Category: CTF

MIL-OSI: American Rebel CEO Andy Ross to Rock Coca-Cola 600 Weekend with Multiple High-Energy Concerts
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Three Days of Music, Racing, Patriotism and American Rebel Light Beer – Andy Ross will Perform for Thousands at Charlotte Motor Speedway’s THOR Camper Appreciation Party, Iron Thunder Saloon/Speedway Harley-Davidson, and BetMGM Speed Street Stage

Nashville, TN, May 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — American Rebel Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: AREB) (“American Rebel” or the “Company”), creator of American Rebel Light Beer (americanrebelbeer.com) and a designer, manufacturer, and marketer of branded safes, personal security and self-defense products and apparel (americanrebel.com), announces that American Rebel CEO Andy Ross will perform multiple concerts for thousands of race fans during the Coca-Cola 600 Weekend at the Charlotte Motor Speedway (charlottemotorspeedway.com) May 22 – 25.

Festivities will begin Thursday, May 22 as Andy Ross will headline the THOR Camper Appreciation Party, performing for campers throughout the sold out 2700 campsite facility. Driver appearances will kick off each stop of the THOR Camper Appreciation Party, followed by a 30-minute set by Andy Ross. The party begins at the Camping World Racing Resort Log Cabin at 6 pm, followed by the Turn 4 Campground at 7, the Turn 1 Campground at 8 and the final stop at 9 at the Legendary Infield Campground.

Saturday, May 24, Andy will perform a 90-minute set at Iron Thunder Saloon & Grill at 2:30 pm, prior to the running of the NASCAR Infinity Series BetMGM 300. The concert at Iron Thunder Saloon & Grill will be a collaboration with Speedway Harley-Davidson, bringing together race fans and Harley enthusiasts and getting everyone pumped up for the NASCAR Infinity Series BetMGM 300.

Closing out the weekend, Andy will perform a 90-minute set at the BetMGM Speed Street Stage starting at 2 pm, getting everyone ready for the Coca-Cola 600. The BetMGM Speed Street Stage will be a center for entertainment all weekend as Smash Mouth will appear on the BetMGM Speed Street Stage on Saturday night along with driver appearances, merchandise, games and prizes all weekend long.

“I can’t wait to get back to Charlotte,” said Andy Ross. “Our concert at the American Rebel Light NHRA 4-Wide Nationals was a blast and Rebel Light was the #1 selling beer over that weekend in terms of number of beers sold and dollar volume. The midway was packed and everyone had a great time. Race fans will be ready to explode right before the Coca-Cola 600; and we’ll work hard to get them ready for the race each time we play. Each concert will be great, so if you’re a camper, come see us Thursday night. All are welcome Saturday at the Iron Thunder/Speedway Harley-Davidson concert and then everyone coming to the Coca-Cola 600 should be there early for our 2 pm concert on the BetMGM Speed Street Stage.”

The Andy Ross concerts at Charlotte Motor Speedway during the Coca-Cola 600 weekend will keep American Rebel Light Beer top of mind and highly visible to build on the initial awareness created at the American Rebel Light NHRA 4-Wide Nationals April 25 – 27 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

The Iron Thunder Saloon & Grill is located at 10023 Weddington Road Extension in Concord, right next to Speedway Harley-Davidson.

About American Rebel Light:

American Rebel Light is more than just a beer – it’s a celebration of freedom, passion, and quality. Brewed with care and precision, our light beer delivers a refreshing taste that’s perfect for every occasion.

Since its launch in September 2024, American Rebel Light Beer has rolled out in Tennessee, Connecticut, Kansas, Kentucky, Ohio, Iowa, Missouri, North Carolina, Florida and Indiana and is adding new distributors and territories regularly. For more information about the launch events and the availability of American Rebel Beer, please visit americanrebelbeer.com or Instagram.com/americanrebelbeer/.

Produced in partnership with AlcSource, American Rebel Light Beer (americanrebelbeer.com) is a domestic premium light lager celebrated for its exceptional quality and patriotic values. It stands out as America’s Patriotic, God-Fearing, Constitution-Loving, National Anthem-Singing, Stand Your Ground Beer.

American Rebel Light is all natural, crisp, and clean with a bold taste and a lighter feel. With approximately 100 calories, 3.2 carbohydrates, and 4.3% alcoholic content per 12 oz serving, American Rebel Light Beer delivers a lighter option for those who love great beer but prefer a more balanced lifestyle. It’s all natural with no added supplements and importantly does not use corn, rice, or other sweeteners typically found in mass produced beers.

About American Rebel Holdings, Inc.

American Rebel Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: AREB) has operated primarily as a designer, manufacturer and marketer of branded safes and personal security and self-defense products and has recently transitioned into the beverage industry through the introduction of American Rebel Light Beer. The Company also designs and produces branded apparel and accessories. To learn more, visit americanrebel.com and americanrebelbeer.com. For investor information, visit americanrebelbeer.com/investor-relations.

American Rebel Holdings, Inc.
info@americanrebel.com

American Rebel Beverages, LLC
Todd Porter, President
tporter@americanrebelbeer.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. American Rebel Holdings, Inc., (NASDAQ: AREB; AREBW) (the “Company,” “American Rebel,” “we,” “our” or “us”) desires to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. The words “forecasts” “believe,” “may,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “should,” “plan,” “could,” “target,” “potential,” “is likely,” “expect” and similar expressions, as they relate to us, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements primarily on our current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that we believe may affect our financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, and financial needs. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from those in the forward-looking statements include benefits of a launch parties and concerts, actual launch timing and availability of American Rebel Beer, success and availability of the promotional activities, our ability to effectively execute our business plan, and the Risk Factors contained within our filings with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024. Any forward-looking statement made by us herein speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

Company Contact:
tporter@americanrebelbeer.com
info@americanrebel.com

Media Contact:
Matt Sheldon
Matt@PrecisionPR.co

For more details on American Rebel Light Beer and upcoming events, visit AmericanRebelBeer.com or follow @AmericanRebelBeer on social media.

Attachment
- American Rebel Holdings, Inc.
The MIL Network –
May 22, 2025
MIL-OSI: Bilibili Inc. Announces Pricing of Upsized Offering of US$600 Million Convertible Senior Notes

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

SHANGHAI, May 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bilibili Inc. (“Bilibili” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: BILI and HKEX: 9626), an iconic brand and a leading video community for young generations in China, today announced the pricing of its upsized offering (the “Notes Offering”) of US$600 million in aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes due 2030 (the “Notes”). The Notes have been offered to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The Company has granted the initial purchasers in the Notes Offering an option to purchase up to an additional US$90 million principal amount of the Notes, exercisable for settlement within a 30-day period beginning on, and including, the date on which the Notes are first issued.

The Company plans to use the net proceeds from the Notes Offering to enhance its content ecosystem to facilitate user growth, facilitate IP asset creation, and unleash its inherent potential. The Company also plans to use the net proceeds from the Notes Offering to improve its overall monetization efficiency, fund the Concurrent Repurchase (as defined below), fund future repurchases (from time to time) under its share repurchase program, and for other general corporate purposes.

When issued, the Notes will be senior, unsecured obligations of the Company. The Notes will mature on June 1, 2030, unless repurchased, redeemed or converted in accordance with their terms prior to such date. Holders may convert their Notes at their option at any time prior to the close of business on the seventh scheduled trading day immediately preceding the maturity date. The initial conversion rate of the Notes is 42.1747 Class Z ordinary shares per US$1,000 principal amount of Notes (which is equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately HK$185.63 per Class Z ordinary share and represents a conversion premium of approximately 27.1% above the closing price HK$146.00 per Class Z ordinary share of the Company on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on May 21, 2025) and a premium of approximately 32.5% to the clearing share price of the Concurrent Delta Offering of HK$140.10 per Class Z ordinary share of the Company, and is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events described below. Upon conversion, subject to certain procedures and conditions set forth in the terms of the Notes, the Company will cause to be delivered the Company’s Class Z ordinary shares, par value US$0.0001 per share. Holders may elect to receive the Company’s American depositary shares (“ADS”), each representing one Class Z ordinary share, in lieu of Class Z ordinary shares deliverable upon conversion.

The Company may redeem for cash all or any part of the Notes on or after June 6, 2028 if the last reported sale price of the Class Z ordinary shares has been at least 130% of the conversion price for the Notes then in effect for at least 20 trading days, whether or not consecutive, during any 30 consecutive trading day period preceding the date on which the Company provides notice of redemption (including the last trading day of such period) ending on, and including, the trading day immediately preceding the date on which the Company provides notice of redemption (the “Optional Redemption”). In addition, the Company may redeem for cash all but not part of the Notes at any time if less than 10% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes originally issued remains outstanding at such time (the “Cleanup Redemption”). The Company may also redeem the Notes upon the occurrence of certain tax-related events (the “Tax Redemption”). Holders of the Notes may require the Company to repurchase for cash all or part of their Notes in cash on June 1, 2028, or in the event of certain fundamental changes. In connection with certain corporate events or if the Company issues a notice of Optional Redemption, Cleanup Redemption or Tax Redemption, it will, under certain circumstances, increase the conversion rate for holders who elect to convert their Notes in connection with such corporate event or such Optional Redemption, Cleanup Redemption or Tax Redemption.

The Notes will bear interest at a rate of 0.625% per year, payable semiannually in arrears on June 1 and December 1 of each year, beginning on December 1, 2025.

The Company also announced the pricing of the previously announced concurrent offering of its 10,281,240 Class Z ordinary shares that are being borrowed from non-affiliate third parties and offered in a separate underwritten offering by Goldman Sachs (Asia) L.L.C. and Morgan Stanley Asia Limited (the “Underwriters” and the “Concurrent Delta Offering”, respectively), each acting severally on behalf of itself and/or its respective affiliates, at HK$140.10 per Class Z ordinary share. The Underwriters will use the resulting short position to facilitate hedging transactions by certain investors subscribing for the Notes, who employ a convertible arbitrage strategy (the “Convertible Arbitrage Investors”). The Company has been advised that each Underwriter is concurrently entering into off-market privately negotiated derivative transactions relating to the Class Z ordinary shares, enabling Convertible Arbitrage Investors to establish their initial short positions in the Class Z ordinary shares to hedge market risk in the Notes. The number of Class Z ordinary shares subject to the Concurrent Delta Offering generally corresponds to such initial short positions of the Convertible Arbitrage Investors. No new Class Z ordinary shares will be issued in the Concurrent Delta Offering. Any securities sold in the Concurrent Delta Offering are being offered and sold through a concurrent SEC-registered offering pursuant to a separate prospectus supplement and an accompanying base prospectus. The Company will not receive any proceeds from the Concurrent Delta Offering. The Notes Offering and the Concurrent Delta Offering are contingent upon each other.

The Company will use part of the proceeds from the Notes Offering for the Concurrent Repurchase. The Concurrent Repurchase enables investors to establish some of their initial short positions in the Class Z ordinary shares to hedge market risk in the Notes and reflects the Company’s confidence in its long-term strategy and growth. The repurchased shares will be cancelled.

Other Matters

The Notes, the Class Z ordinary shares deliverable upon conversion of the Notes or the ADSs deliverable in lieu thereof have not been registered under the Securities Act, or any state securities laws. They may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. persons, except in reliance on the exemption from registration under the Securities Act.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to purchase any of these securities, nor shall there be a sale of the securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful.

This press release contains information about the pending Notes Offering, and there can be no assurance that the Notes Offering will be completed.

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “aims,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “confident,” “potential,” “continue,” or other similar expressions. Among other things, the terms of the Notes, whether the Company will complete the Notes Offering, a description of various hedging activities, and statements about Bilibili’s beliefs and expectations, contain forward-looking statements. Bilibili may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its interim and annual reports to shareholders, in announcements, circulars or other publications made on the website of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the “Hong Kong Stock Exchange”), in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including but not limited to statements about Bilibili’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: results of operations, financial condition, and stock price; Bilibili’s strategies; Bilibili’s future business development, financial condition and results of operations; Bilibili’s ability to retain and increase the number of users, members and advertising customers, provide quality content, products and services, and expand its product and service offerings; competition in the online entertainment industry; Bilibili’s ability to maintain its culture and brand image within its addressable user communities; Bilibili’s ability to manage its costs and expenses; PRC governmental policies and regulations relating to the online entertainment industry, general economic and business conditions globally and in China and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. All information provided in this announcement and in the attachments is as of the date of the announcement, and the Company undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

About Bilibili Inc.

Bilibili is an iconic brand and a leading video community with a mission to enrich the everyday lives of young generations in China. Bilibili offers a wide array of video-based content with All the Videos You Like as its value proposition. Bilibili builds its community around aspiring users, high-quality content, talented content creators and the strong emotional bonds among them. Bilibili pioneered the “bullet chatting” feature, a live comment function that has transformed our users’ viewing experience by displaying the thoughts and feelings of audience members viewing the same video. The Company has now become the welcoming home of diverse interests among young generations in China and the frontier for promoting Chinese culture across the world.

For more information, please visit: http://ir.bilibili.com.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

In China:

Bilibili Inc.
Juliet Yang
Tel: -86-21-2509-9255 Ext. 8523
Email: ir@bilibili.com

Piacente Financial Communications
Helen Wu
Tel: -86-10-6508-0677
Email: bilibili@tpg-ir.com

In the United States:

Piacente Financial Communications
Brandi Piacente
Tel: -1-212-481-2050
Email: bilibili@tpg-ir.com

The MIL Network –

May 22, 2025
MIL-OSI: Bilibili Inc. Announces Pricing of Offering of Class Z Ordinary Shares in Connection with Hedging Transactions of Certain Convertible Notes Investors and Terms of Concurrent Repurchase

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

SHANGHAI, May 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bilibili Inc. (“Bilibili” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: BILI and HKEX: 9626), an iconic brand and a leading video community for young generations in China, today announced the pricing of the separate SEC-registered underwritten offering of its Class Z ordinary shares, par value US$0.0001 per share (the “Concurrent Delta Offering”).

Concurrently, the Company announced pricing of the upsized offering (the “Notes Offering”) of US$600 million in aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes due 2030 (the “Notes”) pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The Company intends to grant the initial purchasers in the Notes Offering a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional US$90 million in principal amount of the Notes.

In connection with the Notes Offering, the Company announced the Concurrent Delta Offering, under which 10,281,240 of the Company’s Class Z ordinary shares, that have been borrowed from non-affiliate third parties are being offered in a separate underwritten offering by Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and Morgan Stanley Asia Limited (the “Underwriters”), each acting severally on behalf of itself and/or its respective affiliates, at HK$140.10 per Class Z ordinary share. The Underwriters will use the resulting short position to facilitate hedging transactions by certain investors subscribing for the Notes, who employ a convertible arbitrage strategy (the “Convertible Arbitrage Investors”). The Company has been advised that each Underwriter is concurrently entering into off-market privately negotiated derivative transactions relating to the Class Z ordinary shares, enabling Convertible Arbitrage Investors to establish their initial short positions in the Class Z ordinary shares to hedge market risk in the Notes. The number of Class Z ordinary shares subject to the Concurrent Delta Offering generally corresponds to such initial short positions of the Convertible Arbitrage Investors. No new Class Z ordinary shares will be issued in the Concurrent Delta Offering. The Company will not receive any proceeds from the Concurrent Delta Offering. The Notes Offering and the Concurrent Delta Offering are contingent upon each other.

The Company will use part of the proceeds from the Notes Offering for the Concurrent Repurchase. The Concurrent Repurchase enables investors to establish some of their initial short positions in the Class Z ordinary shares to hedge market risk in the Notes and reflects the Company’s confidence in its long-term strategy and growth. The repurchased shares will be cancelled.

The Company has filed an automatic shelf registration statement on Form F-3 (including a prospectus) with the SEC. The Concurrent Delta Offering will be made only by means of a prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and other documents that the Company has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the Company and the Concurrent Delta Offering. You may obtain these documents by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, a copy of the prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus may be obtained from Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, 200 West Street, New York, New York 10282, Attention: Prospectus Department, Email: Prospectus-ny@ny.email@gs.com, Telephone: 1 (866) 471-2526; or Morgan Stanley Asia Limited, c/o Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, 180 Varick Street, New York, New York 10014, Attention: Prospectus Department, Email: prospectus@morganstanley.com, Telephone: 1 (866) 718-1649.

Other Matters

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to purchase any of these securities, nor shall there be a sale of the securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful.

This press release contains information about the pending Concurrent Delta Offering and Concurrent Repurchase, and there can be no assurance that the Concurrent Delta Offering and Concurrent Repurchase will be completed.

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “aims,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “confident,” “potential,” “continue,” or other similar expressions. Among other things, the terms of the Notes, whether the Company will complete the Notes Offering, whether the Concurrent Delta Offering and/or Concurrent Repurchase will be completed, a description of various hedging activities, and statements about Bilibili’s beliefs and expectations, contain forward-looking statements. Bilibili may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its interim and annual reports to shareholders, in announcements, circulars or other publications made on the website of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the “Hong Kong Stock Exchange”), in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including but not limited to statements about Bilibili’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: results of operations, financial condition, and stock price; Bilibili’s strategies; Bilibili’s future business development, financial condition and results of operations; Bilibili’s ability to retain and increase the number of users, members and advertising customers, provide quality content, products and services, and expand its product and service offerings; competition in the online entertainment industry; Bilibili’s ability to maintain its culture and brand image within its addressable user communities; Bilibili’s ability to manage its costs and expenses; PRC governmental policies and regulations relating to the online entertainment industry, general economic and business conditions globally and in China and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. All information provided in this announcement and in the attachments is as of the date of the announcement, and the Company undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

About Bilibili Inc.

Bilibili is an iconic brand and a leading video community with a mission to enrich the everyday lives of young generations in China. Bilibili offers a wide array of video-based content with All the Videos You Like as its value proposition. Bilibili builds its community around aspiring users, high-quality content, talented content creators and the strong emotional bonds among them. Bilibili pioneered the “bullet chatting” feature, a live comment function that has transformed our users’ viewing experience by displaying the thoughts and feelings of audience members viewing the same video. The Company has now become the welcoming home of diverse interests among young generations in China and the frontier for promoting Chinese culture across the world.

For more information, please visit: http://ir.bilibili.com.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

In China:

Bilibili Inc.
Juliet Yang
Tel: -86-21-2509-9255 Ext. 8523
Email: ir@bilibili.com

Piacente Financial Communications
Helen Wu
Tel: -86-10-6508-0677
Email: bilibili@tpg-ir.com

In the United States:

Piacente Financial Communications
Brandi Piacente
Tel: -1-212-481-2050
Email: bilibili@tpg-ir.com

The MIL Network –

May 22, 2025
MIL-OSI: Creatd, Inc. Publishes Q1 2025 Financial Report Highlighting a $7.9M Improvement in Net Equity
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

NEW YORK, May 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Creatd, Inc. (OTC: CRTD), a holding company focused on acquiring synergistic companies, today announced the publication of its Q1 2025 financial results.

Q1 2025 Highlights:
- Net equity improved by $7.9 million in Q1 2025, an 80% quarter-over-quarter increase from Q4 2024.
- Revenues reached $721,815, up from $428,000 in Q1 2024, representing 70% year-over-year growth
- Continued execution of uplisting strategy focused on strengthening the balance sheet and acquiring accretive operating businesses
A major contributor to the first quarter’s performance was the completed acquisition of Flyte, an emerging platform in the private aviation and travel technology sector. Flyte’s addition supports Creatd’s strategy of acquiring established businesses that deliver immediate financial results and align with long-term strategic goals.

The momentum from Q1 is carrying into Q2, notably with yesterday’s announcement of Creatd’s intent to acquire a stake in PCG Advisory and its affiliated companies for a collective $2.3 million. Given recent developments in Q2, Creatd has now achieved positive net equity for the first time in over four years since its Nasdaq listing. This is an important step toward applying for an uplisting to a national exchange in Q3 2025.

With a targeted closing at the end of June 2025, the PCG transaction is one of several deals designed to further increase the company’s net equity. In tandem, Creatd is reducing liabilities and advancing additional strategic transactions already in motion.

Jeremy Frommer, CEO of Creatd, commented:

“In addition to our accretive acquisitions and overall reduction in liabilities, we’re seeing improving financials across our existing businesses, Vocal and OG Collection. While many microcap companies chase short-term wins at shareholders’ expense, we’re focused on fundamentals: growing revenue and maintaining a strong balance sheet. We’re laying the groundwork for an uplisting, one transaction at a time.”

The full Q1 2025 Quarterly Report is available on OTC Markets.

About Creatd, Inc.
Creatd, Inc. focuses on investments and operations across technology, media, aviation, advertising, and consumer sectors. By leveraging its expertise in structured finance and acquisitions, Creatd identifies and nurtures opportunities within small-cap companies, driving growth and innovation across its diverse portfolio.

For investor inquiries, contact:
ir@creatd.com

The MIL Network –
May 22, 2025
MIL-OSI: Westhaven Commences Summer Program and Provides Exploration Update on Spences Bridge Gold Belt Projects

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Westhaven Gold Corp. (TSX-V:WHN) is pleased to announce the start of summer exploration activities on its four 100% owned gold projects covering 61,512 hectares of the prospective Spences Bridge Gold Belt (SBGB) in Southern British Columbia. Current field work includes prospecting, mapping, and geochemical sampling, with a 3,000m exploration drill program, testing exploration targets at Shovelnose, expected to start in June.

Ken Armstrong, President & CEO of Westhaven, stated, “Located in a region of southern British Columbia with well established transportation and power infrastructure and current mining activity, Westhaven’s Spences Bridge Gold Belt properties are a unique Canadian gold exploration and development opportunity. With the recent closing of a $4.6M private placement financing, Westhaven is well positioned to advance all four properties and build on the recent preliminary economic assessment of a potential high grade, high margin underground gold mining opportunity at the Shovelnose property (please see news release dated March 3 ^rd , 2025 for details).”

Mr. Armstrong continued, “Prospecting, mapping and geochemical sampling programs are currently underway at Shovelnose as well as the Skoonka North, Skoonka, and Prospect Valley properties with the goal of discovering and defining gold targets for future drill testing. A 3,000m summer exploration drilling program is expected to start at Shovelnose in June, continuing work to discover gold mineralization outside of the gold deposits that were the subject of the PEA. As also reported today, recent drilling of the Certes and Corral targets has confirmed that multiple, preserved epithermal systems are located within the Shovelnose property and the potential for discovery of additional significant gold mineralization remains high.”

2025 Regional Exploration of the Spences Bridge Gold Belt Properties

Field exploration activities are well underway at Westhaven’s Skoonka North, Skoonka and Prospect Valley properties. All three properties host low-sulphidation epithermal gold-silver mineralisation and significant potential for new discoveries based on the presence of favourable host rocks, prominent structures conducive to fluid migration, mineralized float boulders, anomalous stream sediment and gold-in-soil anomalies, and prominent multi-element pathfinder halos within exposed and drilled bedrock samples. Anomalous concentrations of pathfinder elements associated with epithermal mineralization commonly form a larger alteration halo around more restricted gold and silver mineralization, and can help prioritize and focus exploration in the field.

Initial spring field work has focused on the Skoonka North property, where improved bedrock exposures resulting from forest fires in 2024 are currently being investigated and sampled. Additional evaluation and resampling of anomalous gold values in stream sediments and soil samples will follow at both Skoonka North and Skoonka. Westhaven also intends to expand on 2024 stream silt sampling at the Prospect Valley property, where results not only confirmed gold and silver anomalies associated with known gold showings but also highlighted seven new target areas with unsourced gold and pathfinder element anomalies. Follow up prospecting and geochemical sampling will be prioritised in these anomalous areas.

Field exploration has also started within expanded areas of the Shovelnose property that were acquired in 2024. This work will be further supported by LiDAR survey data collected in late 2024. Work elsewhere at Shovelnose will include detailed evaluation of at least seven new pathfinder element anomalies identified from mapping, prospecting and rock samples collected in 2023 and 2024.

2025 Shovelnose Winter Drill Program

Westhaven is also pleased to report results from 2025 winter exploration drilling at Shovelnose, which consisted of 4 holes (2,004m) testing the Certes and Corral target areas at the southeastern end of a broad 13 km geochemical and structural corridor that hosts the South Zone, FMN and Franz low sulphidation epithermal gold deposits.

Certes is a 3km long target area defined at surface and in drilling by elevated pathfinder elements, structural offsets, brecciation, quartz and carbonate veining and associated alteration that suggest preservation of an epithermal system in which significant gold-silver mineralization could occur. (For further background on the Certes target, please see news release dated: December 12 ^th , 2024).

Two drill holes tested the northwestern end of the Certes target (“Certes 1”), where angular sinter float and anomalous pathfinder elements discovered in 2024 strongly suggest proximity to a well-preserved epithermal system, including the possible local presence of a “high level” mercury-venting plume. Drill holes SN25-427 and SN25-428 stepped out to the northeast of earlier drilling, with both encountering intervals of rhyolite and andesite breccia with anomalous pathfinder elements. A broad zone of trace millimetre to centimetre scale quartz–carbonate veining was intersected in SN25-427 from 462m to the end of hole at 508.9m. SN25-428 encountered a similar zone of 5-10% quartz-carbonate veins (up to 20 cm wide) within andesites between 510m and 526m depth, followed, to the end of the hole at 565m, by a mixed package of sedimentary and minor volcanic rocks that is highly anomalous in pathfinder elements mercury, antimony and arsenic.

A single drill hole tested the southeastern end of the Certes target (“Certes 3”), approximately two kilometres from Certes 1, where quartz veining and anomalous gold and pathfinder elements have been identified in surface rocks and 2024 drilling. Drill hole SN25-426 undercut earlier drill hole SN24-425, encountering a similar northeast trending set of polymetallic quartz veins from 198m to 221m downhole as well as the interpreted down dip extension of a broad zone of 2-20% quartz +/- carbonate and quartz breccia veining in basalt from 427.9m to 447.5m downhole. This latter zone is slightly elevated in base metals (e.g. 0.13% Cu over 0.55m from 429.18m and 0.10% Zn over 4.25m from 427.79m) and represents a secondary target that requires additional follow up.

A single drill hole (SN25-429) tested the previously undrilled Corral target, approximately 2 km southwest of Certes. Corral is defined by a prominent 4 km long, northwest trending region of anomalous gold and epithermal pathfinder elements within stream sediments and bedrock. Despite its proximity to Certes, Corral is defined by a different pathfinder element signature, suggesting a slightly different relative elevation within the epithermal mineralizing system. SN25-429 encountered several fault zones, a brecciated stockwork of 2-4% milky white massive quartz veinlets from 84.7m to 94.0m, and broad zones of carbonate veinlets (e.g. 251.3m-263.0m). These areas of quartz and carbonate veining display the same strongly elevated pathfinder element signature as observed in bedrock at surface, including weakly anomalous gold (background to 0.1 g/t) and silver (background to 0.9 g/t).

Drilling at Certes and Corral has confirmed the presence of low sulphidation epithermal mineralized systems in this area of the Shovelnose property, and further drilling is warranted to fully test the area’s potential to host significant gold and silver mineralization.

For a table of 2025 drill results available to date please click here:
https://www.westhavengold.com/_resources/shovelnose/Shovelnose-Drilling-Assay-Summary-2025.pdf

For reference, see also the Plan Map of Recent Drilling below.

On behalf of the Board of Directors
WESTHAVEN GOLD CORP.

“Ken Armstrong”

Ken Armstrong, President, CEO

Qualified Person Statement

Peter Fischl, P.Geo., who is a Qualified Person within the context of National Instrument 43-101 has read and takes responsibility for this release.

Sampling, Laboratory Analyses and Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC)

Most core samples consist of halved drill core cut by manual sawing. In rare cases, and where required by physical core conditions, manual splitting may be used. Half of the core is retained in the original core box for reference samples and any required future work, including QA/QC. Core samples, controlled by a unique bar-coded reference number, are delivered to ALS’s Kamloops facility and prepared using the PREP-31 package. Each core sample is crushed to better than 70% passing a 2mm (Tyler 9 mesh, US Std. No.10) screen. A split of 250g is taken and pulverized to better than 85% passing a 75-micron (Tyler 200 mesh, US Std. No. 200) screen. Further analytical and assay procedures are conducted in ALS’s North Vancouver facility. A 0.75g subsample of the pulverized split is subjected to four acid digestion and analyzed via ICP-MS (method code ME-MS61m (+Hg)) which reports a suite of 49 elements. All samples are also analyzed for gold by fire assay with an AES finish, method code Au-ICP21 (30g sample size). Samples returning gold values over 10ppm are subjected to ore grade check assays using fire assay and a gravimetric finish (method code Au-GRA21 and a 30g sample size). Other overlimit elements may also be subjected to ore grade analyses which vary depending on the element of interest. QA/QC includes the laboratory’s internal quality assurance controls as well as Westhaven’s field controls, including the insertion of quarter core duplicates, certified reference materials and blanks, each at a rate of roughly one per 20-25 core samples. Additional blanks are inserted following samples with visible gold or significant concentrations of ginguro (fine grained bands of dark gray to black sulphides). QA/QC data are evaluated on receipt for failures, and appropriate action is taken if results for duplicates, standards and blanks fall outside allowed tolerances. Westhaven’s ongoing QA/QC programs are consistent with industry best practices and include auditing of all exploration data. Any significant changes will be reported when available.

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

About Westhaven Gold Corp.

Westhaven is a gold-focused exploration company targeting low sulphidation, high-grade, epithermal style gold mineralization within Canada’s newest gold district, the Spences Bridge Gold Belt. Westhaven controls ~61,512 hectares (~615 square kilometres) within four gold properties spread along this underexplored belt. The Shovelnose Gold Project is the most advanced property, with an updated 2025 Preliminary Economic Assessment that validates the Project’s potential as a robust, low cost and high margin 11-year underground gold mining opportunity with average annual life-of-mine gold production of 56,000 ounces and having a Cdn$454 million after-tax NPV_6% and 43.2% IRR (base case parameters of US$2,400 per ounce gold, US$28 per ounce silver and CDN/US$ exchange rate of $0.72). Initial capital costs are projected to be Cdn$184 million with a payback period of 2.1 years. Please see Westhaven’s news release dated March 3rd, 2025 (Link: March 3, 2025 News Release) for details of the updated PEA. The technical report supporting this disclosure can be found under the Company’s profile on Sedar+ (www.sedarplus.ca) and on the Company’s website. The Shovelnose Gold Project is situated off a major highway, near power, rail, large producing mines, pipelines and within commuting distance from the city of Merritt, which translates into low-cost exploration and development. Qualified Person: The technical and scientific information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Peter Fischl, P.Geo, who is a Qualified Person for the Company under the definitions established by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Westhaven trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the ticker symbol WHN. For further information, please call 604-681-5558 or visit Westhaven’s website at www.westhavengold.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and Westhaven does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

Forward-looking statements in this news release may include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the results of the Preliminary Economic Assessment, the Mineral Resource Estimate future planned activities, future mineral production and future growth potential for the Company and its projects, the interpretation of preliminary results from exploration undertaken to date at Shovelnose using various exploration techniques and analysis; statements with respect to potential styles of epithermal mineralization at the Shovelnose Project; the possibility that the Company’s Shovelnose project may host multiple gold bearing epithermal systems; and, the potential for an intermediate sulphidation epithermal signature at the Certes target. In certain cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, or “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will be taken”, “occur” or “be achieved”. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made, and they are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, the price of gold and other precious metals; costs of exploration and development; the estimated costs of development of exploration projects; the Company’s ability to operate in a safe and effective manner and its ability to obtain financing on reasonable terms. Although management of Westhaven Gold Corp. have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward‐looking statements or forward-looking information. Such factors include, without limitation: the Company’s dependence on one group of mineral projects; precious metals price volatility; regulatory, consent or permitting delays; risks relating to reliance on the Company’s management team and outside contractors; risks regarding mineral resources and reserves; the Company’s inability to obtain insurance to cover all risks, on a commercially reasonable basis or at all; currency fluctuations; risks regarding the failure to generate sufficient cash flow from operations; risks relating to project financing and equity issuances; risks and unknowns inherent in all mining projects, including the inaccuracy of reserves and resources, metallurgical recoveries and capital and operating costs of such projects; laws and regulations governing the environment, health and safety; operating or technical difficulties in connection with mining or development activities; employee relations, labour unrest or unavailability; the Company’s interactions with surrounding communities; the speculative nature of exploration and development, including the risks of diminishing quantities or grades of reserves; stock market volatility; conflicts of interest among certain directors and officers; and the factors identified under the caption “Risk Factors” in the Company’s management discussion and analysis. Mineral exploration involves a high degree of risk and few properties, which are explored, are ultimately developed into producing mines. There can be no assurance that such forward-looking statements or information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. The Company will not update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that are incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws.

Plan Map of Recent Drilling

A map accompanying this announcement is available at:
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/28e32321-7dbf-4e10-8ab7-e4e03db8c92c

The MIL Network –

May 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: AI multi-agent orchestration drives more personalized cancer care
Source: Microsoft

Headline: AI multi-agent orchestration drives more personalized cancer care

Every year, 20 million people globally are diagnosed with cancer.¹ Every patient is unique, with hundreds of distinct tumor sub-types, each demanding treatment protocols involving new drugs, combinations, clinical trials, and device-based therapies. Top cancer centers rely heavily on multidisciplinary tumor boards—dedicated sessions where radiologists, pathologists, surgeons, oncologists, genetic counselors, and other specialists undertake sophisticated analysis of vast patient data and knowledge to align on personalized care plans.

Because of the immense preparation and specialization required, less than 1% of these patients have access to these personalized treatment plans, which have demonstrably improved patient outcomes.

A recent American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) study highlighted that clinicians spend between 1.5 to 2.5 hours per patient, meticulously reviewing imaging, pathology slides, clinical notes, and genomic data.² And cancer care is just one example of the complex data analysis healthcare requires. Agentic AI holds the potential to reduce administrative friction and further transform care delivery.

The healthcare agent orchestrator is available now in the Azure AI Foundry Agent Catalog. It features pre-configured agents with multi-agent orchestration and open-source customization options that allow developers and researchers to build agents that coordinate multi-disciplinary multimodal healthcare data workflows, such as tumor boards, and streamline deployment into healthcare enterprise productivity tools (such as Microsoft Teams and Word). Modular, general reasoners as well as specialized, multimodal AI agents work together to address tasks that would take hours, with the goal to effectively augment clinician specialists with customized cutting-edge agentic AI.

Microsoft Build 2025 session: Transform Cancer Care Management with Multimodal AI Agents

By integrating the latest capabilities from across Microsoft, the healthcare agent orchestrator can manage analysis and reasoning over diverse healthcare data types—ranging from imaging (DICOM files) and pathology (whole-slide images) to genomics data and clinical notes from electronic health records (EHRs). Each agent is equipped with advanced AI models from Azure AI Foundry, combining general-purpose reasoning capabilities with healthcare-specific modality models to drive actionable insights grounded in multimodal clinical data.

Key capabilities of healthcare agent orchestrator
- Orchestrating agentic capabilities that can reason over complex EHR data and augment time-consuming tasks like building a chronological patient timeline, determining cancer stage, using specific reference guidelines, reviewing radiology and pathology images, synthesizing current medical literature, referencing treatment guidelines, surfacing relevant clinical trials, and generating customized reports.
- Providing tools that connect enterprise healthcare data through Microsoft Fabric and the fast healthcare interoperability resources (FHIR) data service.
- Ensuring interoperability and integration into existing workflows, including distribution to familiar tools the majority of healthcare organizations already use—Teams, Word, PowerPoint, and Microsoft 365 Copilot—where users can interact with AI agents.
- Providing robust explainability capabilities in agentic AI-generated outputs, such as grounding responses to the source EHR data—critical for validation, trust, and adoption in high-stakes healthcare environments.
Researchers and developers at leading cancer care institutions—including Stanford University, Johns Hopkins, Providence Genomics, Mass General Brigham, and the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health—are currently exploring the healthcare agent orchestrator to study how agentic AI could deliver value to complex clinical tasks such as cancer care.

“Stanford Medicine sees 4,000 tumor board patients a year, and our clinicians are already using foundation model generated summaries in tumor board meetings today (via a PHI safe instance of GPT on Azure). The new healthcare agent orchestrator has the power to streamline this existing workflow by reducing fragmentation (saving time by avoiding copy-pasting) and enables surfacing new insights from data elements that were challenging to search, such as trial eligibility criteria, treatment guidelines, and real-world evidence. Stanford Health Care is excited further research the potential of using the healthcare agent orchestrator to build the first generative AI agent solution used in a production setting for real-world care for our cancer patients.”

—Dr. Mike Pfeffer, Chief Information Officer, Stanford Health Care and Stanford School of Medicine

“The vision of the healthcare agent orchestrator is to rapidly surface, summarize, and take action on relevant multimodal medical information for each complex cancer case, so hours of review can become minutes. Collaborating with Microsoft allows us to explore the value of these models for tumor boards and beyond.”

—Dr. Joshua Warner, Radiologist at UW Health and Assistant Professor of Radiology, UW School of Medicine and Public Health

Early development collaborations featured the integration of this multi-agent workflow into Teams chats, where, for example, group chats enabled conversations between multiple human experts and specialized healthcare AI agents connected to specific healthcare data. It demonstrated the promise to significantly enhance efficiency and collaboration among clinical providers. This capability is already bringing clinicians and developers together to build the agentic healthcare applications of the future: the catalyst is the powerful combination of healthcare-specific agents using general reasoning models and multimodal healthcare foundation models alongside the ability to interact directly with custom agents using Teams.

For example, Johns Hopkins oncologists Dr. Vasan Yegnasubramanian, Dr. Elsa Anagnostou, and Dr. Taxiarchis Botsis and their developer teams in the Johns Hopkins inHealth Precision Medicine program and Molecular Tumor Board are providing their expertise to refine and test the system to ensure it would have high utility if used in their clinical and precision medicine applications.

Coordinating collaboration of specialized agents

The healthcare agent orchestrator builds upon recent research and releases from Microsoft Research and our collaborators. It coordinates collaboration of specialized agents designed explicitly for complex multidisciplinary clinical workflows like cancer care.
- The orchestrator leverages Semantic Kernel and Magentic-One to coordinate agents, maintain shared memory, and interact with the human in the loop.
- The patient history agent leverages Universal Medical Abstraction to organize patient data chronologically.³ Manual work that can take experts over three hours happens in minutes.
- The radiology agent leverages customer fine-tuned models like CXRRepotGen/MAIRA-2 to analyze radiology images for a second read.⁴
- The pathology agent demonstrates how to connect to external agents like Paige.ai’s “Alba” pathology agent to address complex queries related to pathology images (available in preview).⁵
- The cancer staging agent refers to the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) clinical guidelines to support accurate cancer staging.
- The clinical guidelines agent refers to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) clinical guidelines to suggest recommended treatment plans.
- The clinical trials agent identifies eligible clinical trials by matching patient profiles against databases such as ClinicalTrials.gov. This can result in more than double the recall improvement compared to the publicly available Critera2Query baseline.⁶
- The medical research agent delivers actionable, evidence-based guidance grounded on graph-based knowledge from trusted medical journals.
- The report creation agent automates comprehensive, integrated, richly formatted reporting that serves as a trusted reference during multidisciplinary meetings.
“As we progress towards the routine use of multi-agent systems, the healthcare agent orchestrator demonstrates the power to simplify the integration of various models and agents with productivity tools that clinicians are already using. The flexible orchestration framework will make it easy for us at Paige to continue to focus on our pathology agents while enabling their integration into the larger cancer care workflow and leverage access to multi-modal data.”

—Razik Yousfi, Chief Executive Officer of Paige.ai

The orchestrator is intentionally open-ended: any approved agent—including third-party—that exposes an API, tool wrapper, or MCP endpoint can be pulled into a Teams conversational thread. Paige.ai is shipping their Alba agent in preview, the first example of an external agent that can be connected to healthcare agent orchestrator. Built on Paige’s foundation-scale vision models and coupled with a conversational large language model (LLM) front-end, Alba delivers real-time conversational digital pathology insights such as tumor grade, morphology, and biomarker status directly from whole-slide images.

“Providence clinical researchers have begun leveraging advanced AI capabilities provided by the healthcare agent orchestrator to quickly and efficiently parse through large sets of publications, clinical trials and electronic health records. We are excited about its potential to enhance our ability to interpret genomics and match clinical trials in the molecular tumor boards, ultimately benefiting patient care by providing more precise and timely treatment options. Its integration into our workflows also will help streamline communication and collaboration among clinical providers, ensuring that critical clinical information is shared promptly and accurately. As we continue to explore new ways to understand the biology of cancer, its capabilities will be instrumental in driving medical discoveries and advancing cancer treatment.”

—Carlo Bifulco, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Providence Genomics and research faculty at the Earle A. Chiles Research Institute

Empowering developers to accelerate innovations for care teams

As clinical care complexity escalates, the healthcare agent orchestrator empowers developers to confidently navigate the accelerating era of agentic AI, collaborate with clinicians, and democratize precision medicine tools by surfacing these capabilities into existing workflows. The initial framework is designed to study the opportunity of assisting tumor boards. The ultimate vision is to empower healthcare and life science developers to research how agentic AI capabilities could impact clinicians and patients more widely by providing real-time support to multidisciplinary care teams across the healthcare ecosystem.

Healthcare developers and clinical organizations are invited to explore healthcare agent orchestrator, available through the Azure AI Foundry Agent Catalog. Engage with the next generation of AI-powered healthcare agents today.

Contact Microsoft Healthcare AI Team

¹ Global cancer statistics 2022: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries, CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, April 4, 2024.

² Using an Adapted Tumor Board Evaluation Tool for Quality Assessment of a Thoracic Multidisciplinary Cancer Conference: A Pilot Study, JCO Clinical Cancer Informatics, October 5, 2023.

³ Universal Abstraction: Harnessing Frontier Models to Structure Real-World Data at Scale, February 2, 2025

⁴ MAIRA-2: Grounded Radiology Report Generation, June 6, 2024

⁵ Nature Medicine, A foundation model for clinical-grade computational pathology and rare cancers detection, July 22, 2024

⁶ Scaling Clinical Trial Matching Using Large Language Models: A Case Study in Oncology, August 4, 2023

Disclaimer

Healthcare agent orchestrator is intended for research and development use. It is not designed or intended to be deployed in clinical settings as-is nor is it intended for use in the diagnosis or treatment of any health or medical condition, and its performance for such purposes has not been established. You bear sole responsibility and liability for any use of healthcare agent orchestrator, including verification of outputs and incorporation into any product or service intended for a medical purpose or to inform clinical decision-making, compliance with applicable healthcare laws and regulations, and obtaining any necessary clearances or approvals.

Matthew Lungren, MD, MPH

Chief Scientific Officer, Health and Life Sciences

Dr. Matthew Lungren is the Chief Scientific Officer for Microsoft Health and Life Sciences, where he leads efforts to translate cutting-edge technologies—including generative AI and cloud services—into real-world healthcare applications. He is also a Clinical Associate Professor at UCSF and an Adjunct Professor in Biomedical Data Science at Stanford University.

See more articles from this author
MIL OSI Economics –
May 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: USS Forrest Sherman Visits Port of Algiers

Source: United States Navy

The USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98) visited Algiers on a port visit this week. The three-day visit demonstrated the ongoing friendship and security cooperation between the U.S. and Algeria, building off prior port visit stopovers in Algiers and Oran in 2023 by the USNS Trenton (T-EPF 5).

MIL Security OSI –

May 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Universities face getting stuck with thousands of obsolete robots – here’s how to avoid a research calamity

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Carl Strathearn, Lecturer in Computer Science, Edinburgh Napier University

For more than a decade, the French robotics company Aldebaran has built some of the most popular robots used in academic research. Go to most university robotics departments and you’ll find either Pepper, the iconic three-wheeled humanoid robot, or its smaller two-legged sibling, Nao.

These fast became the robots of choice for many academics for all research into the capabilities and potential of social robots. They are quick to set up and easy to use out of the box, without the need for any programming skills or engineering knowledge.

With base prices at around £17,000 for Pepper and £8,000 for Nao – typically plus a few thousand pounds more for extras, online training sessions, service plans, warranties and so on – the robots could be purchased via university research grants.

With Pepper robots also appearing in customer service jobs, for example in HSBC banks across the US, buyers were attracted by the lure of long-term educational and financial benefits from a state-of-the-art tech supplier. Aldebaran says it has sold approximately 37,000 machines worldwide (20,000 Naos and 17,000 Peppers).

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However, the company stopped developing Pepper robots in 2021, having struggled to sell as many as it had hoped, and was offloaded by long-time Japanese owner Softbank.

In February of this year, Alderbaran filed for bankruptcy and restructured amid ongoing financial difficulties. Currently looking for a buyer, it has halved its staff numbers, though it is still making Nao (and a serving assistant on wheels called Plato).

The uncertainty around the company’s future has stoked fears that it will become impossible to get its robots repaired in future, and that Aldebaran could stop supporting the AI cloud network that the machines need to access to be able to function.

What does this mean for the future of robotics research in universities?

Besides fears about Aldebaran’s future, there have long been issues with Pepper and Nao’s durability. They both have rigid, fragile plastic shells, and the machines sometimes overheat. This means they have to be left to cool down after 20-30 minutes, which has often interfered with experiments and data-gathering – as documented in this 2022 study of Nao.

A spokesperson for Aldebaran agreed that motors can overheat, depending on their use and environment. They said the next generation of Nao, currently in development, has taken this into account in its design.

For repairs, the only option is Aldebaran or an authorised reseller, or you risk voiding your warranty. This typically involves shipping overseas, which can be slow and costly – more so if the replacement parts are out of stock.

One of us (Emilia) encountered this during the COVID pandemic. Nao’s batteries need to be used regularly to keep functioning, which led the university’s machine to fail because it was inaccessible during lockdowns. Aldebaran couldn’t supply replacement batteries quickly, which halted research projects at the university for many months and meant that important submission deadlines were missed.

Meanwhile, software upgrades for Pepper stopped when the company halted development in 2021 (sales stopped in 2024). This robot’s limited processing capabilities make it troublesome to run the large language models (LLMs) that power interfaces like ChatGPT (although these can be run in conjunction with a computer with modifications).

Nao does have an AI edition that can handle LLMs, though this too requires external modifications. Nao’s upgrades also seem to have been limited, which in our experience appears to have made them more error-prone too. Both robots are already considerably less useful for research purposes in our opinion.

Finally, Nao and Pepper were not built with adaptability in mind. Unlike more recent machines like the 3D-printed InMoov, made by French designer Gael Langevin, there’s no way of customising their components or appearance.

Their fixed expressions, gestures and plastic body make them difficult to adapt to different user needs or applications, such as helping at home or in healthcare. This again reduces their usefulness from a research point of view.

Addressing these concerns, the Aldebaran spokesperson said:

Spare parts availability on Nao is very good, [barring] the normal supply chain issues, and these were exacerbated during COVID like the rest of the commercial world. Pepper is more limited as it has not been in production for some time, but we are generally able to solve any customer issues.

Nao is still very active as a product, with production continuing along with software upgrades. We recently launched Nao Activities, a major software upgrade that provides generative AI capabilities for Nao.

The spokesperson added that are were no plans to switch off AI cloud support for Nao or Pepper, and that the robots are not difficult to use in robotics research, “testament of which is the thousands of units being used in that environment”.

What can be done?

If Pepper and Nao do become unusable for research, universities will have to either scrap them or try to redevelop them with custom parts and components. It’s possible they could be hacked and gutted, replacement parts could be 3D-printed, new microprocessors installed and the software made local and open source, which may be enough to get the robots back up and working again.

However, it probably makes sense for researchers to look forwards instead. But towards what? At a time when university finances are very tight, there may be a reluctance to buy new machines with potentially limited shelf lives. Robots from alternative providers such as Futhat and Unitree are supported by similar cloud-based AI systems.

Some institutions may consider reallocating vital funding to other departments, with a significant impact across robotics research and education. Universities are at the heart of robotics research, upholding high ethical standards and rigorously testing machines without the conflicts of interest that manufacturers can have.

Universities can also bring together diverse disciplines like computer science, engineering and cognitive science, fostering collaboration that encourages innovation. With the UK number one globally for research quality in this field, these are the training grounds for the next generation of roboticists at a time when there is a growing skills shortage.

A different way forward would be for universities to start building and programming robots from scratch. For the cost of a new research robot, say £15,000, you could buy several high-spec 3D printers, hardware and components.

This wouldn’t be about building entire humanoid robots but prototypes of key aspects such as facial expressiveness or skin, human gestures or emotions. This would allow students to gain important hands-on engineering and programming skills, while conducting novel research exploring current gaps in the field.

It would make personalising them easier and repairing them quicker and cheaper, if you could 3D-print parts or use parts that could be easily replaced off-the-shelf.

If universities are to remain relevant in this rapidly evolving field, it’s vital that they learn from their difficulties with Pepper and Nao. At a time when robots are starting to be perceived as reliable and cost-effective support for people, this is a cautionary tale for all.

The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Universities face getting stuck with thousands of obsolete robots – here’s how to avoid a research calamity – https://theconversation.com/universities-face-getting-stuck-with-thousands-of-obsolete-robots-heres-how-to-avoid-a-research-calamity-256829

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

May 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Small Boat: this slim, devastating novel about a real migrant shipwreck reminds us of the cruelty of indifference

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Fiona Murphy, Assistant Professor in Refugee and Intercultural Studies, Dublin City University

There’s a particular kind of story that’s rarely executed well – one without heroes, without lessons, without even the cold comfort of a villain you can confidently point at and say: there, that’s the evil. Vincent Delecroix’s Small Boat – a slim, bruising novel translated with quiet precision by Helen Stevenson – is that kind of story.

Small Boat, which was shortlisted for the 2025 International Booker Prize, centres on a real horror: the drowning of 27 people in the English Channel on November 24 2021. They were crowded into an inflatable dinghy in the dark, reaching out over crackling radio lines, asking – in French, in English, in Kurdish – for help. They didn’t get it.

What is known – not imagined in Delecroix’s pages – is that both French and British coastguards received their calls. And both hesitated, passing responsibility back and forth like a poisoned parcel. People died while operators discussed jurisdiction. The Cranston Inquiry, established to examine the failures of that night, is ongoing, its transcripts and testimonies peeling back the layers of bureaucratic neglect.

Delecroix doesn’t give us the migrants’ stories directly. He focuses instead on a fictional French coastguard operator, a woman who spent that night on the radio, doing (or not doing) what her training, her weariness, her own justifications allowed. In the aftermath, she is questioned – not in a court, but in a room filled with mirrors. She faces a policewoman who looks like her, thinks like her, speaks with her same clipped, professional cadence.

She listens back to recordings of her own voice on the rescue line promising help that would not come, offering assurances she did not believe. She is left to reckon with the unbearable fact that someone, somewhere (was it her?) spoke the words: “You will not be saved.”

Read more:
International Booker prize 2025: six experts review the shortlisted novels

She isn’t especially monstrous. She’s tired. She’s professional. She has a young daughter at home and an ex-partner who sneers at her work. She runs on the beach to decompress. In one of the novel’s most arresting turns, she compares herself to a mass-produced tin opener: efficient, functional, affectless. Delecroix draws her with enough delicacy that we cannot quite hate her. And that, of course, is far more unsettling.

Reading Small Boat, I thought – as one inevitably does – of Hannah Arendt’s banality of evil. Not evil as grand spectacle or ideology, but as administration, the quiet conviction that one is simply fulfilling a role. Arendt coined the phrase watching the trial of Adolf Eichmann, one of the chief Nazi organisers of the Holocaust. Eichmann organised the trains but claimed never to have hated the passengers. What Arendt saw was not a monster but a functionary – and that, of course, was the point.

I thought too about my own work as an anthropologist researching forced displacement across Ireland, Turkey and Australia. I’ve sat with people whose lives are shaped not by violence in its cinematic form, but by violence as policy: the hotel room without a kitchen, the letter that never arrives, the bed that’s taken away with no warning.

I’ve heard a senior Irish official describe the state’s provision of housing and support for asylum seekers as “sufficient”. Meanwhile people, stateless and waiting, are asked to prove their vulnerability again and again until even their grief is suspect.

Institutional indifference

The institutionalisation of indifference: that’s the real story here. The smugness of protocols. The liturgy of duty rosters and shift reports. It wasn’t evil that let those people drown in the Channel – it was ordinary people in warm offices, citing rules, filling forms, following scripts.

We can see the birth of such indifference in policies like the UK’s abandoned Rwanda plan, which casually proposed outsourcing asylum itself, as if refuge were a commodity.

Delecroix’s brilliance lies in showing how violence at the border is carried out not by villains, but by workers. By women with mortgages, men on night shifts, people who’ve learned to sort calls for help by urgency, credibility, accent. “Sorting,” the narrator explains, “is perhaps the most important part of the job.” Not all distress calls are equal. And the assumption – always lurking, never spoken – is that some lives are more likely to be saved.

At one point, the narrator’s colleague Julien answers calls from migrants by quoting Pascal: “Vous êtes embarqués.” You are already embarked. A fatalist shrug disguised as wisdom. As if to say: you should have thought of all this before you left. The shrug does the work of a policy, the quotation the work of a wall.

And yet, the narrator cannot fully perform indifference. She is haunted by the sea. She remembers loving it as a child. Now, it terrifies her. She feels it watching her, pursuing her, wanting to surge past the shore and swallow the continent whole. She runs along the beach to quiet her mind – a run that is almost the same length as the journey those on the dinghy tried to make.

If Small Boat has a flaw, it’s that it sometimes flirts with making guilt into its own form of lyricism. But this too may be deliberate. It is easier, perhaps, to feel sorry than to feel implicated. And far easier to narrate moral confusion than to prevent its causes.

What Delecroix has written is not a redemption story. It’s not a psychological thriller. It is a chamber piece for one voice and many ghosts. There are no grand gestures here. Just small refusals, small failures. And the small, flickering boats of each human life, drifting toward – or away from – one another in the dark.

In a world ever more brutal towards those who flee war, hunger and despair, Delecroix’s novel is a necessary and merciless indictment. It reminds us that the shipwreck is not theirs alone. It is ours too.

Fiona Murphy 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. Small Boat: this slim, devastating novel about a real migrant shipwreck reminds us of the cruelty of indifference – https://theconversation.com/small-boat-this-slim-devastating-novel-about-a-real-migrant-shipwreck-reminds-us-of-the-cruelty-of-indifference-255052

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

May 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Why is it so hard for young people to get jobs?

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Farooq Mughal, Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor), Management Strategy & Organisation, University of Bath

antoniodiaz/Shutterstock

For generations, young people have been told the path to opportunity is clear. Study hard, get a degree, and success will follow. This promise – central to the idea of “meritocracy” – has shaped the aspirations and investments of millions (though in reality, access to university and employment is also shaped by factors like family income, schooling and geography).

Today, however, many graduates in the UK and elsewhere find they are struggling to land a job – and it’s a problem which extends far beyond roles that match their qualifications. In some cases, graduates are being turned down for roles in supermarkets or warehouses – not because they’re unqualified, but because they’re seen as overqualified, too risky or surplus to requirements.

In terms of the UK economy, this isn’t just a problem of job shortages. It signals a deeper breakdown in the social contract – the long-held promise that education leads to opportunity. And it exposes how the connection between learning and labour is coming undone.

As the focus of employers, higher education providers and the state has shifted towards the notion of “employability” – the skills and attitudes that help people get and keep jobs – labour markets have become highly competitive and spoilt for choice.

At the same time, it’s worth remembering that while employment remains a key concern, the value of education extends far further – shaping personal growth and civic engagement, for example.

This article is part of Quarter Life, a series about issues affecting those of us in our twenties and thirties. From the challenges of beginning a career and taking care of our mental health, to the excitement of starting a family, adopting a pet or just making friends as an adult. The articles in this series explore the questions and bring answers as we navigate this turbulent period of life.

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Employability places the burden squarely on young people to become work-ready while ignoring the wider barriers they face. These include hiring algorithms, labour market saturation as graduate numbers remain high while vacancies dry up, and uneven access to opportunity.

Even with degrees and internships, many young people are finding themselves locked out of meaningful work. Research I undertook with colleagues on education-to-work transitions shows how graduates often invest heavily in becoming employable through a mix of soft skills, adaptability and professionalism. But these efforts now rarely guarantee a job.

Instead, graduates frequently enter a labour market that is both oversaturated and under-responsive. Over the past two decades, the number of graduates in the UK has grown sharply. This surge has intensified competition, pushing many into roles below their qualification level.

Read more:
Britain has almost 1 million young people not in work or education – here’s what evidence shows can change that

The UK government’s Get Britain Working white paper recognises this disconnect. It also highlights the legacy effects of the COVID pandemic, especially among young people aged 16–24 who are not in education, employment or training (Neets) – of which there are now estimated to be 987,000, and rising.

But while the government’s proposed youth guarantee scheme offers basic training and apprenticeships, it does little for those already in the labour market.

What’s blocking the way?

Despite the emphasis on developing skills, many young people – both graduates and non-graduates – struggle to progress in the labour market. For example, the number of entry-level roles in retail, hospitality and logistics is shrinking due to rising costs, automation and algorithmic hiring systems that privilege some over others.

Recent increases to employer national insurance contributions and the national minimum wage are putting pressure on payrolls, reducing already limited opportunities for young people.

UK chancellor Rachel Reeves’s 2024 budget contained some shocks for employers.
Fred Duval/Shutterstock

This highlights the limits of the popular narrative that effort always leads to reward. The idea that young people just need to try harder collapses under the weight of such constraints.

Businesses are also facing tight margins, as well as the problems that come with high staff turnover due to a lack of career development opportunities, as rising costs make it harder to invest in staff. But our research shows that even highly motivated graduates – those who network, gain skills, take internships and are adaptable – can struggle to get a foot in the door.

The UK employment rights bill, which is making its way through parliament, is designed to curb exploitative labour market practices. But professional bodies and trade associations warn that some employers may respond by cutting staff and reducing flexible work.

While reforms such as reframing the purpose of Jobcentres are critical in making unemployment seem unattractive, they are likely to fall short of creating sustained opportunities.

Policy paradox

All of this reveals a paradox. In trying to clamp down on job precarity, the UK government may be shutting young people out of the entry points they need, skilled or otherwise. Well-intentioned policies such as the youth guarantee and employment rights bill risk failure when the labour market often rewards privilege over merit.

Today’s labour market can penalise young people twice over. First, they’re expected to be employable with the right skillset. Yet even when they are, many find the door shut.

In my view, the way forward is to create new, accessible roles that reflect a broader duty of care on the part of employers, universities and policymakers. This includes building skills pathways along the lines of the Youth Futures Foundation programme, which works in deprived areas to create pathways that connect young people with support and jobs.

It also means embedding hiring practices that ensure a closer focus on someone’s potential, such as blind recruitment or diverse hiring panels.

Incentivising employers to hire and value young talent could be transformative, as could forging partnerships between universities and industry which focus on building the skills needed for employment.

Government initiatives such as the Trailblazers scheme, which identifies young people at risk of falling out of education or employment, are a good start. But they could be more effective alongside a combination of digital tools that bring together mobile apps for tracking career progress, a skills dashboard, and AI career advice.

Restoring the social contract means sharing responsibility. Our research finds that employers should regularly review how they assess talent and design career pathways.

Universities should collaborate with industry to ensure graduate skills align with employer expectations. And the government must address deep-seated inequalities shaped by region, class, race and institutional prestige.

Ignoring these issues mean they will continue to largely dictate who gets in, who gets ahead, and who gets left out. A collective responsibility ensures that education is recognised not just as a route to employment, but as a cornerstone of a fair, thoughtful and inclusive society.

Farooq Mughal works for the University of Bath. He is also a Trustee and Director in a non-executive capacity for the Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution.

– ref. Why is it so hard for young people to get jobs? – https://theconversation.com/why-is-it-so-hard-for-young-people-to-get-jobs-256532

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

May 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Men on social media are cutting their eyelashes to appear more ‘masculine’ – here’s why it’s a bad idea

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Adam Taylor, Professor of Anatomy, Lancaster University

Eyelashes help protect our us from infections and debris. FCG/ Shutterstock

Social media is full of bizarre and questionable trends. The latest involves men trimming or shaving off their eyelashes in order to appear more “masculine”.

This is yet another instance where leaving the body to look after itself is probably for the best. Our lashes aren’t just aesthetic. They play an important role in protecting our eyes. Trimming them could put you at greater risk of experiencing infections.

Eyelashes are classed as terminal hair. This means they’re present since birth. We have between 90 and 160 eyelahes on our upper eyelid and around 75 to 80 on our lower lids. They also grow pretty quickly too – at a rate of between 0.12-0.14mm a day.

While most people focus on the aesthetics of the eyelashes – with plenty of products out there claiming to change their colour, length and thickness – eyelashes actually have important functional roles. They keep dirt and particles out of the eyes, and also deflect air away from the cornea.

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This helps stop the outer surface from drying out – preventing irritation and making it so we don’t have to blink as much to keep our eyes moist. The ideal length of an eyelash is about one-third the width of the eye.

Trimming your eyelashes is going to increase the risk of infection. There’s even a risk you may catch an infection while trimming the lashes themselves. Since lashes catch particles on them, if a trimmed lash falls back into your eye it could lead to an infection.

There are cases of this happening even when an eyelash has fallen out naturally, leading to infections and ending up inside compartments of the eye. Rogue eyelashes and the particles on them can cause anything from conjunctivitis (better known as “pink eye”) though to blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelid).

At the base of the lashes are the meibomian glands. These produce an oily substance rich in fat, called meibum. This substance prevents tears from evaporating quickly, keeping the surface of the eye moist. These secretions also run along the lashes, keeping them healthy and helping to catch small particles so they don’t get into the eye.

Cutting your eyelashes will reduce the ability to keep particles out of the eye and potentially disturb how well the meibomian glands function, as there’s less eyelash for meibum to sit on and catch particulates. This disruption increases the risk of infections such as keratitis (inflammation of the cornea).

Other common eyelid infections that can occur are styes or chalazions.

Styes result from an infection in the base of the eyelash (hair) follicle. It presents as a swollen, tender, red lump that may have yellow discharge coming out of it and crustiness along the eyelid. The most common cause of a stye is a staphylococcus aureus, a bacteria that lives on the skin and in the nose of many people.

A chalazion is the blockage of the meibomian gland, these swellings are usually painless and not tender to touch. They are most commonly seen on the upper eyelid.

Trimming the lashes could lead to infections, such as styes.
Tolmachov Vision/ Shutterstock

Any interference with your eyelashes and their length increases the risk of particles getting into the eye and causing an infection or blocking the glands.

Our eyelashes and their length also play an important role in closing our eyes when needed to protect the eyeball. This reflex is activated when the lashes “feel” something touch their very sensitive nerve fibres. Trimming your eyelashes reduces the time that this reflex has to go from detection by the eyelashes, to the brain and then back to the muscles of the eyelid to close it and protect the eyeball. If you cut your eyelashes, you may be at greater risk of things getting in your eye – such as bugs or dust.

Should you ever trim your lashes?

There are some conditions that cause the eyelashes to grow abnormally. And in some cases, they may need to be removed or trimmed to prevent infections.

For instance, some people have abnormally long eyelashes – termed trichomegaly. This is considered where length is more than 12mm or the eyelashes are abnormally curly, pigmented or thick.

It isn’t known if naturally longer lashes increase the chance of eye problems – but extending your lashes artificially increases infection risk due to the chemicals used in the adhesives.

Certain drugs may also cause eyelashes to grow excessively – such as the anti-epilepsy drug topiramate.

Some people can have double rows of eyelashes – actress Elizabeth Taylor was one. This condition is typically caused by a rare condition called distichiasis, which affects one in 10,000 people. Some people can even grow a third and fourth row of eyelashes.

Read more:
The risks of eyelash extensions aren’t pretty, from cornea erosion to cancer-causing glue

Distichiasis causes red, watery or irritated eyes, alongside pain, light sensitivity and even scarring of the cornea. Treatment can be anything from plucking the additional lashes through to cryotherapy (freezing the eyelash follicles to prevent future growth) or laser ablation to prevent them growing back entirely.

Trichiasis causes the eyelashes to grow inwards towards the eye. Inward growing eyelashes can cause irritation of the eyeball and, if untreated, permanent damage. It can also cause blepharitis.

In this case, a person would need to use epilation to remove the eyelashes (though they will grow back in four to six weeks). A more permanent solution is laser removal to prevent the eyelashes from regrowing.

Eyelashes play an important part in protecting our eyes. They’re best left alone to do their thing, and should only be removed if a medical condition is causing them to grow abnormally or leading to irritation. But in those instances, it’s best to seek a doctor’s help to avoid causing yourself any harm.

Adam Taylor 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. Men on social media are cutting their eyelashes to appear more ‘masculine’ – here’s why it’s a bad idea – https://theconversation.com/men-on-social-media-are-cutting-their-eyelashes-to-appear-more-masculine-heres-why-its-a-bad-idea-256363

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

May 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: The psychology of climate traps and how to avoid them

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Lucrezia Nava, Assistant Professor, Climate Psychology, Carbon Dioxide Removals, Business School, University of Exeter

Victor Guerrero Diez/Shutterstock

Each year, the world loses around 5 million hectares of forest, with 95% of this deforestation occurring in tropical regions. South America is a major hotspot, with Brazil in particular facing severe forest loss — much of it driven by cattle ranching, which accounts for more than 70% of all Amazon deforestation.

Many of these clearings are carried out by farmers, particularly smallholders, who are trying to cope with intensifying drought and other effects of climate change. This leads to a paradox: the people most exposed to climate threats are often pushed by survival pressures to make choices that further degrade the environment.

Imagine standing in a field of dry, cracked soil, watching the crops you planted with hope fail to grow. It hasn’t rained in months. You know that planting trees could help protect your land and water sources in the long run. But you need food next week.

So instead, you clear some forest to sell timber and raise a few cows — a choice that might get you through the season, even if it further reduces soil moisture and water retention on your own farm.

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As one farmer told me: “The problem is: does the agricultural producer die now, or does he die later? Now, he dies of hunger. Later, he dies of thirst. He prefers to die later of thirst.”

This is what my team of environmental researchers calls a “climate trap”: a vicious cycle where short-term survival decisions deepen long-term climate vulnerability. Our recent study investigates this phenomenon among smallholder cocoa producers in the south of the Brazilian state of Bahia.

We tracked more than 3,000 farms over four years and conducted dozens of interviews with farmers. One of our most striking findings was that those most affected by droughts were less likely to employ adaptive strategies such as reforestation, and more likely to make environmentally harmful choices such as clearing forest for pasture.

This contrasts sharply with research from high-income countries, where more exposure to climate risks typically encourages protective action. Why the difference?

The answer, according to our research, lies in emotion. Many farmers spoke of fear and hopelessness. One told us: “We plant, replant and it dies. Plant, replant, it dies. There’s no rain! Everything we took care of, everything we watered, everything we did with love. It’s no use!”

These emotions influence decisions. When fear and hopelessness set in, people naturally narrow their focus to the short term — what can I control today?

Climate shocks such as drought trigger emotional distress, which can lead to environmentally harmful choices that increase vulnerability.
Scott Book/Shutterstock

The future becomes too uncertain, too frightening to plan for. As one farmer explained: “Today, I work more in the short term. I’m worried about today’s drought, okay? I’m not starting to think about next year’s drought or in two years’ time.”

Even when farmers understand that long-term strategies like reforestation would help, those solutions can feel unattainable under emotional and economic stress.

We call this a maladaptive feedback loop: climate shocks trigger emotional distress, which limits long-term thinking, leading to environmentally harmful choices that further increase vulnerability to future shocks. And the cycle repeats.

Learning from the loop

Climate traps are real and probably more widespread than many people realise. Similar dynamics have been reported in parts of Africa, Asia and across the developing world. These are the communities facing the brunt of climate change with the fewest resources to respond.

To spot climate traps, businesses and governments need to recognise when short-term incentives are driving long-term harm. If a decision solves an immediate problem but increases climate risk over time, it may be part of a trap.

They need to watch out for indicators such as repeated deforestation after droughts, or a shift from sustainable crops to quick-fix options such as cattle pasture. In areas heavily affected by climate change, these responses often signal a deeper cycle of short-term survival and long-term vulnerability.

Also, listen out for resignation. Phrases like “there’s no point” and “we just survive however we can” or “there’s nothing we can do except pray for a change” may signal emotional fatigue — which points to a loss of agency and diminished belief in the usefulness of long-term action.

When people no longer believe their efforts can make a difference, even the best technical solutions are likely to be ignored.

Climate adaptation is about more than just providing technical solutions. In our study, producers were well aware of the pros and cons of their practices. The real barriers were emotional.

We believe interventions need to address fear and hopelessness directly — through the use of safety nets, financial buffers and community-led support systems, as well as narratives that rebuild a sense of control and agency. Reducing hopelessness requires not just money but presence. Trusted advisors, peer learning networks and visible examples of successful adaptation can all help.

Avoiding climate traps isn’t easy. But for climate adaptation to succeed — especially where it’s needed most — we have to stop treating emotions as a side issue. They’re central. The solutions we offer must speak to both the mind and the heart.

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 45,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

Lucrezia Nava 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. The psychology of climate traps and how to avoid them – https://theconversation.com/the-psychology-of-climate-traps-and-how-to-avoid-them-255832

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

May 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Why your electricity bill is so high and what Pennsylvania is doing about it

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Hannah Wiseman, Professor of Law, Penn State

Pennsylvanians can expect 10% to 20% increases in their electricity bills over the next three years. Gregory Rodriguez/iStock via Getty Images

Americans’ electricity bills tend to tick up each year in line with inflation.

But upgrades to electric wires, reinforcing and protecting power lines from severe weather, and changing fuel costs – among other factors – are sending rates soaring.

High electricity consumption from data centers and other sources of rising demand will likely cause further increases in the near future.

The impact on consumers is particularly dramatic in Pennsylvania, where rate hikes are widespread.

For example, the monthly bill for a PECO residential customer who uses 700 kilowatt hours of electricity monthly increased 10% – or US$13.58 – in 2025. These bills will go up another $2.70 each month in 2026.

Retail price adjustments approved by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission for most electric distribution utilities effective December 2024 led to higher bills for many customers across the state. In some parts of Pennsylvania, the estimated increases topped an estimated 30%.

As professors who work in the areas of energy law and electricity markets, we know electricity costs are rising in many parts of the U.S.

But Pennsylvania faces distinct challenges related to its electric grid – the maze of wires and generators – that drive both the growing demand for electricity and the limited supply.

PJM and the electric grid

Pennsylvania power plants produce a lot of electricity. In fact, the Keystone State is the the largest exporter of electricity in the U.S. and has been for many years.

But the electricity Pennsylvania produces doesn’t always stay in state.

That’s because Pennsylvania’s electric grid is managed by a company called PJM. PJM coordinates the flow of electricity through all or parts of 13 states and the District of Columbia, and it ensures the wholesale electricity transmission system operates reliably and safely.

Pennsylvania electric utilities, such as PECO or Duquesne Light, then distribute this wholesale electricity to retail customers, including homeowners and renters.

PJM requires the utilities to ensure ahead of time that they can meet their customers’ future electricity demands, including during heat waves and winter storms. This requirement is met using a market called a “capacity auction,” in which electricity suppliers bid to provide physical infrastructure that will generate electricity in the future.

The prices at the 2025-2026 PJM capacity auction were more than 800% higher than the previous year, in part due to the growing demand for electricity within PJM. This amounts to tens of billions of dollars in extra costs.

Power plants in Pennsylvania can’t simply stop exporting electricity and supply more in-state power because they dispatch their power into the regional grid operated by PJM, and the flow of electricity is dictated by the physical structure of this grid.

Pennsylvania shares an electric grid with northern Virginia, considered the largest data center market in the world.
Nathan Howard via Getty Images

Soaring demand from data centers

U.S. electricity demand rose 3% in 2024 and is expected to rise even more rapidly in the coming years.

Much of this new demand comes from data centers, which support everything from AI applications and data storage – think of the thousands of emails and files backed up on our computers – to sports betting, online retailers such as Amazon, and national security applications such as the North American Aerospace Defense Command.

Pennsylvania is on the same electric grid as Virginia, which hosts about a quarter of all data center capacity in the Americas. New data centers are also being built in Pennsylvania.

Rising demand is also driven by the increase in electric vehicles and the replacement of gas- and oil-based furnaces with electric heat pumps. These replacements are ultimately more energy efficient but require electricity.

Bottlenecks in supply

The increase in electricity demand within PJM is happening at the same time that supply is shrinking.

Many old generating plants in the PJM grid are retiring as they near the end of their useful lives and become less profitable for plant operators, particularly as natural gas and solar become more affordable. Some of these older power plants also emit a lot of pollution and are costly to retrofit to meet current pollution limits.

Beyond the challenge of plant retirements, PJM has been slow to allow hundreds of new proposed power plants – most of them solar- and battery-based – to connect to transmission lines.

This long “interconnection queue” prevents new, needed generation from coming online. This is happening even though companies are eager and ready to build more generation and battery storage.

Aging infrastructure and growing weather extremes

One of the primary recent drivers of high consumer electric bills is that the utilities have been slow to upgrade their aging wires.

Many have recently made major investments in new infrastructure and in some cases are burying or strengthening wires to protect them from increasingly extreme weather.

Electricity customers are footing the bill for this work.

Increasing demand, aging power infrastructure and transmission bottlenecks lead to higher electricity rates.
David Espejo/Moment Collection via Getty Images

Response from policymakers

In response to rising electricity prices, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro filed a legal complaint with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission against PJM in December 2024. This complaint blamed PJM’s capacity auction design for creating unnecessary costs for consumers.

According to the settlement reached after the complaint, PJM’s price caps will be 35% lower at the next major capacity auction. This reduction in wholesale prices could limit retail price increases.

But this is at best a temporary fix. It doesn’t address the increasing demand, aging power infrastructure battered by extreme weather, or transmission bottleneck.

In order for Pennsylvania residents to see lower electric bills anytime soon, more changes are needed. For example, many experts previously observed that PJM needs to fix the queue and get online the many power plants that are ready to build and just waiting for a transmission interconnection.

While PJM has reformed its queue process, the queue is still long. New power plants are not going up fast enough, in part due to additional challenges such as local opposition and supply chain and financing issues.

Read more of our stories about Philadelphia and Pennsylvania.

Hannah Wiseman receives or has recently received funding from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Arnold Ventures, U.S. National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Energy, Center for Rural Pennsylvania, and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. She is a member of the Center for Progressive Reform.

Seth Blumsack receives or has recently received funding from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Heising Simons Foundation, U.S. National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Energy, NASA, U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, Center for Rural Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

– ref. Why your electricity bill is so high and what Pennsylvania is doing about it – https://theconversation.com/why-your-electricity-bill-is-so-high-and-what-pennsylvania-is-doing-about-it-254562

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

May 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Windows are the No. 1 human threat to birds – an ecologist shares some simple steps to reduce collisions

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Jason Hoeksema, Professor of Ecology, University of Mississippi

Birds are drawn to the mirror effect of windows. That can turn deadly when they think they see trees. CCahill/iStock/Getty Images Plus

When wood thrushes arrive in northern Mississippi on their spring migration and begin to serenade my neighborhood with their ethereal, harmonized song, it’s one of the great joys of the season. It’s also a minor miracle. These small creatures have just flown more than 1,850 miles (3,000 kilometers), all the way from Central America.

Other birds undertake even longer journeys — the Swainson’s thrush, for example, nests as far north as the boreal forests of Alaska and spends the nonbreeding season in northern South America, traveling up to 5,600 miles (9,000 kilometers) each way.

These stunning feats of travel are awe-inspiring, making it that much more tragic when they are cut short by a deadly collision with a glass window.

A wood thrush singing. Shared by the American Bird Conservancy.

This happens with alarming regularity. Two recent scientific studies estimate that more than 1 billion birds – and as many as 5.19 billion – die from collisions with sheet glass each year in the United States alone, sometimes immediately but often from their injuries.

In fact, window collisions are now considered the top human cause of bird deaths. Due to window collisions and other causes, bird populations across North America have declined more than 29% from their 1970 levels, likely with major consequences for the world’s ecosystems.

These collisions occur on every type of building, from homes to skyscrapers. At the University of Mississippi campus, where I teach and conduct research as an ecologist, my colleagues and I have been testing some creative solutions.

Why glass is so often deadly for birds

Most frequently, glass acts as a mirror, reflecting clear sky or habitat. There is no reason for a bird to slow down when there appears to be a welcoming tree or shrub ahead.

These head-on collisions frequently result in brain injuries, to which birds often succumb immediately.

In other cases, birds are stunned by the collision and eventually fly off, but many of those individuals also eventually perish from brain swelling.

Other injuries, to wings or legs, for example, can leave birds unable to fly and vulnerable to cats or other predators. If you find an injured bird, contact a local wildlife rehabilitator.

Which windows are riskiest

Some windows are much worse than others, depending on their proximity to bushes and other bird habitats, what is reflected in them, and how interior lighting exacerbates or diminishes the mirror effect.

On our campus, some buildings with a great deal of glass surface area kill surprisingly few birds, while other small sets of windows are disproportionately deadly.

A stunned Swainson’s thrush sits on the ground in front of a window on campus. The bird, which likely hit the window, eventually recovered and flew away.
Jason Hoeksema/University of Mississippi

One particular elevated walkway with glass on both sides between the chemistry and pharmacy buildings is a notoriously dangerous spot. The glass kills migratory birds each spring and fall as they try to pass between the two buildings on their way to The Grove, the university’s central-campus park area with large old oak trees.

During the pandemic in 2020, student Emma Counce did the heart-heavy work of performing a survey of 11 campus buildings almost daily during spring migration. She found 72 bird fatalities in seven weeks. Five years later, my ornithology students completed a new survey and found 62 mortalities over the course of five weeks in 2025, demonstrating that we still have a lot of work to do to make our campus safe for migratory birds.

Thrushes, perhaps due to their propensity for whizzing through tight spaces in the shady forest understory, have been disproportionately represented among the victims. Others include colorful songbirds – northern parulas, black-and-white warblers, prothonotary warblers, Kentucky warblers, buntings, vireos and tanagers.

How to make windows less dangerous

The good thing is that everyone can do something to lower the risk.

Films, stickers or strings can be added on the exterior of windows, creating dots or lines, 2 to 4 inches apart, that break up reflections to give the appearance of a barrier.

Exterior screens and blinds work great too. Just adding a few predator silhouette stickers is not effective, by the way – the treatment needs to span the whole window.

Putting film with dots on windows, like this one at the University of Mississippi, can help birds spot the glass and stop in time. Without the dots, the reflection can look like more trees are ahead instead of glass and a hallway.
Jason Hoeksema/University of Mississippi

When applied properly, window treatments can make a huge difference. An inspiring example is McCormick Place in Chicago, the country’s largest convention center, which notoriously killed nearly 1,000 birds in a single night in 2023. After workers applied dot film to an area of the building’s windows equivalent to two football fields, bird mortality at the lakeside building has been reduced by 95%.

The Bird Collision Prevention Alliance provides information on options for retrofitting home or office windows to make them more bird friendly.

Options for new windows are also becoming more common. For example, the new Center for Science & Technology Innovation on my campus, which features many windows, mostly used bird-friendly glass with subtle polka dots built into it. This spring, we found that it killed only four birds, despite a very high surface area of glass.

How you can help

When trying to make a difference on your home turf, I suggest starting small. Make note of which specific windows have killed birds in the past, and treat them first.

Use it as an opportunity to learn what approach might work best for you and your building. Either order a product or make something yourself and get it installed.

How to make your windows safer for birds. Shared by Audubon New York and American Bird Conservancy.

Then do another, and tell a friend. At the office, talk to people, find others who care and build a team to make gradual change.

With some creative solutions, anyone can help reduce at least this major risk.

Jason Hoeksema is affiliated with the University of Mississippi, Delta Wind Birds, and the Mississippi Ornithological Society.

– ref. Windows are the No. 1 human threat to birds – an ecologist shares some simple steps to reduce collisions – https://theconversation.com/windows-are-the-no-1-human-threat-to-birds-an-ecologist-shares-some-simple-steps-to-reduce-collisions-255838

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

May 22, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: McClellan Statement on the Passing of Gerry Connolly

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (Virginia 4th District)

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) issued the following statement after news of Congressman Gerry Connolly’s (VA-11) passing:

“Today, Fairfax County, our Commonwealth, and our country lost a dedicated public servant who always put his community first and fought for pragmatic policies that would improve the lives of his constituents. Gerry embodied public service, devoting decades of his life to serving our nation: as a congressional staffer, member and Chair of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, and Congressman.

“Gerry put his faith in action as a servant leader. He loved his neighbors and this fragile government by, of and for the people. He passionately provided a voice for the voiceless as he sought to ease any suffering he saw. No matter the challenges facing him or his constituents, he never lost his sense of humor or the twinkle of joy in his eyes.

“Throughout my time in elected office, Gerry has been a defining and passionate voice in Virginia politics. I am grateful to have been able to call him a friend, mentor, and colleague. I will always treasure our talks on the House floor and will miss him greatly.

“Dave and I extend our deepest condolences and prayers to Gerry’s beloved wife, Smitty; their daughter, Caitlin; his friends and loved ones; his devoted congressional staff; and all those whose lives he touched. May they be comforted by their memories of him and the knowledge of the countless lives he touched and made better.

“He has earned his rest. Godspeed, Gerry.”

MIL OSI USA News –

May 22, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Seed sowers sought to explore food potential of Scotland’s underutilised land Nutrition scientists are recruiting an army of seed sowers to help them understand how Scotland could better exploit its underutilised – or “marginal” – lands.

Source: University of Aberdeen

Freda Farquharson (left) and Wendy Russell

Nutrition scientists are recruiting an army of seed sowers to help them understand how Scotland could better exploit its underutilised – or “marginal” – lands.
Nutrition scientists are recruiting an army of seed sowers to help them understand how Scotland could better exploit its underutilised – or “marginal” – lands.
Researchers at the university’s Rowett Institute have been very busy filling small packs with dozens of sorrel seeds to send out to participants across the country.
Now they are appealing for anyone with an interest in taking part in the Wild Edibles Citizen Science project to get in touch and join the community.
The idea is for as many people as possible to then share their experiences of how they get on nurturing the plants – and then using them in the kitchen.
A dedicated Facebook group has been set up to share hints and tips and encourage a wider debate about the role wild edibles may play in the future.
Wild edibles can be cultivated across much of Scotland. They thrive in poorer soils, are more climate resilient than many of our modern crops and have lower water, nutrients and pesticides requirements.
They are also rich in phytochemicals, compounds that we think help prevent diseases such as cardiovascular disease and some cancers.
Professor Wendy Russell, who leads the Rowett’s Scottish Government-funded research into sustainable food systems and supply, is spearheading the project.

Only a small proportion of Scotland can be used to grow mainstream crops, and with increasing urban spread and ambitious plans to protect nature and biodiversity, as well as to reforest and protect our peat bogs, it is important to think about how we use our land.” Professor Wendy Russell

In an introductory video posted to the Facebook group, Prof Russell said: “We’re really interested in how Scotland uses its underutilised – sometimes called ‘marginal’ – lands.
“Only a small proportion of Scotland can be used to grow mainstream crops, and with increasing urban spread and ambitious plans to protect nature and biodiversity, as well as to reforest and protect our peat bogs, it is important to think about how we use our land.
“This citizen science project is an opportunity for us to have a discussion around the use of wild edibles in our food system. Everyone should have a say about these important questions about the way we adapt what we grow and eat in the future and we are looking forward to building a community of seed planters to help grow that conversation.”
Project co-leader Freda Farquharson told potential recruits: “We are keen to hear as many of your stories as possible – where are you planting the seeds, how are you tending them, how well are they growing, what dishes are you planning to use the sorrel in?”
The Rowett research led by Prof Russell is showing how nature-based solutions could be pivotal in mitigating and adapting to climate change whilst restoring nature.
Scotland’s future landscape will look very different, having to accommodate increased urban spread as well as larger areas of afforestation and peatland restoration. There is also an immediate necessity to produce our food in the most efficient and environmentally friendly way possible, but also to be mindful that we restore and enhance important habitats for our precious and unique biota.
Mainstream agriculture will have to quickly adapt to contribute to meeting Scotland’s climate, biodiversity and heath targets, but we must also identify opportunities for nature-based food solutions as they could be pivotal in mitigating and adapting to climate change whilst restoring nature.
Participants (UK only) can sign up for their seeds and get more information here: https://www.abdn.ac.uk/rowett/research/wild-edibles/ Or contact the team at: wildedibles@abdn.ac.uk

Related Content

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

May 22, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Island schools to benefit from new speech and language support tools 21 May 2025 Island schools to benefit from new speech and language support tools

Source: Aisle of Wight

Children across the Isle of Wight are set to benefit from a new initiative aimed at improving speech, language and communication skills in schools and early years settings.

The Isle of Wight Council’s Virtual School has invested in a set of Progression Tools developed by Speech and Language UK.

The tools, along with dedicated training provided by the council’s Schools Speech and Language Support Team, will be provided to every school and setting.

Covering ages three to 18, the Progression Tools help teachers and staff identify speech and language challenges early — often before they become barriers to learning. They can also be used to track speech and language development over time or following targeted programmes.

A training event for education providers will take place on Wednesday 18 June, offering practical guidance on how to use the tools to support children more effectively. The training is open to all Island settings, including nurseries, schools, and post-16 providers.

All settings with a child cared for by the Isle of Wight Council have already received an invitation. Invitations for all other settings will be sent to headteachers or managers after the half-term break.

If your setting would like to ensure you receive an invitation directly, please email: virtual.school@iow.gov.uk

Councillor Claire Critchison, Cabinet member for children’s services and education, welcomed the initiative, saying: “This is a fantastic example of how we’re working together across services to give every child the best start in life.

“Early identification of speech and language needs can make a huge difference to a child’s confidence, learning, and future opportunities.

“By equipping our schools and early years settings with the right tools and training, we’re not only supporting our most vulnerable children, such as those in care, but also strengthening the overall quality of education across the Island.

“I’m proud to see our teams leading the way in making sure no child’s needs go unnoticed.”

The Virtual School, which supports care-experienced children, will also require the use of the Progression Tool as part of Personal Education Plans (PEPs) for children in care, ensuring their needs are identified and addressed as early as possible.

Carol Payne, deputy chief executive of Speech and Language UK, said: “We’re honoured to be working with the Isle of Wight Council and its dedicated staff to support those children with speech and language challenges.

“From our research we know there are two million children in the UK with speech and language challenges and our unique tools and training programmes make it easier to identify those children so that they can get the support they need to help them thrive at school, into young adulthood and beyond.”

The initiative has also been shared with NHS colleagues, who are supportive of the collaborative approach being taken across education and health services.

As well as designing innovative tools and training for educators Speech and Language UK offers a free advice line and guidance to families to help them support their child’s skills.

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

May 22, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Council leaders visit Portakabin HQ to champion local skills and apprenticeships

Source: City of York

The Deputy Leader of City of York Council, alongside senior council officers, recently visited the Portakabin head office in York.

Portakabin, the market leader in the manufacture and construction of modular buildings, is one of York’s largest employers, with over 1,000 people working across its head office and manufacturing facility in the city. The company has proudly called York home for more than 60 years.

As a globally recognised brand, Portakabin recently welcomed local leaders to its York headquarters to discuss future growth opportunities, the importance of strong public-private partnerships, and to reflect on recent successes, including a thriving apprenticeship scheme that is opening skilled career paths for young people across the region.

The apprenticeship scheme at Portakabin offers its people development opportunities, with 98% of apprentices offered a full-time career with the company once their apprenticeship completes.

Apprenticeships range from the required skills for modular building construction such as electrical apprenticeships, to product design, quantity surveying, finance, and marketing.

Councillor Pete Kilbane, Deputy Leader of the Council with responsibility for Economy and Culture, said:

I was delighted to accept the invitation from Portakabin to visit their head office and hear about the work taking place to provide skilled and well-paid jobs.

“York is a fantastic place to do business, we have a highly skilled population, and it is a great place to live.

“A key priority of this council is for the city to have a fair, thriving, green economy for all, which provides opportunities and well-paid jobs. Portakabin are one of many amazing businesses in York who will help us to achieve that ambition. It was particularly good to hear so much about their apprenticeship schemes and how that is turning into long-term careers for our young people.”

Dan Ibbetson, CEO at Portakabin said:

We were delighted to welcome Councillor Pete Kilbane to our Head Office here in York. We are proud to be a York based business, delivering exceptional spaces across the UK and Northern Europe from our home here in Huntington.

“Our successes are testament to the people that work here, the highly skilled and motivated teams that deliver a meaningful impact both in work and the wider York community. It was a pleasure to give Councillor Kilbane and other senior leaders from the council an insight into the people, community and spaces we deliver here at Portakabin.”

For businesses big and small there’s lots of support available to help your business prosper and thrive through the council’s Growth Managers. For more information visit: https://www.york.gov.uk/GrowYourBusiness or email economicgrowth@york.gov.uk.

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

May 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Wang Yi to chair third China-Pacific Island Foreign Ministers’ Meeting

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

BEIJING, May 21 (Xinhua) — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, will chair the third China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers’ Meeting to be held in Xiamen, east China’s Fujian Province, from May 28 to 29, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Wednesday. -0-

MIL OSI Russia News –

May 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Chinese Foreign Minister Meets Afghan Acting Foreign Minister in Beijing /detailed version-1/

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

BEIJING, May 21 (Xinhua) — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Acting Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in Beijing on Wednesday.

Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, welcomed A.H. Muttaqi’s visit, which coincides with the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. He stressed that China and Afghanistan, as traditional friendly neighbors, always support and understand each other.

“China respects the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Afghanistan, as well as the independent choice of the Afghan people,” Wang said, stressing that China will continue to support the Afghan government in achieving long-term peace and stability in the country at an early date.

Wang Yi added that China is willing to work with the Afghan side to develop traditional friendship, strengthen political mutual trust and deepen practical cooperation so as to bring more benefits to the two countries and their peoples, and contribute to regional peace and stability.

According to him, China is ready to increase cooperation with Afghanistan in the areas of economy and trade, agriculture, energy, mining, poverty reduction, disaster prevention, personnel training, healthcare, law enforcement and security.

The Chinese side intends to increase imports of high-quality Afghan products and provide all possible support in restoring Afghanistan’s economy and improving the living conditions of its population, the minister said.

A.H. Muttaqi, in turn, thanked China for its valuable assistance in developing Afghanistan and improving the living conditions of the Afghan people over a long period of time, as well as for its advocacy of justice for Afghanistan in the international arena.

He stressed that the Afghan government values the traditional friendship between Afghanistan and China, attaches great importance to relations with China in its foreign policy, and will continue to firmly adhere to the one-China principle and firmly oppose interference in China’s internal affairs.

A. H. Muttaqi noted that the Afghan side is ready to deepen mutual trust with China and contribute to achieving greater positive results in cooperation in various areas. “Afghanistan attaches great importance to China’s security issues and will under no circumstances allow Afghan territory to be used for activities that threaten China’s security,” he stressed.

Afghanistan is ready to step up cooperation with China in the security sphere, jointly combat violent crimes and ensure security and stability in the region, added A.H. Muttaqi. -0-

MIL OSI Russia News –

May 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: China and ASEAN Complete Negotiations on CAFTA Version 3.0 /Detailed Version-1/

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

BEIJING, May 21 (Xinhua) — China and 10 ASEAN countries have fully concluded negotiations on the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA) 3.0, the Ministry of Commerce said Wednesday.

The achievement was announced on Tuesday during a special online meeting of China-ASEAN economy and trade ministers.

CAFTA 3.0 will send a strong signal in support of free trade and open cooperation, the Commerce Ministry official said, noting that it will bring greater certainty to regional and global trade and play a guiding and exemplary role for different countries in upholding the principles of openness, inclusiveness and mutually beneficial cooperation.

Negotiations on CAFTA version 3.0, which began in November 2022, were substantially concluded in October 2024 after nine rounds of formal negotiations.

Version 3.0 contains nine new chapters covering areas such as the digital economy, green economy and supply chain connectivity, according to the ministry.

CAFTA 3.0 will create an inclusive, modern, comprehensive and mutually beneficial free trade agreement. The new additions will provide the parties with the opportunity to advance regional economic integration in a broader and deeper manner and effectively facilitate the deep integration of their production and supply chains in the new environment.

Moreover, CAFTA 3.0 will provide important institutional guarantees for the construction of the China-ASEAN mega market, thereby giving a steady impetus to the building of a China-ASEAN community with a shared future and promoting the common prosperity and development of both sides, the MOC noted.

The parties will actively advance their respective internal signature and ratification procedures with a view to formally signing the CAFTA Modernization Protocol version 3.0 by the end of this year, the department added. -0-

MIL OSI Russia News –

May 22, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: China dominates global trade of battery minerals

Source: US Energy Information Administration

In-brief analysis

May 21, 2025

Data source: United Nations Statistics Division, UN Comtrade
Note: Excludes trade within regions.

China has a major role at each stage of the global battery supply chain and dominates interregional trade of minerals. China imported almost 12 million short tons of raw and processed battery minerals, accounting for 44% of interregional trade, and exported almost 11 million short tons of battery materials, packs, and components, or 58% of interregional trade in 2023, according to regional UN Comtrade data.

In this article, we consider trade of three key minerals needed for batteries—graphite, lithium, and cobalt—among China and key global regions. These minerals are mined or extracted from natural and synthetic sources, processed for battery material manufacturing, and then used to produce batteries and battery components, with robust trade at each stage. As global demand for electric vehicles, energy storage, and other energy technologies increases, the importance of these minerals and materials also increases.

Battery mineral production and raw battery minerals trade
Lithium is produced through brine extraction or hard rock mining, cobalt is primarily produced as a byproduct of nickel and copper mining, and graphite is mined as a natural ore or synthetically produced from pitch and coke. China domestically produced approximately 18% (33,000 short tons) of the world’s mined lithium in 2023, and Chinese companies control 25% of the world’s lithium mining capacity.

According to the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency’s Tearline Project, Chinese companies have significant investments in multiple mining and extraction projects in Argentina, giving China access to the lithium triangle, an area in Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile that contains 50% of the world’s lithium. Domestically, China produced 79%, or 1.27 million short tons, of the world’s natural graphite in 2024, according to the U.S. Geological Survey; the United States did not produce any natural graphite that year. Chinese companies own 80% of cobalt production in Congo-Kinshasa, where more than half of global cobalt production is located.

After production, raw battery minerals are shipped globally to be used as feedstock for refining. China accounted for 46% of the world’s raw battery mineral import trade in 2023, according to the UN Comtrade data. Australia, the world’s largest lithium producer, sent almost all its exports to China alone. China, Australia, and the rest of Asia and Oceania (particularly India and Japan) accounted for 71% of the world’s raw battery mineral import trade in 2023.

Battery mineral processing and processed battery minerals trade
China processes over 90% of the world’s graphite, and in 2022, Chinese companies accounted for over two-thirds of the world’s cobalt and lithium processing capacity.

China imported 20% of the world’s processed battery minerals in 2023, made up of mainly cobalt from Africa. That same year, China exported 58% of the world’s processed battery minerals, mainly synthetic graphite to the rest of Asia and Oceania. China began implementing export restrictions on graphite products related to electrode manufacturing in 2023, and we expect such restrictions to lead to lower graphite exports from China in 2024 and 2025.

Battery materials manufacturing and battery materials and component trade
Processed battery minerals are used to produce battery materials, which vary depending on a battery’s chemical composition. China accounted for 53% of the world’s battery material export trade in 2023.

Battery materials are then used to produce battery components like electrodes, electrolytes, and separators. For example, a lithium-ion battery cell usually includes a graphite anode, lithium-based cathode, and a dissolved lithium salt electrolyte. In 2022, China produced 85% of the world’s anodes, 82% of electrolytes, 74% of separators, and 70% of cathodes.

China accounted for 74% of the world’s battery pack and component exports in 2023. That same year, China controlled nearly 85% of the world’s battery cell production capacity by monetary value.

Principal contributor: Gavin Clark

MIL OSI USA News –

May 22, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: When Doctors Don’t Believe Their Patients

Source: US State of Connecticut

For people with chronic gynecological pain conditions, pain can be constant, making everyday activities like sitting, riding a bicycle and even wearing underwear extremely uncomfortable. For many of these people – most of whom identify as women – sexual intercourse and routine pelvic exams are unbearable.

Endometriosis and vulvodynia, or chronic genital pain, are common gynecological conditions that can cause severe pain. They each affect about 1 in 10 American women.

Yet many women face skepticism and gaslighting in health care settings when they seek care for this type of pain.

We know this well through our research on social cognition and on how people with misunderstood health conditions manage difficult conversations with their doctors and family, as well as through volunteer work alongside people living with these conditions.

We’ve consistently found that medical gaslighting around chronic gynecological pain is a complex societal problem, fueled by holes in medical research and training.

‘It’s all in your head’

A 2024 study of patients who went to a clinic for vulvovaginal pain – pain experienced in the external female genitals and vagina – found that 45% of these patients had been told that they “just needed to relax more” and 39% were made to feel that they were “crazy.” A staggering 55% had considered giving up on seeking care.

These results echo what one of us – Elizabeth Hintz – found in her 2023 meta-synthesis: Female patients with chronic pain conditions frequently hear this “It’s all in your head” response from doctors.

Another study followed patients in two different major U.S. cities who were seeking care for vulvovaginal pain. The researchers found that most patients saw multiple clinicians but never received a diagnosis. Given the challenges of seeking medical care, many patients turn to social media sources like Reddit for support and information.

These studies, among others, illustrate how people with these conditions often spend years going to clinician after clinician seeking care and being told their pain is psychological or perhaps not even real. Given these experiences, why do patients keep seeking care?

“Let me describe the pain that would drive me to try so many different doctors, tests and treatments,” a patient with vulvovaginal pain said to her doctor. For her, sex “is like taking your most sensitive area and trying to rip it apart.”

“I can now wear any pants or underwear that I want with no pain,” said another patient after successful treatment. “I never realized how much of a toll the pain took on my body every day until it was gone.”

Medical gaslighting

Many patients worldwide experience medical gaslighting – a social phenomenon where a patient’s health concerns are not given appropriate medical evaluation and are instead downplayed, misattributed or dismissed outright.

Medical gaslighting is rooted in centuries of gender bias in medicine.

Women’s reproductive health issues have long been dismissed as psychological or “hysterical.” Genital and pelvic pain especially has been misattributed to psychological rather than biological causes: A century ago, Freudian psychoanalysts incorrectly believed that female sexual pain came from psychological complexes like penis envy.

These historical views help shed light on why these symptoms are still not taken seriously today.

Consequences of medical gaslighting

In addition to the physical toll of untreated pain, medical gaslighting can take a psychological toll. Women may become isolated when other people do not believe their pain. Some internalize this disbelief and can begin to doubt their own perceptions of pain and even their sanity.

This cycle of gaslighting compounds the burden of the pain and might lead to long-term psychological effects like anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress symptoms. For some, the repeated experience of being dismissed by clinicians erodes their sense of trust in the health care system. They might hesitate to seek medical attention in the future, fearing they will once again be dismissed.

Although some chronic gynecological pain conditions like endometriosis are gaining public attention and becoming better understood, these dynamics persist.

A funding crisis

Part of the reason for the misunderstanding surrounding chronic gynecological pain conditions is the lack of research on them. A January 2025 report from the National Academies found that research on diseases disproportionately affecting women were underfunded compared with diseases disproportionately affecting men.

This problem has gotten worse over time. The proportion of funding from the National Institutes of Health spent on women’s health has actually declined over the past decade. Despite these known disparities, in April 2025 the Trump administration threatened to end funding for the Women’s Health Initiative, a long-running women’s health research program, further worsening the problem.

Without sustained federal funding for women’s health research, conditions like endometriosis and vulvodynia will remain poorly understood, leaving clinicians in the dark and patients stranded.

Disparities in care

As hard as it is for any female patient to have their pain believed and treated, gaining recognition for chronic pain is even harder for those who face discrimination based on class or race.

One 2016 study found that half of the white medical students surveyed endorsed at least one false belief about biological differences between Black and white patients, such as that Black people have physically thicker skin or less sensitive nerve endings than white people. The medical students and residents who endorsed these false beliefs also underestimated Black patients’ pain and offered them less accurate treatment recommendations.

Studies show that women are more likely to develop chronic pain conditions and report more frequent and severe pain than men. But women are perceived as more emotional and thus less reliable in describing their pain than men. Consequently, female patients who describe the same symptoms as male patients are judged to be in less pain and are less likely to be offered pain relief, even in emergency settings and with female clinicians. Compared to male patients, female patients are more likely to be prescribed psychological care instead of pain medicine.

These lingering erroneous beliefs about gender and race are key reasons patients’ pain is dismissed, misunderstood and ignored. The very real-life consequences for patients include delayed diagnosis, treatment and even death.

Practical steps to disrupt medical gaslighting

Correcting these problems will require a shift in clinical training, so as to challenge biased views about pain in women and racial minorities and to educate clinicians about common pain conditions like vulvodynia. Research suggests that medical training needs to teach students to better listen to patients’ lived experiences and admit when an answer isn’t known.

In the meantime, people navigating the health care system can take practical steps when encountering dismissive care.

They can educate themselves about chronic gynecological pain conditions by reading books like “When Sex Hurts: Understanding and Healing Pelvic Pain” or educational information from trusted sources like the International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health, the International Pelvic Pain Society and the International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease.

Although these steps do not address the roots of medical gaslighting, they can empower patients to better understand the medical conditions that could cause their symptoms, helping to counteract the effects of gaslighting.

If someone you know has experienced medical gaslighting and would like support, there are resources available.

Organizations like The Endometriosis Association and the National Vulvodynia Association offer support networks and information – like how to find knowledgeable providers. Additionally, connecting with patient advocacy groups like Tight Lipped can provide opportunities for patients to engage in changing the health care system.

Originally published in The Conversation.

MIL OSI USA News –

May 22, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Fool’s Gold: A Hidden Climate Stabilizer

Source: US State of Connecticut

On our planet, the cycle and balance of carbon from reservoir to reservoir is a matter of life or death. Carbon moves from the atmosphere to the ocean, to carbon-based life forms, to rocks or sediments, and it can be tied up in any of these reservoirs throughout the process.

Imbalances within the cycle can have dramatic global impacts. For example, too much carbon in the atmosphere leads to the greenhouse effect and global warming, and too much carbon in the ocean leads to ocean acidification, which compromises conditions for marine life. How does the Earth recover from catastrophic conditions like massive volcanic eruptions?

Researchers look to extremes in the past to study how the system reacts to imbalances. In their paper published in Nature, researchers from the University of Connecticut, University of Victoria, Yale University, University of British Columbia, and Georgia Institute of Technology detail an overlooked mechanism for how the ocean can help stabilize massive releases of carbon into the atmosphere following volcanic eruptions.

UConn Department of Earth Sciences assistant professor and the paper’s lead author Mojtaba Fakhraee says a simplified way of imagining the global carbon cycle starts with an eruption of volcanic gases that release carbon into the atmosphere. Those forms of carbon like CO2 may remain in the atmosphere, whereas some can react with other elements to produce chemical species like dissolved inorganic carbon, that would be carried via rivers to the ocean.

“When the oceanic carbon balances out with the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere, they reach an equilibrium condition where the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere would be proportional to the amount of dissolved carbon species in the ocean,” says Fakhraee.

However, in times of extreme imbalance, like during climate catastrophes or when huge quantities of CO2 are released into the atmosphere, researchers found that a different type of feedback kicks in.

“The feedback happens when the ocean loses oxygen, it becomes more basic, and another type of reaction becomes more dominant under low oxygen or anoxic conditions. That reaction is anaerobic respiration, which produces sulfur species,” says Fakhraee.

The sulfur species formed by the reaction is iron sulfide or pyrite, which is also known as “fool’s gold.” The process has an overall buffering effect that preserves the alkalinity of the water and thus prevents it from becoming more acidic.

Researchers made this discovery using a coupled global carbon-sulfur cycle model that simulates geochemical processes over the past several hundred million years, including several ocean anoxic events (OAEs) and massive volcanic eruptions that released large amounts of carbon into the atmosphere. They found the production and burial of pyrite during OAEs had a substantial stabilizing effect during times of increased volcanic activity, thus buffering the oceans and playing a significant stabilizing role for millions of years.

“What it means is, the more you get of this buffering species, the more resistant the ocean becomes to change in pH and ocean acidification. This reaction is important in terms of how the ocean becomes resistant to acidification and changing pH,” says Fakhraee.

These reactions happen over a very long time, when the oceans of the past periodically experienced huge influxes of volcanic gases, resulting in deoxygenation and anoxic conditions, says Fakhraee, and that is when the models showed the increase in the iron sulfide reaction, increased alkalinity, and climate stabilization.

“We found it to be quite convincing to see why some of these past oceanic anoxic events were able to recover the way they did,” says Fakhraee. “Anoxic conditions were always thought of as a big problem for the oceans, but on a longer time scale this big problem can actually be a good way for the ocean and the whole earth to survive. Not everything about anoxia and oxygen loss is bad for the Earth system.”

There are also important implications to the carbon cycle of today, says Fakhraee, when we are seeing deoxygenation in the ocean as atmospheric levels of CO2 increase, but there is a caveat – time.

“We expect this process of iron sulfide formation to be important as we increase the rate of ocean deoxygenation, which would help regulate and stabilize the CO2 in the atmosphere. But do not make a mistake and think that this will help us with current climate change, because this feedback happens on a longer time scale. Humans would be drastically affected by climate change, but the Earth system has this intriguing feedback that would help the system to recover,” says Fakhraee.

Although pyrite formation occurs today in some anoxic marine environments, its global impact on ocean alkalinity and carbon sequestration is minimal under current conditions. A significant uptick in this buffering mechanism would require extensive, sustained deoxygenation of the global ocean — conditions that would be catastrophic for most marine life and profoundly disruptive to the Earth’s biosphere.

“Humans and other life experiencing climate change would be severely impacted over a very short time scale. It’s all about the time scale and then how much oxygen loss happens,” says Fakhraee.

Another important takeaway from this research that Fakhraee reflects on is the remarkable resilience of the global carbon cycle.

“All these interconnected processes show where one small change in one part of this whole system would make a large change in another part of the system. It’s intriguing to see how Earth can recover from very severe past experiences that wiped out life on the planet,” says Fahkraee. “Part of the reason that Earth has experienced so many ups and downs in terms of life, and part of the reason there is hope is because there was feedback that helped Earth to recover and allowed for some other life to exist and to evolve. Earth has its own way to survive, but we need to find a way to survive, and we are in danger if we don’t pay enough attention to what’s happening in terms of climate change.”

MIL OSI USA News –

May 22, 2025
MIL-OSI: HTX Celebrates Crypto Loans 2.0 Launch with Unprecedented Lending Benefits
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

SINGAPORE, May 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — HTX, a leading global cryptocurrency exchange, unveiled its next-generation “Crypto Loans 2.0” product on May 19. This enhanced version brings a refined structure and superior user experience, featuring multi-asset collateral, a smart dynamic Loan-to-Value (LTV) model, instant fund access, flexible repayment options, and zero fees. To mark this significant launch, HTX has rolled out two exclusive promotions: “Borrow & Earn” #7, where users can share a massive 5,000,000,000 $HTX prize pool, and the “Millions in Rewards Plus Margin Power-up” event, which provides BTC loan interest rates as low as 0.09% and an extra 10% discount on USDT loans.

Unlock Multiple Benefits with HTX Loan Products

To celebrate the grand launch of Crypto Loans 2.0 and commemorate the 15th anniversary of Bitcoin Pizza Day, HTX is simultaneously launching “Borrow & Earn” #7 and an exclusive limited-time margin promotion, delivering substantial rewards to our valued users.

“Borrow & Earn” #7 runs from May 19 at 02:00 (UTC) to June 2 at 15:59 (UTC), featuring a total prize pool of 5,000,000,000 $HTX. Users simply need to borrow USDT using the Crypto Loans Flexible product during the event to earn a share of the $HTX prize pool, based on the interest paid — the more interest paid, the greater the rewards. Rewards will be credited to winners’ Spot accounts within 7 working days after the event ends.

Concurrently, HTX has launched an exclusive margin promotion, “Millions in Rewards Plus Margin Power-up”, active from May 20 at 10:00 (UTC) to June 2 at 10:00 (UTC). For a single USDT loan of $1,000,000 or more, users can enjoy an extra 10% interest rate discount! This brings the annual interest rate down to as low as 3.9% (or 0.01% daily). There is no limit on borrowing frequency and each qualifying loan benefits from this generous discount.

Don’t miss the Pizza Day 15th Anniversary Bonus! During the event, the top 10 users by cumulative loan volume will share 264,000,000 $HTX (worth $500). Register via the provided link to participate. Leverage these ultra-low interest rates to maximize potential returns and aim for substantial gains.

Optimized Borrowing Experience with Multi-Asset Collateral

Loan efficiency and asset liquidity have always been two major user-focused concerns. As a key highlight of this upgrade, HTX’s “Crypto Loans 2.0” introduces a multi-asset collateral mechanism, supporting over 20 mainstream cryptocurrencies as collateral assets, including USDT, BTC, ETH, TRX, DOGE, XRP, SOL, and AVAX. This significantly boosts users’ asset utilization efficiency.

To further enhance the borrowing experience, HTX has expanded its loanable assets to include SOL, TON, and USDC, with USDC also available as a collateral option. Unlike the traditional single-asset collateral model, the multi-asset collateral mechanism allows users to unlock liquidity from their holdings while effectively reducing the risk of forced liquidation due to single-asset volatility.

Another standout feature of this upgrade is HTX’s limited-time offer: an ultra-low 0.09% annual interest rate for BTC Flexible Loans, with borrowing limits up to 100 BTC. This remarkable rate represents a 555-fold reduction from the previous annual rate of over 5.0%, making it an exceptional deal. For example, borrowing BTC equivalent to approximately 1,000,000 USDT would incur a mere 2.37 USDT in daily interest — a truly remarkable saving.

Crypto Loans 2.0 also offers the following advantages:
- Smart Dynamic LTV Mechanism: Interest rates adjust in real time based on market conditions, ensuring industry-leading competitiveness. Annualized interest rates for Flexible Loans include 3.9% for USDT, 2.4% for ETH, and as low as 0.09% for BTC.
- Flexible Term Options: Supports flexible configuration for both flexible and fixed terms (7/30/45/90 days).
- Instant Fund Access & Flexible Repayment: Borrowed funds are delivered instantly, interest accrues every hour, and users enjoy the freedom to repay at any time, ensuring optimal fund efficiency.
- Institutional-Grade Risk Control: Supports overcollateralized loans with leverage capped under 1X and tiered liquidation to safeguard accounts. Users retain all remaining collateral assets.
- Personalized 1-on-1 VIP Service: Delivers customized loan limits, flexible currency selections, and special discounted interest rates for SVIP users.
Crypto Loans 2.0 is now live! Users can access it via the HTX website by clicking “Loans” > “Crypto Loans”, or through the HTX App by tapping “More” > “Crypto Loans”. Here’s how to get started:

HTX’s Crypto Loans 2.0 leads the industry with its ability to boost capital efficiency, lower liquidation risk, provide flexible investment options, and allow multi-asset collateral. Moving forward, HTX will continue to enhance its lending products, pushing the platform’s financial services toward greater efficiency, lower barriers, and broader diversification. Try Crypto Loans 2.0 now to enjoy seamless borrowing, ultra-low interest rates, and access to massive prize pools. Make every digital asset your strategic liquidity advantage on the road to financial freedom.

About HTX

Founded in 2013, HTX has evolved from a virtual asset exchange into a comprehensive ecosystem of blockchain businesses that span digital asset trading, financial derivatives, research, investments, incubation, and other businesses.
As a world-leading gateway to Web3, HTX harbors global capabilities that enable it to provide users with safe and reliable services. Adhering to the growth strategy of “Global Expansion, Thriving Ecosystem, Wealth Effect, Security & Compliance,” HTX is dedicated to providing quality services and values to virtual asset enthusiasts worldwide.
To learn more about HTX, please visit HTX Square or https://www.htx.com/, and follow HTX on X, Telegram, and Discord.

For further inquiries, please contact Ruder Finn Asia ,glo-media@htx-inc.com.

Disclaimer: This is a paid post and is provided by HTX. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice.Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector—including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining—complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed.Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility. Globenewswire does not endorse any content on this page.

Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/14b88ed3-a6c4-4385-a159-c4c19897c5fe

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The MIL Network –
May 22, 2025
MIL-OSI: XBP Europe to Update Investors at the Emerging Growth Conference on May 22, 2025

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

LONDON and SANTA MONICA, Calif., May 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — XBP Europe Holdings, Inc. (“XBP Europe” or “the Company”) (NASDAQ: XBP), a pan-European integrator of bills, payments, and related solutions and services seeking to enable the digital transformation of its clients, is pleased to announce that it will be giving an update at the Emerging Growth Conference on May 22, 2025.

This live, interactive online event will give shareholders and the investment community the opportunity to interact with the Company’s CEO, Andrej Jonovic, who will take questions from the audience. Please submit your questions in advance to Questions@EmergingGrowth.com, or ask your questions during the event.

XBP Europe Holdings, Inc. will be presenting at 4:10 PM Eastern time for 12 minutes.

Please register here to ensure you are able to attend the conference and receive any updates that are released:
https://goto.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1709483&tp_key=7518636947&sti=xbp

If attendees are not able to join the event live on the day of the conference, an archived webcast will also be made available on EmergingGrowth.com and on the Emerging Growth YouTube Channel, http://www.YouTube.com/EmergingGrowthConference. The link to the presentation will be posted on our website at https://investors.xbpeurope.com/.

About the Emerging Growth Conference
The Emerging Growth conference is an effective way for public companies to present and communicate their new products, services and other major announcements to the investment community from the convenience of their office, in a time efficient manner.

The Conference focus and coverage includes companies in a wide range of growth sectors, with strong management teams, innovative products & services, focused strategy, execution, and the overall potential for long term growth. Its audience includes potentially tens of thousands of Individual and Institutional investors, as well as investment advisors and analysts.

All sessions will be conducted through video webcasts and will take place in the Eastern time zone.

About XBP Europe
XBP Europe is a pan-European integrator of bills, payments and related solutions and services seeking to enable digital transformation of its more than 2,000 clients. The Company’s name – ‘XBP’ stands for ‘exchange for bills and payments’ and reflects the Company’s strategy to connect buyers and suppliers, across industries, including banking, healthcare, insurance, utilities and the public sector, to optimize clients’ bills and payments and related digitization processes. The Company provides business process management solutions with proprietary software suites and deep domain expertise, serving as a technology and services partner for its clients. Its cloud-based structure enables it to deploy its solutions across the European market, along with the Middle East and Africa. The physical footprint of XBP Europe spans 15 countries and approximately 30 locations and a team of approximately 1,500 individuals. XBP Europe believes its business ultimately advances digital transformation, improves market wide liquidity by expediting payments, and encourages sustainable business practices. For more information, please visit: www.xbpeurope.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements included in this press release are not historical facts but are forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as “may”, “should”, “would”, “plan”, “intend”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “predict”, “potential”, “seem”, “seek”, “continue”, “future”, “will”, “expect”, “outlook” or other similar words, phrases or expressions. These forward-looking statements include statements regarding future events, estimated or anticipated future results and benefits, future opportunities for XBP Europe Holdings, Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, the “Company”) and its industry, and other statements that are not historical facts. These statements reflect the current expectations of Company management and are not guarantees of actual performance. Actual results may differ materially due to a number of risks and uncertainties, including without limitation: (1) legal proceedings against the Company or others; (2) the Company’s inability to meet the continued listing standards of Nasdaq or another securities exchange; (3) disruptions from the proposed acquisition of Exela Technologies BPA, LLC (“BPA”) and related bankruptcy proceedings of BPA and certain of its subsidiaries’; (4) failure to realize benefits from the November 2023 business combination with CF Acquisition Corp. VIII; (5) acquisition-related costs; (6) changes in laws or regulations; (7) adverse effects from economic, business, or competitive factors; (8) market volatility due to geopolitical and economic factors; (9) challenges in achieving profitability, retaining clients, managing growth, or recruiting and retaining personnel; and (10) other risks and uncertainties set forth in the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 19, 2025, as amended, and subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). In addition, forward-looking statements represent the Company’s expectations, plans or forecasts as of the date of this communication. Subsequent events may alter these assessments, and they should not be relied upon as representing the Company’s assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this release.

For more XBP Europe news, commentary, and industry perspectives, visit: https://www.xbpeurope.com/
And please follow us on social:
X: https://X.com/XBPEurope
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/XBPEurope/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xbp_europe/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xbp-europe/

The information posted on XBP Europe’s website and/or via its social media accounts may be deemed material to investors. Accordingly, investors, media and others interested in XBP Europe should monitor XBP Europe’s website and its social media accounts in addition to XBP Europe’s press releases, SEC filings and public conference calls and webcasts.

Source: XBP Europe Holdings, Inc.

The MIL Network –

May 22, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: The West v China: Fight for the Pacific – Episode 1: The Battlefield

Al Jazeera

How global power struggles are impacting in local communities, culture and sovereignty in Kanaky, New Caledonia, the Solomon Islands and Samoa.

In episode one, The Battlefield, tensions between the United States and China over the Pacific escalate, affecting the lives of Pacific Islanders.

Key figures like former Malaita Premier Daniel Suidani and tour guide Maria Loweyo reveal how global power struggles impact on local communities, culture and sovereignty in the Solomon Islands and Samoa.

The episode intertwines these personal stories with the broader geopolitical dynamics, setting the stage for a deeper exploration of the Pacific’s role in global diplomacy.

Fight for the Pacific, a four-part series by Tuki Laumea and Cleo Fraser, showcases the Pacific’s critical transformation into a battleground of global power.

This series captures the high-stakes rivalry between the US and China as they vie for dominance in a region pivotal to global stability.

The series frames the Pacific not just as a battleground for superpowers but also as a region with its own unique challenges and aspirations.

Republished from Al Jazeera.

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

May 22, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Australia’s Wong condemns ‘abhorrent, outrageous’ Israeli comments over blocked aid

Asia Pacific Report

Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong has released a statement saying “the Israeli government cannot allow the suffering to continue” after the UN’s aid chief said thousands of babies were at risk of dying if they did not receive food immediately.

“Australia joins international partners in calling on Israel to allow a full and immediate resumption of aid to Gaza,” Wong said in a post on X.

“We condemn the abhorrent and outrageous comments made by members of the Netanyahu government about these people in crisis.”

Wong stopped short of outlining any measures Australia might take to encourage Israel to ensure enough aid reaches those in need, as the UK, France and Canada said they would do with “concrete measures” in a recent joint statement.

pic.twitter.com/fDGPRs1G4M

— Senator Penny Wong (@SenatorWong) May 21, 2025

An agreement has been reached in a phone call between UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and his Israeli counterpart Gideon Saar, reports Al Jazeera.

According to the Palestinian news agency WAM, the aid would initially cater to the food needs of about 15,000 civilians in Gaza.

It will also include essential supplies for bakeries and critical items for infant care.

‘Permission’ for 100 trucks
Earlier yesterday, a spokesperson for the UN humanitarian office in Geneva said Israel had given permission for about 100 aid trucks to enter Gaza.

However, the UN also said no aid had been distributed in Gaza because of Israeli restrictions, despite a handful of aid trucks entering the territory.

“But what we mean here by allowed is that the trucks have received military clearance to access the Palestinian side,” reports Tareq Abu Azzoum from Deir el-Balah, central Gaza.

“They have not made their journey into the enclave. They are still stuck at the border crossing. Only five trucks have made it in.”

Israel’s Gaza aid “smokescreen” showing the vast gulf between what the Israeli military have actually allowed in – five trucks only and none of the aid had been delivered at the time of this report. Image: Al Jazeera infographic/Creative Commons

The few aid trucks alowed into Gaza are nowhere near sufficient to meet Gaza’s vast needs, says the medical charity Doctors Without Borders, known by its French initials MSF.

Instead, the handful of trucks serve as a “a smokescreen” for Israel to “pretend the siege is over”.

“The Israeli authorities’ decision to allow a ridiculously inadequate amount of aid into Gaza after months of an air-tight siege signals their intention to avoid the accusation of starving people in Gaza, while in fact keeping them barely surviving,” said Pascale Coissard, MSF’s emergency coordinator in Khan Younis.

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

May 22, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: RELEASE: Senator Mullin Champions Secretary Kennedy’s Make America Healthy Again Agenda at Hearing

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator MarkWayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma)

RELEASE: Senator Mullin Champions Secretary Kennedy’s Make America Healthy Again Agenda at Hearing

Washington, D.C. – On Tuesday, U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, applauded Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s efforts to Make America Healthy Again at the subcommittee hearing, “A Review of the President’s Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Request for the Department of Health and Human Services”. Highlights of Senator Mullin’s exchange on a range of topics, including wasteful NIH funding, are below.

The full exchange can be found here.
On America’s health crisis:
Sen. Mullin: “Earlier, you said… HHS over the last four years had increased by 38% is that correct?”
Sec. Kennedy: “That’s right, Senator Mullin.”
Sen. Mullin: “So, what has the taxpayers got in return over the last four years?
Sec. Kennedy: “They got a worse chronic health crisis and the unhealthiest, sickest, population in the globe.”
On the increase of the HHS budget in recent years:
Sen. Mullin: “So, your total budget for 2024, I think, was around $1.7 trillion. Is that correct?”
Sec. Kennedy: “Yes.”
Sen. Mullin: “So, we’ve had a 10% increase across that, we’ve received nothing in return?”
Sec. Kennedy: “We’ve had a 38% increase in four years with nothing in return.”
On wasteful NIH funds:
Sen. Mullin: “And we have my Democrat colleagues that are complaining about cutting spending at the same time we have NIH recipients, because we’ve heard our colleagues on the left side really complain about you cutting NIH funding, because they call it research, but is it really research? I mean, let me just throw some numbers out here for you. Harvard received $488 million in NIH, and 69% went to indirect costs, meaning didn’t go to research. Yale received $646 million and 67.5% of their NIH money went to indirect costs, meaning didn’t go to research.”
Sen. Mullin: “You have Johns Hopkins University got $858 million 67.5% went to indirect costs, meaning 67.5% of $858 million did not go to research. University of California, San Francisco received $815 million in NIH money and 59% went to indirect costs. But I’m sure there’s no room to cut NIH money for research? I mean, who would think we probably have room for that?”
Sec. Kennedy: “There’s room to cut the research both through the indirect cost, which the total cost was $9 billion last year in indirect. So that’s, you know, that’s $9 billion that did not go to research.”
Sen. Mullin: “$9 billion that went to other things, like flowers at the University President’s house.”
On Secretary Kennedy’s work to Make America Healthy Again:
Sen. Mullin: “You know, only in the American government do we think throwing money at the problem will eventually fix it. So, thank you for staying strong and actually getting the taxpayers the money that they spent for something that it’s supposed to be spent for, and that’s to make us healthier, so thank you for being strong in this.”

MIL OSI USA News –

May 22, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: ‘Shine your light’: responding to challenges facing the charity sector

Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Speech

‘Shine your light’: responding to challenges facing the charity sector

Charity Commission Chief Executive David Holdsworth delivers keynote speech at Charity Times’ Annual Conference 2025.

Thank you Srabani and good morning everyone / bore da pawb.

It’s a privilege to be speaking to at this conference for the first time as the Commission’s CEO, after rejoining the organisation last summer.

I probably don’t need to explain to this audience why I returned to work with the charity sector.

Current operating environment and challenges

The Charity Commission stands at a unique vantage point, where the perspectives of charities, government, the public and donors meet.

From this position, we see three trends.

First, an incredibly challenging economic environment for the sector.

Like other sectors, charities face inflationary pressures and rising operational costs.

But charities are also dealing with increased demands for their services.

The cumulative impact of these trends on charities is, in some cases, extremely challenging.

Second, charities, like other organisations, are contending with rapid technological and social change.

Some tech innovations, notably in the space of AI, offer tools that can help charities do more with less and increase their impact.

But looking ahead, these technologies potentially challenge the very role of organisations and institutions in the traditional sense.

Notably when coupled with changing attitudes, especially among younger people, whose allegiances are increasingly to causes, not ‘bricks and mortar’ or brands and institutions and where technology platforms offer alternatives of direct giving to those in need.

Thirdly – global conflicts, geo political shifts and instability. The shocking invasion of Ukraine and conflicts in the middle east have seen demands on and need of charity increase significantly. Whilst at the same time the once seemingly immovable, solid post war geo political system is shifting, creating uncertainty and instability. This makes responding to increased global need more difficult and challenging to navigate.

Impact and Potential

Despite those challenges the sector has never been more important – and let’s be clear what charities achieve for society is astonishing, both in terms of scale and impact.

Based on Annual Returns submitted to the Commission for 2023’s accounts, the sector had an annual income of over £96 billion – up around 7% on the previous year.

We registered just over 5,000 new charities last year, having assessed a record 9,840 applications – a 9% increase on the previous year.

And there are around 700,000 trustees who collectively steward the sector though good times and bad, and whose work often goes unrecognised and uncelebrated – though we at the Commission are all too aware of their service and contribution.

But numbers alone don’t tell of the human impact of charity. Of the positive difference charities make in transforming or enriching communities, our environment, our wildlife, heritage, culture as well as saving and improving countless individual lives.

It is that impact that charities, their amazing trustees, volunteers and employees have – that we must not lose sight of – nor let the challenges shroud.

There are so many examples to tell.

Like the Felix Project which had a landmark year, providing 38 million meals through its network of 1,264 community organisations and schools by growing its network of collaborations. Building on that success it has launched its Multibank, which has seen 1.46 million non-food essential items distributed to try and ensure no Londoner in need goes without.

Welsh Women’s Aid and its partners helped 739 survivors access refuge-based support. That is life-saving intervention happening every day, across the country – offering not just physical shelter but a sense of home and safety when people need it most.

That the osprey – that magnificent bird of prey – which was once driven to near extinction in the UK – is now thriving, with over 250 nesting pairs living in Britain today, is thanks to charities.

And it is thanks to charity that, on average, two lives are saved at sea every single day by RNLI volunteers.

Also I know from my last CEO role at the Animal and Plant Health Agency, thanks to animal welfare charities’ campaigning work over decades, the UK now has one of the most advanced legal frameworks protecting animal health and welfare.

These a just a few examples of what has been made possible by the charity sector.

Potential and Opportunity

So whilst I don’t underestimate for one moment the challenges charities face – and which I have seen first hand on my many visits – I would urge you not to let those challenges dim nor shroud the huge impact you are having, everyday.

I also firmly believe that as Albert Einstein once said:

in the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.

Arguably, the bigger the challenge, the greater the opportunity. Ideas previously rejected as too radical; innovation that once felt too big; conversations which felt too challenging can suddenly feel possible – and necessary.

Take for example, the city I call home, Liverpool. Which is incidentally also the Commission’s main home, where most of our staff are based.

I grew up in Liverpool in the 1980s. It was a time when the city felt like it had lost its way, with ever increasing challenges and ever dwindling opportunity and resources.

Today my home city is transformed. And that transformation happened through collaboration – a combination of philanthropic investments, national and local government investment, alongside renewed community action notably in the arts, culture and tourism which acted as catalysts for wider renewal.

Each individual project mattered, but what made for game-changing transformation was the cumulative impact of collaborative and complementary efforts from a number of actors. And that is true across the sector today.

Take for example, Fareshare. Working collaboratively, supporting other charities in their network, they’ve helped distribute 92% more food over the last year, and made their budgets go 78% further.

This resulted in them distributing a whopping 135 million meals, reaching nearly 1 million people.

If you’ll allow me to return once more to my hometown.

In late 2024, Zoe’s Place, a hospice in Liverpool which provides care to children, faced an uncertain future. The community of Liverpool, supported by business leaders and politicians, as well as a fellow charity the Institute of our Lady of Mercy, fellow hospice Claire’s Place and regional media collectively rallied to save Zoe’s Place, with the Commission playing a key facilitating role.

Now, ownership has been transferred to the newly registered Liverpool Zoe’s Place. The charity’s trustees have also finalised plans to build the charity’s new home, securing the continuation of the former charity’s legacy.

The hospice had been helping families through the unimaginable since 1995 – to see that vital service disappear would have been gutting for the community, and a huge blow to the families who rely on the organisation’s support.

Instead, by reawakening their community’s passion and pride in the service, the charity will now continue to provide that support for years to come.

In addition to this kind of public appeal, forging new corporate partnerships is another option being explored by many charities. Indeed, the Charities Aid Foundation estimates that UK businesses contribute around £4 billion to the sector.

Take one example – a mere stone’s throw from here: national homelessness charity, Shelter.

The organisation has partnered with clothing brand, Lucy and Yak. Last year they held a successful pop-up shop in Kings Cross, and now, they’ve launched donation boxes in several Lucy and Yak shops across the country encouraging customers to donate clothing.

Shelter has responded to competition facing charity shops with the rise of preloved selling platforms in an agile and innovative way. Through this partnership, they’ve added a funding stream to their ‘bow’ and potentially reached new supporters.

But I appreciate that public appeals and new corporate partnerships won’t work for everyone.

As a result of the Covid pandemic, many charities needed to re-evaluate their financial resilience and ability to weather further storms – many had dipped into their reserves, while others had little to fall back on.

With the same desire to ensure services do not come to an end, some charities with similar goals turned to mergers – combining resources to create something more sustainable.

For example, Community Integrated Care, one of the largest social care providers in the UK, merged with Inspire, a social care provider based in Scotland, in 2023. The charities saw how funding shortfalls, economic pressures and workforce shortages were impacting social care more broadly and chose to secure their future together rather than struggle through apart. And it paid off.

Community Integrated Care’s income increased by £22 million in the year after the merger, and the charities reported publicly that the merger was a good strategic fit. These charities found strength in unity while continuing to provide that sense of belonging their beneficiaries depend on.

Mergers are not the answer for all – and I don’t underestimate the work that can be involved in navigating a successful transition. But where you decide a merger is the best way forward, the Commission is on hand.

Conclusion: strength in collaboration

I’ve touched upon a few examples today to evidence my underlying confidence in this sector’s collective power. Just as no home is built by a single pair of hands, no lasting social change comes from isolated efforts.

Our dear late Queen, Elizabeth II, once said:

On our own, we cannot end wars or wipe out injustice, but the cumulative impact of thousands of small acts of goodness can be bigger than we imagine.

In the year of the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe and Victory in Japan we should remember those words and that out of darkness can come something brighter and better than before.

From the darkness of tyranny, fascism and unfathomable loss came a renewed determination for peace, democracy and equality. That which charities had long fought for then came forward in the form of the NHS, welfare state, expansion of access to higher education, and workers’ rights.

While the challenges facing society may be less existential, I believe this sector can again play a transformational role across communities, across government, local and national, with businesses and philanthropists to once again tackle our biggest issues with joint purpose.

There is no greater charity sector in the world than here and my message is clear.

Keep shining a light, charities.

Shine a light on your charitable purpose.

Shine a light of hope, and of refuge to those in need.

Shine a light on your innovation and impact.

And always remember that you not only stand on the shoulders of giants, but you too are now building that better brighter future for the next generation.

Thank you. I look forward to hearing your thoughts, and taking your questions.

Updates to this page

Published 21 May 2025

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

May 22, 2025