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Category: Universities

  • MIL-OSI Global: Your dog may be wilder than you think, according to canine sleep research

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Deborah Wells, Reader, School of Psychology, Queen’s University Belfast

    Rasulov/Shutterstock

    Dogs may look adorable when they snooze, but their sleeping habits actually hold fascinating clues on how living with humans has shaped canine behaviour. The sleep-wake patterns of the dog can also serve as a useful model for human sleep and wellbeing research.

    Domestic dogs have largely diurnal sleeping habits (awake during the day, asleep at night), aligning themselves to the lifestyle of their owners. Most of their sleep happens during the night, between the hours of 9pm and 6am. Unlike humans, however, dogs have frequent bouts of sleeping during the daytime, particularly in the afternoon.

    A 2020 study estimated that the average pet dog sleeps for roughly ten hours a day. In reality, it is difficult to determine how much dogs sleep during a 24-hour period because drowsiness (resting with eyes closed) accounts for a considerable proportion of their daily activity. This has led to a large range of estimation (seven to 16 hours) in the amount of time that dogs devote to sleep.

    The dog’s ancestor, the grey wolf, tends to show nocturnal (night-time active) or crepuscular (dawn and dusk active) sleep patterns in the wild. That said, wolves can show high variability in their activity, with human disturbance, food availability and weather conditions all influencing their sleep-wake cycles.

    Captive wolves, like dogs, typically have a diurnal circadian rhythm, adapting their sleep-wake cycle to the feeding regimes and human activity in their environment. Free-ranging domestic dogs are more inclined to resemble wild canids in their sleep cycles, showing a greater propensity towards crepuscular or nocturnal activity. In urban areas feral dogs may, again, align their sleeping habits with human activity.

    These cross-species studies suggest that domestication may not necessarily have changed the sleeping habits of dogs per se. Rather, sleep in dogs appears to be determined by human lifestyle and situational factors. Left to their own devices, however, dogs may be more likely to assume the sleeping habits of their wild ancestors.

    The nature of sleep in dogs

    Dogs have a number of sleep stages, including drowsiness, lighter non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep and deeper rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, where most, although not all, dreaming happens. Dogs devote more of their total sleep time to REM (roughly 2.9 hours a day) than humans (1.9 hours a day).

    However, a 2022 study that involved researchers cuddling dogs and socialised wolves to sleep, found that dogs spent less time in REM sleep than the wolves.

    Both species, however, spent a similar amount of time in the other stages of sleep. This raises questions about whether REM sleep is related to domestication. Species which are at high risk of being attacked while asleep typically spend less time in REM sleep than animals who live in safer environments, so the findings from this study are intriguing.

    Dogs nap during the day more than people or wolves.
    manushot/Shutterstock

    Dogs engage in their deepest sleep during the night, and their daytime naps are relatively light. Like other animals, including rats and hedgehogs, dogs often wake up after a period of REM sleep, perhaps an evolutionary adaptation designed to force them out of their slumber to check for dangers in the environment.

    These frequent and relatively brief sleep-wake cycles allow dogs to adjust to changes in their routine more readily than humans. Drug detection dogs, for example, have been found to cope remarkably well with changes to their working schedule, showing little disruption to their sleeping patterns.

    As with humans, the duration and quality of sleep in dogs fluctuates, both day to day and over their lifespan. As dogs get older, their sleep becomes more fragmented, accompanied by decreased bouts of REM sleep at night and increased NREM sleep during the day.

    Other factors, including canine sex, daytime activity, welfare, environmental conditions, and even social interactions, can affect sleep quality. Deprivations in daytime napping typically lead to quicker sleep onset and longer REM sleep at night, both for dogs and other animals.

    Why do dogs sleep?

    Scientists still don’t agree why dogs, or indeed other animals, sleep, although we do know that the process is heavily involved in physical restoration.

    Memory consolidation (the conversion of short-term memory to long-term memory), closely linked to REM sleep, is perhaps the most studied function of sleep. Most of this work points to sleep’s important role in facilitating learning.

    For example, in 2017 researchers in Hungary found that dogs’ memory recall significantly improved when the animals were taught unfamiliar words and then allowed to take a three hour period of sleep and rest.

    The nature of sleep in dogs, as in humans, may be influenced by emotional processing. The 2017 Hungarian study found negative experiences, such as owner separation and approach from a threatening stranger, resulted in increased REM sleep and decreased drowsiness in the dogs. Further work on this aspect of sleep is much needed, particularly considering there are close parallels in cognitive functioning between humans and dogs.

    Scientists already use dogs as a model for studying a range of sleep-related issues in humans, including sleep disorders, such as narcolepsy and REM behaviour disorder, and age-related changes similar to dementia in humans (cognitive dysfunction syndrome). Although still in its foetal stages, work in this area is starting to yield data that may be useful in helping us decipher early mechanisms for Alzeimher’s disease and treatment for age-related health problems.

    It is clear that our dogs are not wasting their time slumbering on the sofa. There is still much to be learned from exploring the biological rhythms of the animals we share our lives with, so let those sleeping dogs lie.

    Deborah Wells 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 dog may be wilder than you think, according to canine sleep research – https://theconversation.com/your-dog-may-be-wilder-than-you-think-according-to-canine-sleep-research-241981

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Switching to electric vehicles will push the power grid to the brink

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Florimond Gueniat, Associate Professor in Mechanical Engineering, Birmingham City University

    AdamEdwards / shutterstock

    The UK’s pledge to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 hinges on replacing millions of petrol and diesel vehicles with cleaner alternatives. But transitioning to electric transport isn’t just about manufacturing new cars, installing chargers and so on. It’s a gargantuan energy generation challenge that could push the power grid to its limits.

    In 2023, UK transport consumed about 46 million litres of petrol and diesel. If we convert that into electricity, it would be equivalent to 49.5 gigawatts (GW) of continuous power throughout a whole year. For perspective, this is about one-third more than the UK’s entire current electricity generation capacity.

    In other words, every single power station in the UK could be devoted entirely to powering electric vehicles and it still wouldn’t be enough. But one might say we didn’t consider the efficiency of electric vehicles. Petrol and diesel engines waste about three quarters of their energy as heat, with only a small portion used to propel the car. Electric vehicles meanwhile waste only about one quarter.

    Adjusting for this, the actual power needed if the UK went entirely electric drops to around 20 GW. It would still mean increasing today’s grid capacity by almost half (46%), corresponding to building 17 nuclear plants (1.2 GW each) or 5,800 skyscraper-sized wind turbines (3.5 MW each). Those wind farms would cost around £22 billion, while the nuclear plants would cost significantly more.

    At the moment, less than 1% of vehicles in the UK are electric, which explains why there are no specific power issues – yet. But if the country did have a fully carbon-free fleet of vehicles, the associated surge in demand would strain infrastructure and risk large blackouts. California’s grid, for example, already faces stress during electric vehicle charging peaks, prompting warnings and forcing the state to put “managed charging” policies in place.

    ‘A gargantuan energy challenge’.
    Supamotionstock.com / shutterstock

    Massive upgrade needed

    Most countries looking to switch to zero-carbon transport will need to massively upgrade their electricity grid and power plants. Renewable energy complicates matters as wind and solar can’t always meet demand spikes (you can burn more gas or coal when needed, but you can’t choose when the wind blows or the sun shines). Nuclear offers stable and massive output, but new plants can take decades to build and the public is often hostile.

    Certain “smart” solutions could help things even if the grid itself isn’t overhauled. Electric vehicle batteries could be linked to the grid for instance, and used to store and supply power. Overnight, millions of cars will soak up electricity before releasing it when demand spikes again in the morning. Price discounts would encourage people to charge their cars at night, when demand for electricity is at its lowest.

    This can help mitigate many of the issues related to wind and solar being intermittent. But it will cause batteries to deteriorate faster, and still won’t solve the problem of having to generate more electricity.

    Electricity stored overnight can be very useful in the morning when millions of lights and kettles are switched on.
    Smile Fight / shutterstock

    One underappreciated strategy is empowering households and businesses that generate their own electricity via solar panels, small wind turbines, or even micro-hydro systems. By 2035, with vigorous policies, these “prosumers” could supply up to 15% of the UK’s electricity, easing grid strain and reducing reliance on centralised funding. Such policies in Germany have lead its prosumer networks to already offset 10% of the national demand.

    Without such decentralised efforts, the financial burden of grid upgrades will fall entirely on taxpayers, at staggering costs. The alternative is a huge rise in price of electricity, felt by all, and a stalled transition.

    No time to delay

    Generating more power remains the core issue. Without urgent action, the transition to low-carbon transport could stall – or worse, overload the energy system. The governments of France, the UK and some other countries have recently begun to discuss increasing energy production, but the focus is on meeting AI-related demands rather than electricity for the next generation of vehicles.

    Critically, net-zero will only happen with strong transport and energy policies in place. Governments must increase grid capacity and incentivise small-scale renewable generation through tax breaks and specially-designed payments. The alternative – delaying and relying solely on public funds – is economically unviable and politically risky.

    Florimond Gueniat 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. Switching to electric vehicles will push the power grid to the brink – https://theconversation.com/switching-to-electric-vehicles-will-push-the-power-grid-to-the-brink-248814

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: More people are playing roller derby – here’s what that might mean for foot health

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Benjamin Bullen, Lecturer in Podiatric Medicine, University of Galway

    Marben/Shutterstock

    Popularised in the 2009 Drew Barrymore film, Whip It, roller derby is one of the fastest growing sports for women worldwide – particularly in the US.

    While this roller speed-skating competition was originally established as a marathon race in the 1930s, the modern, kick-ass, punk-inspired, version began in the early 2000s.

    Players wear four-wheeled “quad” roller skates and mandatory protective equipment, including a helmet, mouth and wrist guards and elbow and knee pads – but foot injuries are common. These often include bruising, torn ligaments, broken bones and toenail injuries – like the one featured in the image below.

    Since roller derby is a growing sport, podiatrists like me will likely see more foot injuries from players, including bruising under the toenails and lost nails. Lost toenails are a common injury among these athletes due to the frequent quick turns and stops required during events.

    Many roller derby athletes wear tight skates to improve responsiveness during quick turns and stops. Loose fitting boots can also increase the risk of ankle injuries, such as sprained or torn ligaments and broken ankle and foot bones.

    Under pressure

    It is not at all uncommon for people to have one foot longer than the other, which will increase pressure in the roller skate, particularly on the big toenail. Silicone toe protectors can be worn to reduce this pressure; however, they may also reduce the amount of available room in the toebox – front of the shoe.

    Appropriate roller skate fit is essential to prevent such nail injuries and, much like other sports, shoes that are too short or too long may lead to recurring nail issues, such as “runner’s toe” – also known as a subungual hematoma – a painful, blackened toenail caused by repeated trauma.

    Skates with a deeper and wider toebox may reduce the likelihood of injury. The front of the shoe may also be “punched-out” following gentle warming of the material. This can be achieved professionally with the assistance of special stretchers. In keeping with the “do-it-yourself” ethos of roller derby, though, skaters may use the rounded end of a broom handle to gently stretch the shoes over the big toenail area.

    In addition, loose roller skate laces leave the ankle unstable and more likely to roll, leading to strains, sprains and even broken bones. Firm lacing secures the foot firmly within the roller skate, also reducing the potential for friction and the foot sliding forward within the roller skate, avoiding nail trauma.

    Foot injury prevention

    As a podiatrist, I advise patients to use protective dressings before playing sport, wear cushioning socks to absorb some of the force, and keep toe nails short with regular trimming. Some roller derby athletes have been known to apply superglue or nail glue to re-attach lifted nails – but this practice is not advised. Supergluing lost nails could cause lead to irritation, infection and further injury.

    Keeping nails short and ensuring good roller skate fit and firm lacing are essential to prevent foot, ankle and toenail injuries. Whether a roller derby player or not, if you do experience foot and ankle issues, why not visit your friendly local podiatrist?

    Later, skater.

    Benjamin Bullen 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. More people are playing roller derby – here’s what that might mean for foot health – https://theconversation.com/more-people-are-playing-roller-derby-heres-what-that-might-mean-for-foot-health-248524

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Associate Administrator Jim Free to Retire After 30 Years Service

    Source: NASA

    NASA Associate Administrator Jim Free announced Wednesday his retirement, effective Saturday, Feb. 22. As associate administrator, Free has been the senior advisor to NASA Acting Administrator Janet Petro and leads NASA’s 10 center directors, as well as the mission directorate associate administrators at NASA Headquarters in Washington. He is the agency’s chief operating officer for more than 18,000 employees and oversaw an annual budget of more than $25 billion.  
    During his tenure as associate administrator since January 2024, NASA added nearly two dozen new signatories of the Artemis Accords, enabled the first Moon landing through the agency’s CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) initiative to deliver NASA science to the lunar surface, launched the Europa Clipper mission to study Jupiter’s icy ocean moon, and found molecules containing the ingredients for life in samples from asteroid Bennu delivered to Earth by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification and Security–Regolith Explorer) spacecraft.
    “Throughout his career, Jim has been the ultimate servant leader – always putting the mission and the people of NASA first,” said Petro. “A remarkable engineer and a decisive leader, he combines deep technical expertise with an unwavering commitment to this agency’s mission. Jim’s legacy is one of selfless service, steadfast leadership, and a belief in the power of people.”
    Among the notable contributions to the nation during his NASA career, Free also championed a new path forward to return samples from Mars ahead of human missions to the Red Planet, supported the crews living and working aboard the International Space Station as they conduct hundreds of experiments and technology demonstrations, and engaged industry in new ways to secure a public/private partnership for NASA’s VIPER (Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover) mission on the Moon. 
    “It has been an honor to serve NASA and walk alongside the workforce that tackles the most difficult engineering challenges, pursues new scientific knowledge in our universe and beyond, develops technologies for future exploration endeavors, all while prioritizing safety every day for people on the ground, in the air, and in space,” Free said. “I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of the NASA family and contribute to the agency’s mission for the benefit of humanity.”
    During his more than three decades of service, Free has held several leadership roles at the agency. Before being named NASA associate administrator, Free served as associate administrator of the Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate, where he oversaw the successful Artemis I mission and the development of NASA’s Moon to Mars architecture, defining and managing the systems development for the agency’s Artemis missions and planning for NASA’s integrated deep space exploration approach. 
    Free began his NASA career in 1990 as an engineer, working on Tracking and Data Relay Satellites at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. He later transferred to the agency’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland and served in a variety of roles supporting the International Space Station and the development of the Orion spacecraft before transferring to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston in 2008. Free returned to NASA Glenn in 2009 and was promoted to chief of the Space Flight Systems Directorate, where he oversaw the center’s space work. Free was named deputy center director in November 2010 and then served as center director from January 2013 until March 2016, when he was appointed to the NASA Headquarters position of deputy associate administrator for Technical [sic] in the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate.
    A native of Northeast Ohio, Free earned his bachelor’s degree in aeronautics from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and his master’s degree in space systems engineering from Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands. 
    Free is the recipient of the Presidential Rank Award, NASA Distinguished Service Medal, NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal, NASA Exceptional Service Medal, NASA Significant Achievement Medal, and numerous other awards.
    For more information about NASA, visit:

    Home Page

    -end-
    Kathryn Hambleton / Cheryl WarnerHeadquarters, Washington202-358-1600kathryn.hambleton@nasa.gov / cheryl.m.warner@nasa.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Newsom announces appointments 2.19.25

    Source: US State of California 2

    Feb 19, 2025

    SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:

    Andrew “Andy” Nakahata, of San Francisco, has been appointed Chief Deputy Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer at the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank. Nakahata has been Director and Western Region Head of Public Finance at TD Securities LLC since 2024. He was Managing Director and Regional Head of Public Finance for the West Region at UBS Financial Services Inc. from 2017 to 2024. Nakahata was Managing Director and Head of the West Region at the National Public Finance Guarantee Corporation from 2015 to 2017. He was Director and Co-Head of the Higher Education Group at Citigroup from 2010 to 2015. Nakahata was an Executive Director at J.P. Morgan from 2009 to 2010. He was Vice President of Public Sector and Infrastructure Banking at Goldman Sachs & Co. from 1994 to 2010. Nakahata is Treasurer of the Board of Trustees at San Francisco University High School and member of the Board of Directors of Asian Americans in Public Finance. He earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Yale University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Wesleyan University. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $186,876. Nakahata is a Democrat.

    Diane Lydon, of Sacramento, has been appointed Assistant Deputy Director and Northern California Regional Advisor at the Office of the Small Business Advocate. Lydon has been a Business Outreach Manager for the Office of Small Business and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Services at the Department of General Services since 2023, where she was previously a Business Outreach Liaison from 2022 to 2023. She was Education and Training Manager at World Trade Center Northern California from 2019 to 2022. Lydon was a Sales and Business Development Manager at Heart Zones Inc. from 2015 to 2019. She was a Marketing Program Manager at Skopre from 2013 to 2015. Lydon was an Olympic Program Manager at Sportsworks Events LTD from 2004 to 2012. She is a member of the Department of General Services Toastmasters. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $123,600. Lydon is a Democrat.

    Brian Lin Walsh, of Rocklin, has been appointed Principal Labor Relations Officer at the California Department of Human Resources. Lin Walsh has been Director of the Administrative Services Division at the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing since 2024. He was Senior Labor Relations Officer at the California Department of Human Resources from 2022 to 2024, and Labor Relations Officer from 2020 to 2022. Lin Walsh was Labor Relations Manager II at the California Department of Motor Vehicles from 2014 to 2020. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. The position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $153,492. Lin Walsh is a Democrat.

    Joseph Tuggle, of Placerville, has been appointed Warden of Folsom State Prison, where he has been serving as Acting Warden since 2024 and was Chief Deputy Administrator from 2023 to 2024. Tuggle was Acting Chief Deputy Administrator at California Medical Facility from 2022 to 2023. He held several positions at Folsom State Prison from 2000 to 2022, including Correctional Administrator, Correctional Captain, Correctional Lieutenant, Correctional Sergeant, and Correctional Officer. Tuggle was a Correctional Officer at Pelican Bay State Prison from 1998 to 2000. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $193,524. Tuggle is a Republican.

    Kelly DeRoss, of Sacramento, has been appointed Labor Relations Officer at the California Department of Human Resources. DeRoss has been Labor Relations Manager II at the California Employment Development Department since 2019. She was Labor Relations Manager I at the California Department of Healthcare Services from 2015 to 2019, where she was previously Labor Relations Specialist from 2013 to 2014. DeRoss held several roles at the California Department of Public Health, including Labor Relations Analyst from 2012 to 2013, Associate Personnel Analyst from 2009 to 2012, and Staff Services Analyst from 2008 to 2009. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Anthropology from the University of California, Davis. The position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $141,144. DeRoss is a Democrat.

    Jennifer Haley, of Rancho Palos Verdes, has been appointed to the California Workforce Development Board. Haley has been President and Chief Executive Officer at Kern Energy since 2018, where she was previously Vice President and General Counsel from 2012 to 2018. She was an Associate at Best Best & Krieger LLP from 2007 to 2012. Haley is the Chair of the California Foundation for Commerce and Education and is a member of the Board of Trustees of the California Science Center Foundation and Board of Directors of the California Chamber of Commerce. She earned a Juris Doctor degree and a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from the University of San Diego. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $100 per diem. Haley is registered with no party preference.

    Amelia Tyagi, of Los Angeles, has been appointed to the California Workforce Development Board. Tyagi has been a Managing Director at Sellside Group since 2024, and an Author since 2003. She was Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer, and President of Business Talent Group from 2005 to 2023. Tyagi was Vice President and Co-Founder of HealthAllies from 1999 to 2001. She was a Consultant at McKinsey & Co. from 1996 to 1999. Tyagi is the Chairperson of her local chapter of Young Presidents Organization, a member of the Board of Directors of Planned Parenthood of Los Angeles, Fuse Corps, and WildAid and Chairperson Emeritus at Dēmos. She earned a Master of Business Administration degree from University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Brown University. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $100 per diem. Tyagi is a Democrat. 

    Press Releases, Recent News

    Recent news

    Feb 19, 2025

    News What you need to know: A court has denied the city of Norwalk’s request to dismiss the state’s lawsuit against the city for its unlawful ban on homeless shelters.  NORWALK — Governor Gavin Newsom issued the following statement in response to a court decision…

    Feb 19, 2025

    News What you need to know: Steve Jobs, a visionary of global scale, has been nominated to represent California on the American Innovation Coin. The coin, which will be minted by the U.S. Mint, highlights U.S. innovations and innovators, including California’s legacy…

    Feb 19, 2025

    News What you need to know: Over the next three years, California will host the NBA All-Star Weekend, X Games, FIFA World Cup, Super Bowl LX & LXI, and the LA28 Olympics & Paralympics in select regions across the state. SACRAMENTO – As the Bay Area wraps up…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Government to Establish ‘Ambedkar Chair’ and Student Facilities at Mumbai University: Union Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment, Dr. Virendra Kumar at ‘Samvidhan Amrit Mahotsav’

    Source: Government of India

    Government to Establish ‘Ambedkar Chair’ and Student Facilities at Mumbai University: Union Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment, Dr. Virendra Kumar at ‘Samvidhan Amrit Mahotsav’

    Rights Must Be Balanced with Duties: Union Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment, Dr. Virendra Kumar

    Mumbai University Has Shaped India’s Legal and Social Landscape: Secretary, Ministery for Social Justice & Empowerment, Amit Yadav

    Posted On: 20 FEB 2025 4:13PM by PIB Mumbai

    Mumbai, 20th February 2025

    Marking the 75th anniversary of the Indian Constitution, Union Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment, Dr. Virendra Kumar, addressed a gathering at the ‘Samvidhan Amrit Mahotsav’ in the University of Mumbai, today. In his keynote address, Dr. Kumar emphasized the government’s commitment to furthering the ideals of social justice, equality, and empowerment inspired by Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, the principal architect of the Constitution.

    Dr. Kumar highlighted several initiatives designed to uplift the underprivileged and further Dr. Ambedkar’s vision of inclusive growth and equality. “The government will establish an ‘Ambedkar Chair’ at the University of Mumbai, similar to those in other universities, to promote research on Dr. Ambedkar’s contributions and his vision for the nation,” he stated. He further announced plans to set up two new hostels at the university to support students. Additionally, as part of the government’s initiative to assist students from marginalised communities preparing for competitive exams, a dedicated coaching center will be established at Mumbai University, following the successful implementation of similar centers in other institutions.

    In his address, Dr. Kumar also appealed to the youth of India as part of the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, urging them to lead the way in combating substance abuse and to protect not only themselves but also their communities.

    Reflecting on Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar’s profound connection to the University of Mumbai, where he completed his education, Dr. Kumar said, “Dr. Ambedkar’s journey from a student in this very institution to becoming the architect of our Constitution is a testament to his determination and vision for India. His work did not just provide a legal framework but envisioned a social and economic democracy that is still the guiding force behind the government’s policies.”

    The Minister noted how the Constitution not only guarantees fundamental rights but also emphasizes responsibilities. “We must recognise that while we focus on our rights, we must equally embrace our duties towards the society. This balance is essential for the true realisation of the democracy Dr. Ambedkar dreamed of,” he stated. The Union Minister concluded by reiterating Dr. Ambedkar’s belief that “political democracy is incomplete without social and economic democracy,” and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fulfilling these ideals.

    Secretary, M/o Social Justice & Empowerment, Shri Amit Yadav, in his remarks, stated, “This event is a reminder of the powerful role Mumbai University has played in India’s legal and social evolution. One of the finest leaders this university produced was Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, who not only earned his degree here but also taught, leaving behind a legacy of change.”

    Minister for Higher Education, Govt. of Maharashtra, Shri Chandrakant Patil, Vice-Chancellor, University of Mumbai, Prof. Ravindra Kulkarni, Director, Department of Social Justice & Empowerment, Shri Anil Kumar Patil were also present during the event. The event was attended by students and faculty of the University of Mumbai.

     

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Current Trends in Drug Discovery Research (CTDDR-2022): The 9th MahaKumbh for Drug Research

    Source: Government of India

    Current Trends in Drug Discovery Research (CTDDR-2022): The 9th MahaKumbh for Drug Research

    Day one was dedicated to “New strategies in synthetic and medicinal chemistry”

    Posted On: 20 FEB 2025 1:30PM by PIB Delhi

    The 9th “International Symposium on Current Trends in Drug Discovery Research” inaugurated yesterday at CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow. Dr. Radha Rangrajan, Director CSIR-CDRI, Lucknow, welcomed all the dignitaries present in this mega event. She briefed about the details of this very important Drug discovery conference and set the tone for the participants that how they can utilize this opportunity for learning, networking and upgrading their research skills

    “Science has no borders”: Dr. N. Kalaiselvi

    The Chief Guest of the program, Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Director General, CSIR & Secretary DSIR addressed the audience. Dr. Kalaiselvi highlighted the event’s significance as a platform for knowledge exchange. She stressed that such gatherings provide a great opportunity for researchers, industry leaders, and young minds to collaborate, fostering innovation in pharmaceuticals and healthcare.”Science has no borders, and this program is a gateway for global collaboration,” she remarked, underlining the importance of international cooperation in research and development. She urged students to take inspiration from these discussions and work towards making India a global leader in science and technology by 2047.

    Dr. N. Kalaiselvi, Director General, CSIR & Secretary DSIR addressing the audience at the inauguration of  “Current Trends in Drug Discovery Research (CTDDR-2022)” at CSIR-CDIR, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.

    Quantum Computing and Artificial Intelligence (AI) is set to revolution in drug discovery: Prof. Balram Bhargava

    The Guest of Honour the program, Prof. Balram Bhargava, Dean and Senior Consultant, Holy Family Hospital, New Delhi & Former Director General, ICMR also addressed the audience. Dr. Balram Bhargava, emphasizes that India’s strength in drug discovery stems from its rich heritage in chemistry, making it a global hub for pharmaceutical advancements.The country has consistently demonstrated its ability to produce high-quality, affordable medicines, ensuring healthcare accessibility worldwide. However, challenges such as the availability of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) and the need for new drug discoveries remain key areas of focus. Further he said that the integration of Quantum Computing and Artificial Intelligence (AI) is set to revolutionize drug discovery, accelerating research and reducing costs. Also he said that Collaboration has been a cornerstone of India’s pharmaceutical success, as seen in the development of vaccines. Market shaping is equally important, ensuring that innovations reach the masses while maintaining India’s leadership in cost-effective healthcare solutions.

    Journey towards the development of drugs for pain treatment

    (Prof. Christopher Robert McCurdy)

    In the inaugural program, Prof. Christopher Robert McCurdy, Professor and The Frank A. Duckworth Eminent Scholar Chair, University of Florida, USA, has delivered the inaugural talk on “Seeing Pain: from the lab to the clinic, a medicinal chemist’s journey.” In his oration, he brought up the role of Sigma-1 receptors in pain processing. He further talked about the journey of the discovery and development of a tracer molecule FTC146, which acts as a selective ligand for Sigma-1 receptors. This tracer can locate sites of nerve damage in peripheral nerves, which can result in better pain management and, in certain situations, cured pain. This tracer has completed Phase 1 human clinical trials and can be a breakthrough in pain management strategies.

    Targeting cofactor biosynthesis for the development of new antimicrobial agents with novel mechanism of action

    (Prof. Courtney C. Aldrich)

    Later in the Session II today, Prof. Courtney C. Aldrich from the University of Minnesota, USA, He online discussed about the novel approaches in targeting cofactor biosynthesis in order to develop new antimicrobial agents with novel mechanisms. He shared his efforts to design novel anti-tubercular agents against two elusive targets for which there are no effective small molecules. They discovered promising inhibitor chemotypes and optimized them for bioactivity and drug disposition characteristics using complementary techniques. He also discussed the difficulties he encountered during the optimization campaign and how he overcame them through the integration of mechanism of action studies. He also shared his most recent research to develop next-generation Rifamycin derivatives that overcome multiple resistance mechanisms.

     

    Eliciting agonism-antagonism in endosomal toll-like receptor modulators via convoluted interplay of chemical subunits

    (Dr. ArindamTalukdar)

    Dr. ArindamTalukdar from CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology (IICB), Kolkata, shared his research findings on the stimulation of agonism-antagonism in TLR7 modulators via complex interactions between chemical subunits. The TLR7 is an endosomal TLR protein that helps the body to recognize and respond to viruses and bacteria. He noted in his presentation that agonists and antagonists frequently have overlapping binding sites in their target molecules. Therefore, agonistic chemical scaffolds can be used as a template for designing antagonists. Starting from the agonistic purine scaffold, by rationally dissecting, they identified a singular ‘chemical switch’ at C-2 that could make a potent purine scaffold TLR7 agonist to lose agonism and acquire antagonist activity. He further mentioned the most unprecedented outcome of his study as the convoluted interplay of “chemical subunits”, to venture into the agonist-partial agonist-antagonist-agonist circle through sequential single-point change. He further proposed these new class of TLR7 modulators as promising precursor for therapeutic development.

    The eminent speakers ignited the spark of scientific temperament in the participants of CTDDR-2025 with their vibrant talks filled with the latest information. The flooding of current information would be continued in further sessions which will dissipate the new energy and new direction for research and development among the participants sharing this platform from all around.

    ***

     NKR/PSM

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Correctional Services Department Annual Review 2024 (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Correctional Services Department Annual Review 2024 (with photos)
    Correctional Services Department Annual Review 2024 (with photos)
    *****************************************************************

         The following is the translation of the speech given by the Commissioner of Correctional Services, Mr Wong Kwok-hing, at the annual press conference today (February 20): Foreword      The Safeguarding National Security Ordinance officially came into effect upon gazettal in 2024, reflecting the determination of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government to safeguard national security and building momentum for stable social development. Shouldering the missions of safeguarding national security and maintaining social stability, the Correctional Services Department (CSD) was committed to ensuring the effective delivery of its custodial and rehabilitation work in the past year. At the same time, the CSD has been actively extending its reach beyond the prison walls to proactively promote support for offender rehabilitation and conduct crime prevention education in the community through utilising the CSD’s unique resources, with a view to nurturing young people into law-abiding social leaders. (1) Overview of penal population      In 2024, the number of admissions to correctional institutions (including convicted persons, remands and detainees) increased 7 per cent to 18 438 as compared with 2023. In addition, the average daily penal population at correctional institutions also increased significantly to 9 550 persons in 2024 from 8 498 persons in 2023, representing an increase of 12 per cent. The average daily occupancy rate also rose from 75 per cent to 85 per cent.      The year-on-year rate of increase in the average daily number of remands has been over 15 per cent since 2021. The respective number of persons stood high at 3 650 in 2024, representing an increase of 18 per cent as compared with 3 096 persons in 2023, which hit a new record high since 2000.       On the other hand, since 2021, the CSD has assisted to detain adult detainees who are non-Hong Kong residents detained under the Immigration Ordinance. The number of detainees increased by 36 per cent, from 580 in 2023 to 787 in 2024, while the average daily number of detainees substantially increased by 72 per cent from 185 in 2023 to 318 in 2024.       In 2024, the number of admissions to correctional institutions owing to their involvement in offences relating to the black-clad violence (including riots, unlawful assembly) and their contravention of the Hong Kong National Security Law/Safeguarding National Security Ordinance was 410 (64 of them were involved in the contravention of the Hong Kong National Security Law/Safeguarding National Security Ordinance). Compared to 950 in 2023, the number of such admissions dropped by 540, representing a decrease of 57 per cent. As at December 31, 2024, the number of persons in custody involved in offences relating to the black-clad violence and those contravening the Hong Kong National Security Law/Safeguarding National Security Ordinance was 591, representing a decrease of 24 per cent as compared to 776 in 2023.      In response to the ever-changing penal population, especially the increasing population of remands, the CSD has deployed part of the capacity of individual correctional institutions to admit remands in order to alleviate the overcrowding situation of the reception centre. Moreover, the Department has already commenced the in-situ partial redevelopment of Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre, which will increase its capacity for admitting adult male remands in the long run. The Department will continue to closely monitor the changes in penal population and flexibly redeploy resources having regard to the actual operational needs to adjust the capacity for persons on remand in a timely manner. (2) Custodial work      Despite the increasing number of admissions and the growing penal population in the past year, which posed formidable challenges to both the governance and security of correctional institutions, correctional officers continued to stay united and stand fast to their posts. With the continued adoption of the nip-in-the-bud strategy, under which intelligence collection and search operations were stepped up, coupled with the application of technology and the upgrading of facilities and equipment, we strived to combat illicit activities and acts of indiscipline, thereby maintaining the good order and discipline of correctional institutions.      With regard to intercepting the smuggling of dangerous drugs into institutions, under the intensive measures by the Department, there were only six seizure cases of suspected dangerous drugs last year, representing a significant decrease of over 60 per cent as compared with 16 cases in 2023. Five of the cases were found in body-cavity concealment of newly admitted persons in custody; and the remaining one case was found in the mail sent to a person in custody. In addition, the Department continued to take a proactive approach by conducting a total of 12 547 joint search/special search/night raid operations in correctional institutions last year, covering 20 589 locations. Mobile X-ray scanners were also introduced to enhance the efficacy of search operations and strengthen the deterrent effect.          In 2024, as the number of admissions to and the penal population of correctional institutions kept increasing, the number of cases involving acts of indiscipline and violent acts among persons in custody also rose. In 2024, the number of disciplinary charges against persons in custody was 6 393. Counted against the penal population, there were 669 disciplinary cases per 1 000 persons in custody, representing an increase of 7 per cent as compared with 628 cases in 2023. The top three charges were “offending good order and discipline”, “possession of any unauthorised article” and “disobeying the orders of correctional officers”, which accounted for 35 per cent, 28 per cent and 18 per cent of the total number of disciplinary charges respectively. In 2024, a total of 3 412 persons in custody were subject to disciplinary charges, representing an increase of 401 persons or 13 per cent as compared with 3 011 persons in 2023. Among them, 618 committed disciplinary offences three or more times, involving 2 837 disciplinary charges, which accounted for 44 per cent of the total number of disciplinary charges.      In 2024, a total of 382 cases involving violent acts were recorded, representing an increase of 9 per cent as compared with 351 cases in 2023. These cases mainly involved fighting among persons in custody and assaulting others. Among these cases, 26 cases of a more serious nature were referred to the Police for follow-up, representing an increase of 18 per cent as compared to 22 cases in 2023. The number of correctional officers who were injured after being attacked or while stopping violent acts was 20, representing an increase of 33 per cent as compared to 15 in 2023.       In 2024, five cases of concerted acts of indiscipline among persons in custody were recorded, representing an increase of one case over 2023. The number of participants involved in the above incidents was 49 in total.      To maintain the good order and discipline of correctional institutions, apart from combating various kinds of acts of indiscipline through strict law enforcement by institutional staff, the Regional Response Team carried out a total of four operations in 2024 to support the security work of correctional institutions, which involved the handling of incidents like collective actions against the institutional management and group fights among persons in custody.       Apart from combating illicit activities and acts of indiscipline among persons in custody, correctional officers must stay vigilant at all times to detect and prevent any self-harm acts by persons in custody. Under the concerted efforts of correctional officers, a total of 18 self-harm cases were recorded in 2024, representing a significant decrease of 40 per cent as compared with 30 cases in 2023. (3) Rehabilitation      In 2024, the Department enhanced its rehabilitation work on all fronts by fully implementing various measures, including strengthening the determination of persons in custody to rehabilitate, extending the reach of rehabilitation programmes beyond the prison walls, and making an all-out effort to seek participation in and support for rehabilitation work from all sectors of the community, with a view to assisting persons in custody to turn over a new leaf and reintegrate into society.      To address the special rehabilitation needs of persons in custody involved in the black-clad violence and contravening the Hong Kong National Security Law/ Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, the Department continued to launch a number of diversified rehabilitation programmes under the Project PATH to enhance their knowledge of the Chinese traditional culture, foster good character and moral education, and teach them to appreciate and pass down Chinese culture. A flag-raising and foot drill competition was held for the first time with an aim to enhance their sense of national identity.      Furthermore, to enable persons in custody to obtain more opportunities for upward mobility, the CSD launched “Project JET” in October 2022 to provide one-stop training and career development opportunities for persons in custody, encouraging them to make life planning early, make full use of their talents and contribute to society. The project includes life planning, in-centre training, post-release internship, formal employment and a mentoring scheme. “Project JET” was awarded the Community Corrections Award, an excellence award by the International Corrections and Prisons Association last year.      The CSD launched the Rehabilitation Dog Services in early 2024 at Lo Wu Correctional Institution and Phoenix House to provide animal-assisted therapies to persons in custody in need, with a view to improving their depression and anxiety and reducing their violent tendencies. Moreover, the Rehabilitation Dog Services Internship Programme implemented at Phoenix House helps halfway house trainees build self-confidence and develop a sense of responsibility through caring for rehabilitation dogs. Trainees and rehabilitation dogs were arranged to visit elderly service centres to conduct caring visits, thereby giving back to society.      In 2024, the Department also set up two family therapy centres at the Multi-purpose Family and Rehabilitation Service Centres in Tuen Mun and Sheung Shui to organise different kinds of treatment programmes for rehabilitated drug addicts under statutory supervision and rehabilitated persons with violent tendencies or radical thoughts. By extending the in-prison psychological and family counselling services to the community, the Department aims to help them resolve family problems so that they can rebuild family relationships smoothly.      In 2024, the Department set up the Correctional Rehabilitation Research Unit to envision evidence-informed rehabilitation services through promoting research and making reference to the latest international research findings. Last year, the Unit published two issues of “Insight”, a research bulletin, with contents covering “the effect of education programmes on the psychological conditions and rehabilitation motives of persons in custody”, “how rehabilitation dogs enhance psychological health”, and “the application of sports activities on male persons in custody”. Moreover, the Unit has also endeavoured to enhance professional exchanges and its network with overseas, Mainland and local research consultants and practitioners, so that they can consider collaborative research issues on rehabilitation services.      On education, to further enable the inaugural graduates of the Ethics College who have obtained the Diploma of Applied Education to pursue higher qualifications, a two-year full-time Associate of General Studies distance programme was organised in the Ethics College in September 2024 to provide persons in custody with an option for further studies. Meanwhile, the CSD has also extended the Ethics College to Pik Uk Prison to provide a half-day Associate of General Studies programme and half-day vocational training for graduates of the Ethics College who are unable to complete the associate degree programme during the remainder of their sentences. This allows them to receive short-term educational and vocational training and continuously equip themselves in preparation for reintegration into society for academic and career pursuits upon their imminent release.      The overall passing rate of public examinations taken by persons in custody was 88.4 per cent last year (85.3 per cent and 90.6 per cent for adult and young persons in custody respectively), representing an increase of 5.7 percentage points over 2023. One person in custody obtained a total of 25 marks in six papers under the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination. Four additional persons met the general entrance requirements for local universities. Moreover, one person in custody was awarded a doctoral degree, and 11 others were awarded bachelor’s degrees.      On vocational training, the Department provides 13 market-oriented vocational training courses to young persons in custody, and 43 vocational training courses with more than 1 700 training places, an increase of 300 places as compared with 2023, for lawfully residing adult persons in custody who are due for discharge within 24 months and eligible for employment to enrol on a voluntary basis.       Last year, the overall passing rate of vocational training examinations taken by persons in custody was 99.5 per cent (99.3 per cent and 100 per cent for adult and young persons in custody respectively). Their employment rates after six months of employment follow-up period upon release were 87.3 per cent and 78.4 per cent respectively.　　      Moreover, the Department has endeavoured to establish close partnerships with organisations and individuals from different sectors of the community, with a view to providing comprehensive rehabilitation services. The Department held in June last year the first Rehabilitation Partners Award Scheme Presentation Ceremony to honour 120 non-governmental organisations (NGOs), charitable institutions, commercial organisations, post-secondary institutions, etc, in recognition of their active support for persons in custody and rehabilitated persons over the past two years, as well as to encourage different sectors of the community to become Rehabilitation Partners and support rehabilitation work.　　     Over the past 20 years and so, based on the year of discharge, Hong Kong’s recidivism rate (the percentage of readmission of local persons in custody to correctional institutions following conviction for a new offence within two years after discharge) has recorded a significant decrease from 39.9 per cent in 2000 to 21.8 per cent in 2022. The hard-earned result reflects the perseverance and hard work of correctional officers, the firm determination of persons in custody and rehabilitated offenders to turn over a new leaf, as well as the support for offender rehabilitation from all sectors of the community. (4) Community education      The CSD’s Rehabilitation Pioneer Project (RPP) provides a series of community education activities to disseminate to young people the four key messages of safeguarding our country and home, leading a law-abiding and drug-free life as well as supporting offender rehabilitation. Last year, the Department strengthened its patriotic education for young people to enhance their sense of national identity and raise their understanding of our country. A total of 45 133 participants joined various RPP activities last year, representing an increase of 2.5 per cent as compared with 44 015 in 2023.      To further promote the coverage of the Rehabilitation Pioneer Leaders (RPL) in the community, the Department continued a school-based programme to provide on-campus training. Currently, a total of six schools have joined the school-based programme, and the total number of RPL trainees has exceeded 600, representing an increase of 49 per cent as compared to that at the end of 2023. The Department also continued to enhance the diverse training programmes for RPL to help them develop their potential, including organising two certificate courses in 2024, namely Foundation Certificate in Correctional Studies and Criminal Legal Studies and Foundation Certificate in Moral and Personal Management, both pitched at Level 2 under the Hong Kong Qualifications Framework for Secondary One to Three RPL trainees to strengthen their awareness of making joint effort to build a society underpinned by the rule of law, foster positive thinking and establish good virtues.      Upholding the principle of sustainable development, the Department launched an initiative called “Captain Gor Union” and its mobile application last December, establishing a membership system for the RPP to recruit primary and secondary students as members. The members will then be arranged to join different activities promoting national security, national education, crime prevention, anti-drug and support for offender rehabilitation messages, as well as cultural exchange activities. The new membership system not only makes youth development work more systematic and sustainable but also helps recruit young people with great potential to join the RPL, with a view to continuously bringing in new blood to the Department’s youth uniformed group.      The Department organised different types of exchange activities under the theme “exploring our country ･ caring the community” last year. RPL trainees were arranged to visit different places on the Mainland, such as Wuhan, Beijing, Tianjin and Urumqi, and participate in volunteer activities. In addition, at the end of last year, the Department implemented a comprehensive co-operation programme with the charitable organisation, Long Caring, and arranged for RPL trainees to be the first uniformed youth group to join a tour to the Hong’an Hope Town in Hubei to enable them to learn about our country’s poverty alleviation work and the road to great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.      Furthermore, in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the Department organised the first 3×3 Basketball Invitation Game for Hong Kong Uniformed Youth Groups in celebration of National Day last October to unite different uniformed youth groups in Hong Kong, aiming to promote patriotism through positive sport games, enhance young people’s sense of national identity and nurture them into a new generation with an affection for our country and Hong Kong and a positive mindset. (5) Human resources      In 2024, a total of 30 Officers and 344 Assistant Officers II were recruited. As at December 31, 2024, there were 674 vacancies for disciplined staff, accounting for 10.3 per cent of the overall establishment of the Department. The Department continued to implement the Post-retirement Service Contract Scheme last year to relieve the manpower strain. As at December 31, 2024, a total of 127 retirees were recruited. About 45 Officers are expected to be recruited this year, and the year-round recruitment for the post of Assistant Officer II will continue to fill the relevant vacancies.      Multipronged recruitment strategies were adopted last year to attract more talents who aspire to serve the community to join the Department, which achieved remarkable overall results. The total number of Assistant Officers II recruited in 2024 saw an increase of 18.6 per cent as compared with 290 in 2023.      In addition, the Department continued to work closely with different support service centres for ethnic minorities and schools last year. A variety of activities were organised to attract non-ethnic Chinese to apply for the vacancies of the CSD. In 2024, an additional 13 non-ethnic Chinese correctional officers were appointed. As at December 31, 2024, a total of 66 non-ethnic Chinese correctional officers were employed by the Department.      On staff training, to enhance patriotism and national security awareness among correctional officers, the Department continued to include training elements of national security, national education and patriotic education in the recruit training and training courses for serving staff, including inviting legal professionals and renowned scholars to host talks and sharing sessions, and arranging for correctional officers to visit the National Security Exhibition Gallery, the Patriotic Education Centre and the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison Exhibition Center at Ngong Shuen Chau Barracks, as well as organising study and exchange visits to the Mainland for correctional staff. In 2024, 130 related activities were organised by the Department with over 2 600 staff members participating in the activities. (6) Application of innovation and technology      Last year, the Department continued to introduce innovation and technology projects to correctional facilities to assist the institutional management in enhancing management and operational efficiency and raising the security level of facilities. For example, the Department introduced the Second Generation Automatic Drone Patrol and Monitoring System to Tong Fuk Correctional Institution and implemented the Artificial Intelligence Coastal Surveillance System on Hei Ling Chau.      In addition, the Department continued its efforts to tie in with the Government’s Smart City Blueprint by digitising its public services. The Approved Hand-in Articles e-Ordering Service was implemented in all correctional institutions last December, enabling relatives and friends of persons in custody to purchase approved hand-in articles for them via an online platform. The articles are directly delivered to the correctional institutions concerned by the supplier. The service not only reduces the time visitors spend sourcing the articles in the market and the inconvenience of carrying them to the correctional institutions, but also shortens the time for correctional officers to conduct security checks and handle the articles, thereby enhancing the operational efficiency of correctional institutions.      Meanwhile, the CSD launched two new technology projects, namely Digital Incarceration Proof and Chatbot Service, at the end of last year to bring convenience to the public. Members of the public may apply for the Digital Incarceration Proof through the “iAM Smart” mobile application, instead of having to visit the CSD Headquarters in person as in the past. Furthermore, the Chatbot Service is provided on the CSD website and its mobile application. Through the use of chatbot “Ching Ching” to handle public enquiries, the efficiency of the public enquiry service can be raised. (7) Deepening collaboration with the Mainland and international partners      The CSD has been fostering professional collaboration with the Mainland and overseas correctional institutions to establish close partnerships and create opportunities for co-operation on issues of mutual concern, making its best endeavours to tell good correctional stories and to tell good stories of Hong Kong.      The Department held the first Greater Bay Area Correctional Services Tactical Skills Competition in January this year, with the participation of seven teams from correctional organisations in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). The event effectively facilitated the exchange of experiences in crisis management between the CSD and correctional organisations in the GBA, with a view to enhancing the tactical skills of the response teams and their emergency response capabilities.      Apart from fostering exchanges and connections within the GBA, the Department has also actively integrated into our country’s Belt and Road Initiative. In March last year, the Department and the Hungarian Prison Service (with Hungary being the first European country to sign the Belt and Road co-operation agreement) signed a Memorandum of Understanding. Through formulating and promoting co-operation programmes including experience sharing in correctional services, personnel exchanges and joint research, the development of the two correctional authorities could be enhanced, and long-term co-operation relationship could be established, thereby deepening professional exchanges about international correctional services.      In November last year, the Department further enhanced its role as an international link by hosting the 42nd Asian and Pacific Conference of Correctional Administrators. About 140 correctional chiefs and representatives from 30 Asia-Pacific countries and regions (including 16 Belt and Road countries) attended the Conference, themed “Collaboration for Sustainable and High-quality Development”, to conduct professional exchanges about correctional services and the future development, with a view to strengthening and facilitating regional co-operation and further enabling counterparts from different places to gain a better understanding of the unique advantages and latest developments of Hong Kong’s correctional system. (8) Priorities in the coming year      Concluding its efforts made in 2024, the CSD achieved significant progress in various areas of its work. Looking forward, the Department will build on its success and seek changes while maintaining stability. We will continue to make innovations with professionalism in the three major areas of work, namely custodial work, rehabilitation and community education, with a view to making the CSD an internationally acclaimed correctional services institution.      On custodial work, following the successful organisation of the Greater Bay Area Correctional Services Tactical Skills Competition early this year, the CSD plans to set up the Hong Kong Correctional Services Response Tactics Training Base at Cape Collinson Correctional Institution to provide professional tactical skills training courses for officers of correctional institutions on the Mainland and overseas as well as local law enforcement officers to facilitate in-depth exchanges of response tactics and related skills between correctional institutions and professional law enforcement agencies in different jurisdictions and the CSD’s response teams, thereby enhancing their professionalism and response capabilities to deal with prison emergencies.      The Department will continue to introduce elements of innovation and technology into correctional facilities to raise operational efficiency, enhance institutional security and strengthen the self-management ability of persons in custody. These include the installation of the Persons in Custody Integrated Intelligent Communication System, the Electric Locks Security System, the Movement and Location Monitoring System, the Smart Visitor Management System, etc, in different institutions progressively. Moreover, the Department plans to set up a Penal Lab at Cape Collinson Correctional Institution jointly with the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation in the first half of this year, where tailor-made innovative solutions can be tested, so that more smart initiatives tailored for penal settings can be introduced to enhance operational efficacy and service quality of the Department.      Following the launch of the Social Visit e-Booking Service, the Department plans to introduce a new e-booking option for video social visits to enable relatives and friends of persons in custody to make appointments via the Department’s webpage or its mobile application for video visits at the five Multi-purpose Family and Rehabilitation Service Centres located in the urban area. The new service can not only enhance the operational efficiency of the Department but also bring convenience to relatives and friends of persons in custody.      As for rehabilitation work, the Correctional Rehabilitation Research Unit will continue to carry out research studies in collaboration with local universities to promote evidence-informed rehabilitation services. The Unit plans to share its research findings with stakeholders and the public this year, including rehabilitated persons’ desistance from re-offending, and the use of social media of young persons in custody before incarceration and its impact on their mental health, in the hope of providing guidance on the formulation of future strategies for rehabilitation and crime prevention work.      Moreover, to address the rehabilitation needs of persons in custody serving short-term prison sentences, the Department is in discussion with an NGO to provide with them one-stop rehabilitation support services during imprisonment and after release, which include assessments made by professional social workers, participation in personal growth sessions, and the establishment of a positive social network after release. Such services can help rehabilitated persons establish positive values, develop law-abiding awareness, explore personal strengths, build self-confidence and set life goals, thereby reducing their recidivism risk. Under the collaborative project, the Correctional Rehabilitation Research Unit will carry out a three-year research project in collaboration with a local university and an NGO to track the rehabilitation situation of service users after release.      Furthermore, in view of the remarkable results of the Rehabilitation Dog Services Programme launched last year, the Department plans to conduct further studies with local universities and extend the programme to institutions for adult male persons in custody, with a view to benefitting more persons in custody in need.                  As regards community education, the Department will strengthen youth education in terms of its breadth and depth to nurture young people into a new generation with law-abiding awareness and affection for our country and Hong Kong.      With regard to expanding the breadth of youth education, the Department will make greater effort to enhance its connection with schools in various districts to further increase the number of schools joining the school-based RPL programme to recruit more RPL trainees.      The Department will extend its collaboration with other departments to jointly organise more publicity activities to promote crime prevention and anti-drug messages. For example, in view of an escalating trend of taking “space oil drug”, the Department will join hands with the Narcotics Division to organise the Creation and Rehabilitation Programme under the theme of “space oil drug” at Stanley Prison next month to disseminate anti-drug messages to participating students.       With regard to expanding the depth of youth education, to encourage young people to obtain an in-depth understanding of our country’s overall development trend, the Department will provide RPL trainees with job tasting opportunities on the Mainland to enable them to establish Mainland networking and raise their understanding of the Mainland market to assist them in realising their life planning and seizing national development opportunities.      A microfilm premiere on national security will be held this April to deepen the dissemination of messages about national security and the importance of the rule of law among participating secondary students and members of youth uniformed groups.      Lastly, in order to enhance the promotion of correctional work and the dissemination of the message of support for offender rehabilitation to the general public, since January this year, the Correctional Services Department Sports Association (CSDSA) has operated an online gift sales platform for charity named “Made in Prison” (MIP), which aims to foster a caring heart in the community through the sale of handcraft products made by persons in custody to the public. The charity online gift sales platform is operated by the charity fund under the CSDSA. All proceeds from the sale, after deducting necessary costs, will be donated to various local registered charities, thereby promoting the development of the local charity industry as well as providing persons in custody with opportunities to contribute to society.      In its future development, the MIP will introduce more innovative green elements. The Department and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) signed a Memorandum of Understanding in early February this year, under which PolyU’s patented technology for making 3D printing material with spent coffee grounds will be applied to the industrial production work performed by persons in custody. PolyU will also provide vocational training in product design for persons in custody to assist them in designing more environmentally friendly spent coffee grounds products, which will be available for sale on the MIP platform. The development of the platform signifies the CSD’s sheer determination to care for the underprivileged, the environment and the community in an innovative way.

     
    Ends/Thursday, February 20, 2025Issued at HKT 15:40

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Vice-President to visit Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Maharashtra on 22nd February, 2025

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Vice-President to visit Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Maharashtra on 22nd February, 2025

    VP to be Chief Guest at the 65th Convocation of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University

    VP to also Inaugurate the Constitution Awareness Year and Amrut Mahotsav at SB College, Sambhaji Nagar

    Posted On: 20 FEB 2025 11:03AM by PIB Delhi

    The Vice-President, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar, will be on a one-day tour of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Maharashtra on 22nd February, 2025.

    During the visit, the Vice-President will preside as Chief Guest at the 65th Convocation of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Sambhaji Nagar, Maharashtra and will  inaugurate the Constitution Awareness Year and Amrut Mahotsav at SB College at Sambhaji Nagar.

    As part of his visit, Shri Dhankhar will also offer puja and take blessings at Grushneshwar Temple in Ellora and visit the Ellora Caves (Kailash Cave)

    ****

    JK/RC/SM

    (Release ID: 2104871) Visitor Counter : 57

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn Firsts: The First Black Student

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    In 1914, Alan Thacker Busby quietly made history when he became the first Black student to enroll at the school that today is the University of Connecticut, becoming its first Black graduate four years later. Busby was an honors student, editor of the student newspaper, football player, and founder of a debate club. Busby worked throughout his time at UConn, milking dairy cows and cutting ice from campus ponds in those pre-refrigeration days. After earning his degree, he served in the Army in the final months of World War I, before going on to earn a graduate degree at Cornell University and becoming a professor of animal husbandry, first at Alcorn State University, and then at Lincoln University. He was named an Outstanding Alumnus by UConn in 1969, and in 1990 he returned to his alma mater at the age of 94 to serve as grand marshal in that year’s Homecoming. In 2006, the Board of Trustees renamed the former Charter Oak Suites residence hall in Busby’s honor.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Tomb of Egyptian pharaoh is first found in Luxor since Tutankhamun – here’s how we know who lay inside

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Claire Isabella Gilmour, PhD Candidate, Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Bristol

    Thutmose II was the fourth ruler of the illustrious ancient Egyptian 18th dynasty, which included Tutankhamun. Now, the location of his long-lost tomb, one of the last missing royal tombs, has been confirmed by the New Kingdom Research Foundation, a British-Egyptian archaeological team led by Piers Litherland. It’s the first pharaoh’s tomb to be discovered in Luxor for over a century.

    Thutmose II had a relatively short and uneventful reign, but his enduring legacy is his family. He was husband and half-brother of the female pharaoh Hatshepsut, and father of Thutmose III, arguably ancient Egypt’s greatest military leader.

    Thutmose was himself of royal blood as a biological son of Thutmose I. But as his mother was only a minor wife, his marriage to Hatshepsut (also a daughter of Thutmose I, by his principal wife Ahmose) cemented his position in line to the throne.

    Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.

    Around 500 years after Thutmose II’s death, ancient Egyptian officials of the 21st dynasty realised that his tomb (and that of other royals from the New Kingdom) had become vulnerable to damage from flooding and the attentions of tomb robbers. They chose a secret place in the Theban cliffs to relocate the royal remains to.

    The mummified bodies of kings, queens and other significant people were interred in their new resting place near Hatshepsut’s temple. The entrance was well disguised by sand and rocks, and was inaccessible by foot. There they lay there until the late 19th century.



    Read more:
    The scent of the ancient Egyptian afterlife has been recreated – here’s what it smelled like

    When the area became known to Egyptologists in 1881, the cache was found to contain the bodies of, among others, Ramesses II, Seti I, Thutmose III and, of course, Thutmose II.

    They were moved from the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square, Cairo, in a spectacular, globally broadcast parade to the newly opened National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in 2021. But the search for Thutmose II’s original tomb continued.

    Stone block relief showing Thutmose II, found at Karnak Temple in Luxor.
    WikiCommons, CC BY

    This tomb, designated C4, is located in a relatively inaccessible position. It is next to the magnificent mortuary temple of Hatshepsut, Thutmose’s principal wife and later pharaoh in her own right, at the site of Deir el-Bahri on the west bank of the Nile at Luxor.

    Discovered in 2022, the site is some 1.2 miles away from the Valley of the Kings, where tombs for Thutmose I and III and Hatshepsut were planned. Women of the royal family had been found there, so the initial theory was that this newly found tomb belonged to one of Thutmose’s lesser wives.

    The tomb was also blocked by flood debris. The excavation team had to work through a deep entrance staircase, collapsed ceilings, corridors filled with flooding debris, and tonnes of limestone fragments.

    What was in the tomb?

    Further exploration by the excavation team has now brought to light evidence that confirms the tomb is that of Thutmose II himself.

    Initial observations showed that the form of the entrance bore a strong resemblance to that of Hatshepsut’s KV20 tomb in the Valley of the Kings. It features a wide staircase, doorway and descending corridor, and therefore a significant space lay beyond.

    As the ceilings and walls were cleared, beautiful decoration of a starred sky and extracts from a funerary text known as the Amduat emerged, strongly suggesting that this was a king’s burial. Sifting through the limestone fragments revealed broken alabaster vessels bearing the king’s name and – crucially – that of Hatshepsut, reducing the list of potential candidates to just one.

    Even though C4 has otherwise been emptied of funerary goods such as sarcophagi, this is actually good news. It indicates that the tomb contents were moved elsewhere, perhaps due to the flooding. These items were not found with Thutmose II’s relocated body, so the search is still on to find them.

    Hatshepsut’s original tomb has not yet been found.
    Metropolitan Museum of Art, CC BY-SA

    Contrary to many reports, C4 is not the first royal tomb to be found since that of Tutankhamun in 1922 by Howard Carter. Pierre Montet’s excavations at the third intermediate period (1069–664BC) capital city of Tanis in the 1930s revealed the royal necropolis of the 21st and 22nd dynasties, with some undisturbed. However, C4 is the first since Tutankhamun in Luxor, and it is the last missing king’s tomb of the 18th dynasty.

    Still up for discovery are a handful of tombs belonging to other rulers of Egypt: Nefertiti; Ramesses XIII; the 21st-dynasty high priest of Amun, Herihor; Cleopatra VII; and Alexander the Great. Other significant tombs which may yet come to light are Ankhesenamun, wife of Tutankhamun, and the great architect Imhotep.

    Some of these tombs may never be found. But the New Kingdom Research Foundation are now looking to find the next stage in Thutmose II’s postmortem journey – where was he taken after C4, but before the royal cache in the Theban cliffs?

    Claire Isabella Gilmour 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. Tomb of Egyptian pharaoh is first found in Luxor since Tutankhamun – here’s how we know who lay inside – https://theconversation.com/tomb-of-egyptian-pharaoh-is-first-found-in-luxor-since-tutankhamun-heres-how-we-know-who-lay-inside-250433

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Chair and two Trustees reappointed to Theatres Trust board

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    The Secretary of State has reappointed Dave Moutrey as Chair, and James Dacre and Stephanie Hall as Trustees of Theatres Trust for a second term of 3 years.

    Dave Moutrey

    Appointed from 21 February 2025 to February 2028

    Dave is responsible for leading the creation and delivery of Manchester City Council’s cultural and creative industries policy and strategy, working closely with the city’s cultural and creative sectors on joint initiatives. He was appointed to this role after a 6-year part-time secondment to the Council as Director of Culture. 

    Until March 2024, he was Director and Chief Executive of HOME, a purpose-built multi-art venue that opened in May 2015. He conceived and led the merger of Cornerhouse and Library Theatre Company to create HOME, along with the £25m capital project for the building, which has attracted almost 1 million visits per year since opening. HOME includes 5 cinema screens, education spaces, digital production and broadcast facilities, a 500-seat theatre, 150-seat flexible theatre, a large gallery, café bar, restaurant, offices, and other spaces consistent with a production centre. It provides opportunities for artists and audiences to create work together, as well as a social and cultural hub. Before HOME, Dave was Director and CEO of Cornerhouse from 1998, having established and led the regional arts marketing agency Arts About Manchester. 

    Dave was awarded an OBE for services to culture in 2022 and a Doctor of Arts honoris causa by the University of Salford in 2018. He is a member of the Chartered Management Institute and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. He was previously an advisor to the British Council and still holds several non-executive roles on not-for-profit boards.

    James Dacre

    Appointed from 21 February 2025 to 20 February 2028

    James Dacre is a Director and Creative Producer who has directed, produced and toured work to several hundred theatres, opera houses and festivals across the UK and abroad, with his productions winning Olivier, The Stage and UK Theatre Awards. He recently founded Living Productions which produces theatre, film, concerts and festivals. James was Artistic Director of Royal & Derngate Theatres from 2013-2023 and previously held roles as Associate Director at the New Vic Theatre, Theatre503 and the National Youth Theatre. He is Chair of the Board of Theatre503, a Board Director of Spirit of 2012, a Trustee for Talawa Theatre Company and a Franco-British Young Leader. James Dacre became a Trustee of The Theatres Trust on 21 February 2022. 

    Stephanie Hall

    Appointed from 21 February 2025 to 20 February 2028

    Stephanie Hall is a barrister specialising in town and country planning at Kings Chambers. She lives with her family near Leeds but works across England and Wales. Stephanie represents both local authorities and developers at planning appeals and in the Courts. She has particular experience of large schemes and major infrastructure projects, sometimes involving theatres and very often involving works to or in the setting of listed buildings. Stephanie appears in the list of top-rated planning junior barristers, is a member of the Planning and Environment Bar Association, the Compulsory Purchase Association, the Parliamentary Bar Mess and the National Infrastructure Planning Association. Stephanie Hall became a Trustee on 21 February 2022.

    Remuneration and Governance Code

    The Chair and Trustees of the Theatres Trust are not remunerated. This appointment has been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments. The appointments process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Under the Code, any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years must be declared. This is defined as including holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation, or candidature for election. Dave Moutrey, James Dacre and Stephanie Hall have not declared any significant political activity.

    Updates to this page

    Published 20 February 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Runners gear up for Chelmsford Half Marathon

    Source: Anglia Ruskin University

    Around 3,000 people will lace up their running shoes for the 2025 Chelmsford Half Marathon event next month.

    The event takes place on Sunday, 2 March and runners will start and finish the 13.1-mile course at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), which is the headline partner of the event. There are also 5km and 10km events on the same day.

    The half-marathon course will take runners along Parkway and Essex Yeomanry Way to Great Baddow and Sandon, before returning through Chelmer Village and back into the city centre. All race distances are accurately measured and officially licensed by England Athletics Run Events.

    Road closures will be in place before, during and after the event. These include High Bridge Road, Essex Yeomanry Way, Chelmer Village Way and Bishop Hall Lane. The Essex Highways website has full details of road closures and times.

    “We’re proud to renew our partnership with the Chelmsford Half Marathon. Events like these are not only enjoyable to participate in, but also play a crucial role in supporting local charities.

    “We have supported The Chelmsford Half Marathon for a number of years and it is always a fantastic event for both the runners and their friends and families cheering them on.”

    Professor Roderick Watkins, Vice Chancellor of Anglia Ruskin University (ARU)

    “We are delighted to be organising one of the largest public sporting events in Essex, alongside our Headline Partner Anglia Ruskin University.

    “As the event evolves and grows, we continue to inspire thousands to become active and develop opportunities to raise even more funds for charities.”

    Andrew Martin, Race Director of the Chelmsford Half Marathon

    For full details about the race, visit cmhalf.com

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Rector’s Ball at the Polytechnic: 220 Best Students Celebrated the University’s Birthday

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    On the day of the 126th anniversary of the Polytechnic University, the best students took part in the Rector’s Ball – one of the most striking events in the history of the university. The Fundamental Library hall gathered the guys who achieved success in their studies, science and social life.

    On February 19, the Polytechnic’s birthday, the Reading Room of the Main Building reopened its doors for a ball. And this was a long-awaited event, since the university’s reading room had been closed for reconstruction since November last year.

    The ball was opened by the Polytechnic anthem performed by members of the Polivoks vocal studio and the SPbPU Pop and Symphony Orchestra. The recording also included a farewell speech by the first director of the university, Prince Andrei Grigorievich Gagarin, which he delivered in 1902 to the students of the Polytechnic Institute. The participants, dressed in ball gowns and tuxedos, were greeted by the Vice-Rector for Youth Policy and Communication Technologies, Maxim Pasholikov:

    The tradition of organizing balls for students appeared at the Polytechnic University more than a hundred years ago. It is great that we have managed to revive these events. You are the best in various fields of activity – in studies, science, sports. Carry the great title of a polytechnician with dignity throughout your entire life. Happy birthday, Polytechnic University! Happy holiday, friends!

    For the second year in a row, the musical accompaniment was provided by the Polytechnic Orchestra under the direction of Dmitry Misiura. Also at the conductor’s stand stood a student of the master’s degree of the Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Transport Pavel Zhukov. The choreographer Maxim Salomatov helped to master various dances. Soloists of the studio “Polivoks” performed several vocal compositions.

    One of the main events of the ball was the awarding of excellent students, winners of Olympiads and competitions. Alexandra Brenman, a third-year student at the Institute of Industrial Management, Economics and Trade, was awarded for the best report at the All-Russian scientific and practical conference “Scientific Space of Modern Youth: Priority Tasks and Innovative Solutions”. In 2024, she also published 14 scientific publications, including 12 international ones.

    It is a great honor for me to be here. Each of us has a special dream. And when something like this comes true, we understand that we are really moving in the right direction. Thanks to the teachers who allow us to move forward, – Alexandra shared.

    Fourth-year student of the Institute of Industrial Management, Economics and Trade Diana Yakimenko was awarded because she is the winner of the All-Russian Entrepreneurship Championship MIR, the grant competition of the Science and Higher School Committee of the Government of St. Petersburg, and the laureate of the startup competition of the Eurasian Youth Forum “EEFM 2024”.

    Today I became a participant of the rector’s ball, and for me it is a long-awaited event. I am very glad that there are so many talented people in the Polytechnic. May all your dreams come true! – said Diana.

    At the end of the ceremony, Vyacheslav Bugaev received the medal “Best SPbPU Graduate”. He graduated from the Institute of Computer Science and Cybersecurity and demonstrated significant success in his academic, scientific and social activities.

    Many thanks to the Polytechnic teachers, thanks to whom I received the award. I want to wish everyone to believe in themselves, achieve goals and not deviate from their path, – shared Vyacheslav.

    The ball continued with dance promenades, including waltz, polka, mazurka and quadrille. Polytechnicians enjoyed learning new dances and participated in ballroom games. The bright celebration ended with a rock band concert and a disco.

    Photo archive

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Window into the Cretaceous Period

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    As part of Darwin Week at Novosibirsk State University, Associate Professor of the Department of Historical Geology and Paleontology Faculty of Geology and Geophysics of NSU, PhD Igor Kosenko spoke about the Jehol biota, a unique ecosystem of the Cretaceous period discovered in China at the end of the last century, and how this discovery changed scientists’ understanding of dinosaurs and their contemporaries.

    — Over the past century and a half, our views on dinosaurs have changed significantly more than once. At first, they were imagined as huge, clumsy reptiles; by the middle of the 20th century, thanks to new finds, it became clear that many of them walked on two legs. By the end of the last century, the majority of dinosaurs appeared to us as small, nimble predators that hunted large herbivorous dinosaurs in packs. And the latest discoveries have shown us that some dinosaurs were not just small, warm-blooded predators, but also covered in feathers, — said Igor Kosenko.

    The latest findings were made possible by discoveries related to the Jehol biota, an ecosystem of the Lower Cretaceous (between 133 and 120 million years ago) that left fossils in the Yixian Formation and Jiufotang Formation in northeastern China.

    — One of the most important properties of the Jehol biota was the fantastic preservation of the objects that make it up. And this allowed paleontologists to learn much better what the world was like 120 million years ago, — Igor Kosenko emphasized.

    Typical representatives of this ecosystem are the Lycoptera fish, the Eosestheria conchostracans (freshwater bivalve crustaceans) and the Ephemeropsis mayfly larvae. But much more interesting were the fossils, which had completely atypical (for paleontology at the end of the last century) details.

    The most fantastic find is probably the feathered dinosaur – Sinosauropteryx. In the same rocks, imprints of pterosaurs with hair-like structures were found. It turns out that these creatures were covered with fur. Another unique find is the imprints of feathered dinosaurs microraptors. In combination, these finds indicate that some kind of covering (hair or feathers) was typical of at least a number of dinosaurs. It is not for nothing that many scientists claim that they were closer to birds than to lizards.

    Thanks to the amazing preservation of fossils, scientists were able to learn much more not only about the appearance, but also the habits of dinosaurs. The discovery of skeletons of a dinosaur and a mammal fighting with each other confirmed that serious competition had already begun between these types of animals at this time. The location of other skeletons showed that in some dinosaur species, adults could guard flocks of cubs, and, judging by the number of such groups, these “caregivers” were grazing not only their own offspring, and this already speaks of a rather complex group hierarchy.

    Dinosaurs are not the only finds of paleontologists. In particular, the Jehol biota includes finds of some of the first angiosperms, which today are one of the most numerous groups of higher plants. But this is now, and initially the planet was dominated by gymnosperms – conifers and ferns. Fossils found in China made it possible to more accurately determine the boundaries of the beginning of the era of angiosperms, which then quickly took the leading positions. And their very first representatives grew in water bodies and were somewhat akin to water lilies.

    Recorded fossil finds belonging to the Jehol biota are not limited to the territory of modern China. The northernmost of them were discovered in Transbaikalia.

    — There is a famous joke about Russia being the homeland of elephants. With elephants, of course, this is debatable. But the most ancient fossils of this ecosystem were recorded here, and the first finds were also made not in China, but here, by the Russian scientist Middendorf before the revolution. He was the first to describe the location of the fossil fauna “Turga”, which is now also known as the “Middendorf outcrop”. Excavations there continue and regularly bring a variety of interesting finds, — Igor Kosenko emphasized.

    Thus, in the Kulinda valley in the Transbaikal region, the remains of another feathered dinosaur were found, called “Kulindadromeus zabaikalicus”. Despite its feathers, it could not fly, and is considered the most ancient non-avian feathered dinosaur to date.

    Scientists from the A.A. Trofimuk Institute of Petroleum Geology and Geophysics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences managed to clarify the age of the Turginskaya suite in the Middendorf outcrop, which had previously been the subject of debate in the scientific world. Fossil pollen of flowering plants was found in the samples, which made it possible to date them with a high degree of accuracy. According to their estimates, the age of the fossils may be about 125 million years, which made it possible to speak of these finds as the most ancient part of the biota.

    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: Take part in the ESU Olympiad and get admitted to a master’s degree program on a budget

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    The State University of Management invites you to take part in the II Eurasian Olympiad – the international student Olympiad of the Eurasian Network University.

    SUM is a member of the Eurasian Network University and a co-organizer of the ESU Olympiad. It should be noted that it is held in Russian in an online format by participating universities with the support of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Russia, as well as the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC).

    This year the Olympiad is held in the form of a personal championship in 5 profiles:

    Economics and Management; International Relations and Humanities; Information and Computer Sciences; Biomedicine and Cognitive Sciences; Engineering and Future Technologies.

    Students and graduates of Russian and foreign universities who are receiving or already have higher education (bachelor’s or specialist’s degree level) and who are citizens of member countries and observer states of the Eurasian Economic Union can take part:

    Russian Federation; Republic of Belarus; Republic of Kazakhstan; Republic of Armenia; Kyrgyz Republic; Republic of Moldova; Republic of Uzbekistan; Republic of Cuba; Islamic Republic of Iran.

    Registration and portfolio submission are available until March 16 on the official website of the Olympiad. The winners of the selection round will be invited to online interviews, which will be held from March 24 to 30.

    Winners and prize winners of the main track of the Olympiad (except for citizens of the Russian Federation) have the opportunity to enroll in budget places in master’s programs of Russian universities participating in the ESU in areas of training in accordance with the declared profile of the Olympiad.

    Citizens of the Russian Federation and other EAEU countries, including observer countries, can take part in the international track of the Olympiad, the winners and prize winners of which will qualify for benefits and preferences provided by Russian and foreign universities of the ESU for the development of student exchanges, summer schools, scientific and educational cooperation and dual degree programs.

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 02/20/2025

    II Евразийской олимпиаде – международной студенческой олимпиаде Евразийского сетевого университета….” data-yashareImage=”https://guu.ru/wp-content/uploads/7ioj804y4G4.jpg” data-yashareLink=”https://guu.ru/%d0%bf%d1%80%d0%b8%d0%bc%d0%b8-%d1%83%d1%87%d0%b0%d1%81%d1%82%d0%b8%d0%b5-%d0%b2-%d0%be%d0%bb%d0%b8%d0%bc%d0%bf%d0%b8%d0%b0%d0%b4%d0%b5-%d0%b5%d1%81%d1%83-%d0%b8-%d0%bf%d0%be%d1%81%d1%82%d1%83%d0%bf/”>

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    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi Joins OSF HealthCare Leaders in Peoria to Discuss Strengthening Illinois’ Healthcare Workforce Pipeline

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (8th District of Illinois)

    Peoria, IL – On Tuesday, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi joined OSF HealthCare leadership, regional career and technical education leaders, and representatives from organized labor for a facility tour and roundtable discussion at the Jump Trading Simulation & Education Center, located on the campus of OSF Saint Francis Medical Center. A collaboration between the University of Illinois College of Medicine and OSF HealthCare, Jump Simulation is a leader in innovation and the preparation of Illinois’ healthcare workforce. During the roundtable, Congressman Krishnamoorthi and other participants discussed the state of Illinois’ healthcare workforce, how federal dollars can most effectively be leveraged to increase the utility of career and technical programs throughout the state, and the path forward to ensure a robust talent pipeline from our Illinois schools to critical sectors like healthcare.

    “The strength of our health care system depends on the skill of our medical workforce. I was grateful for the opportunity to meet with leaders from OSF Health Care and the Peoria Community, including Mayor Ali, to discuss the investments we need to make in our education and workforce development programs to prepare today’s students for the health care careers of tomorrow.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: DelBene Highlights Damage of Federal Research Cuts to Patients, Medical Research at Fred Hutch

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (1st District of Washington)

    Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) visited Fred Hutch Cancer Center to highlight the damage the Trump administration’s proposed cuts to medical research funding would have to Washington’s health care ecosystem and the harm it would have on patients.

    Immediately after taking office, President Trump froze federal grants pending an unspecified review process. These were funds approved by Congress in a bipartisan way and cannot be withheld solely by the White House. A federal court temporarily blocked the freeze, but many organizations receiving federal grants have experienced payment delays or are unclear when the funding will arrive. 

    The administration is also trying to drastically cut medical research funding at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the world’s leading medical research organization, by limiting the amount of a research grant that can go to laboratory upkeep and other administrative costs. These proposed cuts would create major budget gaps in federally funded projects at research institutions. This could force independent research institutions like Fred Hutch, academic medical centers, and universities to cut potentially groundbreaking discoveries and clinical trials, depriving patients across the country of access to hope and lifesaving care. This proposed cut was temporarily halted by a federal judge, but uncertainty still harms research efforts.

    “Washington conducts world-class medical research that saves lives every day. President Trump is putting that all at risk with these illegal cuts. As a former researcher, I know the devastating impacts losing funding or even the threat of it being cut off can have on research institutions and their patients,” said DelBene. “The president must stop this senseless attack on science and let researchers get back to developing the cures and treatments of tomorrow.”

    “Cuts to federal biomedical research funds will stifle foundational science, cancer research, clinical trial access for patients, and future innovation and cures,” said Fred Hutch President and Director Thomas J. Lynch Jr., MD. “NIH support enables Fred Hutch to translate research from our labs into care at patient bedsides and ensures we can continue to provide world-class therapies to over 40,000 patients each year. Cuts to federally funded research will harm the scientists who find the discoveries that fuel Fred Hutch’s innovation, support the Puget Sound Region’s biotech industry, and ensure the continued discovery of life-saving cures.”

    The biggest recipients of NIH funding in Washington include Fred Hutch, the University of Washington, Virginia Mason, and Seattle Children’s Hospital. In Fiscal Year 2024, Washington researchers were awarded nearly $1.3 billion in NIH grants and contracts that support 12,000 jobs in the state.

    Last week, DelBene urged the NIH to rescind these cuts and asked the administration to provide answers on how this decision was made, and what future threats might come to the United States’ long-standing dominance in science.

    Fred Hutch Cancer Center is an independent, nonprofit, unified adult cancer care and research center. Translating discoveries into cures, Fred Hutch’s groundbreaking research has saved hundreds of thousands of lives worldwide over our 50-year history. Innovative cancer research, clinical trial access, and future cures can only be achieved by continuing strong and stable federal investments in biomedical research. Federal investments in the NIH are critical to the future health of generations of Americans and will ensure that institutions like Fred Hutch can continue to cover the total cost of research.

    Fred Hutch’s mission relies on federal funding to eliminate cancer and related diseases, with approximately 70 percent of Fred Hutch’s current research funding coming from federal competitive grant awards.  Fred Hutch stands to lose $120 million of topline revenue annually with the recently announced NIH guidance on indirect costs.

    NIH awards grants to more than 300,000 researchers at more than 2,500 institutions. Every dollar in NIH grants spurs $2.09 in economic activity, and every $100 million in investment leads to 78 patents and $598 million in further research, according to N.I.H.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why the US return to tariffs and protectionism ‘reeks of hypocrisy’ – podcast

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Gemma Ware, Host, The Conversation Weekly Podcast, The Conversation

    Amani A/Shutterstock

     When Donald Trump imposed sweeping tariffs during his first term as US president, it sparked a trade war with China. As the Trump administration ratchets up its threat to tax imports from its allies and economic rivals alike, the world is bracing for another wave of costly economic disruption.

    This protectionist shift is all the more remarkable given how the US championed trade liberalisation for decades.

    So what does it actually take for a country to use protectionism to grow its economy? Some developing countries have successfully used tariffs to do so, while others have struggled. In this episode of The Conversation Weekly podcast, we talk to Jostein Hauge, a development economist at the University of Cambridge, about who wins and who loses from tariffs and protectionism.

    The main argument against taxing imports through tariffs is that the higher costs of imported goods will be passed onto consumers. The main argument in favour is that tariffs can help to protect a country’s domestic economy, explains Hauge:

     By using tariffs, you can, if they are used effectively, and if they’re successful, help domestic firms become better at producing what they’re producing and eventually become competitive in the world economy. Sometimes that’s successful, other times that’s not successful. It can also be an effective way of raising taxes, especially for countries that don’t have a lot of tax revenue, especially developing countries.

    A number of developing countries successfully used tariffs and other forms of protectionism to grow their economies in the 1950s and 1960s, as Hauge explains:

    South Korea gradually went from being a low-income, low-tech economy towards becoming extremely important players in global industries like electronics, automotive and steel.

    The US has also used tariffs throughout its history, with varying degrees of success. It was the most protectionist country in the world in the 1800s, using tariffs to grow its economy. But the Smoot-Hawley Act in 1930, which introduced a range of taxes on imports to the US, actually contributed to worsening the Great Depression.

    From the 1970s, however, the US aggressively pushed for trade liberalisation and backed the creation of the World Trade Organization in the 1990s. That’s why Hauge says the current return to US protectionism, which began during the first Trump administration and continued under Biden, “reeks of hypocrisy”.

     When rich countries were ahead in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, it made sense for them to preach the virtues of free trade to the rest of the world.  That is also why we’re seeing this protectionist turn right now, especially in the United States, but also to some degree in Europe, because now certain countries are starting to become competitive once again. In particular, China is now challenging the economic power of the United States, especially within a lot of manufactured goods, so the United States is now turning away from this doctrine of free trade, saying actually protectionism is useful.

    Listen to the conversation with Jostein Hauge on The Conversation Weekly podcast, which also includes an introduction from Tracy Walsh, economy and business editor at The Conversation US.

    This episode of The Conversation Weekly was written and produced by Mend Mariwany with assistance from Katie Flood and Gemma Ware, Sound design was by Michelle Macklem, and theme music by Neeta Sarl.

    Clips in this episode from CNN, Bloomberg Television, BBC News, CBS News and NBC News.

    Listen to The Conversation Weekly via any of the apps listed above, download it directly via our RSS feed or find out how else to listen here.

    Jostein Hauge 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 the US return to tariffs and protectionism ‘reeks of hypocrisy’ – podcast – https://theconversation.com/why-the-us-return-to-tariffs-and-protectionism-reeks-of-hypocrisy-podcast-250329

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Polytech expands cooperation with industrial partners

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    A discussion of cooperation prospects with a representative of the management of JSC Shvabe of the Rostec State Corporation took place at Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University.

    The working visit to SPbPU of the Director for Development of Medical Projects at Shvabe, Valeria Tonkoshkurova, organized with the assistance of the Head of Science and Business Cooperation at Rostec, Pavel Platonov, began with a visit to the laboratories.

    Director of the Scientific and Educational Center “Nanotechnologies and Coatings” Alexander Semencha spoke about patented innovative technologies and devices, about the possibilities of expanding research and existing developments. In particular, about the technology and equipment for the production of optical devices with thermoplastic infrared optics, about the technology of automatic formation of microlenses by hot pressing, about an innovative microspectrometer.

    At the meeting with the Vice-Rector for Digital Transformation of SPbPU, the head of the Advanced Engineering School “Digital Engineering” Alexey Borovkov, projects that could be of interest to Shvabe were also discussed in detail. Alexey Ivanovich spoke about the promising research of the PIS, and Valeria Tonkoshkurova outlined the priority tasks in her area.

    Valeria Vasilievna, who has a medical education and experience in cardiovascular surgery, professionally assessed the potential for using certain developments in medical production. She was interested in the developments in the field of optical coherence tomography of the Fiber Optics laboratory. The leading researcher of the laboratory, Nikolay Ushakov, spoke about the laboratory’s project, “Optical coherence tomography/elastography system with improved spatial resolution.”

    Valeria Tonkoshkurova discussed the prospects of a joint project to create such equipment, replacing imported analogues, at a meeting with SPbPU Vice-Rector for Research Yuri Fomin. The partners also discussed targeted training of personnel for Shvabe and the implementation of educational programs in the medical engineer/architect track.

    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: Getting to know the university: GUU invites you to an Open Day

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    On March 23, 2025, the State University of Management will host an Open Day.

    Representatives of the university will talk about what has changed in the admissions system this year, about the history and achievements of GUU and its students, as well as about the advantages of admission to our university and the rich extracurricular life of students.

    From 11:00 there will be consultations from specialists of the GUU institutes, the Pre-University, the Pre-University Training and Continuing Education Center “Az”, the scientific library and others.

    Also, all interested parties will be able to ask questions about living in dormitories, opportunities for practical training and internships, employment, training for people with disabilities, career guidance and admission of foreign citizens.

    In addition, students will conduct tours of the university campus for guests and tell them about the opportunities and comfort that SUM provides.

    The program starts at 11:00 in the Information Technology Center.

    Pre-registration and a passport are required to enter the university grounds. Volunteers will meet all visitors and escort them to the appropriate building.

    Come and meet the first manager in person!

    Subscribe to the tg channel “Our State University” Announcement date: 03/23/2025

    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-Evening Report: Grattan on Friday: Dutton doesn’t pull his punches on Trump while Albanese plays it safe

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

    Treasurer Jim Chalmers will not be organising a bucks’ night ahead of the coming nuptials of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Jodie Haydon.

    How do we know this morsel of trivia? The treasurer, appearing on Wednesday breakfast TV to talk up Tuesday’s interest rate cut, was asked about being in charge of arranging the PM’s bucks’ party.

    “I’m more of a cup of tea and an early night kind of guy these days. And so I’m sure you can find someone more appropriate to plan the bucks,” Chalmers said, laughing off whatever impatience he may have felt at being taken down this path.

    To the dismay of more than a few in Labor circles, a Women’s Weekly interview with the PM and his fiancee dropped into the news cycle just as the government needed all attention on the rate cut.

    Given the army of prime ministerial spinners, there was some wonder at this publicity collision.

    All leaders do these soft photogenic sessions. But, leaving aside the unfortunate clash, it might be argued this is not the time for the prime ministerial couple to be inviting attention to their post-election marriage. Albanese is not thinking of retiring, but some voters might see a subtle hint of that. As they did when he bought his clifftop house on the central NSW coast.

    Chalmers, when asked about the Women’s Weekly piece, was anxious to get across the message that, wedding or not, “I can assure all of your viewers, whether it’s the prime minister or the rest of his government, the main focus is on the cost of living”.

    More disappointing for the government than the Women’s Weekly blip was the mixed reception the long-anticipated rate cut received in much of the media.

    Reserve Bank Governor Michele Bullock indicated the bank’s decision to cut was a close call. She hosed down expectations of further cuts, which effectively rules out a pre-election move on April Fools’ Day.

    It wasn’t an entirely happy week for Bullock, with critics of the cut suggesting she had responded to political pressure. Out in mortgage land, people will be relieved at the slight help, but it only takes away a fraction of their repayment pain.

    Meanwhile the work of the cabinet expenditure review committee and the treasury continues apace on what could be a “ghost” March 25 budget – if Albanese aborts it with an April election.

    The government insists there is nothing strange about this. If the budget doesn’t eventuate, the measures will be rolled out as election policy, it says. The argument is unconvincing. Preparing a budget and putting together election policy may have some things in common, but they are not the same. A budget is a close-woven tapestry; election policy is open-stitch cloth.

    The uncertainty about the election date, while full campaigning is underway, is disruptive for business and the economy (even if, as Chalmers says, it’s now only a matter of weeks either way). It reinforces the argument for fixed federal terms, which work well in the states. But the obstacles are such that that’s not even worth talking about, unfortunately.

    In a “no show without Punch” moment this week, Clive Palmer entered the election race with his Trumpet of Patriots party and a promise to spend “whatever is required to be spent”. There’s talk of $90 million being splashed on a “Make Australia Great Again” platform.

    It’s hard to get a fix on what impact Palmer will have. He’s competing with Pauline Hanson for votes on the right. Labor fears his advertising on the cost of living will crowd out its messages. He is also targeting Opposition Leader Peter Dutton for not being Trumpian enough. He told Nine media, “As Dutton said, he’s no Donald Trump. I say, what’s wrong with being Donald Trump?”

    The answer is, a very great deal. As Trump’s presidency unfolds, its dangers are becoming more obvious than even his harshest critics feared.

    Inevitably, the shadow of Trump is hanging increasingly over our election.

    With Trump’s win, the Liberals would have thought the latest manifestation of a widespread international swing to the right would put wind in their sails. But the counter-argument has grown – an erratic and autocratic Trump is making some Australian voters feel more unsettled and inclined to stick with the status quo.

    Dutton is not a mini-me Trump but shares some of his views on issues such as government spending, bureaucracy and identity politics. Former Prime Minister Scott Morrison told the Australian Financial Review this week that Dutton would sympathise with some of Trump’s objectives but the opposition leader was “not trying to ape” what was going on in the United States.

    Trump’s push to end the Russia-Ukraine war has taken Trumpism to a fresh, alarming level, and could inject strains into the Australia-US relationship.

    Trump has sidelined Ukraine and is clearly favouring Russia in pursuing a settlement. Now he has launched an extraordinary personal attack on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

    On his social media platform Trump lashed Zelensky as a “modestly successful comedian” who had gone “into a war that couldn’t be won, that never had to start”. Zelensky was a “dictator” who refused to have elections, had done “a terrible job” and was very low in the opinion polls, Trump said.

    Ukraine’s cause has been bipartisan in Australia, which has given the country more than $1.5 billion in assistance and now has (belatedly) reopened its embassy there.

    To his credit, Dutton immediately condemned Trump’s stand in very forthright terms.

    “President Trump has got it wrong in relation to some of the public commentary that I’ve seen him make in relation to President Zelensky and the situation in Ukraine,” he told Sydney radio.

    “I think very, very careful thought needs to be given about the steps because if we make Europe less safe, or we provide some sort of support to [Russian president] Putin, deliberately or inadvertently, that is a terrible, terrible outcome.”

    Albanese’s initial response was to repeat firmly Australia backing for Ukraine, condemning Russia. He did not comment directly on Trump’s attack. He repeated he was not going to give “ongoing commentary on everything that Donald Trump says”.

    The government finds itself caught between the need to strongly reject Trump’s handling of Ukraine, and a desire to tread softly with an administration from whom it desperately wants to win a concession on tariffs.

    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. Grattan on Friday: Dutton doesn’t pull his punches on Trump while Albanese plays it safe – https://theconversation.com/grattan-on-friday-dutton-doesnt-pull-his-punches-on-trump-while-albanese-plays-it-safe-250386

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Firms Encouraged to Meet the Buyer

    Source: Scotland – City of Dundee

    A call is going out for local businesses keen to bid for work in the public sector to attend a Dundee event where they can meet buyers from organisations across Tayside. 

    The free Meet the Buyer gathering on March 4 at the Michelin Scotland Innovation Parc (MSIP) will give potential suppliers the opportunity to talk informally about upcoming contracts. 

    A wide range of goods and services are bought in by public bodies including personal care, building works, transport and catering. 

    Councillor Steven Rome, convener of Dundee City Council’s Fair Work, Economic Growth and Infrastructure committee, said: “This event aims to help local businesses to be ready to bid for work from councils, health boards, universities and other public bodies when it comes up. 

    “Attendance is free, but we are keen that new and existing suppliers, particularly local businesses in and around Dundee, register for the event. 

    “Buyers will be there to meet potential suppliers to chat about upcoming contracts, how they go about tendering and what they look for when buying goods and services for their organisations.” 

    “Suppliers will also be able to network with meet larger contractors with public sector contracts to learn about current and active subcontract opportunities, and how to join their supply chains.”                                                       

    The free event is being organised by Dundee City Council in partnership with Perth & Kinross Council, Angus Council, and the Supplier Development Programme (SDP). 

    It takes place on Tuesday March 4 between 10am and 2pm at the Innovation Hub at the MSIP, Baldovie Road, Dundee.  

    Anyone who wants to attend should register on the SDP website here  

    Attendees on the day will be able to introduce their business to a wide range of public sector organisations, including: 

    • Dundee City Council 

    • Abertay University 

    • Angus Council 

    • Scotland Excel 

     

    Contractors confirmed to attend are Robertsons Tayside, McLaughlin & Harvey, MVV Environment Baldovie Ltd and Balfour Beatty. 

    Gillian Cameron, Programme Manager of the Supplier Development Programme, said: “Meet the Buyer Tayside is a fantastic opportunity to network with the real buyers that design and advertise local public sector contracts and supply chain opportunities, as well as learn about the free business support and training local businesses can access to help them bid better. 

    “The Supplier Development Programme works hand in hand with local authorities to create free events like Meet the Buyer Tayside, which help local businesses find, win and keep public sector contracts. So, if you want to consider and win work with the public sector or its partners in Tayside, this event is an unmissable opportunity.” 

    The session will include speakers and workshops, looking at topics like Quick Quotes for smaller contract opportunities, Community Wealth Building and how to use Public Contracts Scotland (PCS) and Public Contracts Scotland Tender (PCS-T) to tender for work. 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Get a chance to win 1.5 million rubles for an innovative project

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    The application process for the Moscow Mayor’s “Moscow Innovator” award has begun.

    The competition for the best entrepreneurs, scientists and inventors will allow them to contribute to the development of the capital, implement technological developments in Moscow and win up to 1.5 million rubles.

    Applications are accepted in six key areas: medicine and pharmaceuticals, industry, transport and logistics, improvement and construction, ecology and environmental protection, and public projects.

    Both individuals (students, schoolchildren, engineers, scientists, entrepreneurs) and representatives of organizations (research laboratories, design bureaus, corporations, engineering centers) in a team of 2 to 5 people can compete for the prize.

    Both early stage developments and projects with revenue can participate. The total prize fund is more than 20 million rubles.

    Register on the award website before May 5. Success stories of participants and current news of the competition are published on the channel “Moscow Innovators”.

    Subscribe to the tg channel “Our State University” Announcement date: 02/20/2025

    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 Russia: NSU teachers are prize winners of the regional Spartakiad

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    NSU
    News and Events
    News
    NSU teachers are prize winners of the regional Spartakiad

    02.20.2025

    Latest news

    02/19/2025

    NSU scientist talks about the current epidemic season

    In the last two weeks of January and the first two weeks of February, there was a slight increase in the incidence of respiratory viral infections; the H3N2 subtype of influenza A viruses that were dominant in the 2023/24 season were replaced by strains of the H1N1 subtype.

    02/19/2025

    Exhibition “Life as a Vocation” to Open at NSU

    It is dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the birth of Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor, Honorary Professor of NSU, Honored Scientist of the Russian Federation, founder of the scientific school of modern Siberian science studies and cultural studies, veteran of the Great Patriotic War Varlen Lvovich Soskin.

    02/18/2025

    Sergey Netesov: “You have to root for the positive”

    To overcome ARVI, medications and immune stimulation alone are not enough. The patient’s emotional state is no less important. A positive attitude will make the medications more effective.

    All news

    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: ISI opens coworking space and interactive video studio

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    Two new locations have opened at the Institute of Civil Engineering of SPbPU — the coworking space “koTworking” and the interactive video studio “Dzhalinga”. The event was attended by the management of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, as well as teachers and students of the Institute of Civil Engineering. The coworking space will become a comfortable place for them to work, study and relax. The ribbon was cut by the Vice-Rector for Educational Activities of SPbPU Lyudmila Pankova and the Director of the Institute of Civil Engineering Marina Petrochenko.

    The ceremonial event was also attended by Vice-Rector for Organizational and Economic Work Stanislav Vladimirov, Vice-Rector for Information Technology Andrey Lyamin, Vice-Rector for Youth Policy and Communication Technologies Maxim Pasholikov, Vice-Rector for Economics and Finance Alexander Rechinsky, Vice-Rector for Additional and Pre-University Education Dmitry Tikhonov, Acting Vice-Rector for Prospective Projects Maria Vrublevskaya, Advisor to the Rector’s Office Vladimir Glukhov, Academic Secretary of the University Dmitry Karpov, and Director of the Department of Economics and Finance Elena Vinogradova.

    The event began with a speech by the Vice-Rector for Educational Activities of SPbPU Lyudmila Pankova, who noted the need for such platforms for students: I congratulate the students of ISI on the opening of a wonderful coworking location, where you can not only relax and communicate, but also use this space for learning and implementing your ideas. I wish the institute to create more such points of attraction, where students can spend their time and joint events.

    Guys, we are happy to congratulate you on the opening of a space for rest and study. In this place, we wanted to create an atmosphere of home comfort, especially for out-of-town students who miss home. That is why cute cats greet you here, and our coworking is called “koTworking”, which means a place for joint creativity. I congratulate you and wish you creative success, – emphasized the director of the Civil Engineering Institute Marina Petrochenko.

    Coworking “koTworking” is a modern space created specifically for students of the Civil Engineering Institute. The initiative is aimed at supporting the creative potential of students in an informal, friendly atmosphere. “KoTworking” is equipped with everything necessary for productive work: comfortable work areas and cozy corners for rest are provided here. The space should become a place where students can exchange ideas, hold meetings and find inspiration for the implementation of their own ideas.

    ISI also opened a digital interactive video studio “Jalinga”. It allows you to conduct webinars for a large audience of listeners in real time, shoot video content for lectures and practical classes, conduct interviews, shoot reels in high quality, with subsequent quick processing of the resulting material without an operator and almost without editing. This significantly saves resources and time for developing online courses, and also reduces the cost of video production. The studio and software “Jalinga” allow you to independently control the filming, without resorting to the help of specialists.

    Today, the video studio is filming 15 online courses of the Master’s program “Industrial and Civil Construction” and 5 courses of the DPO programs, – noted Marina Petrochenko.

    The opening of the video studio will expand the capabilities of ISI in the field of online education. Now students and teachers will be able to prepare high-quality video materials that will make the learning process more visual and accessible.

    Photo archive

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The Russian House in Addis Ababa opened the Information Center of RAFU and SPbPU

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    The grand opening of the Information Center of the Russian-African Network University Consortium and Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University took place in the capital of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, at the Russian House. The event was attended by Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation Konstantin Mogilevsky, Head of Rossotrudnichestvo Yevgeny Primakov, Deputy Director of the International Cooperation Department Stepan Sokolov and Head of the Russian House in Ethiopia Vladimir Golovachev. The Polytechnic was represented by the head of the RAFU project office, Maxim Zalyvsky.

    The new center will become an important link in strengthening scientific and educational cooperation between Russia and Ethiopia, and will also promote Russian education on the African continent. The main goal is to develop partnerships with Ethiopian universities, popularize Russian educational programs, and prepare applicants interested in entering universities participating in the RAFU consortium. The center is equipped with information materials about Russian universities and methodological literature that will help future students make an informed choice.

    At the opening ceremony, Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education Konstantin Mogilevsky emphasized: Cooperation between Russia and Ethiopia is developing in various key areas: education, science, culture. To obtain the best Russian education, especially in the engineering and technical field, it is important to have a good knowledge of mathematics, physics and other natural sciences from the very beginning. To help you on this path, today we are opening three new centers at the Russian House.

    As part of the event, the Russian Language Center of the Nizhny Novgorod State Linguistic University and the Pre-University Education Center of the Saint Petersburg State Electrotechnical University “LETI” were also opened in the capital of Ethiopia.

    We strive to create conditions so that every potential applicant could receive all the necessary information about Russian universities, areas of study, admission procedures, as well as available grants and scholarships. This will help young people make the right choice of their future profession and discover new opportunities for studying in Russia, – said Maxim Zalyvsky, head of the RAFU project office.

    The opening of the center was an important step in strengthening Russian-Ethiopian relations in the field of education and science. It will become not only a platform for information, but also a place where students and teachers can exchange experiences, participate in joint projects and build long-term cooperation.

    The head of Rossotrudnichestvo, Yevgeny Primakov, added: We are happy to share knowledge and strive for young people, enriched by Russian culture and science, to make their countries stronger, to raise their economies, technologies, and businesses. The Russian House in Ethiopia is a living embodiment of this philosophy. It will develop, filling with people, ideas, and the energy of the young.

    The Russian-African Network University unites leading Russian universities that are actively developing partnerships with African countries. The Polytechnic University has been the coordinator of the RAFU consortium since 2023.

    As part of the ceremonial event, NGLU and the Ethiopian Association of Graduates of Soviet and Russian Universities joined the RAFU consortium.

    The Polytechnic University is interested in strengthening educational and scientific ties with Ethiopia and other African countries. The opening of the joint Information Center of SPbPU and RAFU is an important step in implementing the strategy of the Russian Government to expand the presence of Russian education and science on the African continent, emphasized Dmitry Arsenyev, Vice-Rector for International Affairs at SPbPU.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Universities – With a little help from their friends: school challenges – UoA

    Source: University of Auckland (UoA)

    School friendships and social connections are vital to positive student experiences so need to be actively fostered, according to findings from the Our Voices project at the University of Auckland.

    Peer friendships and caring social connections with teachers and other school community members are central to students’ experiences of school, according to two recently published reports from the Our Voices project at Waipapa Taumata Rau University of Auckland.
     
    The reports analysed responses to a range of general wellbeing questions from 1,000 13-year-olds in theGrowing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) longitudinal study.
     
    One of the reports’ authors, Dr Emma Marks, a research fellow in Social and Community Health, says the latest research shows how important it is for schools and other groups to create a range of opportunities for social connection, both in and out of school.
     
    “Respondents felt that increasing school engagement should focus not only on learning and achievement, but also on offering students’ good experiences to make school more attractive; for example, teachers who care about a young person in their entirety, not just as a learner, and extracurricular activities that help them ‘find their people’,” she says.
     
    Young people mostly felt a sense of belonging with friends and whānau through talking, having fun together and positive emotional engagement. However, they believed strengthening those things takes time and opportunity, says Marks.
     
    “They need to be given a range of opportunities to develop meaningful social connections, particularly during school transitions, like moving from intermediate to high school, when they can get separated from friends.”
     
    She says a sense of belonging can be created in different contexts and groups, including between peers, family, sports teams and cultural groups, and on social media, although that comes with pitfalls.
     
    “The ease of communicating on social media provides opportunities for friendships and connections beyond the school environment but also comes with risks our respondents were well aware of; in particular cyberbullying.”
     
    However, she says it is clear social media is an important part of many young people’s social lives, and that they use it to feel connected to “friends, family, others, everyone, and the world.”
     
    Marks says bullying remains a significant concern, especially for anyone who is seen as ‘different’ or not ‘fitting in’, but friendships can create a ballast.

    “Having friends is important across all life stages, but particularly during adolescence, when young people are more likely to spend time with peers in and out of school than with their family.”
     
    The reports note that challenges for young people, both in school and out, vary in type and who’s most affected, depending on things like home environment, learning abilities, individual differences and peer pressure.
     
    “So having a better understanding of these particular challenges can help target support to those who need it most,” says Marks.
     
    Respondents viewed friends as being similar to themselves, with shared qualities and interests, and as worthy of being cherished and valued, the reports note.
     
    “However, the data clearly shows not all young people have friends, and some feel like they don’t belong anywhere,” says Marks.
     
    She says young people have good ideas about how to make school a more inclusive place, but recognise they need support from school staff and leadership to make this happen.
     
    “Some of their ideas included more effective antibullying programmes, more teacher intervention and clearer disciplinary action.”
     
    “Other suggestions included greater efforts to support students’ mental health, smaller classes, and removing ability groupings (that put students in the same year in different groups for subjects like Maths and English, depending on perceived ability).
     
    The Our Voices project aims to understand what young people in Aotearoa need to thrive to inform policies and services focused on supporting their wellbeing.
     
    A further two reports will focus on the influence of teachers and how young people seek help to solve problems.
     
    The project was funded by the Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment and involves a multidisciplinary team of national and international experts.

    Visit the Our Voices website for the full reports: https://ourvoices.auckland.ac.nz/
     
    ‘School Experiences: Overcoming Challenges’ by Dawson-Bruce, R., Rudd, G., Peterson, E. R., Marks, E., Walker, C., & Meissel, K. (2025).
    ‘Social Connections: In-person and online’ by Fan, J., Ogden S. E., Rudd, G., Marks E., Peterson, E. R., Walker, C. G. & Meissel, K. (2025).
     
    Tō Mātou Rerenga – Our Journey app and Growing Up in New Zealand
     
    Data was collected within Tō Mātou Rerenga – Our Journey, an app co-designed by University of Auckland researchers alongside young people from the Growing Up in New Zealand longitudinal study (GUiNZ).
     
    GUiNZ recruited over 6,000 New Zealand children born between 2009 and 2010, with the aim of creating an in-depth summary of what life is like for them and what factors affect their happiness, health and development.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: A new play about Julian Assange, Truth is an intelligent, thoughtful and unsettling work

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Hunter, Senior Lecturer in Art and Performance, Deakin University

    Pia Johnson/Malthouse Theatre

    Truth, the new play from writer-director pair Patricia Cornelius and Susie Dee, dives headfirst into the contentious world of Julian Assange. It offers us a nuanced portrait of the WikiLeaks founder who transformed from hacker wunderkind to global lightning rod.

    An apt celebration of the significant body of work from the acclaimed duo, Truth opens nearly 40 years after the pair created and performed their first collaboration, Lilly and May.

    Assange rose to global prominence by publishing classified documents that exposed government secrets and surveillance programs. He became both a celebrated whistleblower and a controversial figure in debates about transparency and national security.

    Truth unravels the threads of his story.

    Truth reveals the complex legacy of a man whose actions have both championed and challenged modern democracy.
    Pia Johnson/Malthouse Theatre

    A complex legacy

    The work is set in a spare, black-box space, characterised by Matilda Woodroofe’s bureaucratic brutalist design.

    A backdrop of hard mesh enclosures and scaffolded structures evokes a monotonous line of outdoor exercise yards or prison cells. This is flanked by colourless filing cabinets, 80s-style laminated brown desks and office chairs on wheels. A giant LED screen crowns the structure.

    The ensemble (Emily Havea, Tomàš Kantor, James O’Connell, Eva Rees and Eva Seymour) weaves together key moments in Assange’s life, revealing the complex legacy of a man whose actions have both championed and challenged modern democracy.

    Speaking in chorus at times, the actors perform multiple versions of Assange and other characters. They are journalists, whistleblowers, narrators, and include the key figures of Edward Snowden and Chelsea Manning.

    A terrific and youthful ensemble cast delivers sensitive and energised performances.
    Pia Johnson/Malthouse Theatre

    Characterised by Cornelius’ trademark rapid-fire dialogue, the text is tightly calibrated with smart, sparse, dry comments that, at times, comically undercut our Australian sensibilities. As one character says, “the worst thing to be in this country is too smart”.

    The ensemble is physically dynamic and vocally strong. They have a particular choreographic fluidity. A spaciousness and attention to timing allows each performance to land. This is a testament both to Dee’s sharp, contained direction, and a terrific and youthful ensemble cast who deliver sensitive and energised performances.

    From geek to advocate

    The play moves chronologically through Assange’s life. We begin with the rocky early years marked by the dissonance between his sharp intelligence and reputation as computer nerd. We witness his arrests for hacking. We follow his evolution from awkward geek to outspoken advocate for free speech.

    The play offers us a nuanced portrait of the WikiLeaks founder who transformed from hacker wunderkind to global lightning rod.
    Pia Johnson/Malthouse Theatre

    The play is grounded in comprehensive research, and solo moments featuring Snowden and Manning serve as poignant interludes to the fast-paced narrative of Assange’s life events.

    I am struck by the way the work unsettles my preconceptions. The small, stark image of a naked Private Manning in her isolated cell is particularly raw and affecting – but is juxtaposed on stage against Assange’s dubious behaviour towards two young women in Sweden.

    The show clips along, all the while unfolding a nuanced consideration of the complexities of reported narratives and the myriad ways in which journalistic narratives are influenced – and controlled.

    The delivery to the audience is largely direct-address. This risks becoming tedious, but Cornelius’ intelligent style and the ensemble’s strong performance carries through.

    The LED screen is used to great effect. The video design (Meri Blazevski) shifts through rainstorms of binary digits, to list of early Assange manifestos or leaked stories, to pixellated images of actors’ faces as teenage gamers.

    The work is set in a spare, black-box space, characterised by Matilda Woodroofe’s bureaucratic brutalist design.
    Pia Johnson/Malthouse Theatre

    In a long and shocking sequence, we witness drone footage from the Afghanistan war logs accompanied by the chillingly dispassionate commentary of the operators.

    Often, the screen becomes a surface for live video feeds which work to personalise or disembody characters, functioning variously as narrator, witness, and surveillance device. Transitions between closeups, documentation and stark data both drive and complicate the storytelling.

    Kelly Ryall’s composition and sound design – often paired with the pulsing or flashing giant texts on the screen – is a retro-electronic tapestry of victory chimes, synthetic bleeps and Pac Man pings. It is all underscored by deep digital tones and rapid analogue tapping of keyboards.

    A long artistic relationship

    This is an intelligent and thoughtful show that manages to be both complex and entertaining. The play is particularly salient given current global events, challenging us to consider the scale of what we’re up against, how long we should remain silent, and what power – if any – we have to effect change.

    In an era of heated debate about transparency and fake news, Truth emerges as a vital and edgy work in the capable hands of two highly respected theatre makers.

    The work is testament to the longevity of an artistic relationship between two older women that carries decades of embodied knowledge.

    Despite the persistent ageism in Australian theatre that often equates “urgency” exclusively with youth, this work reminds us older artists can and do challenge and disrupt – and bring a special and necessary currency to our cultural life.

    Truth is at Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne, until March 8.

    Kate Hunter 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. A new play about Julian Assange, Truth is an intelligent, thoughtful and unsettling work – https://theconversation.com/a-new-play-about-julian-assange-truth-is-an-intelligent-thoughtful-and-unsettling-work-247909

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: A defence treaty with PNG might seem like a ‘win’ for Australia. But there are 4 crucial questions to answer

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joanne Wallis, Professor of International Security, University of Adelaide

    Today, Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles began negotiations with his Papua New Guinean counterpart, Billy Joseph, on a defence treaty. This builds on the bilateral security agreement signed between the countries in 2023.

    Analysts have been quick to link the new defence treaty with Australia’s anxiety about China’s increasingly visible presence in the Pacific region.

    This reflects Australia’s longstanding anxiety about powers with potentially hostile interests establishing a foothold here.

    Because it’s only three kilometres from Australian territory, PNG has always been a particular concern. TB Millar, one of the architects of modern Australian strategic policy, went so far as to observe in 1965 that:

    if the whole island [of Papua New Guinea] were to sink under the sea, the net result for Australia in terms of military strategy would be a gain. It is an exposed and vulnerable front door.

    So, the possibility of a defence treaty seems like a “win” for an Australian government keen to bolster its security credentials in the frantic months before the federal election.

    But the government needs to have good answers to four questions before it signs on the dotted line.

    1. How will Australia enforce the treaty?

    Although treaties are theoretically legally binding, there are very few practical enforcement mechanisms.

    The constant agonising in Australia about whether the United States will meet its obligations under the Australia, New Zealand and United States Security Treaty (ANZUS) exemplifies this.

    The Trump administration’s actions also illustrate how quickly a change of government can switch foreign and strategic policy directions, including obligations under longstanding treaties. Like ANZUS, the risk of unenforceability of the PNG treaty is higher for Australia. Australia’s anxieties about China mean that it needs the treaty more than PNG does.

    Sanctions are the most likely way Australia could try to enforce the treaty if, say, PNG breached it by striking a security deal with China. But sanctions can be ineffective.

    Alternatively, Australia could threaten to withdraw its support if PNG breached the treaty. But this is also unlikely because Australia knows China is likely to step into any gap.

    This has been demonstrated in Solomon Islands. Even though Australia has a security treaty with Solomon Islands and invested A$3 billion in the 2003–17 Regional Assistance Mission, Solomon Islands still signed a security agreement with China in 2022.

    2. Has Australia mitigated any risks?

    No previous Australian government has offered PNG a binding security guarantee.

    In 1977, Australia and PNG adopted a formal defence relationship. Australia, however, was cautious about instability in PNG and the risk of being drawn into a conflict along its land border with Indonesia. As such, it didn’t provide a commitment to defend PNG.

    In the mid-1980s, PNG requested a defence commitment from Australia. Again, Australia was reluctant. As then-Defence Minister Kim Beazley recalled, PNG was “right in the frame of our relationship with Indonesia”, due to the shared border with Indonesia and the challenge of West Papuan independence activists crossing it.

    As a compromise, the two countries made a Joint Declaration of Principles in 1987 that only provided the two governments “will consult … about matters affecting their common security interests”.

    As the self-determination struggle in West Papua continues, PNG currently has defence units posted on its border with Indonesia.

    Under what circumstances, if any, would Australia provide military support to PNG if violence on the border worsened? And what impact would this have on our relationship with Indonesia?

    Not responding to a call for support from PNG could damage Australia’s reputation in the region. But if Australia did become involved in a conflict, it may be criticised for supporting activities that breach human rights.

    The risk of Australia being unable to respond to a PNG request for military assistance is high because Australia does not have the defence (or policing) capacity to defend or stabilise a sprawling country like PNG.

    Australia’s reliance on US assistance to stabilise Timor-Leste after its 1999 independence referendum illustrates the logistical challenges it faces when making large deployments, even in the region.

    While Australia’s defence capabilities have improved since then, it would still likely only have the capacity to secure key cities in PNG and evacuate Australian citizens if there was serious unrest.

    3. Can Australia justify the cost at home?

    Australian taxpayers – already experiencing cost-of-living pressures – need to be told what funding commitments the government is willing to make to facilitate the treaty negotiations.

    Australia’s promise of A$600 million to fund a PNG team in the National Rugby League is already attracting opposition at home.

    4. What are the long-term defence plans?

    PNG’s strategic location means Australia and the US have long had designs on establishing a permanent military base there.

    Manus Island, for example, has been identified as an ideal submarine base. With Australia developing nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS partnership, are there plans to eventually base – or at least resupply – Australian submarines there?

    This could have an impact on Australia’s relationships in the broader Pacific Islands region. There are already concerns in the region about whether the nuclear-powered submarines will comply with Australia’s obligations under the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty.

    Australia has legitimate strategic interests in PNG. As such, it’s understandable why a defence treaty is tempting.

    But for 50 years, Australian governments have resisted this temptation because they decided that the risks outweighed the rewards. The current government will need to provide a good justification for its change of course.

    Joanne Wallis receives funding from the Australian Research Council and the Australian Department of Defence. She is a Nonresident Senior Fellow of the Brookings Institution, a nonprofit public policy organisation.

    – ref. A defence treaty with PNG might seem like a ‘win’ for Australia. But there are 4 crucial questions to answer – https://theconversation.com/a-defence-treaty-with-png-might-seem-like-a-win-for-australia-but-there-are-4-crucial-questions-to-answer-250396

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –