done in our corporation.”

    Over the past two years, HBIS has restructured its business units to integrate AI, ensuring a smooth transition as AI becomes more integral to operations, Yu said.

    Humanoid robots were a key topic in a subsequent roundtable discussion. Zhang Rui, chairman of Beijing Ironman Technology Co. Ltd., discussed the company’s pioneering work in bipedal robots, which began with its founding in 2015 as China’s first company to focus on this field.

    Zhang emphasized the importance of tailoring the use of humanoid robots to industry needs. “A humanoid robot is not always the best solution for every scenario,” he said. “It is important to match the robot’s capabilities with the specific demands of the industry.”

    Zhang Yueqiang, vice president of Yonyou Network Co., Ltd., discussed how AI is already transforming professions. “AI has the potential to replace many jobs in fields such as basic translation, writing and even data analysis,” he said. “By 2030, we will see disruptive changes in the workplace, with nearly half of existing skills becoming obsolete.” The key to staying relevant, Zhang stressed, is to focus on creativity, critical thinking and adaptability — skills that AI cannot easily replicate.

    The discussion also highlighted AI’s growing role in public services. Tian Qunxi, chief innovation officer of Seeyon Internet Software Corp., noted that the government is among AI’s largest beneficiaries due to its extensive databases. Tian emphasized that AI will profoundly impact public services, such as administrative processes, by improving efficiency and accuracy in ways previously unseen.

    The 2025 Enterprise Management Annual Conference provided a platform for deep insights into the ongoing AI revolution. From manufacturing to public services, AI is transforming industries at an accelerating pace. As a transformative force, AI is reshaping how we work, live and interact with the world. The challenge, experts agree, is to not only embrace AI but also prepare for the profound changes it will bring.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: New light shed on diversity of plateau’s plants

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    Aerial photo shows the scenery at Mt Nyanpo Yutse in Tibetan autonomous prefecture of Golog of Northwest China’s Qinghai province. Qinghai province, located in Northwest China, much of which lies on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, is the home to the headwaters of the Yangtze, Yellow and Lancang rivers. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Chinese scientists have discovered what determined the distribution of unique high-altitude plants across the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, thereby answering a major global scientific question.
    Known as the “Roof of the World” and the “Third Pole of the Earth”, the plateau hosts exceptionally rare plants, with over one-third of them found nowhere else on Earth.
    “This makes it a global biodiversity hot spot,” said Wang Tao, a professor at the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research and the lead author of a related study published recently in the journal Nature Communications.
    “For decades, scientists have tried to understand how these mountain-specific plants developed their unique distribution patterns,” he said.
    Working with researchers from the University of Basel in Switzerland, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Peking University, Wang’s team found that historical shifts in tree growth limits — the highest altitude at which trees can survive — played a crucial role.
    The study re-created a model to show how the plateau’s tree line, the upper forest limit, moved over time since the last Ice Age 22,000 years ago.
    Wang said it is widely accepted that the uplift of the plateau played a key role in the origin of its flora, while periodic climate fluctuations during the Quaternary Period 2.6 million years ago drove the diversification of species.
    Earlier studies have warned that global warming pushes trees higher up mountains, squeezing the habitat of alpine plants. This new research reveals that past tree line shifts also left a lasting mark.
    In addition to the Quaternary climate fluctuations, the fluctuations regarding past tree line shifts “have also influenced the diversity of endemic alpine species in alpine areas, a factor that had not been explored before”, Wang said.
    The study found that the average elevation of the tree line in the distant past on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau was lowest — roughly 3,426 meters — during the Last Glacial Maximum, which lasted from 29,000 to 19,000 years ago, and highest — about 4,187 meters — during the Holocene Thermal Maximum about 8,000 years ago. The average present-day tree line is at 4,009 meters.
    The fluctuation in tree line elevation between glacial and interglacial periods reached up to 850 meters, causing the habitat area for endemic alpine species during interglacial periods to be about 50 percent of the habitat area during glacial periods.
    “Areas with stable environments over time developed more unique plant mixes. In contrast, regions with frequent tree line changes had simpler, more uniform plant communities,” Wang said.
    Team member Xu Jinfeng said: “Think of environmental changes as a sieve — only the toughest species survive repeated shifts, making plant groups look similar. Stable areas let plants develop special traits, creating richer diversity.”
    According to the study, rapid warming and rising tree lines could threaten the plateau’s unique plants.
    “These species aren’t built to handle double pressures from climate change and invading trees,” said Wang. “Our findings help design better protection plans.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Auckland University – Business School celebrates triple crown

    Source: University of Auckland Business School

    The University of Auckland Business School is in the top one percent in the world, receiving sought-after accreditation from three international organisations – the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the Association of MBAs (AMBA) and the European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS).

    It was the first in Australasia to attain this ‘triple crown’ in 2004, a recognition it has now maintained for two decades making it the longest-standing triple crown accredited school in the region.

    All three international accrediting bodies praised many aspects of its operations in the latest round of accreditation awards.

    The European Quality Improvement System awarded accreditation to the School based on overall quality, viability and a commitment to continuous improvement. It also considered internationalisation and corporate connections.

    The Business School’s commitment to excellence, academic quality and innovative programme design were among several areas that impressed assessors from the Association of MBAs, an institution known for stringent criteria that evaluate teaching, curriculum and student interaction.

    Meanwhile, accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business is achieved by just six percent of the world’s business schools and is considered the gold standard in global business education.

    Business schools that earn this accreditation must demonstrate a commitment to excellence in teaching, research, curriculum development and student success. In the latest accreditation renewal, the organisation commended the Business School for its outstanding research engagement, research-led teaching and strong commitment to positive societal impact through faculty and departmental research centres.

    It said: “The recent establishment of the Energy Centre and Inclusive Capitalism Centre as faculty-level research centres has brought increased emphasis to research agendas of critical significance for New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific region.”

    It also praised the Business School for actively driving initiatives to improve research impact, such as the national research translation competition, which sees academics translate complex studies into relatable reads.

    “Additionally, the experience of the School in developing a wide range of research engagements and collaborations with industry partners, such as with prominent Māori owned seafood company, Moana New Zealand, lead the way in informing classroom learning through rich case study development that prioritises local issues and solutions.”

    Business School Dean Susan Watson says the triple crown achievement is a testament to the School’s exceptional performance across teaching, research, student success and industry engagement.

    “With the successful completion of all three accreditations in an exceptionally compressed timeframe, the Business School continues to demonstrate remarkable organisational capability and sustained excellence,” she says.

    “This recognises our innovative programme design, impactful research and meaningful industry engagement – both in New Zealand and on the world stage.”

    She says the Business School also earned accolades for its cultural leadership.

    “Our unique integration of Māori perspectives and commitment to diversity sets us apart globally. We combine international best practice with local cultural excellence.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Why do we fall for wellness scams? Our cultural biases and myths are often to blame

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jesse Ruse, Clinical Psychologist, PhD Candidate, University of Sydney

    Netflix

    Netflix’s Apple Cider Vinegar has renewed interest in Belle Gibson’s infamous wellness scam, reminding us how vulnerable we can be to deception. While Gibson’s scheme eventually collapsed, her story highlights how fraudsters can exploit our psychological and cultural biases to lure us into wellness traps.

    Part of our culture includes the shared mythologies and symbols that help us make sense of the world. These stories and symbols seem to make our lives more “efficient” by surpassing tedious fact-checking. Over time, these cultural codes become embedded into our psychologies, operating as background biases that shape our decision-making.

    By becoming aware of these biases, we can develop a more critical approach to evaluating information presented to us. In doing so, we can protect ourselves from the Belle Gibsons of the world.

    A desire for inner bodily purity

    One pervasive wellness mythology suggests health can be found in the “pure” state of the body, and that illness occurs when outside contaminants pollute the body.

    As anthropologist Mary Douglas notes, we symbolically equate the “inner” with purity and the “outer” with pollution. This leads to efforts to protect ourselves from outside threats. We are disgusted by the idea of the harmful “outside” getting inside and violating the body’s inner sanctum.

    Gibson’s cookbook and app promoted a diet that claimed inner health problems (such as cancer) are the result of outside contamination, in this case by “bad” foods.

    This symbolism also appears in various diets that advocate for removing certain types of food, such as sugar or gluten, to achieve a state of inner sanctity and, therefore, health.

    Similarly, various “clean eating” diets will specifically link certain foods to cleanliness and others to dirtiness. In their most extreme form, these diets constitute orthorexia, a clinical condition defined by an “obsession” with healthy eating.

    The allure of ‘ancient wisdom’

    Each day we face an overwhelming array of choices, from the products we use to how we construct our identities. As people living in modern, affluent societies we are, as philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre put it, “condemned to be free”.

    In this context of choice overload and decision fatigue, ancient wisdom offers a seductive simplicity: a return to simpler times.

    In 1953, psychoanalyst Jacques Lacan observed that we possess a nostalgia for an idealised golden age (regardless of whether it ever truly existed). We yearn for a mythical era of simplicity, safety and happiness. This psychological bias for the past manifests as a deep reverence for “ancient wisdom”, seemingly passed down through generations and untainted by modern influence.

    This preference can be seen in our instinctive trust in grandparents’ remedies and traditional healing practices, even when scientific evidence doesn’t always support them. Gibson and others co-opt this nostalgia by selling us products that connect us to the past.

    Suspicion of industrial-scale production

    Our minds are often suspicious of large-scale and complex manufacturing processes, and will often devalue industrially produced products.

    This scepticism of scale stems from negative associations with factory work, questionable standards and a history of multinational corporations prioritising profit over people. As a public, we are growing understandably weary of the multinational companies whose influence we can’t seem to escape. Politicians often further this narrative by claiming that globalisation – replacing local cottage industries with industrialised mega-companies – screws the little guys like you and me.

    Gibson capitalised on a growing suspicion of the industrial-scale pharmaceutical industry to promote her bespoke “homegrown” wellness products. Locally-made goods often have increased value simply because they are made on a smaller scale, regardless of their quality or materials.

    Historically, various groups including the Luddites and the hippie movement have rejected the industrial push. More recently, we saw these dynamics play out in COVID-19 vaccine denial, which partially stems from suspicions of the pharmaceutical companies.

    A preference for natural over artificial

    Culturally, the concept of the “natural” holds powerful meaning, positioning things found in nature as inherently superior to those manufactured by humans (deemed “artificial”).

    This natural/artificial dichotomy establishes a symbolic framework in which natural remedies, raw foods and authenticity represent the “proper” order of things – how life should be. The “appeal to nature” bias persists because it resonates with our collective intuition that modern life has somehow disconnected us from important truths or healthier ways of living.

    Research has demonstrated we tend to have a positive association with the concept of the “natural”, which we understand as objects not altered by human intervention. This preference isn’t merely aesthetic. It also reflects our belief in a moral order.

    Gibson famously claimed alternative therapies – most notably apple cider vinegar – helped treat her alleged cancer. Similar patterns appear throughout the wellness industry, where influencers and companies market products by emphasising their natural origins and minimal processing.

    These claims leverage our psychological bias toward natural remedies, even when the scientific evidence for their efficacy is lacking.

    Jesse Ruse 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 do we fall for wellness scams? Our cultural biases and myths are often to blame – https://theconversation.com/why-do-we-fall-for-wellness-scams-our-cultural-biases-and-myths-are-often-to-blame-250790

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Ignore the ‘ivory tower’ clichés – universities are the innovation partners more Kiwi businesses need

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Omid Aliasghar, Senior Lecturer, Management and International Business, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau

    NicoElNino/Shutterstock

    When it comes to turning research into real-world success, New Zealand has a problem.

    Despite the country’s NZ$3.7 billion research and development spending in 2023 – a 17% jump from the previous year — too many New Zealand businesses fail to commercialise innovation.

    According to the World Intellectual Property Organization, New Zealand ranks 21st for innovation inputs. This means we’re good at investing in research and development. But we rank 45th in knowledge outputs and 78th in industry diversification. Essentially, we’re spending more but getting less.

    So, what’s holding the country back? In a lot of cases, it can boil down to a lack of collaboration with universities.

    Universities are typically focused on generating novel or new-to-the world knowledge, with researchers, cutting-edge technology and deep industry connections.

    Working with universities can connect businesses to researchers, government agencies, private industry and global networks. Collaboration can also offer businesses credibility. It signals to investors, partners and customers that they are serious about innovation.

    Yet many businesses underestimate their value. They assume collaboration is slow, academic or bureaucratic.

    Our study – based on a digital survey of 541 firms across a wide range of industries and regions in New Zealand – looked at whether collaborating with universities could help businesses to bring ideas to market, sell intellectual property and develop technology.

    We also considered whether there was a difference in working with international universities versus collaborating with local institutions. While identifying details of the individual businesses were kept confidential, here is what we learned.

    The case for foreign university partnerships

    Our research found partnering with foreign universities allowed New Zealand businesses to tap into global expertise and advanced research. It also provided access to diverse knowledge networks, where businesses could learn from various real-world applications of scientific knowledge.

    For example, a New Zealand business specialising in artificial intelligence (AI) can gain game-changing insights by collaborating with top universities in the United States.

    The partnerships can provide access to leading AI models, advanced algorithms, and global industry connections. These partnerships can enable the business to stay ahead in an increasingly competitive market.

    Additionally, many universities had well-established technology transfer offices. These had experience in helping businesses commercialise research.

    In short, foreign university collaborations opened doors to the world’s best knowledge and technology – critical for firms operating in fast-moving industries.

    New Zealand technology businesses have benefited from partnering with universities based in the United States on artificial intelligence projects.
    Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock

    The strength of local university collaborations

    We also found local university collaborations had their own advantages, including
    an understanding of New Zealand’s specific challenges, from climate change impact on agriculture to AI adoption in small businesses.

    This contextual knowledge made their expertise highly relevant for firms aiming to commercialise innovation within New Zealand’s unique market conditions.

    Working with local universities also allowed businesses to build strong, personal relationships with researchers, fostering faster and more effective knowledge exchange.

    Unlike foreign partnerships, where interactions may be limited to emails and virtual meetings, local collaborations allowed for regular in-person brainstorming, experimentation and problem solving.

    Finally, collaborating with New Zealand’s universities gave businesses access to top local talent, helping them recruit skilled graduates familiar with the domestic market and its needs.

    A balanced approach

    Investing in research and development alone won’t drive innovation for businesses. Without strategic collaboration, firms risk wasting resources on ideas that never reach the market.

    Businesses should take a balanced approach. Foreign university collaborations can offer groundbreaking advances, cutting-edge knowledge and global networks. At the same time, local university collaborations offer accessible knowledge, local expertise and stronger working relationships.

    By embracing these partnerships, New Zealand businesses can turn research into commercial success, drive national economic growth, and position themselves as global innovation leaders. The question is no longer if firms should collaborate with universities – it’s how quickly they can start.

    This research was completed with Annique Un (Northeastern University), Kazuhiro Asakawa (Keio University), Jarrod Haar (Massey University) and Sihong Wu (University of Auckland).

    Omid Aliasghar receives funding support for this research provided by Building New Zealand’s Innovation Capacity Spearhead within the Science for Technological Innovation National Science Challenge.

    – ref. Ignore the ‘ivory tower’ clichés – universities are the innovation partners more Kiwi businesses need – https://theconversation.com/ignore-the-ivory-tower-cliches-universities-are-the-innovation-partners-more-kiwi-businesses-need-249129

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Appointments – PSA appoints Fleur Fitzsimons as a National Secretary

    Source: PSA

    PSA Assistant Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons has been appointed as a National Secretary of the country’s largest union, PSA President Virgil Iraia says.
    Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is led by two National Secretaries and Fleur will join National Secretary Duane Leo as co-leader of the union.
    To ensure continuity the PSA has appointed Fleur ahead of National Secretary Kerry Davies’ retirement later in year. Kerry has spent 40 years working for the union movement, mainly with the PSA, and has been National Secretary for six years.
    Virgil says the PSA was pleased that a candidate of Fleur’s ability had stepped up to replace Kerry, whose experience and leadership had been vital to the work of the PSA.
    “Kerry has done an outstanding job for the PSA, and we were looking for a strong and able candidate to step into the senior leadership role at a time when members were facing a hostile political and economic environment.
    “Fleur will bring her considerable experience and skills to this role. Her skills will help us keep advocating for properly funded public and state services, health care, local government and community services, and for recognition of the importance of the work of our members who deliver these,” Virgil says.
    Fleur has 20 years’ experience working for the PSA as an organiser, media adviser, solicitor, Assistant Secretary, and most recently as an Acting National Secretary.
    She also served as a Wellington City Councillor for five years, and is a former President of the Victoria and New Zealand University students’ associations.
    “We have a lot of work to do in response to the Government’s attacks on public, community and health services. I am looking forward to the challenge” Fleur says.
    The PSA is the union of 95,000 members, working in the Public Service, State Sector, Health, Local Government and Community and Public Services.
    The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Cantwell Releases Snapshot Report Showing How Proposed Medicaid Funding Cuts Could Devastate WA Health Care

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell

    02.25.25

    Cantwell Releases Snapshot Report Showing How Proposed Medicaid Funding Cuts Could Devastate WA Health Care

    Central and Eastern Washington at highest risk with Medicaid on chopping block — 70% of children in Central WA’s Congressional District 4 are on Medicaid; rural hospital leaders warn of closings

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, as House Republicans continue to debate whether they will make significant cuts to Medicaid, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) released a snapshot report highlighting the impact that slashing Medicaid to fund tax cuts for corporations and the ultra-wealthy would have on Washington state’s health care system — especially in Central and Eastern Washington.

    The snapshot report includes new data on the percentage of Medicaid patients in each of the State of Washington’s U.S. congressional districts, as well as by region. Congressional District 4 (Central Washington) and Congressional District 5 (Eastern Washington) have the highest proportions of adults and total population on Medicaid. Seventy percent of children in District 4 are on Medicaid.

    The report also includes information provided by rural Central and Eastern Washington hospitals, showing how crucial Medicaid funding is for their survival. “We’re struggling to keep our doors open … the only thing left to cut is the hospital itself,” the report quotes Astria Toppenish Hospital Administrator Cathy Bambrick as saying.

    Based on interviews and statements from more than a dozen health organizations statewide, the report details how Medicaid cuts — and the subsequent service cuts by providers — would likely affect all Washingtonians.

    Children:

    47% of WA children are on Medicaid. “Babies could die,” says Dr. Jason Deen, an Associate Professor of Pediatrics and pediatric cardiologist at the University of Washington who treats children across Washington state, as children like those he treats could lose access to life-saving specialty care without Medicaid.

    Farmers: 

    Rural hospitals in Central and Eastern Washington would be hardest hit by these cuts. “It is not uncommon for our small family farmers to be on a Medicaid program,” says Garfield County Hospital District CEO Mat Slaybaugh.

    People with chronic conditions:

    Without health care coverage, people with chronic conditions won’t get the consistent care they need. “People are going to be dying in their homes,” says Spokane-area nurse Jessica Grove. 

    Anyone with a medical emergency:

    Medicaid helps people avoid the emergency room; it also funds first responders in our state. Cuts to the program could mean overcrowded ERs and longer wait times for ambulances. “Every Washingtonian should be concerned about any funding cuts that could lead to slower response times in a life-threatening emergency,” says Dennis Lawson, President of the Washington State Council of Fire Fighters. 

    Sen. Cantwell’s snapshot report on Washington state is available HERE. 

    Medicaid is the federal program that insures many low-income adults and children, pregnant people, seniors, and people with disabilities. Washington state’s Medicaid program, Apple Health, ensures that eligible Washingtonians can afford to seek health care and see providers when they need to.  The program also ensures that hospitals — which are required to treat everyone, regardless of their ability to pay — receive reimbursements for the significant number of low-income people they serve. About 1.8 million Washingtonians are enrolled in Apple Health.

    Congressional Republicans are proposing deep cuts to Medicaid through the budget reconciliation process. President Trump has said that he opposes cuts to Medicaid, however he has also said that he supports the House Republican budget plan — which includes cuts to Medicaid. Late last week, Senate Republicans launched the budget resolution process, which would allow them to fold budget cuts and policy changes into a single package for an up-down vote. The House is expected to vote on a competing budget resolution this week, and the two chambers will eventually have to reconcile their plans and finalize the package’s details. 

    During Trump’s first term, he supported — and Sen. Cantwell opposed — an effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act that would have cut Medicaid by $800 billion.

    MIL OSI USA News –