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Category: DJF

  • MIL-OSI Economics: ACP Announces Former House Republican Conference General Counsel Tara Hupman as Vice President of External Affairs

    Source: American Clean Power Association (ACP)

    Headline: ACP Announces Former House Republican Conference General Counsel Tara Hupman as Vice President of External Affairs

    WASHINGTON D.C., June 2, 2025 —  The American Clean Power Association (ACP) today announced that Tara Hupman will join ACP as Vice President of External Affairs, effective June 3. A talented congressional and public policy strategist, Hupman has strong expertise and experience across key congressional committees. She brings more than a decade of senior-level experience on Capitol Hill, and will strengthen ACP’s advocacy and political engagement at a critical time for the clean energy industry.
    “Tara is a highly respected leader with deep relationships across Congressional leadership and the committees that shape America’s energy future,” said Frank Macchiarola, ACP Chief Advocacy Officer. “Her skill and experience will be instrumental in advancing our advocacy priorities. Our industry is the fastest growing part of the energy sector and to meet growing electricity demand, we need policies in place to accelerate the deployment of additional clean power. Tara will play a critical role in helping to make this happen. I’m pleased to welcome Tara to the ACP team.”
    In her new role, Hupman will help lead ACP’s government affairs strategy, including federal outreach, PAC operations, and mobilization efforts. She will also work closely with ACP’s state affairs team to ensure alignment between state and federal advocacy priorities.
    Hupman most recently served as General Counsel to the House Republican Conference under Chairwoman Lisa McClain. She also previously served as Chief Counsel for the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the House Natural Resources Committee. Additionally, she held counsel roles on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Senate Small Business Committee, and served as a professional staff member on the Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Human Rights Watch warns renewed fighting threatens West Papua civilians

    Asia Pacific Report

    An escalation in fighting between Indonesian security forces and Papuan pro-independence fighters in West Papua has seriously threatened the security of the largely indigenous population, says Human Rights Watch in a new report.

    The human rights watchdog warned that all parties to the conflict are obligated to abide by international humanitarian law, also called the laws of war.

    The security forces’ military operations in the densely forested Central Highlands areas are accused of killing and wounding dozens of civilians with drone strikes and the indiscriminate use of explosive munitions, and displaced thousands of indigenous Papuans, said the report.

    The National Liberation Army of West Papua, the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement, has claimed responsibility in the killing of 17 alleged miners between April 6 and April 9.

    “The Indonesian military has a long history of abuses in West Papua that poses a particular risk to the Indigenous communities,” said Meenakshi Ganguly, deputy Asia director of Human Rights Watch.

    “Concerned governments need to press the Prabowo [Subianto] administration and Papuan separatist armed groups to abide by the laws of war.”

    The fighting escalated after the attack on the alleged miners, which the armed group accused of being targeted soldiers or military informers.

    Operation Habema
    The Indonesian military escalated its ongoing operations, called Operation Habema, in West Papua’s six provinces, especially in the Central Highlands, where Papuan militant groups have been active for more than four decades.

    On May 14, the military said that it had killed 18 resistance fighters in Intan Jaya regency, and that it had recovered weapons including rifles, bows and arrows, communications equipment, and Morning Star flags — the symbol of Papuan resistance.

    Further military operations have allegedly resulted in burning down villages and attacks on churches. Papuan activists and pastors told Human Rights Watch that government forces treated all Papuan forest dwellers who owned and routinely used bows and arrows for hunting as “combatants”.

    Information about abuses has been difficult to corroborate because the hostilities are occurring in remote areas in Intan Jaya, Yahukimo, Nduga, and Pegunungan Bintang regencies.

    Pastors, church workers, and local journalists interviewed by Human Rights Watch said that Indonesian forces had been using drones and helicopter gunships to drop bombs.

    “Civilians from the Korowai tribe community, known for their tall treehouse dwellings, have been harmed in these attacks, and have desperately fled the fighting,” said the Human Rights Watch report.

    “Displaced villagers, mostly from Intan Jaya, have sought shelter and refuge in churches in Sugapa, the capital of the regency.”

    Resistance allegations
    The armed resistance group has made allegations, which Human Rights Watch could not corroborate, that the Indonesian military attacks harmed civilians.

    It reported that a mortar or rocket attack outside a church in Ilaga, Puncak regency, hit two young men on May 6, killing one of them, Deris Kogoya, an 18-year-old student.

    The group said that the Indonesian military attack on May 14, in which the military claimed all 18 people killed were pro-independence combatants, mostly killed civilians.

    Ronald Rischardt Tapilatu, pastor of the Evangelical Christian Church of the Land of Papua, said that at least 3 civilians were among the 18 bodies. Human Rights Watch has a list of the 18 killed, which includes 1 known child.

    The daughter of Hetina Mirip said her mother was found dead on May 17 near her house in Sugapa, while Indonesian soldiers surrounded their village. She wrote that the soldiers tried to cremate and bury her mother’s body.

    A military spokesman denied the shooting.

    One evident impact of the renewed fighting is that thousands of indigenous Papuans have been forced to flee their ancestral lands.

    Seven villages attacked
    The Vanuatu-based United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) reported that the military had attacked seven villages in Ilaga with drones and airstrikes, forcing many women and children to flee their homes. Media reports said that it was in Gome, Puncak regency.

    International humanitarian law obligates all warring parties to distinguish at all times between combatants and civilians. Civilians may never be the target of attack.

    Warring parties are required to take all feasible precautions to minimise harm to civilians and civilian objects, such as homes, shops, and schools. Attacks may target only combatants and military objectives.

    Attacks that target civilians or fail to discriminate between combatants and civilians, or that would cause disproportionate harm to the civilian population compared to the anticipated military gain, are prohibited.

    Parties must treat everyone in their custody humanely, not take hostages, and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid.

    The Free Papua Movement has long sought self-determination and independence in West Papua, on the grounds that the Indonesian government-controlled “Act of Free Choice” in 1969 was illegitimate and did not involve indigenous Papuans.

    It advocates holding a new, fair, and transparent referendum, and backs armed resistance.

    Vast conflict area
    Human Rights Watch reports that the conflict areas, including Intan Jaya, are on the northern side of Mt Grasberg, spanning a vast area from Sugapa to Oksibil in the Pegunungan Bintang regency, approximately 425 km long.

    Sugapa is also known as the site of Wabu Block, which holds approximately 2.3 million kilos of gold, making it one of Indonesia’s five largest known gold reserves.

    Wabu Block is currently under the licensing process of the Indonesian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources.

    “Papuans have endured decades of systemic racism, heightening concerns of further atrocities,” HRW’s Asia director Ganguly said.

    “Both the Indonesian military and Papuan armed groups need to comply with international standards that protect civilians.”

    Republished from Human Rights Watch.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why Canada should apply labour protections to the rental housing sector

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Elliot Goodell Ugalde, Phd Student, Queen’s University, Ontario

    Gregor Robertson, Canada’s new housing minister, was likely tapped for the job on the basis of his decade as Vancouver’s mayor, where he introduced zoning changes, incentives for rental construction and the country’s first empty-homes tax.

    Those moves nudged supply but fell short: housing designed specifically for renting trickled in slowly and the city’s homeless count hit a 13-year high of 2,181 in 2018.

    Robertson once blamed the housing shortfall on tight-fisted provincial and federal budgets. Now that he controls part of that money, he can test his claim. He can plug a hole his municipal toolkit never could by being, as he vowed in 2018, “more abrasive and more vocal”, and by coupling fresh federal dollars with legal protections that empower tenants to bargain collectively.

    The urgency is clear: one-third of Canadians rent, yet tenant unions, though legal to form, have no right to negotiate.

    This absence of statutory protection for tenants is often treated as a policy oversight. By withholding legal recognition, lawmakers preserve a model that allows landlords to negotiate from a position of structural dominance as tenants confront systemic harms — rent hikes, unsafe conditions and evictions — all on their own.

    Canada’s rental ‘crisis’

    Soaring rents and evictions have been described as a temporary “housing crisis.”

    But researchers at the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives counter that the market is not broken; it works exactly as designed. Calling it a crisis justifies “extraordinary” fixes — most often lower interest rates that lure first time home-buyers to take on debt larger than they should, according to Canadian policy scholar Ricardo Tranjan in his book The Tenant Class.

    The results are structural, not temporary: median national rent for a one-bedroom dwelling now tops $2,000, vacancy rates sit below two per cent and 33.1 per cent of renters spend more than 30 per cent of income on shelter. That’s the rent-burden line — the threshold used to determine if a household is struggling to afford housing — of the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s (CMHC).

    Since the 1990s, the CMHC has replaced public construction with mortgage-insurance programs that flood markets with credit, kicking the can down the road. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Mark Carney’s choice of Robertson as housing minister has advanced a familiar credit-led package: GST rebates for first-time buyers.

    When asked whether housing prices should fall, Robertson said “no,” arguing that wages will eventually catch up — an adjustment economists project would take roughly 20 years even if prices stopped rising today.

    Expanding credit under these conditions is more likely to swell asset values than improve affordability, trading a housing emergency for an indebtedness emergency.

    Collective action without collective rights

    Ontario’s Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) typifies Canada’s token approach to renter power. It affirms tenants’ right to form associations but, in the very next clause, excuses landlords from any obligation to meet or negotiate with them. The result is performative legality: tenants can speak but landlords are free to ignore them.

    The chilling effect resembles pre-industrial labour markets, where organizing invited dismissal. Recent history confirms the weakness.

    In 2023, the tenants of 33 King Street in northwest Toronto mounted a five-month rent strike and won partial rollbacks, but the tribunal still refused to recognize their union; every renter had to sign a separate settlement. By settling disputes that way, the system drains collective power and drags cases through attritional timelines that encourage capitulation.

    Canada confronted a parallel power imbalance during industrialization. Early 20th-century governments criminalized picketing and blacklisted organizers. The upheavals of the Great Depression forced Ottawa to adopt the Wartime Labour Relations Regulations (1944) and the Industrial Relations and Disputes Investigation Act (1948).

    Those statutes codified three enduring principles:

    1. Workers may unionize free from employer interference;
    2. Employers must bargain in good faith with a certified union;
    3. Violations trigger meaningful remedies, including reinstatement and damages.

    Legislators acted not from moral awakening, but to temper exploitation and preserve social stability.

    Housing now mirrors that earlier asymmetry: corporate landlords command capital, legal expertise and mobility, while tenants have none of that power. Extending labour-style protections to tenant unions would simply apply a proven regulatory formula to rental housing.

    Counter-arguments

    Landlord associations often voice four main objections to statutory tenant-union rights: the anticipated administrative burden, the spectre of disinvestment, purported constitutional limits and a moral claim that responsible owners don’t need to be legally compelled to act in good faith.

    Labour history suggests these concerns are overstated.

    As Tranjan recalls, reputable employers already paid decent wages and offered sick leave before such standards were legislated. Regulation merely imposed a baseline on those profiting from exploitation.

    In housing, conscientious landlords who maintain units, honour rent control and eschew predatory fees wouldn’t require mandatory bargaining or anti-retaliation clauses. But those enriching themselves through vacancy decontrol, renovictions or steep rent hikes would. Their resistance to tenant protections underscores their necessity.

    Empirical evidence further weakens objections.

    First, administrative overload is improbable: collective bargaining consolidates individual grievances into a single agreement, dramatically reducing repeat hearings, and the system would work the same in landlord-tenant tribunals.

    Second, claims that stronger tenant rights deter investment clash with comparative experience. In Vienna, where nearly half of all dwellings fall under tenant councils wielding union-like powers and stringent rent regulation, construction activity remains robust and affordability stable;

    Third, constitutional concerns are overstated. Although landlord–tenant law is chiefly provincial, the federal government already shapes rental markets through CMHC insurance, targeted tax expenditures and the National Housing Strategy Act, which recognizes adequate housing as a human right.

    Ottawa could condition financing on tenant-union recognition or incentivize provinces to harmonize standards, echoing its mid-20th century push for uniform labour legislation.

    Historical precedent and evidence across the country make clear that formalizing tenant-union protections is constitutional, would streamline dispute resolution and sustain construction — substantially benefiting the one-third of Canadians who rent without destabilizing the housing market.



    Read more:
    How corporate landlords are eroding affordable housing — and prioritizing profits over human rights

    Collective rights for collective problems

    To make housing genuinely affordable, Robertson must see Canada’s rental sector not as a malfunctioning “crisis” but as a lucrative system of organized inequality.

    Legislators once recognized that individual workers could not bargain fairly with industrial adversaries and created the collective-bargaining framework that undergirds labour relations today. Housing demands the same logic.

    Tenant unions already operate in neighbourhoods such as Toronto’s Thorncliffe Park, Vancouver’s Mount Pleasant and Montréal’s Rosemont. But without legal status, landlords can simply ignore them.

    Federal legislation could correct this imbalance. Automatic certification would follow when a simple majority of tenants in a building sign membership cards, triggering a duty for landlords to bargain in good faith over rent increases, maintenance schedules, security of tenure and essential services.



    Read more:
    Financial firms are driving up rent in Toronto — and targeting the most vulnerable tenants

    Anti-retaliation clauses would bar eviction or harassment of organizing tenants, with remedies mirroring labour law: reinstatement, damages and arbitration to deter stalling.

    Negotiated standards could be applied across neighbourhoods while still allowing investors reasonable but socially responsible returns.

    Granting labour-style protections to tenant unions is hardly radical; it simply extends a principle Canada embraced nearly a century ago: collective problems require collective rights.

    Renters cannot wait for market forces to self-correct. Recognizing and regulating tenant unions is the most direct route to balancing power, safeguarding homes and treating housing as a human right rather than an asset class.

    Elliot Goodell Ugalde is affiliated with The Kingston and District Labour Council.

    Natalie Braun 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. Why Canada should apply labour protections to the rental housing sector – https://theconversation.com/why-canada-should-apply-labour-protections-to-the-rental-housing-sector-257208

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Our trans health study was terminated by the government – the effects of abrupt NIH grant cuts ripple across science and society

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Jae A. Puckett, Associate Professor of Psychology, Michigan State University

    Funding cuts to trans health research are part of the Trump administration’s broader efforts to medically and legally restrict trans rights. AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson

    Given the Trump administration’s systematic attempts to medically and legally disenfranchise trans people, and its abrupt termination of grants focused on LGBTQ+ health, we can’t say that the notice of termination we received regarding our federally funded research on transgender and nonbinary people’s health was unexpected.

    As researchers who study the experiences of trans and nonbinary people, we have collectively dedicated nearly 50 years of our scientific careers to developing ways to address the health disparities negatively affecting these communities. The National Institutes of Health had placed a call for projects on this topic, and we had successfully applied for their support for our four-year study on resilience in trans communities.

    However, our project on trans health became one of the hundreds of grants that have been terminated on ideological grounds. The termination notice stated that the grant no longer fit agency priorities and claimed that this work was not based on scientific research.

    Termination notice sent to the authors from the National Institutes of Health.
    Jae A. Puckett and Paz Galupo, CC BY-ND

    These grant terminations undermine decades of science on gender diversity by dismissing research findings and purging data. During Trump’s current term, the NIH’s Sexual and Gender Minority Research Office was dismantled, references to LGBTQ+ people were removed from health-related websites, and datasets were removed from public access.

    The effects of ending research on trans health ripple throughout the scientific community, the communities served by this work and the U.S. economy.

    Studying resilience

    Research focused on the mental health of trans and nonbinary people has grown substantially in recent years. Over time, this work has expanded beyond understanding the hardships these communities face to also study their resilience and positive life experiences.

    Resilience is often understood as an ability to bounce back from challenges. For trans and nonbinary people experiencing gender-based stigma and discrimination, resilience can take several forms. This might look like simply continuing to survive in a transphobic climate, or it might take the form of being a role model for other trans and nonbinary people.

    As a result of gender-based stigma and discrimination, trans and nonbinary people experience a range of health disparities, from elevated rates of psychological distress to heightened risk for chronic health conditions and poor physical health. In the face of these challenges and growing anti-trans legislation in the U.S., we believe that studying resilience in these communities can provide insights into how to offset the harms of these stresses.

    Studies show anti-trans legislation is harming the mental health of LGBTQ+ youth.

    With the support of the NIH, we began our work in earnest in 2022. The project was built on many years of research from our teams preceding the grant. From the beginning, we collaborated with trans and nonbinary community members to ensure our research would be attuned to the needs of the community.

    At the time our grant was terminated, we were nearing completion of Year 3 of our four-year project. We had collected data from over 600 trans and nonbinary participants across the U.S. and started to follow their progress over time. We had developed a new way to measure resilience among trans and nonbinary people and were about to publish a second measure specifically tailored to people of color.

    The termination of our grant and others like it harms our immediate research team, the communities we worked with and the field more broadly.

    Loss of scientific workforce

    For many researchers in trans health, the losses from these cuts go beyond employment.

    Our project had served as a training opportunity for the students and early career professionals involved in the study, providing them with the research experience and mentorship necessary to advance their careers. But with the termination of our funding, two full-time researchers and at least three students will lose their positions. The three lead scientists have lost parts of their salaries and dedicated research time.

    These NIH cuts will likely result in the loss of much of the next generation of trans researchers and the contributions they would have made to science and society. Our team and other labs in similar situations will be less likely to work with graduate students due to a lack of available funding to pay and support them. This changes the landscape for future scientists, as it means there will be fewer opportunities for individuals interested in these areas of research to enter graduate training programs.

    The Trump administration has directly penalized universities across the country for ‘ideological overreach.’
    Zhu Ziyu/VCG via Getty Images

    As universities struggle to address federal funding cuts, junior academics will be less likely to gain tenure, and faculty in grant-funded positions may lose their jobs. Universities may also become hesitant to hire people who work in these areas because their research has essentially been banned from federal funding options.

    Loss of community trust

    Trans and nonbinary people have often been studied under opportunistic and demeaning circumstances. This includes when researchers collect data for their own gains but return little to the communities they work with, or when they do research that perpetuates theories that pathologize those communities. As a result, many are often reluctant to participate in research.

    To overcome this reluctance, we grounded our study on community input. We involved an advisory board composed of local trans and nonbinary community members who helped to inform how we conducted our study and measured our findings.

    Our work on resilience has been inspired by feedback we received from previous research participants who said that “[trans people] matter even when not in pain.”

    Abruptly terminating projects like these can break down trust between researchers and the populations they study.

    Loss of scientific knowledge

    Research that focuses on the strengths of trans and nonbinary communities is in its infancy. The termination of our grant has led to the loss of the insights our study would have provided on ways to improve health among trans and nonbinary people and future work that would have built off our findings. Resilience is a process that takes time to unfold, and we had not finished the longitudinal data collection in our study – nor will we have the protected time to publish and share other findings from this work.

    Meanwhile, the Department of Health and Human Services released a May 2025 report stating that there is not enough evidence to support gender-affirming care for young people, contradicting decades of scientific research. Scientists, researchers and medical professional organizations have widely criticized the report as misrepresenting study findings, dismissing research showing benefits to gender-affirming care, and promoting misinformation rejected by major medical associations. Instead, the report recommends “exploratory therapy,” which experts have likened to discredited conversion therapy.

    Transgender and nonbinary people continue to exist, regardless of legislation.
    Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images

    Despite claims that there is insufficient research on gender-affirming care and more data is needed on the health of trans and nonbinary people, the government has chosen to divest from actual scientific research about trans and nonbinary people’s lives.

    Loss of taxpayer dollars

    The termination of our grant means we are no longer able to achieve the aims of the project, which depended on the collection and analysis of data over time. This wastes the three years of NIH funding already spent on the project.

    Scientists and experts who participated in the review of our NIH grant proposal rated our project more highly than 96% of the projects we competed against. Even so, the government made the unscientific choice to override these decisions and terminate our work.

    Millions of taxpayer dollars have already been invested in these grants to improve the health of not only trans and nonbinary people, but also American society as a whole. With the termination of these grants, few will get to see the benefits of this investment.

    Jae A. Puckett has received funding from the National Institutes of Health.

    Paz Galupo has received funding from the National Institutes of Health.

    – ref. Our trans health study was terminated by the government – the effects of abrupt NIH grant cuts ripple across science and society – https://theconversation.com/our-trans-health-study-was-terminated-by-the-government-the-effects-of-abrupt-nih-grant-cuts-ripple-across-science-and-society-254021

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: California plan to ban most plants within 5 feet of homes for wildfire safety overlooks some important truths about flammability

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Max Moritz, Wildfire Specialist, University of California Cooperative Extension; Adjunct Professor at the Bren School, University of California at Santa Barbara, University of California, Santa Barbara

    Photos after the Los Angeles fires in January 2025 show many yards where vegetation didn’t burn while neighboring houses did. AP Photo/Chris Pizzello

    One of the most striking patterns in the aftermath of many urban fires is how much unburned green vegetation remains amid the wreckage of burned neighborhoods.

    In some cases, a row of shrubs may be all that separates a surviving house from one that burned just a few feet away.

    As scientists who study how vegetation ignites and burns, we recognize that well-maintained plants and trees can actually help protect homes from wind-blown embers and slow the spread of fire in some cases. So, we are concerned about new wildfire protection regulations being developed by the state of California that would prohibit almost all plants and other combustible material within 5 feet of homes, an area known as “Zone 0.”

    Photos before and after the 2025 Palisades Fire show thick green vegetation between two closely spaced homes. The arrow shows the direction of the fire’s spread.
    Max Moritz; CAL FIRE Damage Inspection photos, CC BY

    Wildfire safety guidelines have long encouraged homeowners to avoid having flammable materials next to their homes. But the state’s plan for an “ember-resistant zone,” being expedited under an executive order from Gov. Gavin Newsom, goes further by also prohibiting grass, shrubs and many trees in that area.

    If that prohibition remains in the final regulation, it’s likely to be met with public resistance. Getting these rules right also matters beyond California, because regulations that originate in California often ripple outward to other fire-prone regions.

    Lessons from the devastation

    Research into how vegetation can reduce fire risk is a relatively new area of study. However, the findings from plant flammability studies and examination of patterns of where vegetation and homes survive large urban fires highlight its importance.

    When surviving plants do appear scorched after these fires, it is often on the side of the plant facing a nearby structure that burned. That suggests that wind-blown embers ignited houses first: The houses were then the fuel as the fire spread through the neighborhood.

    We saw this repeatedly in the Los Angeles area after wildfires destroyed thousands of homes in January 2025. The pattern suggests a need to focus on the many factors that can influence home losses.

    Shrubs in Zone 0 of a home did not ignite during the Eaton Fire, despite the home burning.
    Max Moritz

    Several guides are available that explain steps homeowners can take to help protect houses, particularly from wind-blown embers, known as home hardening.

    For example, installing rain gutter covers to keep dead leaves from accumulating, avoiding flammable siding and ensuring that vents have screens to prevent embers from getting into the attic or crawl space can lower the risk of the home catching fire.

    However, guidance related to landscaping plants varies greatly and can even be incorrect.

    For example, some “fire-safe” plant lists contain species that are drought tolerant but not necessarily fire resistant. What matters more for keeping plants from becoming fuel for fires is how well they’re maintained and whether they’re properly watered.

    How a plant bursts into flames

    When living plant material is heated by a nearby energy source, such as a fire, the moisture inside it must be driven off before it can ignite. That evaporation cools the surrounding area and lowers the plant’s flammability.

    In many cases, high moisture can actually keep a plant from igniting. We’ve seen this in some of our experimental work and in other studies that test the flammability of ornamental landscaping.

    With enough heat, dried leaves and stems can break down and volatilize into gases. And, at that point, a nearby spark or flame can ignite these gases and set the plant on fire.

    Plant flammability testing shows how quickly twigs, grasses, plants and leaves will burn at different moisture levels. The images on the right are from an experiment at the University of California’s South Coast Research and Extension Center to test flammability of a living but overly dry plant.
    Max Moritz (left); Luca Carmignani (right)

    Even when the plant does burn, however, its moisture content can limit other aspects of flammability, such as how hot it burns.

    Up to the point that they actually burn, green, well-maintained plants can slow the spread of a fire by serving as “heat sinks,” absorbing energy and even blocking embers. This apparent protective role has been observed in both Australia and California studies of home losses.

    How often vegetation buffers homes from igniting during urban conflagrations is still unclear, but this capability has implications for regulations.

    California’s ‘Zone 0’ regulations

    The Zone 0 regulations California’s State Board of Forestry is developing are part of broader efforts to reduce fire risk around homes and communities. They would apply in regions considered at high risk of wildfires or defended by CAL FIRE, the state’s firefighting agency.

    Many of the latest Zone 0 recommendations, such as prohibiting mulch and attached fences made of materials that can burn, stem from large-scale tests conducted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety. These features can be systematically analyzed.

    But vegetation is far harder to model. The state’s proposed Zone 0 regulations oversimplify complex conditions in real neighborhoods and go beyond what is currently known from scientific research regarding plant flammability.

    Green lawns, trees and shrubs were still visible after the Eaton Fire burned homes in Altadena, Calif., in January 2025.
    Mario Tama/Getty Images

    A mature, well-pruned shrub or tree with a high crown may pose little risk of burning and can even reduce exposure to fires by blocking wind and heat and intercepting embers. Aspen trees, for example, have been recommended to reduce fire risk near structures or other high-value assets.

    In contrast, dry, unmanaged plants under windows or near fences may ignite rapidly and make it more likely that the house itself will catch fire.

    As California and other states develop new wildfire regulations, they need to recognize the protective role that well-managed plants can play, along with many other benefits of urban vegetation.

    We believe the California proposal’s current emphasis on highly prescriptive vegetation removal, instead of on maintenance, is overly simplistic. Without complementary requirements for hardening the homes themselves, widespread clearing of landscaping immediately around homes could do little to reduce risk and have unintended consequences.

    Max Moritz has nothing to disclose.

    Luca Carmignani has nothing to disclose.

    – ref. California plan to ban most plants within 5 feet of homes for wildfire safety overlooks some important truths about flammability – https://theconversation.com/california-plan-to-ban-most-plants-within-5-feet-of-homes-for-wildfire-safety-overlooks-some-important-truths-about-flammability-257109

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: 3 ways the government can silence opinions it disagrees with, without using censorship

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Gregory P. Magarian, Thomas and Karole Green Professor of Law, Washington University in St. Louis

    The government can make you silence yourself — out of fear. Deepak Sethi, iStock/Getty Images Plus

    When most people think of how governments stifle free speech, they think of censorship. That’s when a government directly blocks or suppresses speech. In the past, the federal government has censored speech in various ways. It has tried to block news outlets from publishing certain stories. It has punished political dissenters. It has banned sales of “obscene” books.

    Today, however, the federal government rarely tries to censor speech so crudely. It has less blatant but very effective ways to suppress dissent. The current actions of the Trump administration show how government can silence speakers without censoring them.

    My quarter century of research and writing about First Amendment rights has explored the varied tools that governments use to smother free expression. Among the present administration’s chosen tools are making institutions stop or change their advocacy to get government benefits; inducing self-censorship through intimidation; and molding the government’s own speech to promote official ideology.

    A page from the CDC’s website, where the Trump administration states that it rejects the ‘gender ideology’ presented on the page.
    CDC.gov

    Using benefits to coerce speech

    The Supreme Court has made clear that the First Amendment bars the government from conditioning benefits on the sacrifice of free speech.

    Government employers may not refuse to hire employees of the opposing political party, nor may they stop employees from speaking publicly about political issues. The government may not stop funding nonprofits because they refuse to endorse official policies, or because they make arguments the government opposes.

    The First Amendment, however, works only if someone asks a court to enforce it, or at least threatens to do so.

    The Trump administration has issued orders that withdraw security clearances, cancel government contracts and bar access to government buildings for law firms that have opposed the administration’s policies or have advocated diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI. Some law firms have sued to block the orders. More firms, however, have made deals with the administration, agreeing to end DEI programs and to do free legal work for conservative causes.

    The administration similarly has withheld funding from universities that embrace DEI or that, by the administration’s account, have fomented or tolerated antisemitism. Harvard University has resisted that pressure. But Columbia University has capitulated to President Donald Trump’s demands that include cracking down on protests, giving university officials more control over controversial academic programs and hiring more conservative professors.

    The Supreme Court may ultimately declare the administration’s gambits unconstitutional, but it has already succeeded in leveraging government benefits to make major institutions change their speech.

    Intimidating speakers into silence

    First Amendment law also restricts government actions that deter or “chill” expression rather than squarely banning it.

    That means the government may not regulate speech through vague laws that leave lawful speakers uncertain whether the regulation reaches them. For example, the Supreme Court in 1971 struck down a Cincinnati, Ohio, ordinance that criminalized any public assembly the city deemed “annoying.”

    Likewise, the government may not make people disclose their identities as a requirement for acquiring controversial literature or for supporting unpopular causes. In the classic case, the Supreme Court during the civil rights era blocked Alabama from making the NAACP disclose its membership list.

    Chilling of speech is hard to detect, but the current public climate strongly suggests that the Trump administration has plunged the thermostat.

    College and university campuses, which rumbled in spring 2024 with protests against the Gaza war, have gone largely quiet. Large corporations that challenged the first Trump presidency have fallen into line behind the second. Big liberal donors have folded up their wallets.

    Some of that dampening likely reflects fatigue and resignation. Much of it, though, appears to reveal successful intimidation.

    The administration has proclaimed that it is deporting noncitizen students, using their lawful speech as justification. While those expulsions themselves are classic censorship, their hidden reach may stifle more speech than their immediate grasp. Noncitizens are legally attractive targets for government censorship because courts largely defer to the president on matters of national security and immigration.

    The Trump administration could not lawfully treat U.S. citizens as it is treating, lawfully or not, foreign nationals. But most citizens don’t know that. The vivid spectacle of punished dissenters seems likely to chill other dissenters.

    Whitewashing government speech

    The First Amendment only bars the government from controlling private speech. When the government speaks, it can say what it wants. That means people who speak for the government lack any First Amendment right to replace the government’s messages with their own.

    In theory, then, every new federal administration could sweepingly turn government institutions’ speech into narrow propaganda. That hasn’t happened before, perhaps because most governments realize they are just temporary custodians of an abiding republic.

    The Trump administration has broken this norm. The administration has ordered the purging of ideologically disfavored content from the Smithsonian museums, implemented book bans in military libraries and installed political supporters to run cultural institutions.

    None of those actions likely violates the First Amendment. All of them, however, have significant implications for free speech. In what may be the most quoted line in the First Amendment legal canon, Justice Robert Jackson declared in 1943 that government should never “prescribe what shall be orthodox … in matters of opinion.”

    A 21st-century federal government can dramatically skew public discourse by honing government speech with the flint of official ideology. Trump has assigned Vice President JD Vance, who sits on the Smithsonian’s board, the role of “seeking to remove improper ideology.” If Vance decides what the Smithsonian can and cannot say about slavery and Jim Crow, then the Smithsonian will teach people only what Vance wants them to learn about those subjects. That influential source of knowledge will push public discussion toward the government’s ideology.

    When government beneficiaries agree to say what the president wants, when the government intimidates speakers to silence themselves, and when the government sharpens its own speech into propaganda, no censorship happens.

    But in all those scenarios, the government is doing exactly what justifies fear of censorship and what First Amendment law exists to prevent: using official power to make speech less free.

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

    – ref. 3 ways the government can silence opinions it disagrees with, without using censorship – https://theconversation.com/3-ways-the-government-can-silence-opinions-it-disagrees-with-without-using-censorship-254249

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: New model helps to figure out which distant planets may host life

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Daniel Apai, Associate Dean for Research and Professor of Astronomy and Planetary Sciences, University of Arizona

    Some ‘water worlds’ like Jupiter’s moon Europa could potentially be habitable for life. NASA/JPL-Caltech/SETI Institute

    The search for life beyond Earth is a key driver of modern astronomy and planetary science. The U.S. is building multiple major telescopes and planetary probes to advance this search. However, the signs of life – called biosignatures – that scientists may find will likely be difficult to interpret. Figuring out where exactly to look also remains challenging.

    I am an astrophysicist and astrobiologist with over 20 years of experience studying extrasolar planets – which are planets beyond our solar system.

    My colleagues and I have developed a new approach that will identify the most interesting planets or moons to search for life and help interpret potential biosignatures. We do this by modeling how different organisms may fare in different environments, informed by studies of limits of life on Earth.

    New telescopes to search for life

    Astronomers are developing plans and technology for increasingly powerful space telescopes. For instance, NASA is working on its proposed Habitable Worlds Observatory, which would take ultrasharp images that directly show the planets orbiting nearby stars.

    My colleagues and I are developing another concept, the Nautilus space telescope constellation, which is designed to study hundreds of potentially Earthlike planets as they pass in front of their host stars.

    Future telescopes, like the proposed Nautilus, could help search the skies for habitable planets.
    Katie Yung, Daniel Apai /University of Arizona and AllThingsSpace /SketchFab, CC BY-ND

    These and other future telescopes aim to provide more sensitive studies of more alien worlds. Their development prompts two important questions: “Where to look?” and “Are the environments where we think we see signs of life actually habitable?”

    The strongly disputed claims of potential signs of life in the exoplanet K2-18b, announced in April 2025, and previous similar claims in Venus, show how difficult it is to conclusively identify the presence of life from remote-sensing data.

    When is an alien world habitable?

    Oxford Languages defines “habitable” as “suitable or good enough to live in.” But how do scientists know what is “good enough to live in” for extraterrestrial organisms? Could alien microbes frolic in lakes of boiling acid or frigid liquid methane, or float in water droplets in Venus’ upper atmosphere?

    To keep it simple, NASA’s mantra has been “follow the water.” This makes sense – water is essential for all Earth life we know of. A planet with liquid water would also have a temperate environment. It wouldn’t be so cold that it slows down chemical reactions, nor would it be so hot that it destroys the complex molecules necessary for life.

    However, with astronomers’ rapidly growing capabilities for characterizing alien worlds, astrobiologists need an approach that is more quantitative and nuanced than the water or no-water classification.

    A community effort

    As part of the NASA-funded Alien Earths project that I lead, astrobiologist Rory Barnes and I worked on this problem with a group of experts – astrobiologists, planetary scientists, exoplanet experts, ecologists, biologists and chemists – drawn from the largest network of exoplanet and astrobiology researchers, NASA’s Nexus for Exoplanet System Science, or NExSS.

    Over a hundred colleagues provided us with ideas, and two questions came up often:

    First, how do we know what life needs, if we do not understand the full range of extraterrestrial life? Scientists know a lot about life on Earth, but most astrobiologists agree that more exotic types of life – perhaps based on different combinations of chemical elements and solvents – are possible. How do we determine what conditions those other types of life may require?

    Second, the approach has to work with incomplete data. Potential sites for life beyond Earth – “extrasolar habitats” – are very difficult to study directly, and often impossible to visit and sample.

    For example, the Martian subsurface remains mostly out of our reach. Places like Jupiter’s moon Europa’s and Saturn’s Moon Enceladus’ subsurface oceans and all extrasolar planets remain practically unreachable. Scientists study them indirectly, often only using remote observations. These measurements can’t tell you as much as actual samples would.

    Mars’ hot, dusty surface is hostile for life. But scientists haven’t been able to study whether some organisms could lurk beneath.
    NASA/JPL-Caltech/Malin Space Science Systems

    To make matters worse, measurements often have uncertainties. For example, we may be only 88% confident that water vapor is present in an exoplanet’s atmosphere. Our framework has to be able to work with small amounts of data and handle uncertainties. And, we need to accept that the answers will often not be black or white.

    A new approach to habitability

    The new approach, called the quantitative habitability framework, has two distinguishing features:

    First, we moved away from trying to answer the vague “habitable to life” question and narrowed it to a more specific and practically answerable question: Would the conditions in the habitat – as we know them – allow a specific (known or yet unknown) species or ecosystem to survive?

    Even on Earth, organisms require different conditions to survive – there are no camels in Antarctica. By talking about specific organisms, we made the question easier to answer.

    Second, the quantitative habitability framework does not insist on black-or-white answers. It compares computer models to calculate a probabilistic answer. Instead of assuming that liquid water is a key limiting factor, we compare our understanding of the conditions an organism requires (the “organism model”) with our understanding of the conditions present in the environment (the “habitat model”).

    Both have uncertainties. Our understanding of each can be incomplete. Yet, we can handle the uncertainties mathematically. By comparing the two models, we can determine the probability that an organism and a habitat are compatible.

    As a simplistic example, our habitat model for Antarctica may state that temperatures are often below freezing. And our organism model for a camel may state that it does not survive long in cold temperatures. Unsurprisingly, we would correctly predict a near-zero probability that Antarctica is a good habitat for camels.

    A hydrothermal vent deep in the Atlantic Ocean. These vents discharge incredibly hot plumes of water, but some host hearty microorganisms.
    P. Rona / OAR/National Undersea Research Program (NURP); NOAA

    We had a blast working on this project. To study the limits of life, we collected literature data on extreme organisms, from insects that live in the Himalayas at high altitudes and low temperatures to microorganisms that flourish in hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor and feed on chemical energy.

    We explored, via our models, whether they may survive in the Martian subsurface or in Europa’s oceans. We also investigated if marine bacteria that produce oxygen in Earth’s oceans could potentially survive on known extrasolar planets.

    Although comprehensive and detailed, this approach makes important simplifications. For example, it does not yet model how life may shape the planet, nor does it account for the full array of nutrients organisms may need. These simplifications are by design.

    In most of the environments we currently study, we know too little about the conditions to meaningfully attempt such models – except for some solar system bodies, such as Saturn’s Enceladus.

    The quantitative habitability framework allows my team to answer questions like whether astrobiologists might be interested in a subsurface location on Mars, given the available data, or whether astronomers should turn their telescopes to planet A or planet B while searching for life. Our framework is available as an open-source computer model, which astrobiologists can now readily use and further develop to help with current and future projects.

    If scientists do detect a potential signature of life, this approach can help assess if the environment where it is detected can actually support the type of life that leads to the signature detected.

    Our next steps will be to build a database of terrestrial organisms that live in extreme environments and represent the limits of life. To this data, we can also add models for hypothetical alien life. By integrating those into the quantitative habitability framework, we will be able to work out scenarios, interpret new data coming from other worlds and guide the search for signatures of life beyond Earth – in our solar system and beyond.

    Daniel Apai receives funding from NASA, Heising-Simons Foundation, Department of Defense, Space Telescope Science Institute, and the University of Arizona, and leads the NASA-funded Alien Earths astrobiology research team that developed the framework described here. He is affiliated with the Steward Observatory and Lunar and Planetary Laboratory of The University of Arizona.

    – ref. New model helps to figure out which distant planets may host life – https://theconversation.com/new-model-helps-to-figure-out-which-distant-planets-may-host-life-256427

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Debunking 5 myths about when your devices get wet

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Rachel Plotnick, Associate Professor of Cinema and Media Studies, Indiana University

    Consumer technologies get wet as a regular part of everyday life. Shuvro Mojumder/Unsplash , CC BY-SA

    Nearly everyone has encountered the unthinkable: Your smartphone landed in the toilet. Or you forgot to take off your smartwatch before jumping into the pool. Or maybe you meant to take those earbuds out of your pocket before running the laundry. What now?

    Internet forums are chock-full of advice to dry out that drenched device, but problematic myths about liquid protection and repair make it hard for consumers to separate fact from fiction.

    I’m a researcher who studies how technologies play a part in people’s everyday practices and experiences. My new book, “License to Spill: Where Dry Devices Meet Liquid Lives,” explores the wet-dry boundary in how people perceive and treat their electronic devices.

    Here are five common myths about getting devices wet:

    Myth 1: My device turned back on! It’s fine

    While it’s a relief to see your technology rise from the dead, what you can’t see are subtle processes occurring inside, like corrosion. The breakdown of your device’s metal parts due to moisture often happens over time, in a period that can take place days, weeks or months after the offending incident.

    That’s why even humidity from moist climates or your steamy shower can make a long-term impact, despite the fact that everything booted up right away after a splash or dunk.

    Myth 2: My ‘waterproof’ device can tolerate any kind of wetness

    The term “waterproof” is a controversial one – so controversial, in fact, that the Federal Trade Commission has strict rules about using the term in advertising, once even banning it from ad copy selling wristwatches.

    Given the vagueness of the term, it’s better to examine different water resistance standards, such as ingress protection, or IP, ratings and MIL-SPEC, or ISO in the case of watches, and to read the fine print about what those standards actually cover.

    Myth 3: My device has a great IP rating, so it’s been tested under real-world conditions

    Companies often advertise IP ratings as a way to entice consumers to purchase their products, but it’s important to know that these ratings are based on contact with fresh water. If you’re worried about Jacuzzi suds or that tipped-over can of beer, there’s no guarantee that a manufacturer has tested your device in these – often sticky – situations, and an IP rating won’t account for them.

    Myth 4: I’ve got some rice in the kitchen. I can fix this myself!

    It’s natural to panic and seek out the quickest household solution when a spill or dunk happens, and a cup of rice is still a commonly sought-out option.

    However, the rice hack doesn’t work very well, and rice particles can enter the device to cause even further damage. Aside from bringing your device to a professional repairer, you’re better off immediately powering down your product, removing its battery and plug if you can, and letting all the components dry over a day or two.

    Myth 5: Well, this device is broken, but I’ve got a warranty to replace it

    While you’re pulling your product from its watery grave, you might find relief in the fact that it came with a warranty. Not so fast.

    Most traditional consumer technology limited warranties don’t cover liquid damage. These days, you usually need to purchase an add-on warranty, often called Accidental Damage from Handling. Beware, though: Even those policies may limit how many wetness “incidents” or “events” you’re allowed per year.

    Air flow is the best way to dry a device that’s taken a dunk. Don’t expose your device directly to rice, cat litter or other particles.

    Keeping it realistic

    Water resistance features on devices like laptops, tablets, smartphones and smartwatches have recently improved, but the deck is still often stacked against consumers who must wade through the hype of advertising claims, mystifying classification systems and penalizing policies.

    That’s why it’s critical for manufacturers to think carefully and ethically about how their products are designed, marketed and serviced. In terms of design, water resistance is no longer a niche feature meant solely for industrial workers or outdoor adventurers. While it’s unrealistic to expect a device that’s designed to resist every hazard, it’s also unreasonable to ask consumers to tiptoe around the products that provide them with access to critical resources and social support.

    It’s important for manufacturers to avoid promising consumers the Moon. Samsung Australia, for instance, paid AU$14 million in penalties for exaggerating its phones’ protection for swimming. It’s certainly fun to watch commercials with Lil Wayne spray a smartphone with champagne or see him dunk it in a fish tank, but if manufacturers are advising against these practices, then they shouldn’t be romanticizing them.

    Sure, it’s probably common sense that your phone shouldn’t take a bath in champagne. Yet life is constantly happening around – and with – our devices, from the shower and the kitchen to the gym and the beach. This means that fairer policies around repair, like those promoted by the right-to-repair movement, and warranties should stop treating consumers like they’re “bad” users.

    After all, we’re each just one splash away from crying over spilled milk.

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

    – ref. Debunking 5 myths about when your devices get wet – https://theconversation.com/debunking-5-myths-about-when-your-devices-get-wet-257205

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Robots run out of energy long before they run out of work to do − feeding them could change that

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By James Pikul, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison

    Robots can run, but they can’t go the distance. AP Photo/Ng Han Guan

    Earlier this year, a robot completed a half-marathon in Beijing in just under 2 hours and 40 minutes. That’s slower than the human winner, who clocked in at just over an hour – but it’s still a remarkable feat. Many recreational runners would be proud of that time. The robot kept its pace for more than 13 miles (21 kilometers).

    But it didn’t do so on a single charge. Along the way, the robot had to stop and have its batteries swapped three times. That detail, while easy to overlook, speaks volumes about a deeper challenge in robotics: energy.

    Modern robots can move with incredible agility, mimicking animal locomotion and executing complex tasks with mechanical precision. In many ways, they rival biology in coordination and efficiency. But when it comes to endurance, robots still fall short. They don’t tire from exertion – they simply run out of power.

    As a robotics researcher focused on energy systems, I study this challenge closely. How can researchers give robots the staying power of living creatures – and why are we still so far from that goal? Though most robotics research into the energy problem has focused on better batteries, there is another possibility: Build robots that eat.

    Robots move well but run out of steam

    Modern robots are remarkably good at moving. Thanks to decades of research in biomechanics, motor control and actuation, machines such as Boston Dynamics’ Spot and Atlas can walk, run and climb with an agility that once seemed out of reach. In some cases, their motors are even more efficient than animal muscles.

    But endurance is another matter. Spot, for example, can operate for just 90 minutes on a full charge. After that, it needs nearly an hour to recharge. These runtimes are a far cry from the eight- to 12-hour shifts expected of human workers – or the multiday endurance of sled dogs.

    The issue isn’t how robots move – it’s how they store energy. Most mobile robots today use lithium-ion batteries, the same type found in smartphones and electric cars. These batteries are reliable and widely available, but their performance improves at a slow pace: Each year new lithium-ion batteries are about 7% better than the previous generation. At that rate, it would take a full decade to merely double a robot’s runtime.

    Robots such as Boston Dynamic’s Atlas are remarkably capable – for relatively short amounts of time.

    Animals store energy in fat, which is extraordinarily energy dense: nearly 9 kilowatt-hours per kilogram. That’s about 68 kWh total in a sled dog, similar to the energy in a fully charged Tesla Model 3. Lithium-ion batteries, by contrast, store just a fraction of that, about 0.25 kilowatt-hours per kilogram. Even with highly efficient motors, a robot like Spot would need a battery dozens of times more powerful than today’s to match the endurance of a sled dog.

    And recharging isn’t always an option. In disaster zones, remote fields or on long-duration missions, a wall outlet or a spare battery might be nowhere in sight.

    In some cases, robot designers can add more batteries. But more batteries mean more weight, which increases the energy required to move. In highly mobile robots, there’s a careful balance between payload, performance and endurance. For Spot, for example, the battery already makes up 16% of its weight.

    Some robots have used solar panels, and in theory these could extend runtime, especially for low-power tasks or in bright, sunny environments. But in practice, solar power delivers very little power relative to what mobile robots need to walk, run or fly at practical speeds. That’s why energy harvesting like solar panels remains a niche solution today, better suited for stationary or ultra-low-power robots.

    Why it matters

    These aren’t just technical limitations. They define what robots can do.

    A rescue robot with a 45-minute battery might not last long enough to complete a search. A farm robot that pauses to recharge every hour can’t harvest crops in time. Even in warehouses or hospitals, short runtimes add complexity and cost.

    If robots are to play meaningful roles in society assisting the elderly, exploring hazardous environments and working alongside humans, they need the endurance to stay active for hours, not minutes.

    New battery chemistries such as lithium-sulfur and metal-air offer a more promising path forward. These systems have much higher theoretical energy densities than today’s lithium-ion cells. Some approach levels seen in animal fat. When paired with actuators that efficiently convert electrical energy from the battery to mechanical work, they could enable robots to match or even exceed the endurance of animals with low body fat. But even these next-generation batteries have limitations. Many are difficult to recharge, degrade over time or face engineering hurdles in real-world systems.

    Fast charging can help reduce downtime. Some emerging batteries can recharge in minutes rather than hours. But there are trade-offs. Fast charging strains battery life, increases heat and often requires heavy, high-power charging infrastructure. Even with improvements, a fast-charging robot still needs to stop frequently. In environments without access to grid power, this doesn’t solve the core problem of limited onboard energy. That’s why researchers are exploring alternatives such as “refueling” robots with metal or chemical fuels – much like animals eat – to bypass the limits of electrical charging altogether.

    Robots could one day harvest energy from high-energy-density materials such as aluminum through synthetic digestive and vascular systems.
    Yichao Shi and James Pikul

    An alternative: Robotic metabolism

    In nature, animals don’t recharge, they eat. Food is converted into energy through digestion, circulation and respiration. Fat stores that energy, blood moves it and muscles use it. Future robots could follow a similar blueprint with synthetic metabolisms.

    Some researchers are building systems that let robots “digest” metal or chemical fuels and breathe oxygen. For example, synthetic, stomachlike chemical reactors could convert high-energy materials such as aluminum into electricity.

    This builds on the many advances in robot autonomy, where robots can sense objects in a room and navigate to pick them up, but here they would be picking up energy sources.

    Other researchers are developing fluid-based energy systems that circulate like blood. One early example, a robotic fish, tripled its energy density by using a multifunctional fluid instead of a standard lithium-ion battery. That single design shift delivered the equivalent of 16 years of battery improvements, not through new chemistry but through a more bioinspired approach. These systems could allow robots to operate for much longer stretches of time, drawing energy from materials that store far more energy than today’s batteries.

    In animals, the energy system does more than just provide energy. Blood helps regulate temperature, deliver hormones, fight infections and repair wounds. Synthetic metabolisms could do the same. Future robots might manage heat using circulating fluids or heal themselves using stored or digested materials. Instead of a central battery pack, energy could be stored throughout the body in limbs, joints and soft, tissuelike components.

    This approach could lead to machines that aren’t just longer-lasting but more adaptable, resilient and lifelike.

    The bottom line

    Today’s robots can leap and sprint like animals, but they can’t go the distance.

    Their bodies are fast, their minds are improving, but their energy systems haven’t caught up. If robots are going to work alongside humans in meaningful ways, we’ll need to give them more than intelligence and agility. We’ll need to give them endurance.

    James Pikul receives funding from the Office of Naval Research. He is affiliated with the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Metal Light Inc.

    – ref. Robots run out of energy long before they run out of work to do − feeding them could change that – https://theconversation.com/robots-run-out-of-energy-long-before-they-run-out-of-work-to-do-feeding-them-could-change-that-255940

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: 5 tips for hurricane disaster planning with aging parents starting now, before the storms

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Lee Ann Rawlins Williams, Clinical Assistant Professor of Education, Health and Behavior Studies, University of North Dakota

    When I lived in Florida, I had a neighbor named Ms. Carmen. She was in her late 70s, fiercely independent and lived alone with her two dogs and one cat, which were her closest companions.

    Each hurricane season, she would anxiously ask if I would check on her when the winds began to pick up. She once told me: I’m more afraid of being forgotten than of the storm itself. Her fear wasn’t just about the weather; it was about facing it alone.

    When hurricanes hit, we often measure the damage in downed power lines, flooded roads and wind-torn homes. But some of the most serious consequences are harder to see, especially for older adults who may struggle with mobility, chronic health problems and cognitive decline.

    Emergency preparedness plans too often overlook the specific needs of elders in America’s aging population, many of whom live alone. For people like Ms. Carmen, resilience needs to start long before the storm.

    The number of older adults in the U.S. and the percentage of the population age 65 and older have been rising.
    US Census Bureau

    I study disaster preparations and response. To prepare for hurricane season, and any other disaster, I encourage families to work with their older adults now to create an emergency plan. Preparing can help ensure that older adults will be safe, able to contact relatives or others for help, and will have the medications, documents and supplies they need, as well as the peace of mind of knowing what steps to take.

    Recent hurricanes show the gaps

    In 2024, Hurricanes Helene and Milton put a spotlight on the risks to older adults.

    The storms forced thousands of people to evacuate, often to shelters with little more than food supplies and mattresses on the floor and ill-equipped for medical needs.

    Flooding isolated many rural homes, stranding older adults. Power was out for weeks in some areas. Emergency systems were overwhelmed.

    A tornado tore into a senior community in Port St. Lucie, Florida, during Milton, killing six people. Some long-term care facilities lost power and water during Helene.

    At the same time, some older adults chose to stay in homes in harm’s way for fear that they would be separated from their pets or that their homes would be vandalized.

    At least 700 people stayed in chairs or on air mattresses at River Ridge Middle/High School in New Port Richey, Fla., during Hurricane Milton.
    AP Photo/Mike Carlson

    These events are not just tragic, they are predictable. Many older adults cannot evacuate without assistance, and many evacuation centers aren’t prepared to handle their needs.

    How to prepare: 5 key steps

    Helping older adults prepare for emergencies should involve the entire family so everyone knows what to expect. The best plans are personal, practical and proactive, but they will contain some common elements.

    Here are five important steps:

    1. Prepare an emergency folder with important documents.

    Disasters can leave older adults without essential information and supplies that they need, such as prescription lists, financial records, medical devices and – importantly – contact information to reach family, friends and neighbors who could help them.

    Many older adults rely on preprogrammed phone numbers. If their phone is lost or the battery dies, they may not know how to reach friends or loved ones, so it’s useful to have a hard copy of phone numbers.

    Consider encouraging the use of medical ID bracelets or cards for those with memory loss.

    Critical documents like wills, home deeds, powers of attorney and insurance records are frequently kept in physical form and may be forgotten or lost in a sudden evacuation. Use waterproof storage that’s easy to carry, and share copies with trusted caregivers and family members in case those documents are lost.

    2. Have backup medications and equipment.

    Think about that person’s assistive devices and health needs. Having extra batteries on hand is important, as is remembering to bring chargers and personal mobility aids, such as walkers, canes, mobility scooters or wheelchairs. Do not forget that service animals support mobility, so having supplies of their food will be important during a hurricane or evacuation.

    Ask doctors to provide an emergency set of medications in case supplies run low in a disaster.

    If the person is staying in their home, prepare for at least 72 hours of self-sufficiency in case the power goes out. That means having enough bottled water, extra pet food and human food that doesn’t need refrigeration or cooking.

    3. Map evacuation routes and shelter options.

    Identify nearby shelters that will likely be able to support older adults’ mobility and cognitive challenges. If the person has pets, make a plan for them, too – many areas will have at least one pet-friendly shelter, but not all shelters will take pets.

    An older woman crosses a street flooded by torrential rain from Tropical Storm Hilary on Aug. 20, 2023, in Thousand Palms, Calif.
    AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill

    Figure out how the person will get to a shelter, and have a backup plan in case their usual transportation isn’t an option. And decide where they will go and how they will get there if they can’t return home after a storm.

    If your loved one lives in a care facility, ask to see that facility’s hurricane plan.

    4. Create a multiperson check-in system.

    Don’t rely on just one caregiver or family member to check on older adults. Involve neighbors, faith communities or local services such as home-delivered meals, transportation assistance, support groups and senior centers. Redundancy is crucial when systems break down.

    5. Practice the plan.

    Go through evacuation steps in advance so everyone knows what to do. Executing the plan should be second nature, not a scramble during a disaster or crisis.

    Planning with, not just for, older adults

    Emergency planning isn’t something done for older adults – it’s something done with them.

    Elders bring not only vulnerability but also wisdom. Their preferences and autonomy will have to guide decisions for the plan to be successful in a crisis.

    That means listening to their needs, honoring their independence and making sure caregivers have realistic plans in place. It’s an important shift from just reacting to a storm to preparing with purpose.

    Lee Ann Rawlins Williams does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. 5 tips for hurricane disaster planning with aging parents starting now, before the storms – https://theconversation.com/5-tips-for-hurricane-disaster-planning-with-aging-parents-starting-now-before-the-storms-254917

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Defense News: USINDOPACOM Commander Travels to Singapore, Speaks at Shangri-La Dialogue

    Source: United States Navy

    SINGAPORE — Adm. Samuel J. Paparo, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, visited Singapore from May 29 – June 1, 2025, where he met with senior military and government officials to engage with allies and partners, deepen relationships, and discuss global security challenges at the Shangri-La Dialogue. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Pompey Link: on-demand minibus service to improve connections in Portsmouth

    Source: City of Portsmouth

    Portsmouth City Council is introducing Pompey Link, a shared, on-demand minibus service, which will be trialled for a 10-month period until the end of March 2026. Pompey Link combines elements of both a bus service and a taxi ride in a way that has not been seen in Portsmouth before.

    The service will be delivered by charity Community First and is made possible through funding from the Portsmouth Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP).

    Pompey Link is designed to improve public transport connections for both Paulsgrove and Port Solent. Paulsgrove residents can now easily reach Port Solent, while Port Solent residents will benefit from easier access to Paulsgrove, Queen Alexandra Hospital, and other bus and rail links at Cosham Interchange.

    The service ensures that both areas – particularly Port Solent, which currently lacks direct public transport connections – have more convenient travel options.

    Passengers can book a trip on demand or up to four days in advance, by phone or app, and will be picked up from their nearest bus stop, including the former bus stop outside the Odeon in Port Solent. This is a shared service, so the minibus may pick up and drop off other passengers on the way.

    Cllr Peter Candlish, Cabinet Member for Transport at Portsmouth City Council, said:

    “We’re excited to introduce Pompey Link, which provides better transport connections in the Paulsgrove area and a vital link to Port Solent, an area we know is currently underserved by public transport. Whether you are travelling for work or leisure, Pompey Link is a convenient and affordable travel option, and I hope people will try it.”

    Tim Houghton, Chief Executive of Community First, said:

    “We are delighted to offer the Paulsgrove and Port Solent community a reliable, affordable and more flexible way to travel. This service allows people to book a journey when they need it, reducing the need for fixed routes and providing a more responsive, environmentally friendly transport solution.

    This new service will be a lifeline for passengers, especially in Port Solent, who might not have access to transport to get to social and health appointments as well as for essential shopping trips.”

    Pompey Link will be available Monday to Saturday, from 9am to 7pm, excluding bank holidays. Trips can be booked using the Book a Journey app, available to download from the Apple and Google Play stores, and most journeys start from £2.

    For those who prefer to book over the phone, Community First’s customer service team is available Monday to Friday from 9am to 4.30pm on 0333 015 1271. Pompey Link vehicles are accessible for wheelchair users and passengers with folding pushchairs. Babies can travel where parents or carers provide a car seat. Guide and service dogs are welcome on board.

    For more information about Pompey Link, visit: https://travel.portsmouth.gov.uk/drt/

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: OSCE Seminar in Ashgabat Enhances Capacity to Tackle Technology-Facilitated Human Trafficking

    Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE

    Headline: OSCE Seminar in Ashgabat Enhances Capacity to Tackle Technology-Facilitated Human Trafficking

    Zhanara Seytayeva, expert of Kazakhstan’s Prosecutor General Office, delivering a presentation on Kazakhstan’s Mapping of Online Platforms with High Risks of Human Trafficking, Ashgabat, 29 May 2025 (OSCE) Photo details

    The rising threat of technology-facilitated trafficking in human beings was the focus of a two-day OSCE seminar in Ashgabat from 29 to 30 May 2025.
    Jointly organized by the Office of the OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat, the seminar explored how digital platforms are increasingly exploited by traffickers, and promoted best practices for prevention and response.  
    “Technology facilitates anonymity for perpetrators, erodes jurisdictional boundaries, and presents increasingly complex challenges to law enforcement, justice systems, and support services” said John MacGregor, Head of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat.
    Recognizing the cross-sectoral nature of the issue, the seminar brought together representatives from Turkmenistan’s Prosecutor General’s Office, Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Population, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Communications, State Migration service, Supreme Court and civil society organizations.
    “The growing intersection of cutting-edge technology and organised crime demands a proactive response to effectively address the evolving threats posed by these advancements” said Dr. Kari Johnstone, OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings. 
    Participants discussed how traffickers use artificial intelligence, encrypted applications, the dark web, and private messaging platforms to recruit victims, obscure their identities, and evade traditional tracking methods.
    “We see a surge in scam centers, the digitalization of advertisements and a change in the profile of victims” said Zhanara Seytayeva, an expert from Kazakhstan’s Prosecutor General’s Office, who shared Kazakhstan’s experience in mapping online platforms with high trafficking risks.  
    Stephanie Baroud, Criminal Intelligence Analyst at INTERPOL, led an interactive session focused on spotting red flags in fake online advertisements. She also shared insights on the emerging role of artificial intelligence in the fight against human trafficking.  
    The seminar’s outcomes will contribute to policy recommendations in line with Turkmenistan’s newly adopted National Action Plan, with a particular focus on leveraging technology to enhance anti-trafficking responses.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Is AI sparking a cognitive revolution that will lead to mediocrity and conformity?

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Wolfgang Messner, Clinical Professor of International Business, University of South Carolina

    The Industrial Revolution mechanized production. Today, there’s a similar risk with the automation of thought. kutaytanir/E+ via Getty Images

    Artificial Intelligence began as a quest to simulate the human brain.

    Is it now in the process of transforming the human brain’s role in daily life?

    The Industrial Revolution diminished the need for manual labor. As someone who researches the application of AI in international business, I can’t help but wonder whether it is spurring a cognitive revolution, obviating the need for certain cognitive processes as it reshapes how students, workers and artists write, design and decide.

    Graphic designers use AI to quickly create a slate of potential logos for their clients. Marketers test how AI-generated customer profiles will respond to ad campaigns. Software engineers deploy AI coding assistants. Students wield AI to draft essays in record time – and teachers use similar tools to provide feedback.

    The economic and cultural implications are profound.

    What happens to the writer who no longer struggles with the perfect phrase, or the designer who no longer sketches dozens of variations before finding the right one? Will they become increasingly dependent on these cognitive prosthetics, similar to how using GPS diminishes navigation skills? And how can human creativity and critical thinking be preserved in an age of algorithmic abundance?

    Echoes of the Industrial Revolution

    We’ve been here before.

    The Industrial Revolution replaced artisanal craftsmanship with mechanized production, enabling goods to be replicated and manufactured on a mass scale.

    Shoes, cars and crops could be produced efficiently and uniformly. But products also became more bland, predictable and stripped of individuality. Craftsmanship retreated to the margins, as a luxury or a form of resistance.

    Mass production strips goods of their individuality.
    Costfoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images

    Today, there’s a similar risk with the automation of thought. Generative AI tempts users to conflate speed with quality, productivity with originality.

    The danger is not that AI will fail us, but that people will accept the mediocrity of its outputs as the norm. When everything is fast, frictionless and “good enough,” there’s the risk of losing the depth, nuance and intellectual richness that define exceptional human work.

    The rise of algorithmic mediocrity

    Despite the name, AI doesn’t actually think.

    Tools such as ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini process massive volumes of human-created content, often scraped from the internet without context or permission. Their outputs are statistical predictions of what word or pixel is likely to follow based on patterns in data they’ve processed.

    They are, in essence, mirrors that reflect collective human creative output back to users – rearranged and recombined, but fundamentally derivative.

    And this, in many ways, is precisely why they work so well.

    Consider the countless emails people write, the slide decks strategy consultants prepare and the advertisements that suffuse social media feeds. Much of this content follows predictable patterns and established formulas. It has been there before, in one form or the other.

    Generative AI excels at producing competent-sounding content – lists, summaries, press releases, advertisements – that bears the signs of human creation without that spark of ingenuity. It thrives in contexts where the demand for originality is low and when “good enough” is, well, good enough.

    When AI sparks – and stifles – creativity

    Yet, even in a world of formulaic content, AI can be surprisingly helpful.

    In one set of experiments, researchers tasked people with completing various creative challenges. They found that those who used generative AI produced ideas that were, on average, more creative, outperforming participants who used web searches or no aids at all. In other words, AI can, in fact, elevate baseline creative performance.

    However, further analysis revealed a critical trade-off: Reliance on AI systems for brainstorming significantly reduced the diversity of ideas produced, which is a crucial element for creative breakthroughs. The systems tend to converge toward a predictable middle rather than exploring unconventional possibilities at the edges.

    I wasn’t surprised by these findings. My students and I have found that the outputs of generative AI systems are most closely aligned with the values and worldviews of wealthy, English-speaking nations. This inherent bias quite naturally constrains the diversity of ideas these systems can generate.

    More troubling still, brief interactions with AI systems can subtly reshape how people approach problems and imagine solutions.

    One set of experiments tasked participants with making medical diagnoses with the help of AI. However, the researchers designed the experiment so that AI would give some participants flawed suggestions. Even after those participants stopped using the AI tool, they tended to unconsciously adopt those biases and make errors in their own decisions.

    What begins as a convenient shortcut risks becoming a self-reinforcing loop of diminishing originality – not because these tools produce objectively poor content, but because they quietly narrow the bandwidth of human creativity itself.

    Navigating the cognitive revolution

    True creativity, innovation and research are not just probabilistic recombinations of past data. They require conceptual leaps, cross-disciplinary thinking and real-world experience. These are qualities AI cannot replicate. It cannot invent the future. It can only remix the past.

    What AI generates may satisfy a short-term need: a quick summary, a plausible design, a passable script. But it rarely transforms, and genuine originality risks being drowned in a sea of algorithmic sameness.

    The challenge, then, isn’t just technological. It’s cultural.

    How can the irreplaceable value of human creativity be preserved amid this flood of synthetic content?

    The historical parallel with industrialization offers both caution and hope. Mechanization displaced many workers but also gave rise to new forms of labor, education and prosperity. Similarly, while AI systems may automate some cognitive tasks, they may also open up new intellectual frontiers by simulating intellectual abilities. In doing so, they may take on creative responsibilities, such as inventing novel processes or developing criteria to evaluate their own outputs.

    This transformation is only at its early stages. Each new generation of AI models will produce outputs that once seemed like the purview of science fiction. The responsibility lies with professionals, educators and policymakers to shape this cognitive revolution with intention.

    Will it lead to intellectual flourishing or dependency? To a renaissance of human creativity or its gradual obsolescence?

    The answer, for now, is up in the air.

    Wolfgang Messner receives funding from Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER) at the University of South Carolina.

    – ref. Is AI sparking a cognitive revolution that will lead to mediocrity and conformity? – https://theconversation.com/is-ai-sparking-a-cognitive-revolution-that-will-lead-to-mediocrity-and-conformity-256940

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK international risk status for BSE downgraded in huge boost to farm sector

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    UK international risk status for BSE downgraded in huge boost to farm sector

    World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) downgrades UK’s BSE risk rating to negligible

    The UK’s risk rating status for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) has been downgraded to negligible by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).

    In a major boost for the food and farm sector, more avenues will now be open for trade with other countries as our improved risk status for beef and bovine products is recognised.  

    The abattoir and meat processing industry will be able to take advantage of changes to control measures, which will reduce operational burden and release financial savings for the abattoir and meat processing industry.

    The UK’s improved risk status is a reflection of the UK’s global reputation for having some of the highest standards in the world for biosecurity . 

    BSE, occasionally known as mad cow disease,  was a considerable public health concern in the 1980s leading to long-standing bans on British beef exports. The downgrading risk status marks a major step forward, reflecting decades of rigorous controls and opening the door to expanded trade and renewed confidence in UK beef.

    Farming Minister Zeichner said:

    Today’s announcement is a major step forward and will deliver a real boost to our hard-working cattle farmers, who will now have more avenues open for trading our excellent beef products.

    It is also a huge vote of confidence in this government’s commitment to rigorous animal health standards and biosecurity.

    UK Chief Veterinary Officer, Christine Middlemiss said: 

    WOAH’s recognition of the UK as negligible risk for BSE is a significant milestone and is a testament to the UK’s strong biosecurity measures and the hard work and vigilance of farmers and livestock keepers across the country who have all played their part in managing the spread of this disease.  

    This is the latest example of the UK’s global reputation as a world leader in biosecurity and our new status will improve UK trade for beef and bovine products and reduce the operational burden and create financial savings for the abattoir and meat processing industry.

    Natasha Smith, Deputy Director of Food Policy at the Food Standards Agency said:     

    This good news reflects that our strict controls in place to protect consumers such as controls on animal feed, and removal of the parts of cattle most likely to carry BSE infectivity,  have helped make sure there is no food safety risk.    

    Although the meat industry will be now able to use more of the carcass, consumers can be reassured that strict food safety controls remain in place.  Food Standards Agency Official Veterinarians and Meat Hygiene Inspectors working in all abattoirs in England and Wales will continue to ensure that the safety of consumers remains the top priority. 

    Nan Jones, British Meat Processors Association (BMPA) Technical Policy Manager said:

    This milestone is of significant value to the industry. To illustrate, the ability to recover mesenteric fat alone could generate value of approximately £10 million per year. Given the substantial benefits this change brings to our members, we hope that the improving UK–EU relationship offers an opportunity to seek earlier EU recognition of our status.

    Jonathan Eckley, Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) International Trade Development Director, said:

    This is welcome news for the UK beef sector. It highlights the strength of our animal health and food safety systems, reinforces the UK’s reputation for high-quality beef, and supports ongoing efforts to grow our export markets.

    Farmers and livestock owners are still urged to remain vigilant for BSE disease. BSE is a notifiable animal disease. If you suspect it, you must report it immediately by calling the Defra Rural Services Helpline on 03000 200 301. In Wales, contact 0300 303 8268. In Scotland, contact your local Field Services Office. Failure to do so is an offence. This applies to pet and small holder animals as well as commercial cattle.

    Updates to this page

    Published 2 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Prime Minister hails trade deal successes for Scotland

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Prime Minister hails trade deal successes for Scotland

    From the Highlands to the Borders, Scottish people are set to benefit from the UK’s landmark trade deals with India, US and EU announced in recent weeks.

    • Prime Minister visits historic distillery in Glasgow to discuss trade deal benefits for the Scotch Whisky industry 
    • Follows UK hat trick of trade deals with India, US and EU – improving people’s lives across the country 
    • Deals will help drive growth in Scotland and put more money in the pockets of the hardworking Scottish people

    From the Highlands to the Borders, Scottish people are set to benefit from the UK’s landmark trade deals with India, US and EU announced in recent weeks. 

    The Prime Minister discussed the huge growth opportunities and benefits for Scotland during a visit Clydeside Distillery in Glasgow today. 

    Visit comes after Prime Minister visited BAE Govan this morning to announce the Strategic Defence Review, which will see significant investment in Scotland . More than £2 billion a year is already spent by the Ministry of Defence with industry organisations of all sizes in Scotland, supporting over 25,000 skilled jobs in Scotland. 

    The world-renowned Scotch Whisky industry is set to boom globally – with the Scotch Whisky Association announcing they forecast £1 billion of extra exports in five years, plus 1,200 new jobs thanks to the tariff reductions as part of the UK-India Free Trade Agreement. 

    India is an important market for Scotland, with 457 Scottish businesses exporting a total of £610 million in goods there last year. 

    Under the India trade deal, tariffs have been cut on a range of iconic Scottish goods, from whisky tariffs halved from 150% to 75% and dropping to 40% after 10 years to salmon reduced from 33% to 0%. Iconic Scottish brands like Irn Bru and Scottish shortbread will also see reduced tariffs. 

    Scotland’s thriving life sciences and health tech hubs will be strengthened by IP commitments on areas such as trade secrets and copyright, helping companies export to India with confidence.

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

    Our trade deals with India, US and the EU will slash tariffs on key industries and open markets set to help drive growth in Scotland and put money in the pockets of the hardworking Scottish people, delivering on our Plan for Change. 

    Scotland is home to some of the most world-renowned products, which can now be enjoyed across the globe – all whilst saving Scottish businesses money.  

    That is why we have secured these deals, and why we will continue to go further and faster to improve the lives of everyone in the UK.

    Secretary of State for Scotland Ian Murray said:

    Our trio of trade deals shows we are championing Scottish products and businesses on the global stage. From our world-renowned whisky distilleries to our cutting-edge green energy sector, Scotland has so much to offer international markets. But more importantly as part of our Plan for Change this means more money in people’s pockets.

    By securing better access to the European Union, United States and India, we’re creating real opportunities for Scottish businesses to grow, supporting jobs in communities from the Highlands to the Borders.

    Mark Kent, Chief Executive Officer of the Scotch Whisky Association, said: 

    As the UK’s largest food and drink export to 180 markets worldwide, Scotch Whisky producers welcome the work being done to reduce trade barriers around the world. The landmark UK-India free trade agreement will be transformational for the Scotch Whisky industry over the longer term and has the potential to increase exports to India by £1bn over the next 5 years and creating 1,200 jobs across the UK.

    It’s also constructive to see a potential reduction in the burden on exporters through the UK agreement with the EU. We continue to support the UK government’s efforts to address the issue of tariffs with the US and establish a pathway to return to the zero-for-zero tariff arrangement we have had with the US on spirits for more than 30 years.

    The new agreement with the European Union, the UK’s largest trading market, will directly address challenges faced by Scottish exporters since 2019. The Scottish salmon industry has estimated that between 2019 and 2023, Scottish Salmon export values experienced a net loss of around £75 million. The deal with the EU makes it significantly easier to sell Scottish goods to European markets.

    Updates to this page

    Published 2 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Fort McMurray — Wood Buffalo RCMP and Major Crimes investigating found human remains – Update

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Tower Road has reopened.

    Background

    April 25, 2025

    Wood Buffalo RCMP and Major Crimes investigating found human remains

    Wood Buffalo RCMP and the Alberta Major Crimes Unit are investigating a report of found human remains. The remains were discovered on the outskirts of Fort McMurray on Apr. 25, 2025, off of Tower Road. Tower Road is currently closed to traffic.

    No additional information is available at this time.

    Wood Buffalo RCMP are asking anyone who may have travelled on Tower Road between 12:30 pm on Apr. 24, 2025 and Apr. 25 at 2:30 pm to contact them at 780-788-4040. If you have any information regarding this incident, please contact Wood Buffalo RCMP at 780-788-4040. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800- 222-8477 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com or by using the “P3 Tips” app available through the Apple App or Google Play Store.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Southern Alberta  — Joint efforts by Southern Alberta RCMP Units leads to significant seizure of stolen property and guns

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    On April 16 2025, after receiving an initial report of suspicious activity, the Central and Southern Alberta Crime Reduction Units (SAD CRU), with assistance from the Emergency Response Team and Strathmore RCMP, executed a Search Warrant for stolen property in Rockyford.

    As a result of the search RCMP recovered:

    • 5 stolen ATVs;
    • 3 stolen firearms;
    • 2 stolen trailers;
    • A stolen car;
    • Various other stolen items.

    The stolen items were linked to thefts from Caroline, Airdrie, Drumheller, Vulcan, Strathmore, and Calgary areas.

    As a result of the investigation RCMP have charged a 50-year-old individual with:

    • Unauthorized possession of a firearm (x3);
    • Possession of property obtained by crime (x11);
    • Break and Enter;
    • Failing to comply with a release order (x5).

    The 50-year-old individual was taken before a justice of the peace and remanded into custody with a next court date set for May 22, 2025 at the Alberta Court of Justice in Airdrie.

    RCMP have charged a 42-year-old individual with:

    • Unauthorized possession of a firearm (x3);
    • Possession of property obtained by crime (x5).

    The 42-year-old individual was taken before a justice of the peace and released with her next court date set for May 20, 2025, at the Alberta Court of Justice in Calgary.

    On April 19, 2025 Brooks RCMP received a report of a stolen vehicle. During this investigation Alberta RCMP Detachments in Brooks, Redcliff, Drumheller, Strathmore, Three Hills, Bassano, Taber-Vauxhall all assisted in locating two stolen vehicles and arresting a suspect. SAD CRU followed up on this investigation and on April 21, 2025, SAD CRU with the assistance of the Emergency Response Team, High River RCMP and Okotoks RCMP executed a Search Warrant in Aldersyde.

    As a result of the search, RCMP additionally recovered:

    • Stolen trailers (x3);
    • Stolen Trucks (x3);
    • Stolen motor bikes (x3);
    • A stolen ATV;
    • Stolen firearm (x3);
    • Forged documents;
    • 61 other firearms.

    After a brief pursuit RCMP arrested and charged a 44-year-old individual, a resident of Foothills County with:

    • Possession of property obtained by crime (x8);
    • Possession of a stolen firearm;
    • Flight from police;
    • Mischief;
    • Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle;
    • Failure to comply with a release order (x3);
    • Possession of break in tools;
    • Possession of a prohibited weapon.

    The 44-year-old individual was taken before a justice of the peace and remanded into custody for court on May 30, 2025 at the Alberta Court of Justice in Okotoks.

    RCMP have charged a 78-year-old individual, a resident of Foothills County with:

    • Possession of property obtained by crime (x5);
    • (Allan)Careless storage of a firearm (x2) – (Chad) Careless storage of a firearm (x1);
    • Possession of a prohibited weapon.

    The 78-year-old individual and another individual were taken before a justice of the peace and released with their next court date set for May 30, 2025, at the Alberta Court of Justice in Okotoks.

    From the original Brooks investigation, RCMP have charged a 43-year-old individual with:

    • Flight from police
    • Possession of property obtained by crime over $5000 (x2)
    • Break and Enter
    • Possession of break in instruments

    The 43-year-old individual was taken before a justice of the peace and released for future court dates at the Alberta Court of Justice in Brooks.

    “These investigations spearheaded by the Southern and Central Alberta Crime Reduction Units with assistance from RCMP detachments across Southern Alberta showcases the Alberta RCMP’s ability to work collaboratively in interdicting crime networks,” says Constable Adam Heather of SAD CRU, “two of the stolen firearms recovered in Aldersyde are linked to the same break and enter as two of the stolen firearm recovered in the Rockyford search, this demonstrates how different crime groups are interconnected.”

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Disposable Vapes banned from 1 June 2025

    Source: City of Coventry

    Since 1 June 2025 it is illegal for businesses to sell, offer to sell or have in their possession for sale, all single-use or ‘disposable’ vapes.

    This applies to sales online and in shops and include all vapes, whether they contain nicotine or not.

    The Government has produced guidance for affected retailers which can be found by following this link: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/single-use-vapes-ban

    In preparation for the ban, retailers were contacted by Trading Standards and told to stop buying any new stock of single-use vapes, to sell through all existing affected stock and to only buy vapes that follow the new regulations. It is crucial that from now on, retailers source only vapes which are compliant with the new law.

    If any retailers do have any leftover single-use vaping products following 1 June cut-off, they will need to separate them from other goods, label them as unsellable and remove them from sale. Any affected vapes should be stored in vape bins only and be regularly collected for recycling. Unsafe storage can result in a significant fire risk.

    If retailers are found to be selling or supplying single-use vapes following the ban, Trading Standards will be able to take enforcement action. Affected stock can be seized by officers and sanctions can include a fixed penalty fine and / or applying to review or amend a premises licence. If a business continues to sell single-use vapes after being warned, the local authority may take further action which can result in higher fines and possible premises closure orders and / or prosecution being sought.

    The new regulations will require vapes to be rechargeable and refillable, or incorporate a pod system. Retailers are being warned that not all new devices on the market will automatically be compliant. New compliant products have already appeared on the market which clearly indicate they comply with the new law and retailers are again urged to check first before buying.

    If you suspect that someone is supplying single-use vapes, please feel free to report the matter via our anonymous online reporting page

    Monday, 2nd June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • Wave of anger could sweep liberals to victory in South Korea election

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    When then-President Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law decree plunged South Korea into chaos, it plummeted sales at Park Myung-Ja’s diner in Jechon and became a turning point for many voters in the town.

    The 66-year-old chef and restaurant owner is one face of South Korea’s North Chungcheong Province, a swing region that has become even more pivotal at a time of deep political polarisation in Asia’s fourth-largest economy.

    “We need to get furthest away from all that martial law drama to get things back to where they were,” Park said at her Korean restaurant two hours south of Seoul, adding liberal candidate “Lee Jae-myung looks alright for that”.

    Voters are now looking for the winner of the June 3 snap election to calm the economic and political shocks that have roiled the country since Yoon’s December 3 martial law decree led to months of economic downturn and sparked nationwide protests.

    Park’s Chungcheong Province is a key battleground for Kim Moon-soo, candidate for the conservative People Power Party campaigning on deregulations for companies, and liberal Democratic Party frontrunner Lee, who’s vowing to bring back stability after months of turmoil.

    In swing regions such as North Chungcheong Province, where Jechon is located, the ruling conservative party risks losing a big chunk of its vote base with many voters blaming the martial law debacle for weaker private consumption and easing export momentum.

    Park’s business crashed after Yoon’s declaration with some of her biggest customers who are local council officials cancelling dinner reservations in groups of five to 10.

    “The first call I got on Dec. 4 was from a regular customer who does his year-end dinner here every year. I asked him why he is cancelling it, and he said — ‘don’t you watch news?’”

    Lee, who defied Yoon’s martial law decree, had a 10-percentage point lead over Kim in one of the final opinion polls issued on Tuesday with 45% of voters trusting him to revive the economy compared to 32% for Kim.

    Conservatives have criticised Lee for a series of criminal cases he faces over accusations of election law violations, corruption, and other issues, but they have struggled to unify behind a single candidate and to distance themselves from Yoon.

    On Friday, right-winger Kim said voting for Lee would end up “collapsing our economy”, hoping to sway voters in small cities such as Jecheon, an inland town of about 130,000 surrounded by mountainous tourist spots, who are looking for a turning point to revive South Korea’s fortunes.

    But the martial law call continues to weigh heavily on conservative chances.

    “We definitely had fewer customers, especially from office dinners, after the martial law declaration. It did bite us hard,” said Choi, a Chinese restaurant owner in Pangyo, a town south of Seoul.

    “Lee is someone who will uplift more of us who are not doing so well.”

    HEAVY ON SPECTACLE

    Consumer sentiment, which dropped by the most since the outbreak of COVID-19 in December, recovered to pre-martial-law levels of 101.8 in May, on expectations of a fresh stimulus package under a new leader.

    The shock move rattled markets and put the won among the region’s worst-performing currencies of the last year, hurt business sentiment even before exporters absorbed the full force of U.S. President Donald Trump’s punitive tariff policies.
    Now, the strains are setting in, as economic tailwinds from the semiconductor boom and reforms in the capital markets in the past few years are fading.

    Whoever wins the June 3 election will face an economy that contracted in the first quarter, manage negotiations with Washington to avoid high tariffs, and assuage voters such as Park who are seeing their living standards go backwards from elevated grocery bills and weak spending.

    South Korea’s election campaign has been light on policy and heavy on spectacle after twists and turns involving the main candidates.

    “I wish they had taken housing supply and boosting the domestic market more seriously in their pledges,” said 59-year-old Jung Soo-hyeon. “But perhaps because it’s a snap election, that kind of in-depth consideration seems to be missing — which is a bit disappointing.”

    Analysts say voters watched economic pledges closely as consumption has been badly hit.

    A win for Lee could spur “faster economic growth in the short term,” Kim Jin-wook of Citi Research said.

    The Democratic Party “would likely be relatively more keen on providing policy and support for the mid-to-low-income bracket,” he added.

    While both top candidates have pledged to draft a second supplementary budget for the year as soon as the election is over, Lee has also promised vouchers to help local businesses and subsidies for childcare, youth, and the elderly.

    While Lee has backed away from advocating for universal basic income, some voters including Park, who backed Yoon last time, said they see Lee as most likely to look out for their interests.

    “Lee’s party seems to be willing to give out more to those who are struggling,” Park said, emphasizing that “change” is important.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI Security: Maskwacis — Alberta RCMP Major Crimes Unit investigate Homicide in Maskwacis – Update

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    On Feb. 11, 2024, at 12:15 p.m., Maskwacis RCMP received a report of a deceased person in a residence on 6 Mile on Samson Cree Nation. Upon arrival, police located a deceased male. An autopsy determined the cause of death was homicide. The victim was identified as 26-year-old Gordelle Soosay.

    On Dec. 6, 2024, a 33-year-old individual, a resident of Maskwacis, was arrested and has been charged with second-degree murder. After a judicial interim release hearing, the individual was remanded into custody to appear in Alberta Court of Justice in Wetaskiwin, Alta., on Dec. 12, 2024.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: African Development Bank Launches Inaugural Integrate Africa Magazine (I.A.M) to tell a New African Story on Regional Integration

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

    ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, June 2, 2025/APO Group/ —

    The African Development Bank Group ( www.AfDB.org) has unveiled its first edition of Integrate Africa Magazine (I.A.M.) during a colourful ceremony at the Sofitel Hotel, Abidjan.

    The event, held on Monday 26 May as part of the Bank’s 2025 Annual Meetings, marks the beginning of a new African story – celebrating 10 years of investing in integration, while looking ahead to do more and better in the future. The magazine’s pulse beats to the rhythm of opportunity and optimism – showing how African governments are investing in building connectivity with the African Development Bank at their side.

    With interconnected economies, a rapidly growing youth population, and growing human mobility – getting integration right is no longer a good option. It is an imperative.

    The event featured a cultural showcase, fireside chats, keynotes and the unveiling of I.A.M.  With the Bank’s new Ten-Year Strategy (2024-2033) firmly rooting Integrate Africa as a major pillar, the conversations centred on what is to come following 10 years of investing in Africa’s integration, 

    A Chronicle of Progress, a Canvas of Possibilities

    The I.A.M. chronicles momentum – showcasing how the Bank has planted seeds of transformation – in roads, rail, air transport, power pools, ports, one-stop border posts – all coming together to bridge Africa.  It captures the spirit of a borderless Africa in motion, with opening articles from some of the Bank’s leaders framing the vision; and influential voices driving integration through trade, transport, sport, health, and business – highlighting where progress is and what we must do next. 

    The editors took to the streets of Africa – asking young people how integration can be accelerated – with the results captured in I.A.M.’s “Views from the Ground” segment. Border officials, traders, entrepreneurs, students and innovators all speak with the same voice: Africa’s integration is the most cogent development strategy the continent has.  It must happen – and happen fast.

    In addition to profiling 12 Bank–funded transformative projects – in transport corridors, one-stop border posts, power pools, rail, ports, agriculture, pharmaceutical production, pandemic response – and much more; I.A.M. also highlights the Bank’s work at the frontlines of tackling fragility by investing in building resilience.

    Africa’s new magazine I.A.M. offers a story of development impact – and a rare glimpse into how Africa is driving its integration and forging effective partnerships to go to scale. 

    From Senior Vice President Marie-Laure Akin-Olugbade’s keynote address showcasing Bank-financed infrastructure, to Vice President Nnenna Nwabufo’s reminder that integration must be a lived experience, the launch event left us in no doubt: we are on track – but can do much more, together. 

    Looking Forward

    As Africa stands at this point of immense opportunity, I.A.M. invites us to celebrate what is working, to understand the scale of what’s left to be done and urges us all to be the protagonist in creating an Integrated Africa. 

    You can access the magazine here: Integrate Africa Magazine – AfDB

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Annual Meetings 2025: African private-sector players and African Development Bank officials discuss business opportunities

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

    ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, June 2, 2025/APO Group/ —

    On the fourth day of the African Development Bank Group’s (www.AfDB.org) Annual Meetings in Abidjan (http://apo-opa.co/3ZcPGZZ), a seminar on business opportunities with the Group brought together private-sector players from 40 African countries and led to constructive exchanges with Bank officials.

    “Africa will not develop without a robust private sector. This seminar should give you a better understanding of how the Bank operates and how to work with us,” Gauthier Boulard, Senior Director of Resource Mobilization and Partners at the African Development Bank, told participants.

    During the seminar, the Bank provided updated information on its procurement plan and contractual policies, as well as on procedures for accessing business opportunities for companies or projects. Information was also shared on procurement rules, integrity and corruption.

    “With regard to our Ten-Year Strategy 2024-2033 (http://apo-opa.co/4jANgMb), we expect to have to finance more transformative projects, i.e. projects that bring about change in the market in which they take place…. We are ready to support the private sector,” said Ronald Rateiwa, Senior Strategy, Policy and Infrastructure Officer at the African Development Bank.

    Cheikh Ibra Faye, Director of Faye Groupe Services, a company active in Senegal, Mali and Côte d’Ivoire, commented: “I have just learned important information that I’ve been looking for for a year. I have a plan to replace West Africa’s urban vehicle fleet with vehicles powered by renewable energy, and I’d like to know what support is available from the African Development Bank,” he said.

    Aude Apetey-Kacou, Manager of Private Sector Operations for West Africa at the Bank, responded: “The Bank finances urban transport. So the fleet project meets one of our criteria. We would then need to discuss the project in a different setting, to find out more about its structure, the current state of financing and the progress of the studies already carried out, so that we can make a decision.”

    The creation of characteristically African social media, setting up biometric laboratories to combat cervical cancer, satellite imagery and the financing of small and medium-sized enterprises were just some of the projects brought to the attention of the Bank’s management by private-sector players.

    “Health is a key sector that the Bank intends to support and is already involved in. There are other sectors that are just as important, and we’ll have the opportunity to talk about them again,” confirmed Boris Honkpehedji, Senior Manager of Private Sector Operations at the African Development Bank.

    As of 31 December 2024, the African Development Bank Group’s investment portfolio had devoted 46% of its financing to the financial sector, 16% to energy, 15% to industry, 9% to transport, 9% to agriculture and social affairs, and 5% to multi-sector projects.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Statement by the Secretary-General on the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Gaza)

    Source: United Nations – English

    am appalled by the reports of Palestinians killed and injured while seeking aid in Gaza yesterday. It is unacceptable that Palestinians are risking their lives for food.

    I call for an immediate and independent investigation into these events and for perpetrators to be held accountable.

    Israel has clear obligations under international humanitarian law to agree to and facilitate humanitarian aid. The unimpeded entry of assistance at scale to meet the enormous needs in Gaza must be restored immediately. The UN must be allowed to work in safety and security under conditions of full respect or humanitarian principles.

    I continue to call for an immediate permanent, sustainable ceasefire. All hostages must be released immediately and unconditionally. This is the only path to ensuring security for all. There is no military solution to the conflict.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: The Pula depreciated by 2 percent against the South African rand

    Source: Bank of Botswana

    Over the one-month period to May 2025, the Pula depreciated by 2 percent against the South African rand, while it appreciated by 1.8 percent against the SDR. It appreciated by 2.8 percent against the Japanese yen, 2.2 percent against the euro, 1.8 percent against the US dollar, 1.2 percent against the British pound and 0.8 percent against the Chinese renminbi.

    Meanwhile, over the twelve months period to May 2025, the nominal Pula exchange rate depreciated by 2.8 percent against the South African rand and 0.3 percent against the IMF Special Drawing Rights (SDR). With respect to the SDR constituent currencies, the Pula depreciated by 6.2 percent against the Japanese yen, 3.4 percent against the British pound and 2.4 percent against the euro, while it appreciated by 2.3 percent against the US dollar and 1.4 percent against the Chinese renminbi.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Samsung Solve for Tomorrow 2025: Learn all about Application, Eligibility, Program Structure & More with these FAQs

    Source: Samsung

    The fourth edition of Samsung’s flagship CSR program, Solve For Tomorrow (SFT) 2025, a nationwide education and innovation competition for GenZ, is inviting ambitious innovators to solve real-world issues.
     
    If you too want to apply, then check out these quick FAQs that will help you with your program application.

    What is Samsung Solve for Tomorrow?
    Samsung Solve for Tomorrow is a global CSR initiative present in more than 65 countries. In India, this innovation competition empowers young minds to develop solutions for real-world challenges. Samsung Solve for Tomorrow 2025 is now accepting applications from participants who are keen to solve for challenges in any of the four themes:

    AI for safer, smarter & inclusive Bharat
    Future of health, hygiene & wellbeing in India

    Social Change through Sport & Tech: For Education & Better
    Environmental Sustainability via Technology

     
    Who can participate in the competition?
     
    The competition is open to Indian residents only between 14-22 years of age as on the last day of the competition.
    Individuals or teams of up to three people can apply with an original concept in terms of science and technology or a wholly new product with a social consequence. Without any innovation, new business models may not make it to consideration.
    The team/individual should not have previously obtained funds/awards for the identical proposal from any agency or through other competitions for more than INR five lakhs.
     
    Is there any participation fee?
     
    No, the competition is completely free to enter.
     
    Can I apply for more than one theme?
     
    No, each individual or team is allowed to apply for only one theme. Submitting applications for multiple themes may result in disqualification. Please ensure you carefully select the theme that best aligns with your ides before applying.
     
    What are the key stages of the competition?
     
    The competition consists of multiple stages, and each stage is an elimination stage:

    Application & Idea Submission – Submit your ideas in one of the four themes. Experts from Foundation of Innovation & Technology Transfer (FITT) – IIT Delhi, will review all the applications and 100 teams will be selected to qualify for the next stage. These 100 teams represent 25 teams from each of the theme.
    Top 100 teams – Selected teams receive training from Foundation of Innovation & Technology Transfer (FITT) – IIT Delhi experts and need to submit their video pitches. A panel of experts from Foundation of Innovation & Technology Transfer (FITT) – IIT Delhi, will evaluate the video pitches and 40 shortlisted teams will qualify to the next stage. These 40 teams represent 10 teams from each of the theme.
    Innovation Bootcamp & National Pitch Event for Top 40 teams (semi-finalists) – The Top 40 teams will be invited to an Innovation Bootcamp and will visit Samsung offices in BLR & NCR followed by hands-on training & access to prototyping labs at IIT Delhi. All the Top 40 teams will pitch to a jury panel consisting of experts from Samsung at the National Pitch Event at IIT Delhi. Only 20 teams will be selected to qualify for the last stage. These 20 teams represent 5 teams from each of the theme.
    Grand Finale for Top 20 teams (Finalists) – The Top 20 teams will get 1 on 1 mentoring from Industry experts, IIT Delhi and Samsung to help them prepare for the Grand Finale. At the Grand Finale, the Top 20 teams will get access to prototyping labs at IIT Delhi. The teams will pitch their ideas & prototypes one last time to a grand jury over a period of two days in Delhi NCR. The 4 Winning teams, each representing one theme, will be announced at the end of the Grand Finale in the Awards Ceremony.

     
    Can one participant participate in two different teams?
    No. Please note that any such applications with same participants in each team may lead to disqualification.
     
    Can a school or college apply on the behalf of students?
    No, students must apply individually or as a team with their own registered accounts. In case of minors, parental consent is mandatory to participate in Samsung Solve for Tomorrow 2025.
     
    Can overseas students participate in the competition?
    This competition is open to Indian nationals only.
     
    How do I choose the right theme for my idea?

    AI for safer, smarter & inclusive Bharat – AI-driven solutions improving safety, accessibility and inclusion in India.
    Future of health, hygiene & wellbeing in India – Ideas focused on improving healthcare, nutrition and mental well-being.
    Social Change through Sport & Tech: For Education & Better Futures – to improve education & the way of making a living through Sports and Tech.

    Environmental Sustainability via Technology – Sustainable management approaches to minimize waste and pollution while maximizing reuse, recycling and material regeneration.

     
    Does my idea have to be a working prototype?
     
    No, you can submit a concept or an early-stage idea. All the shortlisted teams will be guided to develop prototypes.
     
    What are the different stages the project can be at?
     

    Idea/Concept – The initial stage where participants identify a problem and propose innovative solutions under the four themes.
    Early Development – The phase where the idea is researched, refined, and a basic plan or model is created.
    Advanced Stage – The solution takes shape with detailed designs, feasibility studies and initial testing.
    Prototype Ready – A functional prototype is developed, demonstrating the solution’s practicality and effectiveness.

     
    Will my idea be made public?
    If your proposal gets selected for further consideration, the issue description and other components will be published on our website, utilized as publicity materials by media partners, and presented at various phases of the program, including the final pitch event. Technical details will be confidential while IP filing is in progress.
     
    How are ideas evaluated, and by whom?
    In the first round, applications will be screened basis their relevance to a social problem, technical feasibility, market potential, and team competence by subject matter experts from the “Foundation of Innovation & Technology Transfer (FITT) – IIT Delhi.” Your idea will fall under examination using the following criteria:

    Innovation and creativity: Uniqueness and originality of the idea
    Impact and Feasibility: Potential to solve real-world challenges.
    Scalability: Ability to expand and benefit a larger audience.
    Technical and Execution capability: Clarity in implementation and development.

    Jury comprising of industry veterans from Samsung and Foundation of Innovation & Technology Transfer (FITT) – IIT Delhi, will screen your ideas in the second, third and fourth rounds.
     
    How will I know if I am successful?
    Samsung will communicate the results to participants through the following channels:

    Official Website: Shortlisted individuals/teams will be announced on the Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow website for each stage.
    Email Notification: Successful participants will receive direct communications regarding the selection and next steps to the team leads email id.
    Social Media Announcement: Key Competition milestones and winners will be highlighted on the Samsung’s official social media channels.

    Participants are advised to regularly check their emails and the official website for updates.
     
    If I am shortlisted, are there specific dates I need to be available?
    As a part of the competition, shortlisted participants will receive online training covering design thinking, advanced digital masterclasses, and business skills to help them refine their ideas.
    If you progress to Stage 2, you will be required to attend online training sessions on design thinking methodology, digital technologies and mentorship, starting in July 2025.
    For those advancing to Stage 3(Top 40 teams), attendance will be mandatory for Samsung site visits and a residential bootcamp at IIT Delhi in September 2025.
    Finalists (Top 20 teams) moving to Grand Finale will need to be available for additional training sessions on innovation, entrepreneurship, prototyping, intellectual property rights (IPR), and other relevant topics, beginning September 2025.
    Additionally, all finalists must be available to attend the awards ceremony in October 2025.
    Samsung and Foundation of Innovation & Technology Transfer (FITT) – IIT Delhi will provide the exact dates at a later stage.
     
    What activities will be there during the Innovation Bootcamp and National Pitch event?
    The 11-day bootcamp and national pitch event will provide the Top 40 teams with an opportunity to explore Samsung offices and receive specialized training.

    Day 0: Top 40 teams arrive at Bangalore.
    Day 1: Top 40 teams visit Samsung Research Institute Bangalore
    Day 2: Top 40 teams visit Samsung Research Institute Delhi and Noida
    Day 3: Top 40 teams visit Samsung Soutwest Asia Office, Gurugram
    Day 4 to Day 6: Top 40 teams will undergo three days of on-site training at IIT Delhi focused on refining the ideas and identifying effective problem-solving approaches.
    Day 7: Rest day
    Day 8 and Day 9: Top 40 teams get two days of lab access to further develop and enhance their prototypes.
    Day 10 and Day 11: Top 40 teams pitch their ideas to the Jury members from Samsung and Foundation of Innovation & Technology Transfer (FITT) – IIT Delhi.
    Day 12: Participants return to their respective home locations.

     
    Who will bear the travel and accommodation cost for the boot camp?
    Samsung will take care of your accommodation and travel requirements (Selected teams will receive all the details and guidelines). For participants below 18, Samsung will provide accommodation & travel for a parent/guardian.
     
    What to expect at Grand Finale?
     
    Prototyping Day at IIT Delhi (1 day):
     

    Finalists will have a dedicated day to refine and enhance their prototypes before the finale at IIT-Delhi.
    Access to the prototyping labs will be provided to all the Top 20 teams.

    Grand Finale in Delhi-NCR (2 days):

    Final presentations and pitches to a panel of industry leaders and experts.
    Evaluation based on innovation, feasibility, and impact.
    Networking opportunities with Samsung and Foundation of Innovation & Technology Transfer (FITT) – IIT Delhi, investors and other dignitaries.
    Investor Meet-up on day 1 of Grand finale.
    Announcement of winners and award ceremony on day 2 of the Grand Finale.

    Will Samsung or Foundation of Innovation & Technology Transfer (FITT) – IIT Delhi own my idea?
    No, you will be the sole owner of the concept and the intellectual property. The role of Samsung and Foundation of Innovation & Technology Transfer (FITT) – IIT Delhi will be to assist you only in developing it.
    Will the competition provide incubation support for the selected teams?
    Yes, the 4 winning teams will be provided incubation at IIT Delhi and funding of INR 1 Crore to further develop and scale their ideas. This includes mentorship from industry experts, guidance on business strategies, and access to resources that can assist in turning innovative concepts into viable solutions.
    Participants will receive mentorship from experienced professionals in fields such as technology, business strategy, design thinking and entrepreneurship. The support will help refine their solutions and prepare them for real-world implementation.
    Are there any grants or financial awards for winners?
    Yes, the competition offers financial support at different stages to help teams enhance their projects:
    Funding for Shortlisted Teams:

    Top 40 Teams: Each team will receive INR 20,000 to further develop their project.
    Top 20 Teams: Each team will receive INR 100,000 enhance their prototype and project.

    Grant Prize for Winners:
     

    Winning 4 teams: A total grant of INR 1 Crore will be awarded across the winners.
    The winning teams will also receive incubation support at FITT, IIT Delhi to refine their project and make it market-ready.

     
    Special awards:
    In addition to the main grants, four special awards will be given:
     

    Social Media Champion Award – INR 50,000
    Awarded to one team from the Top 20 for the highest number of posts and engagement across social media platforms (e.g. Facebook, LinekdIn, and Instagram)
    Goodwill Award / Audience Choice ward – INR 100,000 each

    Two teams from the top 20 will receive INR 100,000 each, based on maximum audience votes during the Grand Finale.

    Young Innovators Award / Women in Innovation Award – INR 100,000 each

    The jury for their outstanding innovation and contribution will select two teams from the Top 20. Each team will receive INR 100,000.
     
    Where can I read the competition Terms & Conditions?
    You can read the full terms and conditions and privacy notice for Solve for Tomorrow 2025 here.
     
    My question is not answered here
    Contact us at solvefortomorrow@samsung.com if you have any further queries or require assistance.
     
     

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Upgrade or Own Your First Galaxy – Now More Affordable Than Ever

    Source: Samsung

    Samsung is making it easier than ever to fall in love with Galaxy. Starting 1 June 2025, the popular Galaxy A Series entry-level smartphones – including the Galaxy A05, A05s, A06, and A16 – will be available at new, more affordable prices, putting your first or next Galaxy within even closer reach.
     
    With standout features like a crystal-clear 50MP main camera, long-lasting 5000mAh battery, and immersive large displays, these smartphones deliver incredible value without compromising on quality or breaking the bank, making them perfect for those stepping into the Galaxy ecosystem for the first time, or those simply looking to upgrade to the latest device packed with new technology and features.
     
    New Recommended Retail Pricing:
    • Galaxy A05: was R1,999 – now R1,899*
    • Galaxy A06: was R2,499 – now R2,299*
    • Galaxy A05s: was R2,999 – now R2,899*
    • Galaxy A16: was R3,999 – now R3,499*
     

     
    Whether you’re capturing life’s everyday moments, streaming your favourite content, or staying connected with your crew, the Galaxy A Series makes it easy to enjoy the best of Samsung innovation – now at prices that are easy to love.
     
    There’s no denying that your love for the Galaxy A Series will surely hit different when it’s this affordable.
     
    Step into the world of Galaxy. Visit your nearest Samsung store, retailer or shop online (www.samsung.com/za l or on the Samsung Shop App) to discover more.
     
    [*] Terms and Conditions Apply. Recommended retail price only. Prices may vary per retailer.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Nearly £1 billion for NHS frontline after agency spend crackdown

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Nearly £1 billion for NHS frontline after agency spend crackdown

    Government crack-down on rip-off temporary staffing agencies delivers unprecedented savings, as NHS trusts are urged to eradicate agency spending altogether

    • Reforms delivered through Plan for Change deliver mammoth NHS savings – with funding going to better patient care and staff pay

    • Major milestone in government pledge to completely eliminate all spending on temporary NHS agency staff  

    • Health Secretary and NHS England Chief Executive will consider legislative action if further progress not made

    NHS patients and staff are benefiting from an almost £1 billion boost for the frontline, as a government crack-down on rip-off temporary staffing agencies delivers unprecedented savings.

    The Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting announced strict agency spending limits last November and ordered trusts to reduce their spend on agency staff by 30% in the short-term so more money could be reinvested in the frontline and the wider NHS workforce.  

    Latest figures show spending on agency staff has already fallen by almost £1 billion in 2024/25 – a huge reduction which has helped funding go towards improving the quality-of-care patients receive, helping to reduce waiting lists, and enhancing safety – as reducing reliance on agency staff has been shown to decrease clinical incidents.   

    The savings are part of a package of reforms delivered by this government which have collectively allowed above inflation pay rises to all NHS staff, including resident doctors and nurses, this year to be fully funded.

    The Secretary of State and NHS England Chief Executive Jim Mackey have today written to all trusts and integrated care boards (ICBs), urging them to build on this progress and ultimately eradicate agency spending altogether. If the government does not feel further progress has been made by the autumn, it will consider taking further legislative action. 

    Health Minister Ashley Dalton said:

    The taxpayer has been footing the bill for rip-off agencies for too long – while patients have languished on waiting lists and demoralised staff faced years of pay erosion.  

    That’s why we are pledging to eliminate this squander, and through our Plan for Change we are making major progress and seeing a radical reduction in costs.   

    We’re already backing our health workers with above-inflation pay rises and now, nearly £1 billion is being reinvested back to the frontline, getting patients off waiting lists and putting money back into our workforce’s pocket.

    The NHS was forced to spend a staggering £3 billion on agency staff in 2023/24, money that could have been used to tackle record waiting lists and improve patient care. Recruitment agencies have charged NHS trusts up to £2,000 for a single nursing shift, thanks to the 113,000 staffing vacancies across the service. 

    The government’s laser focus on reducing waste means all NHS workers, including doctors and nurses, will receive real terms pay rises for the second year in a row, fully funded from central budgets. 

    It is funding a pay rise of 4% for consultants, specialty doctors, specialists and GPs, with dentists also receiving a contract uplift to increase their pay.  

    Resident doctors will see their pay rise by an average of 5.4% (a 4% rise plus a consolidated payment of £750) and we expect the average full-time basic pay of a resident doctor will reach about £54,300 in 2025-26.  Agenda for Change (AfC) staff, which includes nurses, health visitors, midwives, ambulance staff, porters and cleaners will see their pay rise by 3.6%. The starting salary for a nurse will now be around £31,050, up from around £27,050 in 2023.

    A new delivery group is being established across the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England to monitor progress on tackling agency spending, and ensure trusts are taking robust action.  

    Trusts were previously ordered to reduce bank use – NHS staff who work temporary shifts at hospitals – by at least 10%, on top of strict agency spending limits across the health service. They have now been told to evaluate them against the local market to ensure they are not more than the average equivalent agency rate.  

    Elizabeth O’Mahony, chief financial officer at NHS England, said:

    The NHS is fully committed to making sure that every penny of taxpayers’ money is used wisely to the benefit of patients and the quality of care they receive.

    Our reforms towards driving down agency spend by nearly £1 billion over the past year will boost frontline services and help to cut down waiting lists, while ensuring fairness for our permanent staff.

    Nicola McQueen, Chief Executive at NHS Professionals, said:

    We strongly welcome today’s bold and progressive workforce policy announcement from the Secretary of State to significantly reduce external agency spending and put more investment back into patient care.

    NHS Professionals was created with the core purpose of reducing the NHS’s reliance on expensive external agencies. NHS Bank services are transforming workforce deployment, boosting productivity, and driving substantial cost reduction across the NHS.

    Last year we displaced over £680 million of external agency fees across NHS Trusts and healthcare organisations, providing more than 40 million hours of patient care. We look forward to working closely with our NHS client Trusts and partners to deliver even more savings across the NHS.

    Updates to this page

    Published 2 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Sizewell A delivers landmark demolition project

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Sizewell A delivers landmark demolition project

    The turbine hall and adjoining structures at Sizewell A former nuclear power station have been safely razed to the ground by Nuclear Restoration Services (NRS).

    Sizewell A turbine hall completion

    An area the size of a professional football pitch has been cleared, de-planted and demolished ready for its next use, creating a huge skyline change for the Suffolk coast.

    Alan Walker, Sizewell A Site Director, commented:

    This is an incredible achievement for NRS, our contract partners Erith, the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA). 

    I would like to thank everyone including those involved and our neighbours for their continued support throughout, as well as the ONR for enabling us to push the boundaries of innovation in conventional demolition together. The learning from this will be applied to other NRS projects to continue delivering efficient, value for money decommissioning and restoration of nuclear sites.

    April 2025

    This transformational project demonstrated technical innovation and set a new benchmark for the largest use of explosives on a UK nuclear site and the longest programmed detonation sequence in Europe.  These were used to weaken the four gigantic concrete plinths that two 650 tonne turbogenerators stood on.

    The use of explosives reduced the project schedule by four months, costs by £300,000 and minimised vibrations to negligible levels compared to using traditional mechanical percussion removal techniques. Around 40 tonnes of CO2 emissions were also saved by minimising machinery fuel use.

    The plinths were reduced to rubble paving the way for full clearance of the turbine hall basement and arrival of the high reach excavators to dismantle the structure. Two 90 tonne safe working load cranes – each weighing 65 tonnes – were removed from their rails onto a landing pad ready for metal recycling.

    The first overhead crane coming off the rails

    More than 17,000 tonnes of concrete and rubble have been removed from the turbine hall, fire station and electrical annexe structures – that is more than the weight of the six million bricks used to build Battersea Power Station.  This waste was processed through a mobile crusher to reduce its size to a specification that enables it to be exported and re-used.

    A scrap metal contract has raised over £3 million income to date from the sale of the 11,000 tonnes removed during the de-plant and demolition phases. This revenue will be used to offset decommissioning costs.

    The project achieved a 95% recovery rate for construction and demolition waste, much higher than recent industrial averages, and further demonstrating the NRS commitment to minimising the environmental impact of decommissioning work and embedding sustainability without compromising on safety and efficiency. 

    February 2025

    David Rushton, NDA Programme Manager, said:  

    The successful demolition of the turbine hall brings skyline change to the Sizewell A site. The innovative use of explosives provides valuable learning for future decommissioning activities, and the segregation and reuse of demolition material supports the NDA’s sustainability targets.

    Andrew Bull, ONR’s Nominated Site Inspector at Sizewell A, added:

    We’ve worked very closely with NRS, adopting an enabling stance to allow the licensee to push forward with a modern, and at times, ground-breaking approach to accelerating this major dismantling project.

    ONR works hard to reduce unnecessary regulatory burden and add value. This has been no better demonstrated than for the removal of the Sizewell A turbine hall, where we have played a key role in this example of decommissioning the UK’s nuclear estate.

    We’ve been pleased to work with NRS in a constructive manner to regulate the ongoing clean-up of this important site – safely, securely and cost effectively.

    Concrete plinth weakened by explosives

    Watch the project unfold here

    The Sizewell A turbine hall story from construction to demolition – YouTube

    Updates to this page

    Published 2 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Communities urged apply for funding to bring their festival or event to life

    Source: City of Sunderland

    Community organisations are being urged not to miss out on help to bring their festival or event to life.

    Community organisations are being urged not to miss out on help to bring their festival or event to life. 

    Sunderland City Council is giving community groups, partnerships, community interest companies, and social enterprises the chance to apply for grant funding of between £100 and £10,000 to help make their event happen.

    Councillor Beth Jones, Sunderland City Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture and Tourism, said: “We have some brilliant community events in our city such as the annual Summer Streets Festival and the Boxing Day Dip. 

    “Our Festival and Events Fund is all about encouraging exciting new and emerging events which bring people together and spark the creativity that we know is out there in spades in our communities.

    “Whether it’s help towards venue hire, artist fees, road closures, picnic boxes or posters, the aim of this funding is to help support communities with the costs of bringing their vision to life or growing their newly established festival or event.”

    The City Council is especially looking to support projects which engage local communities, create new, dynamic and creative experiences, promote sustainability and greener events and encourage equality, diversity and social cohesion.

    To be in with a chance of securing grant funding, organisations will need to complete an application form and be able to demonstrate how their project meets a range of criteria.

    These include:

    • A completely new event/festival with a comprehensive business plan; or  
    • An event/festival less than five years old in its current format but that is looking to include additional activity to improve event sustainability  
    • An event/festival aimed at developing the cultural offer within its locality or to appeal more widely across the North-East  
    • Supporting the local economy  
    • Engaging people from the local community  
    • To fill a gap in the tourist/cultural season  
    • To develop the skills of volunteers  
    • To maximise non-public sources of income, with a view to the event/festival being sustainable and not dependent on funding  
    • To promote equality and diversity  

    Only festivals and events that are being planned to take place before 31 March 2026 will be eligible for funding. 

    To find out more about the fund and apply: www.mysunderland.co.uk/Bring-your-event-to-Sunderland

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –