NewzIntel.com

Category: Universities

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Defence News – RNZN divers assess sunken ship in Samoa

    Source: New Zealand Defence Force

    HMNZS Manawanui is in water about 30m deep and a light oil sheen from its initial capsize is being dispersed by wind and waves, Maritime Component Commander Commodore Shane Arndell says.

    Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) divers were on the water at first light today to assess the wreckage of the ship, which ran on to a reef south of Upolu on Saturday night and sunk on Sunday morning.

    “The dive team has begun assessing the area where HMNZS Manawanui sank to better understand the environmental impacts and clean-up efforts required in Samoa,” Commodore Arndell said.

    A number of government agencies are involved in supporting the Samoan Government’s response to the incident, Experts from Maritime New Zealand and other agencies are also assisting with understanding the environmental impacts and initiating clean-up actions. Wildlife experts from Massey University have been assisting with the response and the New Zealand Defence Force, which has 28 personnel in Samoa, is working closely with the Samoan Government.

    A range of equipment was sent to Samoa with New Zealand Defence Force personnel (NZDF) to assist with the initial response and help address environmental impacts to the area.

    Equipment includes remotely operated vehicles used to establish the debris field, and also Maritime NZ spill response equipment, which can be used both in the water and on the land.

    “Our personnel have begun clearing flotsam from the beach area and environmental assessments and clean up activities are under way,” Commodore Arndell said.

    “A light oil sheen from the ship’s initial capsizing is being dispersed by wind and waves.”

    Maritime NZ responders are working closely with Samoan authorities, and NZDF personnel on the ground, to develop plans around how to support the environmental response.

    The Royal Navy’s HMS Tamar is helping provide security and logistical support in the immediate area.

    “As more information is gathered from the responders on the ground, NZDF will bring further equipment from New Zealand to support the response,’’ Commodore Arndell said.

    The site of the sunken vessel – which is lying about 30m deep – had been declared a “prohibited area” by Samoan officials.

    Late on Monday night, 72 of the 75 crew and passengers rescued from Manawanui arrived back in New Zealand on board a RNZAF C-130J Hercules.

    They were being provided welfare support and were re-uniting with families this afternoon.

    The three other members from another government agency were due to return today on a commercial flight.

    HMNZS Manawanui Commanding Officer Commander Yvonne Gray said the incident was when her “very worst imagining became a reality”.

    “However, my team responded in exactly the way I needed them to. They acted with commitment, with comradeship and, above all, with courage.”

    BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

    • The group of NZDF personnel in Samoa includes members of the Navy’s specialist hydrography and dive unit.
    • Maritime NZ’s response team currently includes six staff.
    • Two expert wildlife maritime incident responders from Massey University are supporting the response, and have specialist equipment, including wildlife medication and cleaning facilities.
    • HMNZS Manawanui carried several marine standard chemicals on-board for use with ships husbandry e.g. cleaning products. There were no hazardous chemicals on-board beyond those that would be carried by most commercial ships.
    • The ship carried about 950 tonnes of Automotive Gas Oil for this deployment. This is a light oil commercial diesel commonly used by both commercial and military vessels.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: What is amortisation, and what does it have to do with Peter Dutton’s nuclear proposal?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jessica Yi, Course coordinator, University of South Australia

    atk work/Shutterstock

    This article is part of The Conversation’s “Business Basics” series where we ask experts to discuss key concepts in business, economics and finance.

    Nuclear power is expensive, but it remains a cornerstone of the Coalition’s plan to get Australia to net-zero emissions.

    The federal opposition is yet to release its own costings for the proposal.

    Nonetheless, federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton caused something of a stir when in a recent speech, he said the costs of Australia’s nuclear plants could be “amortised” over their 80-year lifespan.

    If hearing a word like “amortised” immediately makes your eyes glaze over, you’re probably not alone.

    To make things even more confusing, Dutton may have confused the term with the closely related concept of “depreciation”. We’ll discuss why later.

    But amortisation and depreciation are both important concepts in any corporate decision making.

    So what exactly was the opposition leader talking about here, and what does it mean to write off the cost of an asset over time?

    What is amortisation?

    Amortisation has a wide range of applications across finance, including credit, loans and investment planning.

    Here, though, we’ll focus on what amortisation means in the accounting context.

    You might notice amortisation looks a bit like the more familiar term “mortgage”. This is because both are derived from the same root in Latin.

    Amortise comes from “ad” – Latin for “to” – and “mortus” – which means “dead”.

    Obviously, we usually don’t mean dead in a literal sense – rather, the more abstract process of bringing something to an end.

    Spreading costs over time

    In corporate accounting, amortisation is a technique used to gradually write down the cost or value of an intangible asset over its expected period of use.

    It helps to think of intangible assets as things that don’t have a “grabbable” physical presence. Companies can operate using all kinds of intangible assets, such as copyrights, trademarks and patents.

    In contrast, tangible assets are physical things like land, machinery, buildings and vehicles.

    Companies can purchase intangible assets, but they can also generate them internally.

    Company trademarks are examples of intangible assets.
    rvlsoft/Shutterstock

    Finite or infinite

    Intangible assets can also have a “finite” or “infinite” useful life. If deemed infinitely useful, an asset does not need to be amortised.

    If only finitely useful, however, its economic benefit to a company will be systematically reduced over the span of its useful life.

    To account for this, we list some of its consumption as an expense on the company’s balance sheet each year. This process helps spread the cost of an asset evenly over its life.

    It’s important to note that amortisation is a “non-cash” expense. It appears on a company’s balance sheet as an expense and can lower profit, but it doesn’t affect a company’s cash flows.

    How is it calculated?

    There are a few different ways to calculate how costs should be spread over an asset’s useful life. For amortisation, one of the most common is the straight-line method.

    Using the straight-line method, amortisation can be calculated by dividing an asset’s “depreciable amount” by its useful life.

    Intangible assets – such as software – often have only a finite useful life.
    CapturePB/Shutterstock

    The depreciable amount is the cost or value of an asset minus its “residual value” – what it is worth at the end of its useful life.

    The residual value of an intangible asset will usually be zero, unless a third party has committed to purchase it at the end of its life, or its value can be determined on some active market.

    What’s depreciation then?

    You might be more familiar with the related term “depreciation”. Both accounting concepts refer to spreading the costs of long-life assets over their finite useful life.

    The main difference is that amortisation is used to expense intangible assets while depreciation expenses tangible assets – physical things such as buildings, machinery and plant.

    This leads to another key difference. Often, it is much easier to estimate the residual value of a tangible asset at the end of its useful life, because it or its component parts can be more easily sold.

    Depreciation deals with tangible assets, such as machinery.
    Another77/Shutterstock

    Wait, how are nuclear reactors ‘intangible’?

    Reading this, you may have spotted something. As explained above, the main difference between the “amortisation” and the “depreciation” is the type of depreciable assets.

    If we go back to how Dutton used the concept of amortisation in his speech, we can reasonably conclude the term depreciation would have been more technically correct.

    He was speaking specifically about the useful life of nuclear plants, which clearly have tangible, physical forms.

    You could argue he was referring to one of amortisation’s other meanings: the amortisation of a loan or other liability in finance. Amortisation in this sense refers to spreading out loan payments over time.

    This is unlikely, however, given he was specifically speaking about the useful life of the nuclear plants and the cost of depreciable assets.

    Careful with your calculations

    It should be noted that just because an asset has a long useful life, that doesn’t mean its amortisation or depreciation costs will be small.

    Let’s look at some of the examples employed by Dutton: nuclear plants, touted to have 80 years of useful life, and renewables, such as wind turbines with 20 to 30 years.

    It might be tempting to assume nuclear plants would have a lower depreciation expense, with a significantly longer useful life, but that risks ignoring their enormous initial upfront costs and continuous restructure costs that need to be capitalised.

    If the initial and capitalised cost or value of nuclear plants are significantly greater than those of renewables, the annual depreciation expense of nuclear plants could end up being significantly greater.

    It all depends on what goes into the equation. Depreciating costs can’t give us anything for free.

    Jessica Yi 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 amortisation, and what does it have to do with Peter Dutton’s nuclear proposal? – https://theconversation.com/what-is-amortisation-and-what-does-it-have-to-do-with-peter-duttons-nuclear-proposal-240321

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kugler, The Global Fight Against Inflation

    Source: US State of New York Federal Reserve

    Thank you, Isabel, and thank you for the opportunity to speak here at the ECB today.1 I am particularly pleased to be part of this year’s conference because the theme you have chosen has, for some time now, also been a theme of my career as an academic and public servant. Every day, of course, central bankers must bridge science and practice, drawing on the insights that research provides, specifically, because the economy and the world are continuously subject to new circumstances. We must do so, and put those insights into practice, because everyone in the United States, and in Europe, and around the world, depends on a healthy and growing economy, and depends on policymakers making the right decisions to help keep it that way.

    But well before I came to the Federal Reserve, I was also bridging science and practice. First, as a labor economist, when, for example, I was exploring how employment, productivity, and earnings are influenced not only by educational attainment and experience, but also by policies. Later, as chief economist at the Department of Labor, I brought science to bear in carrying out its mission of supporting workers. As the U.S. representative at the World Bank, economic science was likewise crucial in deciding how to best direct the institution’s resources to where they were needed the most. In each of these roles, I have learned a bit more about the need to balance rigorous scientific understanding of the problems that people face with the real-world experiences of those people, which sometimes do not fit so neatly into an economic theorem or principle.
    Most recently, my colleagues and I on the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) have been focused on the very practical task of reducing inflation while keeping employment at its maximum level. To understand the recent experience of high inflation in the United States, it is helpful to consider how inflation behaved around the world after the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the remainder of my remarks, I will discuss the global dimensions of the recent bout of high inflation in different economies, both comparing similarities and contrasting differences, with a special emphasis on the factors that enabled the United States to achieve disinflation while having stronger economic activity relative to its peers. I will then conclude with some comments on the U.S. economic outlook and the implications for monetary policy.
    Starting with the similarities in our inflationary experiences, in early 2020, a worldwide pandemic disrupted the global economy and ultimately caused a surge of inflation around the world. Global goods production was hobbled, transportation and other aspects of supply chains became entangled, and there were significant labor shortages, all combining to cause a severe imbalance between supply and demand in much of the world. Sharp increases in commodity prices were exacerbated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The result was a global escalation of inflation. As you can see by the black line on slide 2, a measure of world headline inflation in 26 economies accounting for 60 percent of global gross domestic product (GDP) rose to a degree that had not been experienced since the early 1980s.
    This worldwide increase of inflation was synchronized and widespread across advanced and emerging economies. To measure the synchronization and breadth of this inflationary period, Federal Reserve Board researchers have employed a dynamic factor model to estimate a common component of inflation across these 26 economies.2 As you can see by the blue line on slide 2, the estimated global component accounts for a large share of the variation of headline inflation among these economies after inflation began rising sharply in 2021. This evidence is consistent with the familiar story of widespread lockdowns, shutdowns of manufacturing plants in different parts of the world, disrupted logistic networks, increases in shipping costs, and longer delivery times. In the recovery, we also saw globally higher demand for commodities, intermediate inputs, and final goods and services, with demand exceeding a still-constrained supply.
    Indeed, one important contributor to the recent co-movement in inflation across the world has been food and energy prices. As you know, most of the time variations in inflation are heavily influenced by food and energy prices, which tend to be more volatile than the prices for other goods and services. Because many food and energy commodities are traded internationally, retail prices paid by consumers also tend to have some degree of global synchronization. Thus, as you would expect, the black line in the left chart on slide 3 shows that food and energy inflation faced by consumers around the world—here called noncore inflation—rose substantially in the recent inflationary episode. Moreover, world noncore inflation is largely accounted for by its global component in yellow, thus also showing a high degree of global synchronization.
    Another thing we can say about the recent worldwide escalation of inflation is how widely diffused it was across different price categories. Core inflation excludes food and energy prices, and it includes many categories more exposed to domestic conditions such as housing and medical services. Yet, as shown by the black and red lines in the right chart on slide 3, the recent rise in core inflation showed a high degree of global synchronization, with the global component accounting for a large share of the post-pandemic inflation. Looking back in history, this is the first time since the 1970s that we saw a rise in core inflation so widespread across such a large number of countries. Moreover, underlying this rise in core inflation in the United States and other advanced economies, research carried out by Federal Reserve Board economists shows that there was a widespread rise in prices across the whole range of categories within the core basket.3
    Academics and policymakers have debated about the possible reasons explaining the recent co-movement of inflation around the world. The COVID-19 pandemic was a global phenomenon and had effects on supply and demand that were similar in many countries. On the supply side, businesses closed, affecting goods production and the provision of services. There were labor shortages due to illness, social distancing, early retirements, and declines in immigration, with all of these factors making it harder to produce goods and services.4 Production disruptions and labor shortages propagated around the world due to long and intricate supply chains forged over several decades of growing globalization in trade. The imbalance between supply and demand widened as consumers switched their spending from services to goods, straining transportation capacity that further disrupted supply chains.5 This re-allocation of demand from services to goods also strained the ability of firms to produce, as they struggled to find qualified workers due to the needed re-allocation of workers across sectors.6 This demand was also likely fueled by the fiscal response to COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021. All of these factors drove up costs, and there were others. Russia’s war on Ukraine intensified the increases in energy and food commodity prices during the recovery from the pandemic. And the interaction of these different forces also likely played a role.7 For example, as Asia increased production to meet higher demand for goods in the U.S., this may have driven up wages and other input costs in Asia, increasing demand for imports from other places and, in turn, raising costs there, and so on. My assessment is that both supply and demand contributed to the recent global inflationary episode, including in the United States, with international trade of goods, including commodities, and services playing an important role in disseminating these forces around the world.
    One salient aspect of past inflationary episodes is the observation that core inflation typically falls more slowly than it increases. As we can see by the red lines on slide 4, world core inflation rose more quickly than it decreased in the three most recent episodes of significant inflation and disinflation—from a trough in 1972 to a new trough in 1978; from 1978 to a trough in 1986; and then the recent episode, from the end of 2020 through the first quarter of 2024. In these episodes, the escalation of four-quarter core inflation increased by an average of 7/10 percentage point per quarter to its peak, while it decreased by an average of only 3/10 percentage point per quarter to the trough.8
    Still, it is important that central bankers not only compare similarities across economies in the recent inflation fight, but also contrast the differences. Notably, another important feature of the last three inflation and disinflation periods is that though the share of core inflation explained by the common component increases when inflation rises, this share decreases when inflation falls, as can be seen by the black shaded areas of the three panels on slide 4. This suggests that while the reasons underlying the co-movement of inflation across the world—such as global supply disruptions and commodity price shocks—may have been important when prices were increasing, they have been less important when prices have decreased. This evidence indicates that factors that vary from economy to economy become more relevant in the disinflationary period.
    Economic researchers have raised several possible explanations for the different inflation trajectories experienced by different economies during this post-pandemic period. For example, some point to differences in the magnitudes of the demand and supply imbalances driven by the shutdown and reopening of each economy, with this imbalance possibly playing a larger role on inflation in the euro area relative to the United States.9 While noting that differences in the size of fiscal stimulus in different countries were likely important, the targeting of that stimulus also differed, in some cases with a greater emphasis on addressing supply disruptions.10 Global factors also affect various economies differently, with studies showing that the exposures to fluctuations in commodity prices are an important issue.11 For instance, Europe was heavily affected by natural gas shortages related to Russia’s war on Ukraine, while gas supplies in the United States were more plentiful during this period. Also, supply chains were untangled at different speeds in different parts of the world, with, for instance, low water levels in the Panama Canal and attacks in the Red Sea by Houthi rebels affecting different shipping routes differently around the world. And, last but not least, differences in labor market tightness very likely played a role, with evidence pointing to its importance in the United States in driving up nominal wage growth, a factor that likely helped keep employment and economic activity at healthy levels.12
    Researchers at the Board of Governors also find that differences in the pace of disinflation across countries have been largely driven by different trajectories of services price inflation.13 As shown on slide 5, they find that the dispersion of inflation across countries peaked in 2023 and has been declining since then for headline and core goods, but not so much for core services inflation, with housing developments helping to account for the differences in services inflation. Other cross-country research suggests that wage developments help explain services inflation dynamics.14 Indeed, services inflation from both the United States and the euro area have been elevated. Still, while U.S. housing services inflation has been running higher than the wage-driven nonhousing component, the reverse is true in the euro area.
    While the cross-country differences during the recent bout of high inflation have emerged more prominently during the disinflationary period, economic growth has been very heterogenous since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Generally speaking, the U.S. has experienced a significantly stronger recovery than other advanced economies. As we can see in the left panel on slide 6, real GDP has grown substantially more in the United States since 2021. This is also the case with respect to the larger components of GDP, such as consumption and investment, shown in the right two panels.
    In explaining why the U.S. has managed to bring down inflation and experience strong economic activity, I believe that the combination of restrictive monetary policy together with convex supply curves can help explain these developments.15 In addition, there are three supply-related factors that have also made significant contributions to the combination of rapid disinflation together with continued and resilient growth.
    First, there are important factors that have affected total factor productivity differently across countries. For instance, the U.S. has seen greater business dynamism, as reflected in a higher rate of new business formation, shown in the left panel on slide 7. This is important because while most new firms fail, a small share of those that survive grow rapidly and make significant contributions to aggregate productivity.16 Moreover, the pandemic-era business creation surge has been particularly strong in high-tech sectors, such as computer systems design as well as research and development services.17 In fact, we have also seen greater growth in total factor productivity in the U.S. relative to other advanced economies, as shown in the right figure on slide 7. In addition, while the artificial intelligence (AI) technology is still in its nascency, U.S. businesses across different sectors of the economy are investing in and adopting AI. According to the Business Trends and Outlook Survey of the Census, more than 20 percent of companies in 15 sectors have adopted AI.18 It may be too early to tell, but additional productivity gains may be coming from tasks that are enhanced by AI through process improvements.19
    Second, we have seen a stronger rate of labor productivity growth in the United States as shown in the left panel on slide 8.20 The economic policy response to the pandemic in the U.S. was robust, but it was different from the response in many other advanced economies. In other economies, the emphasis was on maintaining employment, and specifically keeping workers employed in their existing firms when the pandemic arrived. This was the case, for example, in the euro area, and the middle panel indeed shows that the unemployment rate peaked several times higher in the United States. This approach minimized euro-area job losses, but it may have limited the flow of workers to more-productive sectors of the economy, which is supported by Federal Reserve Board research showing substantially more sectoral re-allocation of workers in the United States compared to the euro area, as seen in the right figure on slide 8.21
    Third, the U.S. labor supply has grown in the post-pandemic period. The labor force participation rate increased solidly, especially from the beginning of 2021 through the middle of 2023, and the U.S. population increased strongly because of high levels of immigration. While recent immigration flows into some European countries have been comparable in proportion to those into the U.S., as seen in the left figure on slide 9, new immigrants may have contributed relatively more to U.S. growth because they often integrate more quickly into the labor force, as seen in the right figure.22
    Finally, and turning our focus to monetary policy, this stronger economic performance, with falling inflation, has allowed the FOMC to be patient about the timing in reducing our policy rate. This performance gave us time to strongly focus on the inflation side of our mandate. And this, together with the bump in inflation early this year, helps explain why we began to ease monetary policy to less-restrictive levels only after other central banks of advanced economies had done so. But now, the combination of significant ongoing progress in reducing inflation and a cooling in the labor market means that the time has come to begin easing monetary policy, and I strongly supported the decision by the FOMC in our September meeting to cut the federal funds rate by 50 basis points.
    Looking ahead, while I believe the focus should remain on continuing to bring inflation to 2 percent, I support shifting attention to the maximum-employment side of the FOMC’s dual mandate as well. The labor market remains resilient, but I support a balanced approach to the FOMC’s dual mandate so we can continue making progress on inflation while avoiding an undesirable slowdown in employment growth and economic expansion. If progress on inflation continues as I expect, I will support additional cuts in the federal funds rate to move toward a more neutral policy stance over time.
    Still, my approach to any policy decision will continue to be data dependent and to rely on multiple and diverse sources of data to form my view of how the economy is evolving. For instance, I am closely monitoring the economic effects from Hurricane Helene and from geopolitical events in the Middle East, since these could affect the U.S. economic outlook. If downside risks to employment escalate, it may be appropriate to move policy more quickly to a neutral stance. Alternatively, if incoming data do not provide confidence that inflation is moving sustainably toward 2 percent, it may be appropriate to slow normalization in the policy rate.
    As I have described, the escalation of inflation unleashed by the pandemic was global in scope, and the fight to reduce inflation has also been global. Each of our economies faces its own unique mixture of challenges, but by comparing our similarities and contrasting our differences, I believe we can learn from each other’s experiences.
    In conclusion, let me thank those of you in this room who contribute to bridging science and practice. For those working on the policy side, thank you for the hard work you do each day to analyze the economic data that allows not only policymakers like me, but also consumers and businesses to gain a better understanding of ongoing developments in the global economy. On the academic side, thank you for your creativity and ingenuity in asking policy-relevant questions and pushing the boundaries of our understanding of an ever-changing economic landscape.

    1. The views expressed here are my own and are not necessarily those of my colleagues on the Federal Reserve Board or the Federal Open Market Committee. Return to text
    2. See Danilo Cascaldi-Garcia, Luca Guerrieri, Matteo Iacoviello, and Michele Modugno (2024), “Lessons from the Co-Movement of Inflation around the World,” FEDS Notes (Washington: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, June 28). Return to text
    3. I refer to updated estimates from the following works: Hie Joo Ahn and Matteo Luciani (2020), “Common and Idiosyncratic Inflation,” Finance and Economics Discussion Series 2020-024 (Washington: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, March; revised August 2024); and Eli Nir, Flora Haberkorn, and Danilo Cascaldi-Garcia (2021), “International Measures of Common Inflation,” FEDS Notes (Washington: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, November 5). Return to text
    4. See Danilo Cascaldi-Garcia, Musa Orak, and Zina Saijid (2023), “Drivers of Post-Pandemic Inflation in Selected Advanced Economies and Implications for the Outlook,” FEDS Notes (Washington: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, January 13). Return to text
    5. See Gianluca Benigno, Julian di Giovanni, Jan J.J. Groen, and Adam I. Noble (2022), “The GSCPI: A New Barometer of Global Supply Chain Pressures,” Staff Reports 1017 (New York: Federal Reserve Bank of New York, May). Return to text
    6. See Francesco Ferrante, Sebastian Graves, and Matteo Iacoviello (2023), “The Inflationary Effects of Sectoral Reallocation,” Journal of Monetary Economics, vol. 140, supplement (November), pp. S64–S81. Return to text
    7. See Paul Ho, Pierre-Daniel Sarte, and Felipe Schwartzman (2022), “Multilateral Comovement in a New Keynesian World: A Little Trade Goes a Long Way (PDF),” Working Paper Series 22-10 (Richmond: Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, November). Return to text
    8. For the 1972–78 period, we define the inflation ascent path as 1972:Q3 to 1974:Q4, while its descent path is 1975:Q1 to 1978:Q2. For the 1978–86 period, we define the inflation ascent path as 1978:Q3 to 1980:Q2, while its descent path is 1980:Q3 to 1986:Q2. For the 2020–24 period, we define the inflation ascent path as 2021:Q1 to 2022:Q4, while its descent path is 2023:Q1 to 2024:Q1 because it is the latest available data. Return to text
    9. See Domenico Giannone and Giorgio Primiceri (2024), “The Drivers of Post-Pandemic Inflation,” NBER Working Paper Series 32859 (Cambridge, Mass.: National Bureau of Economic Research, August). Return to text
    10. For the economic effects on the size of fiscal stimuli, see Oscar Jorda and Fernanda Nechio (2023), “Inflation and Wage Growth since the Pandemic,” European Economic Review, vol. 156, 104474. Return to text
    11. See Christiane Baumeister, Gert Peersman, and Ine Van Robays (2010), “The Economic Consequences of Oil Shocks: Differences across Countries and Time (PDF),” in Renee Fry, Callum Jones, and Christopher Kent, eds., Inflation in an Era of Relative Price Shocks (Sydney: Reserve Bank of Australia), pp. 91–128; and Andrea De Michelis, Thiago Ferreira, and Matteo Iacoviello (2020), “Oil Prices and Consumption across Countries and U.S. States,” International Journal of Central Banking, vol. 16 (March), pp. 3–43. Return to text
    12. For the effects of labor market tightness on price and wage inflation, see Olivier J. Blanchard and Ben S. Bernanke (2022), “What Caused the U.S. Pandemic-Era Inflation?” NBER Working Paper Series 31417 (Cambridge, Mass.: National Bureau of Economic Research, June); Olivier J. Blanchard and Ben S. Bernanke (2024), “An Analysis of Pandemic-Era Inflation in 11 Economies,” NBER Working Paper Series 32532 (Cambridge, Mass.: National Bureau of Economic Research, May). Return to text
    13. See Maria Aristizabal-Ramirez, Dylan Moore, and Eva Van Leemput (forthcoming), “What Goes Up Together Must Not Come Down Together: An Analysis of Services Disinflation,” Forthcoming as an International Finance Discussion Paper (Washington: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System). Return to text
    14. See Pongpitch Amatyakul, Deniz Igan, and Marco Jacopo Lombardi (2024), “Sectoral Price Dynamics in the Last Mile of Post-COVID-19 Disinflation,” BIS Quarterly Review, March, pp. 45–57. Return to text
    15. See Adriana D. Kugler (2024), “Disinflation without a Rise in Unemployment? What Is Different This Time Around,” speech delivered at the 2024 Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research Economic Summit, Stanford University, Stanford, Calif., March 1. Return to text
    16. See Titan Alon, David Berger, Robert Dent, and Benjamin Pugsley (2018), “Older and Slower: The Startup Deficit’s Lasting Effects on Aggregate Productivity Growth,” Journal of Monetary Economics, vol. 93 (January), pp. 68–85; and Ryan Decker, John Haltiwanger, Ron Jarmin, and Javier Miranda (2014), “The Role of Entrepreneurship in U.S. Job Creation and Economic Dynamism,” Journal of Economic Perspectives, vol. 28 (Summer), pp. 3–24. Return to text
    17. See Ryan Decker and John Haltiwanger (2024), “High Tech Business Entry in the Pandemic Era,” FEDS Notes (Washington: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, April 19). Return to text
    18. In data released September 23, 2024, the share of firms reporting the use of AI to perform tasks previously done by employees in producing goods or services was 27 percent. Return to text
    19. See Lisa D. Cook (2024), “Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, and the Path Ahead for Productivity,” speech delivered at “Technology-Enabled Disruption: Implications of AI, Big Data, and Remote Work,” a conference organized by the Federal Reserve Banks of Atlanta, Boston, and Richmond, Atlanta, October 1. Return to text
    20. See Francois de Soyres, Joaquin Garcia-Cabo Herrero, Nils Goernemann, Sharon Jeon, Grace Lofstrom, and Dylan Moore (2024), “Why Is the U.S. GDP Recovering Faster than Other Advanced Economies?” FEDS Notes (Washington: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, May 17). Return to text
    21. See Joaquin García-Cabo, Anna Lipińska, and Gaston Navarro (2023), “Sectoral Shocks, Reallocation, and Labor Market Policies,” European Economic Review, vol. 156 (July), 104494. Return to text
    22. See Courtney Brell, Christian Dustmann, and Ian Preston (2020), “The Labor Market Integration of Refugee Migrants in High-Income Countries,” Journal of Economic Perspectives, vol. 34 (Winter), pp. 94–121. Return to text

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Mobile payment helps fuel holiday consumption

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    China’s innovative mobile payment options fueled a new wave of inbound travel-related consumption during the National Day holiday period that ended on Monday, injecting more vitality into the global tourism industry, said industry experts.

    Data from leading online payment platform Alipay showed that inbound visitors are increasingly embracing mobile payment methods while traveling across China, as their spending on the platform surged around 120 percent year-on-year during the first four days of the weeklong holiday.

    The uptick in transactions was particularly pronounced among tourists from over 10 countries and regions that have been granted visa-free access to China since last year. Their Alipay usage saw a nearly threefold year-on-year increase, the platform said.

    Meanwhile, Chinese businesses are also capitalizing on the growing influx of international consumers. The number of merchants using Alipay for foreign customers doubled during the first four days of the holiday compared with the same period in 2023.

    The top services that foreign tourists used through Alipay during this year’s National Day holiday were ride-hailing, bike-sharing, flight and train bookings, and food delivery.

    Ouyang Rihui, assistant dean of the China Center for Internet Economy Research at Central University of Finance and Economics, said that visa-free access, flight recovery and convenient mobile payments are among key factors driving the rise of inbound tourism in China.

    “This will not only boost domestic consumption, but will also inject fresh impetus into the global tourism industry,” Ouyang added.

    In a move to further facilitate transactions for foreigners, the State Administration for Market Regulation and the National Data Administration announced last week that eight cities will pilot a program designed to make it easier for individual business owners to adopt mobile payment platforms.

    Individual businesses in cities including Suzhou in Jiangsu province, Hangzhou in Zhejiang province and Jinan in Shandong province will be supported in streamlining the procedure needed to handle payment codes for foreign credit cards, according to the two authorities.

    They said that mobile payment platforms do not have access to the registration information of individual businesses and, therefore, the process of opening merchant payment codes was time-consuming.

    The new move will make it easier for over 11 million individual business entities, which make up 9.3 percent of the total national businesses, to open such codes, the authorities said.

    The nation has been making greater efforts to facilitate payment for foreign visitors.

    In March, the State Council, China’s Cabinet, released guidelines aimed at improving the accessibility of bank card payments, promoting the use of cash and expanding mobile payment options for travelers.

    The Chinese mainland recorded an estimated 95 million trips made by foreign tourists in the first nine months of this year, up 55.4 percent year-on-year, according to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

    Luigi Gambardella, president of ChinaEU, an international association promoting digital and high-tech cooperation between Chinese and European companies, said that China’s efforts to enhance mobile payment options for international users is a significant step forward.

    “The transformation not only benefits individual travelers and merchants, but also strengthens China’s position as a world leader in the adoption of mobile payments and a major contributor to global advancement in fintech,” Gambardella said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Politics with Michelle Grattan: Danielle Wood on the keys to growing Australia’s weak productivity

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

    “Productivity” might sound a nerdy word to many, but improving it is vital for a more affluent life for Australians in coming years. At the moment it is languishing.

    Investigating ways in which our national productivity can be improved is at the heart of the work of the Productivity Commission, headed by Danielle Wood.

    Wood is an economist and former CEO of the Grattan Institute. Picked by Treasurer Jim Chalmers for the PC job, she has already acquired a reputation for being willing to express forthright views, even when they don’t suit the government. She joins us today to talk about the tasks ahead, the commission’s work and some of the current big issues.

    On Australia’s weak productivity numbers, Wood highlights what steps the government can and can’t take:

    There’s a lot in productivity that’s outside of government’s control. So we sometimes talk about it like it’s something that government does to the economy. There’s a lot around technology, the pace of change and diffusion of change that are critically important for productivity that’s largely outside of government’s hands.

    There’s no sort of single lever that you pull that makes all the difference. And, you know, if you looked at the Productivity Commission’s last big review of productivity released at the start of last year, you definitely get that sense.

    If I was to pick just a small number […] of what I think are critically important areas. Sensible, durable, long-term market-based approach to climate policy that’s going to allow us to make the huge transition, including the energy transition that we need in the lowest possible cost way. That’s hugely important for long-run productivity. Housing: fixing the housing challenge and that’s got to go to some pretty serious work being done on planning policy, which I think is really important.

    Then I would point to policies that support the rollout of new technologies. As I said before technological change is critical for productivity growth. So policies that build the right environment, particularly for big changes in technology like AI. So there you’re looking at the regulatory environment, your data policies, your IP policies. They all need to be working together.

    If I can sneak in one more, I would put the government’s announcement that it will revitalise national competition policy, and I think that’s a really exciting one. And if it’s done well, if they can actually get the states to come to the table and agree on areas where we can reduce regulatory and other barriers to competition across the country, that’s a really important lever for getting economic dynamism moving again.

    How has working from home has affected productivity?

    Look, it’s a very big change, and you don’t often get these kinds of really sharp structural shifts in behaviour and in labour markets, and we’re still learning about it.

    The research tends to suggest that hybrid work, so working at home sometimes and in the office sometimes, […] doesn’t seem to have negative productivity impacts If anything, slightly positive productivity benefits, and it has big benefits to individuals in terms of giving them flexibility, avoiding the commute and particularly for things like women’s workforce participation. I think it’s been really helpful and positively influential.

    On the other hand, fully remote work, which is rarer – there is some evidence if you’re not ever coming into the office, you miss out on some of the spill-over benefits of sharing ideas, the kind of water-cooler effects, training and development.

    I work from home one day a week, on Monday, and I do no meetings or calls on that day. And I do all my deep, deep work on Monday, and then the rest of the week I’m in the office and back to back.

    With housing policy front and centre and a debate about whether changes to negative gearing and the capital gains discount should be made, Wood hoses down how much difference that would make:

    It’s not a silver bullet on the house price front. There may be other reasons that you make those changes, particularly if you were doing a kind of broader base tax reform exercise. I would say that you’d want to have those on the table. But when it comes to housing challenges, there’s probably some bigger ones there. The ones […] around planning, around construction productivity, around workforce, are going to be more important in the long term to getting the housing challenge right.

    Wood was initially had concerns about the Future Made in Australia policy. Now she says she now is pleased with where the government has landed:

    Look, I’m certainly very pleased with the guardrails that the government have put in place. I think the publishing of the national interest framework, which puts a lot more economic rigour around the assessments of particular sectors looking for support, was a really important development.

    Certainly puts my mind at ease that there is a lot of rigour around who gets support. Because as you said there is always a risk with these types of policies that we end up wasting money for supporting industries that don’t have a good case for economic support from the taxpayer.

    — Transcript —

    Michelle Grattan: Danielle Wood is almost a year into her post as head of the Productivity Commission. A leading economist and formerly chief of the think tank the Grattan Institute, Wood has taken the Commission’s message out into the public arena. She’s been refreshingly forthright in her willingness to critique government policies, most notably the Future Made in Australia industry policy, for which legislation is due to pass Parliament soon. Languishing productivity is one of Australia’s major economic challenges. In this podcast, Danielle Wood joins us to discuss this and other issues.

    Danielle Wood in your relatively brief time as head of the Productivity Commission, you’ve been out and about and publicly vocal a good deal more, I think, than your predecessors, sometimes criticising government policies. Did you decide on this strategy when you accepted the job? And how important do you think it is for the head of key institutions like the Commission and indeed the Reserve Bank to be willing to use their voices even when that might make the Government squirm a bit?

    Danielle Wood: A very interesting question, Michelle. Look, I mean, I have been out and about a lot, and I certainly did make that a deliberate strategy. And that’s largely because I think organisations like the Productivity Commission have a really important role in informing and shaping debate and making the case for difficult policy reform. I think it’s true to say that any time I say something that might be seen as politically inconvenient for the government the media get excited. And there’s probably a lot more reporting on those comments than perhaps a lot of the other commentary I’ve been making. Making those sort of criticisms is definitely not something I do lightly. But I think there are circumstances where the PC has deep expertise and research in areas. And I think if the policy’s not as well designed as it could be that there can be a case for independent agencies like the PC to speak up. And in doing so I really hope that makes the debate stronger. I think it makes the policy responses stronger. And I think we’re fortunate to have a system with the degree of political maturity that allows that to happen. You know, there are actually not that many countries with an independent, broad ranging policy institution like the Productivity Commission. The fact that governments of various stripes have supported that role over several decades now – I think it makes it a really important and unique part of the policy landscape.

    Michelle Grattan: Now productivity in Australia is languishing. What are the reasons, do you think, for this? And what are the top performing countries when it comes to productivity and how are they performing better?

    Danielle Wood: This is a complicated one and I think it’s really important to differentiate, as I’ll do, Michelle, between what’s happened since COVID and the more business as usual world pre-COVID, because we’ve been on this crazy rollercoaster ride when it comes to productivity in the post-COVID period. It shot up very rapidly early on in COVID as we shut down parts of the economy because they were the lower productivity services sectors that mechanically made it go up. We then came down that hump as things reopened.

    On the other side of COVID we’ve also had a very strong labour market just because of the very fast increase in working hours we’ve seen as unemployment’s come down, as borders have reopened, as people are working more hours. Our capital stock hasn’t kept up and that’s kept productivity really subdued in the post-COVID period. So we’re running at only about half a percent in the year to June.

    In that period, most countries have been going through similar challenges. The US actually stands out as a very strong performer in this post-COVID period and we’re doing some work with the RBA at the moment looking at that and trying to understand that – it may be because of their COVID policies or because they’ve got a fairly substantial investment boom underway. It can be about differences in the labour market. But we’re looking at that question.

    The more substantive piece, given that a lot of that is about the macro environment, is really the question of what are we recovering to? You’ll recall that that decade sandwiched between COVID and the GFC leading up to 2020 saw really weak productivity growth. We were running about 1.1% a year on average – the lowest level in 60 years. That was not just an Australian phenomenon. At that point, if you looked around the industrialised world, we saw that same sluggish productivity growth basically everywhere.

    There’s a number of structural factors at play that we think contributed to that. One is the expansion of services sectors– they tend to be lower productivity. We’ve seen fewer gains from technological advancements – at least up to that point technology hadn’t played the same role in driving productivity improvements as it had in the past. A reduction in economic dynamism, so fewer new businesses being started, fewer people changing jobs. And just more generally lower levels of investment – it looked like businesses were scarred in a post-GFC world and were not investing in the way they had in the past. So there’s a lot of common factors across countries. The real question going forward is can we break free of some of those constraints and see productivity moving again?

    Michelle Grattan: So what would you say would be the three most productivity enhancing measures that Australia could take in the short term?

    Danielle Wood: You’re really going to try and pin my colours to the mast Michelle! So two things I think are really important to say at the outset of this conversation. First, there’s a lot in productivity that’s outside of government’s control. So we sometimes talk about it like it’s something that government does to the economy. There’s a lot around technology, the pace of change and diffusion of change that are critically important for productivity, largely outside of government’s hands.

    The other thing to say is it’s a game of inches. You actually need governments to move across a range of different policy fronts at once. There’s no single lever that you pull that makes all the difference. And if you look at the Productivity Commission’s last big review of productivity released at the start of last year, you definitely get that sense. There were 70 recommendations, five big areas for reform.

    But if I was to pick just a small number of critically important areas, and we will take some political constraints off the table here maybe for the purposes of this conversation… a sensible, durable, long-term market-based approach to climate policy that’s going to allow us to make the huge transition, including the energy transition that we need in the lowest possible cost way. That’s hugely important for long-run productivity.

    Housing. Fixing the housing challenge. And that’s got to go to some pretty serious work being done on planning policy, which I think is really important. But there are a lot of other barriers to housing supply around the regulatory environment and workforce. And that matters because if you can’t build houses where people live close to jobs, if people can’t get into housing, they have reduced capacity to start their own businesses and take risks in the economy. That is a big drag on productivity over time.

    Then I would point to policies that support the rollout of new technologies. As I said before, technological change is critical for productivity growth. So policies that build the right environment, particularly for big changes in technology like AI. There you’re looking at the regulatory environment, your data policies, your IP policies. They all need to be working together, of course we need to manage the risks associated with these new technologies, but we don’t want to be putting unnecessary impediments that would slow down technological change across the economy.

    So those are three big areas. Actually, if I can sneak in one more… the Government has announced that it will revitalise national competition policy, and I think that’s a really exciting one. And if it’s done well, if they can actually get the states to come to the table and agree on areas where we can reduce regulatory and other barriers to competition across the country, that’s a really important lever for getting economic dynamism moving again.

    Michelle Grattan: Just on housing, there’s been a lot of controversy lately, of course, around negative gearing and the discount. Do you think that it would be useful to change negative gearing arrangements and the capital gains discount? The Grattan Institute, where you came from, was a supporter of change. Do you agree with that?

    Danielle Wood: You know, it’s not something that the Productivity Commission has done work on so I can’t talk about it from a PC perspective.

    Michelle Grattan: But you are, beyond tax, you’re a tax expert.

    Danielle Wood: Yes, indeed. But look, what we said in that Grattan work, which I think is important, is it’s not a silver bullet on the house price front. There might be other reasons that you make those changes, particularly if you were doing a kind of broader base tax reform exercise I would see that you’d want to have those on the table. But when it comes to housing challenges, there’s probably some bigger ones there. You know, the ones I was talking about before around planning, around construction productivity, around workforce, that are going to be more important in the long term to getting the housing challenge right.

    Michelle Grattan: So you would say it is a second-order issue in terms of housing policy?

    Danielle Wood: In terms of housing affordability that’s right. But there may be other reasons that you would look at it if you were looking at the tax system more broadly.

    Michelle Grattan: Now, you mentioned services before, and they’re obviously an increasingly large part of our economy, and yet it’s hard to define productivity in this sector. For example, if you have a carer spending a longer time with a person in a nursing home, is that actually increasing productivity? Probably not, but it has other obvious benefits. So how do you deal with this non-market part of the economy?

    Danielle Wood: It’s an incredibly important question and it’s a very difficult one, and I think there are two parts to it. So the thing you’re picking up with your aged care example is essentially the challenge of trying to measure service quality. Across the national accounts when we work out productivity we try and adjust for quality, and I think the ABS does that really well in some areas like housing and technology, there are ways that they control for quality change over time, but that is very hard to do in services.

    The PC did some recent work where we looked at this question for health and we tried to control for improvements in health outcomes across a range of chronic diseases. And what we found is productivity is much higher than what would be measured using traditional techniques because we’ve seen these really big improvements in outcomes for treating chronic diseases that don’t get captured in the statistics. And that gets even harder, as you say, in areas like aged care. How do you measure the warmth of care or the quality of care? I think we just have to recognise that there will always be gaps in the statistics and they are not perfect when it comes to measuring quality of services.

    The other big challenge when it comes to services is that historically we haven’t seen the same productivity gains in services as we’ve seen in areas like manufacturing or agriculture. Going forward, I think we can look at new technologies like AI and see potential for gains in some areas of government-provided services like health and perhaps education. But there are going to be other sectors, particularly those care sectors, where it is irreducibly human. You know, I say labour is the product, that spending time with people is what you are providing. And that means it’s just going to be harder to get productivity gains in those sectors. So none of that is to say that we shouldn’t provide these services and continue to support them and expand them where there is a good economic or social policy case to do so. But we need to recognise that the productivity gains will not be there in those areas as they are in other parts of the economy.

    Michelle Grattan: Now you have a long-term interest in childcare and the Commission has just recommended a major expansion in government spending on early childhood education and care, but it does not envisage that this will in fact lift women’s participation in the workforce to any great degree. So is expanding childcare now mainly about educational equity rather than participation and productivity?

    Danielle Wood: Well, I think the first thing to say is that childcare has been transformative for women’s workforce participation. And even in the last few years, Michelle, as you would know, as it’s become more affordable, we have seen big gains in workforce participation. Women’s workforce participation is now at record levels.

    But it is true that you expect some of those gains to start to slow down as participation rises. And what we found in our report is not that there aren’t barriers to access and affordability that constrain women’s choices, but that childcare is a smaller part of that now. And things like the tax and transfer system, withdrawal of family tax benefits play a bigger role in the sort of workforce disincentives that we’ve been worried about for a long time. Critically, though, as you say, it’s the education benefits that really loom large here. And we found that kids that are going to get the most out of childcare in terms of their development and education are the ones that are accessing it least. So children from disadvantaged backgrounds tend to use care a lot less than other children. Helping those children get the benefits of care for development, for being school ready, is a critical social and economic opportunity.

    Michelle Grattan: The pandemic saw a big shift to many people working from home, and this has continued to a considerable degree. Workers want it and indeed, in some companies, are demanding it. What are the productivity implications of this shift?

    Danielle Wood: Yeah, look, it’s a very big change and you don’t often get these really sharp structural shifts in behaviour and in labour markets. And we’re still learning about it, you need to be modest about these things, but from the research and data we’ve seen to date, I’m much less concerned that it’s going to have a big negative impact as we might have been earlier on. And by that, I mean the research tends to suggest that hybrid work, so working at home sometimes and in the office sometimes, particularly well-managed hybrid work, doesn’t seem to have negative productivity impacts. If anything, it has slightly positive productivity benefits. And it has big benefits to individuals in terms of giving them flexibility, avoiding the commute. And particularly for things like women’s workforce participation I think it’s been really helpful and positively influential.

    On the other hand, fully remote work, which is rarer… there is some evidence, again, the data is mixed, but some studies suggest that it may negatively affect productivity. If you’re not ever coming into the office, you miss out on some of the spill-over benefits of sharing ideas, the kind of watercooler effects, training, development. So, if we were in a world where everyone was working fully remotely I think I would be more concerned. But I think broadly, when it comes to hybrid work, the best evidence we have suggests it’s unlikely to be a drag on productivity.

    Michelle Grattan: What about your own work? Do you work from home at all?

    Danielle Wood: I work from home one day a week on Monday, and I do no meetings or calls on that day. And I do all my deep work on Monday. Then the rest of the week I’m in the office and back-to-back.

    Michelle Grattan: Now, the government has made a number of important changes in the industrial relations area. It’s been a priority for it. How important are workplace arrangements to productivity and have the recent changes been positive or negative or mixed for our productivity challenge?

    Danielle Wood: Look, it’s definitely fair to say that workplace relations policies matter for productivity. This is not an area that the Commission has been asked to look into for some time. I think the last time we did a serious review into workplace relations was a decade or so ago, Michelle. And in that review, we really talked about the balancing act that exists – the need to balance the need for good standards in the workplace and protections for workers, against the benefits that come with flexibility and the advantages of that for business. And at that time, we had suggestions for improvements, but we found that the system was working relatively well. There have been a number of changes since then, including in recent years. But without reviewing those in any detail, it’s difficult for me to comment on the broader impact of those particular changes.

    Michelle Grattan: Treasurer Jim Chalmers indicated some time ago when he was talking about the reform of the PC that he wanted it to be active in the sphere of the energy transition. How have you responded to this?

    Danielle Wood: Something that I’ve done since taking on the role of Chair is to recognise the need to build expertise in some key policy areas that aren’t going away. So we’ve developed a number of research streams, energy and climate being one of those. We are really building up a team that will continue to work on those issues and put out research on those issues over time. We have a new Commissioner, Barry Sterland, who has deep expertise in climate policy, so that’s an important part of building that internal expertise. So you will see us putting out a whole series of pieces on energy and climate and I think we’re really well-placed to make a constructive contribution in that sphere. So watch this space.

    Michelle Grattan: Could you give us any detail of time or topic?

    Danielle Wood: I am not able to do that at the moment for various complicated reasons, but there will certainly be material coming out next year.

    Michelle Grattan: One thing that you made a media splash on was the Government’s Future Made in Australia program, its industry program aimed at supporting Australian industry in the transition to the green economy. You expressed some concern about it at the time. Are you now convinced that there are enough guardrails around this policy that it doesn’t become a waste of taxpayer money and that money won’t be going to rent seekers who don’t deserve or need it?

    Danielle Wood: Look, I’m certainly very pleased with the guardrails that the Government has put in place. I think the publishing of the National Interest Framework, which puts a lot more economic rigour around the assessments of particular sectors looking for support, was a really important development. We think that it’s really important that those sector assessments be done before the government offers support to new areas. And we’ve encouraged things like the sort of public release of those assessments, which I believe will occur. So, I think provided that process gets used, it certainly puts my mind at ease that there is a lot of rigour around who gets support. Because as you said, you know, there is always a risk with these types of policies that we end up wasting money supporting industries that don’t have a good case for economic support from the taxpayer.

    Michelle Grattan: So would the Commission be doing its own assessment of how this program is working after some time?

    Danielle Wood: We are putting in a submission to the Treasury consultation process on the frameworks that might underpin the national interest assessments and the legislation, if it passes, I think requires ongoing consultation with the Commissioners as Treasury does these assessments. So we will continue to play an active role in this process going forward.

    Michelle Grattan: Now, just finally, in a speech recently, you defended the role of economists in assessing government policies and programs. You were saying that they were able to tell, in your words, inconvenient truths, but you also had a go at your profession saying that many have been willfully blind to questions of distribution, arguing that it’s not their job to consider economic inequality. Can you just say what you’re getting at here and perhaps give some examples of this failing? And why do you think this blind spot is there?

    Danielle Wood: Well let me let me give the plug for economists, Michelle, before we talk about all our failures. As I was trying to say in that speech, economists bring something really important to the table in policy discussions, and that is, you know, rigorous frame frameworks for thinking about trade-offs. And that’s really important in the policy world because you’ve got a million good ideas out there, as you know, but you’ve got scarce resources. Scarce time, scarce money. You need to prioritise and you need to make trade-offs. So economists can and should play a really important role in policy for that reason.

    The blind spots I was talking about, as I said, there had been a sort of strain in the economics profession, I think, for a long time that basically said we’re focussed on questions of efficiency, we don’t do distribution. And I think that came from the fact that that was seen to involve value judgements that we don’t want to contend with. We’ve since learned a lot more about the way in which inequality can feed into growth, around the importance of issues like economic mobility. I think most economists would now understand that these are actually really important economic as well as social questions. In terms of where that played out – probably the place where it was most evident, and I think this is probably more squarely in the US and Australia, was around fallout to trade policy and trade liberalization. It was all about increasing the size of the pie, which it did very effectively. But it certainly never said that, you know, there wouldn’t be any losers from that. I think the learning was that you really have to care about the transition, that you have to work with the communities and workers that are affected if you’re doing a policy that’s broadly in the public good, but sees some people go backwards. I think we did that better in Australia than the US, but there are probably still some lessons to learn there.

    The other area I was pointing out where I think economists haven’t always covered themselves with glory, more in the Australian context, was around opening up human services markets to competition. I think there were a number of areas where we were too enamoured with the idea that competition and consumer choice would drive good outcomes, and we just didn’t give enough thought to questions of provider incentives, the regulatory frameworks we would need in place. I think employment services and vocational education and training are key examples of that, and probably some of the challenges we face with the NDIS at the moment as well. So I think they were areas where some economists were a bit naive and certainly I think the thinking and the profession has progressed a lot about how we could do better in those types of markets.

    Michelle Grattan: Danielle Wood, thank you so much for joining us today. We hope to hear continued bold words from you in the months and years ahead. That’s all for today’s Conversation Politics podcast. Thank you to my producer, Ben Roper. We’ll be back with another interview soon, but goodbye for now.

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

    – ref. Politics with Michelle Grattan: Danielle Wood on the keys to growing Australia’s weak productivity – https://theconversation.com/politics-with-michelle-grattan-danielle-wood-on-the-keys-to-growing-australias-weak-productivity-240793

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: When medicines don’t work: eliminating neglected tropical diseases will reduce drug resistance – a win for all

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Francisca Mutapi, Professor in Global Health Infection and Immunity. and co-Director of the Global Health Academy, University of Edinburgh

    A major health challenge of our time is when drugs no longer work to treat infections. This happens when the agents that cause infections – they may be bacteria, viruses or fungi – become resistant to the drugs.

    Antimicrobials are a broad range of medications that act on microbes – like bacteria, fungi, viruses, or parasites. Antibiotics, for instance, are one type of antimicrobial working against bacteria.

    Resistance to antimicrobial drugs therefore makes it difficult to treat and prevent a wide range of infections.

    Antibiotic resistance compromises public health programmes, such as TB treatments. It can also compromise other medical interventions where treatment is needed to prevent infection, like surgery, caesarean sections or cancer treatment.

    The main causes of antimicrobial resistance are the misuse and overuse of antimicrobials in humans, animals and plants.

    Antimicrobial resistance leads to more deaths and illness in Africa compared to anywhere else. The continent recorded 21% of the global antimicrobial resistance related deaths in 2019. In that year, over 1.05 million deaths in Africa were associated with antimicrobial resistance. This poses an exceptional health threat.

    Worryingly, antimicrobial resistance related deaths are predicted to increase globally. The trend is already being observed in Africa. For example, the latest data shows that the share of E. coli infections resistant to cephalosporins (the antibiotic used to treat them) is rising.

    To change this, it’s necessary to reduce the burden of diseases that require antimicrobial treatment.

    One group of infectious diseases prevalent in Africa are the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). There are already effective tools to prevent and even eliminate them. But every year, millions of people are infected and treated for them using antimicrobials. This increases the risk of spreading resistance.

    Having been involved in the design and implementation of large-scale neglected tropical diseases control programmes, I argue for a push to eliminate these diseases. This must be done through integrated approaches, including preventive medicine, water and sanitation, and controlling the agents that spread the diseases.

    Even countries where neglected tropical diseases are not common should make this push, as part of global health security.

    Controlling neglected tropical diseases

    Neglected tropical diseases are a group of 21 diverse conditions capable of causing long term health and economic challenges.

    They are caused by a variety of pathogens including worms, bacteria, fungi and viruses. Of these diseases, six are treated with antibiotics: buruli ulcer, leishmaniasis, leprosy, onchocerciasis, trachoma and yaws.

    Globally, millions of people with neglected tropical diseases are treated with antimicrobials every year.

    One of the most effective public health approaches for controlling neglected tropical diseases is preventative chemotherapy, which involves mass drug administration, where people are treated without diagnosis. Nonetheless, it is not sustainable, both in terms of cost and because it increases the risk of antimicrobial resistance.

    However, preventative chemotherapy is a necessary and effective tool for reducing infection and disease. Since 2012, over 600 million people have been cured of neglected tropical disease infection this way.

    An example of this is Zimbabwe’s control programme for schistosomiasis (an acute disease caused by parasitic worms), which I’ve been involved with. Preventative chemotherapy was administered to about 5 million children every year between 2012 and 2019. Infection levels were reduced from 32% to just under 2% in children aged 6-15.

    (Author provided)

    The latest World Health Organization report from 2022 indicated that just under 1.7 billion people globally required preventative chemotherapy. Of these just under 600 million are in Africa.

    Another risk for an increase in antimicrobial resistance is that the antibiotics used to treat neglected tropical diseases are also used to treat other infections. For example, azithromycin (for treating trachoma and yaws) is used also to treat other bacterial infections including bronchitis, pneumonia and sexually transmitted diseases.

    Already, of the six neglected tropical diseases that are treated with antibiotics, five have documented drug resistance. This trend will only increase.

    It’s therefore vital that neglected tropical diseases are eliminated so that fewer antibiotics and antimicrobials are used. This also protects people from other dangerous infections.

    Ready-made tools

    The good news is that the tools to eliminate neglected tropical diseases already exist.

    Within the past decade, 51 countries have eliminated at least one neglected tropical disease. Underlying these successes are the use of multiple tools, cross-sectoral strategies and sustained efforts to prevent and treat infections.

    ”>

    In the case of diseases which are transmitted by animals or insects (vectors), it’s about controlling the vector. For instance, killing the flies that transmit onchocerciasis parasites or snail hosts for schistosomiasis.

    Similarly, provision of safe water and sanitation facilities is critical for disease elimination. For example, the organisms that cause some diseases spend some stages of their life in faeces (poop). So, when faeces are poorly disposed of, they can contaminate the environment and the disease can be passed on.

    The World Health Organization has set a target of 100 countries eliminating at least one neglected tropical disease by 2030.

    This would be a massive health and economic win for countries where the diseases are prevalent.

    It will also lead to a reduction in antimicrobial use – which is a vital global health goal.

    – When medicines don’t work: eliminating neglected tropical diseases will reduce drug resistance – a win for all
    – https://theconversation.com/when-medicines-dont-work-eliminating-neglected-tropical-diseases-will-reduce-drug-resistance-a-win-for-all-239658

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Partisanship dominates as federal parliament fights over Middle East war

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

    Federal parliament has split on partisan lines over the Middle East crisis, just a day after the anniversary of the Hamas atrocities against Israelis.

    After discussions between Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton failed to reach agreement, the government’s wide-ranging motion passed the House of Representatives with the Coalition voting against it.

    The Greens abstained from voting. Almost all the crossbench voted with the government, although “teal” MP Allegra Spender said “I wish that we as a parliament could come together and lead unitedly”.

    The division between Labor and Coalition over the escalating war has increasingly widened over recent months, with Dutton giving unqualified backing to Israel’s strategy and using the issue to paint the prime minister as a “weak” leader.

    The government, while backing Israel’s right to defend itself, has had a more qualified position, including supporting calls for a ceasefire.

    The long motion reiterated “unequivocal condemnation” of the Hamas’ terror attacks, and called for the immediate release of the remaining hostages.

    It condemned antisemitism “in all its forms and stands with Jewish Australians who have felt the cold shadows of antisemitism reaching into the present day”.

    It also recognised the number of Palestinian civilians killed in Gaza, and supported international efforts to provide humanitarian assistance in Gaza and Lebanon.

    It condemned Iran’s attacks on Israel and recognised Israel’s right to defend itself.

    Backing international efforts for a ceasefire in Gaza and in Lebanon, the motion reaffirmed “support for a two-state solution, a Palestinian State alongside Israel, so that Israelis and Palestinians can live securely within internationally recognised borders, as the only option to ensuring a just and enduring peace”.

    As well, the motion recognised the deep distress the Middle East situation was causing many in Australia.

    Albanese told parliament the government would continue to call for de-escalating the violence and conflict in the region. “Tragically, we are seeing the situation worsening.”

    “Further hostilities put civilians at risk. We cannot accept the callous arithmetic of so-called acceptable casualties.”

    Dutton said the motion was supposed to be about what had happened on October 7.

    “The prime minister is trying to speak out of both sides of his mouth.”

    “There has been a position of bipartisanship on these issues, and your predecessors would have had the decency to respect the Jewish community in a way that you have not done today. And for that, prime minister, you should stand condemned.”

    He accused Albanese of rejecting the opposition’s position “for his own political domestic advancement”.

    A later attempt by Dutton to move his alternative motion was shut down by the government.

    In the Senate Greens senators held up placards with the words “SANCTIONS NOW”. Some Greens wore keffiyehs.

    Crossbencher Lidia Thorpe accused Foreign Minister Penny Wong of being “complicit in genocide”.

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

    – ref. Partisanship dominates as federal parliament fights over Middle East war – https://theconversation.com/partisanship-dominates-as-federal-parliament-fights-over-middle-east-war-240791

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Global: When medicines don’t work: eliminating neglected tropical diseases will reduce drug resistance – a win for all

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Francisca Mutapi, Professor in Global Health Infection and Immunity. and co-Director of the Global Health Academy, University of Edinburgh

    A major health challenge of our time is when drugs no longer work to treat infections. This happens when the agents that cause infections – they may be bacteria, viruses or fungi – become resistant to the drugs.

    Antimicrobials are a broad range of medications that act on microbes – like bacteria, fungi, viruses, or parasites. Antibiotics, for instance, are one type of antimicrobial working against bacteria.

    Resistance to antimicrobial drugs therefore makes it difficult to treat and prevent a wide range of infections.

    Antibiotic resistance compromises public health programmes, such as TB treatments. It can also compromise other medical interventions where treatment is needed to prevent infection, like surgery, caesarean sections or cancer treatment.

    The main causes of antimicrobial resistance are the misuse and overuse of antimicrobials in humans, animals and plants.

    Antimicrobial resistance leads to more deaths and illness in Africa compared to anywhere else. The continent recorded 21% of the global antimicrobial resistance related deaths in 2019. In that year, over 1.05 million deaths in Africa were associated with antimicrobial resistance. This poses an exceptional health threat.

    Worryingly, antimicrobial resistance related deaths are predicted to increase globally. The trend is already being observed in Africa. For example, the latest data shows that the share of E. coli infections resistant to cephalosporins (the antibiotic used to treat them) is rising.

    To change this, it’s necessary to reduce the burden of diseases that require antimicrobial treatment.

    One group of infectious diseases prevalent in Africa are the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). There are already effective tools to prevent and even eliminate them. But every year, millions of people are infected and treated for them using antimicrobials. This increases the risk of spreading resistance.

    Having been involved in the design and implementation of large-scale neglected tropical diseases control programmes, I argue for a push to eliminate these diseases. This must be done through integrated approaches, including preventive medicine, water and sanitation, and controlling the agents that spread the diseases.

    Even countries where neglected tropical diseases are not common should make this push, as part of global health security.

    Controlling neglected tropical diseases

    Neglected tropical diseases are a group of 21 diverse conditions capable of causing long term health and economic challenges.

    They are caused by a variety of pathogens including worms, bacteria, fungi and viruses. Of these diseases, six are treated with antibiotics: buruli ulcer, leishmaniasis, leprosy, onchocerciasis, trachoma and yaws.

    Globally, millions of people with neglected tropical diseases are treated with antimicrobials every year.

    One of the most effective public health approaches for controlling neglected tropical diseases is preventative chemotherapy, which involves mass drug administration, where people are treated without diagnosis. Nonetheless, it is not sustainable, both in terms of cost and because it increases the risk of antimicrobial resistance.

    However, preventative chemotherapy is a necessary and effective tool for reducing infection and disease. Since 2012, over 600 million people have been cured of neglected tropical disease infection this way.

    An example of this is Zimbabwe’s control programme for schistosomiasis (an acute disease caused by parasitic worms), which I’ve been involved with. Preventative chemotherapy was administered to about 5 million children every year between 2012 and 2019. Infection levels were reduced from 32% to just under 2% in children aged 6-15.

    The latest World Health Organization report from 2022 indicated that just under 1.7 billion people globally required preventative chemotherapy. Of these just under 600 million are in Africa.

    Another risk for an increase in antimicrobial resistance is that the antibiotics used to treat neglected tropical diseases are also used to treat other infections. For example, azithromycin (for treating trachoma and yaws) is used also to treat other bacterial infections including bronchitis, pneumonia and sexually transmitted diseases.

    Already, of the six neglected tropical diseases that are treated with antibiotics, five have documented drug resistance. This trend will only increase.

    It’s therefore vital that neglected tropical diseases are eliminated so that fewer antibiotics and antimicrobials are used. This also protects people from other dangerous infections.

    Ready-made tools

    The good news is that the tools to eliminate neglected tropical diseases already exist.

    Within the past decade, 51 countries have eliminated at least one neglected tropical disease. Underlying these successes are the use of multiple tools, cross-sectoral strategies and sustained efforts to prevent and treat infections.

    ”>

    In the case of diseases which are transmitted by animals or insects (vectors), it’s about controlling the vector. For instance, killing the flies that transmit onchocerciasis parasites or snail hosts for schistosomiasis.

    Similarly, provision of safe water and sanitation facilities is critical for disease elimination. For example, the organisms that cause some diseases spend some stages of their life in faeces (poop). So, when faeces are poorly disposed of, they can contaminate the environment and the disease can be passed on.

    The World Health Organization has set a target of 100 countries eliminating at least one neglected tropical disease by 2030.

    This would be a massive health and economic win for countries where the diseases are prevalent.

    It will also lead to a reduction in antimicrobial use – which is a vital global health goal.

    Francisca Mutapi receives funding from the Aspen Global Innovation Programme, Scottish Funding Council funding to the University of Edinburgh, Academy of Medical Sciences, British Academy and the Royal Society.
    Francisca Mutapi is the Deputy Director of the Tackling Infections to Benefit Africa (TIBA) Partnership and Deputy Board Chair of Uniting to Combat NTDS

    – ref. When medicines don’t work: eliminating neglected tropical diseases will reduce drug resistance – a win for all – https://theconversation.com/when-medicines-dont-work-eliminating-neglected-tropical-diseases-will-reduce-drug-resistance-a-win-for-all-239658

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: “Challenges of digitalization and new university solutions”: the first forum of additional professional education will be held at the National Research University Higher School of Economics

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

    1st Moscow Forum of Continuing Education “Challenges of Digitalization and New University Solutions” will take place on November 14–16, 2024, at the HSE Cultural Center on Pokrovsky Boulevard. This event will be the largest in Russia in the field of continuing professional education (CPE). Representatives of universities, the government, and businesses will discuss current trends, advanced teaching methods, and technological solutions offered in this area.

    The program includes more than 50 events on 10 thematic tracks. The forum will also include an exhibition of digital solutions in EdTech. The participants will focus on current issues of additional education for adults. Various aspects of the digitalization of additional professional education will be discussed here: current developments and educational solutions, cases of universities and EdTech companies, research results, modern development directions and approaches to organizing additional professional education, features of business education and the development of continuous education in creative industries, IT, medicine, agriculture, etc.

    Events are organized in a variety of formats: panel discussions, TED, round tables, sections of reports, case sessions, master classes, world cafe, open mic.

    HSE experts will present the digital ecosystem of HSE’s continuing professional education and various innovative educational solutions for continuing education of adults.

    There will also be plenary sessions and thematic tracks relevant to the field of additional professional education:

    “State policy and new solutions in additional professional education”;

    “Digital transformation of DPO”;

    “Quality of DPO”;

    “Product approach and marketing in additional professional education”;

    “AI and data analysis in continuous education”;

    “Modern business education: market needs and the role of business schools”;

    “Continued Professional Education for Healthcare: Traditions and Innovations”;

    “Continued Professional Education as a Digital Educational and Industrial Environment for Design Projects and Creative Startups”;

    “DPO for agrotech”;

    “Design and organization of additional professional education programs.”

    Workshops will be organized under the advanced training program “DPO: digitalization and new educational solutions” with a choice of one of the profiles – artificial intelligence, digital transformation, marketing and pedagogical design of additional professional education programs.

    An important part of the forum will be an exhibition of digital solutions for DPO from EdTech companies, universities and corporate universities. The exhibitors are leading companies and experts in the EdTech industry, who will demonstrate digital products and services for the sphere of DPO and continuous education: modern systems for managing the educational process and developing educational content, interactive services, neural networks, CRM and BI systems, marketplaces, etc.

    Participants will have an excellent opportunity to get acquainted with in-demand EdTech projects and establish business contacts.

    In addition to the business part, the forum offers a cultural program with excursions around the HSE and networking.

    Andrey Lavrov, senior director of the National Research University Higher School of Economics:

    — Today, the development of university DPO is becoming a strategically important task given the current state of the labor market and the demographic structure of our society. The shortage of qualified personnel, the speed of technological change, the widespread use of artificial intelligence technologies — all this poses enormous challenges for universities. The Higher School of Economics, as one of the national leaders in DPO, began to look for answers to these challenges, and one of them was the digitalization of our adult education system. In a short time, we were able to create a digital ecosystem for managing all processes in DPO and we are not stopping there, we continue to develop this system. This experience, combined with serious expertise in the field of organizing the educational process, allows us to create a platform for exchanging experiences, searching for technological and optimal solutions for organizing and implementing additional education programs in universities. This is the first such large-scale event for Russian DPO, and we are confident in its relevance and practical benefits.

    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.

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    http://vvv.hse.ru/nevs/edu/970922927.html

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: “Argonauts-2024”: more than four hundred students and schoolchildren applied to participate in the journalism competition

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    All-Russian Student Journalism Competition named after Alexander Goryunov “The Argonauts” has finished accepting participants’ work. This year, 414 media projects from 34 Russian cities have applied to participate.

    The student section received 245 applications, the school section – 128. The third section, “Art Journalism,” received 40 applications. Works were accepted in several nominations at once.

    The following nominations were included in the school section: press; television journalism; radio journalism; photojournalism; multimedia project. In the student section: print; television journalism; radio journalism; photojournalism; multimedia project. In a separate nomination, “ART-journalism” named after Yulia Barmaeva, works were accepted that were made about culture and people of culture.

    — We have been holding this competition for the thirteenth year. And it is very pleasing that the number of people wishing to participate is not decreasing. For us, this means, first of all, that students and even schoolchildren are still interested in the profession of “Journalist”. We see that the children are not indifferent to the life of the country, the lives of individuals, bright personalities. I am sure that many winners of “Argonauts” will become the pride of this profession over time. We have already begun checking the submitted works. And I can say that among them there are almost no routine, template ones, — noted Olga Dmitrievna Zhuravel, Doctor of Philological Sciences, Head of direction “Journalism” at NSU.

    The winners and prize winners of the competition will receive an invitation to participate in the Argonaut School, which will be held on October 28-29, 2024, at the Boiling Point – Novosibirsk and NSU. This event will become a platform for exchanging experiences, gaining new knowledge and skills. The School will end with awarding the winners of the competition.

    — I participated in the Argonauts when I was still in school. I applied in the Press nomination, Interview sub-nomination and took third place with my work on the topic of animal protection. I was awarded a certificate of honor, which I was later able to attach to my creative portfolio when applying for the Journalism program at NSU. This year, I applied for the second time, only in the student section. It included my video stories about the Kronotsky State Nature Reserve, which I shot during my summer internship. In the Multimedia Project nomination, my team and I submitted our collective work with a longread about children’s camps. Based on the results of the competition, I want to see how modern trends in journalism have changed since my school days, what current schoolchildren are doing, how this can be compared with what was before, see how students are now performing and what they focus on in their work, – shared her thoughts about this year’s competition fourth-year student of the Journalism program at NSU Elizaveta Elster.

    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.

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    http://www.nsu.ru/n/media/nevs/education/argonauts-2024-more than-four-hundred-students-and-schoolchildren-applied-for-participation-in-journalism/

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Project “AtomPro”: foreign students of SPbPU learned about advanced technologies of Rosatom

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

    Experts from the company “Rusatom – International Network” Polytechnic and held an expert meeting within the framework of the “AtomPro” project for foreign students of the Institute of Energy, dedicated to advanced technologies of water treatment, water purification and desalination.

    The meeting was attended by students from Afghanistan, Turkey, Egypt, Algeria, China, Nigeria, Cameroon, Kenya, Iraq, Madagascar, Zambia, Ghana, Pakistan, Sudan, Paraguay, Cambodia, Rwanda. The AtomPro project is aimed at popularizing knowledge about Russian nuclear technologies through a series of expert lectures by representatives of businesses of the Rosatom State Corporation with foreign students of flagship universities.

    The meeting discussed key areas of Rosatom’s activities in the field of water treatment, desalination and environmental safety.

    Anna Belyakova, Senior Manager of Product Development Management at Rusatom International Network, touched upon several areas of the corporation’s work in this area. Modern desalination systems can be integrated with nuclear power plants. This allows for the efficient use of their heat and electricity to obtain fresh water, making the process more economical. Autonomous desalination plants were also presented, which are especially important for remote regions where access to water is limited.

    Representatives of the private institution “RMS” shared their experience of implementing water purification technologies at international facilities, emphasizing the importance of reusing water in industry to reduce its consumption. These solutions not only save resources, but also help minimize the impact on the environment, reducing environmental risks.

    Particular attention was paid to hybrid desalination technologies that combine evaporation and membrane filtration methods, which increases the reliability and efficiency of the process. At the end of the meeting, an interactive business game was held for foreign students. The best team received memorable prizes.

    The expert meeting became part of the developing cooperation between the university and Rosatom, aimed at popularizing Russian scientific and engineering thought among foreign students. Such an alliance in the international arena helps not only to attract students, but also creates a comfortable environment for development and adaptation both in education and in a professional career.

    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.

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    https://vvv.spbstu.ru/media/nevs/partnership/project-atompro-foreign-students-spbpo-learned-about-advanced-technologies-rosatom/

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Polytechnicians discussed cooperation with Russian Mechanics

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

    Representatives of the Higher School of Transport of the Institute of Mechanical Engineering and Technology from the Polytech Voltage Machine development team visited the company “Russian Mechanics”, which has specialized in the production of high-traffic off-road vehicles for over 50 years. It was this company that developed the first snowmobile in the USSR, the “Buran”.

    The production is located next to the Rybinsk Reservoir, a place with picturesque landscapes, ideal for a ride with the wind in the wind on the equipment produced by “Russian Mechanics”. Rybinsk itself with its historical center is no less beautiful.

    However, the Polytechnicians came not only to admire the city, but also to discuss areas of cooperation with the management of the Russian Mechanics company. Its employee, 2020 IMMiT graduate and Polytechnic Ambassador Yaroslav Pukazov conducted a full tour of the production, demonstrated the conveyor assembly of equipment and spoke about the aspects of putting the new development into serial production.

    The guests, in turn, demonstrated unmanned electric GAZelle, which they recently competed with in the final of the Fifth Level competition. This platform could potentially establish inter-shop logistics for transporting finished products to the warehouse. The company’s management and CEO Leonid Mozheiko, having become familiar with the capabilities of the unmanned vehicle, became interested in launching a trial project on their territory to improve efficiency and optimize logistics when expanding production areas.

    Following the meeting, its participants identified at least five areas of R&D that could become a step towards a strategic partnership between SPbPU and Russian Mechanics.

    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.

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    https://vvv.spbstu.ru/media/nevs/partnership/polytechnics-discussed-cooperation-with-Russian-mechanics/

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Polytechnic University at the International Astronomy Olympiad

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

    The third Open World Astronomy Olympiad (OWAO) was held in Sirius. About 100 schoolchildren from 20 countries took part in it, half of them in person.

    The Olympiad opened with congratulations from the cosmonauts from near-Earth orbit, who are currently conducting scientific experiments as part of the ISS crew. These are Oleg Kononenko, Nikolai Chub and Aleksandr Grebenkin. The participants in the competition were congratulated by the Minister of Education of Russia Sergei Kravtsov and Hero of Russia cosmonaut Oleg Skripochka, who also gave a lecture.

    The Olympiad had four rounds: theoretical, practical, observational and testing. Participants solved problems on knowledge of the starry sky, analyzed scientific material, performed astronomical calculations and made forecasts. And, of course, they communicated with famous scientists and cosmonauts, which undoubtedly contributes to increasing the motivation of talented young people to receive a STEM education. This area of youth policy is a priority both in Russia and around the world.

    The expert from Polytechnic at the Olympiad was Hussein Ali Krayani, a teacher of additional education at the Higher School of MOP and a senior lecturer at the department. He is invited to the jury for the second time.

    Hussein combines his work as an expert with active work to popularize the International Astronomy Olympiad. He helps expand its geography and attract new participants from Arab countries.

    The energy and activity of such polytechnicians as Hussein Krayani undoubtedly contribute to strengthening the image of Russian education in the world and help increase the number of talented applicants to St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, said Dmitry Arsenyev, Vice-Rector for International Affairs at SPbPU.

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

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    https://vvv.spbstu.ru/media/nevs/international_activize/polytech-at-the-international-astronomical-olympiad/

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Polytechnic University chess players held a large-scale tournament

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

    The Botvinnik Chess Club of SPbPU organized an open international interuniversity online chess tournament INTER SEP-24 as part of the Interuniversity Team Battles series. More than 1,000 people took part in the event.

    The chess players included representatives from Russia, Turkey, Bangladesh, Argentina, Kenya, Australia, Switzerland, Fiji, Brazil, India, Ghana, South Africa, Great Britain, Kazakhstan, Liberia and Mexico.

    The organization and conduct of the tournament was carried out by Polytech students Ruslan Barseghyan, Makari Yanchev, Alexey Arkhipovsky, Alexander Khvoshchev, Alena Makovkina, Alexey Aktyufeev, Daniil Agalakov, Lev Bystritsky, Artem Mkrtchyan, Elizaveta Khazagaeva, Anna Sukhova, Anastasia Kotova, Daniil Podreshetnikov, Bogdan Sivov, Angelina Velichko, Anastasia Bulyuk, Denis Zhdanov and Anastasia Kondratyeva.

    As a result, the AITU team from Astana took first place. The representatives of the Baikal State University from Irkutsk came in second. The third place was awarded to the TUSUR team from Tomsk.

    Once again, the largest inter-university tournament brought together representatives from 16 countries. We intend to develop and expand this event further to make it part of the international university culture, – shared the head of the SPbPU chess club Pavel Martynov.

    The final table of the international interuniversity chess tournament INTER SEP-24 can be seen atlink.

    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.

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    https://vvv.spbstu.ru/media/nevs/sport/chess-players-Polytechnic-held-a-large-scale-tournament/

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Deputy Minister Mr Alvin Botes, delivers a public lecture at at the University of KwaZulu Natal

    Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements-2)

    The Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Mr Alvin Botes, delivers a public lecture at the University of KwaZulu Natal, Durban, The Public Lecture will focus on a review of South Africa’s role in the world after 30 years of democracy, including challenges and opportunities.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gU3TdSWafvg

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reeling In Marine Energy Data with Expanded Analysis Tools

    Source: US National Renewable Energy Laboratory

    Software Pinpoints Way To Generate Maximum Electricity From Waves, Tides, and Currents

    Marine energy devices have the potential to deliver gigantic amounts of power―if they can survive the ocean’s punishing conditions. Innovative system designs are needed to convert wave movements into electricity, but the sea is vast and complex, and deployment in these remote locations is expensive.

    Created by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), and Sandia National Laboratories (Sandia), the Marine and Hydrokinetic Toolkit (MHKiT) can save time and money in the assessment of breakthrough technologies in marine renewable energy (MRE) and their performance under a wide range of aquatic conditions.

    [embedded content]

    NREL research involving MHKiT and other tools is helping maximize the amount of renewable marine energy captured from the ocean and other bodies of water. Video by NREL. Text version

    How can researchers and developers overcome obstacles and harness the full potential of MRE, a small fraction of which could provide enough electricity to power approximately 22 million U.S. homes? Part of the solution lies with the measurement of waves and ocean currents, as well as power production, using real-world and modeled data. MHKiT supplies the data validation and standardized analysis tools needed to make informed decisions and maximize the potential clean power generated from this abundant supply.

    Recent updates to the version of MHKiT built for the MATLAB programming platform (MHKiT-MATLAB), which is used extensively by industry engineers and university researchers, allow users to model extreme sea states and visualize theoretical river flow and turbulence. Parallel updates to the version of MHKiT built for the Python programming platform (MHKiT-Python) include additional support for multidimensional data commonly generated by authorities such as the Coastal Data Information Program (CDIP) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

    A wave energy converter device preparing for ocean deployment at the Coastal Studies Institute, East Carolina University Outer Banks Campus. Photo by Andrew Simms, NREL

    “New functionality in MHKiT-MATLAB gives more developers the ability to standardize their measurement data, which not only can tell us the amount of energy and turbulence found at each site,” MHKiT-MATLAB Developer and NREL Data Scientist Andrew Simms said. “It also lets us explore site conditions in more in-depth ways, hopefully leading to tidal turbines that can operate reliably for a long time into the future.”

    Both versions of the toolkit provide code needed to maximize the potential of MRE systems. One set of features helps researchers model severe ocean conditions, such as unusually strong and large waves and swells. Other modules make it possible to analyze river and tidal flow data based on acoustic Doppler current profiler measurements. The software helps researchers analyze how new technologies stack up against power performance, power quality, mechanical load, and resource specifications of the International Electrotechnical Commission, as well as the demands of specific marine sites and conditions.

    MHKiT’s reproducible code examples guide users at every stage, from raw measurements to standardized analysis. The free, open-source suite of software gives users full access to MHKiT tools, allowing developers to process their data in a standardized way while gaining a comprehensive understanding of each step of analysis and contributing feedback along the way.

    Going With the Flow of Two Major Programming Platforms

    With recent updates to the toolkit, the large number of researchers, designers, and developers who work in MATLAB-based environments can now use MHKiT to support more areas of their MRE modeling and analysis efforts, as well as contribute to ongoing tool refinement. New MHKiT-MATLAB (v0.5.0) features provide support for modeling extreme ocean conditions and generating river turbine visualizations with Delft3D modeling.

    More extensive enhancements and additions to MHKiT-Python (v0.8.2) offer improved identification and analysis of significant wave events, including crests and crossings, as well as calculations of individual wave heights. The Doppler Oceanography Library for pYthoN (DOLfYN) module adds altimeter support, better handling of data collected on the Nortek software that is standard for CDIP and NOAA, and more robust support for raw data interface (RDI) files. Other updates augment the processing and analysis of dimensional data (NetCDF) while streamlining the overall Python-based development process.

    Lifting Performance With a Rising Tide of Collaboration

    Developers of this hydraulic and electric reverse osmosis wave energy converter are using MHKiT to perform standardized power performance calculations from data collected in the ocean off Nags Head, North Carolina. Photo by Andrew Simms, NREL

    “Yes, MHKiT is a powerful tool, with standardized, validated code, software, and data that make it possible to control analysis quality,” NREL MHKiT-MATLAB Developer Chris Ivanov said. “But its real strengths lie in ongoing contributions of the collaborative community. Partners across the country and around the world help identify areas for future functionality and put modules through their paces in exploring new scenarios and ever-evolving system designs.”

    Since the launch of MHKiT in 2020, the toolkit has been downloaded more than 29,000 times, with more than 30 collaborators contributing features and documentation to shape its functionality. Recently, this extended team has focused on unit testing, continuous integration, and code reviews to keep the software up to date while maintaining its effectiveness and reliability.

    Unit testing ensures that each component of the toolkit functions correctly, while continuous integration automatically evaluates and integrates changes. Regular code reviews help identify and address issues, improving overall code quality.

    Scanning the Horizon for the Next Wave

    Funded by DOE’s Water Power Technologies Office, MHKiT data and software tools are supplemented with clear and comprehensive examples of how to perform many different analysis tasks. In future Python and MATLAB versions, MHKiT developers plan to expand and improve these example notebooks, as well as build modules for acoustic monitoring and continue to refine overall functionality and performance. 

    “Before, most MRE developers were forced to build their own tools for data processing and analysis,” Simms said. “Now, MHKiT gives everyone a head start on data analysis. If we can make analysis as easy and painless as possible, developers can spend more of their time building better devices.”

    Learn more about MHKiT, NREL’s marine energy research and tools, and the laboratory’s leadership in powering the blue economy. And subscribe to the NREL water power newsletter, The Current, for the latest news on NREL’s water power research.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: FACT SHEET: Biden-⁠ Harris Administration Announces Over 250 Organizations Made Voluntary Commitments to White  House Challenge to Save Lives from  Overdose

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    Today, the Biden-Harris Administration is announcing that over 250 organizations, businesses, and stakeholders across the country have made voluntary commitments to the White House Challenge to Save Lives from Overdose.
    The Challenge, launched earlier this year, is a nationwide call-to-action to stakeholders across all sectors to increase training on, and access to, life-saving opioid overdose reversal medications like naloxone. The voluntary commitments highlighted today build on progress made under President Biden and Vice President Harris’s Unity Agenda, which calls on all Americans, in red states, blue states¸ and everywhere in between, to come together and help address the nation’s overdose epidemic.
    Under President Biden and Vice President Harris’s leadership, the Biden-Harris Administration has taken historic action and made unprecedented investments to reduce overdose deaths. The Administration removed decades-long barriers to treatment for substance use disorder and expanded access to life-saving overdose reversal medications like naloxone.  The Administration also acted to make naloxone available over-the-counter at groceries and pharmacies for the first time in history. Today, the nation is now seeing the largest decrease in overdose deaths on record.
    The White House received commitments to the Challenge from private and public entities, spanning entertainment and hospitality, professional sports leagues, health care providers, trade associations, schools and universities, technology companies, transportation partners, faith groups, private businesses, and more. A number of organizations and businesses made new voluntary commitments as part of the White House Challenge to Save Lives from Overdose, including:
    Amazon is equipping its North American operations facilities with naloxone and bolstering its emergency response procedures with comprehensive training for employees on how to recognize signs of an opioid overdose and properly administer naloxone. Amazon is rolling out its naloxone program in two phases, starting with its most densely populated fulfillment centers. By early 2025, the program will expand to all of Amazon’s operations sites in the U.S., covering over 500,000 employees at hundreds of sites nationwide.
    American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) commits to train its members and staff on proper use of opioid overdose reversal medications. They also commit to including opioid overdose medications in all first aid kits.
    The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) is working with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to implement naloxone on flights, including trainings. They previously worked with the FAA to require that Emergency Medical Kits (EMK) carried by passenger airlines include naloxone.
    Atlanta Public Schools (APS) is implementing a district-wide training available to all school staff to recognize and reverse overdose. Currently, 136 APS health and security personnel have completed naloxone training. APS stocks naloxone in every elementary, middle, and high school in the district, serving nearly 50,000 students and 8,000 employees, and has opioid educational posters and brochures to increase school community awareness.
    Butler University formed the Butler Overdose Action Team, comprised of faculty, staff, and student leaders, in response to the White House Challenge to Save Lives from Overdose. The team is leading campus-wide initiatives to increase awareness, training, and access to lifesaving opioid overdose reversal medication, and collaborating with local health organizations in Indianapolis to promote education on opioid use disorder on campus. Butler also recently placed naloxone in all 58 Emergency Kits across campus, and plans are underway for comprehensive naloxone training for students and employees.
    Charleston County School District (CCSD) commits to working with their community and local substance use agencies to provide educational programs on and promote the use of opioid overdose reversal medications (OORM). CCSD’s substance use program commits to educate students, staff, and parents/caregivers about the dangers of illicit fentanyl and how OORM can save lives. In addition, CCSD works closely with district nursing staff on the use and availability of OORM in CCSD’s 83 schools that serve approximately 49,000 students.
    The Dallas Area Rapid Transit Police Department commits to train and equip all of its Police Officers with naloxone. The Department supports a regional transit agency in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex, covering six counties and thirteen cities.
    Deloitte LLP will equip U.S.-based Deloitte Offices with naloxone by December 2024. Naloxone will be placed in Automated External Defibrillator (AED) cabinets at its offices across the U.S. Further, Deloitte will train select office personnel to recognize and help treat overdose.
    Keystone Contractors Association (KCA) is recommending to its members that every construction jobsite and contractor’s office have naloxone available on-site. This builds upon KCA’s work in prior years in launching the Pennsylvania Construction Opioid Awareness Week to get resources and training to construction employers to provide to their workers.
    Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) commits to reach its 500,000+ members, their families, and LIUNA affiliates with education on the importance of naloxone on jobsites, training on how to use the medication, and information on where and how to get it. This work is in addition to developing and promoting comprehensive safety and health information on opioid use.
    The National Hockey League (NHL) commits to working with its clubs and staff to make life-saving medication readily available across NHL offices and in arenas. NHL is helping clubs make naloxone available at home games with their first aid units, and ensuring on-site personnel are trained to administer it on game nights. NHL is also advising clubs to include naloxone in their travel medical kits, and encouraging its availability in the visiting team’s emergency bags.
    San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (SDMTS) now trains every newly hired Code Compliance Inspector (CCI) from the Transit Security and Passenger Safety Department in the recognition of opioid overdose and issues naloxone as required equipment for staff. In 2024, CCIs administered naloxone nearly 200 times, and the SDMTS Bus Division Road Supervisors also started carrying naloxone. SDMTS started training CCIs to carry and administer naloxone in July 2021 in response to the overdose crisis.
    Commitments from these entities build upon steps taken in recent years by other organizations that joined the White House Challenge to Save Lives from Overdose to address the overdose epidemic. Examples of these actions from organizations include:
    American Heart Association and Opioid Response Network are partnering on the EmPOWERED to End Opioid Misuse and Stimulant Use Disorder Initiative that aims to address opioid and stimulant usage within Black and Hispanic communities. They have partnered with Black and Hispanic churches to implement community trainings and disseminate educational tools to facilitate open and honest conversations with a wide range of people on the stigmatization of people experiencing opioid and substance use disorders.
    International Union of Painters & Allied Trades (IUPAT) District Council 35 prioritizes support for and awareness of mental health and substance use, and provides overdose education and training on naloxone to its members and apprentices. IUPAT also distributes naloxone to its members, apprentices, and jobsites. IUPAT is part of a broader effort by the Massachusetts Building Trades Recovery Council, which has distributed more than 11,000 doses of naloxone to 14 building trades unions across Massachusetts for distribution to their membership. The Recovery Council receives naloxone from Massachusetts’ Bureau of Substance Abuse Services’ Community Naloxone Program.
    The Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) in Florida has developed overdose rescue training for operations, safety, and security staff, and implemented a ‘bus marshal’ program, where naloxone-equipped security officers ride strategically-targeted routes. This led to saving the life of a bus passenger who was experiencing overdose. JTA also launched ‘Safety on the Move’, delivering free overdose prevention and rescue training and naloxone kits to at-risk communities in partnership with Drug Free Duval, Community Coalition Alliance, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Foundation, and North Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Overdose Response Strategy.
    The North Carolina Council of Churches (NCCC) hosts a Partners in Health and Wholeness initiative that works to bridge the issues of faith, health, and justice. This includes the Overdose Response program that offers opioid workshops to faith communities that seek to learn more about the opioid crisis and how they can help with response, and incorporates naloxone distribution upon request. They also received grant funding to provide local churches with resources for opioid-related initiatives for their members. 
    The Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) has more than 1,400 businesses in its membership, including restaurants, food and hospitality vendors, and allied businesses that work within the food industry in DC, Northern Virginia, and Suburban Maryland. RAMW began partnering with the DC Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) to provide overdose education and naloxone distribution to restaurants in DC, including large trainings for business improvement districts. Restaurants can order a kit to receive by mail from RAMW’s website.
    The San Francisco Entertainment Commission is partnering with the San Francisco Department of Public Health to raise awareness about the presence of illicit fentanyl at and around nightlife spaces, and increase the entertainment industry’s access to life-saving naloxone. To date, they have led in-person trainings for staff at 18 nightlife businesses in San Francisco, distributed 300+ doses of naloxone at outreach events, and reached approximately 900 nightlife attendees through on-stage overdose prevention trainings before performances and other events.
    This Must Be the Place is a nonprofit providing free naloxone to attendees at music venues and festivals across the country. They committed to passing out over 60,000 free kits of naloxone at places like Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo, Austin City Limits, and Dreamville. Seventy percent of the population they reach are receiving naloxone for the first time.
    United Airlines equips each of its enhanced medical kits on every aircraft and station across the network with opioid overdose reversal medications. All of United’s 28,000+ flight attendants are annually trained in the proper use of these life-saving medications. Over the past five years, United has purchased nearly 1,200 units annually, ensuring greater safety for both passengers and crew, including flight attendants and pilots.
    The University of Rhode Island (URI), through its Cooperative Extension program, established the Community First Responder Program (CFRP). CFRP provides more than 50,000 kits annually. CFRP offers in-person and online educational trainings for the public at schools and town halls, and to healthcare providers, first responders, police, and more. They also distribute naloxone and safer-use kits at events in partnership with CVS Health and the U.S. Postal Service. CFRP has expanded services to rural regions of five other New England states through a grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). CFRP is expanding its regional rural overdose education via collaborations with New Hampshire Cooperative Extension, Husson University School of Pharmacy (Maine), University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Western New England University College of Pharmacy (Massachusetts), and University of Vermont Cooperative Extension. As naloxone is often inaccessible to New England’s rural regions, CFRP offers to mail no-cost naloxone to participants completing its online interactive module, “Become a Community First Responder.”
    Additional voluntary commitments can be found here.
    In support of President Biden and Vice President Harris’ whole-of-government approach to address the overdose epidemic, federal agencies are working to help expand access to life-saving opioid overdose reversal medications like naloxone and save even more lives. These efforts also align with updated Guidelines for Safety Station Programs in Federal Facilitiesreleased in December 2023:
    The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has authorized first responders in its Office of Safety, Security and Personnel and throughout the U.S. Forest Service who are equipped and trained in the administration of opioid overdose reversal medications (OORM).  Additionally, USDA’s Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships has provided OORM trainings to over 40 community partners across 15 states as part of its Rural and Farming Communities Mental Health and Suicide Prevention work. USDA remains committed to continuing and expanding the reach of these trainings.
    The Department of Commerce‘s Office of Export Enforcement (OEE) is training Special Agents in the use of opioid overdose reversal medications (OORM) in October 2024, allowing OEE Special Agents to safely and effectively deploy them. OEE will have OORM accessible during all preplanned enforcement operations by January 2025. 
    The Department of Defense (DoD) is committed to opioid safety and prevention of overdose. To strengthen DoD’s emergency response protocols, naloxone is available across installations in the Continental United States and training programs have been expanded, ensuring first responders are equipped and trained. The DoD remains committed to the safety and prevention of overdose by continuing its efforts to provide naloxone access to DoD first responders and investigators and to provide associated trainings beyond DoD first responders.
    The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) is increasing training on and access to naloxone. The Indian Health Service (IHS) now mandates annual overdose response training for all IHS employees, contractors, students, and volunteers. Further, before 2025, naloxone training and a guide on procuring naloxone (i.e., using state standing orders, city and county public health departments, etc.) will be available to all U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps officers, and naloxone will be available in safety stations at all HHS regional offices. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), in partnership with the Program Support Center (PSC) and the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Health (OASH), will equip all AED stations in its headquarters with naloxone, and SAMHSA hosted an annual naloxone training for all staff as part of its International Overdose Awareness Day recognition. Additionally, naloxone training will be added to the HHS Learning Management System available to all HHS personnel, including volunteer Federal Civilian Responders.
    The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued, and recently updated, a policy regarding the Administration of Naloxone by Non-Healthcare Providers. This policy directs DHS agencies and offices to identify their workforce populations at higher risk of exposure and develop a program to equip them with both naloxone and the training to use it.  The DHS Office of Health Security (OHS) developed virtual and in-person training modules that DHS agencies and offices can use to train their non-healthcare providers or as the basis for developing their own workforce-specific training. DHS continues to work to operationalize formal programs that equip non-healthcare providers with Component-procured naloxone.
    The Department of the Interior (DOI) has issued guidance on the training, carrying, and use of naloxone by DOI employees who may come into contact with persons suspected of opioid overdose during their normal course of duties. The guidance allows critical first responders – including emergency medical responders and emergency medical technicians (EMR/EMT), firefighter EMTs, and law enforcement officers – to have access to opioid overdose reversal medications at various sites nationwide, including national parks and tribal lands. As DOI components continue to conduct risk assessments to identify high-risk areas and appropriate personnel to be trained, the Department is poised to implement vital resources efficiently to preserve life and protect the public.
    The Department of Justice (DOJ) has enacted policies so employees most likely to encounter overdose victims have access to opioid overdose reversal medications (OORM) and the training to safely and effectively deploy them. Pursuant to these policies, its law enforcement agencies – Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and U.S. Marshals Service – will have OORM accessible during all preplanned enforcement operations; all Federal Bureau of Prisons staff at all sites will have access to OORM 24 hours a day; and all DOJ public-facing facilities and law enforcement facilities will have safety stations equipped with OORM.
    The United States Postal Service (USPS) has trained 59,000 employees in 1,318 facilities in U.S. counties facing high numbers of overdose deaths in response to the White House Challenge to Save Lives from Overdose. Also, USPS has procured and distributed naloxone to first aid kits in these facilities. As the USPS continues it communication activities on overdose prevention, it expects to reach over 500,000 employees, many of whom have public-facing roles as part of the Postal Service’s ubiquitous footprint across the United States. 
    The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is working to make training available to all employees by December 2024 and will develop and issue a policy statement to support naloxone implementation by March 2025. VA also pledges to ensure opioid overdose reversal medications are available in all high-risk Veterans Health Administration health care areas, including at VA Medical Centers and outpatient clinics, and in all Vet Centers by the end of 2025.
    Read more on the White House Challenge to Save Lives from Overdose HERE.
    Read more on the Biden-Harris Administration actions to address the overdose epidemic HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Polytechnic University donated books to libraries of Donetsk People’s Republic

    MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

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

    The Polytechnic University donated literature on socially significant topics, including specialized publications on construction, architecture and transport, to replenish and form new library collections in the city of Yenakiyevo in the Donetsk People’s Republic.

    The interaction of the Polytechnic University with new regions is not limited to the exchange of experience and the implementation of joint educational programs. An important aspect of cooperation has become the transfer of educational and scientific resources.

    Today, library collections in new territories are experiencing a significant shortage of high-quality specialized literature in Russian, noted Lyudmila Pankova, Vice-Rector for Educational Activities at SPbPU.

    Polytechnic University collected more than 150 textbooks and teaching aids. The authors of many publications are teachers of our university. Representatives of the Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Transport, the Institute of Physics and Mathematics, the Civil Engineering Institute, as well as the Information and Library Complex of SPbPU took an active part in collecting books.

    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.

    Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    https://vvv.spbstu.ru/media/nevs/student_life/polytechnic-donated-books-to-the-libraries-of-the-Donetsk-people’s-republic/

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Policing protests in London

    Source: Mayor of London

    Policing protests and large-scale events in the capital is putting increased strain on the Metropolitan Police Service, with the Met describing the increased protests since October 2023 as the “greatest period of sustained pressure since the Olympics in 2012”.1

    This coincides with budgetary pressures in the Met, and reduced staffing and officer numbers.2 Officers from local neighbourhood teams are often redeployed to deal with protest and public order activity at short notice, impacting on local services.

    Tomorrow, the London Assembly Police and Crime Committee will hold the first meeting of its investigation into public order policing in London.

    The meeting will explore the challenges the Met is facing with policing large events and protests, as well as the recent Notting Hill Carnival, where police made 334 arrests.3

    The Committee will also look into the impact of new legislation and whether the right balance is being struck between preventing excessive disruption and the right to protest.

    Guests include:

    Panel 1: 10:00am – 11:30am

    • Matt Parr, former Inspector, HMICFRS 
    • Lord Walney, Government Independent Adviser on Political Violence and Disruption
    • Kirsty Brimelow KC, Barrister, Doughty Street Chambers 

    Panel 2: 11:35am – 1:00pm

    • Jodie Beck, Policy and Campaigns Officer, Liberty
    • Professor Geoff Pearson, Professor of Law at the University of Manchester and Academic Director of the N8 Policing Research Partnership
    • Tom Southerden, Programme Director, Law & Human Rights, Amnesty International
    • David Spencer, Head of Crime and Justice, Policy Exchange

    The meeting will take place on Wednesday 9 October 2024 from 10am in the Chamber at City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, E16 1ZE.

    Media and members of the public are invited to attend.

    The meeting can also be viewed LIVE or later via webcast or YouTube.

    Follow us @LondonAssembly.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Consolidating North Macedonia’s institutional framework for circular economy transition

    Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

    8:30 – 9:00

    Registration

    9:00 – 9:20

    Opening

    • H.E. Mr. Kire Ilioski, Ambassador, Director for Multilateral Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, North Macedonia
    • Mr. Blerim Zllatku, State Advisor, Ministry of Economy and Work, North Macedonia
    • Ms. Rita Columbia, Resident Coordinator, United Nations Resident Coordination Office, North Macedonia

    9:20 – 10:25

    North Macedonia’s development landscape: National reforms and future challenges

    • Trade Facilitation

    Mr. Marjan Tasevski, Director of Sector for Customs System, Customs Administration, North Macedonia

    • Environmental sustainability

    Ms. Ana Karanfilova Maznevska, Head of Waste Department, Ministry of Environment, North Macedonia

    • Energy sustainability

    Ms. Valentina Stardelova, Ministry of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources, North Macedonia

    • Quality Infrastructure

    Ms. Neriman Xheladini, Head of Department Single Market, Ministry of Economy and Work, North Macedonia

    • Construction

    Mr. Toni Arangelovski, Professor, Civil Engineering Faculty, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, North Macedonia (UKIM)

    10:25 – 10:40

    Unpacking the concept of the circular economy: Principles and business models

    • Ms. Hana Daoudi, Economic Affairs Officer, Economic Cooperation and Trade Division, UNECE

    10:40 – 11:00

    Upscaling the textile industry’s circular practices: the role of traceability

    • Ms. Claudia Di Bernardino, Lawyer and UN/CEFACT (United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business) project expert, UNECE Team of Specialists on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Traceability of Supply Value Chains

    11:00 – 11:15

    Coffee Break

    11:15 – 11:50

    Circular stories from North Macedonia’s textiles industry

    • Ms. Natasha Sivevska, Executive Director, Textile Trade Association, North Macedonia
    • Ms. Evgenija Najdska, Manager, Waste Management, Comfy Angel, North Macedonia
    • Ms. Sirma Zheleva, Head of Sustainable Solutions Textile Recovery Solutions, TexCycle, Republic of Bulgaria 

    11:50 – 12:10

    From farm to fork: Circular innovations in the food industry

    • Mr. Shane Ward, Professor Emeritus of Biosystems Engineering, School of Biosystems and Food Engineering, University College Dublin

    12:10 – 13:00

    Circular stories from North Macedonia’s food industry

    • Mr. Petar Georgievski, President, Rural Development Network of the North Macedonia
    • Mr. Abdulezel Dogani, Chief Executive Officer, Vezë Sharri, North Macedonia
    • Mr. Jana Klopcevska, Associate Professor, Department of Food and Biotechnology, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, North Macedonia (UKIM)
    • Mr. Ismail Ferati, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Food Technology and Nutrition, University of Tetova, North Macedonia
    • Ms. Irena Djimrevska, Advisor and Project Coordinator, Deutsche Gesellschaft fürInternationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH

    13.00 – 13.20

    Questions and answers

    13:20 – 14:20

    Lunch Break

    14:20 – 14:40

    Closing the loop: Best practices in waste management for circularity

    • Mr. Gergely Hankó, Managing Director, Hungarian Association of Environmental Enterprises (HAEE)

    14:40 – 15:40

    Circular stories from North Macedonia’s waste treatment industry

    • Mr. Filip Ivanov, Deputy President, Macedonian Solid Waste Association
    • Mr. Filip Ivanovski, Managing Director, Pakomak, North Macedonia
    • Mr. Ljubomir Pejovski, Environment Manager, Makstil AD, North Macedonia
    • Mr. Vlado Momirovski, Manager, Ekocentar 97, North Macedonia 
    • Ms. Angelina Taneva-Veshoska, Institute for Research in Environment, Civil Engineering and Energy (IEGE)
    • Ms. Tamara Todorovska, Deputy Chief of Party/ Public-Private Dialogue Lead, USAID Partnerships for Economic Growth, North Macedonia

    15:40 – 15:55

    Questions and answers

    15:55 – 16:25

    Researching circularity: academic perspectives on the transition

    • Mr. Dejan Mirakovski, Rector, Goce Delcev University of Štip, North Macedonia
    • Ms. Emilija Fidanchevski, Full Professor, Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, North Macedonia (UKIM)
    • Ms. Aleksandra Martinovska Stojcheska, Full Professor, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Food at the Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje (UKIM)

    16:25 – 16:40

    Coffee Break

    16:40 – 17:30

    Supporting circular economy practices among enterprises: the experience of North Macedonia’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry

    • Ms. Daniela Mihajlovska, Manager, Centre for Circular Economy, Economic Chamber of North Macedonia
    • Mr. Edvard Sofevski, President, Small Business Chamber of Commerce, North Macedonia
    • Ms. Elena Miloshevska Jovanovska, Country Representative, Swiss Import Promotion Program (SIPPO), North Macedonia
    • Mr. Goran Damovski, Team Leader, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) Increasing Market Employability (IME) Program, North Macedonia
    • Ms. Irina Janevska, President, Organization for Social Innovation (ARNO), North Macedonia

    17:30 – 17:45

    Financing the circular transition

    • Delegation of the European Union to North Macedonia

    17:45 – 18.00

    Questions and answers

    18:00 – 18:15

    Closing remarks: Mapping future cooperation with UNECE

    • Mr. Blerim Zllatku, State Advisor, Ministry of Economy and Work, North Macedonia
    • Mr. Ariel Ivanier, Chief, Market Access Section, Economic Cooperation and Trade Division, UNECE

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI: Lindsay Grider Joins Braemont Capital as Partner and Head of Capital Partnerships

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DALLAS, Oct. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Braemont Capital (“Braemont” or the “Firm”), a relationship-driven investment firm that partners with exceptional companies at growth inflection points, today announced that Lindsay Grider has joined the Firm as Partner and Head of Capital Partnerships. Ms. Grider will lead Braemont’s capital formation, fundraising, and investor engagement initiatives, as well as continued strategy development.

    Ms. Grider comes to Braemont with nearly two decades of experience building fundraising and investor relations programs as well as developing fund formation and strategy initiatives. She previously served as Global Head of Fundraising and Investor Relations at Levine Leichtman Capital Partners (“LLCP”) where she led investor engagement, capital raising and strategic marketing efforts. Prior to joining LLCP, Ms. Grider was Head of Investor Relations for Tailwater Capital and Director of Investor Relations at NGP Energy Capital Management.

    Robert Covington, Founder and Managing Partner, said, “Lindsay is one of the most respected investor relations professionals in our industry and will bring a wealth of experience, insight and innovation to both our capital raising and the strategic leadership of our firm. Lindsay brings a long track record of serving as a trusted partner to investors all over the world and her addition furthers Braemont’s commitment to serving as the preferred partner for families and founders and for our investors for years to come. We are delighted to welcome her to the Firm.”

    Ms. Grider commented, “I am thrilled to join Robert and the Braemont team at such an exciting time. Braemont is known for its distinct investing approach and commitment to its partners, and I continue to be impressed with what the team has been able to achieve in such a short period. I look forward to working closely with the Firm’s network to execute fundraising and co-investment strategies to support our investments and drive excellent outcomes for all our partners.”

    Ms. Grider previously worked as Director at Sterling Stamos and began her career at Citigroup and Wachovia Securities in their investment banking divisions. She serves as a Senior Advisor to 3P Energy Capital and has served on the boards of several industry and charitable organizations at a local and national level. She holds a B.A. in International Commerce from Vanderbilt University.

    About Braemont Capital
    Braemont Capital is a relationship-driven investment firm focused on partnering with founders, families and ownership-minded management teams to invest in exceptional companies at growth inflection points. Our firm is differentiated by the combination of an experienced team, extensive industry partner network and a flexible, long-term capital base. We are growth-oriented and seek to generate superior outcomes through entrepreneurial business-building initiatives. Our capital base enables us to be flexible in structuring and holding investments to execute these initiatives and create enduring value. For more information, please visit: http://www.Braemont.com or http://www.linkedin.com/company/braemont-capital.

    The information contained herein has been prepared solely for informational purposes and is not an offer to buy or sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any securities or to participate in any investment strategy and may not be used or relied upon in connection with any offer or sale of securities. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Braemont Capital Management, LLC is an investment adviser registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

    For Braemont media inquiries, please contact:
    Gagnier Communications
    Dan Gagnier
    Braemont@gagnierfc.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Video: Deputy Minister Mr Alvin Botes, delivers a public lecture at the University of KwaZulu Natal

    Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements-2)

    The Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Mr Alvin Botes, delivers a public lecture at the University of KwaZulu Natal, Durban, The Public Lecture will focus on a review of South Africa’s role in the world after 30 years of democracy, including challenges and opportunities.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qy3p4TgvYmk

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: New Permanent Representative of Ecuador Presents Credentials to the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva

    Source: United Nations – Geneva

    Marcelo Vàzquez Bermúdez, the new Permanent Representative of Ecuador to the United Nations Office at Geneva, today presented his credentials to Tatiana Valovaya, the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva.

    Prior to his appointment to Geneva, Mr. Vàzquez Bermúdez had served as the Legal Adviser of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ecuador since 2020. From 2014 to 2019, he was Ecuador’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States.  He was Legal Adviser of the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ecuador from 2011 to 2013, and the Permanent Delegate of Ecuador to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization from 2006 to 2011.  He also served as Legal Adviser of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 2003 to 2006, and Legal Adviser of the Permanent Mission of Ecuador to the United Nations in New York from 1998 to 2003.

    Mr. Vàzquez Bermúdez has been First Vice-Chairman and then Chairman of the International Law Commission of the United Nations since 2023, and has served as its Special Rapporteur for General Principles of Law since 2018.  He has held other positions with the Commission over the years.  He has also lectured at several Universities and has published books and articles on international law.

    Mr. Vàzquez Bermúdez is a Doctor of Law and Attorney at Law, School of Law of the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito.  He also holds a Master of Laws in International Law from the School of Law of the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, Lima; a graduate diploma from Andrés Bello Diplomatic Academy, Chile; and he studied international law at Columbia University, New York.

     

     

    Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the media; 
    not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.

     

    CR24.038E

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: New Permanent Representative of Panama Presents Credentials to the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva

    Source: United Nations – Geneva

    Juan Alberto Castillero Correa, the new Permanent Representative of Panama to the United Nations Office at Geneva, today presented his credentials to Tatiana Valovaya, the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva.

    Mr. Castillero Correa served as the Permanent Representative of Panama to the United Nations Office at Geneva from 2019 until June 2024.  He also held the same post from 2004 to 2009. He served as non-resident Ambassador to Qatar from 2008 to 2009, and as ad hoc and ad Honorem Ambassador of Panama in special mission from 1996 until 1999.

    Since 1975, Mr. Castillero Correa has worked as a lawyer, practicing public and private international law in relation to treaties and contracts, corporate law, maritime law, air law, privatisation, and tenders. 

    Mr. Castillero Correa was born in 1948. He holds a Bachelor of Science from the National Institute of Panama (1966) and a degree in law and political science from the University of Panama (1975).  He attended the French Language and Civilization School of the University of Geneva (1975), and studied private international law at the Faculty of Law of the University of Geneva (1976).  He is a member of the Panamanian Bar Association and the Maritime Law Association of Panama.

     

    Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the media; 
    not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.

     

    CR24.039E

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Office of the Governor – News Release – Gov. Green Appoints Todd Apo to HTA Board

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    JOSH GREEN, M.D.

    GOVERNOR
    KE KIAʻĀINA

    GOVERNOR GREEN APPOINTS TODD APO TO HAWAIʻI TOURISM AUTHORITY BOARD OF DIRECTORS

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    October 7, 2024

    HONOLULU — Governor Josh Green, M.D., today announced the appointment of Todd Apo to the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (HTA) board of directors. Apo will serve in the position on an interim basis, pending confirmation by the state Senate. Apo’s term for the seat vacated by Sig Zane extends through June 30, 2028.

    “Todd is an accomplished leader with extensive experience in community development, public affairs and legal practice, making him ideal for the HTA board,” said Governor Green. “His diverse skill set and deep understanding of Hawai‘i’s unique cultural landscape will contribute significantly to advancing HTA’s goals.”

    Currently CEO of ‘Iole, a nonprofit focused on sustainability and resilience, Apo has previously served in senior roles at the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation and Howard Hughes Holdings Inc. (formerly the Howard Hughes Corp.), where he integrated cultural values into community initiatives. During his tenure as Honolulu City Council Chair, he oversaw significant legislative initiatives and budget management, strengthening community relationships and enhancing local governance.

    Apo earned a Juris Doctorate from the William S. Richardson School of Law and dual A.B. degrees in Computer Science and Economics from Brown University, and combines a strong academic background with a commitment to public service. He serves on numerous boards, including the Hawai‘i Special Olympics and Bishop Museum.

    A courtesy photo of Todd Apo can be found here.

    # # #

    Media Contacts:   
    Erika Engle
    Press Secretary
    Office of the Governor, State of Hawai‘i
    Phone: 808-586-0120
    Email: [email protected]

    Makana McClellan
    Director of Communications
    Office of the Governor, State of Hawaiʻi
    Cell: 808-265-0083
    Email: [email protected]

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: From mass deportations to huge tariff hikes, here’s what Trump’s economic program would do the US and to Australia

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University

    Prashantrajsingh/Shutterstock

    It’s time to take Donald Trump seriously. Betting markets say it’s as likely as not he will be elected US president four weeks from today.

    And unlike in 2016 when his program wasn’t clearly defined, he has set out plainly what he intends to do. Which means it’s possible to model the consequences.

    The three Trump promises with the greatest economic impact are

    • the deportation of millions of US residents

    • steep restrictions on imports, especially from China

    • presidential influence over interest rates.

    The best way to model the consequences is with an established model of the kind used by the International Monetary Fund and central banks around the world rather than one set up for the purpose that could be seen as designed to favour or not favour Trump.

    The Washington-based Peterson Institute for International Economics has just done that, noting that during Trump’s first term as president he “by and large” did what he said he would do.

    It finds

    ironically, despite his ‘make the foreigners pay rhetoric’, Trump’s package of policies does more damage to the US economy than to any other in the world.

    No other country in the world would be hurt by Trump’s program as much as the US – not even China – although several US allies would suffer, including Australia, which would be the fourth-worst hit by the most extreme version of what Trump is proposing.

    Peterson Institute for International Economics.

    Mass deportations

    Trump has repeatedly promised the “largest domestic deportation operation in American history,” targeting up to 20 million unauthorised immigrants, including about 8.3 million thought to be in the workforce.

    He says his model is Operation Wetback – a 1956 Eisenhower administration program that used military-style tactics to deport 1.3 million Mexicans.

    The institute says Eisenhower’s success makes it easy to believe Trump could remove 1.3 million immigrant workers. It has modelled two scenarios: removing 1.3 million and 8.3 million, both over two years in 2025 and 2026.

    Both slash employment, including the employment of non-immigrants, both push up inflation, which eventually is brought under control, and both make the US a less attractive place to invest, which benefits much of the rest of the world.

    The institute says the low and high scenarios differ “only by the degree of damage inflicted on people, households, firms, and the overall economy”.

    Huge tariff hikes

    Trump wants to increase every tariff on goods imported to the US by 10 percentage points, including where there is at present no tariff. And he wants at least a 60% tariff on imports from China. The institute has modelled both, with and without retaliatory tariffs from China and the rest of the world.

    It finds, unsurprisingly, that extra tariffs push up the price of US imports and the prices of US-produced goods that compete with imports. Many are used as inputs in manufacturing, which means US manufacturing suffers (which is probably not what Trump had in mind).

    Fewer imports mean less demand for foreign exchange within the US, which means a higher US dollar which makes US exports less competitive. The US economy is weaker as a result, although China’s is weaker still and Australia’s is weakened as much as the US given its role in providing resources to China.

    Nobbling the Fed

    Trump has raised the prospect of more presidential influence over interest rates, saying he thinks he has “a better instinct than, in many cases” the board of US Federal Reserve. This could be achieved by requiring the president to be consulted on rate decisions or by appointing a compliant chair.

    However it’s done, the institute’s “conservative” assumption based on what happens in developing countries with less central bank independence is that it will push inflation two percentage points higher.

    The modelled result is capital flight. While the US economy is initially stronger than it would have been because of the Fed’s willingness to tolerate higher inflation, after a few years it is weaker and every other economy is stronger.

    When all the measures are combined, under the extreme scenarios the US economy is 6.7% weaker than it would have been by 2035 and Australia’s is 0.2% weaker. Under the more modest scenarios, the US economy is 1.6% weaker and Australia’s is 0.06% weaker.

    Why not examine Harris?

    Despite a history of non-partisanship, the Peterson Institute is prepared for criticism. It points out that the economic model it used is regarded as the best in the world for scenario planning and is Australian, built by Warwick McKibbin of the Australian National University.

    And it says it has modelled the Trump policies rather than the Harris policies because only Trump’s represent a departure from business as usual.

    As the Institute’s president Adam Posen put it in Washington last month, the Harris campaign has said it will not impose across-the-board tariffs, will not engage in mass deportations and will not interfere with the independence of the US Federal Reserve.

    The Trump campaign has indicated it will do all three.

    It’s entirely possible that in office Trump wouldn’t do everything he proposed while campaigning, and it’s entirely possible that he would change course if what was doing damaged the US in the way the modelling suggests.

    But there’s something to be said for taking people at their word, at least to get an idea of what we could be in store for after a knife-edge election.

    Peter Martin is Economics Editor of The Conversation.

    – ref. From mass deportations to huge tariff hikes, here’s what Trump’s economic program would do the US and to Australia – https://theconversation.com/from-mass-deportations-to-huge-tariff-hikes-heres-what-trumps-economic-program-would-do-the-us-and-to-australia-240650

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Central Ayurveda Research Institute achieves significant milestones during the first 100 days of the government

    Source: Government of India

    Central Ayurveda Research Institute achieves significant milestones during the first 100 days of the government

    CARI signs MoU with JNU to initiate a research project on entrepreneurship and commercialization in the Ayush industry

    Under Special Camps, 1500 Members of Marginalized Communities Treated

    CARI became the first CCRAS institute to receive NABH accreditation

    Posted On: 08 OCT 2024 3:35PM by PIB Delhi

    The Central Ayurveda Research Institute (CARI), under the aegis of the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), Ministry of Ayush, has achieved significant milestones during the first 100 days of the current government. These accomplishments reflect CARI’s commitment to enhancing healthcare through Ayurveda and contributing to the broader Ayush ecosystem.

    1. Geriatric Care Program Exceeds Targets: In a special initiative to cater to the healthcare needs of the elderly, CARI set a target of covering 2,000 individuals from the geriatric population. The institute has surpassed this goal, reaching 2,272 elderly individuals through its dedicated OPD. The program provided consultations, therapies, and lifestyle modifications based on holistic Ayurveda practices. This initiative has not only addressed healthcare concerns but also improved the quality of life for senior citizens.

    2. Outreach under SCSP: As part of the Scheduled Caste Sub Plan (SCSP), CARI conducted 80 tours, organizing 8 camps and treating 1,500 patients within the first 100 days. The institute also conducted a comprehensive survey of 480 individuals to study their living conditions, dietary habits, and prevalent diseases. Through 1,980 screenings, lifestyle disorders were identified, marking a proactive approach to preventive healthcare in underserved communities.

    3. Establishment of Integrated Medicine at Lady Hardinge Hospital: CARI is spearheading the establishment of a Department of Integrated Medicine at Lady Hardinge Medical College and Hospital, New Delhi. This initiative aims to integrate Ayush systems with modern medical services, addressing the need for comprehensive healthcare as advocated by the National Health Policy (NHP) 2017. Baseline OPDs and Panchakarma procedures have already commenced, laying the groundwork for this pioneering department.

    4. Strategic Collaboration with Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) In a significant academic collaboration, CARI signed an MoU with JNU to initiate a research project on entrepreneurship and commercialization in the Ayush industry. The project aims to develop management principles for Ayush products and services. The project was successfully launched within the first 100 days, marking a new phase in Ayush’s research and industry growth

     

     

    5. Advancing Research and Publications CARI has completed two prestigious multi-center survey projects at Base Hospital Delhi Cantt and Air Force Hospital Hindon. 19 research projects are ongoing, with nine collaborative studies involving top institutions like AIIMS, Safdarjung Hospital, and JNU. During this period the institute also published a research article on allergic rhinitis in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (JMIR), indexed in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, further enhancing the scientific credibility of Ayurvedic research.

    6. Promoting Patient Safety through Ayurveda : To mark Patient Safety Day, CARI organized a two-day national seminar in collaboration with NPvCC and AIIA, New Delhi. To address Patient safety day on September 17, 2024; a National Seminar was held at India International center, Lodhi Road focusing on the role of diagnostic practices in Ayush systems. It brought together 150 students, research scholars, and faculty members across India, fostering greater awareness of patient safety within Ayush practices.

     

    7. Accreditation and Empowerment Initiatives CARI became the first CCRAS institute to receive NABH accreditation and it also obtained NABL accreditation for its Pathology and Biochemistry labs. Additionally, the institute provided administrative training for Ayush officers, empowering them with crucial management skills for their capacity building on 3rd August 2024.

    Receiving NABH accreditation certificate from Secretary, Ministry of Ayush

    8. Social Outreach CARI ensured the active participation of all staff and officials in national campaigns, including Swachhata Pakhwada and Poshana Maah, organizing public awareness programs, webinars, and cleanliness drives.

    9. 9th Ayurveda Day: This institute is committed to hold various activities in order to celebrate 9th Ayurveda Day on 29th October, 2024. Awareness seminars, webinars, public lectures along with other activities like distribution of medicinal plants, competitions in school, etc. will be covered under Ayurveda Day.

    ****

    MV/AKS

    (Release ID: 2063170) Visitor Counter : 84

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI: Asset Entities Announces New Episode with Miami Hurricanes Michael “The Playmaker” Irvin and Sandy “The Hammer” Jack on “The Lounge” Podcast

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DALLAS, Oct. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Asset Entities Inc. (“Asset Entities” or “the Company”) (NASDAQ: ASST), a provider of digital marketing and content delivery services across Discord and other social media platforms, and Ternary Payment Platform company, today announced their next episode on the Lounge featuring former National Champion Miami Hurricanes, Michael Irvin and Sandy Jack.

    This episode will feature Irvin and Jack, who discuss their journey as teammates at the University of Miami, playing football for famed head coach Jimmy Johnson, winning a national championship with the Hurricanes, and other life lessons. “The Lounge” is hosted by well-known TikToker, Kyle Fairbanks, who also serves as the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Marketing Officer for Asset Entities. The Lounge can be viewed on its YouTube channel @TheAELounge.

    It is an exciting time for the University of Miami and the Hurricanes Football team as they are now undefeated at 6-0 and received national notoriety in recent weeks for their come-from-behind wins against Virginia Tech and Cal (University of California at Berkley) in the last seconds of both of those games.

    Michael Irvin and Sandy Jack both played their entire NCAA Division 1 Football careers at the University of Miami. Michael Irvin went on to play his entire 12-year professional career for the Dallas Cowboys and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2007, while Sandy Jack pursued a graduate degree by attending the Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C., obtaining his Juris Doctorate and becoming an attorney in the State of Florida. Irvin and Jack, while playing for the Hurricanes, won an NCAA Division I National Championship in 1988 playing for Coach Jimmy Johnson.

    Irvin was nicknamed “the Playmaker” due to his incredible ability to make big plays in big games during his pro and college careers. An Emmy Award-winning Sports Analyst, Irvin also serves as a consultant to Asset Entities in the area of Sports and Entertainment.   You can watch Michael as an NFL analyst on Fox’s FS1 sports show, “Speak,” which is on weekly at 4:00 p.m. CST.

    To visit “The Lounge,” go to @TheAELounge on YouTube. To learn about Asset Entities Inc., please go to http://www.assetentities.com. To learn about Ternary, please go to http://www.ternarydev.com. To learn about the AE.360.DDM suite of services, please go to http://www.ae360.com and https://discord.gg/ae360ddm.

    Caption: Sandy Jack on the left, Michael Irvin on the right.

    About Asset Entities, Inc. 
    Asset Entities Inc. is a technology company providing social media marketing, management, and content delivery across Discord, TikTok, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, and other social media platforms. Asset Entities is believed to be the first publicly traded Company based on the Discord platform, where it hosts some of Discord’s largest social community-based education and entertainment servers. The Company’s AE.360.DDM suite of services is believed to be the first of its kind for the Design, Development, and Management of Discord community servers. Asset Entities’ initial AE.360.DDM customers have included businesses and celebrities. The Company also has its Ternary payment platform that is a Stripe-verified partner and CRM for Discord communities. The Company’s Social Influencer Network (SiN) service offers white-label marketing, content creation, content management, TikTok promotions, and TikTok consulting to clients in all industries and markets. The Company’s SiN influencers can increase the social media reach of client Discord servers and drives traffic to their businesses. Learn more at assetentities.com, and follow the Company on X at $ASST and @assetentities.

    Important Cautions Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements. In addition, from time to time, representatives of the Company may make forward-looking statements orally or in writing. These forward-looking statements are based on expectations and projections about future events, which are derived from the information currently available to the Company. Such forward-looking statements relate to future events or the Company’s future performance, including its financial performance and projections, growth in revenue and earnings, and business prospects and opportunities. Forward-looking statements can be identified by those statements that are not historical in nature, particularly those that use terminology such as “may,” “should,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “contemplates,” “estimates,” “believes,” “plans,” “projected,” “predicts,” “potential,” or “hopes” or the negative of these or similar terms. In evaluating these forward-looking statements, you should consider various factors including those that are described in the section titled “Risk Factors” in the Company’s periodic reports which are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These and other factors may cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement. Forward-looking statements are only predictions. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake any responsibility to update the forward-looking statements in this release, except in accordance with applicable law.

    Company Contacts:

    Arshia Sarkhani, President and Chief Executive Officer
    Michael Gaubert, Executive Chairman
    Asset Entities Inc.
    Tel +1 (214) 459-3117
    Email Contact

    Investor Contact:
    Skyline Corporate Communications Group, LLC
    Scott Powell, President
    1177 Avenue of the Americas, 5th Floor
    New York, NY 10036
    Office: (646) 893-5835
    Email: info@skylineccg.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Mattermost Appoints Dr. Bill Anderson as Principal Product Manager to Lead Innovation in Secure Communications and Emerging Technologies

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Palo Alto, Calif., Oct. 08, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Mattermost, Inc., a leader in delivering the secure, real-time collaboration and workflow tools that modern defense, security and intelligence teams need to maintain command, control, and operational tempo, is excited to announce the appointment of Dr. Bill Anderson as Principal Product Manager. With a distinguished career in public and private security companies, Bill will drive Mattermost’s innovation in cutting-edge technology sectors such as AI, quantum cryptography, and secure communications. His leadership is expected to attract new collaborations, particularly with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and the Intelligence Community (IC), and foster discussions around Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and other federal innovation projects.

    Dr. Anderson holds a Doctorate in Electrical Engineering from the University of Waterloo, specializing in cryptography, and brings more than two decades of experience to Mattermost. Bill’s proven ability to innovate and secure information in complex critical infrastructure environments makes him an ideal addition to the Mattermost team as the company continues to push the boundaries of secure collaboration.

    “We are thrilled to have Bill on board as Principal Product Manager,” said Ian Tien, CEO of Mattermost. “His extensive experience in security technologies will play a vital role in advancing our product offerings and forging new alliances within the DoD and IC. Bill is not only an innovator but also a visionary in the field of secure communications, and his insights will help Mattermost drive meaningful progress in security and national defense innovation.”

    Prior to joining Mattermost, Bill served as President of CIS Secure where he introduced a successful secure mobile platform solution for U.S. and international government defense and intelligence use. He is also well known as the founder of Oculis Labs, an innovative data-in-use security company that served both the DoD and the IC, and which he led through a successful acquisition by OptioLabs. As a leader at OptioLabs, Bill first served as Chief Product Officer and later as CEO, where he introduced groundbreaking security solutions for Android devices.

    Dr. Anderson has also held executive roles at SafeNet Inc., Aether Systems, and Certicom, where he managed highly successful cryptography and communications product lines, including pioneering work in elliptic curve cryptography. His leadership extends to his role as Vice Chairman of the Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO) board of directors, where he supported early-stage technology investments.

    Dr. Anderson holds multiple patents, including innovations in computer display privacy and secure information systems. His patented technologies focus on physically securing information on computer monitors, using advanced facial recognition and privacy control mechanisms to ensure that sensitive data is only visible to authorized users.

    “I’m excited to join Mattermost and contribute to its mission of securing communications for organizations with the highest security demands,” said Dr. Bill Anderson. “This is an exciting time in technology, with the rapid advancement of AI, quantum cryptography, and secure collaboration solutions. I look forward to working with Mattermost to bring new, innovative solutions to market, particularly for the DoD and IC, where the need for secure, cutting-edge technology is paramount.”

    Bill’s experience in working with the U.S. government and commercial sectors positions him to bridge the gap between technology development and national security needs. His role will be instrumental in driving the adoption of Mattermost’s solutions within federal agencies and fostering partnerships around innovation projects.

    About Mattermost

    Mattermost is the leading collaboration and workflow platform for mission-critical work. We serve national security, government, and critical infrastructure enterprises, from the U.S. Department of Defense, to global tech giants, to utilities, banks, and other vital services. We accelerate out-of-band incident response, DevSecOps workflow, mission operations, and self-sovereign collaboration to bolster the focus, adaptability, and resilience of the world’s most important organizations. 

    Our enterprise software and single-tenant SaaS platforms are built to meet the custom needs of rigorous and complex environments while offering a secure and unrivaled collaboration experience across web, desktop, and mobile with channel-based messaging, file sharing, audio calling and screen share, with integrated tooling, workflow automation and AI assistance. 

    Mattermost is developed on an open core platform vetted by the world’s leading security organizations, and co-built with over 4,000 open source project contributors who’ve provided over 30,000 code improvements towards our shared vision of accelerating the world’s mission-critical work. 

    For more information visit mattermost.com. 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: From mass deportations to huge tariff hikes, here’s what Trump’s economic program would do to the US and Australia

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Martin, Visiting Fellow, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University

    Prashantrajsingh/Shutterstock

    It’s time to take Donald Trump seriously. Betting markets say it’s as likely as not he will be elected US president four weeks from today.

    And unlike in 2016 when his program wasn’t clearly defined, he has set out plainly what he intends to do. Which means it’s possible to model the consequences.

    The three Trump promises with the greatest economic impact are

    • the deportation of millions of US residents

    • steep restrictions on imports, especially from China

    • presidential influence over interest rates.

    The best way to model the consequences is with an established model of the kind used by the International Monetary Fund and central banks around the world rather than one set up for the purpose that could be seen as designed to favour or not favour Trump.

    The Washington-based Peterson Institute for International Economics has just done that, noting that during Trump’s first term as president he “by and large” did what he said he would do.

    It finds

    ironically, despite his ‘make the foreigners pay rhetoric’, Trump’s package of policies does more damage to the US economy than to any other in the world.

    No other country in the world would be hurt by Trump’s program as much as the US – not even China – although several US allies would suffer, including Australia, which would be the fourth-worst hit by the most extreme version of what Trump is proposing.

    Peterson Institute for International Economics.

    Mass deportations

    Trump has repeatedly promised the “largest domestic deportation operation in American history,” targeting up to 20 million unauthorised immigrants, including about 8.3 million thought to be in the workforce.

    He says his model is Operation Wetback – a 1956 Eisenhower administration program that used military-style tactics to deport 1.3 million Mexicans.

    The institute says Eisenhower’s success makes it easy to believe Trump could remove 1.3 million immigrant workers. It has modelled two scenarios: removing 1.3 million and 8.3 million, both over two years in 2025 and 2026.

    Both slash employment, including the employment of non-immigrants, both push up inflation, which eventually is brought under control, and both make the US a less attractive place to invest, which benefits much of the rest of the world.

    The institute says the low and high scenarios differ “only by the degree of damage inflicted on people, households, firms, and the overall economy”.

    Huge tariff hikes

    Trump wants to increase every tariff on goods imported to the US by 10 percentage points, including where there is at present no tariff. And he wants at least a 60% tariff on imports from China. The institute has modelled both, with and without retaliatory tariffs from China and the rest of the world.

    It finds, unsurprisingly, that extra tariffs push up the price of US imports and the prices of US-produced goods that compete with imports. Many are used as inputs in manufacturing, which means US manufacturing suffers (which is probably not what Trump had in mind).

    Fewer imports mean less demand for foreign exchange within the US, which means a higher US dollar which makes US exports less competitive. The US economy is weaker as a result, although China’s is weaker still and Australia’s is weakened as much as the US given its role in providing resources to China.

    Nobbling the Fed

    Trump has raised the prospect of more presidential influence over interest rates, saying he thinks he has “a better instinct than, in many cases” the board of US Federal Reserve. This could be achieved by requiring the president to be consulted on rate decisions or by appointing a compliant chair.

    However it’s done, the institute’s “conservative” assumption based on what happens in developing countries with less central bank independence is that it will push inflation two percentage points higher.

    The modelled result is capital flight. While the US economy is initially stronger than it would have been because of the Fed’s willingness to tolerate higher inflation, after a few years it is weaker and every other economy is stronger.

    When all the measures are combined, under the extreme scenarios the US economy is 6.7% weaker than it would have been by 2035 and Australia’s is 0.2% weaker. Under the more modest scenarios, the US economy is 1.6% weaker and Australia’s is 0.06% weaker.

    Why not examine Harris?

    Despite a history of non-partisanship, the Peterson Institute is prepared for criticism. It points out that the economic model it used is regarded as the best in the world for scenario planning and is Australian, built by Warwick McKibbin of the Australian National University.

    And it says it has modelled the Trump policies rather than the Harris policies because only Trump’s represent a departure from business as usual.

    As the Institute’s president Adam Posen put it in Washington last month, the Harris campaign has said it will not impose across-the-board tariffs, will not engage in mass deportations and will not interfere with the independence of the US Federal Reserve.

    The Trump campaign has indicated it will do all three.

    It’s entirely possible that in office Trump wouldn’t do everything he proposed while campaigning, and it’s entirely possible that he would change course if what was doing damaged the US in the way the modelling suggests.

    But there’s something to be said for taking people at their word, at least to get an idea of what we could be in store for after a knife-edge election.

    Peter Martin is Economics Editor of The Conversation.

    – ref. From mass deportations to huge tariff hikes, here’s what Trump’s economic program would do to the US and Australia – https://theconversation.com/from-mass-deportations-to-huge-tariff-hikes-heres-what-trumps-economic-program-would-do-to-the-us-and-australia-240650

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –