Blog

MIL-OSI Video: USAR 2024: At HOME and ABROAD

Source: US Army (video statements)

: Have a look at the efforts of the U.S. Army Reserve’s work at home and abroad.

About the U.S. Army:
The Army Mission – our purpose – remains constant: To deploy, fight and win our nation’s wars by providing ready, prompt & sustained land dominance by Army forces across the full spectrum of conflict as part of the joint force.

Interested in joining the U.S. Army?
Visit: spr.ly/6001igl5L

Connect with the U.S. Army online:
Web: https://www.army.mil
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/USarmy/
X: https://www.twitter.com/USArmy
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/usarmy/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/us-army
#USArmy #Soldiers #Military #USAR

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=My-vbM_ikOE

MIL OSI Video –

February 11, 2025

MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Change of His Majesty’s Ambassador to Liberia: Ameer Kotecha

Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Mr Ameer Kotecha has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Liberia.

Mr Ameer Kotecha has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Liberia in succession to Mr Neil Bradley who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Mr Kotecha will take up his appointment during April 2025.

Curriculum vitae

Full name: Ameer Kotecha

Year	Role
2023 to present	Ekaterinburg, HM Consul General
2022 to 2023	FCDO, Full time language training (Russian)
2021 to 2022	FCDO, Head of Engagement and Programmes Team, Counter Daesh Communications Cell
2020 to 2021	Hong Kong, Vice Consul
2018 to 2020	FCO, Senior Desk Officer, West Africa Department
2017 to 2018	New York, Second Secretary Africa and Peacekeeping
2016 to 2017	FCO, Kidnaps and Incidents Case Manager, Counter Terrorism Department
2015 to 2016	FCO, Deputy Head Libya Team, North Africa Joint Unit
2015	Joined FCO
2013 to 2015	Financial Analyst, AgDevCo

Media enquiries

Email newsdesk@fcdo.gov.uk

Telephone 020 7008 3100

Contact the FCDO Communication Team via email (monitored 24 hours a day) in the first instance, and we will respond as soon as possible.

Published 10 February 2025

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

February 11, 2025

MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Stoke-on-Trent children’s services to exit Government intervention following significant transformation
Source: City of Stoke-on-Trent

Published: Monday, 10th February 2025
Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s Children and Families service will exit government intervention.

It comes after achieving substantial improvements in outcomes for children and families.

The Department for Education (DfE) has confirmed consistent progress and recommended lifting the intervention – which has been in place since 2019.

The intervention followed an Ofsted inspection that rated the service as ‘Inadequate’. A subsequent inspection in October 2022 saw the service rated as ‘Requires Improvement’, highlighting significant advancements. There were key improvements in services for individuals or professionals to report concerns or request support and in outcomes for children in care. Follow-up visits have demonstrated continued, sustained improvement.

The DfE review outlines several key achievements:

The number of children in care is at its lowest level in 18 months, with fewer children on Child Protection plans.

The quality of social work practice has remained strong, with an increasing number of audits rated ‘Good’.

Early support services are now more effective at preventing issues from escalating.

Stronger partnerships with local agencies are ensuring families receive the tailored support they need, with a clear focus on community-based solutions.

A robust leadership team continues to drive positive change and improvement.

The city council’s focus on early intervention and partnership working has been fundamental in reducing the number of children in care and making sure that families receive the right support at the right time.

Councillor Sarah Hill, cabinet member for children’s services at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “This is a significant milestone for services for children and families in Stoke-on-Trent. We’ve made great progress, and we’re pleased to be moving forward without government intervention.

“The Family Matters programme has been central to this transformation, providing families with the early support they need to thrive.

“While we recognise there is still work to be done, I am confident that under the leadership of our incoming Corporate Director, Neil Macdonald, we will continue to build on this momentum, ensuring every child in Stoke-on-Trent gets the care and support they deserve.”
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: City’s latest young poets unveiled at major literature festival

Source: City of Wolverhampton

Young Poet Laurate Agneta Krieva, from Ormiston SWB Academy, and Primary Poet Champion Florence Ehigie, from SS Mary & John’s Primary Academy, were chosen from dozens of budding poets after winning a competition organised by Wolverhampton’s library service.

This year, children and young people are asked to write a poem about friendship entitled ‘Life is better with friends’.

Councillor Obaida Ahmed, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Digital and Community, said: “For the past five years, our library service has been running this competition with local schools and each year the quality and presentation of the poems has been fantastic.

“This year was no exception, and I would like to congratulate Agneta and Florence on becoming our newest Young Poet Laureate and Primary Poet Champion respectively. They now have the chance to have their voices heard by thousands of people across the city.”

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: The iconic Austin 7 is back

Source: Anglia Ruskin University

By Tom Stacey, Anglia Ruskin University

In perhaps one of the greatest brand comeback stories in automotive since the Fiat 500 in 2007, British car company Austin announced the return of the Austin Arrow.

Its name is an unashamed reference to one of the most memorable Austin 7 models – first introduced in the 1920s the Arrow was the original “everyman sportscar”, before the muscle cars (think of the Dodge Challenger) of the US became popular in the 1960s. Now reimagined as an electric Vehicle (EV), the Arrow is designed and made in the UK and aims to be to 2020s consumers what the original was 90 years ago.

A number of cars are synonymous with the British car industry. In fact, as a small nation, Britain punches above its weight when it comes to classic automobile brands – The Mini, the Range Rover, London black cabs, James Bond’s Aston Martins, and even the London red bus. However, if one car can be credited for creating the dawn of the motor vehicle in the UK, it would be the diminutive Austin 7.

The car was created in the 1920s at the time when Austin was struggling. New laws were pushing manufacturers to produce smaller, less powerful cars. But Austin’s board of directors didn’t support a cheap, small car with low profit margins. Austin was known for its larger, luxury products.

However, Sir Herbert Austin and his 18-year-old apprentice Stanley Edge decided to secretly create a small car. Thank god they didn’t heed the board, because they ended up creating the greatest democratising automotive product Britain had ever seen (until they repeated it with the Austin Mini).

The reason why products such as the Austin 7 come to define their period is rarely due to their technical prowess or exhilarating performance – it’s because they bring to the masses a technology that is both useful and traditionally seen as out of reach.

The Austin 7 was a bit like the iPhone. There were smartphones that came before it, like the Sony Ericsson p800. However, these were considered expensive and out of reach for the average consumer. The Iphone did the same thing but at a cheaper price and so came to be the definitive smartphone.

With the Austin 7, Herbert Austin’s team applied the key lessons from Ford’s Model T – creating a simple, modestly powered car with just enough features for mass appeal while incorporating clever design elements that earned the respect of car enthusiasts.

When the Austin 7 was unveiled in July 1922, it was priced at just £165, when an Austin 20 was between £600 and £700. At a time when the average British worker earned around £5 per week, the only real affordable car had been Ford’s basic and utilitarian Model T at around £250.

The 7’s ingenious design was the key to its success. With a shared base frame for the car, it could be a four-seater family car, a stylish coupe, or even a racing car.

This cheap, tiny car not only was a legend in its own right and familiar around the world, but it influenced other legends too.

Colin Chapman, the founder of Lotus Cars, based his first Lotus 1 on the Austin 7. What is less known is that German car manufacturer BMW built Austin 7s under licence in the 1920s and 30s but called them “Dixis”. Nissan did the same in Japan in the pre-war period. Such licensing deals helped set up both manufacturers’ future success as the powerhouses they are today.

Austin 7s were produced all over Europe, Asia and even in Australia. The 7 was also produced in the US as the “American Bantam” and its design contributed to the “Willy’s Jeep”, one of the US’s most famous vehicles.

Ultimately, the beginning of the second world war marked the end of Austin 7 production as the Austin factory at Longbridge, near Birmingham, needed to be repurposed to produce munitions. When the war ended, tastes for vehicles had changed and factories started to produce more modern designs, and not those from the 1920s, marking the end of a British automotive icon in 1939.

Now it’s back, thanks to the engineer John Stubbs who bought the Austin brand after noticing the brand and trademarks were available. The rights to these had been owned by the Nanjing Automobile Group, which bought MG Rover when it collapsed in 2005. However, Nanjing had let these lapse and Stubbs bought them for £170 in 2015.

The new Essex-based Austin Motor Company aims to recreate this classic brand, tugging at the heartstrings of those looking nostalgically at Britain’s automotive heyday. The announcement featured images of fun, cheap (£31,000) and light cars driving around the B-roads of Britain, or perhaps being taken to a racetrack for an amateur competition, harking back to earlier days. However, this car is thoroughly modern, featuring an electric motor.

The new Austin Arrow is not meant to be the usable “everyman” car the original 7 was. For starters, to be compliant with quadricycle (a micro car with less than 6kW of power and an unladen mass no more than 425 kg) legislation it is limited to 60mph as a top speed and the range will be a maximum of 100 miles on one charge.

However, as that fun, racy, open-top car that it’s predecessors were, it very much captures the spirit of the original Austin 7 Arrow.

Tom Stacey, Deputy Head of the School of Economics, Finance and Law, Anglia Ruskin University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

The opinions expressed in VIEWPOINT articles are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of ARU.

If you wish to republish this article, please follow these guidelines: https://theconversation.com/uk/republishing-guidelines

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: ARU studies the health benefits of herring eggs

Source: Anglia Ruskin University

Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) is partnering with Norwegian biotechnology company Arctic Bioscience to carry out the largest research project to date exploring how nutrients derived from fish eggs can support a healthy and active lifestyle across all ages.

Omega-3 fatty acids are essential nutrients that can play an important role in maintaining overall health. However, the general population typically consumes few foods that are rich in omega-3, such as oily fish.

The new three-year project, called Active Romega, is investigating the benefits of omega-3 phospholipid fish oil and proteins derived from herring roe, which are the eggs of the fish. Unlike other omega-3 supplements, herring roe omega-3 contains a higher concentration of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and specialised pro-resolving mediators (SPMs).

DHA and SPMs have been shown to have potent anti-inflammatory effects and are also believed to benefit muscle function, metabolism, and cognitive function, which are all key to supporting a healthy lifestyle.

The Active Romega project comprises two distinct research strands led by Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) PhD students Dani Dalmay and Jorge Pinto. These are exploring the effects of herring roe omega-3 on exercise metabolism and recovery, specifically focusing on active females, and how herring roe omega-3 can support the healthy ageing process in older adults.

The overall project is being led by Dr Sanjoy Deb, Associate Professor in Exercise and Nutritional Science at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU).

“The use of fish oils has shown promise across various health parameters, with emerging research indicating particular benefits for women and in supporting healthy ageing.

“This new partnership with Arctic Bioscience allows us to undertake robust research to explore the public health benefits of herring-derived omega-3, alongside exercise. This will be the first time this specific type of omega-3 has been tested to investigate its benefits in these areas.

“One of the reasons herring roe omega-3 is unique is its higher concentration of DHA [docosahexaenoic acid] compared to EPA [eicosapentaenoic acid] – most fish oils have more EPA than DHA – and the oil is naturally rich in the metabolites of DHA and EPA, namely specialised pro-resolving mediators such as resolvins, protectins and maresins. Herring roe omega-3 also has a phospholipid chemical structure, rather than a more typical triglyceride structure.

“Some studies suggest better absorption and improved health outcomes from marine-based phospholipids, although research is still in its infancy. Our Active Romega project should contribute significantly to this area of research.”

Dr Sanjoy Deb

“Arctic Bioscience is honoured to be a part of this project with Anglia Ruskin. We have been working with herring roe phospholipids and proteins for many years now, both in the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical field, and see many potential health benefits for their use in sports nutrition.”

Hogne Hallaråker, founder and Chief Science Officer of Arctic Bioscience

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Derby Libraries awarded grant by The National Lottery Heritage Fund

Source: City of Derby

Derby City Council’s Derby Libraries team will receive a £130,000 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The money will fund a two-year project at Derby Local Studies and Family History Library to encourage greater use of the library and create a fun way for young people to engage with their local heritage.

The exciting project will see young volunteers create a fantasy role-playing game, based on Dungeons and Dragons from Wizards of the Coast. They’ll work alongside library staff, a games-master and a range of professional creatives to uncover stories from the library’s collection and weave them into the game.

The two-year project, made possible thanks to National Lottery players, will include the production of video shorts and podcasts to introduce and follow the game, while the library will host a range of family-friendly activities and events that tie in too.

Eventually, people will be able to download a game pack to allow them to play themselves. There will also be a club at the library with support people to play the game, welcome new players and even research new characters, locations and adventures to expand the game world.

Councillor Sarah Chambers, Derby City Council Cabinet Member for Cost of Living, Equalities and Communities, said:

We are thrilled to have received this support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Thanks to National Lottery players, we’ll be able to broaden access to the library’s collections, engage new audiences with their history and retell stories that would otherwise remain unheard.

The Local Studies library holds a unique and rich collection of paper materials on Derby and Derbyshire – its people, communities, topography, history and development.

Unpublished manuscripts, old newspapers, photographs, broadsides and antiquarian books sit alongside more recent publications and official information, forming an unmatched and irreplaceable record of our city’s heritage.

More details of the project and how to get involved will be available later this year. To stay updated, sign up for the Derby Libraries eNewsletter on the Derby Libraries website.

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: Gaza crisis: Amid winter storms, humanitarians appeal for full aid access

Source: United Nations 4

10 February 2025 Peace and Security

As the Israeli military completed its withdrawal at the weekend from a key security corridor in Gaza that had cut the enclave in two, UN humanitarians issued a fresh appeal for an end to all aid restrictions which continue to prevent the delivery of lifesaving relief.

“The health system is ruined. Malnutrition is rising. The risk of famine persists,” said Dr Hanan Balkhy, the UN World Health Organization (WHO)’s Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean. “We are ready to scale up our response – but we urgently need systematic and sustained access to the population across Gaza, and we need an end to restrictions on the entry of essential supplies.”

Three weeks since the ceasefire began between Hamas and Israel that has allowed further hostage and prisoner swaps, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) issued a new warning on Monday about life-threatening conditions across the enclave. Some 60 per cent of buildings lie in ruins after more than 15 months of constant Israeli bombardment.

Perishing cold

“There’s a winter storm ongoing, it’s incredibly cold,” UNICEF Communications Specialist Rosalia Bollen told UN News. “I have no clue how people can sleep at night in their makeshift tents. Lots of people who return to the north found their homes in rubble. They’ve put up some sort of improvised dwelling on top of their rubble, but it’s very, very cold.”

Soundcloud

Humanitarian teams continue to assess the impact of winter storms on shelters in different locations of Gaza. In northern Gaza, partners are also preparing to distribute 1,500 tents to returnees in the governorates of Gaza and North Gaza.

Although thousands of aid trucks have entered Gaza since the ceasefire began on 19 January – the World Food Programme (WFP) alone said that it had sent more than 15,000 tons of food into the Gaza Strip, reaching more than 525,000 people with food parcels, hot meals and cash – overall needs remain enormous.

“We’re doing all we can,” UNICEF’s Ms. Bollen insisted. “We’ve actually been able to scale up assistance considerably as the numbers are showing and we don’t hold on to items; as soon as we can, we do all we can to immediately push items out to families. I know that’s the case not just for UNICEF, but for others as well. But you know the needs are just skyrocketing.”

The UNICEF worker added: “We humanitarians aren’t magicians. We don’t have a magic wand that can help the suffering overnight.”

Sheltering under sacks

According to a situation update from the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, despite an increase in shelter support for vulnerable Gazans, nearly one million displaced Palestinians live in “substandard tents or makeshift shelters, with families resorting to sewing old rice sacks together for basic cover”.

Many more Gazans live in crowded shelters in unsafe conditions, according to the Protection Cluster – a network of nongovernmental organizations, international organizations and UN agencies who work together in emergency settings.

For Gazans continuing to return to their homes in the north past the newly reopened Netzarim corridor that separated the north from the south, many find themselves confronted by a lack of basic services, including clean water.

Latest damage assessments from the UN satellite service, UNOSAT, indicated that an estimated 69 per cent of all structures in Gaza have been impacted and more than 245,000 housing units.

“The governorates of North Gaza and Rafah have experienced the highest rise in damage compared to the 6 September 2024 analysis, with around 3,138 new structures damaged in North Gaza and around 3,054 in Rafah,” UNOSAT said in its last update based on preliminary analysis. “Within North Gaza, Jabaliya municipality had the highest number of newly damaged structures, totalling 1,339.”

MIL OSI United Nations News –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: New Mexico State Council Rallies at Roundhouse for Workers’ Rights

Source: US GOIAM Union

The legislative building in Santa Fe, N.M., is known as the Roundhouse. Citizens can spend hours there going round and round with different lobbyists and interest groups trying to sway state politicians. This session, IAM members from New Mexico Locals 1635 (Albuquerque), 794 (Albuquerque), and 2515 (Alamogordo) –along with IAM International President Brian Bryant, Western Territory General Vice President Robert “Bobby” Martinez, General Secretary-Treasurer Dora Cervantes, and Resident General Vice President Jody Bennett–took matters into their own hands and scored some impressive wins.

“The reason we do this is because we fight for working people, and when we fight for working people – we win,” said IAM International President Brian Bryant. “And what you were able to do yesterday, by getting an anti-captive audience bill out of committee, that’s a win for working people!”

Bryant was speaking about the lobbying efforts of these IAM members to move the Employees Free Speech Act, sponsored by State Rep. Eleanor Chavez, which is aimed at preventing employers from monitoring employees’ political activities and from holding mandatory attendance, anti-union captive audience meetings.

“We believe that you don’t only fight for things at the bargaining table, you also have to simultaneously fight for things through legislative action and advocacy,” said IAM Local 794 President Ashley Long. “Secondly, we are advocating for paid family medical leave. We know that our members have needs. They’re caregivers to children, to their elders in their family, and we want to make sure this legislation is passed, so that it’s easier for us to codify it in our collective bargaining agreements”

“We are building people, to build power, to make significant change for our members in their work life and their communities,” said IAM Western Territory General Vice President Robert “Bobby” Martinez. That concept grows from legendary organizer of the United Farm Workers, Marshall Ganz. “Engaging our members will get us better contracts, win more elections, and we’re just going to win overall. Real change is made when we invest in people!

IAM members also gathered at a nearby conference center to install new officers to the state council and update their bylaws to reflect needed changes.

New Mexico State Council President John Dyrcz noted that across the country, people are turning to organized labor to do things for workers that have long been ignored.

“You see states like Alaska, that are ruby red, but their voters are passing family medical leave because we all need it,” said Dyrcz. “We are going to continue to fight for laws that support workers because it’s the right thing to do. We are going to keep up the fight here in New Mexico.”

[ Council Meeting Photo Gallery]

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MIL OSI USA News –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI: MINILUXE ANNOUNCES STRONG PERFORMANCE TRENDS AND COMPLETION OF USD $6.98M (CDN $10M) IN CAPITAL-ENHANCING TRANSACTIONS THAT INCLUDE AN OVERSUBSCRIBED PRIVATE PLACEMENT AND DEBT CONVERSION
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR

FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

Alongside its strong performance momentum, MiniLuxe successfully completes an oversubscribed private placement initially offered for up to $5M while contemporaneously satisfying the principal of USD $945,000 of convertible debt obligations.

Boston, MA, Feb. 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MiniLuxe Holding Corp. (TSXV: MNLX) (“MiniLuxe” or the “Company”) today announces that it has completed a successful and final closing of an oversubscribed non-brokered private placement of Class A subordinate voting shares of the Company (the “Subordinate Voting Shares”). The Company first announced its intention for a non-brokered private placement on November 27, 2024, at a price of USD$0.55 per share for total proceeds up to $5.0M USD (the “Offering”). Since its announcement of the Offering, the Company has had strong investor demand reinforcing confidence in MiniLuxe’s continued performance and growth strategy.

Per the Company’s press release of January 2^nd, 2025, MiniLuxe did a first closing for approximately one-third of the anticipated maximum of the Offering. In this second and final closing, the Company is pleased to announce that it has raised incremental gross proceeds of USD $3,436,250 (resulting in the issuance of 6,247,717 Subordinate Voting Shares at a price of USD $0.55 or CDN $0.79 per Share). Together, the first and second and final closing of the Offering raised total new primary capital for the Company in the amount of USD $5.067M or (~CDN $7.26M). Additionally, the Company finalized the conversion of USD$945,000 million or ~CDN $1.35M in principal value of prior convertible notes through shares for debt agreements, with further details provided below.

“We are humbled by the recent oversubscribed investor interest level and quantum raised, but even more excited by the quality of this capital. This financing brings new participants who share aligned principles to our vision and who offer value-add strategic perspectives. The investment interest is also a reflection of the work and progress made by the team over the past year and investors’ conviction behind our future growth plans,” said Tony Tjan, CEO of MiniLuxe.

As previously shared, the company is focused on three key performance objectives:
1. Accelerating overall studio contribution growth
2. Increasing fixed cost leverage and SG&A efficiency
3. Focusing growth through operating and franchise partners and a focused set of innovative products
Overall same studio cash contribution grew materially in 2024, in concert with increased profitability trends of studios across all regions. The most critical factor for the success of our base business is the success the company has in recruiting, developing and retaining nail designer and other beauty service professional talent. The Company’s current retention rate of its talent base stands at its all-time record high at 87 percent. The Company remains focused on ways to reconfigure and create greater SG+A efficiency with year-over-year reduction trends north of 25% on corporate level SG+A. As a percent of revenue on a TTM (trailing twelve month) basis corporate SG+A as a percent of revenue has improved ~2x going from ~32% to ~16% demonstrating continued fixed cost leverage. From the standpoint of key internal cash management metrics, annualized and average monthly operating cash burn have been very materially reduced. While not an IFRS measurement, on a company-wide basis and on a preliminary unaudited basis, it is expected that YoY adjusted EBITDA improvement in 2024 to be over 50 percent. The Company’s focus on instilling an entrepreneurial culture and creating aligned performance incentives with its studio leaders and through operating partners (JVs or franchise partners) with shared ownership of studios have meaningfully contributed to these results.

The net proceeds from the Offering will be used to build momentum on these performance trends while investing behind a focused set of strategic growth investments including the expansion of new studios– especially through an expanded set of world-class operators who hold connection and conviction with the MiniLuxe brand and who seek to own or jointly own and operate a MiniLuxe studio. The Company also intends to be filing for an NCIB (New Course Issuer Bid) to have the option to buy back shares at times when it believes that the market price does not reflect the company’s intrinsic and future value.

Alongside the Offering, the Company has also finalized additional shares-for-debt agreements to satisfy an aggregate of USD$1,055,577 (~CDN$1.51 million) of outstanding debt related to the principal and accrued but unpaid interest on certain convertible debentures of the Company (the “Debentures”). This is in addition to USD$1,085,944 (~CDN$1.56 million) of Debentures converted in the first tranche. As part of this debt conversion, an aggregate of 2,294,731 Subordinate Voting Shares will be issued at a deemed price of USD$0.46 per share, with an effective conversion date of February 7, 2025. The Company offered existing Debenture holders participating in the Offering the opportunity to elect to receive Subordinate Voting Shares at a discounted conversion price relative to the original terms of the Debentures. All Debenture holders electing to convert are deemed to be at arm’s length from the Company. The issuance of these shares remains subject to TSX Venture Exchange approval. Similarly, completion of all tranches of the private placement Offering is subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. The securities issued pursuant to the initial closing of the Offering are subject to a hold period of four months and one day from the issuance date in accordance with applicable securities laws.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described in this news release. Such securities have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act, or any state securities laws, and, accordingly, may not be offered or sold within the United States, or to or for the account or benefit of persons in the United States or “U.S. Persons”, as such term is defined in Regulation S promulgated under the U.S. Securities Act, unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or pursuant to an exemption from such registration requirements.

About MiniLuxe

MiniLuxe, a Delaware corporation based in Boston, Massachusetts. MiniLuxe is a lifestyle brand and talent empowerment platform servicing the beauty and self-care industry. Through its company-owned and partner-operated studios, Company delivers high-quality nail care and esthetic services that incorporate the brand’s proprietary products. For over a decade, MiniLuxe has been elevating industry standards through healthier, ultra-hygienic services, modern design, ethical labor practices, and better-for-you, cleaner products. MiniLuxe’s vision is to radically transform the highly fragmented and under-regulated self-care and nail care industry through its brand, standards, and technology platform that together enable better talent and client experiences.

Towards building long-term durable value for its stakeholders, MiniLuxe is expanding its reach through franchising and operating JV partners seeking ownership and impact with a brand recognized as the best nail salon franchise. Through self-care and self-expression, MiniLuxe is empowering one of the largest hourly work forces through professional development, economic mobility, and equity ownership. Since its founding, MiniLuxe has performed over 4.5 million services.

For further information

Christine Mastrangelo
Investor Relations, MiniLuxe Holding Corp.
cmastrangelo@MiniLuxe.com
MiniLuxe.com

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

Forward-looking statements

This press release contains “forward-looking information” and “forward-looking statements” (collectively, “forward-looking information”) concerning the Company and its subsidiaries within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information may relate to the future financial outlook and anticipated events or results of the Company and may include information regarding the Company’s financial position, business strategy, growth strategies, acquisition prospects and plans, addressable markets, budgets, operations, financial results, taxes, dividend policy, plans and objectives. Particularly, information regarding the Company’s expectations of future results, performance, achievements, prospects or opportunities or the markets in which the Company operates is forward-looking information. In some cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “plans”, “targets”, “expects”, “budgets”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “outlook”, “forecasts”, “projects”, “prospects”, “strategy”, “intends”, “anticipates”, “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might”, or “will” occur. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, intentions, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances contain forward-looking information. Statements containing forward-looking information are not historical facts but instead represent management’s expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events or circumstances.

Many factors could cause the Company’s actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including, without limitation, those listed in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s filing statement dated November 9, 2021. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results, performance, or achievements could vary materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this press release.

Forward-looking information, by its nature, is based on the Company’s opinions, estimates and assumptions in light of management’s experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that the Company currently believes are appropriate and reasonable in the circumstances. Those factors should not be construed as exhaustive. Despite a careful process to prepare and review forward-looking information, there can be no assurance that the underlying opinions, estimates and assumptions will prove to be correct. These factors should be considered carefully, and readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking information. Although the Company bases its forward-looking information on assumptions that it believes were reasonable when made, which include, but are not limited to, assumptions with respect to the Company’s future growth potential, results of operations, future prospects and opportunities, execution of the Company’s business strategy, there being no material variations in the current tax and regulatory environments, future levels of indebtedness and current economic conditions remaining unchanged, the Company cautions readers that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that our actual results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, and the development of the industry in which the Company operates may differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. In addition, even if the Company’s results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, and the development of the industry in which it operates are consistent with the forward-looking information contained in this press release, those results or developments may not be indicative of results or developments in subsequent periods.

Although the Company has attempted to identify important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other risk factors not presently known to the Company or that the Company presently believes are not material that could also cause actual results or future events to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking information. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information, which speaks only as of the date made (or as of the date they are otherwise stated to be made). Any forward-looking statement that is made in this press release speaks only as of the date of such statement.

The MIL Network –
February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI: Viridien: Information on the total number of voting rights and shares
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Viridien

A French société anonyme
with a share capital of € 7,161,465
Registered office: 27 avenue Carnot, 91300 Massy, France
Evry Trade and Companies Register 969 202 241

Information on the total number of voting rights and shares

Pursuant to Article L. 233-8 II of the French Commercial Code and Article 223-16 of the General Regulation of the French Financial markets authority
(AMF- Autorité des Marchés Financiers)

Date of the information Total number of issued shares Number of actual voting rights* Number of theoretical voting rights**

January 31, 2025 7,161,465 7,186,734 7,186,983

* All of the Company shares have the same voting rights, except for treasury shares which do not have voting rights and registered shares held for more than two years, which have double voting rights.

** Pursuant to Article 223-11 of the General Regulation of the French Financial markets authority, the number of theoretical voting rights is calculated based on the shares having either single or double voting rights, including treasury shares which are deprived of voting rights.

Attachment
- 2025.01.31_information mensuelle AMF ENG
The MIL Network –
February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI: BRKZ closes $17M Series A to transform construction procurement as Saudi Arabia’s $3T project pipeline accelerates

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Riyadh, Feb. 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — While the MENA region drives forward with $3 trillion in infrastructure and building projects, construction companies face a critical challenge: fragmented supply chains and inefficient procurement processes that delay projects and inflate costs. Today, BRKZ announced it has completed its Series A funding at $17M, bringing total funding to $22.5M, to scale its technology platform that’s revolutionizing how contractors source and purchase building materials.

The funding includes an $8M Series A2 round closed in January 2025, complemented by $1M in venture debt from Capifly, following the initial $8M Series A1 round from December 2023. All existing investors strongly recommitted, including BECO Capital, Aramco’s Waed, 9900 Capital, Better Tomorrow Ventures, RZM Investment, Class 5 Global, MISY Ventures, Knollwood Investment Advisory, and Fluent Ventures.

Founded in 2023 by Ibrahim Manna, serial entrepreneur and former Managing Director at Careem, BRKZ emerged from firsthand experience with construction industry inefficiencies. “Traditional procurement in construction is highly fragmented and manual, often requiring contractors to juggle multiple suppliers, long negotiations, and delayed payments,” said Ibrahim Manna, Founder and CEO of BRKZ. “This funding will help us double down on tech development, enhance our BNPL offering aligned with construction cash flow cycles, and expand into cross-border trading.”

The BRKZ team.

Unlike traditional procurement methods, BRKZ’s platform combines a tech-enabled marketplace with embedded financing solutions, transforming how contractors and suppliers interact. Through its digital platform, contractors can access over 7,000 SKUs from more than 1,100 local suppliers, receiving competitive quotes within 20 minutes. The platform’s built-in financing options align with construction cash flow cycles, addressing a critical pain point in the industry.

The platform’s rapid adoption validates its approach. Since launching its Series A1, BRKZ has grown revenue fourfold during 2024, now serving more than 850 unique contractors and factories across flagship projects like King Salman Park, Neom, and Red Sea. The company has expanded its delivery network to over 40 cities across Saudi Arabia, with offices in three major regions, while processing $350m (SAR 1.3 billion) in RFQs through its platform.

BRKZ marketplace and app.

Real-world applications demonstrate the platform’s transformative impact. A contractor working in KSA’s central region, awarded a project in the Western Region, used BRKZ to price and procure materials from local suppliers despite having no team in the project location. Similarly, a local cement block factory broke traditional geographical constraints by listing on BRKZ, expanding its customer base while sourcing raw materials through the platform.

AbdulRauf H. Al-Matar, AGM at AlRashed Building Materials commented: “Partnering with BRKZ has revolutionized how we connect with contractors and streamline our operations. Their innovative approach to digitizing the construction industry is setting a new standard for efficiency and growth.”

Tamer Salah, CEO at AlMimar AlAraby for General Contracting added: “Working with BRKZ has been a game-changer for us. Their focus on understanding contractors’ needs and delivering tailored solutions has made it easier to meet tight deadlines and exceed customer expectations. BRKZ’s highly advanced technology provides the best e-commerce platform, which makes it easy to manage my orders and get automated updates on their status.”

The construction market in MENA represents a massive opportunity, driven by mega-projects reshaping the region. Major developments like Neom, The Red Sea Project, King Salman Park, and upcoming events like Expo 2030 and FIFA World Cup in Saudi Arabia underscore the urgent need for innovative, tech-driven solutions to streamline procurement and enhance efficiency.

Dany Farha, co-founder and managing partner at BECO Capital, commented: “The construction industry is foundational to the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, and is ripe for technology and organizational optimization. The BRKZ team has executed its product and operational roadmap to drive efficiencies in this rapidly scaling sector, and we’re excited to continue supporting them in their next chapter. BRKZ’s financing product will complement their digitized procurement platform and address customer cash flow challenges. Having known Ibrahim and the team for years, we’ve seen firsthand their agility, prudence, and unique skill set that enable them to fulfill their promise of digitizing this industry.”

Looking ahead, BRKZ plans to establish offices in Saudi Arabia’s Northern and Southern regions during 2025 while expanding its supplier network into global markets, focusing on China and India. The company will continue enhancing its technology platform and financing solutions, positioning itself as the comprehensive solution for construction procurement in the MENA region.

Ends

Media images can be found here.

About BRKZ

BRKZ is a B2B managed marketplace transforming construction procurement in Saudi Arabia. By connecting contractors with suppliers through a tech-enabled platform, BRKZ provides access to thousands of SKUs, competitive pricing, and tailored financing solutions. With a focus on efficiency and transparency, BRKZ empowers MENA’s construction sector to meet the ambitious goals. For more information please visit https://brkz.com/en

About BECO Capital

BECO Capital is the largest non-government venture capital firm in the Gulf, managing over $500 million in AUM. Since its inception in 2012, BECO Capital has played a pivotal role in developing the regional tech ecosystem, helping it grow from its nascent stages to its current dynamism, and has been a notable investor behind many of the region’s success stories. These include Careem, the region’s ride-hailing service turned super-app, acquired by Uber for $3.1 billion, and Property Finder, the real estate marketplace that BECO exited at a $1 billion valuation in April 2024, alongside other prominent startups such as Kitopi and Fresha.

The MIL Network –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI: ASM named in CDP’s ‘A List’ for climate and water

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Almere, the Netherlands
February 10, 2025

ASM has been awarded CDP’s prestigious ‘A List’ ranking for both climate and water reporting, recognizing its corporate sustainability leadership, performance, and transparency.

This is the first time ASM has achieved A List status with the global environmental non-profit, CDP, the organization that runs the world’s most recognized environmental disclosure system and sets the standard for environmental reporting. From over 22,000 annual reporting submissions this year, CDP has awarded its highest A List ranking to only a select group of companies demonstrating the strongest sustainability leadership.

ASM is among very few companies in the semiconductor industry to score an A in CDP’s 2024 assessment, with even fewer reaching the A List for both climate and water. This marks a significant milestone in our sustainability journey and is a testament to our continued commitment to environmental progress.

ASM has been reporting into CDP for thirteen consecutive years, consistently strengthening our environmental strategy and performance. In 2024, we reached 100% renewable electricity across our global operations, reinforcing our commitment to sustainable business practices.

Inclusion in CDP’s prestigious A List highlights the strides we have made in reducing our operational carbon footprint and exemplifies our focus on meaningful climate action. In addition to decarbonizing our own operations, we are investing in research and development to enhance the energy efficiency of our deposition equipment, enabling our customers to reduce their energy consumption while maintaining high-performance production capabilities. This ensures our technologies contribute to lower emissions in semiconductor manufacturing and the broader tech ecosystem.

In 2021, ASM published an ambitious target of reaching net zero by 2035. In 2023, ASM’s net zero target was approved by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), a first in the semiconductor industry. ASM’s Climate Transition Plan, released in early 2024, details how we target to achieve this goal by decarbonizing our products, optimizing our operations, and collaborating with our value chain to drive sustainability improvements to ensure ASM remains at the forefront of sustainable innovation.

As ASM expands, we are focused on achieving green standards such as LEED building certification, which rates buildings for energy efficiency and sustainability across multiple environmental aspects. Our new facility in Scottsdale, Arizona, which is currently in design, aims to reuse more than 80% of the water it consumes, significantly reducing ASM’s water footprint and supporting circular resource use.

John Golightly, ASM VP of Sustainability remarked: “We are honored to receive this recognition for our efforts in climate and water. CDP’s A List is the gold standard for environmental reporting, so our inclusion for the first time is a proud moment, for our company and everyone who worked so hard on our sustainability journey. Our resolute focus on transparently reporting our progress has led us to this point and we will continue to push the boundaries of sustainable semiconductor manufacturing, with cutting-edge innovation and collaborative partnerships to create a greener, more resilient future. Accelerating Sustainability is a strategic objective at ASM for good reason. We believe our products and operations enable positive impact for society and our planet.”

About ASM International

ASM International N.V., headquartered in Almere, the Netherlands, and its subsidiaries design and manufacture equipment and process solutions to produce semiconductor devices for wafer processing, and have facilities in the United States, Europe, and Asia. ASM International’s common stock trades on the Euronext Amsterdam Stock Exchange (symbol: ASM). For more information, visit ASM’s website at www.asm.com.

Contact

Investor and media relations

Victor Bareño
T: +31 88 100 8500
E: investor.relations@asm.com

Investor relations

Valentina Fantigrossi
T: +31 88 100 8502
E: investor.relations@asm.com

The MIL Network –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI: Diamond Equity Research Releases Update Note on Genius Group Ltd. (NYSE: GNS)
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

New York, Feb. 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Diamond Equity Research Releases Update Note on Genius Group Ltd. (NYSE: GNS)

New York, NY

Diamond Equity Research, a leading equity research firm with a focus on small capitalization public companies has released an update note on Genius Group Ltd. (NYSE: GNS). The update note includes information on Genius Group Ltd.’s recent developments, management commentary, future outlook, and risks.

The update note is available below.

Genius Group February 2025 Update Note

Highlights from the note include:
- Genius Group Launches $33 Million Rights Offering to Strengthen Its Bitcoin Treasury: Genius Group’s Board approved a rights offering aimed at raising up to $33 million to expand the company’s Bitcoin Treasury, with 100% of net proceeds dedicated to purchasing Bitcoin. The offering provides shareholders with the opportunity to acquire additional ordinary shares at a fixed subscription price, reinforcing the company’s commitment to its Bitcoin-first strategy. Key terms of the Rights Offering include:
  - Shareholder Rights Allocation: Each shareholder received one transferable right for every ordinary share held as of the record date on January 24, 2025, with the number rounded up to the nearest whole right. The company’s ordinary shares began trading ex-rights on January 24, 2025.
  - Subscription Details: Each right entitles the holder to purchase one ordinary share at a subscription price of $0.50. Shareholders fully exercising their basic subscription rights are eligible for an over-subscription privilege, which allows them to subscribe for additional ordinary shares on a pro rata basis. Rights holders may also choose to sell any rights they opt not to exercise.
- - Trading and Expiration Details: Rights trading commenced on a “when-issued” basis on January 23, 2025, under the symbol “GNS RTWI.” Regular trading of the rights began on January 27, 2025, under the symbol “GNS RT” and will continue until the close of trading on February 13, 2025. The offering expires at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time on February 14, 2025, unless extended by the company. Registered shareholders received rights certificates based on the company’s stockholder registry, while those holding shares in “street name” will see the rights reflected in their brokerage accounts.
- - Additional Potential Funding: In addition to the $33 million rights offering, the company plans to pursue additional loan financings of up to approximately $22 million. If fully secured, this combined funding is expected to boost the Bitcoin Treasury from current levels, reported between $40 million and $45 million, to a range between $86 million and $100 million.
- - Management Participation: Complementing this initiative, Founder and CEO Roger Hamilton has completed his planned transactions, having acquired 500,000 shares under the pre-approved plan and subsequently purchasing an additional 500,000 shares on January 15, 2025, resulting in a holding of approximately 6.8 million shares. Mr. Hamilton has also notified the Company that he will fully subscribe to his rights under this Rights Offering, which will entitle him to acquire an additional 6.8 million shares on the same terms as all shareholders on the Record Date.
This rights issue follows Genius Group’s established Bitcoin treasury approach and can be positive for shareholders if Bitcoin’s momentum persists-currently trading above $96,000 and recently peaking at $108,000. However, should Bitcoin’s price fall, the impact on shareholders could be less favorable, as the benefits of this initiative are closely tied to Bitcoin’s continued upward performance, which some analyst reports suggest is likely to persist.
- Genius Group Expands Bitcoin Treasury to $42 Million Amid Strategic Financial Milestones: Genius Group has further advanced its Bitcoin-first strategy by acquiring an additional $12 million of Bitcoin, bringing its Bitcoin Treasury to 440 Bitcoin at a new average price of $95,519 per Bitcoin. This $42 million purchase, completed within three months of the November 12, 2024 announcement to allocate 90% or more of its current and future reserves to Bitcoin (with an initial target of $120 million), builds on an earlier milestone where the company secured 319.4 Bitcoin for $30 million at an average price of $93,919 per Bitcoin within two months. At an earlier date, as of Friday, January 31, 2025, Genius Group’s 440-Bitcoin holding was valued at $46 million, while the company’s market capitalization was $33.1 million (derived from 68.8 million issued shares trading at $0.48), resulting in a BTC/Price ratio of 139%, making Genius Group one of the highest among its peers. This ratio tells us that 139% of Genius Group’s market value is directly backed by its Bitcoin holdings, a stark contrast to the industry average of approximately 40% observed among other popular Bitcoin treasury companies, such as Microstrategy, Marathon Digital Holdings, and Riot Platforms. Funding for these purchases has been sourced from a mix of internal reserves, the use of its ATM facility, and debt financing from crypto-backed loan platform Arch Lending. In addition, the company has approved a Founder Compensation Plan with Founder and CEO Roger Hamilton that sets forth long-term milestones, including goals to reach a $1 billion market cap and to grow the Bitcoin Treasury’s net asset value to $1 billion within the next 10 years.
About Genius Group Limited

Genius Group Ltd. (NYSE: GNS) is a Bitcoin treasury company with an AI powered education platform engaged in providing AI training and AI tools to 5.4 million students in over 200 countries worldwide. It aims to develop an AI-powered lifelong learning curriculum and make its educational products accessible worldwide to all age groups.

For more information, visit https://www.geniusgroup.net/

About Diamond Equity Research

Diamond Equity Research is a leading equity research and corporate access firm focused on small capitalization companies. Diamond Equity Research is an approved sell-side provider on major institutional investor platforms.

For more information, visit https://www.diamondequityresearch.com.

Disclosures:

Diamond Equity Research LLC is being compensated by Genius Group Limited for producing research materials regarding Genius Group Limited, and its securities, which is meant to subsidize the high cost of creating the report and monitoring the security, however, the views in the report reflect that of Diamond Equity Research. All payments are received upfront and are billed for an annual or semi-annual research engagement. As of 02/10/2025, the issuer had paid us $81,000 for our research services, which commenced 04/16/2022 and was billed annually for the first year for $27,000 and after in equal installments of $13,500 for six-month semi-annual periods with $13,500 received in April 2023 for six-month terms. $27,000 was paid in May 2024 (payment was for two outstanding six-month payment terms of October 2023 and April 2024, allocated to the following six-month periods of research coverage in each respective period), and $13,500 received in November 2024 for the October 2024 six-month semi-annual period of coverage. Diamond Equity Research LLC may be compensated for non-research related services, including presenting at Diamond Equity Research investment conferences, press releases and other additional services. The non-research related service cost is dependent on the company, but usually do not exceed $5,000. The issuer has paid us for non-research related services as of 02/10/2025 consisting of $3,000 for presenting at a virtual investment conference and $2,000 for organizing an investment dinner. Issuers are not required to engage us for these additional services. Additional fees may have accrued since then. Although Diamond Equity Research company sponsored reports are based on publicly available information and although no investment recommendations are made within our company sponsored research reports, given the small capitalization nature of the companies we cover we have adopted an internal trading procedure around the public companies by whom we are engaged, with investors able to find such policy on our website public disclosures page. This report and press release do not consider individual circumstances and does not take into consideration individual investor preferences. Statements within this report may constitute forward-looking statements, these statements involve many risk factors and general uncertainties around the business, industry, and macroeconomic environment. Investors need to be aware of the high degree of risk in small capitalization equities including the complete loss of their investment. Investors can find various risk factors in the initiation report and in the respective financial filings for Genius Group Limited. Please consult the attached research report for disclosures.

Contact:

Diamond Equity Research
research@diamondequityresearch.com

Attachment
- Genius Group February 2025 Update Note
The MIL Network –
February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI: Obagi Medical Announces the Launch of Latest Innovations in The SUZANOBAGIMD® Collection
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

NEW YORK, Feb. 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Obagi Medical (“Obagi”), a leader in advanced skincare innovation and the originator of medical-grade skincare, proudly unveils the latest groundbreaking additions to its highly regarded SUZANOBAGIMD® collection. The new products – Super Antioxidant Serum and Moisture Restore Hydration Replenishing Cream – offer cutting-edge solutions to address common skincare concerns such as skin discoloration and brightening, oxidative stress, and skin hydration to maintain a healthy skin barrier function. Formulated to be safe and effective for all skin types—whether sensitive, oily, dry, or somewhere in between—Obagi’s inclusive approach ensures that everyone can experience the benefits of advanced skincare, no matter their unique needs or concerns.

Developed by Dr. Suzan Obagi, a distinguished dermatologist and the Chief Medical Director at Obagi, the powerhouse duo of skincare solutions reflects her extensive research and expertise in dermatologic surgery and skin health. Her expertise in formulation is drawn from her extensive experience treating thousands of patients each year, addressing a wide range of concerns. The most common issues she observes are hyperpigmentation and challenges with sensitive skin. Dr. Obagi’s groundbreaking work, especially in understanding the unique needs of skin of color and the needs of sensitive skin types, led her to identify the five key pathways essential for optimal skin health. These pathways include reducing pigment formation and visibly improving hyperpigmentation, calming redness and reducing skin irritation, combating oxidative stress, supporting cell turnover, and restoring the skin barrier. Dr. Obagi has created effective products that do not irritate the skin while delivering results you can see in as little as a few weeks in some cases.

Dr. Suzan Obagi, Chief Medical Director at Obagi, commented, “I am so excited to finally share these groundbreaking innovations with the world. These products are the culmination of years of research and patient testing, driven by my passion for helping patients unveil their naturally radiant skin without irritation. By incorporating cutting-edge ingredients like encapsulated silymarin to protect against oxidative stress and multi-weight hyaluronic acids for multi-layered hydration, we’ve developed solutions that truly push the envelope in skincare. I genuinely believe these novel formulations not only set a new standard but also reflect my unwavering commitment to treating skin holistically, ensuring health, resilience, and a luminous glow for every skin type.”

Drawing on this wealth of expertise in treating skin discoloration, Dr. Obagi formulated these latest additions to her namesake collection to transform skin health and deliver a radiant, brighter complexion. The collection includes the new Super Antioxidant Serum, providing medical-grade defense against oxidative stress for more resilient, radiant and youthful-looking skin. Super Antioxidant Serum is formulated with a potent blend of antioxidants, including encapsulated Silymarin and stabilized Vitamin C, to neutralize free radicals, combat oxidative stress, and brighten skin.

Moisture Restore Hydration Replenishing Cream is a medical-grade, multi-layered moisturizer which delivers intense, multi-layered hydration. With a blend of both low and high-molecular-weight Hyaluronic Acids this cream delivers moisture to different layers of the skin.

Delivering both immediate and long-lasting results, these products were clinically tested by Dr. Obagi and third party clinical graders. During testing of Super Antioxidant Serum and Moisture Restore Hydration Replenishing Cream, 94% of subjects felt their skin was refreshed and smoother immediately after a single application* and 97% of subjects observed an improvement in overall skin appearance after 2 weeks* including:
- Visible improvement in the appearance of fine lines
- Visible improvement in the appearance of hyperpigmentation
- Visibly calms irritation and boosts hydration
Justin Giouzepis, Chief Marketing Officer of Obagi, added, “We’re thrilled to partner with Dr. Suzan Obagi on bringing to market Super Antioxidant Serum and Moisture Restore, products designed to address the critical needs of both skin brightening and hydration. Obagi is the leader in innovating products that defend against environmental aggressors with our vitamin C collection and products that treat hyperpigmentation with the Obagi Nu-Derm® collection. Having Super Antioxidant Serum in the Obagi portfolio provides professionals with an additional oxidative stress fighting product to recommend to their patients who may have sensitive skin but don’t want to compromise on results. We know achieving radiant, healthy skin shouldn’t come at the cost of irritation, which is why we’ve prioritized gentle yet effective formulations suitable for even the most sensitive skin types. These launches represent our commitment to providing inclusive skincare solutions for everyone.”

The SUZANOBAGIMD® Super Antioxidant Serum, priced at $158, and the SUZANOBAGIMD^® Moisture Restore Hydration Replenishing Cream, priced at $78, are now available through partnering professional channels. They will be available for customers to purchase on Obagi.com on 2.24.2025.

*Results are based on a 2024 2-week clinical test, with subjects using SOMD Super Antioxidant Serum & Moisture Restore Replenishing Cream (if needed) daily within protocol.

About Obagi Medical
Obagi Medical is an industry-leading, advanced skincare line rooted in research and skin biology, refined with a legacy of 35 years’ experience. First known as leaders in the treatment of hyperpigmentation with the Obagi Nu-Derm^® System, Obagi products are designed to diminish the appearance of premature aging, photodamage, skin discoloration, acne, and sun damage. Backed by science and trusted by professionals, Obagi empowers individuals to achieve healthy, beautiful skin.

More information about Obagi is available on the brand’s website, https://www.obagi.com.

About Waldencast
Founded by Michel Brousset and Hind Sebti, Waldencast’s ambition is to build a global best-in-class beauty and wellness operating platform by developing, acquiring, accelerating, and scaling conscious, high-growth purpose-driven brands. Waldencast’s vision is fundamentally underpinned by its brand-led business model that ensures proximity to its customers, business agility, and market responsiveness, while maintaining each brand’s distinct DNA. The first step in realizing its vision was the business combination with Obagi Cosmeceuticals and Milk Makeup. As part of the Waldencast platform, its brands will benefit from the operational scale of a multi-brand platform; the expertise in managing global beauty brands at scale; a balanced portfolio to mitigate category fluctuations; asset-light efficiency; and the market responsiveness and speed of entrepreneurial indie brands. For more information please visit: https://ir.waldencast.com/.

Media Contact:
obagi@purplepr.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2e3ff584-7c90-4039-9b0e-ab93ef0fcf5a

The MIL Network –
February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: How rural English women used scrapbooks to commemorate the death of Winston Churchill

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Cherish Watton-Colbrook, Archives Assistant, University of Cambridge

Sixty years ago, on January 24, Britons gathered around their radios to listen to the sombre BBC announcement that Sir Winston Churchill had died at the age of 90. Others learned about the news at church, as they listened to prayers for the life of the former prime minister, admired by many for leading Britain through the second world war. Later that day, radio and television schedules were suspended to make way for the flood of tributes.

Around this time in villages around England and Wales, Women’s Institute (WI) members were just beginning a year-long scrapbooking project in honour of the WI’s golden jubilee year in 1965. A branch-based voluntary organisation,
founded in 1915, the WI was set up to bring country women together.

This scrapbook project was one way in which the organisation sought to foster a sense of community in rural areas. Members were invited to chronicle everything that happened in their village during that year. Although not every entry featured a tribute to Churchill, several WI members decided to mark the former leader’s death.

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Today, many of these scrapbooks survive in county record offices, while others remain cherished volumes kept by WIs in their branch archives. Some branches, along with local history societies, have digitised their scrapbooks and shared them online.

Scrapbooks are perhaps not what immediately spring to mind when we think about the 1960s. Traditionally, they conjure up images of brightly coloured printed clippings or pressed flowers, saved by Victorian women and children. But this is just one page in scrapbooking’s rich history.

In the 20th century, the rise of popular newspapers, magazines, domestic photography and television provided an array of material that could be transformed into personal archives. Scrapbooking proved a popular way for people to document what they found meaningful in their lives. Family, work, activism, stars of film, music and sport, royalty and even the weather were just some of the many topics covered.

In 1965, WI members in Woodford, the constituency Churchill represented for 40 years until 1964, decided to conclude their community scrapbook with a tribute to their former MP.

On a page of black sugar paper, members pasted a programme from a local memorial church service. Women also included a commemorative stamp, together with a photograph of floral tributes left at a bronze statue of Churchill on the village green, flanked by servicemen. Even though Churchill died at the beginning of the year, it was evidently the last thing Woodford Green’s WI members wanted their readers to encounter in their scrapbook.

Local and national newspapers published a plethora of obituaries and articles on Churchill’s life, providing scrapbookers, such as WI members in Stoke Ferry in Norfolk, with a wealth of visual material for their community volumes.

Local WI members crafted a photographic record of Churchill’s life, from childhood through to retirement, arranging the images in chronological order, mirroring the conventions associated with family photograph albums. They combined a series of press photographs and newspaper headlines with a handwritten note elaborating on what they felt was significant about Churchill’s death. WI women even went as far as to connect Churchill with their scrapbooking activities:

As we compile this Jubilee Scrap Book, we stop to wonder what life would have been like in this village in 1965 but for that great statesman and leader, Sir Winston Churchill. Would this book be the happy record of a free and thriving community?

On the following pages, they contrasted photographs from the funeral procession, with a shot of a bunch of pink tulips, given by a serviceman. In juxtaposing these images, they switched between ceremonial and more intimate forms of commemoration.

WI scrapbookers clearly felt strongly about recording the death of Churchill in their community volumes. The scrapbook genre allowed these women, at a significant moment in time, to shape the historical record in a way they found to be meaningful, with an eye to the future generations they expected to read their creations.

‘Cold lunches were the order of the day’

As relayed in many of these WI scrapbooks, Churchill was the first prime minister in the 20th century who was afforded a state funeral. It was broadcast around the world in a transmission of unparalleled significance – second only to the 1953 coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

One woman in Whitchurch, Herefordshire, wrote a series of diary entries under the pseudonym of Ann Whitchurch for her WI’s competition entry. After an earlier entry (exploring the merits of new brightly coloured long johns) Whitchurch reflected on January 30:

Everyone seems to feel his loss as something that really matters. Whatever anyone’s politics are, he stood for England, especially for people of my generation who remember his great speeches during the War. It’s rather like the end of a chapter.

Whitchurch chose the more intimate format of the diary entry, as opposed to national newspaper coverage, to offer a personal tribute to Churchill. By declaring herself the spokeswoman for her generation, Whitchurch conveyed how she understood Churchill’s death as a moment of rupture and transition.

Over 100 miles away in the Cotswolds, a farmer’s wife in Chedworth shared what the day looked like from her rural farm:

Cold lunches were the order of the day, everyone was watching the funeral procession of Sir Winston Churchill – an unforgettable memory. Even the menfolk dashed in and out between essential jobs.

This WI member used her passage to show how the villagers’ commitment to watching the funeral upended their everyday routines at home and at work.

Sixty years on, browsing the pages of these community scrapbooks reveals more than just a reaction to Churchill’s death by a specific group of rural women. They provide a fascinating glimpse of how national mourning unfolded in English villages and the different ways in which country women documented this moment on behalf of their communities.

Cherish Watton-Colbrook works as an Archives Assistant for Churchill Archives Centre in Cambridge.

– ref. How rural English women used scrapbooks to commemorate the death of Winston Churchill – https://theconversation.com/how-rural-english-women-used-scrapbooks-to-commemorate-the-death-of-winston-churchill-248689

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: The EU was built for another age – here’s how it must adapt to survive

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Francesco Grillo, Academic Fellow, Department of Social and Political Sciences, Bocconi University

Shutterstock/gopixa

To European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, Europe is like a Volkswagen Beetle – an iconic car produced by a once-mighty German manufacturer which has been struggling to adapt to a new world.

“Europe must shift gears,” she urged in a speech to business executives gathered in Davos, Switzerland at the beginning of the year. Yet, her call to arms failed to raise more than an eyebrow. After all, she has repeated the same call many times since she was elected six years ago. So far, there has been little result.

The US president, Donald Trump, may now even be tempted to finish off the EU (the most developed of the world’s multilateral organisations) by dividing its members over the single market for trade. This arrangement is the cornerstone upon which the union was built, but can it withstand Trump’s attempts to play European nations off against each other in order to get the best deal for himself?

The problem is that Trump is simply bringing to its most extreme consequences the weakness of a system that was built for stable times which are long gone. We urgently need a new idea, and it cannot be for a “United States of Europe”. That is a dream from the past that could not be more at odds with Europe’s current political climate.

Mini unions

Europe is unable to chart a path forward because it needs unanimity among its member states in order to make any major decision. Votes are not even weighted to reflect the different sizes of each of the club’s members.

This is a weakness that would gradually cause the deterioration of any international organisation. But in the case of the EU, the crisis is more serious because member states have surrendered part of their decision power. As a result, if the EU cannot move quickly, even member states turn out to be paralysed.

Viktor Orbán, the prime minister of Hungary, has often been singled out as the bad guy especially – this has happened every time the EU has tried to approve sanctions against Russia or aid to Ukraine. But examples of free riding abound even among the founding parties.

For decades, France has resisted any attempt to reorganise the common agricultural policy that sends a third of the EU’s budget to farmers, many of them French. Italy has halted the ratification of the reform of the European stability mechanism that should protect states from financial instability, out of the assumption among part of the Italian electorate that this may compromise further sovereignty.

Elsewhere, Germany’s constitutional court has derailed the reform of the EU electoral law that divides the election of the European parliament into a dysfunctional system of 27 national contests, because of the resistance of the German political system to any electoral law which is not proportional.

We need to find a way to change all this. And the solution cannot be the rather abstract idea of a union that proceeds at different speeds, where the older members are supposed to be part of an inner circle. Nor is it feasible to expect the abolition of unanimous voting for the simple reason that to forgo unanimity, you need a unanimous vote.

Instead, the EU should become the coordinator of multiple unions, each formed by the member states themselves around specific policies. A union might form around defence, for example, among member states which are ready for such a partnership, such as Poland, the Baltics and Finland.

Another might bring together countries that wish to collaborate on large projects such as a pan-European high-speed train, or a fully integrated energy market that may allow Italy, France and Spain to save billions of euros and decarbonise more quickly.

This is not entirely new. Arrangements like the euro and the free circulation of people (the Schengen area) follow this principle. Only a subset of EU nations are part of these projects, and offers have even been extended to join beyond the EU’s borders. Monaco is in the euro, for example, while Norway is in Schengen, despite neither being an EU member state.

The problem with these unions is that they are incomplete. The complement to the monetary union is a recently reformed “stability pact” that leaves so many loopholes that 11 out of its 20 members do not comply. And even within Schengen, there are still no proper common borders. The result is continuous reciprocal accusations of exporting each other’s illegal migrants.

The solution here is to fully share the levers within a certain policy area on terms which are more flexible and voluntary for the union’s members.

The possibility of calm divorce

Resilience is achieved through adaptability. Therefore, these new arrangements must make divorce between union members possible from the outset – and establish the terms of such a rupture in advance.

And in the event of an extreme case, the other parties should also be able to ask one of the members to leave their union (so as to avoid being systematically held to ransom by a free rider). The current union treaty does contain a provision (article 50) that enables a member to leave, as the UK did – but if Brexit showed anything, it was that this mechanism has limited use at preventing a divorce from descending into chaos.

People should always be part of these decisions, of course. When states decide to surrender some of their sovereignty to a larger organisation such as the EU, it changes the nature of the pact between the citizens of a country and the people who make decisions on their behalf. This evident truth has been ignored for decades as the EU has gradually been built from the top down.

The European Union currently resembles the marriages we once had in Europe (until well into the 20th century), before it was acknowledged that they are a civil (not necessarily religious) contract that can be dissolved through divorce – not some divine construct that can never be undone.

The marriage between EU countries is blighted by cheating and empty rhetoric. This is an issue we can no longer avoid if Europe wants to do more than just “shift gears”. The EU was the most successful political project of the 20th century. If it wants to continue to be so in the 21st, it has to learn to be flexible. Only those who can adapt survive.

Francesco Grillo is Director of the think tank Vision. Vision is convenor of three global conferences on the future of the EU, climate change and AI .

– ref. The EU was built for another age – here’s how it must adapt to survive – https://theconversation.com/the-eu-was-built-for-another-age-heres-how-it-must-adapt-to-survive-248811

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Sickle cell disease is a genetic disorder that causes lifelong suffering – here’s what you need to know

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Cristina Pina, Senior Lecturer in Biomedical Sciences, Brunel University of London

3D illustration of sickle cell red blood cells Meletios Verras/Shutterstock

Right now, approximately 20 billion red blood cells are busy travelling through your blood vessels. They are delivering oxygen to all the different tissues in your body and removing carbon dioxide to be breathed out of your lungs.

Red blood cells are discs curved inwards on both sides, without a cell nucleus. They are full of haemoglobin, a protein responsible for gas exchanges. At the core of a haemoglobin molecule is an iron carrying component called haem, which can be loaded with oxygen.

The shape of the red blood cell is useful to flexibly navigate blood vessels of all sizes, deforming as needed. It also provides a large surface for gas exchange. Haemoglobin collects oxygen in the lungs, where there is plenty of it, and releases it across the body, where there is much less.

But not if you suffer from sickle cell disease, which affects nearly eight million people worldwide, most in sub-Saharan Africa.

In the UK, approximately 17,500 people have sickle cell disease and 300 babies are born with the condition each year. It is a genetic disorder caused by inherited mutations in a person’s DNA that affect the properties of haemoglobin.

Haemoglobin is made up of four proteins organised around the iron-carrying haem group. These proteins are called globins, and each haemoglobin molecule has two alpha and two beta-globins.

Sickle cell disease changes adult beta-globin. Instead of two alpha and two healthy beta chains, sickle cell disease patients have two alpha and two mutant beta chains. The resulting haemoglobin is called HbS.

HbS has different characteristics to normal adult haemoglobin, causing severe symptoms. HbS is structurally unstable. Upon high temperatures, dehydration, acidity, such as happens during infections, it clumps inside the red blood cells. The clumps make red blood cells rigid and change their shape from flexible doughnuts into inflexible sickles – hence the name of the disease.

Rigid sickle cells cannot travel through narrow blood vessels, which clogs them, forming clots that stop blood circulation in different places. The clots change oxygen and acidity locally, causing more sickling.

Accumulation of clots causes some of the most severe symptoms of sickle cell disease, including strokes, kidney failure, blindness, prolonged and painful erections (called priapism) and loss of circulation in the lungs – the excruciating acute chest syndrome.

Repeated clotting scars and destroys the spleen, increasing the risk of recurrent infections, often by streptococcal bacteria which can cause severe pneumonia and sepsis.

Sickle red blood cells also break easily, a phenomenon called haemolysis. The body tries to produce more red blood cells, but cannot correct the underlying defect. Patients experience symptoms similar to other forms of anaemia, including pallor, breathlessness upon exertion, fatigue. Haemolysis leads to inflammation and damages blood vessels, further aggravating sickling symptoms.

Lifelong suffering

Symptoms and complications of sickle cell disease start in the first year of life and progress in severity. The disease reduces the quality and duration of life of patients – in the UK, those with sickle cell disease have a life expectancy of 67.

Worldwide, life expectancy is below 50 and many children with sickle cell disease in sub-Saharan Africa die before the age of five. Sickle cell disease patients are dependent on transfusions of healthy red blood cells – over time this causes complications of its own.

Until recently, the only cure for sickle cell disease was stem cell transplantation – also known as bone marrow transplantation – from a healthy donor with a compatible immune system which will not be rejected by, or attack, the patient. Often, this is a sibling or a parent, but, in up to 75% of cases, a compatible relative cannot be found.

Stem cell transplantation replaces the cells in the blood factory of the patient, which produce HbS, with blood-making cells without the genetic defect, which produce normal adult haemoglobin. Transplanted blood stem cells maintain healthy haemoglobin production for life.

In the absence of transplantation, sickle cell disease patients receive regular transfusions, which deliver healthy red blood cells. But, unlike stem cells, red blood cells are short-lived.

Patients also receive a drug called hydroxycarbamide, which is used to treat cancer patients and can be toxic, but alleviates symptoms. Hydroxycarbamide acts by turning on a gene that leads to the production of foetal haemoglobin, which is not affected by the sickle cell disease mutation.

In 2024, two forms of gene therapy were approved for sickle cell disease treatment by the US Food and Drug Administration. Both involve collecting stem cells from the patient, modifying them genetically, and transplanting them back into the patient so the body makes blood with corrected cells for the rest of the patient’s life.

The first of the gene therapies, commercially called Casgevy, works by removing and inactivating a gene that is normally responsible for producing beta-globin. This replaces HbS in the red blood cells with the unaffected foetal haemoglobin.

Read more:
Nobel Prize for chemistry honors exquisitely precise gene-editing technique, CRISPR – a gene engineer explains how it works

The second gene therapy, called Lyfgenia (Lovotibeglogene autotemcel), works differently. It introduces an additional gene in the stem cells which makes it less likely for HbS to form aggregates and cause sickling, reducing the more severe symptoms of the disease.

The development and testing of gene and cell therapies for sickle cell disease is still an ongoing effort of many scientists and companies. That there are now two approved therapies for sickle cell disease highlights the importance of supporting investigation and development of breakthrough technologies based on detailed understanding of biological mechanisms of disease.

These investigations are key to treating patients with genetic diseases, which often do not have any other available treatments.

Cristina Pina receives funding from Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group via the Little Princess Trust and the National Centre for the Replacement, Reduction and Refinement of Animals in Research. She receives honoraria for consulting services to the Medicines Discover Institute at the University of Cardiff via an MRC research grant to Simon Ward.

Victor Hernandez-Hernandez receives funding from GOSHCC Charity, Newlife Charity, Welcome Trust, Fight for Sight, EU FP7. He is co-founder, shareholder and employee of Axovia Therapeutics Ltd.

– ref. Sickle cell disease is a genetic disorder that causes lifelong suffering – here’s what you need to know – https://theconversation.com/sickle-cell-disease-is-a-genetic-disorder-that-causes-lifelong-suffering-heres-what-you-need-to-know-243827

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: How the war in Ukraine has made flying worse for the climate

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Viktoriia Ivannikova, Assistant Professor in Aviation Management, Dublin City University

UladzimirZuyeu/Shutterstock

Some long-haul flights connecting Europe and Asia are emitting 40% more CO₂ since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, my new study shows. The spike is largely due to airspace closures above conflict zones which are forcing airlines to seek alternative routes, significantly increasing flight times. Longer flights consume more fuel and increase the operating costs for airlines, quite apart from their contribution to climate change.

The research I led with colleagues highlights how conflicts contribute to climate change in unexpected ways. Understanding this is crucial for tackling aviation’s environmental footprint.

The war in Ukraine closed the country’s airspace and limited access to the airspace of the Russian Federation and Belarus. This amounts to the biggest closure of airspace since the cold war, spanning 18 million km².

Airlines that previously flew in Russian or Ukrainian airspace on routes between Europe and Asia, North America and Asia, and North America and the Middle East now take significant detours. For example, Finnair’s flight AY73 from Helsinki to Tokyo now covers an additional 3,131 kilometres, extending flight times by up to 3.5 hours. North American flights to Asia have been rerouted over the Arctic and Central Asia.

Safety concerns and geopolitical sanctions have forced airlines to carefully navigate around restricted zones.

The situation is further complicated by restrictions in other conflict regions – including the Middle East, where the airspaces of Syria, Yemen and Iraq are also considered no-fly zones for many airlines. The global aviation map has been redrawn, forcing airlines to adapt quickly to a new and challenging reality.

Several international flights now skirt war zones.
Viktoriia Ivannikova

This has been accompanied by significant costs, both financially and to the climate. We analysed 14 long-haul routes between Europe and Asia that were affected by airspace restrictions and operated by three European airlines: Finnair, LOT Polish and Lufthansa.

The findings are striking: rerouted flights burn an additional 23 to 28.5 tonnes of fuel per journey, releasing an extra 72 to 90 metric tonnes of CO₂. That’s equivalent to the annual emissions of several cars for a single flight.

Airlines have also reported significant operating cost increases due to the extra flight hours, including higher fuel consumption, air navigation charges and crew salary increases. Our analysis showed that on certain routes between Europe and Asia, costs have risen by between 19% and 39%, while emissions have increased by between 18% and 40%, depending on the airline.

On routes from Warsaw to Beijing, Warsaw to Tokyo and Warsaw to Seoul, LOT Polish Airlines has reported an increase of 23% in average aircraft operating costs following flight restrictions. CO₂ emissions on these routes have increased by 24% and ticket prices have also risen.

Finnair, which historically relied on Russian airspace for efficient Europe-Asia connections, appears to be the most affected carrier. Following flight restrictions, aircraft operating costs on the routes from Helsinki to Shanghai, Helsinki to Tokyo and Helsinki to Seoul have risen by 39%, while average CO₂ emissions on these routes have increased by 40%.

Our findings shed new light on the massive carbon footprint of war, which is often overlooked in climate policy. Using a forecasting model with specialised software, we found that continued avoidance of the airspaces of Russia and Ukraine could increase all aviation-related CO₂ emissions globally by up to 29% in 2025, compared with 2022.

Aviation already accounts for 2.5% of global CO₂ emissions, and this figure is expected to grow as air travel expands.

Aeroplanes seed heat-trapping clouds that amplify their climate impact.
Peter Gudella/Shutterstock

Our findings demonstrate that the need to decarbonise transport cannot be separated from broader geopolitical issues. As wars and conflicts reshape airspace availability, they also worsen aviation’s carbon footprint. It’s not just the airline industry that bears these costs – we all do, in the form of rising temperatures and a changing climate.

What action needs to be taken?

While the challenges are significant, there are solutions.

Upgrading airline fleets with more fuel-efficient aircraft, such as the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787, can help to reduce CO₂ emissions by roughly 20%–25% compared with older aircraft models, such as the Boeing 777-200ER or Airbus A330-200.

Optimising flight paths using advanced air traffic management systems could help too. These systems, allow aircraft to choose the shortest and most efficient paths and can reduce unnecessary detours.

International agreements to manage airspace collectively during times of conflict can keep essential flight corridors open and ensure airlines avoid inefficient rerouting.

Airlines are investing in sustainable aviation fuels, which emits less than traditional kerosene – but insufficient supplies, high costs and other challenges make this an expensive and partial solution. With no viable low-carbon alternatives for aircraft, reducing air travel should be the priority.

As researchers, we see our findings as a call to action. By understanding the environmental consequences of conflict, we can work towards a more sustainable future for aviation and the planet.

Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 40,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

Viktoriia Ivannikova 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. How the war in Ukraine has made flying worse for the climate – https://theconversation.com/how-the-war-in-ukraine-has-made-flying-worse-for-the-climate-249039

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: AI is transforming the search for new materials that can help create the technologies of the future

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Domenico Vicinanza, Associate Professor of Intelligent Systems and Data Science, Anglia Ruskin University

Battery technology is one area that can benefit from the development of novel materials. IM Imagery / Shutterstock

From the bronze age to the Industrial Revolution and beyond, the discovery and development of new materials has been a driving force in human history. These novel materials have helped advance technology and shape civilisations.

Today, we are at the beginning of a new era, where artificial intelligence (AI) seems to be in the perfect position to transform the search for useful materials. This looks set to completely change the approach to their investigation, creation and testing.

In ancient times, human civilisations experimented with natural resources to create tools and artifacts. The bronze age, in the mid-4th millennium BC, was a significant milestone. Bronze, an alloy of copper and tin, led to the development of stronger tools and weapons, as well as advancements in agriculture and construction.

Bronze is often referred to as the first “new material” created by humans. We took different elements and created something new, with better properties that either ingredient and unique qualities. The invention of glass in ancient Mesopotamia around 3,500BC was another groundbreaking moment.

A superconductor (the dark material) makes a magnetic cube levitate. The field of the magnet induces currents in the superconductor that generate an equal and opposite field, balancing out the gravitational force on the cube.
Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Fast forward to the 20th century and the discovery of plastic polymers, ceramics and superconductors opened new frontiers in technology. Ceramics, known for their durability and heat resistance, became a staple in industries from aerospace to electronics.

Superconductors, materials that can conduct electricity with zero electrical resistance, are already used in maglevs (magnetic levitation trains), particle accelerators and medical devices.

AI enters the fray

Searching for new materials that could help drive the development of the next groundbreaking technologies has previously been a long and expensive process. This has been due to the complexity of many materials at the atomic and molecular levels. Traditional methods are essentially based on trial and error and need specialised equipment and resources.

The inherent uncertainty and risk in material discovery further complicates and lengthens the process. However, advancements in AI, including in a subset of AI called machine learning, are beginning to transform the whole landscape, enabling more efficient and targeted approaches. In machine learning, mathematical rules called algorithms learn from data to improve at tasks without human intervention.

The main shift is a new methodology based on “generative” AI systems, which can create new content. AI systems can now directly produce novel materials when provided with desired properties and constraints.

Earlier this month, a team at Microsoft published a paper in Nature that introduced a pair of AI tools for the design of inorganic materials (those not based around the element carbon).

AI tools can generate thousands of potential materials within a short space of time.
Yurchanka Siarhei / Shutterstock

These tools play complementary roles in materials discovery. They are called MatterGen and MatterSim. The first one creates new candidate materials, and the second filters and validates them – to ensure they could be made in the real world.

The specific desired properties that can be incorporated through MatterGen include a specific symmetry, or mechanical, electronic and magnetic properties.

Unlike traditional methods that mostly rely on intuition (along with extensive and tedious experimentation), MatterGen can generate thousands of potential materials with specific desired properties in a fraction of the time.

This AI-led approach accelerates the initial stages of material design. It allows researchers to explore a broader range of possibilities and focus on the most promising candidates.

MatterSim applies rigorous computer analysis to predict the stability and viability of these proposed materials. This predictive capability helps filter out theoretical possibilities from physically feasible ones. This ensures that only stable materials move forward in the discovery process.

New tools in the box

At this point, we might wonder, what does a new material, identified through this process, look like? MatterSim is mostly focusing on crystals, or more appropriately unique crystalline structures with a specific arrangement of atoms.

These structures are tailored to meet precise property constraints, making them suitable for various applications. These include high energy batteries, flexible electronics, displays, solar panels or advanced medical implants.

Flexible electronics are another area where materials discovery could drive advances.
Peter Sobolev

Microsoft’s powerful duo, however, is not alone in its quest. Google DeepMind’s Graph Networks for Materials Exploration (Gnome) is another tool promising to dramatically speed up the discovery process. Gnome uses a form of AI that’s inspired by the human brain called deep learning. It predicts the stability of new materials, significantly shortening the exploration and discovery phase.

In a paper published in 2023, researchers from Google DeepMind demonstrated that their AI model could identify 2.2 million new stable materials. Some 736 of these have already been experimentally realised. This is a tenfold increase over previous methods. These materials, many of which were previously unknown to human chemists, have potential applications in clean energy, electronics, and more.

Even if both Google’s Gnome and Microsoft’s MatterGen are AI-based, they differ in their approaches and, in some ways, provide complementary methodologies. Gnome predicts the stability of new materials by creating variations on existing structures, and it focuses on identifying stable crystalline materials.

MatterGen, on the other hand, employs a generative AI model to directly engineer novel materials based on specific design requirements. It creates material structures by changing elements, positions and periodic lattices (a repeating structure in three dimensions).

The implications of AI-driven material discovery are vast. They could potentially lead to innovations in fields such as energy storage and environmental sustainability. One of the most promising applications is, for example, the development of new batteries.

As the world makes the transition to renewable energy sources, the demand for efficient, long lasting batteries has grown and will continue to do so. AI tools can help researchers design and identify new materials able to support higher energy densities, faster charging times and longer lifespans.

Beyond energy storage, new materials can be used to design new medical devices, implants and even drug delivery systems. This could improve patient outcomes and advance medical treatments.

In aerospace, lightweight, durable materials could enhance the performance and safety of aircraft and spacecraft. Meanwhile, new materials for water purification, carbon capture, and waste management could address pressing environmental challenges.

Domenico Vicinanza 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. AI is transforming the search for new materials that can help create the technologies of the future – https://theconversation.com/ai-is-transforming-the-search-for-new-materials-that-can-help-create-the-technologies-of-the-future-249392

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI China: New freight train route links China’s Chongqing with Afghanistan

Source: China State Council Information Office

A freight train, loaded with communication equipment and other products, departed from southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality on Monday and is expected to arrive in Afghanistan in 12 to 15 days.

This marked the inauguration of a new direct freight train route, which passes through Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and other countries, between Chongqing and Afghanistan.

The communication equipment aboard the train, manufactured by Chinese telecom firm ZTE, will be used in the development of local communication networks in Afghanistan.

“Via direct freight train services, the transportation duration has been reduced by three to five days compared to previous road transport, and logistics costs are expected to be cut back by 15 to 20 percent,” said Liu Jianfeng with ZTE.

“The successful launch of the direct freight train from Chongqing to Afghanistan marks another effort in deepening our economic and trade cooperation with Central Asian countries,” said Xu Runqiu, an executive at the Yuxin’ou (Chongqing) supply chain management company.

In recent years, Chongqing has been striving to elevate itself into a comprehensive inland hub, with the number of China-Europe freight trains and those heading to Central Asian countries departing from the city, along with cargo volumes, growing.

To date, more than 18,000 trains covering over 50 regular routes linking the city with European and Central Asian countries have been dispatched, reaching over 100 hub cities and regions across Asia and Europe.

In March 2011, the China-Europe freight train (Yuxin’ou) service was launched from Chongqing to Duisburg, establishing a direct overland trade corridor between China and Europe.

MIL OSI China News –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI China: China unveils measures to boost consumer spending, foreign investment

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

BEIJING, Feb. 10 — Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Monday presided over a State Council executive meeting that outlined measures to boost domestic consumption and approved an action plan to stabilize foreign investment in 2025.

The meeting called for strong support to increase household incomes, promote reasonable wage growth, broaden property-related income channels, and enhance consumption capacities.

It emphasized the importance of focusing on consumption sectors with a strong spillover effect and large growth potential to tap into consumption potential.

It also highlighted the importance of expanding consumption in the culture, sports and tourism sectors, of promoting consumption in the snow-and-ice industry, of developing inbound tourism consumption, and of strengthening support for China’s consumer goods trade-in program.

The meeting also noted that foreign enterprises play an important role in job creation, export stabilization and industrial upgrading, and urged more practical, effective measures to stabilize existing foreign investment and expand new investment.

It called for the optimization of a comprehensive services sector opening-up pilot program and the expansion of industries that encourage foreign investment.

It encouraged foreign capital to undertake equity investment in China, and urged efforts to optimize rules and procedures for foreign mergers and acquisitions.

The meeting stressed the need for domestic and foreign enterprises to be treated equally in government procurement, as well as the need to broaden financing channels for foreign enterprises.

Efforts should be made to promote the removal of outdated or inefficient production capacities, and to increase high-end capacities, according to the meeting.

It discussed and approved in principle a draft law on national development planning, and decided to submit the draft to the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress for deliberation.

MIL OSI China News –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/MYANMAR – A Catholic church hit by bombing in Chin State

Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

diocese of Mindat

Mindat (Agenzia Fides) – The Myanmar army has carried out air strikes that have seriously damaged the Catholic church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Mindat, in the state of Chin, in the northwest of the country. This church had recently been chosen as the cathedral of the diocese of Mindat, erected on January 25 by Pope Francis, separating the territory from the diocese of Hakha.According to local sources of Fides, in recent months Mindat has been the scene of clashes between the Chinland Defence Force (CDF) and the Myanmar army. The CDF, which emerged in opposition to the military junta, managed to take control of the territory and, in January, officially declared the area as “liberated”. In several border regions, these militias have allied themselves with ethnic armed groups that have been fighting for greater autonomy for decades.The bombing of the cathedral took place on February 6, but news of it has only just come to light. Several bombs hit the building, damaging the roof and stained glass windows, rendering it unusable. No injuries were reported, as priests and faithful had left the area due to insecurity and fighting. In recent days, local priests had carried out inspections of the church to plan for upcoming liturgical celebrations, including the consecration of the newly appointed bishop, Father Augustine Thang Zawm Hung, until now parish vicar of the Sacred Heart in Mindat. The attack has caused consternation among the faithful, although the community has expressed its determination to repair the church. “We are very sad that our church has been hit by the bombs. It is a wound in our heart. But we will not let ourselves be defeated. We will rebuild it,” said the local priest, Fr. Paulinus. “We are certain that the Lord will ‘bombard’ us with his grace and blessing: this will bring peace and prosperity to our people.” The diocese of Mindat, located in the south of Chin State, has a population of about 360,000 inhabitants, of whom about 15,000 are Catholics, in a region that is predominantly Christian of other denominations. The diocese has 23 parishes, 48 diocesan priests, three religious men, 21 nuns, as well as 40 minor seminarians and seven major seminarians. As the faithful of Chin face these difficult times, in the archdiocese of Yangon a special jubilee pilgrimage was held on February 9 to the Marian shrine of Nyaungbelin, in the Bago region, on the occasion of the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. More than 3,000 people took part in the pilgrimage, praying for peace and entrusting themselves to the Virgin Mary.“Bishops, priests, religious and Catholic faithful, together with Buddhists, Muslims and Hindus, have prayed to Our Lady of Lourdes for peace in Myanmar and in the world,” said a statement from the diocese. (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 10/2/2025)
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MIL OSI Europe News –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/HOLY LAND – Israeli Jesuit David Neuhaus: the plan to remove Palestinians from Gaza feels like a kick in the stomach

Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

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Jerusalem (Agenzia Fides) – “We are in no hurry”. This is how US President Donald Trump yesterday offered an important detail regarding the plan for the reconstruction and development of the Gaza Strip under the direct control of the United States that he presented last week during the visit to Washington of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Speaking to journalists aboard Air Force One that was taking him to New Orleans to watch the Superbowl, the US President said that Gaza must be thought of as “a large real estate site, and the United States will take possession of it, and develop it slowly, very slowly”, to bring “stability to the Middle East”.From Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, when asked about the ‘Trump plan’ on Gaza, also took his time, reporting that “For now we do not know the details, so we must be patient”.On the other hand, Father David Neuhaus, interviewed by Fides, has no hesitation. For him, the conjectures circulating in recent days on the future of the Gaza Strip felt like “a kick in the stomach”.Israeli Jesuit and professor of Sacred Scripture, David Neuhaus was born in South Africa to German-Jewish parents who fled Germany in the 1930s, he was also in the past Patriarchal Vicar for the Hebrew-speaking Catholics and for the Pastoral Among Migrants.Father Neuhaus, what considerations can be made in view of the recent proposals that have emerged on the future of Gaza?DAVID NEUHAUS: Trump, the president of the United States has a vision for Gaza, which he shared with the world on February 4, 2025. Mr. Netanyahu, prime minister of Israel, was visiting him. It felt like a kick in the stomach. And I am not even a Palestinian. I am an Israeli.What in particular are you referring to?NEUHAUS: Trump’s boldly proclaimed plan is to transform the Gaza Strip from the heaps of rubble left by Israel’s military campaign, into a luxurious riviera. In that vision, there is no place for the people who call Gaza home. That population must be moved out (to where is far from clear). This is yet another stage in the removal of Palestinians from Palestine…Do you see what is happening as part of a process?NEUHAUS: Yes. It is a process that began long time ago. E che ha causato anche la concentrazione di popolazione palestinese nella Striscia di Gaza. It was back in 1947/1948 that the population of Gaza more than tripled with the influx of those expelled by the Israelis from their homes inside Israel, making Gaza one of the most densely populated areas in the world. Mr. Trump spoke only about Gaza but Mr. Netanyahu’s administration has already begun to work on the West Bank, sowing Gaza-like destruction in the cities of Jenin and Tulkarm. Thousands of Palestinians have already been expelled from their homes.Are the new ideas about the future of Gaza the only way to imagine the present and future of the Jewish state in the context of the current Middle East?NEUHAUS: Trump and Netanyahu’s vision is quite different from that of Peter Beinhart, a Jewish American journalist. I strongly recommend his latest book, “Being Jewish after the Destruction of Gaza: A Reckoning” as an antidote to the discourse coming from US and Israeli leadership. Beinhart reconstructs Jewish identity in the light of what has been happening in the past months, adamantly insisting that Israel’s only way forward is to ensure equality for all its citizens. Beinhart, whose parents were Jewish South Africans, has fully assimilated the message of the struggle against apartheid. Another prophetic voice, that of Israeli activist Orly Noy, the chair of the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories B’tselem, proclaimed unequivocally: “The war will end only when Israeli society realizes that it is not only immoral but also impossible to secure our existence through the oppression and subjugation of another people — and that the people we imprison, bomb, starve, and rob of their freedom and land are entitled to the exact same rights as we are, down to the last note”. (GV) (Agenzia Fides, 10/2/2025)
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MIL OSI Europe News –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: 2.2k basic housing views received

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Housing Bureau said today that it had received nearly 2,200 submissions of views in its stakeholder consultation on the proposed regulatory regime for Basic Housing Units (BHUs).

Since the establishment of the Task Force on Tackling the Issue of Subdivided Units in October 2023 until the end of the consultation period, the Government organised and joined nearly 40 engagement sessions, meeting nearly 700 participants and gathering views from political parties, academics, professional bodies, non-governmental organisations, estate agents, the renovation services industry, contractors associations as well as concern groups on tackling the subdivided unit (SDU) issue and the BHU regulatory regime.

In addition to extending gratitude to stakeholders for their active expression of views on the regulatory regime, the Government said it is glad that different sectors of society generally support the proposed framework of the BHU regulatory regime while giving suggestions on the execution details.

The Housing Bureau stressed that it will work at full steam to consolidate the views received, report a summary of views to the Legislative Council Panel on Housing, and seek the panel’s views on the latest proposal on the regulatory regime as soon as possible.

Subsequently, the bureau will introduce a bill into LegCo and strive for passage within this year, it added.

Upon completion of the legislative process, registration for pre-existing SDUs under rental will commence, with applications for recognition as BHUs to be accepted concurrently. A grace period will be granted to SDU landlords that have been successfully registered, so that they have reasonable time to discuss tenancy agreements with their tenants and to convert their SDUs to up-to-standard BHUs.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: ICE HSI San Antonio and our law enforcement partners arrest dangerous criminal aliens during South Texas enforcement action
Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

February 10, 2025San Antonio, TX, United StatesEnforcement and Removal
SAN ANTONIO – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, along with our law enforcement partners, conducted routine, daily enforcement actions in South Texas that began during the week of Jan. 22.

Some of the most violent criminal aliens HSI apprehended and removed from the community, include:
- A 35-old Mexican male convicted of drug trafficking and prior deportation, is now facing re-entry after deportation charges. He remains in federal custody.
- A 37-year-Honduran male and MS-13 member, convicted of felony fraud and felony weapon offenses remains in federal custody pending his removal from the United States.
- A 53-year-old Mexican male convicted of aggravated assault causing bodily injury, possession of a controlled substance. The criminal alien has been previously removed and is now facing re-entry after deportation charges. He remains in federal custody.
- A 30-year-old Honduran male convicted for DWI, forgery and re-entry after deportation, remains in federal custody pending his removal from the United States.
“HSI San Antonio remains steadfast in its mission to apprehend individuals who pose a significant threat to public safety,” said HSI San Antonio Special Agent in Charge Craig Larrabee. “The arrest of these individuals who have flagrantly violated immigration laws and are actively involved in criminal enterprise, is a vital step in strengthening and protecting our communities and the country’s borders.”

Individuals can report suspicious criminal activity to the ICE Tip Line 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling 1-866-DHS-2-ICE.
MIL OSI USA News –
February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: ICE Boston lodges immigration detainer against Dominican national accused of grisly murder

Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

February 10, 2025Lynn, MA, United StatesEnforcement and Removal

LYNN, Mass. — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement lodged an immigration detainer against Eric Dionida German-Pena, 25, a native and citizen of the Dominican Republic, following his apprehension in Lynn for his alleged role in the murder of a Massachusetts sandwich shop owner during an apparent home-invasion robbery.

“Eric Dionida German-Pena will have his day in court, but he stands accused of a very serious and disturbing crime against a member of our Massachusetts community. ICE Boston takes its public safety mission extremely seriously — which is why we’ve lodged an immigration detainer against him with Lynn police,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia H. Hyde. “The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has charged him with murder, and with the cooperation of the Lynn District Court, we intend to take him into ICE custody after he has paid his debt to society. ICE Boston will continue our mission of arresting and removing egregious alien offenders from New England.”

The Lynn Police Department police arrested German February 5 and charged him with the murder. ICE discovered that German illegally entered the United States in September 2022.

Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.

Learn more about ICE’s mission to increase public safety in our New England communities on X: @EROBoston.

MIL OSI USA News –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: ICE HSI assists Peru’s National Police in large joint operation to arrest Tren de Aragua members

Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

LIMA, Peru – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement supported the National Police of Peru in Lima to arrest and dismantle the illicit activities of Tren de Aragua members in the country, Feb. 7.

Members of ICE Homeland Security Investigations Lima and the ICE HSI Transnational Criminal Investigations Unit supported more than 300 National Police of Peru officers from the Directorate Against Human Trafficking and Illicit Migrant Trafficking in an operation which targeted at least eight specific locations in Santa Anita, San Martin de Porres, and Puente Piedra in Lima, Peru. Approximately 23 individuals suspected of being involved with a human trafficking network were arrested, and more than 80 human trafficking victims were rescued, including three minors.

“Peru is a dedicated partner in the fight against transnational criminal organizations like Tren de Aragua,” said ICE HSI Lima Attaché Paul Salamon. “Together, ICE HSI and the National Police of Peru are protecting our nations to ensure the safety of our citizens,”

“Last night, an operation was carried out with the support of ICE HSI Lima to dismantle the remnants of the criminal organization Tren de Aragua in various districts in Peru,” said National Police of Peru General Aldo Juan Ávila Novoa from the Directorate Against Human Trafficking and Illicit Migrant Trafficking. “We have deployed a force of 300 police officers from specialized units and the Shock Force, such as the National Division of Special Operations and the GRECCO group.”

“Transnational criminal organizations have no place in the strong, secure and prosperous region we are building with our partners,” said U.S. Ambassador to Peru Stephanie Syptak-Ramnath. “The success of this operation, led by the Peruvian National Police with the support of the United States, is a testament to the great work we can accomplish together to improve the security of our citizens and our shared region.”

Members of the public with information related to criminal activities of transnational organizations can submit an anonymous tip by calling 877-4-HSI-TIP.

MIL OSI USA News –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI: MultiCorp International, Inc.

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

AGOURA HILLS, CALIFORNIA, Feb. 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Multicorp International, Inc. (OTCPINK: MCIC) is pleased to announce its arrangement with 40 Brightwater LLC.

On February 3, 2025, Multicorp International, Inc. entered into an Exchange Agreement with 40 Brightwater LLC, exchanging 3,000,000,000 Preferred and 3,250,000,000 Common Stock Shares for 2,000,000 Gold Backed Cryptocurrency Tokens.This transaction will allow Multicorp International, Inc. to establish solid and stable assets backed by Gold, opening doors to access the financing needed to acquire a core business to increase real value for MCIC shareholders.

MultiCorp International Inc. Announces Strategic Growth Initiatives and Expansion Plans

About MultiCorp International, Inc.

Multicorp International, Inc. is a diversified leader in health, energy and agriculture, announces a series of strategic initiatives aimed at accelerating its growth and expanding its market presence. The company is actively pursuing joint ventures and acquisitions, is fortifying its organizational infrastructure and is preparing for significant advancements in the stock market.

About 40 Brightwater LLC

40 Brightwater LLC is a private holding company focusing specifically on acquiring private entities and merging its holdings with public companies by leveraging its financial network and resources through its Managing Member, President & CEO Shannon Newby.

Disclaimer

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or solicit an offer to buy, nor will there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction where such an offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful before registration or qualification under applicable securities laws. Any offer will be made only through a prospectus supplement and accompanying base prospectus as part of an effective registration statement.

This press release is for informational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice or a solicitation to purchase securities.

Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. These statements are based on current expectations and could differ materially from actual events.

Contact: J. A. Coleman, J.a.coleman1512@gmail.com

The MIL Network –

February 11, 2025
MIL-OSI: Groundbreaking Formal Verification Further Enhances the Quality of CHERIoT-Ibex

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

CAMBRIDGE, United Kingdom, Feb. 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — lowRISC C.I.C., the open silicon ecosystem organisation, today announced the addition of formal verification to the toolbox of open source design verification (DV) techniques used to ensure the commercial level quality of the Microsoft-created CHERIoT-Ibex core, the processor at the heart of the UKRI-funded Sonata™ platform.

CHERIoT-Ibex pipeline with specification installed using a pipeline follower

Prof. Tom Melham and Louis-Emile Ploix of the University of Oxford, and Alasdair Armstrong of the University of Cambridge, have created an extensive formal verification framework to establish observational equivalence, using unbounded proofs, between the hardware and the RISC-V International Sail specification of instruction behaviour. This greatly strengthens confidence in the design’s conformance to the specification. The verification uses the Cadence Jasper™ tool, along with new Sail support to automatically build a SystemVerilog reference model from the specification. They describe their work in a pre-print paper published on arXiv, and have collaborated with Microsoft to upstream this into the open source CHERIoT-Ibex repository.

CHERIoT-Ibex is Microsoft’s open-source extension of lowRISC’s Ibex®, a 32-bit RISC-V processor. CHERIoT provides fine-grained memory protection for embedded systems, which deterministically mitigates over two thirds of memory vulnerabilities and enables efficient compartmentalization. Of course, it is critical that the hardware correctly implements the CHERIoT extension to ensure that the security guarantees it offers are valid. “Correct” implementation is defined in a standardised way for RISC-V using Sail. This is a domain-specific language which describes, in a formal but readable fashion, exactly what each processor instruction does.

This new formal verification framework and proof developed by the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge, and lowRISC takes the formal specification for CHERIoT — written in Sail — and checks that for any stream of instructions the CHERIoT-Ibex implementation performs the same memory operations. This equivalence checking is decomposed into multiple steps to help the tool converge, by first proving simple properties, then using those to prove more and more complex ones. It is important to note that the proofs developed as part of this work are different from the more common bounded proofs, where only a limited amount of system evolution is explored for counter-examples. By contrast, unbounded proofs hold true for all possible executions. While no single verification technique should be relied on in isolation, a formal proof (in combination with a traditional functional verification flow) significantly increases confidence in the design.

Besides the work on CHERIoT-Ibex, lowRISC has also published an adaptation of this proof for regular Ibex (which of course also has extensive conventional DV), the main microprocessor core used in the OpenTitan® root of trust.

“We’re thrilled to see the achievement of this milestone, demonstrating that well managed open-source silicon designs can not just match the DV quality of commercial IP, in some cases they’re beginning to lead the field,” said Dr. Gavin Ferris, CEO of lowRISC. “The successful formal verification of CHERIoT-Ibex exemplifies our Silicon Commons approach, bringing the best of industry, academia and the open source community together through collaborative engineering — and moving the game forward for everyone. Now, not only can companies bring products to market cheaper and faster by leveraging open-source silicon designs, they can do so with the strongest possible assurance that specification fidelity has been maintained. We’re proud to have worked with Microsoft, the University of Oxford, University of Cambridge and Cadence to help make this fantastic result possible.”

“The CHERIoT-Ibex project has been an ideal challenge for our formal verification research at Oxford, which aims at both scientific innovation and strong real-world impact,” Professor Tom Melham and lead verification engineer Louis-Emile Ploix said. “We are delighted that our work has significantly helped to increase confidence in the commercial-grade quality of Microsoft’s CHERIoT-Ibex core, driven by the development of a new Sail to Verilog compiler by our colleagues at the University of Cambridge, and demonstrated new methodology for RISC-V formal verification. Our hope is that other RISC-V verification projects can substantially benefit from our experience, through our publications and open source formal verification code.”

“We are excited to see this formal verification milestone, building on the Sail formal specifications of RISC-V, CHERI RISC-V, and CHERIoT developed by multiple partners over recent years,” said Professor Peter Sewell at the University of Cambridge. “This links formal specifications of the instruction set, previously used for architecture design, hardware testing, software development, and formal reasoning about software, all the way down to the detailed hardware design. The work shows that full formal verification is viable for such designs with reasonable effort.”

“Finding and fixing bugs early in the design cycle is crucial to address the fast growing complexity of chip design. Formal verification is a key technology that allows teams to boost the functional verification productivity, reduce costs, improve quality, and ensure more reliable designs in less time,” Ziyad Hanna, Corporate Vice President of Cadence Design Systems, said. “We’re delighted that Cadence Jasper Formal Verification Platform has been instrumental in supporting this effort, contributing to the future of secure computing.”

lowRISC would like to thank all the supporters of the Sunburst project, with special thanks to Microsoft for contributing the core CHERI implementation within the CHERIoT-Ibex processor and making it open source. “Microsoft is thrilled to upstream an extensive formal verification framework and proof to the open-source CHERIoT-Ibex repository. The CHERIoT-Ibex core augments lowRISC’s Ibex with the CHERIoT ISA extension,” said Tony Chen, Partner Security Architect at Microsoft. “The formal verification pioneered by Oxford University has instilled an unmatched level of confidence in the CHERIoT-Ibex core.”

CHERIoT-Ibex is the processor core of Sonata which puts CHERI technology into the hands of embedded-system engineers. Sonata is part of the Sunburst project, which is funded by DSbD and UKRI (Grant Number 107540). The early, foundational work at Oxford on the formal verification of CHERIoT-Ibex was funded by DSbD and UKRI as part of the SCorCH project (EPSRC Grant Number EP/V000225/1).

About lowRISC®
Founded in 2014 at the University of Cambridge Department of Computer Science and Technology, lowRISC is a not-for-profit company/CIC that provides a neutral home for collaborative engineering to develop and maintain commercial-quality open source silicon designs and tools for the long term. The lowRISC not-for-profit structure combined with full-stack engineering capabilities in-house enables the hosting and management of high-quality projects like OpenTitan and Sunburst via the Silicon Commons® approach.

Media Contact
lowRISC@w2comm.com

An infographic accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/432a234b-dca0-44be-9118-91ca2b8996c4

The MIL Network –

February 11, 2025

Date of the information	Total number of issued shares	Number of actual voting rights*	Number of theoretical voting rights**
January 31, 2025	7,161,465	7,186,734	7,186,983

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