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Category: Universities

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Cultural Code of the Celestial Empire: How to Do Business in China

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    © Mikhail Dmitriev / Higher School of Economics

    By 2035, China will overtake the United States in terms of GDP and become the world’s largest economy. Today, there are over 108 million entrepreneurs and 50 million industrial enterprises in this country. Last year, economic growth was 4.8%. This opens up unique opportunities for Russian companies. HSE experts explained how to enter one of the most promising markets.

    The HSE Expert Club “Eastern Perspective” held a business session “China: Five Steps to Entering the Market That Will Bring Profits”. The club was created by HSE experts to discuss tools, trends and insights on cooperation between Russia and the countries of Southeast Asia, the Near and Middle East, and North Africa. The participants were addressed by experts with successful experience in the Chinese market. The meeting was moderated by Deputy Director Marketing Communications Directorate HSE University Dmitry Chubarov.

    Sergey Mikhnevich, Managing Director of the Department of International Multilateral Cooperation and Integration of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, Coordinator of Russian Business Participation in the Business Twenty, Executive Secretary, Member of the Presidium of the Business Council of the Eurasian Economic Union, spoke about a possible strategy for working with the Chinese business community and GR. First of all, he noted that China is the largest trading partner for Russia, but the volume of trade is quite concentrated and is mostly tied to one or two large projects. At the same time, there is currently a shortage of good experts in China in our country. Even the number of Russians who know Chinese and study this country has noticeably decreased in recent years.

    The speaker noted a number of markers of the Chinese approach to the market, related to the consideration of national characteristics, that is, the adaptation of foreign experience to their own realities and capabilities. He assigns a key role to the government of the PRC, since certain attributes of socialism are preserved in the country, which affects, among other things, the system of development of the Chinese economy and various methods of managing it. First of all, the Chinese market is a market of tough competition with directive management methods.

    “Despite the fact that for 10-12 years the PRC has been placing a big bet on increasing the role of the domestic market as an economic driver, exports also play a colossal role. At the same time, many companies enter the Chinese market not to sell their products, but to use the country’s production capabilities and then export goods to the target market, be it the Russian Federation or the countries of the Asia-Pacific region. There are quite a few such examples in a variety of economic sectors, because China’s import needs are really very high,” he said.

    According to the expert, China currently has a need for such areas as green development, ensuring the sustainability of supply chains for goods and raw materials, and the formation of new dynamic and stable sales markets.

    Professor Faculty of World Economy and World PoliticsNatalia Guseva, head of the HSE educational programs “Business with the East”, presented the educational programs “Eastern Perspective” for entrepreneurs working with countries of the Near and Middle East, North Africa, and the Indo-Pacific region.

    The flagship five-month program “Eastern Perspective: Strategy and Tactics for Building a Business” combines the experience and practices of entering new markets in developed countries of the Global East. Intensive three-month program “Eastern Perspective: The Basics of Building a Business” is aimed at obtaining practical knowledge on business development, launching international projects in various sectors of the economy with countries of the Global East.

    Three-week program «Eastern Perspective: The Practice of Building a Business in China“focuses on knowledge, strategies and practices for building a successful business in this country.

    “We want to give listeners new knowledge and share successful cases, and sometimes failed cases, when a company loses tens and hundreds of thousands, or even millions, due to mistakes. It is very important to understand what strategy you are going to use to enter the Chinese market and how you are going to compete there,” Natalia Guseva emphasized. “For example, why do they only talk about how to export products? Why not create a local enterprise? Why not make direct foreign investments? Why not think about licensing or franchising, depending on the specifics of the product or services provided?”

    Anastasia Nasedkina, founder of a Chinese marketing agency, spoke about the peculiarities of the Chinese market Matessa, author of educational courses on Chinese advertising platforms Baidu, WeChat, Weibo, Douyin (Ocean Engine). According to her, there are a number of significant differences from the Russian and European markets that need to be understood. For example, the Chinese in most cases trade and conduct business via mobile phones, not from a desktop computer, so to enter the Chinese market, a company does not need a website: its functionality will be replaced by the official WeChat account. For the same reason, social networks are serious tools for business development there. Analogues of WhatsApp, FB, Inst and VK, which are used in China: WeChat, Weibo, Douyin, Kuaishou, QQ.

    A foreign company must register a legal entity – this will allow it to promote the brand without strict restrictions. In addition, having a legal entity increases audience loyalty. A verified WeChat account will provide a credit of trust even for a young company: legal entity accounts are strictly checked, and this takes up to six months.

    One of the most popular online platforms for watching and sharing short videos is Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok. Its audience is very diverse: about 60% of users are between the ages of 18 and 35, followed by the audience of 35-50 years old. The platform is popular in various regions of China, with a significant portion of users coming from first- and second-tier cities, that is, developed and wealthy provinces. The platform has a built-in Douyin Shop, where you can sell products if you have a registered trademark.

    In addition, live broadcasts conducted by the brand’s official account are popular in the country. In 2021, they already accounted for 57% of all broadcasts on the Douyin platform. The content on these accounts consists of simple and short videos, the editing of which mainly comes down to adding background music and effects.

    Entering the Chinese market should always begin with research, notes Anastasia Nasedkina. It is necessary to analyze the demand of the target audience, competitors, as well as the economic and political landscape. It is also important to assess the brand’s presence in the digital environment, the adaptation of the product and service to local preferences, the ability to ensure fast and hassle-free payment for purchases through local services.

    It is also important to pay attention to national rules of negotiation. Here, the strict hierarchy of age and position, the Chinese desire to “not lose face,” as well as cultural differences with Western views on topics such as worldview, relationships, family, etc. are important.

    “When you enter the Chinese market and hire employees there, you need to somehow build interaction with them, and it is important to either have a person who understands all these cultural differences and peculiarities and can build communication, or to immerse yourself and thus build a team in China. The Chinese market is quite complex, but with proper preparation and understanding, with the right strategy, you can enter it and gain a foothold in one or two years,” she summed up.

    In conclusion, the moderator of the event, Dmitry Chubarov, once again invited the business session participants to take the HSE educational programs dedicated to the East. He emphasized that the expertise and cases that will be discussed will not be based on abstract textbooks, but on the daily successful practice of both Russian and international companies.

    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: On Russian Science Day, scientists and postgraduates were awarded at the Polytechnic University

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    On the Day of Russian Science, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University held many events: open lectures, seminars, quizzes, round tables, webinars and competitions. And the main event of the holiday was the award ceremony for the winners of the “Graduate Student of the Year” competition, the most active SPbPU scientists in the media and journalists popularizing science.

    Congratulating scientists, postgraduates and students on the holiday, Vice-Rector for Research Yuri Fomin emphasized that unprecedented attention is being paid to support of scientific activity at the federal level today.

    At a recent meeting of the Council under the President of the Russian Federation for Science and Education, it was discussed that it is necessary to ensure the superiority of domestic science-intensive technologies and products in vital areas. Polytechnic scientists are making their contribution to solving this problem. We are proud of their achievements and grateful to active popularizers of science who attract young people to research work, said Yuri Vladimirovich.

    After the greeting, the Vice-Rector for Science presented awards to the winners and prize-winners of the first-ever “Postgraduate of the Year” competition and their academic supervisors. In the field of natural and exact sciences, first place was taken by Polina Shinkevich from the Civil Engineering Institute (scientific supervisor Natalia Politaeva), second and third places went to Physics and Mechanical Institute postgraduate students Daniil Provodin (scientific supervisor Vadim Davydov) and Anna Ponomarenko (scientific supervisor Alexander Yashin).

    In the field of technical sciences, first place went to Ksenia Velmozhina from ISI (scientific supervisor Natalia Politaeva), and second place went to postgraduate students from the Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Transport Ekaterina Volokitina (scientific supervisor Nikolai Razumov) and Salbek Beketov (scientific supervisor Sergei Redko).

    In the field of humanities and social sciences, all prize places went to postgraduate students of the Institute of Industrial Management, Economics and Trade:

    The first was won by Grigory Kulkaev (scientific supervisor Oleg Kichigin), the second by Alexey Melnik (scientific supervisor Alexander Babkin), and the third by Maria Rodionova (scientific supervisor Tatyana Kudryavtseva).

    “At the very beginning of their journey, all young scientists go through postgraduate studies,” noted Yuri Fomin. “That is why it was important for us to launch this competition, to emphasize the role of postgraduate students and their scientific supervisors, and we hope that the new tradition will be supported and gain momentum.”

    Also, together with the Head of the Public Relations Department Marianna Dyakova, Yuri Fomin awarded the Polytechnic scientists who demonstrated maximum media activity in 2024. These are researchers and experts who gave comments in federal and regional media, actively collaborated with journalists in preparing materials.

    Marianna Dyakova thanked those who regularly appear on the Polytechnic’s media resources and help with the preparation of materials in the media: Thank you for creating the image of our university, its reputation. We understand that it is difficult to distract scientists from their scientific work, but this is also important work for the university, and we really appreciate those who find time for it.

    Among those awarded were: Head of the Laboratory of Lightweight Materials and Structures Oleg Panchenko, Director of the Scientific and Educational Center (SEC) “Mechanical Engineering Technologies and Materials” Pavel Novikov, Director of the SEC “Nanotechnologies and Coatings” Alexander Semencha, Head of the Scientific Research Laboratory (SRL) for the Analysis of Biomedical Images and Data Ekaterina Pchitskaya, Head of the Laboratory nano- and microencapsulation of biologically active substances Alexander Timin, research fellow at the Nanobiotechnology Research Complex Natalia Morozova, head of the Food Quality Control Laboratory Maria Kireeva, head of the System Dynamics Research Laboratory Angi Skhvediani, head of the General and Analytical Chemistry Laboratory Evgenia Pochkaeva.

    In honor of Russian Science Day, the university also thanked journalists who regularly cover the Polytechnic University’s scientific activities in the media. As Marianna Dyakova emphasized, the media always show great interest in SPbPU, and the university is grateful to many of them for their attention. And Russian Science Day is a good reason to thank the most active information partners: producer of the Directorate of Socially Significant Thematic Programs and Special Projects of the Saint Petersburg TV Channel Natalia Lomonosova, senior correspondent of Rossiyskaya Gazeta Marina Ledyaeva, special correspondent of the TASS news agency Sergei Rybakov.

    On the eve of Science Day, representatives of the Student Scientific Society also made a presentation about their activities at the Polytechnic University. The head of the organization, Mikhail Udovichenko, told which institutes the SSS is actively working in and where it is not yet, and called on students to take advantage of the opportunities provided by the association, attend events and propose ideas. Viktor Klinkov, head of the educational laboratory of applied chemistry and candidate of physical and mathematical sciences, told students about his experience and path to science. And Angelika Gerner, head of the youth scientific competitions sector of the Office for Support of Scientific Projects and Programs, and Ekaterina Linnik, director of the Center for Scientific Publications, told students about the available opportunities for participating in competitions, receiving grants, and writing scientific articles.

    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: HSE Economists Describe the Portrait of a Russian Remote Worker and Platform Employee

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    In Russia, mostly married women aged 30–39 with higher education living in large cities work remotely, while platform employment is more typical for men of the same age with a wide range of qualifications from megacities. This is the conclusion reached by economists from the Higher School of Economics after analyzing digital forms of employment in the Russian labor market. The study was published in a preprint of the series “Problems of the labor market”.

    Modern technologies have changed the labor market, making remote and platform employment popular forms of work. Russia has not remained on the sidelines: remote work attracts women with higher education living in large cities, and platform employment is more typical for men working in the transport sector or in retail.

    Platform employment is work via online platforms where specialists find clients, communicate with them, and provide services or sell goods. This is how taxi drivers, couriers, psychologists, tutors, copywriters, and designers work.

    Remote employment is work that is performed outside of an office or other work premises provided by the employer. It can be organized with or without the use of digital technologies.

    Deputy Director Center for Labor Studies, National Research University Higher School of Economics Rostislav Kapelyushnikov and senior lecturer Department of Applied Economics Faculty of Economic Sciences, National Research University Higher School of Economics Daria Zinchenko conducted a study on the specifics of digital forms of employment in the Russian labor market. The study covers the period from 2020 to 2023.

    Scientists have found that in Russia, women work remotely, making up about 60% of the workforce, while men work remotely, making up 40%. According to the researchers, this is due to two circumstances. Firstly, there are traditionally more women among workers engaged in mental work (white collars), while physical work (blue collars), which is more often done by men, requires personal presence, which makes remote employment virtually impossible. Secondly, remote work allows you to devote more time and attention to family responsibilities, which traditionally fall on women.

    Among remote workers in Russia, employees aged 30–39 (36.5%) predominate; they live in cities and have higher education. Remote employment is most often used in the field of information technology, where every eighth person works online. Then come scientific and technical activities — 7%, finance and real estate transactions — 4%. This form of employment is even less common in administrative activities — about 2.5%. The outsider in this list is agriculture: there are practically no remote employees in this industry.

    In platform employment, as in remote employment, the largest group is workers aged 30 to 39. Most Russians who work in platform employment mode, like remote workers, live in large cities (82%); almost 40% have higher education. However, unlike remote work, platform employment is widely represented by blue-collar jobs with different qualification requirements, so it is more skewed towards the male audience (58%). If we talk about industries, platform employment is most often used in the field of transport and trade (about 20%), construction (about 10%) and manufacturing (slightly more than 7%). In sectors such as agriculture, mining, electricity and water supply, platform employment is almost never used.

    “Today, a significant portion of Russian workers have accumulated real experience working in these non-standard modes and are able to switch to them quickly and painlessly,” notes Daria Zinchenko, one of the authors of the study.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Scientists in Scotland develop new method to understand wildfires past and present Scientists in Scotland have developed a new method to understand the heat and intensity of fires that burned out millions of years ago, which could unlock our understanding of wildfires during past and present periods of climate change.

    Source: University of Aberdeen

    California WildfireScientists in Scotland have developed a new method to understand the heat and intensity of fires that burned out millions of years ago, which could unlock our understanding of wildfires during past and present periods of climate change.
    Scientists in Scotland have developed a new method to understand the heat and intensity of fires that burned out millions of years ago, which could unlock our understanding of wildfires during past and present periods of climate change.
    Developed by geoscientists at the university of Aberdeen – Dr Thomas Theurer, Dr Dmitri Mauquoy, Professor. David Muirhead, Dr Clemens von Scheffer, and Daniel Coathup – and fire engineers at the university of Edinburgh – Professor Rory Hadden, Dr Zakary Campbell-Lochrie, and Sergio Vargas Córdoba – the new technique to analyse charcoal can be applied to understand the behaviour of any wildfire, from the present day all the way back to the first evidence of wildfire 420 million years ago.
    They published their findings in the Nature journal Scientific Reports.
    The increase in wildfire activity is a major global concern, especially for vulnerable wetland ecosystems that play a key role in storing carbon and fighting climate change.
    Last month’s devastating wildfires in California, which destroyed or damaged more than 18,000 homes and structures, brought to global attention how the size of the areas affected by wildfires is growing, individual fires have increased in intensity and the fire season has extended.
    The recently published Forest Fires 2023 report, says this shows ‘the undeniable effects of climate change’.
    In addition to the devastation caused by fires which spread rapidly across forests and moorlands, so called ‘zombie fires’ also burn in peatland, smouldering deep in the soil, and can release 100 times the carbon that a wildfire does
    Wildfires have occurred throughout geological history, including during periods of extreme climate change.

    As charcoal can persist within rocks for hundreds of millions of years, this method can be applied to understand the behaviour of any wildfire, from the present day all the way back to the first evidence of wildfire 420 million years ag” Dr Thomas Theurer

    In creating a method to measure historical events, scientists applied state-of-the art analyses using a laser, called Raman spectroscopy, to charcoals created during experiments at the University of Edinburgh Rushbrook Fire Laboratory simulating wildfire.
    It is the first calculation of wildfire energy release measured from charcoal chemistry, the team say, that can be applied to complex, natural fuel mixes and wildfire reconstructions of any age.
    Dr Thomas Theurer, a research Fellow at the University of Aberdeen, said: “As geoscientists, we can study simultaneous changes in ancient plant communities, climate, and fire that are often preserved in rock, and begin to understand the drivers of intense fire activity in the past, and how this modifies ecosystems.
    “As charcoal can persist within rocks for hundreds of millions of years, this method can be applied to understand the behaviour of any wildfire, from the present day all the way back to the first evidence of wildfire 420 million years ago.”
    Dr Dmitri Mauquoy, Senior Lecturer in Geosciences at the University of Aberdeen added: “Current methods to estimate ancient fire temperatures, called ‘geothermometry’, study specific changes in charcoal chemistry that result from the temperatures experienced during a wildfire event. However, energy release and transfer in wildfires is a complex process that cannot be understood through temperature measurements alone. Therefore, these methods may not be as accurate or useful in understanding ancient fire behaviour as previously thought.
    “The method we have developed allows us to quantify the energy release from wildfires using charcoal remains – the first and only method of its kind that is non-destructive and universal to complex, natural mixes of vegetation as fuel.”
    Understanding modern wildfire activity and how it may change with escalating climate change is complicated by the modification of environments by humans throughout history – such as forestry, agriculture, and fire suppression.
    “By applying this new method, we are able to get insights into how past fire activity has changed with climate change, independent of human interference, in a way that allows comparison to modern wildfire activity,” said Professor Rory Hadden, Personal Chair of Fire Science at the University of Edinburgh.  
    “This allows us insights we can use to assess and contextualise predictions of future fire activity, and how they may impact global ecosystems and populations.“As charcoal is a commonplace by-product of fire, it is exciting to think how this method might be applied to other areas of study, such as archaeology, forensic fire investigations, and fire safety science more broadly.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The sphere of intellectual property was discussed at the Polytechnic University

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    An interregional conference entitled “Development of the intellectual property sphere in the regions of the Russian Federation” was held at Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University.

    The co-hosts of the round table were the Chairperson of the Board of the Intellectual Property Development Fund, Patent Attorney of the Russian Federation Natalia Petrova and the Head of the Regional Department of the Association of Innovative Regions of Russia (AIRR) Dmitry Mitroshin. In their welcoming speech, they emphasized the importance of the event, which brought together representatives of various services and departments from several regions of Russia. Natalia Borisovna noted that intellectual property is important for the development of the country and the implementation of national projects that require new technologies.

    On behalf of SPbPU, the participants were greeted by Vladimir Glukhov, Advisor to the Rectorate, who emphasized the need to improve intellectual property management and solve problems with copyright protection.

    The head of the Center for Strategic Communications of the Federal Institute of Industrial Property (FIPS) Darya Shipitsyna spoke about the current situation in the sphere of intellectual property. She emphasized that the government of the country is taking measures to protect intellectual property and support companies implementing innovations. The Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation has developed a package of preferences, which includes 17 benefits for high-tech enterprises participating in the development of technologies: from the provision of loans to grant support.

    Anna Aleksandrova, head of the FIPS analytical center, spoke online and told how to set up intellectual property management processes for regional development purposes. Leading researcher Marina Ivanova presented tactics and strategy for intellectual property management in the regions.

    Representatives of leading universities from Moscow, Kazan, Mordovia, Yakutia, Tyumen, Kaluga, and Samara also shared their opinions.

    Director of the SPbPU Center for Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Ismail Kadiev presented the experience of the Polytechnic University, on the basis of which the Center for Technology and Innovation Support was created ten years ago. He said that the Polytechnic has created all the necessary infrastructure to support the activities of inventors, and provides assistance in preparing applications and preparing documents for obtaining patents. The SPbPU TISC ranks first among similar centers in the Russian Federation.

    The round table was organized by the Intellectual Property Development Fund, the Association of Innovative Regions of Russia (AIRR), SPbPU, the Center for Scientific and Technical Information of the Republic of Tatarstan, the Commission for the Implementation of Effective Mechanisms for Regulating Intellectual Property in the Subjects of the Russian Federation of the Public Council under the Federal Service for Intellectual Property, and the St. Petersburg Regional Office of Delovaya Rossiya.

    As part of the round table at the Boiling Point — Polytech, a strategic session entitled “The Image of the Future Intellectual Property Market in the Regions of the Russian Federation” was also held. Participants in the “Universities and Research Institutes” block presented best practices and proposed increasing the number of technology brokers in universities and research institutes, using local regulations of leading universities, replicating the experience of creating intellectual property and technology transfer centers, applying an IT system for intellectual property management, and developing agreements with state corporations and on company orders.

    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: Associate Professor of SPbGASU Awarded the Title of “Honorary Sports Judge of Russia” in Sambo

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Roman Motylev

    Head of the Department of Construction Organization at SPbGASU, Associate Professor Roman Motylev was awarded the title of “Honorary Sports Judge of Russia” in Sambo. The corresponding order was signed by the Minister of Sports of the Russian Federation Mikhail Degtyarev on February 4, 2025.

    “I have been practicing sambo since the fifth grade – since 1987. This type of martial arts allows you to stand up for yourself and learn to overcome various difficulties. For almost forty years, I have not only remained faithful to sambo, but also tried to develop. I am a master of sports of Russia in sambo, I have the third dan in judo. I consider the assignment of the title of honorary judge to be reaching the pinnacle in this area,” said Roman Vladimirovich.

    Since 2015, he has been the chairman of the panel of judges of the regional branch of the All-Russian Sambo Federation of St. Petersburg, a member of the referee commission of the All-Russian Sambo Federation, since February 2022 – a judge of the international and all-Russian category in sambo (license A), since 2023 – a first category judge in SBE (MMA), since 2025 – a second category judge in judo.

    “From 2009 to 2013, I worked as a first-category sambo coach, and for more than ten years at the Department of Physical Education at St. Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering. As an honorary sports judge of Russia in sambo, I aim to control the correctness and purity of refereeing, and to develop sambo as an international and Olympic sport,” concluded Roman Motylev.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/INDIA – Resignation and appointment of bishop of Jalpaiguri

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Saturday, 8 February 2025

    Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Jalpaiguri, India, presented by Bishop Clement Tirkey.The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend Fabian Toppo, of the clergy of the same diocese, until now professor and spiritual director of the Morning Star Regional Seminary and College in Calcutta, as bishop of the diocese of Jalpaiguri, India.The Reverend Fabian Toppo was born on 21 December 1960 in Darupisa in the diocse of Jashpur, Chhattisgarh. He studied philosophy at the Papal Seminary in Pune, and theology at the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome, and was awarded a master’s degree in English from the University of North Bengal and a doctorate in biblical theology at the Pontifical Urbaniana University of Rome, as well as a diploma in administrative canon law.He was ordained a priest on 3 December 1994 for the diocese of Jalpaiguri.Since ordination, he has held the following roles: director of the Candidates’ House and for Ecumenism and Interreligious Dialogue in Jalpaiguri (1994-1998), parish priest of Shanti Rani in Mongradagni (1998-2001), and professor (2002-2007) and administrator (2020-2021) of the Morning Star Regional Seminary and College in Calcutta.Since 2016 he has served as professor of biblical theology and spiritual director of the Morning Star Regional Seminary and College in Calcutta. (EG) (Agenzia Fides, 8/2/2025)
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  • MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/PHILIPPINES – World Interfaith Harmony Week: on the island of Mindanao, students, citizens and institutions participate in numerous initiatives

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Silsilah

    Zamboanga City (Agenzia Fides) – Christians and Muslims in the south of the Philippines joined the World Interfaith Harmony Week (February 1-7) organized by the United Nations, which was celebrated in Catholic parishes, schools, universities, cultural centers and, above all, in numerous cities on the island of Mindanao, where most of the six million devout Filipino Muslims live in the “Autonomous Region of Bangsamoro in Muslim Mindanao” (BARMM). The BARMM currently consists of the provinces of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur and Tawi-Tawi (the inclusion of the province of Sulu Islands is currently being discussed) and is the result of the peace agreement between the government and the “Moro Islamic Liberation” Front.Among the main actors and promoters of the marches, public rallies, seminars and prayer meetings were the Catholic communities and institutions dedicated to dialogue, including the Islamic-Christian “Silsilah” movement, founded more than 40 years ago in the city of Zamboanga by Father Sebastiano D’Ambra, an Italian missionary of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME). But civil institutions are also participating in the week of interreligious dialogue, which is celebrated worldwide. For example, the mayor of the city of Zamboanga, Maria Isabel Climaco Salazar, organized and participated in an interreligious congress in her city, which is characterized by a pluralistic society, to convey to the population a message of coexistence and cooperation for the common good. At the civil society level, former Philippine President Benigno Aquini Jr. had already officially called on civil institutions in 2013 to join and pay utmost attention to the initiative, which aims to raise awareness and create social harmony in the country. Among the various initiatives held on the island of Mindanao was a meeting on February 4 at the Western Mindanao State University, a public university in Zamboanga, which brought together Christian and Muslim students, teachers and citizens who discussed together on the theme of building harmony and peace. Joselito Madroñal, vice president of the university, emphasized the university’s role as a “beacon of peace” in the region, in culture and in the education of young people. “Our university is more than just an educational institution. We are a force for change, a catalyst for peace and a solid partner in the search for harmony,” he stressed. Among the speakers present were Father Sebastian D’Ambra, founder of the Silsilah movement, Sheikh Mahir Gustaham, a Muslim representative and coordinator of the “Interreligious Solidarity for Peace” forum, and Father Guilrey Anthony Andal (SJ), who wanted to share their experiences and encourage young people to continue on the path of peaceful coexistence. Following the interreligious celebration, the University officially inaugurated the “Month of the Arts”, identifying art as a privileged language and a fertile ground for interreligious dialogue. (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 8/2/2025)
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  • MIL-OSI: Capgemini reveals gen AI-driven breakthrough to accelerate the bioeconomy

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Press contact:
    Mollie Mellows
    Tel.: + 44 (0) 7342 709384
    E-mail: mollie.mellows@capgemini.com

    Capgemini reveals gen AI-driven breakthrough to accelerate the bioeconomy

    New methodology reduces the data requirements for protein engineering by 99% so organizations can unlock innovation even in resource-constrained environments

    Paris, February 10, 2025 – Capgemini today announced a new generative AI-driven methodology for protein engineering that uses a specialized protein large language model (pLLM) to predict the most effective protein variants. With a patent pending,1this novel approach will help accelerate the advancement of the global bioeconomy2and drive critical scientific breakthroughs across industries including healthcare, agriculture, and environmental science. By reducing the datapoints required to design protein sequences by over 99%, the new methodology harnesses the power of generative AI (gen AI) to drastically reduce the time and resources needed for research and development (R&D). Using this approach, Capgemini can help clients reduce the development cost of biosolutions and unlock business cases that were not previously viable.

    Breakthrough solves the data bottleneck challenge
    Advancements in engineering biology3 are expected to disrupt all industries, with half of business leaders predicting this transformation will happen within the next five years.4 However, data can be a critical bottleneck in research timelines. This new methodology makes scientific breakthroughs possible with significantly smaller data sets, enabling organizations to innovate even in resource-constrained environments. Using this novel approach, Capgemini is exceptionally positioned to help clients find and develop innovative solutions to global challenges such as disease, food security, and climate concerns.

    The methodology was created in the bespoke gen AI-driven biotechnology lab of Cambridge Consultants, the deep tech powerhouse of the Capgemini Group. The methodology was applied to several critical use cases to demonstrate how it could drive a step-change in innovation. Examples that can be readily translated to other applications include:  

    • 60% increase in plastic degradation efficiency: Capgemini’s gen AI-driven approach enhanced the cutinase enzyme, increasing its ability to break down PET plastic by 60%. This advancement is one example of how protein engineering can create novel, highly efficient and cost-effective solutions to tackle global plastic waste. By making it easier to degrade plastic, this breakthrough can support sustainability objectives and help lower operational costs associated with waste management.
    • Reduced experimentation for faster innovation: Using gen AI predictions, Capgemini reduced the number of experiments needed to identify an improved variant of the commonly cited Green Fluorescent Protein benchmark, from thousands to just 43 data points, achieving a brightness level seven times greater than that of the natural jellyfish protein. This significantly cuts down on the time and resources typically required for experimental testing, enabling quicker deployment across a range of fields, from accelerating drug discovery and enhancing diagnostic tools to advancing bioengineering applications.

    “Capgemini’s proprietary generative AI-driven approach means we are uniquely placed to enable clients to significantly accelerate their bio-journey in previously untapped areas and, crucially, contribute to helping solve many of humanity’s most pressing challenges,” said Roshan Gya, CEO of Capgemini Invent and member of the Group Executive Board. “Our new methodology is faster, more cost-effective, and opens the door to new opportunities for clients to develop innovative bio-based solutions. The Capgemini Group delivers end-to-end engineering biology and scale-up capabilities so that our clients can derive significant business value and develop proprietary IP, moving away from traditional carbon-based approaches and fueling growth in the bioeconomy.”

    Prof. Stephen Wallace, Professor of Chemical Biotechnology at the University of Edinburgh, stated: “Capgemini’s generative AI-driven approach represents a significant leap in protein engineering. By drastically reducing data requirements, Capgemini has fundamentally transformed the innovation timeline in bioengineering. This breakthrough reflects a clear vision for the future of engineering biology, leveraging the design and engineering of new biocatalysts to enable more sustainable and scalable industrial processes. With its expertise and adaptability, Capgemini is well-positioned to drive technological advances in this exciting and rapidly evolving interdisciplinary field.”

    Building on 10 years of pioneering engineering biology and AI development, the bespoke AI-driven biotechnology lab at Cambridge Consultants has been created at its UK headquarters, home to an unrivalled combination of multidisciplinary experts in biology, chemistry, gen AI, digital twins, electronics, software, sustainability and more.

    About Capgemini
    Capgemini is a global business and technology transformation partner, helping organizations to accelerate their dual transition to a digital and sustainable world, while creating tangible impact for enterprises and society. It is a responsible and diverse group of 340,000 team members in more than 50 countries. With its strong over 55-year heritage, Capgemini is trusted by its clients to unlock the value of technology to address the entire breadth of their business needs. It delivers end-to-end services and solutions leveraging strengths from strategy and design to engineering, all fueled by its market leading capabilities in AI, cloud and data, combined with its deep industry expertise and partner ecosystem. The Group reported 2023 global revenues of €22.5 billion.
    Get The Future You Want | www.capgemini.com

    1 A priority patent application has been submitted in GB – patent pending
    2 The bioeconomy refers to economic activity that relies on biological resources and processes (animals, plants, microorganisms, and biomass)
    3 Engineering biology is also known as synthetic biology
    4“Unlocking the power of engineering biology: The time is now”, Capgemini Research Institute, July 2024

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: First victory in the regional Spartakiad “Cheerfulness and Health”

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    The annual traditional Spartakiad “Cheerfulness and Health” among teachers and employees of higher educational institutions of the Novosibirsk Region has begun. And for the first time, the NSU team won gold medals in table tennis competitions!

    In total, there are 9 types of the program in the Spartakiad: badminton, billiards, volleyball, darts, skiing, swimming, shooting, table tennis and chess. The 7 best results are counted towards the overall standings of the University, so the competition will be serious.

    We are pleased to congratulate our table tennis team on their brilliant victory and a wonderful start to the Spartakiad!

    The honor of NSU was defended by:

    Yuriy Efremenko, postgraduate student of the Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics

    Alexander Byvaltsev, Associate Professor, Faculty of Natural Sciences

    Timur Nasybullov, Doctor of Sciences, Deputy. Dean of the MMF

    Larisa Zelenkina, Senior Lecturer, Institute of Physical Problems

    Dmitry Trotsenko – playing coach, veteran of the MMF

    We thank everyone for the great game and wish them success and longevity in sports!

    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: Education – Ara and Lanzhou City University strengthen relationship

    Source: Ara Institute of Canterbury

    For many decades, Ara Institute of Canterbury has enjoyed strong connections with Lanzhou City University in Gansu province, north-west China.
    The relationship grew out of the sister-city relationship between Christchurch and Gansu Province. Lanzhou City, on the banks of the Yellow River is the capital of the province.
    During a visit to Ara amid both Chinese New Year and Waitangi Day celebrations, the leadership of both education providers expressed hopes for a new era in their relationship.
    The LCU delegation included President Mr Gaonian Han, Director of Personnel Mr Dingjun Wang, Director of International Exchange Office Ms Xiaoxia Liu, Dean of School of Economics and Management Ms Jing Li and Associate Dean of School of Environment and Urban Development Mr Chao Wang.
    Welcoming the group last Friday, Ara’s International Director Deanna Anderson was quick to honour their shared history but also expressed strong hopes for reinvigorating their close association. She said Covid had “impacted our longstanding relationship for too long”.
    “It is time to reestablish our tradition of exchanges, both for language study and research, but also to share new ideas and bring them life,” she said, particularly noting the scope for growing cultural exchanges.
    “Our sister-city relationship is strongly based on cultural exchange – we’d like to show you what Ara has to offer in this space.”
    Expressing a keen interest in hosting a return delegation from Ara, LCU President Mr Gaonian Han said the relationship between the tertiary providers was one of the closest his university enjoyed. He reflected that their frequent exchanges and collaborations dated back to the 1980s with Ara students visiting LCU to learn Chinese, and LCU staff improving their English proficiency and teaching methods through Ara.
    Mr Han said LCU was also seeking to further cultural exchanges at the tertiary level.
    “I sincerely hope that the exchanges and cooperation between us will not only promote teaching and scientific research programmes and exchanges on both sides but also deepen and consolidate the friendship between China and New Zealand.”
    His associates highlighted free study and accommodation and scholarship options on offer at LCU during their presentations.
    Members of several Ara departments including Humanities, Creative Industries and Digital Technologies as well as Architectural Studies and Interior Design, presented to the delegation highlighting study options with scope for collaboration.
    After an exchange of gifts, Ara’s International Market Sector Manager Andy Ge escorted the visitors on a tour of campus before they were formally welcomed into Te Puna Wānaka whare on campus for a hāngī lunch prepared by Level 5 cookery students. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI: Inside information: Nokia announces a leadership transition – Justin Hotard appointed as successor to Pekka Lundmark

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Nokia Corporation
    Inside information
    10 February 2025 at 08:00 EET

    Inside information: Nokia announces a leadership transition – Justin Hotard appointed as successor to Pekka Lundmark

    Espoo, Finland – Nokia today announced a leadership transition. Nokia’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Pekka Lundmark, has informed the Board that he will step down. The Board has appointed Justin Hotard as the next President and Chief Executive Officer of Nokia. He will start in his new role on 1 April 2025. 

    Hotard joins Nokia with more than 25 years’ experience with global technology companies, driving innovation, technology leadership and delivering revenue growth. He currently leads the Data Center & AI Group at Intel. Prior to this role, he held several leadership roles at large technology companies, including Hewlett Packard Enterprise and NCR Corporation. He will be based at Nokia’s headquarters in Espoo, Finland.

    “I am delighted to welcome Justin to Nokia. He has a strong track record of accelerating growth in technology companies along with vast expertise in AI and data center markets, which are critical areas for Nokia’s future growth. In his previous positions, and throughout the selection process, he has demonstrated the strategic insight, vision, leadership and value creation mindset required for a CEO of Nokia,” said Sari Baldauf, Chair of Nokia’s Board of Directors.

    “I am honored by the opportunity to lead Nokia, a global leader in connectivity with a unique heritage in technology. Networks are the backbone that power society and businesses, and enable generational technology shifts like the one we are currently experiencing in AI. I am excited to get started and look forward to continuing Nokia’s transformation journey to maximize its potential for growth and value creation,” said Justin Hotard.

    After leading Nokia since 2020, Nokia’s current President and CEO, Pekka Lundmark, has decided to step down from executive roles and move on to the next phase of his career.

    “I want to thank Pekka for his significant contributions to Nokia, he will leave with our highest respect. The planning for this leadership transition was initiated when Pekka indicated to the Board that he would like to consider moving on from executive roles when the repositioning of the business was in a more advanced stage, and when the right successor had been identified. Now, both of those conditions have been met, and he has decided to step down,” said Sari Baldauf.

    She continued: “Pekka joined at a difficult time in Nokia’s history. Under his tenure, Nokia has re-established its technology leadership in 5G radio networks and built a strong position in cloud-native core networks. Network Infrastructure has delivered growth and significant profit improvement, and Nokia has secured the longevity of its patent licensing business. At the same time, Nokia has built strong foundations in new growth areas, refreshed the company’s brand and culture, transformed its operating model and rebalanced its portfolio.”

    “Leading Nokia has been a privilege. When I returned to Nokia in 2020, I called it a homecoming, and it really has felt like one. I am proud of the work our brilliant team has done in re-establishing our technology leadership and competitiveness, and positioning the company for growth in data centers, private wireless and industrial edge, and defense. This is the right time for me to move on. I have led listed companies for more than two decades and although I do not plan to stop working, I want to move on from executive roles to work in a different capacity, such as a board professional. Justin is a great choice for Nokia and I look forward to working with him on a smooth transition,” said Nokia’s President and CEO Pekka Lundmark. 

    Lundmark will step down on 31 March 2025. He will continue as an advisor to the new CEO until the end of the year. 

    An event for media and financial analysts will be held today at 10:00 EET. Link to join the webcast: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/hjd9zmyx.

    Journalists and financial analysts, who wish to ask a question during the event, must dial-in to an audio-only conference call line. The attendees must pre-register here: https://dpregister.com/sreg/10196883/fe7f25be61.

    If you wish to ask a question on the call, you must mute the webcast and only use the participant dial-in during the Q&A session as there is a delay of approximately 15-30 seconds.

    Journalists and financial analysts can join via webcast or in person (Nokia’s Executive Experience Center at Karakaari 18, Espoo). Members of the media and analysts who want to participate in person, are kindly requested to show their press credential or valid ID on arrival.

    Justin Hotard, CV

    Born: 1974

    Nationality: US national 

    Experience:

    • Intel, Santa Clara, CA, 2024–present: Executive Vice President and General Manager, Data Center & AI Group
    • Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Houston, TX / Tokyo, Japan, 2015–2024: various leadership positions including:
      • Executive Vice President and General Manager, High Performance Computing, AI & Labs
      • President and Managing Director, Japan and China
    • NCR Corporation, Duluth, GA, 2007–2014: various leadership positions including: President and General Manager, Global Small Business Cloud Platform
    • Symbol Technologies (acquired by Motorola, Inc), Holtsville, NY, 2003–2007: Director, Product Management and Senior Manager, Corporate Development
    • Motorola, Inc, Arlington, IL, 1996–2000: Senior Systems Engineer

    Education:

    • Master of Business Administration, MIT Sloan School of Management, Cambridge, MA, 2002
    • Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 1997

    About Nokia 
    At Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together.

    As a B2B technology innovation leader, we are pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging our work across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, we create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs, which is celebrating 100 years of innovation.

    With truly open architectures that seamlessly integrate into any ecosystem, our high-performance networks create new opportunities for monetization and scale. Service providers, enterprises and partners worldwide trust Nokia to deliver secure, reliable and sustainable networks today – and work with us to create the digital services and applications of the future.

    Inquiries:

    Nokia Communications
    Phone: +358 10 448 4900
    Email: press.services@nokia.com
    Maria Vaismaa, Global Head of External Communications

    Nokia
    Investor Relations
    Phone: +358 931 580 507
    Email: investor.relations@nokia.com

    FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

    Certain statements herein that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect Nokia’s current expectations and views of future developments and include statements regarding: A) expectations, plans, benefits or outlook related to our strategies, projects, programs, product launches, growth management, licenses, sustainability and other ESG targets, operational key performance indicators and decisions on market exits; B) expectations, plans or benefits related to future performance of our businesses (including the expected impact, timing and duration of potential global pandemics, geopolitical conflicts and the general or regional macroeconomic conditions on our businesses, our supply chain, the timing of market changes or turning points in demand and our customers’ businesses) and any future dividends and other distributions of profit; C) expectations and targets regarding financial performance and results of operations, including market share, prices, net sales, income, margins, cash flows, cost savings, the timing of receivables, operating expenses, provisions, impairments, taxes, currency exchange rates, hedging, investment funds, inflation, product cost reductions, competitiveness, revenue generation in any specific region, and licensing income and payments; D) ability to execute, expectations, plans or benefits related to our ongoing transactions, investments and changes in organizational structure and operating model; E) impact on revenue with respect to litigation/renewal discussions; and F) any statements preceded by or including “anticipate”, “continue”, “believe”, “envisage”, “expect”, “aim”, “will”, “target”, “may”, “would”, “see”, “plan” or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, which could cause our actual results to differ materially from such statements. These statements are based on management’s best assumptions and beliefs in light of the information currently available to them. These forward-looking statements are only predictions based upon our current expectations and views of future events and developments and are subject to risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. Factors, including risks and uncertainties that could cause these differences, include those risks and uncertainties specified in our 2023 annual report on Form 20-F published on 29 February 2024 under Operating and financial review and prospects – Risk factors. 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: What do the changes to IUD access mean for Australian women?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Danielle Mazza, Director, SPHERE NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health in Primary Care and Professor and Head of the Department of General Practice, Monash University

    PeopleImages.com – Yuri A/Shutterstock

    Ahead of the government’s response this week to a Senate inquiry into access to reproductive health care in Australia, the government has announced new measures to make it easier to get an intrauterine device, or IUD.

    Payments to doctors and nurse practitioners to insert and remove these devices will increase. The government will also set up eight centres to train health-care professionals in IUD insertion, and ensure they are skilled and confident.

    The Coalition has vowed to match this commitment if it wins the federal election.

    So what are IUDs? And how might these changes impact Australian women?

    ‘Set and forget’ contraception

    IUDs are small devices that are implanted in the uterus to prevent pregnancy. There are two types: “hormonal IUDs”, which contain the hormone levonorgestrel, and “copper IUDs”.

    Another long-acting reversible contraceptive, the contraceptive implant, is about 4cm long, made of plastic and inserted just under the skin in the arm.

    Hormonal IUDs (known by brand names Mirena and Kyleena in Australia) and the contraceptive implant are subsidised under the PBS, costing A$31.60 ($7.70 concession). However copper IUDs aren’t, and cost around $100.

    However, women may face significant out-of-pocket costs to have IUDs and implants inserted.

    IUDs are types of long-acting reversible contraception. They are often called “set and forget” because once inserted, nothing more needs to be done. Long-acting reversible contraceptives are the most effective way to prevent pregnancy (over 99%).

    This compares with the commonly used contraceptive pills containing estrogen and progestogen, which need to be taken every day. These have a failure rate of 8-9% with typical use.

    The hormonal IUDs’ contraceptive effect lasts for eight years, while a copper IUD can last up to ten years, depending on the type. The contraceptive implant protects against pregnancy for three years.

    IUDs are a ‘set and forget’ form of contraception.
    Yashkin Ilya/Shutterstock

    The levonorgestrel in hormonal IUDs acts locally inside the uterus to thin the lining of the womb, so much so that after about six months of use, many women experience very little, if any, bleeding.

    This reduction in menstruation can prevent or reduce conditions such as heavy menstrual bleeding, iron deficiency and period pain.

    Like all contraceptives, there are potential side effects. IUD insertion is painful, there is a small risk of expulsion of IUDs and they may not be positioned correctly at the time of insertion.

    Copper IUDs may cause heavier bleeding than usual.

    And the contraceptive implant is associated with unpredictable (although mostly tolerable) bleeding patterns.

    Australian women are less likely to use them

    Just 6% of women use an IUD and another 5% use the contraceptive implant.

    This compares with Sweden, where 30.9% use a long-acting reversible contraceptive, and in England, it’s over 30%.

    Part of the reason is many women don’t know much about these contraceptive options, especially about IUDs.

    But our research found that women were more likely to choose an IUD when their doctor incorporated information about how much more effective long-acting reversible contraceptives were during contraceptive consultations, and could refer women to get an insertion done quickly if they didn’t provide insertions themselves.

    Some women rely on the pill because they don’t know they have other options.
    Layue/Shutterstock

    Women often struggle to find a GP who can insert an IUD and face long waiting times to get one inserted.

    Despite a small increase to the Medicare rebate in 2022, the current rebate doesn’t reflect the costs or time needed by GPs to conduct the insertion. This has put a lot of GPs off from providing this service.

    It can also be difficult for GPs to take time off from their clinical work to do the training, with courses costing around $1,500 and GPs not earning any income while attending.

    What did the Senate inquiry recommend?

    To overcome these issues, a Senate inquiry into barriers to reproductive health care recommended:

    • appropriate remuneration and reimbursement for GPs providing IUD and implant insertion and removal services, including through increased Medicare rebates

    • improved insertion and removal training to support the increased use of IUDs and implants in Australia.

    How does this announcement stack up?

    The new women’s health package directly addresses these issues by:

    • increasing the clinician rebate for inserting and removing IUDs and implants

    • providing Medicare rebates for nurse practitioner insertions

    • providing GPs with an incentive to bulk bill insertions so women will not face any out-of-pocket costs

    • funding eight centres across Australia to train clinicians to ensure they’re trained, skilled and confident in IUD insertion.

    These measures complement announcements made last year to provide training scholarships for GPs and nurses to train in IUD insertion and to fund an online “community of practice” to support practitioners to provide these services.

    With the increased rebates rolling out from November 1, and the training centres in the next year or two, we should see many more GPs skilled up and providing IUDs in the next few years.

    This should make it more affordable and much easier for women to find a clinician to insert it.

    Another reproductive health issue remains unaddressed

    The government is expected to table its response in parliament this week to the reproductive health care access Senate inquiry.

    While there have been many improvements in access to medical abortion, particularly the ability for women to receive a medical abortion via telehealth through Medicare, key challenges remain in ensuring all Australian women can access surgical abortion.

    Policymakers will need to focus attention on training a new generation of clinicians to undertake surgical abortions, and developing transparent local pathways for women to access care.

    Danielle Mazza has received funding for research and conference attendance and served on advisory boards for Bayer, Organon, MSD and Gedeon Rechter. SPHERE and the ACCORd trial mentioned in the article were funded by the NHMRC and the Extend Prefer study by the Australian Department of Health. The roundtable on barriers to LARC was funded by Bayer.

    – ref. What do the changes to IUD access mean for Australian women? – https://theconversation.com/what-do-the-changes-to-iud-access-mean-for-australian-women-249473

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: As Coles slashes its product range, will well-known brands disappear from supermarket shelves?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Flavio Macau, Associate Dean – School of Business and Law, Edith Cowan University

    Hitra/Shutterstock

    Coles is reducing its product range by at least 10%, a move that has sparked public backlash and renewed discussions about the role of supermarkets in the cost-of-living crisis.

    In cutting the range of items on offer Coles is moving closer to Aldi and Costco’s strategy to grow exclusive brands and limit product range.

    The goal is to boost profitability by reducing costs, increasing sales, and increasing control over the supply chain.

    Coles is unlikely to cut traditional brands, especially those from companies with significant market power like Coca-Cola or Nestle. In a battle between giants, the status quo is likely to prevail.

    Smaller suppliers are likely to bear the load as they struggle to renew contracts and face increased competition from home brands.

    To fully understand the reasons behind this move and its impact on the cost of living, insights from psychology, finance, and supply chain management come in handy.

    Why cut back on brands?

    The Coles move is all about profitability.

    Over the past decade, competition in the Australian supermarket sector has intensified. Coles’ market share declined from 31% to 25% between 2013 and 2023, while Woolworths’ share fell from 41% to 37%.

    This shift reflects the rise of Aldi, which now holds approximately 10% of the market, and its strong position in the home brand space.

    Aldi’s smaller range helps to keep costs down.
    Audreycmk/Shutterstock

    To boost profitability with a smaller customer base, Coles needs to find ways to enhance its earnings. This can be achieved by raising prices, cutting costs, or increasing the market share of its home brands.

    Raising prices vs cutting costs

    Raising prices is not a viable option, as consumers are already struggling with high food prices inflation and the rising cost-of-living. However, there is room to cut costs.

    One approach is to squeeze suppliers, but again this is unlikely to be effective. The consumer watchdog, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), is holding an inquiry into concerns that the supermarkets are using their market power to the disadvantage of their suppliers and consumers.

    Additionally, as producers exit unprofitable businesses, supermarkets risk supply chain disruptions due to increased market concentration among surviving suppliers.

    Another strategy is to reduce complexity. The more product variety there is, the more complicated and expensive it becomes to manage. Tasks such as stocking shelves, adjusting prices, maintaining inventory, managing delivery schedules, and disposing of expired products all contribute to higher costs.

    Anna Croft, Coles’ operations and sustainability officer, explained the strategy when telling investors in November that 13 basic table salts could be cut to five.

    Simplifying the product range can also boost sales. When faced with too many options, consumers can experience “choice overload”. A widely recognised study in psychology found that people are more likely to make a purchase when presented with a limited selection rather than an extensive array of choices.

    Coles has pointed to shampoo and salt as two potential product ranges that can be simplified.
    I.K.Media/Shutterstock

    Shifting to home brands

    Simplifying the range will likely focus on items where Coles has a home brand. Home brands now account for 33.5% of Coles’ sales, with 6,000 products. About 1,100 were added over the past year.

    This move is a response to competitors like Aldi and Costco. While Coles and Woolworths manage over 25,000 items in their stores, Aldi limits its offering to about 1,800 products.

    Coles is focusing on its home brands to better compete with non-branded offerings from Aldi. In its report to the ACCC, the supermarket highlights its investment in expanding its own-brand range to provide more affordable prices, up to 40% cheaper than similar proprietary brands.

    While consumers may have fewer choices, it is expected that they will benefit from better prices.

    This shift towards home brands is not exclusive to Australia. In the United States, private label sales hit a record in 2023 across a range of items from beauty products to general merchandise. In the United Kingdom, home brand products now account for over half of supermarket sales.

    Have we been here before?

    Almost 10 years ago, Woolworths and Coles started a significant move to adjust their price positioning in response to the competition. Along with Metcash (IGA), they reduced product ranges in 2015–16 by 10% to 15% to simplify the weekly grocery shop for consumers.

    At that time, the culling of products put suppliers under pressure (as now) while consumers were ambivalent: some wanted more brand variety and others preferred less.

    As history repeats itself, it will be interesting to see if Woolworths and Metcash will follow the latest move from Coles and how customers, suppliers, and the ACCC will react this time.

    A/Prof Flavio Macau is affiliated with the Project Management Institute (PMI)

    – ref. As Coles slashes its product range, will well-known brands disappear from supermarket shelves? – https://theconversation.com/as-coles-slashes-its-product-range-will-well-known-brands-disappear-from-supermarket-shelves-249274

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: NSU scientists have developed a method for determining ultra-low concentrations of radioactive substances

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    Scientists Faculty of Physics, Novosibirsk State University developed a method for measuring ultra-low concentrations of radioactive substances whose decay is accompanied by gamma radiation. Data is collected using a detector made of ultra-pure germanium, which is part of the equipment of the Interfaculty Laboratory of Atomic Physics and Spectrometry of NSU; a special hardware and software complex was created for data processing. The first project implemented using this method is research work on determining the level of radioactive substances (radon) in the soil of mines and coal opencasts in the Kemerovo Region.

    To measure the radioactivity of soil samples for various nuclides, gamma-ray spectra were collected using a detector made of ultra-pure germanium. This is unique equipment that allows for very precise determination of the energy of gamma quanta emitted by radioactive substances. Germanium is a rare chemical element in the Earth’s lithosphere. Like silicon, it is a semiconductor and is used in microelectronics, but its scope of application is narrow. As a detector material, its efficiency of photon registration is higher than that of silicon, so it is used in detectors of not only X-rays, but also gamma radiation. Obtaining ultra-pure germanium is a complex and slow purification process using the zone melting method, which determines the high cost and complexity of equipment manufacturing.

    There are devices that can register gamma radiation with even greater efficiency than a germanium detector, but only it can distinguish closely spaced gamma-quanta energies, and therefore gamma-quanta from different radionuclides. This is called high energy resolution; for a detector made of ultrapure germanium, it is approximately 0.01% in the energy range characteristic of gamma-quanta from atomic nuclei (units of megaelectron-volt). High resolution plays a decisive role in measuring ultra-low concentrations of radioactive substances, when it is necessary to separate background radiation and sample radiation and determine specific emitting radionuclides.

    NSU scientists have developed a unique, highly sensitive method that allows determining ultra-low concentrations of radioactive substances in any samples – soil, ground, rocks, etc. The method has been tested and proven effective during the implementation of a project to determine the content of radioactive substances (in particular, radon) in the soil of mines and coal mines in the Kemerovo Region. Kemerovo State University employees approached NSU with this task in the spring of 2024. The KemSU study is aimed at determining the influence of soil types, artificial (for example, mining) and natural changes in soils and climate on the radioactive environment. In the future, this may make it possible to predict the radiation environment, for example, during housing construction.

    — The main difficulty of the task was that the provided soil samples had a very low concentration of radioactive substances. Therefore, it was necessary to collect a lot of statistics for a reliable result, and statistics of both the sample itself and the background, the indicators of which were then “subtracted”. The work lasted almost half a year, we involved research associates of the educational Interfaculty Laboratory of Atomic Physics and Spectrometry of NSU, as well as students undergoing practical training as part of their studies, — says Elena Starostina, senior lecturer of the Physics Department of NSU.

    The first stage involved collecting data directly on the detector. In total, colleagues from KemSU provided about 230 samples weighing from 100 to 250 grams, obtained from different places and from different depths – half a meter, one meter and one and a half meters. Data was collected daily from May to November 2024, and a background spectrum was also collected every week, without samples.

    The experimental setup was as follows: a detector made of ultrapure germanium, cooled by a nitrogen cryostat, is surrounded by a lead tube with a wall thickness of about 10 mm. The tube suppresses the flow of background gamma quanta from the room by about three times. The tube rests on a table with an opening for the detector. Samples were placed directly on the detector.

    — In the case of measuring ultra-low concentrations close to natural ones, the main difficulty is related to the fact that there is background radiation. It can be weakened with a lead screen, which is what we did, but it is impossible to completely eliminate it. Even with all the measures, the radiation of the samples was more than 7 times weaker than the background. In order to obtain a good contrast between the background and the actual study of the samples, it is necessary to collect the spectrum over a long period. The spectrum of each sample was collected in half-hour portions, for at least three hours, then half-hour spectra of good quality were selected so that the total statistics time was at least 2.5 hours. Once a week, multi-hour background spectra were collected, — Vyacheslav Kaminsky, senior lecturer, curator of the Interfaculty Laboratory of Atomic Physics and Spectrometry of NSU, shares the details of the experiment.

    Another feature of the experiment is that the geometry of the measurements is such that only about 10% of the gamma quanta from the sample get into the detector. There are well-type detectors made of ultrapure germanium, which surround the sample from almost all sides, but they can only accommodate small samples. The detector made of ultrapure germanium at NSU allows working with samples of any size, and the developed technique in a sense compensates for the insufficient efficiency of gamma quanta registration.

    The experimental data are presented as spectra with peaks from gamma lines and a continuous “substrate”. The peaks have a complex shape: they resemble a Gaussian curve with different widths on the left and right, they have a “tail” on the left, and the substrate on the left and right has a different level. The width of this “bell” in energy units characterizes the detector resolution: the narrower the peak, the finer the measurements that can be made. This peak shape is provided by both the processes of interaction of gamma quanta with the detector substance and the environment (for example, the Compton effect), and the processes of charge formation during the absorption of gamma quanta in the semiconductor and its collection.

    After collecting the data, the researchers were faced with the task of determining the radiation of the samples, eliminating the background. The spectra were processed and the activity of the radionuclides was calculated.

    — The method consisted in the fact that in the obtained data, in which the difference between the background and the sample was very small, a joint fitting of individual gamma lines was carried out for the spectra with the sample and the background. Each isotope that emits gamma quanta can have a dozen gamma lines, they are different, at different energies and with different intensities. First, good, intense lines were selected so that they were not very close to each other. According to the set of good, intense lines, each peak was fitted, it was done simultaneously for the background and for the background with the sample. Such a complex procedure is necessary in order to measure not only the amplitude of the peaks, but also to correctly estimate the measurement error. The resulting difference between the amplitudes for the sample with the inevitable background and only the background are the indicators of the sample itself, — says Vyacheslav Kaminsky.

    Several programs written in Python were developed to collect and process the experimental data. The first one was for automatic spectral acquisition, which also recorded which operator placed the sample. Another one was for selecting, calibrating and summing the spectra. The third one was for calculating the activities of radionuclides. In addition, a separate program calculated the absolute efficiency of the detector. The scientists used classical statistical methods to determine the peak parameters, such as the least squares method, implemented in the MINUIT2 software library.

    The study revealed that the samples contained only radioactive isotopes potassium-40, thorium-232 and uranium-238 and their decay products, which are common radionuclides found in soils, rocks and many building materials. The specific activity of the samples ranged from 0.1 to 2 becquerels per gram (decays per gram). These values are within safe limits, but the most active sample (with an error of about 7%) is equivalent to several bananas (see “banana equivalent”, bananas are active mainly due to the potassium-40 they contain). The least active sample is equivalent to half a banana with an error of more than 50%, which indicates a very high sensitivity of the method. At the moment, the KemSU research team has received the measurement results and is processing them.

    Thus, the method developed by NSU scientists allows measuring very low levels of radiation, and linking it to specific radiating agents – radionuclides. This method will find application in monitoring the environmental situation, for drawing up maps of radioactive contamination after radiation accidents, etc.

    The scientists plan to register a data processing program with Rospatent, certify and license the methodology, and in the long term, create a center for collective use that will conduct comprehensive work on chemical analysis of samples using spectral methods in the optical, X-ray, and gamma ranges.

    The NSU Interfaculty Laboratory of Atomic Physics and Spectrometry (Atomic Workshop) is an educational laboratory where students become familiar with a range of atomic and nuclear phenomena, including atomic radiation, light absorption, visible radiation, visible light absorption, magnetic phenomena, nuclear magnetic resonance, electron paramagnetic resonance, electron diffraction, etc. The laboratory is equipped with special equipment, including a detector made of ultrapure germanium, which allows studying radiation from natural objects. Students from the Physics Department and the Natural Sciences Department study in the laboratory, and experimental research is also conducted as part of coursework.

    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 Australia: Parliamentary Friends of Northern Australia Universities Alliance Event

    Source: Australian Executive Government Ministers

    Good morning, everyone. 

    It is a privilege to join you today at the Parliamentary Friends of Northern Australia Universities Alliance event. 

    Having worked in the University sector for over ten years, it is a subject matter that I have a keen interest in.

    I begin by acknowledging the Traditional Owners of the lands on which we meet, the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people, and pay my respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging.

    Before we begin can I say that the floods in large parts of north Queensland are a reminder of the struggles communities in northern Australia often face. 

    But its also a good reminder of how strong and resilient communities in northern Australia are. 

    I extend my thoughts to those who have been impacted by this event and express my sincere condolences to those who tragically lost a loved one.

    I also acknowledge the work of emergency services and all those responding to – or impacted by – this devastating event. The true character of the north is once again on display, and it is truly inspiring.

    My federal colleagues including Minister McAllister are working closely with the Queensland government to support all those affected and will continue in the days, weeks and months to come.

    Recovering from a disaster like this can take a while, and government, industry and communities all need to work together to help out. 

    I’d like to acknowledge my parliamentary colleagues here today, particularly the Hon. Milton Dick MP, Speaker of the House of Representatives, for giving us access to this beautiful courtyard.

    And to the co-chairs of the Parliamentary Friends of the North and our hosts today:

    – Luke Gosling OAM MP, Special Envoy for Northern Australia, and

    – Senator Susan McDonald, Shadow Minister for Northern Australia

    Both of you work tirelessly for the north, with your sustained advocacy and efforts towards making a real difference to the region.

    I want to thank the Northern Australia University Alliance and their Vice Chancellors who I will be meeting with later today:

    -Professor Nick Klomp, Vice Chancellor and President of Central Queensland University

    -Professor Scott Bowman, Vice Chancellor and President of Charles Darwin University; and

    -Professor Simon Briggs, Vice Chancellor and President of James Cook University

    Working together is what this event is all about and is at the heart of the Northern Australia agenda. 

    I know this all too well through the Ministerial Forum on Northern Development which has met four times since it was re-established by the Albanese Labor Government . This Forum has been critical in ensuring that the Federal, Western Australia, Northern Territory and Queensland Governments are working together. 

    Another important part of the Federal Government’s investment in the north is the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility which we have topped up by $2 billion to bring their total appropriation to $7 billion.

    More recently we appointed an independent panel to undertake a Statutory Review of the NAIF Act. I received an interim report including recommendations in December and I look forward to receiving the final report in coming weeks.

    The NAIF has made a significant investment in northern Universities.  It has provided:

    • $76 million to Central Queensland University to support Digital Transformation through supporting infrastructure, enhancing campuses and remote learning through digital infrastructure;
    • $151.5 million to Charles Darwin University’s education and community precinct and Casuarina Campus project; and
    • at James Cook University, $140 million for the Engineering & Innovation Place and Student Halls of Residence projects

    These projects are critical to attracting domestic and international students to northern universities and solidifies the role of universities in their respective regional economies. 

    I’m appreciative of the collaborative work and consultation that has gone into the Equity and Workforce initiative you are here this week to discuss.

    Events such as this are critical in fostering new relationships, strengthening existing ones and learning more about the potential and the future of northern Australia.

    As noted in the Northern Australia Action Plan I released last year, Universities are an important developing partner to ensure the needs of the north are addressed through government action. 

    This is why I’m looking forward to connecting with new and old friends and hearing your insights on how we can continue to work together to unlock the full potential of northern Australia.

    Thank you. 

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Golf courses can be safe havens for wildlife and beacons of biodiversity

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jacinta Humphrey, Research Fellow in Urban Ecology, RMIT University

    Golf courses are sometimes seen as harmful to the environment. According to the popular notion, the grass soaks up too much water, is cut too short and sprayed with dangerous chemicals. But in reality, golf courses can act as safe havens for native wildlife, especially in cities.

    Cities are home to a wide range of plants and animals, including 30% of Australia’s threatened species. But ongoing population growth and urban development threatens this biodiversity. We’re still losing green space and tree cover, leaving less habitat and resources for native birds, bats, possums, lizards, frogs, beetles and butterflies.

    This is where golf courses can play a role. Australia is one of the golfing capitals of the world, with more than 1,800 active courses. These courses represent large, continuous green spaces often with native vegetation, mature trees, lakes and wetlands. Given their ubiquity, golf courses could help conserve urban biodiversity.

    This week, the annual LIV Golf tournament returns to Grange Golf Club in South Australia. Grange is one of 30 Australian golf courses certified for its commitment to sustainability, partly due to its extensive woodland, natural habitats and wildlife. So what makes a golf course good or bad for biodiversity?

    Grange Golf Club has a Biodiversity Manager.

    The gold in the rough

    From a biodiversity perspective, the most valuable part of a golf course is the area all golfers seek to avoid: the “rough”. These spaces between the green, manicured fairways can include remnant or restored bushland with dense leaf litter, long grass, thick shrubs, and both living and dead trees. This vegetation is often native and features a diversity of plant species.

    Collectively, this can provide a range of resources for native wildlife including food, shelter and tree hollows for nesting. In Melbourne, research found golf courses provided better habitat for wildlife than nearby suburban streets and parklands. They were also home to a greater diversity of birds and bats.

    Golf courses also have relatively little human activity. Golfers are only allowed on the course during certain hours of the day. Courses usually do not allow dogs. And there are few cars and roads, so there’s less noise and light pollution than in other urban areas. This makes golf courses pretty attractive to native animals looking for somewhere to live.

    Many golf courses are heavily irrigated to ensure high-quality playing surfaces. This ample water supply (typically from recycled sources) is fantastic for wildlife, especially in warmer and drier climates. Birds are known to flock to water resources during drought – a behaviour likely to become more common under future climate change.

    Much-feared water hazards for golfers, such as lakes and ponds, actually provide valuable habitat for aquatic birds, frogs, fish and insects. These water bodies are particularly important in cities where wetlands are regularly cleared to make way for new houses, shops and roads.

    Importantly, once constructed, golf courses are rarely threatened by clearing or development. In Perth, research found golf courses helped protect native vegetation as development spread through surrounding suburbs. The mere existence of a golf course can help secure a home for native species for many decades to come.

    Golf courses are not a perfect solution

    However, not all land on golf courses is valuable for wildlife. Large open areas such as fairways typically only benefit species adapted to life in cities such as the aggressive noisy miner.

    Golf courses can also harbour pests such as cane toads, rats and common mynas. These undesirable species may pose a threat to native biodiversity.

    The use of pesticides and fertilisers can affect soil quality, contaminate water sources, and make frogs sick.

    Frequent lawn mowing can reduce insect diversity, particularly among bugs, bees, wasps and ants. This is likely to have flow-on effects for animals that feed on insects, and for flowering plants that depend on insects for pollination and seed dispersal.

    Some urban golf courses may also be physically isolated from other suitable habitats, making it hard for wildlife to safely move around to find food, water and a mate. To get in and out, animals may need to cross busy roads or move through dangerous areas where they are exposed to predators such as cats and foxes.

    Four golf courses in Adelaide are working together to improve and connect habitat.
    Glenelg Golf Club

    So, how can we best manage golf courses for biodiversity?

    In an ideal world, golf courses should only be constructed in developed areas. That’s because constructing courses in natural, undisturbed areas is likely to involve clearing vegetation for fairways, greens, car parks and club houses.

    As a result, the biodiversity value of a golf course increases the closer it is to a city.

    Existing golf courses can help protect biodiversity by retaining and restoring diverse bushland patches in the rough. Important conservation areas can also be fenced off and deemed “out of bounds” to golfers.

    The use of harsh chemicals should be reduced to minimise risks to soil, water and wildlife. “Organic golf courses” overseas are already making progress in this space, but they are far from mainstream.

    Finally, efforts must be made to connect golf courses to nearby parks and reserves through wildlife corridors, road underpasses, and special crossing structures such as rope bridges. This will enable animals to safely move around the urban landscape.

    Many golf courses now have biodiversity management plans and are working hard to make their practices more sustainable. In other cases, disused golf courses are even being converted into conservation reserves, such as the Yalukit Willam Nature Reserve in Elsternwick, Melbourne.

    While golf courses cannot replace natural habitats, they can provide a useful alternative for many species that call our cities home.

    Jacinta Humphrey receives funding from the Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment, the Ecological Society of Australia, BirdLife Australia, Australian Wildlife Society, and the Field Naturalists Club of Victoria.

    – ref. Golf courses can be safe havens for wildlife and beacons of biodiversity – https://theconversation.com/golf-courses-can-be-safe-havens-for-wildlife-and-beacons-of-biodiversity-246673

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese scientists develop gene-editing method to reduce corn plant height

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    Chinese scientists have developed a gene-editing technique to reduce corn plant height, enabling the creation of compact, high-density varieties resistant to lodging, according to a study published in the Plant Biotechnology Journal.
    Corn, the world’s most-produced cereal crop, is crucial to global food security. While increasing planting density is a key strategy for boosting yields, progress in developing shorter, sturdier plants has been limited by a lack of genetic resources.
    The research was conducted by the Biotechnology Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) in collaboration with Anhui Agricultural University and South China Agricultural University. It focused on modifying the Br2 gene through targeted gene editing. Researchers designed a knockout vector for the Br2 gene and identified seven transgenic lines with distinct mutations in corn inbred varieties.
    Hybridization experiments showed that all 28 hybrid offspring derived from crosses with elite inbred lines produced dwarf progeny. To accelerate breeding, the team developed a haploid inducer-mediated genome editing system, enabling the conversion of edited haploid plants into stable double-haploid lines within two generations. Three elite inbred lines treated with the system exhibited significant reductions in plant height.
    “This method allows rapid and precise modification of plant height across different genetic backgrounds,” said Wang Baobao, corresponding author of the study and a researcher at the CAAS. “It provides critical technical support for breeding corn varieties optimized for dense planting and enhanced lodging resistance.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Foreign investment upgrades amid transformation

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    For Anna An, president for China of German industrial and consumer goods group Henkel, 2025 is undoubtedly shaping up to be a busy year.

    The company’s new plant, with a total investment of 900 million yuan ($124 million), is set to begin test production in Yantai, Shandong province, later this year. This facility is expected to raise the company’s production capacity to supply high-end adhesives for industries such as electronics and automobiles.

    “We are also planning to launch our new inspiration center for adhesive technologies in Shanghai this year, boosting our innovation capabilities for industrial businesses across China and the broader Asia-Pacific region,” said An.

    “The tone-setting Central Economic Work Conference held in December emphasized technological innovation and the promotion of consumption, creating significant opportunities for multinational companies like Henkel,” she added.

    Echoing that sentiment, Nathan Stoner, vice-president of Cummins Inc, a US engine manufacturer, said his company aims to increase its market share in key application sectors within China, including power generation equipment for data centers, high-tech manufacturing, and the engineering, procurement and construction sectors this year.

    Highlighting that the company’s hydrogen fuel cell products successfully powered 239 transit buses and trucks, and the accumulated mileage of over 16 million kilometers across China in 2024, Stoner, who is also chairman of Cummins China, said the company will continue to innovate on the internal combustion engine system, including high efficiency diesel, natural gas and hydrogen internal combustion engines in China this year.

    “We are targeting our investments in zero-emission solutions into various Chinese regional markets where we see demand and adoption happening sooner, and iterating those products to be the best they can be, when customers want more of them,” he added.

    These examples highlight the growing optimism among multinational corporations regarding the long-term potential of the Chinese market, fueled by the country’s economic resilience and its commitment to innovation and openness.

    Initially, foreign companies were attracted by China’s cost advantages and abundant labor force, using it as a base for producing competitive goods, said Xu Wei, head of the macroeconomic research department at the Development Research Center of the State Council.

    As China advanced its infrastructure and industrial systems, it remained a low-cost production hub while evolving to offer sophisticated, high-value manufacturing, allowing foreign companies to integrate more advanced production processes, Xu said.

    “With China entering a new era of green and innovation-driven growth in recent years, global investments have increasingly focused on supply chain optimization, high-end manufacturing, customized innovation, and digital and green solutions,” he said, adding that sectors such as trade in services and healthcare have also become key areas of foreign investment.

    For instance, in addition to announcing a record high of over 657,000 electric vehicle sales in the Chinese mainland in 2024, marking an 8.8 percent year-on-year increase, Tesla Inc, the US EV maker, is currently conducting trial production to manufacture energy-storage batteries at its Shanghai factory.

    The US automaker said mass production at this facility is expected to commence fully within the first quarter.

    China has been revising its sector list to attract more foreign investment. These efforts, along with the removal of all market access restrictions for foreign investors in the manufacturing sector last year, reflect the country’s proactive approach to openness.

    Li Yongjie, deputy international trade representative of the Ministry of Commerce, said China will further open up its services sector, with a particular focus on accelerating pilot programs in key areas such as telecommunications, healthcare and education.

    A total of 59,080 new foreign-invested firms were established across China in 2024, an increase of 9.9 percent year-on-year, according to information released by the Ministry of Commerce.

    Wang Xiaohong, a researcher at the China Center for International Economic Exchanges in Beijing, said that China’s ongoing commitment to further opening-up and fostering innovation is positioning the country as both a key player in global supply chains, and a prime destination for investment and strategic expansion.

    This evolving environment is expected to create new opportunities for business growth, particularly as China adapts its policies to align with the shifting dynamics of the global economy, she said.

    More than half of companies from the United States plan to increase their investments in China this year, according to the 2025 China Business Climate Survey Report released by the American Chamber of Commerce in China (AmCham China) in late January.

    The survey, conducted from Oct 21 to Nov 15, involved a total of 368 member companies of AmCham China. It found that nearly half of the participants rank China as one of their top three global investment priorities.

    About 68 percent of the US responding companies expect industry markets to see growth in 2025. Two-thirds of them plan to focus on growing their core business activities in China as their primary objective for 2025. Meanwhile, the consumer and services sectors are increasingly focused on driving growth by targeting new customer segments.

    Jeff Losch, vice-president and business manager for coating additives technologies at Milliken & Company, a US specialty chemical and performance materials firm, said China is a key market for Milliken, not only because of its vast scale, but also due to its forward-thinking approach to sustainability.

    “We have observed a strong demand in the EV and industrial coating businesses. China’s EV industry is extremely strong and has led the global market this year, with Chinese manufacturers making their presence felt in markets across many countries,” said Losch.

    He said that the quick growth of China’s EV market has clearly created significant opportunities for the coatings industry. EV manufacturing requires coatings with high durability and environmental standards, which align closely with Milliken’s innovation goals.

    Eager to seize more market share, the US company plans to continue investing in its innovation unit, expand sales networks and enhance supply chain operations within China.

    As China undergoes a profound transformation, making business navigation more challenging than before, Denis Depoux, global managing director at German consultancy Roland Berger, suggested multinational corporations make targeted investments to navigate the unique characteristics of the Chinese market and local competition.

    “This strategy emphasizes enhancing localization efforts, particularly by tapping into China’s innovation ecosystem, while also adapting to increasingly differentiated norms and standards,” he said.

    Affected by shrinking global investments in recent years, together with factors like slower economic growth, rising geopolitical risks, weak demand and stricter investment reviews in certain countries, foreign direct investment in the Chinese mainland in actual use totaled 826.25 billion yuan in 2024, dropping 27.1 percent on a yearly basis, statistics from the Ministry of Commerce showed.

    The adjustment of China’s domestic industrial structure and rising labor costs have diminished the country’s low-cost advantages, said Cui Fan, a professor at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing.

    As a result, some labor-intensive industries have shifted gradually due to changes in comparative advantages. This reflects the evolution of China’s economic development stage and factor endowments. This is a natural and expected process, said Cui.

    Driven by China’s stable political, economic and social environment, as well as its large-scale production capabilities and efforts to grow strategic emerging industries, FDI flow is expected to continue recovering within the country in 2025, said Gao Lingyun, a researcher at the Institute of World Economics and Politics, which is affiliated with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing.

    Strategic emerging industries in China include sectors such as energy-saving and environmental protection, next-generation information technology, biotechnology, high-end equipment manufacturing, new energy, advanced materials and EVs.

    For efficiency-driven multinational companies, regions with dense and well-connected networks are emerging as primary targets for strategic expansion. This emphasis is closely tied to factors like strong industry integration, complementary capabilities and easy accessibility, and all these factors enable streamlined operations and growth, said Gao.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Books open youth up to whole new galaxy

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    Within the first month of 2025, the trend of reading pop science books, particularly ones with fascinating text and illustrations attractive to children, has risen among young readers thanks to policy support from various authorities.

    On Jan 1, the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Science and Technology, along with cooperating departments, announced its annual New Discovery Pop-Science Booklist of 21 types of books, including one that explains sound to readers and one about flying birds, both of which had good sales records on domestic bookselling websites.

    The Beijing Book Fair was held from Jan 9 to 11 at the China International Exhibition Center (Chaoyang Hall), where pop science books appeared as a genre that both readers and publishers marveled at. Their popularity was evident with over 2,900 display booths seeing their opening hours hosting pop-science writers’ lectures where they shared knowledge that was well-received among audiences.

    “We get double the information by attending the lectures,” said 38-year-old Deng Hong, who attended three pop-science book-sharing lectures with her daughter on Jan 9.

    “We both get to know what a new book is about and take in science knowledge,” she added.

    One of the lectures Deng attended was given by Cao Yong, a professor from Northwestern Polytechnical University Ningbo branch, who was in charge of a team that designed a robotic “ghost fish”, a bionic submersible that could travel autonomously in the ocean. Cao shared how the “ghost fish” swims underwater and answered questions such as, “would such a bionic fish be eaten by a bigger fish”, or “what materials is its skin made of that can withstand high water pressure”. Cao also gifted a book about big airplanes to Beijing No 15 High School whose students attended his lecture.

    The Young Scientist, a pop science cartoon series, is another major product that attracted over 100 people on-site and sold more than 1,000 copies online during the past two weeks. Written by 10 renowned domestic scientists and pop science writers with illustrations by 11 professional artists, the series teaches readers about the latest advancements in major science sectors and enhances their prospects. Four of the 10 writers held an open seminar in which about three dozen were kids that they “hope to influence the most”, according to its editor Zou Li.

    The four writers shared key points in their books. For example, “a long rumor is that mankind invented radar-imitating bats that find their way by sending ultrasonic waves”, said Yuan Lanfeng, chief editor of the series, “but while writing and editing the book about bionics, we consulted a bat expert, a radar expert and an acoustics professor and found that mankind invented the radar long before discovering that bats emitted ultrasonic waves. The two are similar but not imitating each other.”

    The writers also answered questions raised by the pupils. The most popular question was: “What do we do now to become scientists like you?”

    “If you want to be an astronaut or astronautic scientist, stay healthy and do your homework to become educated,” answered Zhou Binghong, one of the writers who is also a researcher at the China Academy of Space Technology, pointing out that the line between astronauts and astronautic scientists is vague as these professions need extensive knowledge to travel to space for on-site experiences. “Health and knowledge are the most important factors for both professions, which are becoming increasingly popular at a lower cost.”

    Wang Dapeng, a researcher at the China Research Institute for Science Popularization, encourages the idea of recruiting scientists to write their stories. “We need more scientific researchers to tell stories of their research fields. Science in the form of stories is more digestible to children because reading is not only for acquiring knowledge but also for enriching lives and improving oneself.”

    Li Hui, deputy Party secretary and vice-chairperson of the board of Hunan Publishing Investment Holding Group, said that pop science works play an irreplaceable role in cultivating children’s scientific literacy and stimulating their innovative potential. The publishing group follows the national innovation-driven development strategy and is committed to publishing excellent popular science works and enhancing scientific literacy.

    “How many galaxies are there in the universe besides ours?” asked a 7-year-old at the end of the seminar.

    “So far, we know of about 100 billion,” Zhou answered, “which means for each of the 8 billion people on Earth, there is an average of a dozen galaxies. The coming generations have a mission to work harder on space science so that one day we can travel at the speed of light into the deep universe to explore them.

    “Let’s find our own galaxies,” Zhou said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Different songs for different days: why it’s important to actively choose the music for your mood

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katrina McFerran, Professor and Head of Creative Arts and Music Therapy Research Unit; Director of Researcher Development Unit, The University of Melbourne

    New York Public Library

    Many of us take pleasure in listening to music. Music accompanies important life events and lubricates social encounters. It represents aspects of our existing identity, as well as our hopes and dreams. It expresses emotions that cannot be explained with words. Music also distracts us from boredom and difficulty and helps us escape into another world.

    Music seems to have a magical power: a wand to be waved that makes life feel better. But what if the power was not in the music itself? In fact, the power of music comes from our choices in what to listen to and the human agency we express in this act.

    It can be seen as a placebo effect where the music is endowed with special powers by our minds. The qualities of the music are important. But as with all art, it is how we uniquely perceive the song that makes our experience powerful.

    My research has shown most of us operate on autopilot when it comes to choosing music, often assuming previous music selections will have the same effect even under very different circumstances.

    Stepping out of autopilot and being more intentional in the songs we chose can move from hoping the music will make you feel good, to knowing it will and seeing how it does.

    Choose the right music for you

    The way we experience music is personal. There is no one song that is going to make everyone feel the same.

    Think about trying to pick a song to make you feel happy, or to listen to when you’re happy. If the power was in the musical qualities of the song itself, Pharrell Williams’ Happy might work. The song has several uplifting musical features: a simple but catchy melody; an energising rhythm emphasised by the singer clicking along; a lively tempo; and words that repeat the key idea.

    It’s similar to Psy’s Gangnam Style, Katrina and the Waves’ Walking on Sunshine or ABBA’s Waterloo.

    But just because these songs sound happy, do they make you feel happy? Would they make it into your personal top five pleasure-inducing tracks?

    Your song selections are different to your friends because of the personal associations you have with them, including your personal taste. That’s why AI can’t generate the right songs for you if you ask it for “happy songs”.

    You would be better off to start by looking at your own playlists and frequently played tracks to identify which ones actually make you feel good, personally.

    Understanding meaning

    It’s important to distinguish between pleasure-inducing tracks and meaningful songs.

    Meaningful songs are linked to a range of emotions, identities, histories and social connections – but only some of those are pleasure inducing. Others connect to poignant and beautiful feelings such as grief and loss, whether that is missing home or missing people and creatures we love. This poignancy is distinct from hedonism, which is happiness without negative affect.

    If you’re experiencing grief, for example, there may be a beauty in remembering your loved one, but it is connected to the pain of their absence. Choosing pleasure-inducing songs operates as an aesthetic distraction to take our mind away from the pain, which is a different (not necessarily worse or better) choice.

    Listening to sad songs when you feel low may help with emotional processing – but not always.
    Antonio Guillem/Shutterstock

    Sometimes meaning doesn’t come with a beautiful purpose. Like the love song that becomes the breakup song. Or the favourite artist whose death renders a song poignant rather than uplifting. Then the song may help with emotional processing, or it may not, it can just fulfil a desire for rumination – a thought we keep circling around without discharging the intensity or our perspective on it.

    It might seem obvious that these events will change the way we feel when we listen to a song. But it can be surprisingly difficult to let go of music we love.

    Sad songs can be enjoyable and/or a beautiful way of connecting to emotional experiences. But they can also intensify our negative emotions, which doesn’t always lead to resolution.

    Being conscious and intentional in music choices is important, especially if you’re tending to ruminate. During down times in life, it is worth checking in after listening to make sure the song is helping you process and resolve, and not just intensify and maintain a negative state you would rather leave behind.

    Finding what you love

    But most days you are safe to let your instincts guide you. After all, there’s nothing more pleasurable than spending time listening to a banger.

    In technical speak, we call these “preferred songs” – songs that might not be personally meaningful, or fill you with joy exactly, but they are just great tracks. Music you love, appreciate and rate.

    But even identifying preferred songs is still personal. Despite what many people think, it’s very difficult to get agreement about what makes a good song. But it’s not difficult to identify the songs that you think are great. In fact, it’s a super fun thing to do.

    Katrina McFerran has received funding from the Australian Research Council and the University of Melbourne to investigate this topic. She is a registered music therapist with the Australian Music Therapy Association.

    – ref. Different songs for different days: why it’s important to actively choose the music for your mood – https://theconversation.com/different-songs-for-different-days-why-its-important-to-actively-choose-the-music-for-your-mood-246233

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Trump is now flagging tariffs on steel and aluminium. Can Albanese win an exemption for Australia?

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

    The Albanese government is set to mount a major effort to win an exemption from a proposed 25% tariff on steel and aluminium imports to the United States foreshadowed by President Donald Trump.

    Assuming Trump follows through on the move, it will put major pressure on the prime minister to match the success of the Turnbull government in 2018 when Trump put a 25% tariff on steel and a 10% tariff on aluminium in his first administration.

    Speaking to reporters travelling on Air Force One, Trump flagged he would make the tariff announcement on Monday (Washington time). He said the tariffs would start “almost immedciately” on all foreign steel and aluminium imports.

    The Australian government on Monday was scrambling to put together its response, although government sources insisted it was not surprised and was well prepared.

    Cabinet met on Monday morning where the Trump comments were presumably discussed.

    Trade Minister Don Farrell said on Monday:

    We have consistently made the case for free and fair trade, including access into the US market for Australian steel and aluminium.

    Our bilateral economic relationship is mutually beneficial – Australian steel and aluminium is creating thousands of good paying American jobs, and are key for our shared defence interests too.

    Sources said the government had been making representations on steel and aluminium for months.

    Last week, Farrell said he was seeking talks with incoming US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, but that would have to wait until he was confirmed.

    In the lobbying for special treatment, the government will stress that the US has a trade surplus with Australia.

    In 2023-24, the US imported about 240,000 tonnes of steel products from Australia, valued at US$250 million (A$400 million).

    US imports of Australian aluminium peaked in 2019 at about 270,000 tonnes and declined to around 83,000 in 2024. The three-year average imports from Australia were 167,000 tonnes per year, valued at US$496 million (A$791 million).

    Nationals leader David Littleproud said the issue was a test for Anthony Albanese and Australia’s ambassador to the US, Kevin Rudd.

    Littleproud said:

    When you make disparaging comments about leaders in other parts of the world sometimes it comes back to bite you.

    And unfortunately it could be the Australian economy that gets the bite.

    This is a test to see whether Anthony Albanese’s previous remarks and Kevin Rudd’s previous remarks about President Trump has done this nation harm.

    Littleproud said if Rudd was “not the right person to have these discussions, then we should be mature enough as a country to send someone who can have those discussions to get that carveout”.

    Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles has just returned from Washington.

    At a news conference there, he was asked whether Australia was concerned about direct reciprocal tariffs or a flow-on effect from them.

    Marles said:

    We obviously are engaging with the United States in respect of our bilateral relationship in respect to tariffs.

    We’ll obviously press Australia’s interest in our case in respect of that. But none of this is a surprise. We know what President Trump’s platform was as he went into the American election.

    He’s been very clear about his policy direction. And so I think we all understand that is going to see changes in American policy in relation to this. From an Australian point of view, we will continue to press the Australian case around the question of trade.

    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. Trump is now flagging tariffs on steel and aluminium. Can Albanese win an exemption for Australia? – https://theconversation.com/trump-is-now-flagging-tariffs-on-steel-and-aluminium-can-albanese-win-an-exemption-for-australia-249476

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Different songs for different days: why it’s important to actively chose the music for your mood

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Katrina McFerran, Professor and Head of Creative Arts and Music Therapy Research Unit; Director of Researcher Development Unit, The University of Melbourne

    New York Public Library

    Many of us take pleasure in listening to music. Music accompanies important life events and lubricates social encounters. It represents aspects of our existing identity, as well as our hopes and dreams. It expresses emotions that cannot be explained with words. Music also distracts us from boredom and difficulty and helps us escape into another world.

    Music seems to have a magical power: a wand to be waved that makes life feel better. But what if the power was not in the music itself? In fact, the power of music comes from our choices in what to listen to and the human agency we express in this act.

    It can be seen as a placebo effect where the music is endowed with special powers by our minds. The qualities of the music are important. But as with all art, it is how we uniquely perceive the song that makes our experience powerful.

    My research has shown most of us operate on autopilot when it comes to choosing music, often assuming previous music selections will have the same effect even under very different circumstances.

    Stepping out of autopilot and being more intentional in the songs we chose can move from hoping the music will make you feel good, to knowing it will and seeing how it does.

    Choose the right music for you

    The way we experience music is personal. There is no one song that is going to make everyone feel the same.

    Think about trying to pick a song to make you feel happy, or to listen to when you’re happy. If the power was in the musical qualities of the song itself, Pharrell Williams’ Happy might work. The song has several uplifting musical features: a simple but catchy melody; an energising rhythm emphasised by the singer clicking along; a lively tempo; and words that repeat the key idea.

    It’s similar to Psy’s Gangnam Style, Katrina and the Waves’ Walking on Sunshine or ABBA’s Waterloo.

    But just because these songs sound happy, do they make you feel happy? Would they make it into your personal top five pleasure-inducing tracks?

    Your song selections are different to your friends because of the personal associations you have with them, including your personal taste. That’s why AI can’t generate the right songs for you if you ask it for “happy songs”.

    You would be better off to start by looking at your own playlists and frequently played tracks to identify which ones actually make you feel good, personally.

    Understanding meaning

    It’s important to distinguish between pleasure-inducing tracks and meaningful songs.

    Meaningful songs are linked to a range of emotions, identities, histories and social connections – but only some of those are pleasure inducing. Others connect to poignant and beautiful feelings such as grief and loss, whether that is missing home or missing people and creatures we love. This poignancy is distinct from hedonism, which is happiness without negative affect.

    If you’re experiencing grief, for example, there may be a beauty in remembering your loved one, but it is connected to the pain of their absence. Choosing pleasure-inducing songs operates as an aesthetic distraction to take our mind away from the pain, which is a different (not necessarily worse or better) choice.

    Listening to sad songs when you feel low may help with emotional processing – but not always.
    Antonio Guillem/Shutterstock

    Sometimes meaning doesn’t come with a beautiful purpose. Like the love song that becomes the breakup song. Or the favourite artist whose death renders a song poignant rather than uplifting. Then the song may help with emotional processing, or it may not, it can just fulfil a desire for rumination – a thought we keep circling around without discharging the intensity or our perspective on it.

    It might seem obvious that these events will change the way we feel when we listen to a song. But it can be surprisingly difficult to let go of music we love.

    Sad songs can be enjoyable and/or a beautiful way of connecting to emotional experiences. But they can also intensify our negative emotions, which doesn’t always lead to resolution.

    Being conscious and intentional in music choices is important, especially if you’re tending to ruminate. During down times in life, it is worth checking in after listening to make sure the song is helping you process and resolve, and not just intensify and maintain a negative state you would rather leave behind.

    Finding what you love

    But most days you are safe to let your instincts guide you. After all, there’s nothing more pleasurable than spending time listening to a banger.

    In technical speak, we call these “preferred songs” – songs that might not be personally meaningful, or fill you with joy exactly, but they are just great tracks. Music you love, appreciate and rate.

    But even identifying preferred songs is still personal. Despite what many people think, it’s very difficult to get agreement about what makes a good song. But it’s not difficult to identify the songs that you think are great. In fact, it’s a super fun thing to do.

    Katrina McFerran has received funding from the Australian Research Council and the University of Melbourne to investigate this topic. She is a registered music therapist with the Australian Music Therapy Association.

    – ref. Different songs for different days: why it’s important to actively chose the music for your mood – https://theconversation.com/different-songs-for-different-days-why-its-important-to-actively-chose-the-music-for-your-mood-246233

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Improving lives through AI

    Source: Scottish Government

    Funding for artificial intelligence projects.

    Artificial Intelligence (AI) is to be harnessed to develop technologies to address issues such as cancer risk amongst rescue workers.

    The latest round of the Scottish Government’s CivTech programme has awarded up to £9 million to 14 companies developing AI products to tackle challenges faced by charities and public sector organisations. CivTech 10 is the first round of the programme to focus on AI.

    Products being developed include:

    • a software to help identify toxic contaminants to address the risk of cancer for firefighters.
    • an AI system which can help teachers with administrative tasks.  
    • using drones and an automated mapping system to monitor puffin populations in a less invasive way.
    • an AI support system to enable entrepreneurs to grow their businesses.

    Previous rounds of CivTech have seen £20 million invested into 90 companies and entrepreneurs since 2016. These include software company Volunteero which developed a mobile app to help charities manage administrative tasks.

    Business Minister Richard Lochhead said:

    “Scotland is well-placed to harness the advantages of artificial intelligence with its rich history of innovation and high concentration of world-leading universities and colleges.

    “The rapidly growing AI sector offers opportunities for Scotland, from helping to detect health issues such as lung cancer earlier, to enabling businesses to work more efficiently.

    “Through CivTech, we are revolutionising how public sector organisations work by collaborating with businesses to develop products which improve lives.”

    Rebekah MacLeod, Lead Project Liaison Officer at White Ribbon Scotland, a charity tackling violence against women which uses Volunteero’s app, said:

    “Working with Volunteero through the CivTech programme has completely changed how we work as a charity.

    “The app means we spend less time worrying about paperwork and more time working with men and boys to directly address violence against women and girls.

    “This includes encouraging more men and boys to speak out about violence against women and girls.”

    Background

    CivTech companies have created more than 400 jobs and attracted more than £126 million of private sector investment. Nearly 80% of products developed in past rounds of CivTech are still in use.

    Products being developed in CivTech 10 are:

    • Technology developed by Rowden to help firefighters improve their situational awareness in emergency situations.
    • A system to detect and monitor firefighters’ exposure to toxins created by FireHazResearch.
    • Drones and an automated mapping system from EOLAS and The University of Edinburgh to monitor puffin colonies in a less invasive way.
    • Sensors developed by Arctech Innovation to monitor breeding success, seasonal changes and harmful disease in puffins.
    • Technology for public sector organisations to use data securely, developed by Verifoxx.
    • A platform for citizens and policy makers to understand how AI and other emerging technologies could be used in the public sector, developed by CrownShy.
    • A programme created by Talent Engine to provide detailed labour market insights to target skills and development training in Glasgow.
    • An AI tool from Rethink Carbon to document woodland and peatland projects.
    • A new approach to monitoring carbon balances from woodland and peatland projects from the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology.
    • Sylvera are developing advanced remote-sensing capabilities to enhance monitoring of carbon projects.
    • An AI programme to forecast pharmaceutical demand by postcode area to help reduce waste, developed by PharmovoAI.
    • A planning tool created by Looper to help NHS Scotland reduce waste and emissions.
    • An AI system to support teachers with administrative tasks, developed by SupportEd.
    • A software from BobbAI to help entrepreneurs to access business growth resources and support services. 

    CivTech 10 Challenges and details of the CivTech process are available online.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI China: ‘Ne Zha 2’ smashes box office records, becomes first non-Hollywood film to hit 1 bln USD

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    People walk past a poster of the animated feature “Ne Zha 2” at a cinema in Shenyang, northeast China’s Liaoning Province, Feb. 6, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

    Chinese animated blockbuster “Ne Zha 2” has shattered multiple box office records, becoming the first film to cross 1 billion U.S. dollars in a single market and the first non-Hollywood title to join the coveted billion-dollar club.

    The sophomore outing in the mythological franchise has also set a new record for all-time admissions in China, drawing over 160 million moviegoers, per data from ticketing platforms Maoyan and Beacon.

    Helmed by Yang Yu, known as Jiaozi, the film hit the big screen during the lucrative Chinese New Year frame on Jan. 29, surpassing 2017’s “Wolf Warrior 2” to become China’s most-watched film. Meanwhile, its total revenue (including presales) hit 8 billion yuan (about 1.12 billion U.S. dollars) by Sunday.

    In just eight days and five hours after its release, “Ne Zha 2” became China’s highest-grossing film of all time on Thursday, exceeding the 5.77 billion yuan record set by “The Battle at Lake Changjin.” A day later, it overtook “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” to become the highest-grossing film ever in a single market, reaching over 6.79 billion yuan (including presales) in China on Friday.

    A follow-up to the animated sensation “Ne Zha,” which grossed 5 billion yuan and topped the country’s box office charts in 2019, the sequel has captivated audiences with its breathtaking visuals, rich storytelling and deep cultural resonance.

    The record-breaking run makes “Ne Zha 2” not just a box office titan but a cultural phenomenon, further underscoring China’s ability to produce homegrown blockbusters that strike a chord with domestic audiences.

    Industry analysts are now watching closely to see if “Ne Zha 2” can sustain its momentum and set even higher benchmarks in the days ahead. Maoyan on Sunday night once again raised its domestic box office forecast for the film, now projecting it to surpass 12 billion yuan — up from its estimate of over 10.8 billion yuan just three days ago. This marks the first time a Chinese film has ever been expected to cross the 10-billion-yuan threshold.

    The sequel continues the story of the iconic character from Chinese mythology. Set after the events of the first film, it follows Nezha and Aobing as their souls are saved but their physical forms face dissolution. With the help of the immortal Taiyi Zhenren, who uses the Seven-Colored Lotus to reconstruct their bodies, the two heroes must face numerous challenges.

    Taking audiences on an emotional journey that blends action, humor and heart, “Ne Zha 2” alone accounted for half of what has amounted to a historic 2025 Spring Festival holiday box office total — a total which surpassed 9.5 billion yuan from Jan. 28 to Feb. 4.

    This robust performance marks a major win for China’s film industry, which faced a tough year in 2024, with box office revenues down 23 percent from 2023 and 34 percent from the pre-pandemic peak in 2019.

    In this context, the record-breaking success of “Ne Zha 2” is being hailed as a much-needed boost for the sector.

    People walk out of a movie screening room at a cinema in Kunming, southwest China’s Yunnan Province, Feb. 3, 2025. (Photo by Peng Yikai/Xinhua)

    Maoyan analyst Lai Li described the film as a major milestone, particularly for China’s growing animation industry. “The success of ‘Ne Zha 2’ has set the tone for the year,” Lai said. “It highlights the incredible resilience and growth potential of China’s film market, and we’re excited to see how the rest of 2025 unfolds.”

    Beyond its domestic success, “Ne Zha 2” is poised to make waves internationally as a cultural bridge, offering global audiences a glimpse into China’s rich mythology and traditions.

    Jiaozi, who rose to fame following the success of “Ne Zha,” has emphasized that the international success of Chinese cinema depends on the intrinsic charm of the works themselves. “It’s about whether a script, a story and its characters can move audiences worldwide,” he said in a video interview. “These are not things that can be outsourced.”

    Jiaozi also shared the personal journey the “Ne Zha” films have taken him on, explaining how the series has evolved from his own passion into a broad cultural phenomenon.

    “The first step was creating something I loved, and domestic audiences loved it too,” he said. “Over time, I’ve worked to improve it, to refine my craft. I believe that one day, new ideas, deeper meanings, and new soul will emerge from it, and the whole world will be able to appreciate it.”

    His views have been echoed by film industry experts.

    Yin Hong, vice chairman of the China Film Association and a professor at Tsinghua University, attributes the film’s success to its sophisticated narrative layers.

    “The film’s reimagining of mythology, with its portrayal of demon-spirit duality, conflicts between magical and celestial realms, and struggles between heaven and the underwater world, creates a dramatic tension that works on multiple levels,” Yin told Xinhua.

    “It captures universal themes of childhood development, forming an Oedipal archetype that bridges individual and societal narratives,” Yin said, particularly praising the film’s subtle yet masterful storytelling.

    Rao Shuguang, president of the China Film Critics Association, praised the film for its fusion of traditional Chinese mythology and modern storytelling, which makes it highly relatable to contemporary audiences.

    “The film proves that a good movie needs a compelling story, sharp storytelling, and well-developed characters,” Rao said, expressing hope that China will continue to produce high-quality films that engage audiences and draw more people to theaters.  

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: NZ households will be slightly worse off if Trump triggers a trade war – new modelling

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Niven Winchester, Professor of Economics, Auckland University of Technology

    Getty Images

    Donald Trump has already made good on his threat to impose an additional 10% tax on Chinese goods, and is due to announce a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminium imports into the United States.

    While he has paused proposed 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports for the time being, a trade war between the US and the rest of the world remains a real possibility.

    Mexico, Canada and China responded to Trump’s tariff plans by drafting retaliatory tariffs and countermeasures. But Trump’s threatened tariffs extend well beyond North America and China.

    During his 2024 election campaign he said all trading nations could expect similar treatment, and he explicitly stated his intention to target the European Union (EU):

    They don’t take our cars, they don’t take our farm products, they take almost nothing and we take everything from them. Millions of cars, tremendous amounts of food and farm products.

    While it’s true the EU exports more to the US than it imports, it’s simplistic to use bilateral trade balances as a gauge of the overall economic benefits. International trade allows countries to concentrate on producing the goods and services they do well, and to exchange them for ones more costly to produce domestically.

    Ultimately, trade allows everyone to consume more. A trade war therefore makes nations worse off: tariffs divert trade flows and reduce the exchange of goods. And, of course, this filters down to affect ordinary household incomes.

    Households worse off

    The impact of a trade war on any given country will depend on several factors, including the share of a nation’s exports exposed to new tariffs, and the importance of trade to each economy.

    Small countries tend to trade more than large ones because they specialise in producing a relatively small number of goods, and rely on trade to consume a variety of products.

    To quantify the impacts of a trade war, I consider a scenario where the US imposes additional tariffs of 25% on all merchandise imports (the figure Trump has consistently used), and all other countries respond with similar tariffs on US goods.

    I simulate the tariffs in a global model of production, trade and consumption similar to that used by the New Zealand Productivity Commission’s inquiry into improving economic resilience. The model uses input-output tables that describe production of 32 commodities in each country, and data on bilateral trade in each commodity between nations.

    National-level impacts are measured by calculating the equivalent impact on aggregate household income. This metric converts the effects from the tariffs – including changes in product prices, wages and business profits – into changes in household income.

    In New Zealand, the trade war decreases aggregate household income by 0.1% or NZ$322 million per year. Divided among the country’s nearly two million households, this means each household is worse off by NZ$163 per year.

    Global income declines

    The impacts of the simulated trade war are larger in North America. It decreases US annual aggregate household income by 1.5%, which equates to US$262 billion, or US$2,963 per household.

    In Canada and Mexico, for which the US is both a major export market and source of imports, average household income decreases by 3.6% (US$2,963) and 4.6% (US$1,192), respectively, each year.

    Across all nations, the tariff war results in an equivalent decrease in aggregate household income of 0.7% (US$414 billion) per year.

    The simulated tariff war also results in a reshuffling of trade. New Zealand merchandise exports to the US decrease by NZ$4.4 billion, but exports to other nations increase by a similar amount (due to their price advantage relative to US goods).

    Likewise, New Zealand merchandise imports from the US decrease by NZ$4.7 billion and imports from other nations increase by about the same amount. As a result, the trade war has little impact on New Zealand’s total exports and imports.

    Aggregate trade changes are largest in the US, which imposes new tariffs on all its imports and faces new tariffs in all export markets. US merchandise exports and imports both decrease by around US$565 billion (NZ$1 trillion).

    Overall, the modelling confirms the well known result that trade wars decrease global economic activity and routinely make all nations worse off.

    The Conversation

    Niven Winchester has previously received funding from the Productivity Commission and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to estimate the impacts of potential trade policies. He is affiliated with Motu Economic & Public Policy Research.

    – ref. NZ households will be slightly worse off if Trump triggers a trade war – new modelling – https://theconversation.com/nz-households-will-be-slightly-worse-off-if-trump-triggers-a-trade-war-new-modelling-249120

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: AI is being used in social services – but we must make sure it doesn’t traumatise clients

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Suvradip Maitra, PhD Student, Australian National University

    Tero Vesalainen/Shutterstock

    Late last year, ChatGPT was used by a Victorian child protection worker to draft documents. In a glaring error, ChatGPT referred to a “doll” used for sexual purposes as an “age-appropriate toy”. Following this, the Victorian information commissioner banned the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in child protection.

    Unfortunately, many harmful AI systems will not garner such public visibility. It’s crucial that people who use social services – such as employment, homelessness or domestic violence services – are aware they may be subject to AI. Additionally, service providers should be well informed about how to use AI safely.

    Fortunately, emerging regulations and tools, such as our trauma-informed AI toolkit, can help to reduce AI harm.

    How do social services use AI?

    AI has captured global attention with promises of better service delivery. In a strained social services sector, AI promises to reduce backlogs, lower administrative burdens and allocate resources more effectively while enhancing services. It’s no surprise a range of social service providers are using AI in various ways.

    Chatbots simulate human conversation with the use of voice, text or images. These programs are increasingly used for a range of tasks. For instance, they can provide mental health support or offer employment advice. They can also speed up data processing or help quickly create reports.

    However, chatbots can easily produce harmful or inaccurate responses. For instance, the United States National Eating Disorders Association deployed the chatbot Tessa to support clients experiencing eating disorders. But it was quickly pulled offline when advocates flagged Tessa was providing harmful weight loss advice.

    Recommender systems use AI to make personalised suggestions or options. These could include targeting job or rental ads, or educational material based on data available to service providers.

    But recommender systems can be discriminatory, such as when LinkedIn showed more job ads to men than women. They can also reinforce existing anxieties. For instance, pregnant women have been recommended alarming pregnancy videos on social media.

    Recognition systems classify data such as images or text to compare one dataset to another. These systems can complete many tasks, such as face matching to verify identity or transcribing voice to text.

    Such systems can raise surveillance, privacy, inaccuracy and discrimination concerns. A homeless shelter in Canada stopped using facial recognition cameras because they risked privacy breaches – it’s difficult to obtain informed consent from mentally unwell or intoxicated people using the shelter.

    Risk-assessment systems use AI to predict the likelihood of a specific outcome occurring. Many systems have been used to calculate the risk of child abuse, long-term unemployment, or tax and welfare fraud.

    Often data used in these systems can recreate societal inequalities, causing harm to already-marginalised peoples. In one such case, a tool in the US used for identifying risk of child mistreatment unfairly targeted poor, black and biracial families and families with disabilities.

    A Dutch risk assessment tool seeking to identify childcare benefits fraud was shut down for being racist, while an AI system in France faces similar accusations.



    Read more:
    Algorithms that predict crime are watching – and judging us by the cards we’ve been dealt

    The need for a trauma-informed approach

    Concerningly, our research shows using AI in social services can cause or perpetuate trauma for the people who use the services.

    The American Psychological Association defines trauma as an emotional response to a range of events, such as accidents, abuse or the death of a loved one. Broadly understood, trauma can be experienced at an individual or group level and be passed down through generations. Trauma experienced by First Nations people in Australia as a result of colonisation is an example of group trauma.

    Between 57% and 75% of Australians experience at least one traumatic event in their lifetime.

    Many social service providers have long adopted a trauma-informed approach. It prioritises trust, safety, choice, empowerment, transparency, and cultural, historical and gender-based considerations. A trauma-informed service provider understands the impact of trauma and recognises signs of trauma in users.

    Service providers should be wary of abandoning these core principles despite the allure of the often hyped capabilities of AI.

    Can social services use AI responsibly?

    To reduce the risk of causing or perpetuating trauma, social service providers should carefully evaluate any AI system before using it.

    For AI systems already in place, evaluation can help monitor their impact and ensure they are operating safely.

    We have developed a trauma-informed AI assessment toolkit that helps service providers to assess the safety of their planned or current use of AI. The toolkit is based on the principles of trauma-informed care, case studies of AI harms, and design workshops with service providers. An online version of the toolkit is about to be piloted within organisations.

    By posing a series of questions, the toolkit enables service providers to consider whether risks outweigh the benefits. For instance, is the AI system co-designed with users? Can users opt out of being subject to the AI system?

    It guides service providers through a series of practical considerations to enhance the safe use of AI.

    Social services do not have to avoid AI altogether. But social service providers and users should be aware of the risks of harm from AI – so they can intentionally shape AI for good.

    The Conversation

    The project was funded by the Notre Dame-IBM Technology Ethics Lab.

    Suvradip Maitra is funded by an Australian Government Research Training Program Domestic Scholarship.

    Lyndal Sleep was funded by the University of Notre Dame for this research. She is affiliated with the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision Making and Society.

    Paul Henman receives funding from the Australian Research Council (ARC). He is affiliated with the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision Making and Society.

    Suzanna Fay received funding from the Notre Dame-IBM Technology Ethics Lab for this project.

    – ref. AI is being used in social services – but we must make sure it doesn’t traumatise clients – https://theconversation.com/ai-is-being-used-in-social-services-but-we-must-make-sure-it-doesnt-traumatise-clients-248555

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: $2.5m gift powers new Aboriginal Knowledges Centre

    Source: University of South Australia

    10 February 2025

    The University of South Australia will build an Aboriginal Knowledges Centre this year at its City West campus, with completion expected in 2026, thanks to a nationally significant gift from the Wood Foundation and University funding.

    The centre, Yaitya Ngutu Wardli in the Kaurna language, will involve a comprehensive redevelopment of the ground floor and courtyard of the University’s Lewis O’Brien / Yarlupuka building on the corner of George Street and North Laneway. It will include indoor and outdoor spaces that provide a supportive, welcoming environment for Aboriginal students, staff and community members, and a space to encourage discussions between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples.

    Distinguished Professor Marnie Hughes-Warrington AO, Standing Acting Vice Chancellor of UniSA, says “We are grateful to our donors for helping to bring this vision to life, notably a nationally significant gift of $2.5 million from the Wood Foundation to support this important project.”

    Anna Wood of the Wood Foundation says “The Wood Foundation is deeply honoured to support the establishment of the Aboriginal Knowledges Centre at the University of South Australia.

    “This meaningful initiative aligns closely with the foundation’s mission and holds special significance to the Wood Family. It is especially close to my heart and I hope it inspires others.”

    The UniSA community worked closely with highly acclaimed design practitioners Jefa Greenaway (a Wailwan/Kamilaroi man) of Greenaway Architects and Paul Herzich (a Kaurna/Ngarrindjeri man) of Mantirri Design, working in association with Swanbury Penglase to envisage a Centre which will be anchored in Country through a rich design that authentically expresses First Nations’ cultures.  Aboriginal ideas and perspectives have been embedded in the project through extensive consultation with Aboriginal students, staff and Elders.

    Uncle Frank Wanganeen, a Kaurna/Narrunga man and member of UniSA’s Purkarninthi in Residence Elders group, says “Yaitya Ngutu Wardli will bring students, staff and the community together to foster an appreciation and understanding of Aboriginal Knowledges and cultures.”

    “It will be a dedicated space for gathering, for yarning and teaching, celebrating and participating in a wide range of cultural activities,” Uncle Frank says.

    Prof Hughes-Warrington says “The centre will play a strategic role in bringing communities together for events that progress the recruitment, retention and progression of Aboriginal students, researchers and educators.

    “It will facilitate two-way knowledge sharing and mutual respect, promoting First Nations and non-Aboriginal peoples to engage collaboratively.

    “It will help to amplify Aboriginal knowledges, cultures and communities, and accelerate our ambitions for Aboriginal success.”

    The new centre at City West adds to dedicated Aboriginal spaces including student support centres at several UniSA campuses, and recently completed or planned yarning circles at its Mount Gambier, Mawson Lakes and Whyalla campuses.

    UniSA was the first university in Australia to include the advancement of Aboriginal Peoples in its charter, which has been strengthened by multiple Reconciliation Action Plans (RAPs). This commitment is continuing into Adelaide University, including articulation in its founding legislation and a focus on growing Aboriginal participation, progression and knowledge sharing, and building cultural awareness and understanding within the broader community.

    The Aboriginal Knowledges Centre is a key element of UniSA’s Stretch Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) 2023-2025. It will support the delivery of many ambitious commitments under the RAP, including developing graduates who understand Australia’s colonial history and the impact on Aboriginal Peoples and cultures, and growing the retention and success rates of Aboriginal students to equal those of non-Aboriginal students.

    Construction will commence in the second half of 2025.

    A video including artist’s impression of the centre can be viewed here  https://unisa.edu.au/about-unisa/stretch-rap-2023-2025/aboriginal-knowledges-centre

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    Media contact: Megan Andrews M: +61 434 819 275 E: megan.andrews@unisa.edu.au

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  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Obituaries – In Loving Memory – the passing of Raymond Thompson MNZM

    Source: Cloud 9 Screen Entertainment Group

    Message: 9th February 2025 – Beloved, respected and cherished husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, friend, confidante, mentor, motivator, inspiration and guiding light, Ray passed away suddenly but peacefully in his sleep in Australia on January 15th, 2025.
    Ray had great respect and esteem for his friends and colleagues in the music, film & television entertainment industries, as well as the New Zealand wine industry (through Tirohana Estate), and a deep appreciation and love for the many fans around the world who were touched by his creative endeavours.
    A force of nature and larger than life, Ray’s passing is a catastrophic loss to his family and they respectfully ask for ongoing privacy during this very difficult time.
    A private family service has been held but it would mean a great deal if in lieu of flowers that donations be made to the non-profitable charity founded by Ray in New Zealand, the Cloud 9 Children’s Foundation ( https://withyoueverystepoftheway.com) which supports and assists children and teenagers (and their families) touched by Autism Spectrum Disorder.
    A writer, musician, producer, creator, viticulturist, philanthropist and dreamer, Ray’s legacy lives on in us all and his music, works and projects will live on. Ray’s beloved Cloud 9 Screen Entertainment will continue, as will Tirohana Estate in Martinborough.
    ‘You cannot ignore the whisper of mortality that inhabits every fading sunset’.
    Keep the Dream Alive.
    BIOGRAPHY AND OBITUARY – RAYMOND THOMPSON MNZM
    Raymond was a veteran of the television and film industries, where he began as a writer (having also had a career as a songwriter and musician). His first novel, The Number To Call Is… was a bestseller and achieved critical acclaim in 1979.
    As lead writer/script consultant he worked on several motion pictures and television series. His credits range from Hotshot to Squadron (for the BBC), Trainer to the icon series Howards Way (also for the BBC), which is regarded by many as one of Britain’s best loved drama series (and which regularly achieved the highest ratings during its six-year run).
    From 1989-1994 Raymond was also Head of Development for BBC Television Drama, and also retained as a consultant to the Controller of BBC Television Drama Series, where he had a production/creative liaison on a wide range of successful BBC titles – many of which are still being broadcast today.
    In 1994 Raymond founded the Cloud 9 Screen Entertainment Group in association with the Sanctuary Group PLC.
    Cloud 9 evolved to be of the most prolific independent production companies (with its titles being show in over 100 countries around the world) and helped contribute to the revitalisation of the Wellington entertainment industry (‘Wellywood’) by supporting and ushering in a new generation of talent in the Wellington and New Zealand television and film communities.
    In addition to being Chief Executive of the Cloud 9 Group, Raymond has also Executive produced Cloud 9’s portfolio of titles from inception to the current day- many of which Raymond also created.
    Credits include The Adventures of Swiss Family Robinson, Return to Treasure Island, William Shatner’s A Twist in the Tale, The Enid Blyton Adventure Series, The Enid Blyton Secret Series, The Legend of William Tell, within Cloud 9’s Classic Collection in association with CLT-UFA.
    His numerous other credits include the iconic series The Tribe (5 seasons of 260 episodes), Atlantis High, Revelations -The Initial Journey, and The New Tomorrow (all created by Raymond).
    In 2000, Ray was the Founder and Chairman of The Cloud 9 Children’s Foundation, a non-profit charity which supports and assists families touched by Asperger’s Syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorder..
    In 2001 Raymond returned to his musical roots and composed the Spirit Symphony, which premiered at the Michael Fowler Centre in Wellington via a performance by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (conducted by Kenneth Young). The symphony is performed in other parts of the world and has been released on CD (and digital release) worldwide. Raymond also composed many of the soundtracks of Cloud 9’s programming.
    In December 2002 Raymond was appointed an Adjunct Professor by Queensland University of Technology in the Creative Industries Faculty as a vehicle for guest lecturing, mentoring and to consult in both the private and public sector on the television and motion picture industries.
    In 2003 Raymond was honoured (along with Ray Bradbury) for the cult series, The Tribe, at the Dragoncon Festival in Atlanta, Georgia.
    In recognition of Raymond’s achievements, he was appointed by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2003 Honours List in recognition of his services to television and entertainment.
    Raymond adjudicated at many festivals including BAFTA and was a member of the jury for the 2004 Emmy finalists.
    In 2005, Raymond acquired Tirohana Estate ( www.tirohanaestate.com) to pursue his hobby and love of premium wine and was a regular visitor to Martinborough in New Zealand and could often be found participating in each vintage, driving the tractor or ute, and enjoying a chat with diners and clients having a glass of Tirohana Estate’s wines.
    In 2011, Raymond released his memoir book ‘Keeping The Dream Alive’. Raymond was active in bringing together and overseeing the ‘continuing story’ of The Tribe through the official series of tie-in novels released by A.J. Penn from 2012 and the audiobooks (narrated by several members of the original cast of The Tribe). Raymond wrote and Executive Produced The Tribe video game that was released in 2022 (and has since been released in 2024 as an Apple iOS mobile version). ‘The Tribe Collector’s Edition Screenplay’ was released as a book (and eBook) in December 2022.
    Raymond was still heavily involved in philanthropy including his charity The Cloud 9 Children’s Foundation and as well as continuing to oversee Cloud 9’s ongoing activity with its catalogue of titles, was also busy writing original screenplays which he was actively developing in line with Cloud 9’s expansion into the motion picture industries.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: A century in motion: how stop-motion films went from obscure ‘creature features’ to winning Oscars

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jack McGrath, Lecturer in Animation, University of Newcastle

    Netflix

    The 2025 Academy Awards could shape up to be a big one for stop-motion animation. Australian director Adam Eliott’s Memoir of a Snail (2024) has raked in a nomination for Best Animated Feature Film, alongside Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl (2024).



    Read more:
    Overtly handmade and so very moving: Adam Elliot’s Memoir of A Snail is a stop motion triumph

    Coincidentally, this recognition comes in what is already an historic year for stop motion. A century ago, on February 8 1925, The Lost World hit cinemas. This film is widely considered the first feature-length stop-motion production, as well as the first “creature feature”.

    Audiences were captivated as they watched animated dinosaurs share the screen with live actors. The animators positioned and photographed miniature dinosaurs made of rubber, one frame at a time, to create moving sequences that accompanied full-scale shots with human actors.

    This method drew from earlier works such as Georges Méliès’s 1902 short film A Trip to the Moon (Le voyage dans la lune).

    Guillermo del Toro won the 2023 Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film with Pinocchio.
    Netflix

    Dynamation: the beginnings

    After animating on The Lost World, stop-motion pioneer Willis O’Brien went on to animate King Kong (1933) and the lesser-known Mighty Joe Young (1949), where he mentored Ray Harryhausen.

    Harryhausen himself would later design and animate some of the most celebrated stop-motion sequences of all time, including the famous skeleton fight in Jason and the Argonauts (1963) and the fictional Rhedosaurus from The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953).

    The blend of animated miniatures and live actors become known as Dynamation, as Harryhausen pushed to create ever-more integrated and dynamic sequences in which animated puppets “interacted” with real actors.

    Back then it wasn’t possible to review animation as it was being shot; you could only see the puppet as it was in the moment. Sequences were shot on celluloid film, and animators had to wait for the film to develop before they could see the results.

    The famous skeleton fight in Jason and the Argonauts required Harryhausen to remember the movements of seven skeletons and line up a fight sequence with two pre-recorded actors, one frame at a time. He would often work for months before being able to review his work.

    In Eastern Europe, filmmakers such as Karel Zeman were also combining live action with miniature special effects and stop motion – extending a long history of Eastern European puppet theatre into cinema.

    In 1958, Zeman brought Jules Vernes’ whimsical vehicles and underwater worlds to the screen in his feature film Invention for Destruction (Vynález zkázy).

    Zeman’s work went on to influence famous animators such as Jan Švankmajer and Terry Gilliam.

    Invention for Destruction was later named The Fabulous World of Jules Verne. Zeman used a combination of puppetry, stop motion and live action effects for the film.
    IMDB

    Technology advances

    In the 1970s, Phil Tippet and others working at Industrial Light and Magic (ILM) – a studio founded by George Lucas – pushed the medium further through the development of “go-motion”.

    This invention used a custom-made control rig that precisely moved a puppet while it was being photographed – resulting in a subtle motion blur that emulated live-action movement.

    This technique allowed for more realistic animation and was used in productions such as Dragon Slayer (1981) and Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980).

    In the 1980s, however, Star Wars began a trend towards photorealism and audiences became more scrutinising of visual effects. Harryhausen’s creatures in Clash of the Titans (1981) appeared especially hammy and outdated even for the time.

    The CGI scare

    In the early 90s, Phil Tippet and colleagues at ILM, in the pursuit of perfecting the craft, developed test dinosaur sequences for Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park (1993). Tippet animated the original test sequences in stop motion.

    Also at ILM, Dennis Muren was experimenting with a new kind of animation for creatures made entirely using computer software. These were the early days of computer-generated imagery (CGI).

    When Tippet saw an early Jurassic Park test of CGI dinosaur footage, he said to Steven Spielberg “I’m extinct”.

    Nonetheless, once it was decided the dinosaurs would be created with CGI, Tippet continued working on the film. He used a dinosaur-shaped physical rig, which allowed changes to the rig’s position to translate to CGI movements onscreen. Stop-motion animators were helpful in this process because “CGI animators” as we know them didn’t yet exist.

    Amid a CGI-induced scare, Tim Burton and Henry Selicks’ The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) became the first fully stop-motion animated feature to be produced by a major studio. This film proved stop motion could be achieved at a Hollywood scale.

    Stop motion took a backseat to CGI in the years that followed. Pixar’s Toy Story (1995), the world’s first fully CGI animated feature, cemented CGI as the way of the future.

    The only other noteworthy stop-motion cinematic release came at the turn of the century, when DreamWorks teamed up with Aardman Animations to produce Chicken Run (2000), following a number of successful stop motion shorts, starting with Wallace and Gromit’s A Grand Day Out in 1989.

    The comeback

    Eventually, innovations in digital cameras and motion control paved the way back to stop motion, giving us films such as Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005) and The Corpse Bride (2005).

    Working on Coraline (2008), Laika studios introduced 3D printing technology for a sophisticated form of replacement animation, in which different body and facial pieces are swapped to create character movements and expressions.

    Traditionally, this technique was achieved by carving individual wooden models and swapping them out between capturing frames. This is how filmmaker George Pal made his Puppetoons films in the 1930s.

    Embracing new tech brought stop motion back onto the world stage, with studios such as Laika leading the charge. Since then, we’ve seen the release of features including ParaNorman (2012), The Boxtrolls (2014), Kubo and the Two Strings (2016), Missing Link (2019) and Guillermo del Toro’s Academy Award-wining Pinnoccio (2022).

    A new era of stop-motion features

    Despite huge developments in CGI, audiences still appreciate the painstaking work of bringing inanimate objects to life frame by frame.

    There are more stop motion films being made than ever before, with independent filmmakers and students creating quality sequences for a fraction of what it cost 30 years ago.

    Some directors use the medium for its connection with real materials, and out of respect for the art form. Phil Tippet spent more than 30 years on his stop motion feature Mad God (2021) – an experimental and intense horror magnum opus that embodies the materiality of stop motion.

    Wes Anderson says his approach to stop motion in Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009) was “very much about bringing to life the [characters’] performance.”

    In Pinocchio (2022), Guillermo del Toro tells the touching story of a puppet, using real puppets, in which imperfection and human frailty are emphasised.

    We’re also seeing the return of stop-motion creature effects, such as with Disney’s Star Wars series Skeleton Crew (2024–25), in which live action is once again integrated with stop-motion puppets.

    The development of artificial intelligence (AI) is now pushing audiences and creators to question what they value in animation, cinema and art more generally.

    If AI could generate high-quality films with a stop-motion aesthetic, would we value them as much as those productions that were laboured over for years on end? The recent Oscar nominees may hold the answer.

    Jack McGrath 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 century in motion: how stop-motion films went from obscure ‘creature features’ to winning Oscars – https://theconversation.com/a-century-in-motion-how-stop-motion-films-went-from-obscure-creature-features-to-winning-oscars-248008

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –