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Category: Universities

  • MIL-OSI Europe: AFRICA/NIGERIA – Catholic priest kidnapped.

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Abuja (Agenzia Fides) – A Catholic priest was kidnapped yesterday morning, February 6. He is Fr. Cornellus Manzak Damulak, who studies at Veritas University in Abuja, the federal capital. According to the diocese of Shendam, to which the priest belongs, “Fr. Damulak was kidnapped in the early hours of February 6 from his home in Zuma 2, Bwari Area Council of the capital district.””We call on all believers in Christ and all people of good will to pray for his speedy and safe release from the hands of his kidnappers. We entrust our brother, Fr. Cornelius Manzak Damulak, to the maternal intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, our Mother, and all the saints, to give him strength and bring him back to us,” the diocese concluded.The diocese of Shendam is a suffragan of the diocese of Jos, in Plateau State (central Nigeria). The Bwari region, where the priest was kidnapped, is one of the regions most affected by kidnappings. Many residents of the area, especially farmers, were kidnapped and large sums of money were demanded for their release.The way in which the priest was kidnapped, namely by bandits who attacked him in his home, is not new either. At the end of January, an entire family was kidnapped by bandits armed with Kalashnikovs who entered their home in Chikakore, a town on the outskirts of Kubwa (also in the Bwari region), about 30 kilometers from the center of Abuja. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 7/2/2025)
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: We Do Not Part by Han Kang: a haunting story which forces the reader to remember a horrific incident in Korea’s past that it tried to erase

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Hyunseon Lee, Professorial Research Associate at Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures, and Centre for Creative Industries, Media and Screen Studies, SOAS, University of London

    Jeju inhabitants awaiting execution in late 1948 wikimedia, CC BY

    We Do Not Part is the latest book by Korean writer Han Kang, who won the Nobel prize in literature in 2024. The book begins in fragments that ebb between dark dream, waking nightmare and memories of how the book’s protagonist Kyungha got to this terrible way of living.

    Even for those who do not know much about Korean history, it is fairly clear that something awful has changed Kyungha. When she closes her eyes images of women clutching children, black tree trunks jutting like limbs from the earth and so much snow flood into her mind.

    This experience has sapped all life from Kyungha and she is, when we meet her, simply waiting for death. That is, until her friend Inseon injures herself and asks Kyungha to travel to her home on the island of Jeju, south of mainland Korea, to look after her beloved pet bird, Ama.

    When she gets there, a violent snowstorm leaves her trapped in Inseon’s compound. Here, she stumbles upon the investigation into her friend’s family and its connection to the Jeju 4.3 massacre in the 1940s.

    In the early morning of April 3 1948, 359 members of the South Korean Workers’ Party and partisans carried out attacks on 12 police facilities and the homes of conservative leaders. They killed 12 people, including family members, before fleeing to the Halla Mountains. The term “Jeju 4.3” came from the date the incident is considered by many to have begun, even though it officially lasted from March 1 1947 to September 21 1954.

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    What followed was a massive counterinsurgency operation by the South Korean government (with US backing) to exterminate communists and their sympathisers on the island. While officially numbers are still not known, it is believed that more than 30,000 Jeju people (10% of Jeju’s population at the time), including women and children, were killed.

    In We Do Not Part, we find out that Inseon’s mother, who died several years earlier, was a survivor of Jeju 4.3. Han Kang’s impressive approach to presenting the memories of Jeju 4.3 is multi-layered, subtle, fragmentary and contains a high degree of sensitivity as she recounts the massacre from the perspective of Inseon and her mother.

    Inseon is part of a what the Holocaust and cultural memory scholar Marianne Hirsch termed the “postmemory generation”. She is the child of a survivor who has inherited a “catastrophic [history] not through direct recollection but through haunting postmemories”.

    Inseon has absorbed the stories of her mother as her own. For instance, in one of the first extracts of Inseon’s memories she speaks of her mother and her sister finding their family dead in the snow.

    I remember her. The girl roaming the schoolyard, searching well into the evening. A child of 13 clinging to her 17-year-old sister as if her sister wasn’t a child herself, hanging on by a sleeve, too scared to see but unable to look away.

    However, Inseon doesn’t remember. She wasn’t there. But, as Hirsch writes of the postmemory generation, such distinct “memories” are mediated by “imaginative investments, projections and creations”.

    Han Kang’s skilful use of Inseon’s postmemory carefully gives voice to the feelings of Inseon’s mother. Han Kang does this through presenting these in fragments that recount first Inseon’s investigative work, and then Inseon’s mother’s research into the family’s losses. These are inserted in passages of recounted conversations, writing and descriptions of photographs and films.

    These pieces are scattered amid Kyungha’s time in the dreamlike and snow buried compound. The intermingling of past and present, dream and reality, art and life creates an almost hallucinatory quality where the edges blur as Kyungha inherits Inseon’s memories – which she inherited from her mother. In each transference, these stories become new.

    This retelling and remembering is important. The 1947 to 1949 uprising is considered by some historians, particularly the American historian Bruce Cummings, as the precursor to the Korean civil war, which left the country divided into North and South. However, for almost 50 years, the very existence of the massacre was officially censored and repressed.

    It was only in 2000s that the incident was recognised and the National Committee for Investigation of the Truth about the Jeju 4.3 Incident was established. In 2003, then-president Roh Moo-hyun apologised for the deaths of the innocents and the state repression against the survivors, who had been severely stigmatised as enemies of the state and branded “red insurgents” (pokto).

    Hang Kang’s novel makes it clear that Jeju 4.3 is not simply an issue of the past, but one of the present that persists and lives on in the lives of all who it has touched. Inseon was born the only daughter of a mother who witnessed the massacre and a father who survived, not only on Jeju, but also afterwards on the Korean mainland. This parentage means she cannot forget nor repress it, it constantly intrudes into her life.

    Han Kang urges the public to bear witness, the reader does so through Kyungha. As she delves into the history through memory and official documents, we too do the same. In this act of reading we remember and name the tragedy.

    Ultimately, this becomes an act of commemoration of the victims whose spirits still seem unable to leave this life as they remain on the island in the form of wind, birds, trees, snow and sea. We see, as Kyungha sees, Jeju 4.3 has left too much pain and too many scars on the souls for them to forget and leave.

    We Do Not Part is captivating, moving and from sentence to sentence Han Kang’s sensitive approach to Jeju 4.3 makes us reflect on why we still need to remember and commemorate this tragedy and the many others that still go ignored.

    Hyunseon Lee 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. We Do Not Part by Han Kang: a haunting story which forces the reader to remember a horrific incident in Korea’s past that it tried to erase – https://theconversation.com/we-do-not-part-by-han-kang-a-haunting-story-which-forces-the-reader-to-remember-a-horrific-incident-in-koreas-past-that-it-tried-to-erase-249200

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Mayor officially opens Sadler’s Wells East – part of London’s new culture and education powerhouse, East Bank

    Source: Mayor of London

    • Sadler’s Wells East becomes the first cultural venue to open at East Bank – London’s new culture and education powerhouse at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
    • The new purpose-built theatre will be a gamechanger for dance, providing inspiration and opportunities for performers and people across the capital
    • East Bank is creating an estimated £1.5bn for the local economy, thanks to the biggest cultural investment ever from the Mayor

     

    The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has today celebrated a significant milestone in the creation of East Bank by opening Sadler’s Wells East – the first public cultural building at London’s new culture and education powerhouse.

     

    Sadiq hailed the brand-new purpose-built theatre as a gamechanger for dance in the city as he was joined by Britannia Morton, Executive Director and Co-Chief Executive and Sir Alistair Spalding CBE, Artistic Director and Co-Chief Executive of Sadler’s Wells, to officially open the new building in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park this evening (Thursday 6 February).

     

    The new venue features a 550-seat auditorium, six state-of-the-art dance studios and a public performance space for free shows. It will be home to the Rose Choreographic School and Academy Breakin’ Convention, a new school for talented 16-19 year olds, dedicated to hip hop theatre.

     

    The opening of this world-class venue is an exciting moment in the East Bank journey, which is bringing together some of the country’s biggest institutions to deliver a cultural legacy from the London 2012 Olympic Games, thanks to more than £600m of investment from the Mayor.

     

    London College of Fashion, UAL, and University College London (UCL) have already welcomed over 10,000 students to their new leading educational facilities, with the BBC and the V&A set to also open new buildings on site.

     

    The new cultural quarter will generate an estimated £1.5bn for the local economy. At the heart of East Bank is a focus on involving the community and young people, with 1,500 young people attending a summer school since 2018, and 89 young people taking part in the Shared Training and Employment Programme (STEP) – a scheme designed to match young East Londoners with entry-level roles in the creative industries.

     

    Tonight, Sadiq officially opened Sadler’s Wells East and met with performers and creators before enjoying a pre-show tour of the theatre. The new space enables Sadler’s Wells to produce fresh work inhouse and offer a much-needed dance space for mid-scale companies from the UK and around the world, who can now bring their shows to the capital, helping to support the UK’s dance ecology.

     

    The opening show is ‘Our Mighty Groove’, a club-night inspired mixture of house, waacking and vogue performance, created by choreographer Vicki Igbokwe-Ozoagu. Loosely based on her personal dance story, the show features a cast of professional dancers as well as 12 dancers aged 16 to 21, who live or study in east London.

     

    The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “This is a huge milestone in the East Bank journey. Sadler’s Wells East will be a gamechanger for dance in the capital and across the UK, bringing world-leading innovative performances to a brand-new stage and providing fantastic opportunities for young people. With many of the staff and performers living and working locally, it is already making a difference to the local economy. East Bank is creating a fantastic cultural legacy from the 2012 Olympics and I’m delighted that Sadler’s Wells East will help to inspire audiences and benefit generations to come, as we build a better London for everyone.”

     

    Britannia Morton, Executive Director and Co-Chief Executive of Sadler’s Wells, said: “Sadler’s Wells East arises from the ambition that the 2012 Olympics on this site would create long lasting legacy, with culture and education joining sport as engines of economic growth and social cohesion, in a new vibrant cultural quarter – East Bank in Stratford. Thanks to the Mayor of London who has, alongside the UK Government, enabled us to create this amazing new facility for dance. We think that this building will make such a difference and will add to the thriving creative scene in east London. We’re so excited to welcome artists, audiences, visitors and community groups into the building for the first time.”

    Sir Alistair Spalding CBE, Artistic Director and Co-Chief Executive of Sadler’s Wells, said: “Sadler’s Wells East really is a new kind of cultural destination – with local roots, national impact and global perspectives. Opening in Stratford, in Newham, is a privilege and responsibility. We are committed to making a difference in this part of London, and Vicki’s production feels like the perfect curtain raiser to this new powerhouse of dance, combining professional and community performers from the local area in a joyous celebration of dance and movement! Looking ahead, there will be a kaleidoscope of styles throughout our first year at Sadler’s Wells East, really offering something for everyone.”

     

    Tamsin Ace, Director of East Bank, said: “This is such an exciting moment for London, with Sadler’s Wells East marking the first cultural venue to open as part of East Bank. Sadler’s Wells East joins London College of Fashion, UAL and UCL East which opened their doors to students in Autumn 2023, with V&A East Storehouse & Museum and BBC Music Studios to follow. We can’t wait for the students, teachers and visitors already populating the Waterfront to be met by dance practitioners and audiences coming in to witness the 2025 programme. A powerhouse of innovation, creativity and learning, East Bank is fast becoming a hallmark of what the 2012 Olympic & Paralympic legacy really means for all those who visit, work and live in east London.”

     

    Rokhsana Fiaz OBE, Mayor of Newham said: “The opening of Our Mighty Groove at Sadler’s Wells East marks a significant moment for Newham’s cultural landscape. As part of our commitment to Building Newham’s Creative Future, we are proud to see world-class performances taking centre stage in our borough, ensuring that creativity and culture remain accessible to all. This production reflects the energy and diversity of Newham, bringing communities together through the power of dance. This partnership with the Mayor of London underscores our shared commitment to bringing world-class arts to East London, creating new opportunities for local talent, and making culture accessible to everyone.”

     

    Uma Kumaran, MP for Stratford and Bow said: “I’m so proud that East Bank is leading the way once again. The opening of Sadler’s Wells East is a massive cultural offering in the heart of East London. This incredible venue will inspire the next generation of dancers, bring world-class performances to our doorstep, boost our economy, and create new opportunities for local people. Stratford and Bow is leading the way as a hub of innovation, arts and business delivering jobs, investment, and cultural excellence-it’s no surprise Stratford has been named the best place in London to visit in 2025 – London is moving East!”

     

    Justine Simons OBE, Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries, said: “The opening of Sadler’s Wells East is a hugely exciting moment for East Bank and for London, nearly seven years after we set out a vision to create a new culture and education powerhouse for our capital at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park it’s now a reality.  It is the biggest ever cultural investment by City Hall. This fantastic new venue will bring new productions to the capital, support the next generation of talent and opportunities for young Londoners for many decades to come.”

    Vicki Igbokwe-Ozoagu, creator of Our Mighty Groove, said: “It’s an honour to have Our Mighty Groove opening Sadler’s Wells East and I’m so very proud to present this Uchenna classic with the phenomenal cast and creative team I’m collaborating with. I want to give a special shout out to our young cast, a group of talented performers and definitely ones to watch. We can’t wait to groove with you!”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: “The situation in Russian science looks stable and positive”

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    © Higher School of Economics

    On the eve of Russian Science Day, TASS held a press conference dedicated to the results of the third round of the comprehensive study “We do science in Russia” He was conducted Institute for Statistical Research and Economics of Knowledge (ISSEZ) HSE. The authors of the study and experts representing higher education, research institutes and industry spoke about the state of domestic science, the drivers of its development, the dynamics of change and the barriers that need to be overcome.

    The first “Making Science in Russia” study was conducted in 2017, the second round took place in 2022, and the third from October to November 2024.

    Present and future

    As explained by the first vice-rector, director of the HSE ISSEK Leonid Gokhberg, the basis of the study was the results of a survey of the heads of 719 universities and leading scientific organizations, which make up almost the entire core of Russian science. These are “the key players who make the weather in this area and determine its development with their daily practices.”

    The assessment was carried out on 87 factors grouped into 8 large blocks, which made it possible to determine the sentiment index in Russian science. In the second step, the researchers identified 47 measures of state scientific and technical policy, assessed their effectiveness on a number of parameters and rated them.

    “The situation in Russian science looks stable and positive, there is progress compared to previous rounds of the study,” Leonid Gokhberg noted. For example, assessments related to the institutional conditions of functioning of universities and scientific organizations have improved – first of all, we are talking about increasing awareness of policy measures and regulation of important aspects of their daily life (regulation of state assignments and state purchases, tender procedures, etc.).

    Representatives of the scientific sphere assess the prospects for the coming years even more optimistically. Expectations are connected with further increase in the efficiency of scientific research, cooperation with business and stimulation of investment inflow from commercial structures, development of the information base of science.

    At the same time, the situation looks different in different sectors. “Universities are feeling the best, and this correlates with the measures of their support that have been launched in recent years and have had a rather positive impact on the development of university science,” Leonid Gokhberg stated.

    Financing

    The director continued the topic Center for Statistics and Monitoring of Science and Innovation ISSEK Ekaterina Streltsova, touching upon “the most sensitive issue” – funding of science.

    This block received the most restrained assessment from the scientific community, but this does not mean that everything is bad. Science is financed from many sources, and the study showed that the situations with different sources differ for different organizations. Key sources of budgetary financing are assessed more restrainedly in general, since they may not be very relevant for non-profit organizations that participated in the survey (for example, grants from Russian scientific foundations).

    “We see a significant improvement in the situation for all types of organizations compared to 2022, as budget expenditures on science are steadily increasing. This year, almost 3% of federal budget funds are planned to be allocated to support science, this is the highest figure in the last ten years, and we hope that funding for science will continue to increase,” Ekaterina Streltsova emphasized.

    Organizations of all types were skeptical about the provision of funding from state companies and especially from business, and, in her opinion, this is a predictable result given the current structure of funding for Russian science. In recent years, the business sector has provided about 30% of the costs of science, and although this figure has increased compared to 2010, measures are needed to stimulate investment.

    Of all the sources of funds, foreign organizations received the lowest ratings. “It was these ratings that influenced the overall score for the entire area and pulled it down, and this is understandable,” says Ekaterina Streltsova. “Foreign resources have never been significant for the development of Russian science; in the last five to six years, the share of these sources in the total volume of expenses has not exceeded 2.5%.”

    Personnel and equipment

    Ekaterina Streltsova noted that the human resources potential received a positive assessment for most factors: the managers are satisfied with both the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the scientific personnel they work with. Compared to 2022, some values have improved due to the implementation of a whole range of measures. Difficulties are associated with attracting foreign researchers and participation in international projects.

    The assessment of material and technical conditions is also quite stable: organizations are generally optimistic about the availability of scientific equipment and consumables, but many note the complication of supplies from abroad. The availability of access to specialized domestic software and Russian AI-based systems is assessed cautiously, but it is in this area that expectations are high and positive.

    The weak point remains the commercialization of results – their promotion and implementation in the economy. For example, universities and research organizations are actively involved in patent activities, but their contribution to the development of licensing activities in the domestic market is still limited. Obviously, this is due, among other things, to insufficient dialogue between science and business. “Although the situation has improved somewhat compared to 2022, we see that the intensity of interaction with business in the form of joint laboratories, basic departments, and so on is still assessed rather restrainedly, which, of course, requires further implementation, including of the measures already in force,” concluded Ekaterina Streltsova.

    “A most interesting analysis”

    The results of the study “Making Science in Russia” were commented on by representatives of science, higher education and industry.

    Director of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Grigory Trubnikov noted that HSE scientists conducted “a most interesting analysis.” In his opinion, over three rounds of research, “analytics has taken off,” it has a large audience, and the data can be trusted.

    Commenting on the conclusions about science funding, he put forward the hypothesis that the problem is not that it should be increased, say, twofold, but that “science should be done faster” — this is the main request of the scientific community. If we remove the obstacles associated with control, procurement procedures, academic mobility, and foreign restrictions, then the competitiveness of Russian science will increase.

    Grigory Trubnikov also noted that in terms of international cooperation, everything depends on the specific organization, and things are going well at his institute in Dubna – cooperation with China, Mexico, Brazil is developing, and this is a noticeable trend in general.

    Stanislav Terekhov, head of the laboratory of antibiotic resistance at the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, highly praised the existing measures to support science, including the creation of youth laboratories (his laboratory is one of them). In his opinion, this allows the best personnel to be retained in the country and students and postgraduates to be integrated into laboratory practice, but state support should be supplemented by private initiatives.

    Science and Business

    Director of the Institute of Translational Medicine and Biotechnology at Sechenov University Vadim Tarasov emphasized the links between science and business in his speech. In his opinion, the Priority 2030 program “gave universities a huge opportunity to be flexible in their interactions with industry,” and now it is necessary to set goals for 10-15 years ahead, understanding what technologies the country needs to ensure sovereignty, and which ones are worth entering foreign markets with.

    First Vice President for MTS Technologies, Head of the MTS Basic Department at HSE Pavel Voronin also highly praised the study, calling it very complete and high-quality.

    In his opinion, science is the foundation for technology, and “the geopolitical situation requires us to invest more in this fundamental part,” but the economic situation forces many companies in the market to approach finances prudently. When it is necessary to monitor expenses more closely, the first thing that is cut is unpredictable, long-term investments. “From a business point of view, it is important not to get caught in these scissors, to correctly determine priorities and leave a certain share of investments for long-term research,” concluded Pavel Voronin.

    Head of the scientific and technical cooperation department of the State Corporation Rosatom Ekaterina Chaban stated that in her corporation “every scientific project is also a business project” and confirmed the researchers’ findings on the successful attraction of young people to science. In the scientific division of Rosatom, out of 2 thousand scientists, 38% are under 35 years old, 48% are under 39 years old, and among the directors of institutes there are scientists and designers under 40 years old. “The corporation does a lot to maintain the influx of young people and retain young personnel,” she explained.

    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: Council Takes a Significant Step in its Commitment to Anti-Racism

    Source: City of Liverpool

    Liverpool City Council is pleased to announce a significant milestone in its ongoing commitment to addressing racial inequality by appointing a leading diversity and inclusion organisation, Inclusivitii, to support the development of a bold, anti-racism strategy for the city and council.

    This marks a pivotal moment in the Council’s efforts to foster a more inclusive, fair, and united Liverpool.

    Racism remains a deep-rooted issue in the city, impacting areas such as health, education, and employment. Despite Liverpool’s rich and diverse history, many individuals still face barriers.

    The Council, alongside its partners, is dedicated to tackling these challenges through meaningful action, ensuring that residents, service users and employees, regardless of background, have the opportunity to thrive.

    The strategy is set for launch in September 2025. In the months ahead, there will be public consultations offering residents, community groups, businesses, and employees the opportunity to actively contribute to shaping the approach.

    Throughout this process, the Council’s Safer and Stronger Communities Team will continue to support and empower communities, embedding anti-racism principles across the city.

    In addition to shaping the city-wide strategy, Inclusivitii will also collaborate with Liverpool City Council to help the organisation become an actively anti-racist organisation.

    This work will include reviewing internal policies, practices, and structures to ensure fairness, inclusion, and racial equity in decision-making at all levels.

    By nurturing an inclusive culture within its own organisation, the Council aims to set a powerful example and drive transformation across the city.

    Cllr Liam Robinson, Leader of Liverpool City Council, said:

    “We are delighted to appoint Inclusivitii to work with us on our transformative anti-racism strategy for the city. Their expertise is essential in helping us create a more inclusive city.

    “I would also like to thank everyone who has supported this process, including Alison Navarro, Programme Director of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Race Equality Hub, and Moni Akinsanya, Associate Director for Diversity and Inclusion at Liverpool John Moores University. Their invaluable guidance, along with input from various community organisations, has been crucial throughout the procurement process.

    “Being anti-racist isn’t just about recognising inequality and inequity, it’s about actively challenging and eradicating it. Liverpool City Council is committed to driving this change with urgency, transparency, and accountability.

    “To make this strategy truly impactful, the voices of Liverpool’s communities must be at the heart of the work. I encourage all residents, community groups, businesses and employees to engage and contribute.”

    Andrew Lewis, Chief Executive of Liverpool City Council, said:

    “This appointment highlights the Council’s commitment to addressing racial inequality and bringing about lasting change, both across the city and within our own organisation.

    “As we work toward creating an anti-racist Liverpool, the Council is committed to leading by example. We will continuously examine our internal structures to ensure fairness, inclusion, and racial equity are embedded in every aspect of decision-making.

    “By listening to and learning from those who experience racism first-hand, we aim to create a strategy that not only highlights the challenges but also provides real, sustainable solutions for long-term change.”

    Aduke Onafowokan from Inclusivitii said:

    “Every once in a while, an opportunity arises to make a meaningful impact, one that honours the incredible work already done while unlocking new possibilities for progress. For us, this is such an opportunity to serve communities and individuals.

    “We recognise that being anti-racist requires a lasting shift in how we think, behave, and perceive the world around us. It is, therefore, a profound honour to support Liverpool City Council, building on the inspiring work already undertaken by the organisation, to co-produce a strategy that truly reflects the voices, lived experiences, and aspirations of its communities.

    “This will move us forward towards a future where racial equity and equality are not just ambitions but a lived reality. Thank you again for this incredible opportunity.”

    More information about Inclusivitii can be found at https://www.inclusivitii.com.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The work plan of SPbPU and KRSU for 2025 has been formed

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    During the working visit of the acting rector of the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University Sergey Volkov to Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, a meeting of key leaders was held to finalize the main positions of the plan of joint activities of KRSU and SPbPU for 2025.

    Opening the meeting, Vice-Rector for International Affairs Dmitry Arsenyev noted: 2025 began with a series of online meetings of specialized working groups of our two universities, where the main blocks of the plan for joint activities were worked out, parameters were defined in detail, and key indicators were calculated. Today’s meeting of supervising vice-rectors and directors of institutes is the final step towards approving this most important document.

    One of the main blocks of joint activities is “Development of educational potential”. The working group led by Vice-Rector for Educational Activities Lyudmila Pankova discussed in advance with colleagues from KRSU issues related to the opening of network master’s degree programs in the areas of construction, software engineering, logistics and technosphere safety. KRSU will act as the base organization and plans to begin recruitment for these programs in the fall of 2025. In the second year of study, KRSU students will come to the Polytechnic University and, if they successfully master all disciplines, will receive master’s degrees from both universities. Sergey Volkov confirmed that the most talented graduates of such joint programs will be invited to teach at KRSU.

    The most important component of educational activities is the organization of a distance learning system for KRSU students using the resources of the Polytechnic University. The joint work plan provides access to most SPbPU courses on the Moodle platform, as well as access for more than 50 students to the online laboratory campus. KRSU is working to open an Online Course Registration Center in Bishkek as early as 2025, and SPbPU is ready to provide expert support for the activities of such a center, train employees, conduct the necessary trainings and consultations.

    Based on the successful experience of cooperation with the Russian-Armenian University, SPbPU agreed with KRSU to introduce the course “Fundamentals of Project Activities” into the educational process. In 2025, mentors will be trained and methodological recommendations for the course will be developed.

    The successful practice of academic mobility of third-year undergraduate students of KRSU, who came to the Polytechnic for a semester last year, will continue. The directors of the Institute of Economics and Technology, Institute of Social Sciences, Institute of Economics, Institute of Science and Culture, and Institute of Physical and Mathematical Sciences (FSMEK) — the main institutes where students from Kyrgyzstan studied in 2024 — confirmed their interest in continuing such programs, but emphasized the importance of strict selection of students by field. Sergey Volkov confirmed that KRSU students are showing great interest in the Polytechnic and promised that 40 undergraduates and 10 graduates for study in the fall of 2025 will be carefully selected through a competition. In addition to semester mobility, the plan provides for short-term mobility and advanced training programs for KRSU students and teachers. Director of the Institute of Scientific Research Marina Petrochenko suggested that individual programs be timed to coincide with significant scientific and educational events of the Polytechnic institutes, for example, Science Week or student competitions, so that Kyrgyz students could participate in them.

    Advanced training for KRSU teachers will be held in a hybrid and in-person format. There is a request from Kyrgyz colleagues for programs in energy, electronics, supercomputer technologies, economic security, etc. In the near future, a specific list of programs will be formed and 15 teachers will be identified who will come to SPbPU for in-person training. A separate request from the KRSU leadership is to organize training for members of the admissions committee on technologies for conducting an admissions campaign, working with the “Apply Online” services and other recruitment practices adopted at the Polytechnic University.

    Vice-Rector for Research at SPbPU Yuri Fomin, presenting the final plan for the “Development of Scientific Potential” block, focused the attention of KRSU management on the need to build end-to-end business processes – from the selection and training of talented young scientists in graduate school to the formation of dissertation councils and successful defenses. Polytechnic is ready to share such experience. And in the near future, there are plans to organize dissertation defenses in SPbPU dissertation councils in key areas for KRSU applicants and postgraduate students.

    The specialized research groups of the institutes of KRSU and SPbPU have prepared a list of 12 initiative projects for joint research. Yuri Fomin suggested correlating these projects with the planned internships of postgraduate students, the organization of defenses, the preparation of publications, and the submission of applications for grants in order to ensure the most effective activities of joint research groups and support the long-term development of scientific potential.

    Two global joint projects of KRSU and SPbPU are planned as flagship projects in the work plan. The first is related to the work of the high-mountain observatory of atmospheric physics of KRSU. The observatory is equipped with high-tech instruments, in particular a lidar complex. The project will be of a more fundamental nature and will be related to studies of the state of the atmosphere, environmental monitoring, the formation of predictive models of seismic activity, etc. Over the years of the laboratory’s work, a significant array of data has been collected that can be used to verify and build models. On the part of SPbPU, the Institute of Electronics and Telecommunications and the Civil Engineering Institute will be involved in the project. Director of the Institute of Electronics and Telecommunications Alexander Korotkov noted the enormous potential of such an interdisciplinary project, which is capable of combining scientific competencies, the use of unique equipment, the developments of both the Polytechnic University and KRSU to develop a popular scientific direction and solve problems that are truly important for Kyrgyzstan.

    The second project is the preparation of a comprehensive plan for the development of mining in the interests of the industrial partner of KRSU, the company “Alliance Altyn”. In early March, a large off-site meeting will be held directly at the production site. Director of the Institute of Energy Viktor Barskov confirmed his interest in the project and his readiness to send specialists from the Institute to Bishkek.

    KRSU attracts not only industrial partners, but also government organizations to cooperation. In particular, the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Kyrgyz Republic requested the organization of a Fire Safety Center on the basis of KRSU for the training and advanced training of relevant specialists. Director of the ISI Marina Petrochenko mentioned a similar experience of cooperation between Polytechnic University and the Gefest Group of Companies and the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia, which ultimately led to the creation of a basic department. The work plan for 2025 includes a clause on the organization of a Fire Safety Center at KRSU and joint work in this direction by the ISI SPbPU and the FADIS KRSU.

    Vice-Rector for Information Technologies of SPbPU Andrey Lyamin confirmed the possibility of using the resources of the SPbPU supercomputer for joint scientific work and the educational process. In the near future, a joint scientific group will be formed, and KRSU scientists will be able to gain access, including for the implementation of the above-mentioned flagship projects. Andrey Lyamin also raised the issue of organizing KRSU access to the most important university toolkit – the Antiplagiat program, which is needed for scientific and educational activities. In accordance with the work plan, SPbPU will provide the Kyrgyz university with access to the resource.

    In terms of joint work, significant attention is paid to the interaction of library systems, in particular the development of joint IT solutions, regulations and methods that will contribute to the maximum digitalization of librarianship, the formation of an operating repository and the promotion of the results of the intellectual work of KRSU students and scientists.

    The directors of SPbPU institutes supported the KRSU initiative to create a student design bureau, on the basis of which student teams, including joint ones, will design various solutions in the field of construction, energy, calculations and modeling. Such projects will be able to participate in university, regional and international competitions. The KRSU student design bureau will also serve as a basis for the implementation of applied projects of the course “Fundamentals of Project Activity”.

    And so that really interesting projects and developments do not go to waste, the director of the Center for Continuing Professional Education of the Digital Engineering School Sergey Salkutsan in January 2025 during a visit to KRSU agreed on all the details of the pilot project for the development of student entrepreneurship and the launch of the project “Graduate Qualification Work as a Startup”. But it is not only the students who are in the focus of attention – for the management teams of KRSU (and this is more than 400 people), trainings on lean manufacturing, developed at SPbPU, are planned.

    In 2025, the Polytechnic University will continue to support social projects, youth initiatives and communities. A joint student campaign will be held as part of the events for the 80th anniversary of the Victory in May 2025. Students and teachers will be able to take part in the events “Voice of Generations” and “Student Spring”. Vice-Rector for Youth Policy and Communication Technologies Maxim Pasholikov said that following mutual consultations between specialists from SPbPU and KRSU, a detailed plan for joint activities of student communities has been drawn up. The work will be carried out in constant communication, with monthly online meetings in each area.

    Also, key joint events will be the project-analytical session planned for May 2025 on the development of the KRSU development program for 2026-2030, and expert sessions on monitoring the implementation of the current development program and modernization and transformation processes. Acting Vice-Rector for Prospective Projects Maria Vrublevskaya, commenting on the preparation for this session, drew the attention of the KRSU management to the recommendations for assessing competencies and the staffing of the university, as well as conducting comprehensive work within the framework of the human capital management policy, which were formulated following the results strategic session in December 2024 years.

    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: Polytechnic University teams qualified for the national robotics championship

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    The regional qualifying round of the international robotics competition FIRST Tech Challenge — St. Petersburg was held at Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University. In Russia, they are held under the name “Engineers’ League”. Based on its results, the robotics teams KTM and VR from SPbPU received quotas for participation in the national championship of the Engineers’ League, which will be held in March in our city.

    Since September, teams have been working hard to develop their robots, improving the design and software controls from competition to competition.

    The regional selection in St. Petersburg has been held for the fifth year in a row at the Technopolis Polytech research complex, the best venue for such competitions. The format of the past competitions is as close as possible to the world level. In addition to competitions on the playing field, there are interviews of teams with experts and the defense of engineering portfolios. All robots have undergone a thorough technical examination. A full online broadcast was conducted, and interviews with participants immediately after the matches conveyed the bright emotions of the competition.

    The Polytechnicians admitted that this meeting was indeed difficult, since the robot’s design was significantly reworked, and during the competition it was necessary to practice actions with allies. The level of training of Russian teams is traditionally high. In one of the matches, the result came very close to the current world record. According to the results of the qualification, our KTM and VR took second and fourth place among 23 teams. In the final, the alliance of Polytechnic teams came in second. This result allowed them to confidently qualify for the national championship. In 2025, it will be held in the Museum of Naval Glory in the city of Kronstadt.

    These competitions were preceded by two friendly meetings. At the end of December, the Polytechnic teams took first and second place at ITMO. And right after the New Year holidays, a meeting was held at the Higher School of Economics. Due to the new rules, the guys had to significantly change the design of the robot, but this did not prevent them from taking the silver and becoming the best in the nominations “Innovative Solution” and “Control System”.

    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: Using AI to digitally twin a climate change frontier The University of Aberdeen has been awarded funding by the European Space Agency (ESA) to create a digital twin of the Arctic islands at the forefront of climate change.

    Source: University of Aberdeen

    The University of Aberdeen has been awarded funding by the European Space Agency (ESA) to create a digital twin of the Arctic islands at the forefront of climate change.
    Aberdeen will lead the development of a real-time digital replica for the Norwegian archipelago Svalbard (SvalbardDT; www.svalbarddt.org), which is said to be warming six times faster than the global average.
    Lying within the Arctic Circle, Svalbard is one of the areas where the visible consequences of climate change can be seen most clearly. The drastic decline in its ice areas over recent years has serious implications for wildlife, diminishing the natural hunting grounds of polar bears and increasing competition for resources affecting other Arctic species such as walruses, seals, and seabirds.
    Svalbard lies at the boundary between the warm Atlantic and the cold Polar region, therefore even a small change in temperature can have a dramatic impact.
    The warming seen in recent years has shifted this boundary and now Svalbard is responding much faster anticipated to climate change but understanding this requires greater understanding of the interconnections between different environments such as glaciers, sea ice, snow and weather that cannot be done with current tools.
    The creation of a digital twin – designed to behave as closely as possible to its real-world counterpart – will enable these changes to be monitored in real time and forms part of ESAs ambitious goal to create a digital twin of the Earth, called Destination Earth (https://destination-earth.eu/).
    Aberdeen researchers, working in collaboration with Swansea University, Svalbard Integrated Arctic Earth Observing System (SIOS), Norwegian Research Centre (NORCE), EarthWave, University of Edinburgh, and Uppsala University will develop real-time models of Svalbard’s ice and snow in order to generate more up-to-date information on their state.

    Having a digital twin will enable us to see what is happening in real time, from anywhere in the world” Dr William Harcourt

    Glaciologist Dr William Harcourt from the University of Aberdeen will lead the project. He said:
    “Svalbard is really important in our understanding of climate change impacts on the fragile Arctic it is a location where we have seen accelerated warming.
    “The creation of its digital twin is a major step forward in understanding the changes – and importantly the speed of change – happening there.
    “Having a digital twin will enable us to see what is happening in real time, from anywhere in the world.
    “Unlike isolated field campaigns that reflect data at one point in time and rely on new funding and logistical support to collect, we will use satellite data and develop real-time models of Svalbard’s snow and ice. The project will develop an end-to-end workflow to ingest data from satellites into Artificial Intelligence (AI) models and produce real-time data cubes describing Svalbard’s cryosphere.”
    The project team develop tools for decision-making processes and to understand the impact of extreme weather events on Svalbard’s ice and snow. These will be developed in direct consultation with local stakeholders in Svalbard to ensure the new tool will provide tangible impacts to communities.
    European space Agency funding of 400,000 Euros (£310,000) has been allocated to the Svalbard project.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Rosneft scientists introduce schoolchildren to the profession of geologist

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Rosneft – Rosneft – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    On the eve of Russian Science Day, the Ufa scientific institute of Rosneft held a scientific and educational lecture for schoolchildren of the all-Russian “Movement of the First”. As part of the “Visiting a Scientist” project, students of grades 7-9 learned about the profession of a modern geologist.

    Schoolchildren learned about geological discoveries that influenced scientists’ ideas about the development of the Earth over billions of years. Today, this information helps answer the question of where it is best to look for oil. Rosneft searches for and explores hydrocarbon raw materials on land and water, and conducts scientific research in the Arctic and the World Ocean. Modern digital products developed by specialists at the research institute help with this. Millions of gigabytes of data are analyzed using artificial intelligence, and 3D models are built to make decisions, allowing for the prediction of events at a depth of several kilometers.

    Using high-precision microscopes, young researchers were able to study rock samples. Schoolchildren were also shown unique specimens of fossils, minerals, ancient microorganisms, shells and other geological finds dating back hundreds of millions of years.

    The company actively involves young people in science, helps them choose promising specialties for their future education and career. Schoolchildren were told about 13 corporate departments of Rosneft in leading universities of Bashkortostan – Ufa University of Science and Technology and Ufa State Petroleum Technological University. The best students, while still studying at the university, have the opportunity to find employment at Rosneft enterprises and participate in real production projects side by side with professionals.

    The event ended with a quiz, during which the most attentive listeners received gifts. On the same day, more than 100 Ufa residents had the opportunity to listen to a lecture on science and the Earth. The Institute organized a meeting with geologists for everyone at the site of the city coworking space “People”.

    Department of Information and Advertising of PJSC NK Rosneft February 6, 2025

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Polytechnic engineers create caterpillar track for all-terrain wheelchair

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    At the Polytechnic University, a durable and quick-release track for an all-terrain wheelchair was created by order of the Observer Factory company. Before being handed over to the customer, the design was tested in real off-road conditions. The work was carried out with the support of the Priority-2030 strategic academic leadership program.

    Engineers from Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University have created a simple and reliable caterpillar track for the electric wheelchair “Maximus” so that it can be used in difficult-to-reach places. According to the engineers, this is especially important for improving the quality of life of people with special needs: the all-terrain wheelchair will allow them to move independently, for example, on a sandy beach, forest paths and snowy roads.

    The customer of the work was the Kaliningrad manufacturer of wheelchairs “Observer Factory”. The engineers of the Polytechnic University faced a difficult task: to develop a durable and quickly removable track for an all-terrain wheelchair that would withstand the full weight of the wheelchair with a passenger and ensure the safety of the trip.

    The Polytech Voltage Machine engineering team, with the support of experienced colleagues from the Automobiles and Tracked Vehicles department of the Higher School of Transport of the Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Transport of SPbPU, developed a rubber track with a metal embedded element inside. Together with partners, Polytech established a production chain: now such products can be mass-produced.

    The track is track-type, meaning that each track is manufactured separately and then assembled together using special “fingers” with locks. The track is only 100 mm wide, which makes it unique, since tracks of such a width are currently not mass-produced. And the high ridges allow it to be used with pneumatic tires without the risk of the wheel coming off the track. Tensile tests have shown that the track can withstand a force of three tons.

    Before handing over the product to the customer, the team conducted full-scale tests in real operating conditions. The operator sat in the stroller and, controlling the joystick, overcame the most difficult route. The stroller confidently passed through rough terrain, including swampy areas, muddy roads and different levels of roads.

    We confidently passed all the declared tests and handed over the caterpillar to the customer. Thanks to our development, the wheelchair will be able to overcome almost any difficult terrain without outside help. This is especially important for people who want to lead an active lifestyle. It should be noted that a wheelchair with a caterpillar track is also relevant for moving around the city, especially in the spring and autumn periods, – noted the project manager, engineer of the Higher School of Transport of the Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Transport of SPbPU Stepan Pichakhchi.

    “Observer Factory” has been a partner of the Polytechnic University for more than two years. In 2023, the university and the company developed a universal tracked platform “Zhuk” for wheelchair owners. The wheelchair drives onto the platform, after which the user controls its movement with a joystick. The project is designed to develop inclusive tourism in Russia.

    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 Global: DRC conflict: talks have failed to bring peace. Is it time to try sanctions?

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Patrick Hajayandi, Research Affiliate, University of Pretoria

    The crisis in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) escalated at the end of January 2025 when Goma, the capital of the province of North Kivu, fell to Rwanda-backed M23 rebels.

    The civilian population is paying a heavy price as a result of ongoing violence, despite a series of initiatives aimed at creating conditions for peace. Since the re-emergence of the M23 in November 2021, violent clashes with the Congolese army have led to thousands of deaths and displaced more than one million people in North Kivu province alone.

    Patrick Hajayandi, whose research focuses on peacebuilding and regional reconciliation, examines previous attempts at finding peace in eastern DRC – and what needs to happen next.

    What efforts have been made by the DRC and Rwanda to ease tensions?

    The eastern DRC has become the site of renewed tensions between Kigali and Kinshasa. Rwanda lies to the east of the DRC. The two nations share a border of about 217 kilometres.

    Kigali accuses the DRC of hosting the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, the largest illegal armed group operating in the conflict area. Better known by its French acronym, FDLR, the group has stated its intention to overthrow the Rwandan government.

    On the other hand, Kinshasa accuses Rwanda of supporting and arming the M23, which seeks to control the two Kivu provinces, North and South. The involvement of the Rwandan Defence Forces in direct combat alongside the M23, corroborated by UN experts, has escalated the spread of violence.

    Despite current tensions between Kinshasa and Kigali, a few years ago the two governments engaged in collaborative efforts to solve the problem posed by the numerous armed groups operating in eastern DRC.

    Such efforts included two joint operations with Congolese and Rwandan forces aimed at neutralising the FDLR. These joint operations in 2008 and 2009 were known as Operation Kimia and Umoja Wetu. In 2019 and 2020, soon after he took power, President Felix Tshisekedi allowed the Rwandan army to conduct operations against the FDLR in Congolese territory.

    However, in recent years, relations have soured badly between Kinshasa and Kigali. This has led to regional efforts to broker peace.

    Why has it been so difficult for regional actors to broker peace in the DRC?

    The first complicating factor relates to the different roles that regional actors play in the DRC.

    The involvement of a multitude of countries points to the complexity underlying the conflict and the diverse geopolitical interests. The DRC shares a border with nine countries: Angola, Burundi, the Central African Republic, the Republic of Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

    In 2022, the African Union asked Angolan president João Lourenço to mediate between the DRC and Rwanda. The process he oversees is known as the Luanda Process and seeks to defuse the escalation of violence across the region. In particular, it has sought to reduce tensions between Kigali and Kinshasa.

    The East African Community is directly involved in peace initiatives to restore peace in DRC. It has appointed former Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta to lead what is called the Nairobi Process.



    Read more:
    DRC-Rwanda crisis: what’s needed to prevent a regional war

    The DRC has rebuffed the East African Community’s reconciliation efforts. And Rwanda recently criticised both processes, suggesting the country had lost confidence in the ability of Lourenço and Kenyatta to find a solution.

    In May 2023, the Southern African Development Community, of which the DRC is a member state, deployed a peace mission. This followed the exit of troops from the East African Community.

    Other countries play different roles directly or indirectly in various missions in the DRC. Burundi is supporting military operations there under the framework of bilateral agreements in the defence sector. Uganda also deployed troops, ostensibly in pursuit of jihadist-backed armed rebels three years ago. However, this deployment has been a destabilising factor, with Kampala facing accusations of supporting the M23.

    What have been the main hurdles in the way of these initiatives?

    The East African Community Regional Force was deployed to pursue peace in eastern DRC as part of the Nairobi Process. However, this mission was cut short due to four main challenges:

    • differences over mission objectives: the DRC government believed that the East African Community Regional Force would militarily confront M23 rebels. But the force had different objectives. As indicated by its commander, the deployment was to focus on overseeing the implementation of a political agreement, not run a military confrontation.

    • contrasting views among the leaders of the East African Community member states on how to address the DRC’s crisis: the DRC and Rwanda are both members of the community. Rwanda is vocal about stopping the persecution of Congolese Tutsi in the DRC. However, there is a growing perception that Rwanda is supporting the M23 as a proxy force to allow it to control mineral resources. This has stalled reconciliation efforts.

    • a lack of financial support for the talks: the African Union and regional bodies don’t have enough funding to support the interventions required to make meaningful progress.

    The Luanda Process has not been able to bring tangible results either. The reasons for this failure include bad faith from the parties involved. This was reflected in the continued capture of territories by Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, despite a July 2024 ceasefire.

    After the January 2025 seizure of Goma and wave of deaths and displacement that followed, the M23 declared another ceasefire. Whether it will hold remains to be seen.

    Rwanda’s behaviour in the ongoing conflict is complicating peace efforts. Kigali continues to deny supporting the M23 armed group. But it is participating in negotiations that involve the M23 and the DRC government. These contradictions make it difficult to know exactly who must be held responsible when, for example, a ceasefire is violated.

    What’s required to give peace in the DRC a chance?

    The current peace initiatives have been ineffective; they are routinely violated. What is needed is real pressure on the actors involved in spreading violence, forcing them to halt their destructive activities.

    Congolese Nobel Prize winner Denis Mukwege, for example, has called for diplomatic and economic measures to end the aggression in the DRC. This would mean implementing sanctions and aid conditionalities in both Kigali and Kinshasa against the military and political leaders orchestrating violence against civilian populations.

    Interventions should also include addressing structural causes of the conflict in the DRC, including resource exploitation.

    There is also a need to address impunity as an essential step towards lasting peace. Rwanda must not continue to support an armed group that is attacking a neighbour. Kigali needs to be held accountable. International pressure is essential in halting attacks. The DRC government must also play its role as a guarantor of security for all its citizens.

    Patrick Hajayandi 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. DRC conflict: talks have failed to bring peace. Is it time to try sanctions? – https://theconversation.com/drc-conflict-talks-have-failed-to-bring-peace-is-it-time-to-try-sanctions-248792

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: DRC conflict: talks have failed to bring peace. Is it time to try sanctions?

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Patrick Hajayandi, Research Affiliate, University of Pretoria

    The crisis in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) escalated at the end of January 2025 when Goma, the capital of the province of North Kivu, fell to Rwanda-backed M23 rebels.

    The civilian population is paying a heavy price as a result of ongoing violence, despite a series of initiatives aimed at creating conditions for peace. Since the re-emergence of the M23 in November 2021, violent clashes with the Congolese army have led to thousands of deaths and displaced more than one million people in North Kivu province alone.

    Patrick Hajayandi, whose research focuses on peacebuilding and regional reconciliation, examines previous attempts at finding peace in eastern DRC – and what needs to happen next.

    What efforts have been made by the DRC and Rwanda to ease tensions?

    The eastern DRC has become the site of renewed tensions between Kigali and Kinshasa. Rwanda lies to the east of the DRC. The two nations share a border of about 217 kilometres.

    Kigali accuses the DRC of hosting the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, the largest illegal armed group operating in the conflict area. Better known by its French acronym, FDLR, the group has stated its intention to overthrow the Rwandan government.

    On the other hand, Kinshasa accuses Rwanda of supporting and arming the M23, which seeks to control the two Kivu provinces, North and South. The involvement of the Rwandan Defence Forces in direct combat alongside the M23, corroborated by UN experts, has escalated the spread of violence.

    Despite current tensions between Kinshasa and Kigali, a few years ago the two governments engaged in collaborative efforts to solve the problem posed by the numerous armed groups operating in eastern DRC.

    Such efforts included two joint operations with Congolese and Rwandan forces aimed at neutralising the FDLR. These joint operations in 2008 and 2009 were known as Operation Kimia and Umoja Wetu. In 2019 and 2020, soon after he took power, President Felix Tshisekedi allowed the Rwandan army to conduct operations against the FDLR in Congolese territory.

    However, in recent years, relations have soured badly between Kinshasa and Kigali. This has led to regional efforts to broker peace.

    Why has it been so difficult for regional actors to broker peace in the DRC?

    The first complicating factor relates to the different roles that regional actors play in the DRC.

    The involvement of a multitude of countries points to the complexity underlying the conflict and the diverse geopolitical interests. The DRC shares a border with nine countries: Angola, Burundi, the Central African Republic, the Republic of Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

    In 2022, the African Union asked Angolan president João Lourenço to mediate between the DRC and Rwanda. The process he oversees is known as the Luanda Process and seeks to defuse the escalation of violence across the region. In particular, it has sought to reduce tensions between Kigali and Kinshasa.

    The East African Community is directly involved in peace initiatives to restore peace in DRC. It has appointed former Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta to lead what is called the Nairobi Process.

    Read more: DRC-Rwanda crisis: what’s needed to prevent a regional war

    The DRC has rebuffed the East African Community’s reconciliation efforts. And Rwanda recently criticised both processes, suggesting the country had lost confidence in the ability of Lourenço and Kenyatta to find a solution.

    In May 2023, the Southern African Development Community, of which the DRC is a member state, deployed a peace mission. This followed the exit of troops from the East African Community.

    Other countries play different roles directly or indirectly in various missions in the DRC. Burundi is supporting military operations there under the framework of bilateral agreements in the defence sector. Uganda also deployed troops, ostensibly in pursuit of jihadist-backed armed rebels three years ago. However, this deployment has been a destabilising factor, with Kampala facing accusations of supporting the M23.

    What have been the main hurdles in the way of these initiatives?

    The East African Community Regional Force was deployed to pursue peace in eastern DRC as part of the Nairobi Process. However, this mission was cut short due to four main challenges:

    • differences over mission objectives: the DRC government believed that the East African Community Regional Force would militarily confront M23 rebels. But the force had different objectives. As indicated by its commander, the deployment was to focus on overseeing the implementation of a political agreement, not run a military confrontation.

    • contrasting views among the leaders of the East African Community member states on how to address the DRC’s crisis: the DRC and Rwanda are both members of the community. Rwanda is vocal about stopping the persecution of Congolese Tutsi in the DRC. However, there is a growing perception that Rwanda is supporting the M23 as a proxy force to allow it to control mineral resources. This has stalled reconciliation efforts.

    • a lack of financial support for the talks: the African Union and regional bodies don’t have enough funding to support the interventions required to make meaningful progress.

    The Luanda Process has not been able to bring tangible results either. The reasons for this failure include bad faith from the parties involved. This was reflected in the continued capture of territories by Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, despite a July 2024 ceasefire.

    After the January 2025 seizure of Goma and wave of deaths and displacement that followed, the M23 declared another ceasefire. Whether it will hold remains to be seen.

    Rwanda’s behaviour in the ongoing conflict is complicating peace efforts. Kigali continues to deny supporting the M23 armed group. But it is participating in negotiations that involve the M23 and the DRC government. These contradictions make it difficult to know exactly who must be held responsible when, for example, a ceasefire is violated.

    What’s required to give peace in the DRC a chance?

    The current peace initiatives have been ineffective; they are routinely violated. What is needed is real pressure on the actors involved in spreading violence, forcing them to halt their destructive activities.

    Congolese Nobel Prize winner Denis Mukwege, for example, has called for diplomatic and economic measures to end the aggression in the DRC. This would mean implementing sanctions and aid conditionalities in both Kigali and Kinshasa against the military and political leaders orchestrating violence against civilian populations.

    Interventions should also include addressing structural causes of the conflict in the DRC, including resource exploitation.

    There is also a need to address impunity as an essential step towards lasting peace. Rwanda must not continue to support an armed group that is attacking a neighbour. Kigali needs to be held accountable. International pressure is essential in halting attacks. The DRC government must also play its role as a guarantor of security for all its citizens.

    – DRC conflict: talks have failed to bring peace. Is it time to try sanctions?
    – https://theconversation.com/drc-conflict-talks-have-failed-to-bring-peace-is-it-time-to-try-sanctions-248792

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Marat Khusnullin: Russia’s construction complex is developing scientific, technical and educational infrastructure of universities

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Moscow State University of Civil Engineering

    February 6, 2025

    Moscow State University of Civil Engineering

    February 6, 2025

    Previous news Next news

    Moscow State University of Civil Engineering

    The creation of modern conditions for education and research activities in Russian higher education institutions is an important part of the work of the Russian construction complex. High-quality infrastructure attracts talented students and scientists, promotes innovation and strengthens the positions of universities. Ultimately, this is a contribution to the future of the country, because it is within the walls of universities that specialists are trained who will move science and the economy forward, noted Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin.

    On the instructions of President Vladimir Putin, a network of world-class university campuses is being created in Russia. One of these projects will be implemented at the Moscow State University of Civil Engineering.

    “NRU MGSU is a flagship university in the construction industry. It has recently been included in the list of universities that provide training for engineering personnel and scientific developments for the country’s technological leadership. It has become the basic organization of the CIS member states for training and advanced training for personnel in the construction and housing and communal services industries. Last year, the university held the most successful admissions campaign in recent years. The passing scores for state-funded programs have increased significantly in a number of specialties. MGSU entered the top 10 universities in Moscow and the Moscow region in terms of the dynamics of the quality of state-funded admission. President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin supported the project to create a world-class campus on the basis of NRU MGSU. And today, the development of design and estimate documentation for the construction of two blocks of the educational and scientific cluster has already begun. Architectural and planning solutions have been agreed upon with the university,” said Deputy Prime Minister, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of NRU MGSU Marat Khusnullin.

    The construction of the campus facilities of the National Research Moscow State University of Civil Engineering is planned to be carried out in two stages until 2035. Within the first stage, three blocks of the educational and scientific cluster, a sports and recreation complex, an ice arena, and a student dormitory will be built. The area of the new facilities will be more than 172 thousand square meters, facilities with an area of more than 10 thousand square meters will be reconstructed, and major repairs of the existing buildings of the National Research Moscow State University of Civil Engineering are planned.

    Currently, design and estimate documentation is being developed for blocks “A” and “B” with an area of over 69 thousand square meters, which will house advanced research and educational spaces, coworking spaces, creative workshops and public catering areas.

    “When the campus is ready, it will be possible to implement a full innovation cycle on the basis of NRU MGSU, from the idea to the implementation of techniques and technologies, digital solutions, designs and materials in the construction industry and housing and communal services. I am sure that this will help popularize construction professions, achieve national goals and implement national projects,” Marat Khusnullin emphasized.

    In addition, work continues on the construction of university campuses on the premises of other universities. For example, as part of the Oryol State University named after I.S. Turgenev, the public-law company “Unified Customer in the Sphere of Construction” is constructing an educational and laboratory building and a dormitory complex.

    “The construction of the dormitory complex, consisting of three buildings, started in the summer of 2024. Currently, builders are actively performing monolithic work at the site; the construction of structures is already 60% complete. About 1,500 students will be able to live in comfortable conditions. The buildings will also have gyms, rooms for independent study and leisure,” the Deputy Prime Minister noted.

    The educational and laboratory building with an area of over 27 thousand square meters will house a prototyping and reengineering center, an auditorium, a library and other premises. The student campus will become a modern open space for education, science and business.

    Three more campuses are currently being built by Unified Customer in Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk and Kaliningrad.

    At the same time, the Russian construction complex is developing the infrastructure of other universities that were not included in the world-class campus program. Including those facilities whose construction was delayed.

    Thus, the construction of five educational and laboratory buildings of the Crimean Federal University named after V.I. Vernadsky in Simferopol began in 2019 and 2022, but was suspended. In 2024, the construction was entrusted to the PPK “Unified Customer”. As reported by Marat Khusnullin, monolithic work has been completed in the building of the educational building of the Institute of Foreign Philology. More than one thousand students and teachers will be able to study and work in this building.

    “The eight-story building of the Institute of Foreign Philology will house classrooms and lecture halls, modern computer rooms, a reading room with an archive, a buffet with a dining room for 48 people, teachers’ offices, as well as a center for the language cultures of the small peoples of Crimea and other premises. The construction of the building is planned to be completed and equipped with modern technological equipment in 2026,” said Karen Oganesyan, General Director of the Unified Customer PPC.

    In addition, KFU continues construction of buildings for the Physics and Technology Institute, student center, administrative building, and the Architecture and Civil Engineering Academy. The total area of the buildings is over 46 thousand square meters.

    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: Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd. – Completion of Shenandoah SS-2H ST1 stimulation

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd.

    Completion of Shenandoah SS-2H ST1 stimulation

    07 February 2025 – Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd. (TSXV: FO, AIM: FOG) is pleased to announce the completion the Shenandoah S2-2H ST1 (“SS-2H ST1”) stimulation in the Beetaloo Sub-basin, Northern Territory, Australia with Falcon Oil & Gas Australia Limited’s joint venture partner, Tamboran (B2) Pty Limited.

    Key Highlights

    • Successfully completed 35 stages across the 1,671-metre (5,483-feet) horizontal section of the Amungee Member B-shale with the Liberty Energy (NYSE: LBRT) modern stimulation equipment.
    • Stimulation activities achieved five stages over a 24-hour period on multiple days.
    • The average proppant intensity was 2,706 pounds per foot (lb/ft) and achieved wellhead injection rates above 100 barrels per minute.
    • The average stage spacing is 48-metres (~157-feet).
    • The SS-2H ST1 well will be completed ahead of clean out activities and the commencement of initial flow back and extended production testing.
    • Further updates on the completion of the Shenandoah South 4H (SS-4H) well will be provided in due course.

    Philip O’Quigley, CEO of Falcon commented:

    “We are extremely encouraged about the potential of the current stimulation program based on strong gas shows and other data observed whilst drilling. In addition, the experienced US operator, Liberty Energy, have shown the efficiencies they can achieve which will provide us with the greatest opportunity for the best possible outcomes from this stimulation program. We look forward to updating the market on the IP30 flow test results as soon as they become available.”
                                                    Ends.

    CONTACT DETAILS:

    Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd.          +353 1 676 8702
    Philip O’Quigley, CEO +353 87 814 7042
    Anne Flynn, CFO +353 1 676 9162
     
    Cavendish Capital Markets Limited (NOMAD & Broker)
    Neil McDonald / Adam Rae +44 131 220 9771

    This announcement has been reviewed by Dr. Gábor Bada, Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd’s Technical Advisor. Dr. Bada obtained his geology degree at the Eötvös L. University in Budapest, Hungary and his PhD at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the Netherlands. He is a member of AAPG.

    About Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd.

    Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd is an international oil & gas company engaged in the exploration and development of unconventional oil and gas assets, with the current portfolio focused in Australia. Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd is incorporated in British Columbia, Canada and headquartered in Dublin, Ireland.

    Falcon Oil & Gas Australia Limited is a c. 98% subsidiary of Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd.

    For further information on Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd. Please visit www.falconoilandgas.com

    About Beetaloo Joint Venture (EP 76, 98 and 117)

    Company Interest
    Falcon Oil & Gas Australia Limited (Falcon Australia) 22.5%
    Tamboran (B2) Pty Limited 77.5%
    Total 100.0%

    Shenandoah South Pilot Project -2 Drilling Space Units – 46,080 acres1

    Company Interest
    Falcon Oil & Gas Australia Limited (Falcon Australia) 5.0%
    Tamboran (B2) Pty Limited 95.0%
    Total 100.0%

    1Subject to the completion of the SS2H ST1 and SS4H wells on the Shenandoah South pad 2.

    About Tamboran (B2) Pty Limited
    Tamboran (B1) Pty Limited (“Tamboran B1”) is the 100% holder of Tamboran (B2) Pty Limited, with Tamboran B1 being a 50:50 joint venture between Tamboran Resources Corporation and Daly Waters Energy, LP.

    Tamboran Resources Corporation, is a natural gas company listed on the NYSE (TBN) and ASX (TBN). Tamboran is focused on playing a constructive role in the global energy transition towards a lower carbon future, by developing the significant low CO2 gas resource within the Beetaloo Basin through cutting-edge drilling and completion design technology as well as management’s experience in successfully commercialising unconventional shale in North America.

    Bryan Sheffield of Daly Waters Energy, LP is a highly successful investor and has made significant returns in the US unconventional energy sector in the past. He was Founder of Parsley Energy Inc. (“PE”), an independent unconventional oil and gas producer in the Permian Basin, Texas and previously served as its Chairman and CEO. PE was acquired for over US$7 billion by Pioneer Natural Resources Company.

    Advisory regarding forward-looking statements
    Certain information in this press release may constitute forward-looking information. Any statements that are contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking information. Forward-looking information typically contains statements with words such as “may”, “will”, “should”, “expect”, “intend”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “projects”, “dependent”, “consider” “potential”, “scheduled”, “forecast”, “outlook”, “budget”, “hope”, “suggest”, “support” “planned”, “approximately”, “potential” or the negative of those terms or similar words suggesting future outcomes. In particular, forward-looking information in this press release includes, details on the completion of the stimulation of SS-2H ST1; Liberty Energy conducting the stimulation campaign; and commencement of initial flow back and extended production testing and updates on SS-4H.

    This information is based on current expectations that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. The risks, assumptions and other factors that could influence actual results include risks associated with fluctuations in market prices for shale gas; risks related to the exploration, development and production of shale gas reserves; general economic, market and business conditions; substantial capital requirements; uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of reserves and resources; extent of, and cost of compliance with, government laws and regulations and the effect of changes in such laws and regulations; the need to obtain regulatory approvals before development commences; environmental risks and hazards and the cost of compliance with environmental regulations; aboriginal claims; inherent risks and hazards with operations such as mechanical or pipe failure, cratering and other dangerous conditions; potential cost overruns, drilling wells is speculative, often involving significant costs that may be more than estimated and may not result in any discoveries; variations in foreign exchange rates; competition for capital, equipment, new leases, pipeline capacity and skilled personnel; the failure of the holder of licenses, leases and permits to meet requirements of such; changes in royalty regimes; failure to accurately estimate abandonment and reclamation costs; inaccurate estimates and assumptions by management and their joint venture partners; effectiveness of internal controls; the potential lack of available drilling equipment; failure to obtain or keep key personnel; title deficiencies; geo-political risks; and risk of litigation.

    Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of important factors is not exhaustive and that these factors and risks are difficult to predict. Actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. Falcon assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements unless and until required by securities laws applicable to Falcon. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties is contained in Falcon’s filings with the Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedarplus.com, including under “Risk Factors” in the Annual Information Form.

    Any references in this news release to initial production rates are useful in confirming the presence of hydrocarbons; however, such rates are not determinative of the rates at which such wells will continue production and decline thereafter and are not necessarily indicative of long-term performance or ultimate recovery. While encouraging, readers are cautioned not to place reliance on such rates in calculating the aggregate production for Falcon. Such rates are based on field estimates and may be based on limited data available at this time.

    Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The rector of the State University of Management took part in the visiting meeting of the State Council commission on the direction of “Personnel”

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    On February 6, Vladimir Stroyev, Rector of the State University of Management, took part in an off-site meeting of the State Council of the Russian Federation Commission on Personnel, dedicated to Russian Science Day.

    The commission members gathered in the city of Obninsk to discuss the human resources potential of Russian science.

    In the first half of the day, the guests visited nuclear enterprises and got acquainted with the scientific potential of Obninsk. At the A.I. Leypunsky Physics and Power Engineering Institute, the commission was shown the new Educational Center, which is adjacent to the complex of fast physical stands. The center is equipped with a special experimental laboratory, which is built according to the strictest safety standards, and here future specialists can conduct research, including with sealed radiation sources.

    A panel discussion on the issue of “On the human resources potential of Russian science” was held in the building of the Rosatom Technical Academy in the science city.

    The meeting was chaired by the Chairman of the State Council Commission on Personnel, a graduate of the State University of Management Vladislav Shapsha. The moderator was the Deputy Head of the Region and Deputy Chairman of the Commission, a graduate of the State University of Management Tatyana Leonova.

    Greetings to Kaluga scientists were heard from the Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Science and Higher Education Sergei Kabyshev and the Governor of the Vladimir Region Alexander Avdeev.

    The event was attended by the First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Science and Higher Education Alexander Mazhuga, State Duma Deputy Gennady Sklyar, President of the Russian Academy of Education Olga Vasilyeva, General Director of the National Medical Research Center of Radiology of the Ministry of Health of Russia Andrey Kaprin and others.

    The State University of Management was represented at the meeting by the rector of the State University of Management Vladimir Stroyev and the vice-rector Maria Karelina.

    “Today we work in the city of Obninsk and visited several enterprises of the city, where new personnel are trained and work. And the experience of the city can be taken as a model: how to work with personnel, how to train them, what to provide and interest them in order to keep them in the region. These are conditions, including infrastructure, this is salary, and this is, of course, interest in the profession and the opportunity for advancement and development in it,” Vladimir Vitalyevich noted.

    At the opening of the plenary discussion, Vladislav Shapsha spoke about the achievements of scientific and production centers that glorify both Obninsk and the entire region throughout Russia.

    “Over the years of development, the Kaluga Region has rightfully earned a reputation as one of the leading scientific and technological centers of Russia. Last year, the Government of the Russian Federation extended the status of “science city” for Obninsk until 2040, and special thanks to our government for this. Our region has extensive experience, significant potential for scientific work in various fields, in nuclear medicine, biotechnology, radioecology, and other industries,” emphasized Vladislav Shapsha.

    At the end of the meeting, Vladislav Shapsha presented awards to scientists who contributed to the acquisition and systematization of knowledge and the possibility of applying it in practice.

    After the meeting, the commission members took part in the opening of the Sintec Group laboratory at the Obninsk Institute of Atomic Energy, a branch of the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI.

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 02/07/2025

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Misleading and false election ads are legal in Australia. We need national truth in political advertising laws

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Yee-Fui Ng, Associate Professor, Faculty of Law, Monash University

    An ad falsely depicting independent candidate Alex Dyson as a Greens member. ABC News/Supplied

    The highly pertinent case of a little-known independent candidate in the Victorian seat of Wannon has exposed a gaping hole in Australia’s electoral laws, which allow for misleading political advertisements in the lead-up to an election campaign. It’s all entirely legal and is already being exploited to try to shape the outcome of the coming federal election.

    Conservative activist group Advance Australia has widely distributed digitally altered flyers attacking independent Alex Dyson, who is challenging senior frontbencher Dan Tehan.

    It’s part of a campaign to damage Dyson’s electoral prospects after he helped slash the Liberal Party’s margin in the seat at the last election to less than 4%.

    The material depicts Dyson ripping open his shirt in a “Superman” pose, to reveal a t-shirt bearing the official Greens party logo.

    Dyson is not a Greens candidate. So why are the ads permissible? And what does it tell us about the urgent need for truth in political advertising laws to prohibit material that lies to voters?

    Why are misleading ads allowed?

    Section 329 of the Electoral Act prohibits the publication of material likely to mislead or deceive an elector in casting their vote.

    But in a narrow interpretation by the Electoral Commission, the ban only applies after an election has been called by the prime minister.

    That means the Wannon ad, and maybe countless others like them from across the political spectrum, could be distributed for months without repercussion.

    Advance Australia has form when it comes to misleading material.

    At the 2022 election, it displayed placards that falsely depicted independents David Pocock and Zali Steggall as Greens candidates.

    In that case, the Electoral Commission ruled that because the corflutes were deployed during the campaign proper, they breached the electoral laws.

    It is absurd and dangerous to democracy to have a law that only bans ads that mislead voters in casting their vote during the official election period, and allows them to proliferate unchecked at other times.

    It should not be permissible to lie to voters just because of a technicality. In an era of permanent campaigning, voters can be influenced by political messages received well before a campaign officially starts.

    Furthermore, there is little justification for allowing political parties to mislead while banning corporations from engaging in misleading and deceptive conduct. If consumers and shareholders are protected from fraudulent and dishonest claims, why not electors, who have the solemn task of deciding who runs the country?

    How can the electoral laws be fixed?

    There are available remedies to the problem, starting with reforming the Electoral Act. It should be clearly specified that the provision on misleading electors applies to any material calculated to affect the result of an election, regardless of when it is distributed.

    Broader truth in political advertising provisions should also be introduced. This would cover a wider range of factually misleading ads beyond the existing narrow ambit of misleading a voter in the casting of their vote.

    If the Electoral Commission determines the material is false or misleading to a material extent, it would order a withdrawal and a retraction.

    Importantly, the laws would be confined to false or misleading statements of fact. Parties and other political players would still be free to express their opinions. Freedom of speech would not be impeded.

    Parliamentary stalemate

    The Albanese government has taken tentative steps to fix the problem. Truth in advertising laws introduced to parliament last year would have forced Advance Australia to retract and correct its dishonest flyers in Wannon.

    However, the bill was pulled due to a lack of support.

    Any doubters on the opposition benches should look to the experience in South Australia and the ACT, which have both enacted truth in advertising laws.

    My research has shown these laws operate effectively in both jurisdictions.

    What’s at stake

    Spreading political lies has the potential to cause harm on multiple fronts.

    The first is the damage to the candidate or political party in terms of their reputation and electoral prospects.

    The second danger is to the integrity of the electoral process if lies cause people to switch their votes to such an extent that it changes election outcomes.

    The spread of disinformation has become prevalent in an era of “fake news” and “alternative facts”, exacerbated by the rise of social media.

    In 2024, the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report ranked misinformation and disinformation as the most severe risk facing the world over the next two years.

    False information can alter elections, affect voting participation, silence minorities, and polarise the electorate. It is time to reform our electoral laws to mitigate the significant dangers to our democratic system.

    Yee-Fui Ng received funding from the Susan McKinnon Foundation on a project regarding the operation and effectiveness of truth in political advertising laws.

    – ref. Misleading and false election ads are legal in Australia. We need national truth in political advertising laws – https://theconversation.com/misleading-and-false-election-ads-are-legal-in-australia-we-need-national-truth-in-political-advertising-laws-249279

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Rebels are continuing their march in eastern Congo – what is their long-term goal?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amani Kasherwa, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, The University of Queensland

    In late January, a rebel group that has long caused mayhem in the sprawling African nation of Democratic Republic of Congo took control of Goma, a major city of about 2 million people on the border with Rwanda in the country’s east.

    Nearly 3,000 people were killed in one of the deadliest weeks in the history of this mineral-rich country. The dead include 100 female prisoners who were reportedly raped by male inmates at a prison and then burned alive.

    As someone born and raised in the region, I’ve witnessed first-hand the devastating impact of this protracted war on communities. I’ve been in contact with residents in Goma, who have described unprecedented chaos – looting, criminality and a breakdown of essential services. One resident said:

    I’m feeling unsafe in my own house. Last night live bullets penetrated my kitchen, and thank God none of us were there at the time.

    More violence may lay ahead. The M23 rebel group, backed by neighbouring Rwanda, is marching south towards Bukavu, another major city, the provincial capital of South Kivu.

    Though unlikely, it has vowed to topple the government of President Felix Tshisekedi in the capital, Kinshasa, some 2,600 kilometres away.

    Tshisekedi has ruled out entering into dialogue with the rebel group, saying his government would not be “humiliated or crushed”.

    What is M23?

    Founded in 2012, M23 claims to protect the Tutsi ethnic minority group in Congo from discrimination, but it has recently begun pursuing broader political and economic ambitions. It is believed to have about 6,500 fighters, supported by another 4,000 troops from Rwanda.

    Last year, the group was restructured to include other Rwanda-backed militias and politicians in the region. Together, they formed the River Congo Alliance, led by Corneille Nangaa, the former head of Congo’s electoral body. It now appears the group has “longer-term objectives in holding and potentially expanding their territorial control”, one analyst says.

    A military court has issued an arrest warrant for Nangaa this week, alleging he is behind massacres in eastern Congo.

    Congo has one of the richest reserves of critical minerals in the world, including cobalt, copper, coltan, uranium and gold. M23’s advances have given it control over many lucrative mines and supply lines to Rwanda.

    In May 2024, M23 seized the mine in Rubaya, one of the world’s largest coltan reserves, which generates more than US$800,000 (A$1.2 million) in revenue a month.

    As of this week, M23 has also gained control over mining sites in North and South Kivu regions, where children and young people are forced to work in life-threatening conditions. Others have been recruited as child soldiers.

    Potential for a regional conflict

    The current situation echoes the tumult caused in 2012 when M23 briefly seized Goma. Back then, the international community reacted more diligently, suspending around US$200 million (A$318 million) in aid to Rwanda. US President Barack Obama personally called Rwandan President Paul Kagame, urging him to stop supporting the rebel group.

    In contrast, the current offensive has been met with a less coordinated international response.

    The resurgence of M23 has been largely attributed to the failure of regional peace talks, notably the Luanda and Nairobi peace processes.

    Rwanda has leveraged the legacy of the 1994 genocide to secure a continuous flow of Western aid, enabling its involvement in proxy wars in the Congo with little to no repercussions.

    Its involvement in supporting M23 is well documented, with evidence from reports by UN expert groups showing the group is receiving weapons, troops and logistical aid from the country.

    Uganda is also believed to be supporting the rebels, while Burundi is backing the Congolese government.

    This has many worried the current fighting could spiral into a regional conflict.

    What the world can do

    The ongoing crisis in Congo has been catastrophic for the local population, with more than 6.9 million people internally displaced and 1.1 million people fleeing to neighbouring countries.

    The crisis has disproportionately affected women and children. It has caused shortages of water, electricity and food supplies and the collapse of medical care, particularly for newborns and critically ill patients. There are also concerns about a new Ebola outbreak in the region.

    Rebel bombings, some launched from Rwanda, have targeted refugee camps, schools and hospitals. According to the UN and human rights groups, M23 is responsible for a massacre in the village of Kishishe, resulting in scores of killings and mass rapes.

    The international community has long ignored this region, providing only a bare minimum of aid to help the millions in need.

    An immediate ceasefire and massive influx of humanitarian aid are urgently needed. But a lasting peace will remain elusive if the main actors don’t address the root causes of the conflict and work towards sustainable, structural solutions that go beyond military interventions.

    In the past, Amani Kasherwa received funding from the Open Society Foundation for his academic research on the role of youth organisations in the peacebuilding process in the African Great Lakes Region (including DR Congo and Burundi).

    – ref. Rebels are continuing their march in eastern Congo – what is their long-term goal? – https://theconversation.com/rebels-are-continuing-their-march-in-eastern-congo-what-is-their-long-term-goal-248672

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Are eggs good or bad for our health?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lauren Ball, Professor of Community Health and Wellbeing, The University of Queensland

    Nik/Unsplash

    You might have heard that eating too many eggs will cause high cholesterol levels, leading to poor health.

    Researchers have examined the science behind this myth again, and again, and again – largely debunking the claim.

    A new study suggests that, among older adults, eating eggs supports heart health and even reduces the risk of premature death.

    Let’s unpack the details.

    What was the study?

    Researchers examined data from a large, ongoing study that is following older adults and tracking their health (the ASPREE study).

    In their analysis of more than 8,000 people, they examined the foods people usually eat and then looked at how many participants died over a six-year period and from what causes, using medical records and official reports.

    Researchers collected information on their diet through a food questionnaire, which included a question about how frequently participants ate eggs in the past year:

    • never/infrequently (rarely or never, 1–2 times per month)
    • weekly (1–6 times per week)
    • daily (daily or several times per day).

    Overall, people who consumed eggs 1–6 times per week had the lowest risk of death during the study period (29% lower for heart disease deaths and 17% lower for overall deaths) compared to those who rarely or never ate eggs.

    Eating eggs daily did not increase the risk of death either.

    How reputable is the study?

    The research was published in a peer-reviewed journal, meaning this work has been examined by other researchers and is considered reputable and defensible.

    Study participants reported their egg intake on an questionnaire.
    Sincerely Media/unsplash

    In the analysis, factors such as socioeconomic, demographic, health-related and clinical factors, and overall dietary quality were “adjusted” for, as these factors can play a role in disease and the risk of early death.

    Researchers received funding from a variety of national funding grants in the United States and Australia, with no links to commercial sources.

    What are the limitations of this study?

    Due to the type of study, it only explored egg consumption patterns, which participants self-reported. The researchers didn’t collect data about the type of egg (for example, chicken or quail), how it was prepared, or how many eggs are consumed when eaten.

    This analysis specifically looked for an association or link between egg consumption and death. Additional analyses are needed to understand how egg consumption may affect other aspects of health and wellbeing.

    Lastly, the population sample of older adults were relatively healthy, limiting how much findings can be applied to older adults with special needs or medical conditions.

    The study didn’t look at the type of eggs or serving sizes.
    Jakub Kapusnak/Unsplash

    What is ASPREE?

    ASPREE (ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly) is an ongoing, large, randomised, placebo-controlled clinical trial involving more 19,000 participants in Australia and the US. This means some people in the trial were given an intervention and others weren’t but neither the participants nor the researchers knew who received the “placebo”, or dummy treatment.

    ASPREE started in 2010 to investigate whether low-dose aspirin (100 micrograms daily) could help prolong older adults’ health and lifespan, specifically by preventing heart disease and stroke. The first findings were published in 2018.

    One of the fundamental conclusions of the ASPREE trial was there was no benefit from taking aspirin to prevent cardiovascular disease (heart disease or stroke).

    ASPREE is still ongoing as a longitudinal study, which means it provides information on other aspects of healthy living and long-term outcomes in older adults – in this case, the link between egg intake and the chance of death.

    Why the focus on eggs?

    Eggs are a good source of protein, and contain B vitamins, folate, unsaturated fatty acids, fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K), choline, and minerals.

    The fuss over eggs comes down to their cholesterol content and how it relates to heart disease risk. A large egg yolk contains approximately 275 mg of cholesterol — near the recommended daily limit of cholesterol intake.

    In the past, medical professionals warned that eating cholesterol-rich foods such as eggs could raise blood cholesterol and increase heart disease risk.

    But newer research shows the body doesn’t absorb dietary cholesterol well, so dietary cholesterol doesn’t have a major effect on blood cholesterol levels.

    Rather, foods such as saturated and trans fats play a major role in cholesterol levels.

    The body doesn’t absorb the cholesterol from eggs very well.
    Nichiiro/Unsplash

    Given these changing recommendations over time, and the nuances of nutrition science, it’s understandable that research on eggs continues.

    What does this mean for me?

    Whether you prefer boiled, scrambled, poached, baked or fried, eggs provide a satisfying source of protein and other key nutrients.

    While the science is still out, there’s no reason to limit egg intake unless specifically advised by a recognised health professional such as an accredited practising dietitian. As always, moderation is key.

    Lauren Ball receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council, Queensland Health and Mater Misericordia. She is a Director of Dietitians Australia, a Director of Food Standards Australia and New Zealand, a Director of the Darling Downs and West Moreton Primary Health Network and an Associate Member of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences.

    Karly Bartim is a member of Dietitians Australia and the Australian Association of Gerontology and is an Accredited Practising Dietitian.

    – ref. Are eggs good or bad for our health? – https://theconversation.com/are-eggs-good-or-bad-for-our-health-249168

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Belle Gibson built a ‘wellness’ empire on a lie about cancer. Apple Cider Vinegar expertly unravels her con

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Edith Jennifer Hill, Associate Lecturer, Learning & Teaching Innovation, Flinders University

    Netflix

    Netflix’s new limited series, Apple Cider Vinegar, tells the story of the elaborate cancer con orchestrated by Australian blogger Annabelle (Belle) Gibson.

    The first episode opens with Gibson’s character (played by Kaitlyn Dever) breaking the wall between the performance and the audience, saying:

    This is a true story based on a lie. Some names have been changed to protect the innocent. Belle Gibson has not been paid for the recreation of her story.

    And from these first few seconds, we know, Gibson herself is not innocent.

    A familiar story

    For anyone who followed Gibson during her rise to fame in the 2010s – or her spectacular fall – the show feels eerily familiar.

    From the clothing, to the makeup, to the food, Apple Cider Vinegar excels in set design and staging. Every effort has been made to ensure this true story, based on a lie, looks like it did when it was unfolding on our phone screens in 2010s.

    As someone who followed Gibson closely and spent months hunting down the recalled cookbook to see if the health claims were as outlandish as I’d heard (they were), this show was a treat to watch.

    The scenes are cut with recreations of Belle’s stylised Instagram pictures of green juices, beaches and food with “no nasties”. Belle’s account was removed from Instagram after the massive public ousting of her hoax.

    Apple Cider Vinegar has done an incredible job recreating this account and breathing life back into the deleted content.

    Even after being caught out, the real Gibson claimed ‘unscrupulous natural therapists duped her into believing she was dying’, according to 60 Minutes.
    Netflix

    The cancer con

    While the core story of Apple Cider Vinegar is unpacking Gibson’s lies and path to destruction, it also shows us a very real and heartbreaking side to cancer.

    Other prominent characters include fellow influencer, Milla Blake (played by Alycia Debnam-Carey) and follower Lucy (played by Tilda Cobham-Harvey). Both of these women are battling cancer. We learn about their relationships with Gibson and how her lies so easily bled into their lives.

    We witness how alluring Gibson’s lies were for people who were desperately looking to feel “well”. We understand her magnetism, and just as easily to feel the rage of the families who watched as their loved ones deteriorated. In the words of Lucy’s partner:

    I’m not letting some influencer with a nose ring undercut years of medical research.

    Apple Cider Vinegar demonstrates how one can be taken down a path of cancer treatment quackery. The allure of alternative medicine is presented compellingly when contrasted with the painful realities of traditional cancer treatment.

    Milla, suffering from an aggressive form of cancer, seeks out alternative options after doctors recommend an amputation. She says:

    I didn’t know the words to describe the rage I felt when the doctors looked at my body and only saw disease.

    While holistic approaches to many diseases can be helpful when combined with traditional treatment, Apple Cider Vinegar illustrates how toxic it can be to “moralise” health.

    When people assign moral properties to neutral health conditions such as cancer, AIDS or COVID, this can lead to stigmatisation and feelings of being “bad”. Some characters in the show talk about how their behaviours led them to sickness and how “healthy” actions would save them (rather than medical treatment).

    The show also regularly uses language that is prominent in online health communities, such as referring to certain foods as “good” or “toxic”. In one scene, we see a character fall into a panic and call a holistic health professional after her parent takes a pain killer.

    The real story

    Apple Cider Vinegar is based on the book The Woman Who Fooled the World by Beau Donelly and Nick Toscano, two journalists who were instrumental in uncovering Gibson’s lies.

    Creator Samantha Strauss crafts this story expertly. We see Gibson’s story from all sides. We feel sympathy for her – for her childhood and loneliness – before being put in the shoes of someone whose partner is dying because they followed Gibson’s advice.

    Some characters and scenes have clearly been fabricated, such as when Gibson claims to see a doctor named “Dr Phil”. But these fabrications seem acceptable, because we are told from the beginning that’s what this show would do: create and fictionalise some characters.

    Other scenes feel very real. The character Milla Blake, a fellow influencer, is heavily inspired by the real woman who died in 2015 from epithelioid sarcoma.

    She made a platform online by sharing how she rejected traditional cancer treatment in favour of alternative treatments (Gerson therapy). Like Belle, she was a part of the inspirational speaking and author circuit at the time.

    Alycia Debnam-Carey (left) plays Milla Blake, a character based on a real woman who died from epithelioid sarcoma in 2015.
    Netflix

    In their book The Woman Who Fooled the World, Donelly and Toscano speculate about how Belle got close to this influencer (to follow her pattern of success online) and to other cancer patients, including a young boy and his family (to mimic symptoms and appear more authentic).

    Apple Cider Vinegar shows us hints of this behaviour. We see Belle begin to mimic the language of other people sharing their experiences with cancer and act in similar ways.

    Whether or not you are already familiar Gibson’s story, Apple Cider Vinegar is a compelling watch. You’ll especially love it if you enjoy non-fiction productions that play with ideas of truth such as iTonya, the Tinder Swindler and Inventing Anna.

    Apple Cider Vinegar is streaming now on Netflix.

    Edith Jennifer Hill 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. Belle Gibson built a ‘wellness’ empire on a lie about cancer. Apple Cider Vinegar expertly unravels her con – https://theconversation.com/belle-gibson-built-a-wellness-empire-on-a-lie-about-cancer-apple-cider-vinegar-expertly-unravels-her-con-248999

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Taking the ‘forever’ out of ‘forever chemicals’: we worked out how to destroy the PFAS in batteries

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jens Blotevogel, Principal Research Scientist and Team Leader for Remediation Technologies, CSIRO

    Mino Surkala, Shutterstock

    Lithium-ion batteries are part of everyday life. They power small rechargeable devices such as mobile phones and laptops. They enable electric vehicles. And larger versions store excess renewable energy for later use, supporting the clean energy transition.

    Australia produces more than 3,000 tonnes of lithium-ion battery waste a year. Managing this waste is a technical, economic and social challenge. Opportunities exist for recycling and creating a circular economy for batteries. But they come with risk.

    That’s because lithium-ion batteries contain manufactured chemicals such as PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. The chemicals carry the lithium – along with electricity – through the battery. If released into the environment, they can linger for decades and likely longer. This is why they’ve been dubbed “forever chemicals”.

    Recently, scientists identified a new type of PFAS known as bis-FASIs (short for bis-perfluoroalkyl sulfonimides) in lithium-ion batteries and in the environment. Bis-FASIs have since been detected in soils and waters worldwide. They are toxic – just one drop in an Olympic-size swimming pool can harm the nervous system of animals. Scientists don’t know much about possible effects on humans yet.

    Bis-FASIs in lithium-ion batteries present a major obstacle to recycling or disposing of batteries safely. Fortunately, we may have come up with a way to fix this.

    There’s value in our battery wastes

    Currently, Australia only recycles about 10% of its battery waste. The rest is sent to landfill.

    But landfill sites could leak eventually. That means disposal of battery waste in landfill may lead to soil and groundwater contamination.

    We can’t throw away lithium-ion batteries in household rubbish because they can catch fire.

    So once batteries reach the end of useful life, we must handle them in a way that protects the environment and human health.

    What’s more, there’s real value in battery waste. Lithium-ion batteries contain lots of valuable metals that are worth recycling. Lithium, cobalt, copper and nickel are critical and finite metal resources that are in high demand. The recoverable metal value from one tonne of lithium-ion battery waste is between A$3,000 and $14,000.

    As more lithium-ion batteries explode in flames, waste chiefs say change is necessary (7.30)

    What does this mean for recycling of batteries?

    Battery recycling in Australia begins with collection, sorting, discharging and dismantling, before the metal is recovered.

    Metal recovery can be done via mechanical, high-temperature, chemical or biological methods. But this may inadvertently release bis-FASI, threatening recycling workers and the environment.

    Pyrometallurgy is the most common technique for recycling lithium-ion batteries. This involves incinerating the batteries to recover the metals. Bis-FASIs are incinerated at the same time.

    Yet PFAS chemicals are stable and can withstand high temperatures. The exact temperature needed to destroy PFAS is the biggest unknown in lithium-ion battery recycling.

    Determining this temperature was the focus of our research.

    The solution is hot – very hot!

    We teamed up with chemistry professor Anthony Rappé at Colorado State University in the United States. We wanted to work out the temperature at which bis-FASIs can be effectively incinerated.

    But figuring this out is tricky, not only because of the danger of working with high temperatures.

    The inside of incinerators is a hot mess. Molecules get torn apart. Some recombine to form larger molecules, and others interact with ashes produced during the burning process. This could produce toxic new substances, which then exit through a smokestack into the air outside.

    We don’t want PFAS going out through the smokestack.
    HJBC, Shutterstock

    To make matters worse, it’s not possible to measure all the substances that bis-FASIs break down into, because many of them are unknown.

    To help, we applied the science of quantum mechanics and solved the problem on a computer without ever going into the lab. The computer can accurately simulate the behaviour of any molecules, including bis-FASIs.

    We found that at 600°C, bis-FASI molecules start to separate into smaller fragments. But these fragments are still PFAS chemicals and could be more harmful than their parent chemicals.

    As a consequence, the absence of bis-FASIs in stack exhaust is not enough to deem the process safe. Much higher temperatures of 1,000°C and above are needed to break down bis-FASIs completely into harmless products. This is likely to be much higher than temperatures currently used, although that varies between facilities.

    Based on these findings, we built an innovative model that guides recyclers on how to destroy bis-FASIs during metal recovery by using sufficiently high temperatures.

    How do we avoid future risks?

    We are now collaborating with operators of high-temperature metal recovery and incineration plants to use our model to destroy PFAS in batteries.

    Recycling plants will have to use much higher temperatures to avoid problematic fumes and this will require more energy and financial investment.

    After our new guidance is implemented, we will test the recovered metals, solid residues, and exhausts to ensure they are free from PFAS.

    While we can tackle the PFAS problem now, it remains an expensive undertaking. Metal recovery processes must be upgraded to safely destroy bis-FASIs. Ultimately, consumers are likely to foot the bill.

    However, sending lithium-ion battery waste to landfill will damage the environment and be more expensive in the long run. Landfilling of bis-FASI-containing waste should therefore be avoided.

    Clearly, the battery recycling rate must improve. This is where everyday people can help. In the future, manufacturers should avoid using forever chemicals in batteries altogether. Development of safer alternatives is a key focus of ongoing research into sustainable battery design.

    Jens Blotevogel receives funding from the United States Department of Defense’s Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program.

    Naomi Boxall receives funding from the Australian Government under the National Environmental Science Program.

    – ref. Taking the ‘forever’ out of ‘forever chemicals’: we worked out how to destroy the PFAS in batteries – https://theconversation.com/taking-the-forever-out-of-forever-chemicals-we-worked-out-how-to-destroy-the-pfas-in-batteries-242769

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: What is botulism? How this ‘nerve-paralysing illness’ can be linked to dodgy botox

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Thomas Jeffries, Senior Lecturer in Microbiology, Western Sydney University

    Tijana Simic/Shutterstock

    The news last week that three people in Sydney were hospitalised with botulism after receiving botox injections has raised questions about the regulation of the cosmetic injectables industry.

    The three women allegedly received injections of unregulated anti-wrinkle products from the same provider at a Western Sydney home in January.

    The provider, who is not a registered health practitioner, is allegedly also linked to a case of botulism that occurred following a botox injection in Victoria in 2024.

    The provider has been banned from performing cosmetic procedures in New South Wales and Victoria while the incidents are investigated. Meanwhile, health authorities in both states have issued warnings about the practitioner.

    So, what exactly is botulism? And how can it be linked to botox?

    Botox and botulism

    Botox, or botulinum toxin, is a drug made from a toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum.

    The botox toxin is a neurotoxin, which means it prevents the functioning of cells in the central nervous system. Specifically, it blocks the messages your nerves send to your muscles telling them to contract. In this way it can temporarily reduce wrinkles.

    While botox is best known for its cosmetic applications, it can also be used in the treatment of certain medical conditions, such as chronic migraines and muscle spasms.

    The toxin is used in a highly diluted form in botox injections. Notwithstanding the possibility of side effects (such as temporary pain and swelling at the injection site), botox is generally considered safe when conducted by licensed health practitioners.

    Botulism is likewise caused by a toxin produced by the bacteria C. botulinum.

    Instances of botulism linked to botox injections in the past have been attributed to counterfeit or mishandled product. Mishandling might include contamination from the toxin source in the diluted product, leading to a higher dose of the toxin, or improper refrigeration. Poor injection technique can also be a factor.

    When the botulinum toxin is not handled properly, the toxin can enter the bloodstream. This is how botulism occurs.

    Botulism can also be a food-borne illness

    C. botulinum can form spores and survive in tough conditions, meaning it can withstand many food preparation techniques.

    People who consume homemade preserved foods such as vegetables, particularly those that are not cooked during preparation, can be at a higher risk of food-borne botulism. Lower levels of salt and acid, as is the case with mild fermentation, can also increase the risk of the toxin being present.

    Botulism can be picked up from food.
    Dale Jackson/Pexels

    C. botulinum can also survive in soil and water. In this way, botulism can also be caused by bacteria from the environment. This can present as wound infections, or intestinal infection with C. botulinum in infants specifically.

    Intravenous drug users are at a higher risk of wound-borne botulism, while infants tend to suffer from gastrointestinal botulism because their gut microbiomes are still developing.

    It’s extremely rare

    Botulism is very unusual, with generally only about one case reported annually in Australia.

    However it’s very serious. It’s commonly referred to as a nerve-paralysing illness.

    Symptoms can develop within a few hours to several days after exposure to the toxin, and include drooping eyelids, difficulty breathing, facial weakness, blurred vision, difficulty swallowing and slurred speech. In infants it can cause floppy limbs and a weak cry.

    It’s treated by supporting breathing if necessary, and urgently administering a botox antitoxin, which binds to the toxin, preventing it from attaching to nerve cells in the body.

    Usually patients recover, although in some cases they may need to be in hospital for months, and sometimes symptoms such as fatigue and trouble breathing can last years.

    Botulism is fatal in 5–10% of cases.

    Botulism is a serious illness.
    Jason Grant/Shutterstock

    Is there anything people can do to stay safe?

    The cosmetic injectables industry is estimated to be worth A$4.1 billion in Australia and forecast to grow by almost 20% annually until 2030. These recent incidents in NSW and Victoria highlight the need for stronger regulation in this booming industry.

    If you’re considering a cosmetic botox injection, make sure it’s administered by a trusted professional, ideally someone registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.

    Asking your practitioner about the injectable they’re using, and ensuring the specific product is registered with the Therapeutic Goods Administration, can further limit any risk associated with botox procedures.

    If you make your own preserved foods, careful food production techniques and hygiene, as well as the addition of fermentation, acid, salt or heat treatment can limit the risk of food-borne botulism.

    Thomas Jeffries 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. What is botulism? How this ‘nerve-paralysing illness’ can be linked to dodgy botox – https://theconversation.com/what-is-botulism-how-this-nerve-paralysing-illness-can-be-linked-to-dodgy-botox-248765

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The XIV Siberian Tournament of Young Physicists was held at NSU

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    From January 29 to February 2, schoolchildren from the Novosibirsk Region, Moscow, Ufa, and Tyumen “fought” in team physical battles. In the Budker Large Physics Auditorium in the main building of NSU (Pirogov, 2), 22 teams that made it to the finals examined physics problems that were not typical for the school curriculum from three different angles over several days.

    TUF is a personal and team competition of senior schoolchildren in the ability to solve complex research and scientific problems, convincingly present their solutions, and defend them in scientific discussions – physical battles.

    — In Russia, the Tournament of Young Physicists has been held since 1979. The first competitions in Siberia were held in 1990. That tournament did not last long. In 2012, the Siberian Tournament of Young Physicists was held. It was held according to the same rules that we play by to this day. The tournament is absolutely open to everyone, so guests from other regions always come to us. This year, in addition to Novosibirsk and regional teams, there were teams from Moscow, Ufa and Tyumen. Mostly, high school students in grades 9-11 participate in the tournament, but there are also guys in grades 7-8 who are interested in physics in the teams, — said Mikhail Solodovnikov, President of the Public Movement “Tournament of Young Physicists”.

    For the team to participate in the tournament, the coach must submit an application and confirm that his team has solved at least 5 problems. The list of problems at SibTUF consists of 10 problems.

    The participants demonstrated a high level of preparation and professionalism in the competition, which was held according to traditional rules. The teams prepared solutions to the problems in advance, distributing roles: one group acted as a speaker, another as an opponent, and a third as a reviewer.

    The final part of the competition was a fascinating confrontation between the three strongest teams. The panel of judges included representatives of the Physics Department and other departments of Novosibirsk State University, as well as teachers of the Specialized Educational and Scientific Center of NSU.

    The winner of the final of the competition was the team “Beavers” from the Municipal Budgetary Educational Institution “Gymnasium No. 4” of the city of Novosibirsk. The second place was taken by the team “Physicon-1”, consisting of students from schools of the Iskitimsky district, including the villages of Lebedevka and Talmenka, as well as the city of Iskitim. The third place, slightly behind the leader, was taken by the team “DIO-GEN”, representing WITHspecialized educational and scientific center of NSU and other schools in the city of Novosibirsk.

    — I have been participating in “young” tournaments for the past five years. From the 7th to the 9th grade, I played in the TYuE (Young Naturalists Tournament), and from the 9th to the 11th grade, in the TYuF. This tournament was our first face-to-face appearance in such a line-up. It happens that from year to year, children in a team do not change much, but this is not our case. Therefore, during the qualifying battles, we learned how to interact with each other correctly. And I think we learned For me, this is the main result of the tournament — the team is happy, we love each other and the tournament. At the final, to be honest, everything did not go exactly according to plan right away, so even after the victory we … We were not very happy. But this will pass, and warm memories will remain) Our team is strong enough to survive this with dignity and draw the right conclusions. It will be better from now on, — shared her impressions Anastasia Litvinova, a member of the “Bobry” team.

    — Participants of the tournament of young physicists receive a lot of knowledge and skills that help them not only in their studies, but also in their future life. Naturally, the first thing is a different understanding of physics from school. Each team member faces a new type of problems for him, which do not have a clear answer. This is real research work! Teamwork. For a successful result, it is necessary to be able to competently compose work within the team. This develops a number of competencies in the child: communication, leadership, cooperation and self-confidence. The tournament is also an opportunity to see the work of a research fellow in action, to try it on yourself. After all, the path that a schoolchild goes through when solving a tournament problem is very similar to work in research institutes, — said Anastasia Kutepova, junior research fellow at ITAM SB RAS, responsible for the work of the judging teams of SibTUF, and also the coach of the DIO-GEN team.

    In addition to competencies and experience, TUF winners and prize winners receive bonuses for further education:

    – First-degree winners receive 10 points for their entrance exams to NSU.

    – 2nd and 3rd place winners receive 7 points for admission.

    – Schoolchildren in grades 8-10 receive invitations to the summer school of the NSU SUNC based on the results of the individual championship.

    According to the President of SibTUF, the tournament will not only not lose its relevance in the coming years, but, on the contrary, will gain great popularity due to the global development of technologies and interest in science. The advantage of physics is that it has a very compact, but at the same time effective apparatus of natural-scientific knowledge of nature. The apparatus that was formed in Ancient Greece, then by Newton and the classics of modern physics, remains very compressed and convenient. The number of formulas is growing, but the principles of observation, experiment, confirmation of theoretical hypotheses, creation of new theories based on experiments – all this remains, and therefore, interest in physics remains:

    — We live in a technological age, but we must not forget that the hardware of information technologies is created by physicists. If physicists do not create modern equipment, then specialists in the field of artificial intelligence, other information technologies, virtual reality technologies, simply will not be able to work. Physics continues to be the foundation of foundations and attracts even more interested people from among young people, — Mikhail Solodovnikov believes.

    As part of the tournament of young physicists, excursions for schoolchildren and their teachers were held at the Physics Department of NSU. The tournament participants visited the laboratory of molecular physics and the laboratory of physical optics, and also watched unique physical demonstrations from active physicists – master’s students of the Physics Department of NSU. The highlight of the excursions was live communication with scientists of the department – schoolchildren were able to ask questions of interest to teachers of the Physics Department.

    — Such open events with a physical focus allow children whose interests go beyond the school curriculum and computer games to develop their creative and scientific potential, express themselves, receive feedback from professionals in the physical field and visit the university they may enter in the future, — said a junior researcher at the Institute of Hydrodynamics SB RAS and a first-year master’s student Physics Department of NSU Alexander Paraskun, he conducted a demonstration of phenomena for schoolchildren.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Beijing hits back after new tariffs

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    China will not initiate trade conflicts and is willing to resolve differences through dialogue, while regarding unilateral bullying measures, China will take necessary measures to firmly defend its own rights and interests, the Ministry of Commerce said on Thursday.

    The ministry made the remarks following Washington’s levy of an additional 10 percent tariff on goods imported from China.

    The unilateral imposition of tariffs by the United States seriously violates the rules of the World Trade Organization and exacerbates global trade tensions. China is willing to work with relevant countries to firmly advocate for free trade and multilateralism, jointly address the challenges of unilateralism and trade protectionism, and maintain the orderly and stable development of international trade, the ministry said.

    “China’s countermeasures aren’t meant to provoke trade disputes, but to defend national interests and international fairness,” said Cui Fan, a professor of international trade at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing.

    “If the US persists in its unilateral actions, China will not hesitate to take more powerful countermeasures. China has the confidence and ability to respond to any challenge and safeguard its own rights, and contribute to the stability of the global economy,” Cui said.

    Meanwhile, China launched a series of export control policies for rare metal products and related technologies on Tuesday. The ministry said the export control on tungsten and other related items is an international practice. The listed items this time have certain attributes for military and civilian use, and the downstream products boast high military risks.

    “The move indicates China’s consistent stance of maintaining world peace and regional stability. The Chinese government will approve export applications that comply with regulations,” said He Yongqian, a spokeswoman for the commerce ministry.

    The ministry also put US clothing company PVH Corp and biotechnology company Illumina Inc on its unreliable entity list on Tuesday. The two firms violate normal market trading principles, interrupt normal transactions with Chinese enterprises, take discriminatory measures against Chinese firms, and seriously damage the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies, the ministry said.

    “China has always handled export controls and unreliable entity lists with caution. The Chinese government is willing to strengthen cooperation with different countries to jointly maintain the security and stability of global industrial and supply chains. We welcome foreign enterprises to invest and develop in China, and we are committed to providing a stable, fair and predictable business environment for law-abiding and compliant foreign enterprises,” she said.

    Separately, the US Postal Service announced on Wednesday that it will continue accepting all inbound mail and packages from the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong, quickly reversing the suspension that went into effect on Tuesday.

    In addition, the US government has canceled the “de minimis” tariff exemption rule for small packages and low-value items imported from China — a measure that exempted shipments worth less than $800 from import duties.

    The Ministry of Commerce said the US levying of an additional 10 percent tariff on Chinese products and the adjustment of its “de minimis” policy will undoubtedly increase the cost of consumption for US shoppers and affect their purchasing experiences.

    “No matter how a country adjusts its trade policy, cross-border e-commerce shopping boasts strong competitiveness, and the trend of digital development in international trade will not change. We hope that the US can follow the trend and create a fair and predictable policy environment for the development of cross-border e-commerce,” said He.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: WA Labor has thumping Newspoll lead a month before election; federal Labor improves

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne

    The Western Australian state election will be held on March 8. A Newspoll, conducted January 29 to February 4 from a sample of 1,039, gave Labor a 56–44 lead, from primary votes of 42% Labor, 32% Liberals, 3% Nationals, 12% Greens, 4% One Nation and 7% for all Others.

    At the March 2021 WA election, Labor won 53 of the 59 lower house seats on a two-party vote of 69.7–30.3, a record high for either major party at any state or federal election. Labor won 59.9% of the primary vote.

    A 56–44 result in Labor’s favour would still be a thumping victory, but it would represent a 14% swing to the Liberals from 2021. Labor will lose many seats, but they are very likely to easily retain a lower house majority.

    Labor Premier Roger Cook had a net approval of +18, with 55% satisfied and 37% dissatisfied. Liberal leader Libby Mettam had a net approval of -2, with 41% dissatisfied and 39% satisfied. Cook led Mettam as better premier by 54–34.

    While this Newspoll is very good for state Labor, only 35% of WA voters said the Anthony Albanese federal Labor government deserved to be re-elected, while 50% said it was “time to give someone else a go”.

    Federal Essential poll: Coalition remains ahead on respondent preferences

    A national Essential poll, conducted January 29 to February 2 from a sample of 1,150, gave the Coalition a 49–47 lead by respondent preferences including undecided (48–47 in mid-January). The Coalition has led by one or two points in the past four Essential polls.

    Primary votes were 36% Coalition (down one), 30% Labor (steady), 12% Greens (steady), 8% One Nation (up one), 1% UAP (down one), 9% for all Others (up two) and 4% undecided (down one). These primary votes imply a Labor lead by about 50.5–49.5 by 2022 election preference flows.

    The poll graph below includes the latest polls from Essential and Morgan, but not the DemosAU poll. In the last two weeks, the Morgan poll has trended to Labor, with Labor’s two-party share using 2022 flows increasing from 48% to 50.5%.

    On action to combat antisemitism, 9% thought the government was doing too much, 30% said it was doing enough and 43% believed it was not doing enough. On the importance of antisemitism, 40% said it was a major issue, 48% a minor issue and 12% not an issue. Issue salience will be greatly overstated by questions that ask about one issue; it’s best to ask about various issues.

    By 37–31, respondents supported tax discounts of $20,000 for small businesses to pay for meals and entertainment for staff and clients. The question did not mention that this idea was proposed by Opposition Leader Peter Dutton.

    By 77–16, voters thought there should be laws requiring equal salaries for men and women in the same position, but by 49–45 they said gender equality has come far enough already. On social and economic inequality, 57% (down two since May 2024) thought it is increasing, 29% (up three) staying about the same and 10% (up one) decreasing.

    Core inflation dropped in December quarter

    The Australian Bureau of Statistics released inflation data for the December quarter on January 29. Headline inflation was up 0.2% in December, unchanged from the September quarter, with annual inflation down from 2.8% to 2.4%. The peak annual inflation was 7.8% in December 2022.

    Core (trimmed mean) inflation increased 0.5% in December, down from 0.8% in September, for an annual rate of 3.2%, down from 3.6% in September. Annual core inflation peaked at 6.8% in December 2022.

    The ABC’s report said financial markets thought there was now a 90% chance of an interest rate cut when the Reserve Bank board meets on February 17–18. A rate cut would be good news for the government.

    Morgan and DemosAU polls are tied

    A national Morgan poll, conducted January 27 to February 2 from a sample of 1,694, had a 50–50 tie by headline respondent preferences, a two-point gain for Labor since the previous poll. This is the first time the Coalition has not led in a Morgan poll since late November.

    Primary votes were 38.5% Coalition (down two), 30% Labor (up 0.5), 11.5% Greens (steady), 5.5% One Nation (down 0.5), 10.5% independents (up 1.5) and 4% others (up 0.5). By 2022 election flows, Labor led by 50.5–49.5, a 1.5-point gain for Labor.

    The previous Morgan poll, conducted January 20–26 from a sample of 1,567, gave the Coalition a 52–48 lead by respondent preferences, unchanged from the January 13–19 poll.

    Primary votes were 40.5% Coalition (down 1.5), 29.5% Labor (up one), 11.5% Greens (down 1.5), 6% One Nation (up two), 9% independents (up 0.5) and 3.5% others (down 0.5). By 2022 election flows, the Coalition led by 51–49, a one-point gain for Labor.

    A DemosAU national poll, conducted January 28 to February 1 from a sample of 1,238, had a 50–50 tie, unchanged since November. Primary votes were 38% Coalition (steady), 33% Labor (up one), 12% Greens (steady), 7% One Nation (steady) and 10% for all Others (down one).

    DemosAU is using 2022 election flows for its polls. The primary votes would be expected to give Labor a 51–49 lead, so rounding probably contributed to the tie.

    Freshwater breakdowns of young men and young women

    The Financial Review had breakdowns of voting intentions and other questions from the last three national Freshwater polls on January 28. These polls were conducted from November to January from an overall sample of 3,160. This analysis focused on differences between men and women aged 18–34.

    Among young women, Labor and the Greens each had 32% of the primary vote, while the Coalition was at just 25%. Among young men, Labor had 36%, the Coalition 32% and the Greens 20%. I estimate young women would vote Labor by about 65–35 and young men by 59–41 after preferences.

    While there is a difference between young men and women, Labor would easily win the overall youth vote in this poll. Labor’s problems in the overall polls are due to older voters skewing to the Coalition.

    Young women preferred Albanese as PM to Dutton by 58–27, while young men preferred Albanese by 55–37. With young women, Albanese was at net -11 approval and Dutton at net -22. With young men, Albanese was at net +6 approval and Dutton at net -6. Young men were much more positive than young women about the direction of the country and the economy.

    Adrian Beaumont 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. WA Labor has thumping Newspoll lead a month before election; federal Labor improves – https://theconversation.com/wa-labor-has-thumping-newspoll-lead-a-month-before-election-federal-labor-improves-248437

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: An ‘earthquake swarm’ is shaking Santorini. It could persist for months

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dee Ninis, Earthquake Scientist, Monash University

    Greece’s government has just declared a state of emergency on the island of Santorini, as earthquakes shake the island multiple times a day and sometimes only minutes apart.

    The “earthquake swarm” is also affecting other nearby islands in the Aegean Sea. It began gradually with numerous very minor (less than magnitude 3) and mostly imperceptible earthquakes in late January. However, at the start of February, the seismic activity intensified as the quakes became larger and more frequent.

    So far, several thousand quakes have been recorded in the last two weeks. As many as 30 a day have been above magnitude 4.0 – most of them at less than 10km depth, which is large and shallow enough to be felt by people living on local islands.

    These larger earthquakes have resulted in rock falls along the islands’ coastal cliffs, as well as minor damage to vulnerable buildings. The largest earthquake so far was magnitude 5.1 on February 6, which was also felt in the capital city, Athens, as well as in Crete and in parts of Turkey more than 240km away.

    Usually a popular tourist destination, Santorini is now virtually empty. Over the past week, some 11,000 holidaymakers and locals have left the island, with many fearing the seismic activity may presage a volcanic eruption.

    So how exactly does an “earthquake swarm” happen? And what might happen in the coming days and weeks?

    No stranger to earthquakes

    This area of the world is no stranger to earthquakes. Greece is one of the most seismically active regions in Europe.

    The current seismic activity is located near Anydros, an uninhabited islet about 30km northeast of Santorini. This region lies within the volcanic arc of the “Hellenic subduction zone”, where the African tectonic plate is slowly sliding beneath the Eurasian plate (and specifically the Aegean microplate). The region hosts volcanoes as well as numerous weak zones in the crust – what earth scientists often call “faults”.

    Santorini itself is a mostly submerged caldera – a crater formed as a result of volcanic activity over the past 180,000 years, with its last eruption in the 1950s. Earthquakes can be connected to volcanic activity – specifically, the movement of magma beneath the surface.

    However, this earthquake sequence is not located beneath Santorini. And local scientists monitoring Santorini have reported no change to indicate the current seismic activity is a forerunner of another Santorini eruption. Instead, the earthquakes appear to align with faults lying between Santorini and the neighbouring island Amorgos.

    Nearby faults are known to have produced earthquakes before. For example, in 1956, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake here also produced a damaging tsunami and was soon followed by a magnitude 7.2 aftershock. More than 53 people died as a result of this earthquake and the aftershock and tsunami. Many more were injured.

    Earthquakes, shown as coloured circles, of the January-February 2025 Anydros swarm, near Santorini, Greece (Source: seismo.auth.gr) and known active faults, depicted as black lines (Source: https://zenodo.org/records/13168947).
    Dee Ninis & Konstantinos Michailos

    No single stand-out event

    Tectonic earthquakes occur when accumulating stress in Earth’s crust is suddenly released, causing a rupture along a fault and releasing energy in the form of seismic waves.

    Typically, moderate to major earthquakes (known as mainshocks) are followed by smaller quakes (known as aftershocks) that gradually diminish in magnitude and frequency over time. This is what seismologists call the mainshock–aftershock sequence.

    Some sequences behave differently and do not exhibit a single stand-out event. Instead, they involve multiple earthquakes of a similar size that take place over days, weeks, or even months. These types of sequences are what seismologists call “earthquake swarms”.

    The 1956 earthquake was a mainshock–aftershock sequence, with aftershocks lasting at least eight months after the mainshock. However, the current ongoing seismic activity near Santorini, at least as of February 7, features thousands of earthquakes, many with magnitudes ranging between 4.0 and 5.0.

    This suggests it is most likely an earthquake swarm.

    Earthquake swarms are often associated with fluid movement in the earth’s crust and the resulting seismic activity is usually less dramatic than the sudden movement of a strong mainshock.

    Seismologists are interested in distinguishing between mainshock–aftershock sequences and earthquake swarms as it can help them better understand the processes that drive these phenomena.

    A larger quake is still possible

    We cannot predict exactly what will come from the earthquake activity near Santorini. Global observations of earthquakes tell us that only a small fraction (about 5%) of earthquakes are foreshocks to larger earthquakes.

    That said, there could still be a possibility that a larger and potentially damaging earthquake could occur there soon.

    Although swarms typically involve earthquakes of lower magnitudes, they can last for days to weeks, or persist for months. They can even slow down, and then intensify again, unsettling locals with intermittent ground shaking.

    Dee Ninis works at the Seismology Research Centre, is Vice President of the Australian Earthquake Engineering Society, and a Committee Member for the Geological Society of Australia – Victoria Division.

    Konstantinos Michailos 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. An ‘earthquake swarm’ is shaking Santorini. It could persist for months – https://theconversation.com/an-earthquake-swarm-is-shaking-santorini-it-could-persist-for-months-249278

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Global: An ‘earthquake swarm’ is shaking Santorini. It could persist for months

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Dee Ninis, Earthquake Scientist, Monash University

    Greece’s government has just declared a state of emergency on the island of Santorini, as earthquakes shake the island multiple times a day and sometimes only minutes apart.

    The “earthquake swarm” is also affecting other nearby islands in the Aegean Sea. It began gradually with numerous very minor (less than magnitude 3) and mostly imperceptible earthquakes in late January. However, at the start of February, the seismic activity intensified as the quakes became larger and more frequent.

    So far, several thousand quakes have been recorded in the last two weeks. As many as 30 a day have been above magnitude 4.0 – most of them at less than 10km depth, which is large and shallow enough to be felt by people living on local islands.

    These larger earthquakes have resulted in rock falls along the islands’ coastal cliffs, as well as minor damage to vulnerable buildings. The largest earthquake so far was magnitude 5.1 on February 6, which was also felt in the capital city, Athens, as well as in Crete and in parts of Turkey more than 240km away.

    Usually a popular tourist destination, Santorini is now virtually empty. Over the past week, some 11,000 holidaymakers and locals have left the island, with many fearing the seismic activity may presage a volcanic eruption.

    So how exactly does an “earthquake swarm” happen? And what might happen in the coming days and weeks?

    No stranger to earthquakes

    This area of the world is no stranger to earthquakes. Greece is one of the most seismically active regions in Europe.

    The current seismic activity is located near Anydros, an uninhabited islet about 30km northeast of Santorini. This region lies within the volcanic arc of the “Hellenic subduction zone”, where the African tectonic plate is slowly sliding beneath the Eurasian plate (and specifically the Aegean microplate). The region hosts volcanoes as well as numerous weak zones in the crust – what earth scientists often call “faults”.

    Santorini itself is a mostly submerged caldera – a crater formed as a result of volcanic activity over the past 180,000 years, with its last eruption in the 1950s. Earthquakes can be connected to volcanic activity – specifically, the movement of magma beneath the surface.

    However, this earthquake sequence is not located beneath Santorini. And local scientists monitoring Santorini have reported no change to indicate the current seismic activity is a forerunner of another Santorini eruption. Instead, the earthquakes appear to align with faults lying between Santorini and the neighbouring island Amorgos.

    Nearby faults are known to have produced earthquakes before. For example, in 1956, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake here also produced a damaging tsunami and was soon followed by a magnitude 7.2 aftershock. More than 53 people died as a result of this earthquake and the aftershock and tsunami. Many more were injured.

    Earthquakes, shown as coloured circles, of the January-February 2025 Anydros swarm, near Santorini, Greece (Source: seismo.auth.gr) and known active faults, depicted as black lines (Source: https://zenodo.org/records/13168947).
    Dee Ninis & Konstantinos Michailos

    No single stand-out event

    Tectonic earthquakes occur when accumulating stress in Earth’s crust is suddenly released, causing a rupture along a fault and releasing energy in the form of seismic waves.

    Typically, moderate to major earthquakes (known as mainshocks) are followed by smaller quakes (known as aftershocks) that gradually diminish in magnitude and frequency over time. This is what seismologists call the mainshock–aftershock sequence.

    Some sequences behave differently and do not exhibit a single stand-out event. Instead, they involve multiple earthquakes of a similar size that take place over days, weeks, or even months. These types of sequences are what seismologists call “earthquake swarms”.

    The 1956 earthquake was a mainshock–aftershock sequence, with aftershocks lasting at least eight months after the mainshock. However, the current ongoing seismic activity near Santorini, at least as of February 7, features thousands of earthquakes, many with magnitudes ranging between 4.0 and 5.0.

    This suggests it is most likely an earthquake swarm.

    Earthquake swarms are often associated with fluid movement in the earth’s crust and the resulting seismic activity is usually less dramatic than the sudden movement of a strong mainshock.

    Seismologists are interested in distinguishing between mainshock–aftershock sequences and earthquake swarms as it can help them better understand the processes that drive these phenomena.

    A larger quake is still possible

    We cannot predict exactly what will come from the earthquake activity near Santorini. Global observations of earthquakes tell us that only a small fraction (about 5%) of earthquakes are foreshocks to larger earthquakes.

    That said, there could still be a possibility that a larger and potentially damaging earthquake could occur there soon.

    Although swarms typically involve earthquakes of lower magnitudes, they can last for days to weeks, or persist for months. They can even slow down, and then intensify again, unsettling locals with intermittent ground shaking.

    Dee Ninis works at the Seismology Research Centre, is Vice President of the Australian Earthquake Engineering Society, and a Committee Member for the Geological Society of Australia – Victoria Division.

    Konstantinos Michailos 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. An ‘earthquake swarm’ is shaking Santorini. It could persist for months – https://theconversation.com/an-earthquake-swarm-is-shaking-santorini-it-could-persist-for-months-249278

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Marshall Honors Victims and Families of Wichita, KS Plane Crash on Senate Floor

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. spoke on the Senate floor before passing a resolution to honor the memory of the 67 lives lost in the tragic mid-air collision between American Airlines Flight 5342 and a United States Army helicopter on January 29, 2025. 
    The resolution also commemorates the bravery, dedication, and swift action of the first responders who played a critical role in the recovery efforts under harsh conditions. Shortly after speaking, the resolution passed unanimously through the Senate.
    The full text of the resolution can be found HERE.

    You may click HERE or on the image above to watch Senator Marshall’s full remarks. 
    Quotes from Senator Marshall’s remarks include:
    “It’s been more than a week since that horrific night, but it feels as if it just happened hours ago. It doesn’t seem possible. In the blink of an eye, we lost 67 brave souls. Each morning I wake up hoping it was all just a nightmare, that somehow it wasn’t real, but we all know it was, and it is.”
    “The psalmist writes in the 34th chapter, the Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit…It’s times like these, when grief is overwhelming that we hold on to the promise of Scripture and the faith passed down from generation to generation, a faith that’s carried Kansans through hardship and loss.”
    “We remember 1955 a tornado leveled the little city of Udall and 75 Kansans lost their lives. Another horrific plane crash in 1970 carrying the Wichita State University football team and 31 souls were lost, the tornadoes, the storms, the floods, the wildfires, all these disasters have taken too many lives and left so many hearts shattered, and yet through it all, one thing has remained: our faith and the love and support of our families and our communities. That’s what’s carried us before, and that’s what will carry us now.”
    “I fear for the loved ones left behind, because I know this pain never truly goes away, and I know, like my colleagues have said, there’s truly no words that can capture the depth of our sorrow that we all feel right now, and we can’t begin to imagine the grief of these family members. But yet we want you, each to know you don’t stand alone, that we’re with you. We stand beside you. We’re mourning with you. Our communities are wrapping their arms around you in prayer and support.”
     “To speak to the family specifically, we too are broken hearted just like you, and that we’re also crushed in spirit, but yet there’s hope, and we want you to know this, that even in this tragedy, God has not deserted us. He walks with us through these darkest of valleys, and he weeps with those who weep. We’re praying for your strength. We’re praying for God’s comfort and peace to cover you all as we mourn together.”
     “I want to express my deepest gratitude for all the emergency responders and especially the divers who I really believe risked their own lives by jumping into a dark, fast, cold river in search of survivors. Thank you so much for doing that and for doing your job so well. Your courage will not be forgotten.”
    “I said this the night of the tragedy. When one life is lost, it is a tragedy. When many are lost at once, it’s an unbearable sorrow. It’s a heartbreak beyond measure. Again, to the families, we’re with you, and so is our Father in Heaven.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Universities – Green light for remote tech to sort the wood from the trees – Flinders

    Source: Flinders University

    New Zealand and Flinders University experts have deployed artificial intelligence and 3D laser scanning to accurately map planted pine (radiata) forests for most of NZ’s North Island.  

    The results, which distinguish planted large estates, small woodlots and newly established stands as young as three years old, showcase a new way of using remote sensing with other technology to reveal forest growth and update growth information.

    This approach is just as relevant for Australia, where radiata pine is also widely grown, says Dr Grant Pearse, Senior Lecturer in Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) at Flinders University.

    “In New Zealand, where radiata pine plantations dominate the forestry sector, the current national forest description lacks spatially explicit information and struggles to capture data on small-scale forests,” says Dr Pearse, from the College of Science and Engineering at Flinders University in Adelaide, South Australia.

    “We combined deep learning-based forest mapping using high-resolution aerial imagery with regional airborne laser scanning data to map all planted forest and estimate key attributes.”

    The spatially explicit forest description provides wall-to-wall information on forest extent, age, and volume for all sizes of forest. This facilitates stratification by key variables for wood supply forecasting, harvest planning, and infrastructure investment decisions – applications equally valuable for other forestry industries.

    The research, with New Zealand timber industry researchers from Rotorua, Christchurch and Auckland, was carried out on planted forests in the Gisborne region, which has publicly available aerial imagery and airborne laser scanning data.

    This region is particularly significant as it was severely impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle in early 2023, which caused widespread landslides and forest debris flows.

    For such vulnerable terrain, knowing exactly where forests are located in the landscape, their age and condition is key to managing the risks of harvesting operations on the region’s steep slopes.

    “We propose satellite-based harvest detection and digital photogrammetry to continuously update the initial forest description. This methodology enables near real-time monitoring of planted forests at all scales and is adaptable to other regions with similar data availability,” researchers say in a new article.

    Along with the economic importance of NZ’s 1.8 million hectares of radiata pine forestry for export timber and fibre, these planted forests are a key part of the country’s emission trading scheme and are expected to play a significant role in achieving the government’s target of net-zero emissions by 2050.

    The forest map derived from artificial intelligence can be viewed at: www.forestinsights.nz

    In South Australia, plantation estates covering about 40,000 hectares support a $3 billion industry and employ 18,000 people as well as construction, manufacturing, tourism and regional communities.

    The article. ‘Developing a forest description from remote sensing: Insights from New Zealand’ (2024) byGrant D Pearse (Flinders University), Sadeepa Jayathunga, Nicolò Camarretta, Melanie E Palmer, Benjamin SC Steer, Michael S Watt (all Scion), Pete Watt and Andrew Holdaway (both Indufor Asia Pacific)  has been published in the journal Science of Remote Sensing. DOI: 10.1016/j.srs.2024.100183. (ref. https://www.forestinsights.nz/ )

    Acknowledgements: This project was funded through the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) Strategic Science Investment Fund (administered by Scion, the New Zealand Forest Research Institute Ltd) and through the MBIE Programme (grant number C04X2101).

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: UniSA welcomes new leader for its Mount Gambier campus

    Source: University of South Australia

    07 February 2025

    Peta Crewe, incoming Regional Manager for UniSA’s Mount Gambier campus

    PIRSA regional development lead Peta Crewe is joining the University of South Australia to head up its Mount Gambier campus as new Regional Manager.

    From forestry to vines, livestock and community, Crewe’s connection to the Limestone Coast region spans a quarter of a century including roles in Government, at ForestrySA, and on strategic working groups and committees.

    Her current role is General Manager, Regions for SA’s Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA), where she oversees regional development across 11 regional offices.

    Crewe will commence in her UniSA role on 3 March.

    UniSA Vice Chancellor Professor David Lloyd is delighted to welcome her to the University community.

    “Peta has an outstanding track record delivering successful regional programs and addressing the key issues in regional communities, including workforce shortages, lack of affordable housing, industry development, and community capacity building,” Prof Lloyd says.

    “Her experience and connections in the Limestone Coast region, a region of enormous social, cultural and economic significance to SA, will be a great asset to our University and the local community.”

    Ian McKay, Mount Gambier’s current Regional Manager, will retire on 14 March after eight years in the role.

    “Ian has been a wonderful advocate and ambassador for UniSA and has made a significant impact in the Mount Gambier community,” Prof Lloyd says.

    “UniSA’s regional engagement and connections to the Mount Gambier community have greatly expanded under Ian’s leadership. On behalf of the University, I thank him for his contributions and wish him all the best in his future endeavours.”

    Crewe has an agriculture degree from the University of Adelaide and a Master in Forest Science. Her previous roles include PIRSA’s regional coordinator for the Limestone Coast. Among her many community roles and professional memberships, she is team manager for the Blue Lake Soccer Club’s Senior Women’s team.

    Media contact: Megan Andrews M: +61 434 819 275 142 E: megan.andrews@unisa.edu.au

    Other articles you may be interested in

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Is DOGE a cybersecurity threat? A security expert explains the dangers of violating protocols and regulations that protect government computer systems

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Richard Forno, Teaching Professor of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, and Assistant Director, UMBC Cybersecurity Institute, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

    People protest DOGE’s access to sensitive personal data. AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana

    The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), President Donald Trump’s special commission tasked with slashing federal spending, continues to disrupt Washington and the federal bureaucracy. According to published reports, its teams are dropping into federal agencies with a practically unlimited mandate to reform the federal government in accordance with recent executive orders.

    As a 30-year cybersecurity veteran, I find the activities of DOGE thus far concerning. Its broad mandate across government, seemingly nonexistent oversight, and the apparent lack of operational competence of its employees have demonstrated that DOGE could create conditions that are ideal for cybersecurity or data privacy incidents that affect the entire nation.

    Traditionally, the purpose of cybersecurity is to ensure the confidentiality and integrity of information and information systems while helping keep those systems available to those who need them. But in DOGE’s first few weeks of existence, reports indicate that its staff appears to be ignoring those principles and potentially making the federal government more vulnerable to cyber incidents.

    Technical competence

    Cybersecurity and information technology, like any other business function, depend on employees trained specifically for their jobs. Just as you wouldn’t let someone only qualified in first aid to perform open heart surgery, technology professionals require a baseline set of credentialed education, training and experience to ensure that the most qualified people are on the job.

    Currently, the general public, federal agencies and Congress have little idea who is tinkering with the government’s critical systems. DOGE’s hiring process, including how it screens applicants for technical, operational or cybersecurity competency, as well as experience in government, is opaque. And journalists investigating the backgrounds of DOGE employees have been intimidated by the acting U.S. attorney in Washington.

    DOGE has hired young people fresh out of – or still in – college or with little or no experience in government, but who reportedly have strong technical prowess. But some have questionable backgrounds for such sensitive work. And one leading DOGE staffer working at the Treasury Department has since resigned over a series of racist social media posts.

    Wired’s Katie Drummond explains what the magazine’s reporters have uncovered about DOGE staffers and their activities.

    According to reports, these DOGE staffers have been granted administrator-level technical access to a variety of federal systems. These include systems that process all federal payments, including Social Security, Medicare and the congressionally appropriated funds that run the government and its contracting operations.

    DOGE operatives are quickly developing and deploying major software changes to very complex old systems and databases, according to reports. But given the speed of change, it’s likely that there is little formal planning or quality control involved to ensure such changes don’t break the system. Such actions run contrary to cybersecurity principles and best practices for technology management.

    As a result, there’s probably no way of knowing if these changes make it easier for malware to be introduced into government systems, if sensitive data can be accessed without authorization, or if DOGE’s work is making government systems otherwise more unstable and more vulnerable.

    If you don’t know what you’re doing in IT, really bad things can happen. A notable example is the failed launch of the healthcare.gov website in 2013. In the case of the Treasury Department’s systems, that’s fairly important to remember as the nation careens toward another debt-ceiling crisis and citizens look for their Social Security payments.

    On Feb. 6, 2025, a federal judge ordered that DOGE staff be restricted to read-only access to the Treasury Department’s payment systems, but the legal proceedings challenging the legality of their access to government IT systems are ongoing.

    DOGE email servers

    DOGE’s apparent lack of cybersecurity competence is reflected in some of its first actions. DOGE installed its own email servers across the federal government to facilitate direct communication with rank-and-file employees outside official channels, disregarding time-tested best practices for cybersecurity and IT administration. A lawsuit by federal employees alleges that these systems did not undergo a security review as required by current federal cybersecurity standards.

    There is an established process in the federal government to configure and deploy new systems to ensure they are stable, secure and unlikely to create cybersecurity problems. But DOGE ignored those practices, with predictable results.

    For example, a journalist was able to send invitations to his newsletter to over 13,000 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration employees through one of these servers. In another case, the way in which employee responses to DOGE’s Fork in the Road buyout offer to federal employees are collected could easily be manipulated by someone with malicious intent – a simple social engineering attack could wrongly end a worker’s employment. And DOGE staff members reportedly are connecting their own untrusted devices to government networks, which potentially introduces new ways for cyberattackers to penetrate sensitive systems.

    However, DOGE appears to be embracing creative cybersecurity practices in shielding itself. It’s reorganizing its internal communications in order to dodge Freedom of Information Act requests into its work, and it’s using cybersecurity techniques for tracking insider threats to prevent and investigate leaks of its activities.

    Lacking management controls

    But it’s not just technical security that DOGE is ignoring. On Feb. 2, two security officials for the U.S. Agency for International Development resisted granting a DOGE team access to sensitive financial and personnel systems until their identities and clearances were verified, in accordance with federal requirements. Instead, the officials were threatened with arrest and placed on administrative leave, and DOGE’s team gained access.

    The Trump administration also has reclassified federal chief information officers, normally senior career employees with years of specialized knowledge, to be general employees subject to dismissal for political reasons. So there may well be a brain drain of IT talent in the federal government, or a constant turnover of both senior IT leadership and other technical experts. This change will almost certainly have ramifications for cybersecurity.

    DOGE operatives now have direct access to the Office of Personnel Management’s database of millions of federal employees, including those with security clearances holding sensitive positions. Without oversight, this access opens up the possibilities of privacy violations, tampering with employment records, intimidation or political retribution.

    Support from all levels of management is crucial to provide accountability for cybersecurity and technology management. This is especially important in the public sector, where oversight and accountability is a critical function of good democratic governance and national security. After all, if people don’t know what you’re doing, they don’t know what you’re doing wrong.

    At the moment, DOGE appears to be operating with very little oversight by anyone in position willing or able to hold it responsible for its actions.

    Mitigating the damage

    Career federal employees trying to follow legal or cybersecurity practices for federal systems and data are now placed in a difficult position. They either capitulate to DOGE staffers’ instructions, thereby abandoning best practices and ignoring federal standards, or resist them and run the risk of being fired or disciplined.

    The federal government’s vast collections of data touch every citizen and company. While government systems may not be as trustworthy as they once were, people can still take steps to protect themselves from adverse consequences of DOGE’s activities. Two good starting points are to lock your credit bureau records in case your government data is disclosed and using different logins and passwords on federal websites to conduct business.

    It’s crucial for the administration, Congress and the public to recognize the cybersecurity dangers that DOGE’s activities pose and take meaningful steps to bring the organization under reasonable control and oversight.

    Richard Forno has received research funding related to cybersecurity from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Department of Defense (DOD), and the US Army during his academic career since 2010.

    – ref. Is DOGE a cybersecurity threat? A security expert explains the dangers of violating protocols and regulations that protect government computer systems – https://theconversation.com/is-doge-a-cybersecurity-threat-a-security-expert-explains-the-dangers-of-violating-protocols-and-regulations-that-protect-government-computer-systems-249111

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –