Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Moscow, May 30 /Xinhua/ — The Federal Security Service (FSB) of Russia has detained six Russian citizens who committed arson as part of criminal cases on terrorist acts, the agency’s press service reported on Friday.
The detainees, including a 15-year-old teenager, from the Novgorod, Leningrad and Tyumen regions, carried out arson attacks on transport infrastructure facilities and decorations installed to celebrate Victory Day in the Great Patriotic War, on orders from the Ukrainian special services.
During interrogations, they explained that they had transferred from 100,000 to 1 million rubles to telephone scammers. After that, they were contacted by “law enforcement officers and special services” who persuaded the Russians to commit arson under the pretext of participating in an inspection of the anti-terrorist security of facilities.
Those arrested face a sentence of 10 to 20 years in prison for committing the crimes. –0–
Source: State University Higher School of Economics – State University Higher School of Economics –
Career and development became one of the main blocks of the program. Participants discussed how to build media in our time, when the fashion for podcasts is flourishing, how to promote regions with the help of creativity and why to publish paper art publications in the digital era.
Together with the SKOLKOVO School of Management and experts in the field of art, design and media, we talked about new professions in metaverses – who are builders, scripters and world designers, and how to monetize digital content. We also discussed how to create creative work that wins competitions without losing individuality in the context of the rapid development of AI.
From experts in gastronomic branding (National Association of Chefs, Channel One (Good Morning), MOSCOW CAKE SHOW, WORLDFOOD, CHEFS TEAM FEST, COFFEE TEA CACAO EXPO, Lapochka, ANO “North in the Heart”, MØS (Michelin), Björn, Taste of Moscow, Twins Science, Food Service Forum, Novikov School, SFU, International Enogastronomic Center, etc.) the guests learned how to turn a local product into a brand.
Professionals in the field of management and communications (Alena Kremer, Antonina Priezzheva, Natalia Lebedeva, Roman Bedretdinov) explained why emotional intelligence is becoming a key skill in creative industries and how AI is changing advertising and startups.
In conclusion, there will be a discussion on how an artist can find support outside the system: from grants to private patronage and residencies. Curators and art managers from GES-2, the Winzavod Foundation, the online platform TEO by Cosmoscow and HSE ART GALLERY shared their experiences.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: United States of America – The White House (video statements)
CNBC: “They’re powerful numbers — up 0.6% in January, up 0.7% in February, up 0.5% last month, up 0.8% this month. This is a GREAT four-month start to any year.”
Source: United States of America – Department of State (video statements)
The reorganization plan for the State Department will result in a more agile Department, better equipped to promote America’s interests, and keep Americans safe across the world.
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Under the leadership of the President and Secretary of State, the U.S. Department of State leads America’s foreign policy through diplomacy, advocacy, and assistance by advancing the interests of the American people, their safety and economic prosperity. On behalf of the American people we promote and demonstrate democratic values and advance a free, peaceful, and prosperous world.
The Secretary of State, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, is the President’s chief foreign affairs adviser. The Secretary carries out the President’s foreign policies through the State Department, which includes the Foreign Service, Civil Service and U.S. Agency for International Development.
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The Government of Canada is investing in federal science to strengthen the safety of air, rail, marine and pipeline transportation systems that Canadians rely on every day. As part of the Laboratories Canada strategy, the government is developing the new Transportation Safety and Technology Science (TSTS) hub, which will transform how federal scientists and investigators work together by bringing them under one roof.
Today, the Honourable Joël Lightbound, Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement, announced that the Government of Canada has awarded a contract to Bird Construction Group Ltd. for construction management services for the new TSTS hub, to be located at the main campus of the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) on Montréal Road in Ottawa, Ontario. The contract is expected to be valued at up to $410 million. The initial work package, covering advisory services and site preparation, has been issued at a value of $12.3 million.
This marks a key step in the development of the new facility, which is being delivered through a collaborative approach under the Laboratories Canada strategy. The hub will serve as a shared space for the Transportation Safety Board of Canada and the NRC to conduct in-depth investigations and advance scientific research in transportation safety.
Engineers and scientists at the facility will work with industry partners to develop cutting-edge safety technologies and reduce risks in the air, marine, rail and pipeline sectors. The facility will combine investigations with the design and testing of next-generation light materials for aerospace, creating new opportunities for collaboration and innovation.
The contract was awarded following an open and transparent procurement process. The full contract could also include over $40 million in economic benefits for Indigenous businesses and communities through subcontracts, training opportunities and employment. These benefits reflect the Government of Canada’s commitment to economic reconciliation through meaningful Indigenous participation in federal infrastructure projects.
This facility is a key component of the Laboratories Canada strategy, which is transforming science infrastructure nationwide through safe, sustainable and flexible spaces that meet the evolving needs of Canada’s federal scientific community, today and into the future. Construction preparation is set to begin in fall 2025, with completion anticipated in 2030.
Universities around the world are seeking to offer refuge for students impacted by U.S. President Donald Trump’s crackdown on academic institutions, targeting top talent and a slice of the billions of dollars in academic revenue in the United States.
Osaka University, one of the top ranked in Japan, is offering tuition fee waivers, research grants and help with travel arrangements for students and researchers at U.S. institutions who want to transfer.
Japan’s Kyoto University and Tokyo University are also considering similar schemes, while Hong Kong has instructed its universities to attract top talent from the United States. China’s Xi’an Jiaotong University has appealed for students at Harvard, singled out in Trump’s crackdown, promising “streamlined” admissions and “comprehensive” support.
Trump’s administration has enacted massive funding cuts for academic research, curbed visas for foreign students – especially those from China – and plans to hike taxes on elite schools.
Trump alleges top U.S. universities are cradles of anti-American movements. In a dramatic escalation, his administration last week revoked Harvard’s ability to enrol foreign students, a move later blocked by a federal judge.
Masaru Ishii, dean of the graduate school of medicine at Osaka University, described the impact on U.S. universities as “a loss for all of humanity”.
Japan aims to ramp up its number of foreign students to 400,000 over the next decade, from around 337,000 currently.
Jessica Turner, CEO of Quacquarelli Symonds, a London-based analytics firm that ranks universities globally, said other leading universities around the world were trying to attract students unsure of going to the United States.
Germany, France and Ireland are emerging as particularly attractive alternatives in Europe, she said, while in the Asia-Pacific, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, and mainland China are rising in profile.
SWITCHING SCHOOLS
Chinese students have been particularly targeted in Trump’s crackdown, with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday pledging to “aggressively” crack down on their visas.
More than 275,000 Chinese students are enrolled in hundreds of U.S. colleges, providing a major source of revenue for the schools and a crucial pipeline of talent for U.S. technology companies.
International students – 54% of them from India and China – contributed more than $50 billion to the U.S. economy in 2023, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Trump’s crackdown comes at a critical period in the international student application process, as many young people prepare to travel to the U.S. in August to find accommodation and settle in before term starts.
Dai, 25, a Chinese student based in Chengdu, had planned to head to the U.S. to complete her master’s but is now seriously considering taking up an offer in Britain instead.
“The various policies (by the U.S. government) were a slap in my face,” she said, requesting to be identified only by her surname for privacy reasons. “I’m thinking about my mental health and it’s possible that I indeed change schools.”
Students from Britain and the European Union are also now more hesitant to apply to U.S. universities, said Tom Moon, deputy head of consultancy at Oxbridge Applications, which helps students in their university applications.
He said many international students currently enrolled at U.S. universities were now contacting the consultancy to discuss transfer options to Canada, the UK and Europe.
According to a survey the consultancy ran earlier this week, 54% of its clients said they were now “less likely” to enrol at an American university than they were at the start of the year.
There has been an uptick in applications to British universities from prospective students in the U.S., said Universities UK, an organisation that promotes British institutions. It cautioned, however, that it was too early to say whether that translates into more students enrolling.
REPUTATIONAL EFFECTS
Ella Ricketts, an 18-year-old first year student at Harvard from Canada, said she receives a generous aid package paid for by the school’s donors and is concerned that she won’t be able to afford other options if forced to transfer.
“Around the time I was applying to schools, the only university across the Atlantic I considered was Oxford… However, I realised that I would not be able to afford the international tuition and there was no sufficient scholarship or financial aid available,” she said.
If Harvard’s ability to enrol foreign students is revoked, she would most likely apply to the University of Toronto, she said.
Analytics firm QS said overall visits to its ‘Study in America’ online guide have declined by 17.6% in the last year — with interest from India alone down over 50%.
“Measurable impacts on enrolment typically emerge within six to 18 months. Reputational effects, however, often linger far longer, particularly where visa uncertainty and shifting work rights play into perceptions of risk versus return,” said QS’ Turner.
That reputational risk, and the ensuing brain drain, could be even more damaging for U.S. institutions than the immediate economic hit from students leaving.
“If America turns these brilliant and talented students away, they will find other places to work and study,” said Caleb Thompson, a 20-year-old U.S. student at Harvard, who lives with eight international scholars.
Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –
Rector of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, head of the St. Petersburg branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Academician Andrei Rudskoy has been elected Vice President of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The results of the vote were announced today, on the final day of the general meeting of the Academy members.
During the meeting, the rector of the Polytechnic was solemnly presented with the Dmitry Chernov gold medal. The award is named after the Russian metallurgist and inventor Dmitry Konstantinovich Chernov. Chernov was one of the leading experts in steelmaking of his time. He is the author of a classic course of lectures on steelmaking that has been republished many times. Several generations of Russian artillerymen went through the school under the guidance of this famous metallurgist. D.K. Chernov’s contribution to the theory and practice of metallurgy was highly praised by domestic and foreign scientists.
It is a great honor for me to receive the D.K. Chernov Gold Medal. This award has been given since 1995 by the Department of Physical Chemistry and Technology of Inorganic Materials of the Russian Academy of Sciences for outstanding work in the field of physical and chemical analysis, chemistry and technology. Of course, for metallurgists, this is the highest level of recognition of the results of research and work. I am confident that the developments in the field of new technologies for thermoplastic processing of materials that were awarded the medal will contribute to ensuring technological leadership and security of our country. I serve Russia and Russian science! – said Andrey Ivanovich.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –
The history of the Polytechnic University continues in the lives of those who have linked their lives with our university. Vasily Marfin, a 1989 graduate of the Physics and Mechanics Department, is a shining example of how a university can become not just a place to get an education, but a real destiny. Having succeeded in engineering and entrepreneurship, he has always been connected with his alma mater. Together with like-minded people, Vasily Borisovich founded a community of our university graduates and heads the Polybusiness association.
Vasily and Elena Marfin raised five children, most of whom also connected their lives with the Polytechnic University. Their family has become a real dynasty., where everyone remains faithful to the traditions of their native university, making its history alive. In May, the Governor of St. Petersburg Alexander Beglov presented the Marfins with an award for their contribution to the upbringing of children.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
IMF staff and the Ethiopian authorities have reached staff-level agreement on economic policies to conclude the third review of the four-year US$3.4 billion Extended Credit Facility arrangement. Once approved by the IMF Executive Board, Ethiopia will gain access to about US$260 million in financing.
Ethiopia’s macroeconomic performance has exceeded program expectations, with better-than-forecast results for inflation, export growth, and international reserves.
Maintaining reform momentum remains essential for consolidating recent gains, correcting macroeconomics imbalances, restoring external debt sustainability, laying the foundations for high, private sector-led growth, and ensuring the success of Ethiopia’s homegrown reform agenda.
Washington, DC: A staff team from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) led by Mr. Alvaro Piris, visited Addis Ababa from April 3 to 17, 2025, to discuss the 2025 Article IV consultation and the third review under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF). Discussions continued at the Spring Meetings in Washington DC, April 21-28, and subsequently. The ECF arrangement was approved by the IMF Executive Board on July 29, 2024, for a total amount of US$3.4 billion (SDR 2.556 billion). Subject to approval by the IMF Executive Board, the third review will make available about US$260 million (SDR191.7 million), bringing total IMF financial support under the ECF arrangement so far to about US$1,849 million (SDR1,406.4 million).
Today, Mr Piris issued the following statement:
“The IMF staff team and the Ethiopian authorities have reached staff-level agreement on the third review of Ethiopia’s economic program under the ECF arrangement. The agreement is subject to the approval of IMF management and the Executive Board in the coming weeks. A memorandum of understanding with official creditors is expected to be agreed ahead of the IMF Board’s consideration of the third review.
“The authorities’ policy actions in the first year of the program have yielded strong results. The transition to a flexible exchange rate regime has proceeded with little disruption. Measures to modernize monetary policy, mobilize domestic revenues, enhance social safety nets, strengthen state-owned enterprises, and anchor financial stability continue to show encouraging results. Macroeconomic indicators have performed better than expected, with substantially better outcomes than forecast for inflation, goods exports, and international reserves.
“Recent policy action should help deepen the FX market and tackle remaining distortions. While real exchange misalignment has been corrected and FX availability has improved from a year ago, the spread between the official and parallel market widened again in early 2025 and high fees and commissions persist. Actions that are being rolled out to enhance transparency, reduce costs, ease restrictions on current account transactions, and strengthen prudential regulation will help to improve the functioning of the FX market.
“Maintaining reform momentum will be key to consolidating gains and securing sustainable high growth. Continued tight monetary and financial conditions will be important for managing inflation and exchange rate expectations. Further revenue mobilization is needed to provide sustainable financing for critical development spending. Reforms to improve the business environment, ensure fair taxation practices, encourage foreign direct investment, and facilitate open dialogue with business will be important to secure private sector investment. Efforts to end the remaining elements of financial repression and develop the capital market will help to mobilize savings and support the efficient allocation of capital.
“The staff team is grateful to the authorities for the excellent policy discussions and their strong commitment to the success of the IMF-supported economic program. The team met with Minister of Finance Ahmed Shide, Governor of the National Bank of Ethiopia Mamo Mihretu, State Minister of Finance Eyob Tekalign, and other senior officials. Staff also had productive discussions with representatives of banks and businesses that are operating in a range of sectors and representatives of civil society.”
Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Ron Johnson
Corruption of Science & Federal Health Agencies
On May 21, I held my first hearing as chairman of the powerful U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI). The focus was on how federal health agencies downplayed the risk of myocarditis and other adverse events following COVID-19 vaccination.
The best definition of science is skepticism and that hasn’t been allowed. We haven’t been able to ask the questions, and those who do are vilified. I ran for a third term because no one was advocating for the vaccine injured. It’s well past time for them to be believed and helped.
For four years, the Biden administration tried to undermine access to information. My interim report, Failure to Warn: How Federal Health Agencies Downplayed the Risk of Myocarditis and Other Adverse Events Following COVID-19 Vaccination,does not contain FOIA redactions and finally provides the public with a more complete understanding of the Biden administration’s awareness of the risks of myocarditis following COVID-19 injection.
Here’s a brief timeline:
February 28, 2021: Israeli Ministry of Health notified officials at the CDC of “large reports of myocarditis, particularly in young people, following the Pfizer vaccine.”
April 12, 2021: DOD consultant presented to federal health officials that the vaccine safety surveillance system lacked the ability to detect reports of myocarditis. Consultant questioned colleagues: “If you do not ask, you will not see it, but does that mean it does not exist?”
End of April, 2021: Senator Johnson asks then NIH Director Francis Collins about VAERS reporting 2,926 deaths worldwide within 30 days of injection. Collins responds, “Senator, people die.”
WATCH 5-minute clip: Senator Johnson reveals rest of the timeline in his opening statement or download and read his statement.
WATCH ENTIRE 3-HOUR HEARING: The Corruption of Science and Federal Health Agencies
READ: Witness Testimony
The federal government was well aware of the myocarditis signal following COVID-19 vaccines, particularly in young men, as early as February 2021. Despite months of discussion and apparent acknowledgment of the safety concern, U.S. health officials decided not to issue a warning on the Health Alert Network. Watch this interview with Morning Wire.
X Post (Ben Shapiro clip commenting on report findings calling it “insane and a massive scandal” )
By downplaying and covering up what they knew about COVID-19 injection-induced myocarditis, federal health officials violated the inviolable principle of informed consent with their experimental jab.
A few days later, I appeared on the Ben Shapiro Show and talked about this hearing. As you can watch in this interview, I told Ben this is the tip of the iceberg and there will be more bombshells to come.
Investigating Biden’s Cognitive Decline
In other news from PSI, I announced that letters have been sent to former cabinet members of the Biden Administration requesting they appear before my Subcommittee for an interview about Biden’s cognitive capabilities during his presidency. Will these individuals finally tell the truth, or will they double down on their lies?
The discrepancy between what Cabinet officials were telling the public about the former president’s health and what they were apparently witnessing and saying privately is astonishing, particularly considering that the former president was seeking reelection. After years of being lied to and kept in the dark, the public deserves full and complete transparency about what was known and when concerning President Biden’s health.
READ —> Axios: GOP senator investigating White House handling of Biden’s health
WATCH —> CNN or Fox News
The Tucker Carlson Interview
I traveled to Maine for a wide-ranging interview with Tucker Carlson. The two-hour conversation covers my Senate investigations, why I cannot turn my back on the vaccine injuries, why I’m digging my heels in on the Big Beautiful Bill, and why I’m investigating 9/11.
You can watch the entire show on YouTube or where ever you get your podcasts.
One of the topics getting a lot of attention on social media from this podcast is when I revealed what cured my acid reflux.
In case anyone wants to know, this is what I take.
Around Wisconsin
On May 28, I was invited to the Medical College of Wisconsin for their Public Policy Speaker Series. I appreciate the conversation facilitated by President/CEO Dr. John Raymond and the chance to hear the concerns of the health care and research community.
I always enjoy my visits to the Milwaukee Press Club for their Newsmaker Luncheon series. You can watch the entire event here. I encouraged the journalists to watch President Eisenhower’s Farewell Address to hear his four remarkable prescient warnings for America.
USDA Researchers Find Viruses from Miticide Resistant Parasitic Mites are Cause of Recent Honey Bee Colony Collapses
By: Autumn Canaday Email: arspress@usda.gov
WASHINGTON, May 30, 2025 – Scientists at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) are helping American beekeepers solve the mystery behind a widespread honey bee colony collapse and its debilitating effects on U.S. agriculture. Researchers have submitted a manuscript to a scientific journal for peer review based on our research findings that identified high levels of deformed wing virus A and B and acute bee paralysis in all recently USDA-sampled bees.
These viruses are responsible for recent honey bee colony collapses and losses across the U.S. Since the viruses are known to be spread by parasitic Varroa destructor (Varroa) mites, ARS scientists screened the mites from collapsed colonies and found signs of resistance to amitraz, a critical miticide used widely by beekeepers. This miticide resistance was found in virtually all collected Varroa, underscoring the need for new parasitic treatment strategies.
“Our nation’s food supply thrives, and is sustained, by the work of our pollinators,” said Acting ARS Administrator Joon Park. “USDA scientists continue to research major stressors and new parasite treatment strategies, which will help reduce the agricultural challenge presented by the Varroa mites in honey bee colonies.”
In January 2025, commercial beekeepers began reporting severe losses in commercially managed operations. As losses unfolded, it was evident that over 60% of commercial beekeeping colonies had been lost since the prior summer, representing 1.7 million colonies and an estimated financial impact of $600 million.
ARS scientists collected colony and bee samples from across California and other western states in February 2025, prior to almond pollination.
The USDA-ARS Bee Research Laboratory in Beltsville, MD, analyzed the parasites and pathogens from all samples and focused on individual bees exhibiting behavior known to precede death by minutes or hours. Viruses were indicated in both pooled samples from surviving colonies, and in individual bees showing behavioral morbidities.
“While viruses are a likely end-stage cause of colony death, these results do not rule out the importance of other long known challenges to honey bees,” said ARS Research Leader Dr. Judy Chen.
As the primary managed pollinator, the Apis mellifera, is an integral component of agriculture, providing key pollination services for a wide variety of crops and over one-third of U.S. produce. The value of crops that require bee pollination is estimated to be more than $20 billion annually in the U.S. and $387 billion globally.
ARS researchers will continue to screen honey bees and their colonies for other known stressors and determine the best way to mitigate these stressors, mite infection, and subsequent colony loss.
1 / 3Show Caption +Hide Caption –U.S Army Capt. Patrick Benoit, a general surgeon assigned to the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, operates on a child during the medical readiness exercise (MEDREX) at the 37th Military Hospital in Accra, Ghana, May 20, 2025. Part of African Lion 2025 (AL25), this MEDREX is planned and executed by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), and prepares U.S. military health professionals for the challenges of providing care outside of traditional clinical settings. By working alongside African partners, U.S. medical professionals refine their ability to deliver rapid, adaptable, and resource efficient medical care, directly increasing medical readiness for large scale combat operations.
AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, will take place from April 14 to May 23, 2025. Led by SETAF-AF, on behalf of U.S. Africa Command with over 10,000 troops from more than 50 nations, including seven NATO allies, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. The exercise aims to bolster military readiness, enhance lethality, and foster stronger partnerships, ultimately improving joint capabilities in complex multi-domain environments to enable participating forces to deploy, fight, and win. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Katherine Sibilla) (Photo Credit: 1st Lt. Katherine Sibilla)
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2 / 3Show Caption +Hide Caption –U.S Army Maj. Kelsey White, an obstetrician assigned to the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, performs a cesarean section (C-section) during the medical readiness exercise (MEDREX) at the 37th Military Hospital in Accra, Ghana, May 20, 2025. Part of African Lion 2025 (AL25), this MEDREX is planned and executed by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), and prepares U.S. military health professionals for the challenges of providing care outside of traditional clinical settings. By working alongside African partners, U.S. medical professionals refine their ability to deliver rapid, adaptable, and resource efficient medical care, directly increasing medical readiness for large scale combat operations.
AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, will take place from April 14 to May 23, 2025. Led by SETAF-AF, on behalf of U.S. Africa Command with over 10,000 troops from more than 50 nations, including seven NATO allies, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. The exercise aims to bolster military readiness, enhance lethality, and foster stronger partnerships, ultimately improving joint capabilities in complex multi-domain environments to enable participating forces to deploy, fight, and win. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Katherine Sibilla) (Photo Credit: 1st Lt. Katherine Sibilla)
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3 / 3Show Caption +Hide Caption –U.S. Army Sgt. Farah Hamouda, a respiratory technician assigned to the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, listens to a patient’s heartbeat in the intensive care unit during the medical readiness exercise (MEDREX) at the 37th Military Hospital in Accra, Ghana, May 22, 2025. Part of African Lion 2025 (AL25), this MEDREX is planned and executed by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), and prepares U.S. military health professionals for the challenges of providing care outside of traditional clinical settings. By working alongside African partners, U.S. medical professionals refine their ability to deliver rapid, adaptable, and resource efficient medical care, directly increasing medical readiness for large scale combat operations.
AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, will take place from April 14 to May 23, 2025. Led by SETAF-AF, on behalf of U.S. Africa Command with over 10,000 troops from more than 50 nations, including seven NATO allies, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. The exercise aims to bolster military readiness, enhance lethality, and foster stronger partnerships, ultimately improving joint capabilities in complex multi-domain environments to enable participating forces to deploy, fight, and win. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Katherine Sibilla) (Photo Credit: 1st Lt. Katherine Sibilla)
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U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF)
ACCRA, Ghana — Twenty-seven U.S. medical professionals from Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (LMRC), Dental Health Activity Rheinland-Pfalz, Public Health Command Europe and the North Dakota National Guard concluded a medical readiness exercise (MEDREX) on May 23, 2025 in Accra, Ghana as part of African Lion 2025 (AL25).
From May 5–23, U.S. service members worked alongside Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) personnel at the 37th Military Hospital, the GAF Veterinary Clinic and the Ghana National Dog Academy.
U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Shameka Williams, left, a certified nurse midwife assigned to the 48th Medical Group, 48th Fighter Wing, U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa, and a Ghanaian midwife pose for a photo while holding a newborn during the medical readiness exercise (MEDREX) at the 37th Military Hospital in Accra, Ghana, May 19, 2025. Part of African Lion 2025 (AL25), this MEDREX is planned and executed by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), and prepares U.S. military health professionals for the challenges of providing care outside of traditional clinical settings. By working alongside African partners, U.S. medical professionals refine their ability to deliver rapid, adaptable, and resource efficient medical care, directly increasing medical readiness for large scale combat operations.
AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, will take place from April 14 to May 23, 2025. Led by SETAF-AF, on behalf of U.S. Africa Command with over 10,000 troops from more than 50 nations, including seven NATO allies, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. The exercise aims to bolster military readiness, enhance lethality, and foster stronger partnerships, ultimately improving joint capabilities in complex multi-domain environments to enable participating forces to deploy, fight, and win. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Katherine Sibilla) (Photo Credit: 1st Lt. Katherine Sibilla)
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Medical services included obstetrics and gynecology, trauma surgery, general surgery, critical and intensive care, anesthesia, emergency medicine, dentistry, and veterinary care.
“MEDREX provides hands-on opportunities to increase medical response capabilities in real-world scenarios, ensuring that we are prepared for both combat and humanitarian operations,” said
U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Mary Stuever, trauma medical director at LMRC and trauma surgeon.
This year, MEDREX Ghana was integrated into AL25, the largest annual combined, joint exercise of U.S. Africa Command, led by SETAF-AF, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia.
“I think my colleagues have sharpened their ability to operate in diverse environments,” said
Sgt. 1st Class Albert Nimako, a combat medic assigned to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. “By working alongside African partners, we have refined our ability to deliver rapid, adaptable, and resource-efficient care.”
Nimako returned to Ghana for his second MEDREX, after volunteering for the 2024 Ghana MEDREX last May. Originally from Kumasi, Ghana, he joined the U.S. Army in 2009.
U.S. Army Maj. Bryant Farr, an endodontist assigned to Dental Health Activity Bavaria, examines the mouth of a patient during the medical readiness exercise (MEDREX) at the 37th Military Hospital in Accra, Ghana, May 19, 2025. Part of African Lion 2025 (AL25), this MEDREX is planned and executed by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), and prepares U.S. military health professionals for the challenges of providing care outside of traditional clinical settings. By working alongside African partners, U.S. medical professionals refine their ability to deliver rapid, adaptable, and resource efficient medical care, directly increasing medical readiness for large scale combat operations.
AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, will take place from April 14 to May 23, 2025. Led by SETAF-AF, on behalf of U.S. Africa Command with over 10,000 troops from more than 50 nations, including seven NATO allies, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. The exercise aims to bolster military readiness, enhance lethality, and foster stronger partnerships, ultimately improving joint capabilities in complex multi-domain environments to enable participating forces to deploy, fight, and win. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Katherine Sibilla) (Photo Credit: 1st Lt. Katherine Sibilla)
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“The exercise helps my unit to better prepare to work in austere environments and also work with limited resources,” Nimako said about the 2024 MEDREX. “It brings to our awareness that we will not always have the luxury of working with all the equipment and supplies at our disposal.”
U.S. Army Capt. Kylie Smith, a veterinarian assigned to Public Health Command Europe, and Dr. David Rogers, a veterinarian with Ghana Armed Forces Veterinary Services, perform a cesarean section on a sheep during the medical readiness exercise (MEDREX) at the Ghana Armed Forces Veterinary Services in Accra, Ghana, May 20, 2025. During the MEDREX, Smith had the opportunity to work with animals she had not treated before. Part of African Lion 2025 (AL25), this MEDREX is planned and executed by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), and prepares U.S. military health professionals for the challenges of providing care outside of traditional clinical settings. By working alongside African partners, U.S. medical professionals refine their ability to deliver rapid, adaptable, and resource efficient medical care, directly increasing medical readiness for large scale combat operations.
AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, will take place from April 14 to May 23, 2025. Led by SETAF-AF, on behalf of U.S. Africa Command with over 10,000 troops from more than 50 nations, including seven NATO allies, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. The exercise aims to bolster military readiness, enhance lethality, and foster stronger partnerships, ultimately improving joint capabilities in complex multi-domain environments to enable participating forces to deploy, fight, and win. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Katherine Sibilla) (Photo Credit: 1st Lt. Katherine Sibilla)
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This year’s MEDREX proved highly successful, with participants treating more than 12,000 patients in just three weeks. The mission enabled U.S. personnel to collaborate with other military medical teams and operate in unfamiliar environments—enhancing clinical readiness and adaptability.
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Hope Cruse, left, an animal care specialist, and right, U.S. Army Capt. Kylie Smith, a veterinarian, both assigned to Public Health Command Europe, perform a cesarean section (C-section) on a sheep during the medical readiness exercise (MEDREX) at the in Accra, Ghana, May 20, 2025. Cruse and Smith both had the opportunity to work with animals during the MEDREX that they had not treated before. Part of African Lion 2025 (AL25), this MEDREX is planned and executed by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), and prepares U.S. military health professionals for the challenges of providing care outside of traditional clinical settings. By working alongside African partners, U.S. medical professionals refine their ability to deliver rapid, adaptable, and resource efficient medical care, directly increasing medical readiness for large scale combat operations.
AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, will take place from April 14 to May 23, 2025. Led by SETAF-AF, on behalf of U.S. Africa Command with over 10,000 troops from more than 50 nations, including seven NATO allies, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. The exercise aims to bolster military readiness, enhance lethality, and foster stronger partnerships, ultimately improving joint capabilities in complex multi-domain environments to enable participating forces to deploy, fight, and win. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Katherine Sibilla) (Photo Credit: 1st Lt. Katherine Sibilla)
VIEW ORIGINAL
MEDREX is planned and executed by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), and prepares U.S. military health professionals for the challenges of providing care outside of traditional clinical settings. By working alongside African partners, U.S. medical professionals refine their ability to deliver rapid, adaptable, and resource efficient medical care, directly increasing medical readiness for large scale combat operations.
About African Lion
AL25, the largest annual military exercise in Africa, brings together over 50 nations, including seven NATO allies and 10,000 troops to conduct realistic, dynamic and collaborative training in an austere environment that intersects multiple geographic and functional combatant commands. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) on behalf of the U.S. Africa Command, AL25 takes place from April 14 to May 23, 2025, across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. This large-scale exercise will enhance our ability to work together in complex, multi-domain operations—preparing forces to deploy, fight and win.
About SETAF-AF
U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) prepares Army forces, executes crisis response, enables strategic competition and strengthens partners to achieve U.S. Army Europe and Africa and U.S. Africa Command campaign objectives.
Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:
ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, May 30, 2025/APO Group/ —
Speaking Monday at a breakfast meeting with journalists, the President of the African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org), Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, described his ten-year presidency as a consuming yet profoundly fulfilling mission.
The press briefing is the first official event of the Bank’s 2025 Annual Meetings, taking place in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire from 26 to 30 May 2025 – during which a new president of the Bank will be elected.
“This is not a job. If anyone is looking for a job, please don’t take it. This is not a job. This is a mission,” he said. “As my wife Grace and staff would tell you, for ten years I have had no life. Completely zero. I worked every single day. Every single step.”
Adesina expressed gratitude for the opportunity to lead the institution. “Serving as President of the African Development Bank Group has been the greatest honor of my life,” he said. “It has been a decade of relentless purpose, of enduring passion, and of tireless service.”
The event was attended by journalists covering the Annual Meetings, which are expected to draw a record 6,000 delegates from 91 countries, including policymakers, private sector leaders, academics, civil society, development partners, and media.
“[This] is one of my favorite moments of every Annual Meeting. It gives me the opportunity to speak frankly, reflect deeply, and thank you sincerely,” Adesina told the journalists , adding that the 2025 Meetings are “the final chapter of a remarkable decade of transformation.”
Delivering his remarks in English and French, Adesina reeled out the Bank’s biggest achievements, including the largest capital increase in its history, from $93 billion in 2015 to $318 billion; the record replenishment of the African Development Fund, raising $8.9 billion; and the half a billion Africans who have benefited from the Bank’s investments under his leadership.
Adesina’s presidency began in 2015 with the launch of the “High 5s” development priorities: Light Up and Power Africa, Feed Africa, Industrialize Africa, Integrate Africa, and Improve the Quality of Life for the People of Africa.
Ten years on, those priorities have made a profound impact. “The High 5s have impacted on the lives of over 565 million people across Africa,” Adesina said. “These are not just figures. They are futures. They are hopes realized.”
He expressed his gratitude to the media for their support over the past decade, and for their presence at the last annual meetings under his headship. “Your role is more important than ever,” he said. “You are not just observers. You are amplifiers of Africa’s voice. You shape the narrative. You challenge us. You inform the world.”
Echoing his keynote remarks from the All-Africa Media Leaders’ Summit in May 2024 in Nairobi, Kenya, Adesina called for the emergence of African media platforms that will credibly amplify positive continental narratives on a global scale.
Looking ahead, Adesina expressed pride in the transformation of the Bank during his tenure, and its enhanced global stature. “The African Development Bank you have today is not the African Development Bank you used to have. This is a global institution now.” he said.
Asked what advice he would offer his successor, Adesina responded, “The responsibility of that leader is to build on the past, to look far into the future, and to find within themselves what courage it takes to stand up for Africa’s interests. To make sure that Africa’s voice is never silenced on issues that matter globally and where it matters globally.”
Reflecting on the forthcoming transition, and the institution he will hand over on September 1, 2025, Adesina declared, “Leadership may change, but the mission remains. The Bank’s direction is clear, its resolve strong, and its commitment to Africa’s development unshakable.”
With the summer recreation season just around the corner, RCMP NL is urging all off-road vehicle operators keep safety and preparation front of mind.
Before you depart, consider packing extra clothing, food, a communication device and fire making supplies. Share your intended travel plans, including expected departure and return times with others. These small steps can help you stay safe on the trails if you run into mechanical issues, get lost or face unexpected weather conditions.
Operators of off-road vehicles, including dirt bikes and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), are also required to comply with the Off-Road Vehicles Act and Highway Traffic Act. Failure to do so can result in the seizure of the vehicle and/or violation tickets, with a range of fines.
All operators of off-road vehicles must successfully complete or have an exemption in place for Off-Road Vehicles Safety Training, which is offered free of charge and available through MyGovNL.
You and your passengers must wear helmets and seat belts (where available). Children who are required to use a child seat restraint system, such as a booster seat, under the Highway Traffic Act are required to follow that same legislation as a passenger of an off-road vehicle.
It is illegal to operate an off-road vehicle on a roadway, except to cross from one side to the other, and you must have registration, insurance, a driver’s licence and not less than one hundred and fifty metres of visibility to do so. To access a trail, you may travel on the shoulder of a roadway for a maximum distance of 1 kilometre and at a maximum speed of 20 kilometres an hour, all while yielding to motor vehicle traffic.
Children under the age of 16 must be properly supervised by someone who:
is 18 years of age or older,
has a valid driver’s licence,
has successfully completed the off-road vehicle safety training.
Proper supervision further requires that the supervisor is able to see and be seen by the operator at all times and is in a position to provide immediate direction to the operator. Underage operators without supervision and those who permit underage operation without supervision can be ticketed. The fine imposed on those who permit unsupervised operation ranges from $650.00 – $1,300.00. Ultimately, parents and guardians need to be aware of the dangers associated with unsupervised operation, which include serious injuries and death to the youth and/or others.
Operating an off-road vehicle while impaired is a criminal offence. Impaired operation of any motor vehicle is a choice that unnecessarily places you, your passengers and all others who share the roadway at an increased level of risk of serious injury or death.
Make sure you know the rules of off-road vehicle operation. You can find more information about the Off-Road Vehicles Act and Highway Traffic Act here:
Pictou County District RCMP is asking for the public’s assistance in locating 34-year-old Myles Dexter Clarke, who was last seen on May 30 in Scotch Hill, Nova Scotia.
Clarke, who goes by the name Dexter, is described as 6-foot-0 and 178 pounds. He has blue eyes, brown hair and a full beard. He was last seen wearing a brown t-shirt, brown shorts, and boots.
When someone goes missing, it has deep and far-reaching impacts for the person and those who know them. We ask that people spread the word through social media respectfully.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Dexter Clarke is asked to contact police at 902-485-4333. To remain anonymous, call Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers, toll-free, at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or use the P3 Tips app.
WILMINGTON, Del. – Acting U.S. Attorney Shannon T. Hanson announced today that Rakeshkumar Patel, age 36, of Flushing, New York, pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy for his role in an elder fraud scam targeting older Americans. The Honorable U.S. District Judge Richard G. Andrews accepted the plea.
According to court documents, between at least May 2023 and May 2024, the defendant, who was in the U.S. illegally, conspired with others to defraud elderly victims in Delaware and throughout the country of at least $2,154,889. The victims were contacted over the phone by fraudsters posing as federal agents. The fraudsters convinced each victim that their identity had been compromised and that they were the subject of a federal investigation. To cooperate with the fake federal investigation, the victims were instructed to liquidate their life savings and convert those savings into cash or gold bars. The victims were then directed to deliver that cash or gold to couriers posing as federal agents—like the defendant—who picked up the cash or gold from the victims’ residences or other public places.
“The Department’s Elder Justice Initiative is committed to protecting elderly victims from being swindled out of their hard-earned life savings by bad actors like Patel,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Shannon T. Hanson. “Together, with our law enforcement partners, my office will continue to identify, investigate, and prosecute those who scam the elderly for financial gain. We encourage all members of the public to remain vigilant against these scams. If you think you or a loved one may have been defrauded, make a report to law enforcement immediately.”
“When you talk to victims, you see and hear how gut wrenching and devastating these scams are. They’re often facing deep financial anxiety and are emotionally distressed, with the aftereffects weighing heavy on all aspects of their lives,” says FBI Baltimore Special Agent in Charge Bill DelBagno. “The FBI and our partners are working steadfastly every day to educate the public to avoid these scams and to identify, disrupt, and bring to justice those committing these appalling crimes.”
If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available through the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833 FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). You can also report fraud to any local law enforcement agency or on the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.
The FBI requests victims report:
The name of the person or company that contacted you.
Methods of communication used, including websites, emails, and telephone numbers.
Any bank account number(s) to which you wired funds and the recipient’s name(s).
The name and location of the metal dealer company and the account to which you wired funds, if you were instructed to buy precious metals.
As a result of Patel’s guilty plea to the wire fraud conspiracy, he faces more than five years in federal prison when sentenced. Judge Andrews will determine the defendant’s sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case was investigated by FBI Baltimore Field Office’s Wilmington Resident Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorneys William E. LaRosa and Alexander P. Ibrahim are prosecuting the case.
A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the District of Delaware or on PACER by searching for Case No. 25-CR-46.
Baltimore, Maryland – Today, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland unsealed two indictments. The indictments charged a South Carolina man with defrauding Medicare through a laboratory test scheme during the COVID-19 pandemic and with defrauding customers of his private charter jet company.
Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Maureen R. Dixon, Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG); and Special Agent in Charge Greg Thompson, Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General (DOT-OIG).
As alleged in the first indictment, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Patrick Britton-Harr, 41, of Charleston, South Carolina, and formerly of Annapolis, Maryland, offered COVID-19 screening tests to nursing home patients across the country. Britton-Harr then allegedly fraudulently billed Medicare, through his company Provista Health, for expensive respiratory pathogen panel (RPP) tests for these patients. The RPP tests were medically unnecessary, never ordered by a treating physician as required, and many were never actually performed, including tests for patients who were already deceased. Through Provista Health, Britton-Harr caused the submission of more than $15 million in fraudulent claims for RPP tests to Medicare. Medicare eventually paid out more than $5 million.
According to the second indictment, Britton-Harr owned and controlled AeroVanti, Inc. and its affiliated entities. Through AeroVanti, a private air club offering members a la carte access to private jets, Britton-Harr encouraged “Top Gun” members to pay $150,000 upfront to secure block flight hours. In return, Britton-Harr promised to use their money to purchase specific aircraft, in which Top Gun members would have a securitized interest.
Britton-Harr recruited nearly 100 Top Gun members, who collectively paid approximately $15 million in upfront payments, to purchase five aircraft. Instead of buying the aircraft, Britton-Harr allegedly misappropriated members’ money for his own personal benefit, including paying for yachts and jewelry, his living expenses, and to rent a property near Tampa, Florida. Then Britton-Harr attempted to conceal his fraud by obtaining a $1.5-million loan to purchase one of the aircraft he already claimed that he purchased with Top Gun funds by withholding material information from the lender to obtain the loan.
“It is unconscionable for someone to defraud the government and others for personal gain, especially as we faced a global health crisis,” Hayes said. “Britton-Harr showed a total disregard for those who depend on our Medicare system for health care services and for the individuals he scammed through his private-jet company. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to working with our federal law-enforcement partners to bring those to justice who break the law and take advantage of others.”
“The defendant allegedly perpetrated two fraud schemes, first exploiting the COVID-19 pandemic to defraud Medicare out of millions of dollars and then stealing millions more from customers of his aviation company, all for his personal benefit,” Galeotti said. “These indictments demonstrate the Criminal Division’s commitment to rooting out bad actors who steal from taxpayer-supported health care programs and defraud American consumers.”
“Patrick Britton-Harr’s repeated crimes reveal a man with no moral compass motivated by pure greed. His deceit and scheming resulted in a staggering amount of loss to American taxpayers and the public,” DelBagno said. “He tried to fleece the U.S. government out of millions by taking advantage of a national crisis. After his laboratory testing business failed, Britton-Harr again turned to deception. Time and again, he chose to lie, steal, and deceive. No more. This investigation holds Britton-Harr accountable for his crimes and sends a clear message that the FBI and our partners will not allow such despicable behavior to go unchecked.”
“Individuals who steal from Medicare waste taxpayer dollars and create incisions in the fabric that holds our health care system together. HHS-OIG will continue the pursuit of upholding the integrity, trust, and confidence in federal health care programs, which benefits the people they serve,” Dixon said. “HHS-OIG, in collaboration with our law enforcement partners, will continuously investigate alleged attempts to defraud these programs.”
“The scope of the alleged fraud is staggering and underscores the extraordinary lengths to which individuals will go to deceive and exploit others under the guise of legitimate business, including private aviation services,” Thompson said. “The DOT-OIG remains steadfast in its commitment to working in coordination with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners to pursue those who engage in egregious schemes designed solely for personal enrichment.”
Britton-Harr is charged with five counts of health care fraud and one count of money laundering in the indictment related to his RPP scheme. Additionally, Britton-Harr is charged with six counts of wire fraud in the indictment connected to the AeroVanti scheme.
If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each wire fraud count and 10 years in prison for each health care fraud and money laundering count. A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI, HHS-OIG, and DOT-OIG for their work in investigating these cases. Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ari D. Evans and Matthew P. Phelps and Trial Attorneys David Peters and Chris Wenger, Criminal Division’s Fraud Section who are prosecuting these cases.
Today, the Reserve Bank released1 the web publication ‘Deposits with Scheduled Commercial Banks2 – March 20253’ on its ‘Database on Indian Economy’ portal4 (https://data.rbi.org.in Homepage > Publications).
Scheduled commercial banks (SCBs) (including regional rural banks) report branch-wise data on type of deposits (current, savings and term), its institutional sector wise ownership, age wise distribution of deposits pertaining to individuals, maturity pattern of term deposits as well as number of employees in the annual ‘Basic Statistical Return’ (BSR) – 2 return. These data are released at disaggregated level (viz., type of deposits, population groups5, bank groups, states, districts, centres, interest rate ranges, size, original and residual maturity).
Highlights:
Bank deposits grew (y-o-y) by 10.6 per cent during FY 2024-25 as compared to 13.0 per cent, net of merger, in the previous year (Chart I).
Household sector6 accounted for the largest share of SCB’s deposits at 60.2 per cent; the share of female depositors was 20.7 per cent in March 2025 (Chart II).
Branches in metropolitan areas, which constituted the dominant share in deposits, recorded 11.7 per cent annual growth in March 2025; whereas rural, semi-urban and urban centres registered 10.1 per cent, 8.9 per cent, and 9.3 per cent annual growth, respectively.
The higher returns on term deposits led to higher accretion in such deposits as compared to other type of deposits; the share of saving deposits declined to 29.1 per cent in March 2025 as compared to 30.8 per cent a year ago and 33.0 per cent two years ago.
Nearly 68.4 per cent of term deposits were having the original maturity of one to three as on March 2025.
The share of term deposits bearing interest rate of ‘7 per cent and above’ increased and stood at 72.7 per cent in March 2025 as compared to 64.2 per cent a year ago and 33.5 per cent two years ago.
The share of term deposits of size ‘Rs. one crore and above’ increased to 45.1 per cent in March 2025 from 43.7 per cent in March 2024.
The share of senior citizens’ deposits was 20.2 per cent of total deposits as on March 2025.
Ajit Prasad Deputy General Manager (Communications)
Today, the Reserve Bank released the web publication ‘Basic Statistical Return on Credit by Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) in India – March 2025’1 on its ‘Database on Indian Economy’ (DBIE) portal2 (https://data.rbi.org.in Homepage > Publications). The publication provides information on various characteristics of bank credit in India, based on data submitted by SCBs {including Regional Rural Banks (RRBs)} under the annual ‘Basic Statistical Return (BSR) – 1’ system, which collects information on type of account, organisation, occupation/activity and category of the borrower, district and population3 group of the place of utilisation of credit, rate of interest, credit limit and amount outstanding.
Highlights:
Bank credit growth (y-o-y) decelerated to 11.1 per cent in March 2025 from 15.3 (net of merger4) per cent in the previous financial year.
The deceleration in credit growth (y-o-y) was observed across all bank groups during FY 2024-25. Private sector banks witnessed the steepest decline to 9.5 per cent in March 2025 after a sustained credit growth above 15 per cent for the preceding three years.
With higher credit growth in rural, semi-urban and urban areas compared to metropolitan area, the share of metropolitan branches in total credit declined to 58.7 per cent in March 2025 from 63.5 per cent five years ago.
The growth in personal loans,5 though moderated sharply to 13.2 per cent, continued to outpace headline credit growth, which has led to an increase in their share to 31.0 per cent (24.1 per cent five years ago).
Share of housing loans bearing interest rate 9 per cent and above came down to 36.8 per cent in March 2025 from 54.5 per cent a year ago which signifies decline in cost of housing loans.
Consumer durables and other personal loans accounted for nearly one third of total personal loans; the share of these loans bearing interest rate 11 per cent and above has declined to 47.4 per cent in March 2025 from 50.3 per cent in the previous year.
Loans to industry accounted for nearly one fourth of total bank credit and increased at a (y-o-y) rate of 9.4 per cent in March 2025, down from 10.4 per cent a year earlier.
The share of Individuals in total credit maintained its increasing momentum and stood at 47.8 per cent in March 2025 as compared to 41.5 per cent in March 2020. Within individuals, the share of female borrowers also gradually rose to 23.8 per cent from 22.0 per cent in the said period.
Ajit Prasad Deputy General Manager (Communications)
The following statement from Christopher Lockyear, MSF Secretary General, outlines why the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’s approach to distributing aid in Gaza, Palestine, is dangerous and reckless.
“The disastrous start of the food distribution coordinated by the newly created Gaza Humanitarian Foundation confirmed that the US-Israel plan to instrumentalise aid is ineffective. On 27 May, the first afternoon of distribution in Rafah, south Gaza, dozens of people were shot and injured as wholly insufficient amounts of basic lifesaving supplies were distributed amid chaos.
“Palestinians – deprived of food, water and medical aid for nearly three months – were penned in by fences as they waited to receive basic necessities for survival. This is a stark reminder of the dehumanising treatment imposed by Israeli authorities for more than 19 months.
“Through this dangerous and reckless approach, food is not being distributed where it’s needed most but is instead directed only to areas where Israeli forces choose to amass civilians. This means the most vulnerable – especially the elderly and people with disabilities – have virtually no chance of accessing the food they desperately need.
“The claim that this unprincipled, failing mechanism is necessary to prevent the diversion of aid is false. Since the start of the war, MSF has directly treated patients when we have been able to bring supplies into Gaza. This initiative seems to be a cynical ploy to feign compliance with International Humanitarian Law. In practice, it uses aid as a tool to forcibly displace people as part of what appears to be a broader strategy to ethnically cleanse the Gaza Strip – and to justify the continuation of a war waged without limits.
“Meanwhile, the humanitarian system is being strangled by the restrictions imposed upon it. Israeli authorities have allowed a trickle of aid trucks into Gaza, only to obstruct them immediately after they cross the border, preventing life-saving assistance from reaching the people who need it most, including children and pregnant and lactating women.
“Forcing humanitarian organisations to move such inadequate amounts of aid, when the Israeli siege has created a situation of unbearable need and despair, is leading to lootings. This is the consequence of a society being pushed to the brink, its very fabric torn apart by relentless violence and deprivation. The outcome is more preventable deaths and injuries, and the impossibility of delivering aid in a way that respects people’s dignity. This is part of a broader tactic to reinforce a one-sided narrative: the only way to deliver aid is to militarise it.
“Along with displacement orders and bombing campaigns that kill civilians, weaponising aid in this manner may constitute crimes against humanity. Only a lasting ceasefire and the immediate opening of Gaza’s borders for humanitarian aid – including food, medical supplies, fuel and equipment – can ease this man-made catastrophe.”
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May 30, 2025 – Phnom Penh, Cambodia – Global Affairs Canada
Today, the Government of Canada concluded a successful Team Canada Trade Mission (TCTM) to Thailand and Cambodia. The delegation, led by Sara Wilshaw, Canada’s Chief Trade Commissioner and Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, International Trade, brought together more than 150 representatives from over 90 Canadian organizations, of which 80% are small and medium-sized enterprises, to explore the unique business opportunities that Thailand and Cambodia have to offer.
As Canada works to build a stronger, more resilient economy, the Team Canada approach to trade missions is a proven tool that generates economic benefits for Canadians. As a key initiative under Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, this TCTM opened doors for Canadian businesses in a wide range of sectors to:
form new connections in 2 of Southeast Asia’s emerging markets
diversify their trade strategies
increase their resilience
develop products and services that benefit Canada
During the TCTM’s business-to-business sessions, Ms. Wilshaw saw Canadian, Thai and Cambodian companies in action. She was impressed by the number of meaningful connections made between Canada and its trade partners through this trade mission.
In Bangkok, Thailand, Ms. Wilshaw met with Dr. Nalinee Taveesin, President of Thailand Trade Representatives and Adviser to the Prime Minister of Thailand. She also spoke with members of the board of the Thai-Canadian Chamber of Commerce and senior executives of the Charoen Pokphand Group, the largest Thai investor in Canada. In doing so, she highlighted Canada’s work in expanding trade, investment and supply-chain resilience in the Indo-Pacific region. For example, she noted the opening of a 12th Export Development Canada representation in Bangkok, which helps Canadian companies diversify into the Indo-Pacific region, resulting in more and better business opportunities for Canadians. She also noted Canada’s 15 free trade agreements, spanning 51 countries, as the foundation of Canada’s trade-diversification efforts.
In Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Ms. Wilshaw met with Sun Chanthol, Deputy Prime Minister and first vice-president of the Council for the Development of Cambodia, Sok Siphana, Senior Minister and Adviser to the Prime Minister; Cham Nimul, Minister of Commerce; and Dith Tina, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. She spoke about mutual trade and investment priorities, sector-specific opportunities and the progress being made on a free trade agreement between Canada and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. She also highlighted Canada’s commitment to deepening its engagement in Cambodia under Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy. She noted that Canada’s presence in Phnom Penh was upgraded to an embassy in March 2025 and that this TCTM was the largest-ever Canadian delegation to visit Cambodia.
Blackdown Tableland National Park is temporarily closed to allow roadworks aimed at improving visitor safety and access to be completed.
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) is upgrading and resealing the main access road, as well as undertaking grading and re-gravelling works between Yaddamen Dhina (Horseshoe lookout) and the Munall camping area, including upgrades and repairs to steep, sealed sections of the road.
These improvements will enhance the overall visitor experience.
For safety reasons, the narrow and winding access road cannot accommodate vehicles and visitors during the roadworks.
Blackdown Tableland National Park is scheduled to reopen on 1 August 2025, following completion of roadworks.
QPWS will provide an update when the protected area is safe to reopen.
Visitors are being urged to check Park Alerts for up-to-date information on protected area closures.
The public is urged to obey all signs and directions from Rangers to ensure their safety.
The Civil Service College today held the latest in a series of talks on the country’s foreign affairs, with about 140 senior officials and civil servants in the directorate and senior ranks attending.
Addressing those in attendance, Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung said Hong Kong Special Administrative Region civil servants shoulder a mission of connecting the country with the world.
She highlighted that with the support of the Central People’s Government, the Hong Kong SAR Government has sent young public officers recommended by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to participate in the United Nations Junior Professional Officer Programme, enabling them to contribute their expertise to the country and international organisations.
The talk, organised jointly with the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (OCMFA) in the Hong Kong SAR, was delivered by Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary Permanent Representative of the People’s Republic of China to the United Nations Office at Geneva and other International Organizations in Switzerland Chen Xu.
The theme of the talk was “China on the International Stage: Its Role and Experience in Participating in International Organisations”.
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (May 27, 2025) — Cooperative Security Location (CSL) Comalapa, in coordination with the Salvadoran Navy, hosted the annual U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command / U.S. 4th Fleet Hybrid Fleet Campaign (HFC) Fleet Experimentation (FLEX) Event demonstrating combined/joint integration potential for unmanned systems during a showcase event in San Salvador, El Salvador, May 27.
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Stephen A Murphy, Pratapaditya Pal Senior Lecturer in Curating and Museology of Asian Art, SOAS, University of London
The slick online catalogue entry for “Premium Lot 1, The Piprahwa Gems of the Historical Buddha” on the Sotheby’s Hong Kong website was abruptly replaced on May 7 with a single line notification: “The auction has been postponed.”
Shortly afterwards, the associated webpages went blank. The only evidence remaining on Sotheby’s Hong Kong website was an entry on the Piprahwa gems’ history and a short YouTube promotional clip for the sale (below).
Sotheby’s had first announced its intention to auction the relics on February 6 2025. Discovered in northern India in 1898 and thought to date to the third century BC, it was estimated they would fetch up to HK$100m (£9.7m). The collection was consigned by Chris Peppé on behalf of his family, who had inherited the relics from his great grandfather, William Caxton Peppé – a 19th-century British colonial landowner who owned an estate in India.
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Reaction was muted at first, but as a scholar who researches the early history and archaeology of Buddhism and issues surrounding loot and restitution, I was gravely concerned by this proposed sale. Fortunately, I was not alone, and thanks to detailed research of SOAS colleagues such as Conan Cheong, Ashley Thompson and Thai academic Pipad Krajaejun, as well as protests from Buddhist devotees worldwide, a groundswell of disapproval began to grow.
A letter sent to Sotheby’s by the British Maha Bodhi Society, and shared with me, states:
Millions around the world, whether Buddhist or not, have religious and ethical concerns and believe that the sale of sacred items is morally wrong and offensive … Members of the Buddhist sangha [monkhood], as well as lay followers from all traditions, are appalled that the gems offered in devotional acts by the Buddha’s own clan, have been separated from his corporeal remains and are now being sold to the highest bidder.
This disapproval turned into a tidal wave on May 5, two days before the planned auction, with the intervention of the Indian government – which is now threatening legal action against both Sotheby’s and the Peppé family, demanding that the relics be repatriated to India.
In terms of his rights and those of his relatives to sell the relics, Chris Peppé previously had told the Guardian newspaper: “Legally, the ownership is unchallenged.”
Sotheby’s confirmed to me that it and the Indian government are “currently in discussions regarding the Piprahwa Gems of the Historical Buddha, and are pleased to be working together to find the best possible outcome for all parties”.
How we got here
To understand how we reached this impasse, we must cast our eyes back to 19th-century British colonial India, then forward again to 2018-2023 and a number of high-profile exhibitions at some of the world’s most prestigious museums.
In 1898, the family’s great grandfather, William Caxton Peppé, excavated a Buddhist reliquary monument (known as a stupa) on his estate in Piprahwa, northern India. He uncovered what is now considered by scholars to be the most significant cache of Buddhist relics found in India.
The discovery included five reliquary urns containing gems, ash and bone fragments. An inscription on one suggested the remains could be those of the historical Buddha, who is thought to have been cremated around 200 years prior to their burial.
The Indian Treasure Trove Act of 1878 allowed Peppé to keep a portion referred to as “duplicates” (an art-history term used to justify the dividing up of similar material from a hoard or archaeological site that is very much frowned upon today). The British authorities gifted the bones and ash to King Chulalongkorn of Siam, who enshrined them in Bangkok and distributed portions to other Buddhist nations.
The majority of the 1,800 gems, meanwhile, had been deposited in the Indian Museum in Kolkata. It is a longstanding issue, however, that the bulk of this collection remains locked away in the museum safe, off limits to Buddhists, the wider public and scholars alike. Perhaps the publicity surrounding the Peppé portion of the reliquary contents might prompt that museum to review this policy after 120 years.
About ten years ago, armed with his inherited share of the relics, Chris Peppé began reaching out to museums worldwide, proposing to loan them. This, he recently stated, was to make them accessible to Buddhist devotees and the general public alike. Five museums took him up on the offer and, starting in 2018, duly curated high-profile exhibitions around them or incorporated them into larger shows.
Objects with a history of celebrated exhibitions tend to reach higher prices at auction. Whether the Peppé family intentionally built up the Piprahwa exhibition history with the aim of eventually auctioning the relics is unclear. I contacted Chris Peppé directly and posed this question to him, but he declined to comment.
Tellingly, the Sotheby’s website included a scholarly article from 2023 in Orientations Magazine by John Guy, curator of the Tree and Serpent exhibition. But it was dated to February 2025, which perhaps inadvertently made it appear to have been written as an endorsement of the sale. In fact, the paper had been published to coincide with the exhibition. I contacted Guy about this, and he responded by saying:
I regard the linking of my publication to the Sotheby’s sale as highly inappropriate and this was done without my knowledge or consent. The Met’s lawyers demanded that it be removed immediately, which was done, along with a written apology from Sotheby’s.
When I spoke to Nancy Wong at Sotheby’s, she confirmed this, saying: “We apologised and immediately removed the relevant reference from our website.”
Given the events of the past few weeks, the Peppé family now find themselves in a bind. With the Indian government engaged, and it may not be long before Sotheby’s drops them and the relics altogether. Despite their cultured facades and high-society veneers, auction houses are businesses, designed to make a profit – and any potential buyers may have been thoroughly scared off by recent events.
It is hard, however, for me to have much sympathy for the family who could have prevented this whole affair by donating the relics to a Buddhist community or museum in the first place.
Stephen A Murphy is a Senior Lecturer at SOAS, University of London. Prior to this he was a senior curator at the Asian Civilisations Museum, Singapore, from July 2014-October 2020 where an exhibition displaying the The Piprahwa Gems of the Historical Buddha took place in November 2022-March 2023.
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Laura Elin Pigott, Senior Lecturer in Neurosciences and Neurorehabilitation, Course Leader in the College of Health and Life Sciences, London South Bank University
Cryptogenic strokes have no obvious cause, but is increasingly being linked to subtle, hidden risk factors – such as oestrogen.Krakenimages.com/ Shutterstock
For millions of women, combined hormonal contraceptives are a part of their daily life – providing a convenient and effective option for preventing pregnancy and managing their menstrual cycle.
But new findings are sounding the alarm on a serious, and often overlooked, risk: stroke.
According to recent findings presented at the European Stroke Organisation Conference, combined oral hormonal contraceptives (which contains both oestrogen and progestogen) may significantly increase the chance of women experiencing a cryptogenic stroke. This is a sudden and serious type of stroke that occurs with no obvious cause.
Surprisingly, in younger adults – particularly women – cryptogenic strokes make up approximately 40% of all strokes. This suggests there may be sex-specific factors which contribute to this risk – such as hormonal contraception use. These recently-presented findings lend themselves to this theory.
At this year’s conference, researchers presented findings from the Secreto study. This is an international investigation that has been conducted into the causes of unexplained strokes in young people aged 18 to 49. The study enrolled 608 patients with cryptogenic ischaemic stroke from 13 different European countries.
One of their most striking discoveries was that women who used combined oral contraceptives were three times more likely to experience a cryptogenic stroke compared to non-users. These results stood, even after researchers adjusted for other factors which may have contributed to stroke risk (such as obesity and history of migraines).
It’s well-documented that hormonal contraceptives, which contain both oestrogen and progestin, come with a small, increased risk of experiencing serious health events, including stroke – particularly ischaemic stroke, which occurs when blood flow to part of the brain is blocked.
But a study published earlier this year, which tracked over two million women, found that combined hormonal contraceptives – including the pill, intrauterine devices (IUD), patches and vaginal rings, which all contain both synthetic oestrogen and progestogen – were linked to higher risks of both stroke and heart attack. The vaginal ring increased stroke risk by 2.4 times and 3.8 times for heart attack. The contraceptive patch was found to increase stroke risk by nearly 3.5 times.
Interestingly, they also looked at a progestin-only contraceptive (the IUD) and found there was no increased risk for either heart attacks or strokes.
Both of these recent findings suggest oestrogen may be the main driver of stroke risk. While absolute risk is still low – meaning fewer than 40 in every 100,000 women using a combined hormonal contraceptive will experience a stroke – the population-level impact is significant considering the number of women worldwide that use a combined hormonal contraceptive.
Oestrogen and stroke risk
Combined hormonal contraceptives contain synthetic versions of the sex hormones oestrogen (usually ethinylestradiol) and a progestin (the synthetic version of progestogen).
Natural oestrogen in the body plays a role in promoting blood clotting, which is important for helping wounds heal and prevents excessive bleeding.
But the synthetic oestrogen in contraceptives is more potent and delivered in higher, steady doses. It stimulates the liver to produce extra clotting proteins and reduces natural anticoagulants — tipping the balance toward easier clot formation. This effect, while helpful in stopping bleeding, can raise the risk of abnormal blood clots that can lead to conditions such as stroke. This risk may be even greater for people who smoke, experience migraines or have a genetic tendency to clot.
If a clot forms in an artery that supplies the brain or breaks off and travels through the bloodstream to the brain, this can block blood flow – causing what’s known as an ischaemic stroke. This is the most common type of stroke. Clots can also form in deep veins (such as those in the legs or around your organs).
In addition to clotting, oestrogen may also slightly raise blood pressure and affect how blood vessels behave over time, which can further increase stroke risk.
The effects of oestrogen on clotting may partly explain why the recent conference findings showed a link between combined contraceptive use and cryptogenic stroke risk. Cryptogenic stroke has no obvious cause, but is increasingly being linked to subtle, hidden risk factors – such as hormone-driven clotting.
Understanding risk
These numbers can sound alarming at first, but it’s important to keep them in perspective. The absolute risk – meaning the actual number of people affected – is still low.
For instance, researchers estimate that there may be one additional stroke per year for every 4,700 women using the combined pill.
That sounds rare, and for most users, it is. But when you consider that millions of women use these contraceptives globally, even a small increase in risk can translate into a significant number of strokes at the population level. Which is relative to what is seen with the high number of cryptogenic strokes in young women.
Despite the risks associated with combined hormonal contraceptives, many women continue to use them – either because they aren’t fully informed of the risks or because the alternatives are either less effective, less accessible or come with their own burdens.
Part of the reason this trade-off has become so normalised is the persistent under-funding and under-prioritisation of women’s health research. Historically, medical research has focused disproportionately on men – with women either excluded from studies or treated as an afterthought.
This has led to a limited understanding of how hormonal contraceptives affect female physiology beyond fertility control. As a result, the side-effects remain poorly understood, under-communicated and under-addressed.
Women have a right to make informed decisions about their health and body. This starts with having access to accurate information about the real risks and benefits of every contraceptive option. It means understanding, for example, that while combined hormonal contraceptives do carry a small risk of blood clots and stroke, pregnancy and the weeks following childbirth come with an even higher risk of those same complications. This context is vital for making truly informed choices.
No method of contraception is perfect. But when women are given the full picture, they can choose the method that best suits them. We also need more research that reflects the diversity and complexity of women’s bodies – not just to improve safety, but to expand options and empower decisions.
Laura Elin Pigott 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.
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Dafydd Townley, Teaching Fellow in US politics and international security, University of Portsmouth
The American Revolution was a result of the tyranny experienced by colonists under the British monarchy. Many Americans had fled from Europe where they had been persecuted under the rule of powerful monarchs. The government produced by the revolution was designed to ensure no such tyranny could be reproduced in the newly formed United States.
The framers of the constitution created a checks-and-balances system of government to ensure that no single branch of the federal government (executive, judicial or legislative) could dominate the others. Each branch has powers to curtail or empower the others.
However, some Americans are concerned about a return of absolute rule due to the steps taken by Donald Trump’s second administration. This has sparked around 100 “no kings” protests all over the US, organised to coincide with Trump’s birthday on June 15.
Increasing presidential power
The second Trump administration has made a determined effort to strengthen presidential power and reduce oversight of the executive branch (the presidency). Achieving this could mean the president acting in an arbitrary manner similar to absolute monarchs of the past, free of congressional or judicial interference.
Trump’s “big beautiful bill”, which has been passed in the House of Representatives and now must go to the Senate, contains certain provisions that strengthen the role of the president and undermine the checks-and-balances system.
Previous presidents, such as Franklin D. Roosevelt during the New Deal era of the 1930s, had many of their executive orders cancelled by Supreme Court rulings. Over the last five months, the judiciary has ruled on the constitutionality of Trump’s executive actions, putting at least 180 on hold.
As a consequence, the president has continually questioned the validity of the courts to act. At last week’s West Point graduation ceremony, Trump claimed that last November’s election result “gives us the right to do what we wanna do to make our country great again”.
As Robert Reich, the former US secretary of labor, wrote recently, this “big beautiful bill” will remove the courts’ ability to hold executive officials in contempt and undermine any efforts to stop the administration. Supreme Court rulings could be ignored by the executive branch, and Congress would be unable to enforce its subpoenas and laws. “Trump will have crowned himself king,” Reich concluded.
Just like the judicial branch, the legislative branch (Congress) also has the ability to check the executive branch. Congress can override the presidential veto if both the House and Senate pass legislation with a two-thirds majority. And the executive branch (the president) cannot fund any initiatives without the budget being approved by Congress first.
But Trump and his supporters have minimised the impact that Congress can have on this particular bill by including all of the provisions within a budget reconciliation bill. This is a special legislative procedure that is designed to pass bills through Congress quickly.
Bills usually require 60 votes to bypass a filibuster – a tactic used by senators to delay voting on the bill by refusing to end the debate and speaking for exceptionally long times without a break.
But because this is a budget reconciliation, it only requires a majority – 51 votes – to pass the Senate. And because the Republicans have 53 seats in the Senate, Trump is confident the bill will pass without any Democratic interference.
The House narrowly passed the bill, despite some opposition from Republicans. And some Republican senators have also expressed concerns. But this is the latest move to centralise greater power within the presidency.
Trump makes the commencement speech at the West Point military academy.
Trump v the courts
Trump’s apparent belief that he is above the law has, in part, been supported by last year’s Supreme Court ruling which stated that former presidents had immunity from prosecution for official presidential acts. The Trump v United States decision decided such acts included command of the military, control of the executive branch, and execution of laws.
However, this week’s federal court ruling on the legality of Trump’s economic tariffs represents a setback to the administration’s efforts to strengthen presidential power. The Court of International Trade ruled that the White House’s use of emergency powers did not grant it the authority to impose tariffs on every country, and that the constitution states such power resides within Congress.
The Trump administration immediately said it would be appealing the decision. “It is not for unelected judges to decide how to properly address a national emergency,” Kush Desai, the White House deputy press secretary, said on the ruling, and that Trump would use “every lever of executive power” to “restore American greatness”.
All of which has led Trump to quote another authoritarian leader, Napoleon, on social media. His post – “He who saves his Country does not violate any Law” – was a clear rebuke to those who have tried to limit executive authority while he has been in office, and echoes that of former president Richard Nixon who, in an interview with David Frost about the Watergate scandal, argued that the constitution allowed the president to break the law.
This is an extension of the notion that Article II of the constitution has granted the president the authority to act without checks and balances when dealing with the executive branch. It is a theory much touted within Project 2025, believed to be the blueprint for the Trump presidency.
There are other historical comparisons that could be made of Trump’s authoritarian actions, such as the rule of Charles I of England (1625-49), who believed he could govern without consulting parliament except when he needed to raise taxes to conduct overseas campaigns. Ultimately, this led to a period of civil wars and the execution of the king for treason.
While none of these consequences are likely to be replicated, it is clear the US is currently in a constitutional crisis. The Supreme Court has a number of rulings to make on the judicial challenges to Trump’s executive authority. These will have generational consequences – but it is unclear in which way the court, where conservative judges have a 6-3 majority, will lean.
While Trump may not be seeking a crown for his head, he is certainly arguing that he has the right to control the executive branch in the way he sees fit, without any interference from Congress or the judiciary. This is not the separation of powers as prescribed by the framers of the US constitution, but more like the absolutism of medieval monarchs.
Dafydd Townley 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.
Imagine a future where a diagnosis of untreatable male infertility is no longer the end of the road – because science has found a way to produce human sperm from lab-engineered testicular tissue.
This might sound like science fiction, but I’m leading a team of researchers at the University of Limerick (UL) to work on making the production of human sperm from lab-engineered testicular tissue a reality. If successful, this could redefine fertility treatment and bring hope to the millions of people around the world affected by male infertility.
The precise causes of declining male reproductive health are still being debated. While genetics may play a role, no single genetic factor has been shown to affect male fertility at a population level. Instead, much of the focus has turned to the environment, particularly endocrine-disrupting chemicals.
These chemicals, which can interfere with hormone function, are found in common items such as plastics, pesticides, cosmetics and even painkillers. There is growing evidence that exposure to these substances in the womb can increase the risk of testicular cancer, reduce sperm quality, and lead to male infertility later in life.
SSR involves surgically opening the testicles to search for viable sperm for use in assisted reproductive technologies like IVF. However, success is far from guaranteed. In some cases, the chance of finding even a single usable sperm cell is as low as 40%.
In addition to its physical and emotional toll, SSR places the burden of fertility treatment on the female partner’s reproductive system, meaning women’s bodies are often the target of fertility medications and procedures. It does little to address the underlying health risks associated with male infertility, including higher rates of illness and early mortality.
And if SSR fails, the only option left is to use donor sperm – a difficult and emotional decision for many people.
Root of the problem
To address male infertility, scientists need to get to the root of the problem and develop solutions that restore natural fertility.
So, given the ethical and biological limits on experimenting directly with humans, researchers have turned to preclinical models to study the human testes. These include ex vivo tissue (human or animal tissue studied outside the body), in vitro cell cultures (human testicular cells grown on lab plates), and animal models (typically rodents or primates).
However, human sperm production is vastly different – and much less efficient – than in other mammals, making animal models unreliable. To move forward, researchers need preclinical models that closely mimic human testes and their ability to produce sperm.
This remains one of the biggest scientific hurdles in the field. While researchers have successfully produced sperm in the lab from mouse testicular tissue, the same has never been achieved in humans.
Our research is attempting to overcome this challenge by combining biology with mechanical engineering and materials science. We started by analysing human testicular tissue samples from a range of donors, building a detailed understanding of how the tissue functions.
This data was fed into the design of model systems that replicate human testicular tissue – not just biologically, but mechanically and structurally. The ultimate goal is to create a model that can not only mimic testicular function but produce viable human sperm.
Lab-produced sperm could revolutionise fertility care. It might one day offer a solution to men who have undergone failed SSR procedures, childhood cancer survivors whose fertility was damaged by chemotherapy or radiation, and male patients with severe, unexplained infertility who currently have no treatment options.
This isn’t just a scientific experiment. It’s about restoring hope to those for whom existing medical approaches have run out of answers.
Eoghan Cunnane receives funding from the European Research Council, Research Ireland, and the UL Foundation.
Within hours of a driver ramming into a crowd at Liverpool’s Premier League victory parade, injuring 65 people, Merseyside Police shared in a press release that they had arrested a suspect. Unusually, the announcement included the race and nationality of the person arrested – a 53-year-old white British man.
This was a stark contrast to the previous summer, when speculation about the ethnicity of a 17-year-old arrested for the murder of three young girls in Southport led to public disorder and riots around the country.
The question of what police and the public can say about an ongoing legal case and when is governed by contempt of court laws, which cover a wide range of behaviour in the UK. They prevent conduct which may disrupt legal proceedings, such as shouting out in court or otherwise causing a disturbance. They also prohibit publications which create “a substantial risk” that legal proceedings “will be seriously impeded or prejudiced”, and ensure that court orders are followed.
A recent House of Commons report suggested that the laws of contempt are not fit for the social media age. The report came after the public disorder which followed the murders of three girls by Axel Rudakubana in Southport in July 2024.
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It is widely accepted that in the Southport case, misinformation spread via social media – specifically, that the attacker was a Muslim asylum seeker called Ali-Al-Shakati – helped to fuel the disorder. Merseyside Police’s decision to quickly publish the ethnicity of the man arrested in Liverpool suggests they were acting to prevent a repeat of the August 2024 riots.
The police were restricted in the information they could release after Southport. Separate from the contempt laws, the Children and Young Persons Act prohibits the publication of material that may identify a person under 18 involved in youth court proceedings, and a judge may order anonymity in other criminal proceedings.
Police responded to riots around the country in August 2024 after misinformation spread about the suspect arrested for the murder of three girls in Southport. Ian Hamlett/Shutterstock
The police did try to combat false information about the case in the days following the Southport attack, but it was too late. They shared that the suspect had been born in Cardiff and that the name circulating on social media was incorrect. However, they could have released more information more quickly, even under the current contempt laws, including details such as Rudakubana’s ethnicity.
The Law Commission, an independent statutory body charged with reviewing the law of England and Wales and suggesting reforms, has said it is an “open question” whether the publication of more information could have prevented or mitigated the disorder after Southport.
But the events after Southport are probably why Liverpool was handled differently. Merseyside Police broke from their previous approach of not releasing ethnicity details (except in cases of missing persons or people on the run). Earlier in May, the police inspectorate published a report on the Southport response, saying police forces “need to better appreciate how fast-moving events will require them to counter false narratives online”.
However, simply releasing the race of the man arrested in Liverpool hasn’t fully filled the information void. A man’s photo was circulated on social media, wrongly identifying him as the person arrested.
It also risks setting a precedent for future cases. If police release a suspect’s ethnicity, some people will make assumptions about whether their ethnicity is linked to a motive for an attack, and may spread misinformation that may prejudice a trial or cause disorder. But if they don’t release the ethnicity, some people may still make assumptions about why police have kept it secret. In either case, misinformation is likely to spread.
Fit for the social media age?
Both of these cases raise concerns about whether current laws are fit for purpose, in an age when information spreads quickly – regardless of whether it is true – on social media.
Regardless of what the police make public, the real challenge is that anyone with a smartphone can instantly comment on any event, and may not know they are putting themselves at risk of committing a contempt of court offence.
In 2019, actress Tina Malone received a suspended sentence of eight months for breaching a court order prohibiting the release of information about the murderers of James Bulger. She shared a social media post which claimed to provide the new identity and a picture of Jon Venables. Malone told the court that she was unaware that she was doing anything wrong.
Newspapers have often been the subject of contempt of court cases. But in theory, anyone who shares a post by a publication later found to be in contempt could be implicated too.
Committing contempt can carry a sentence of up to two years’ imprisonment and an unlimited fine. Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, also known as Tommy Robinson, was recently released from prison, where he had been serving a sentence for repeatedly breaching a court order.
The attorney general has launched campaigns to educate the public on the risks, but whether they’ve had any effect is questionable. Even politicians, including those in government, have made social media posts which come very close to being in contempt of court.
The laws of contempt, which have developed piecemeal over centuries, are not well known or understood. But they are an important part of the legal system, and they attempt to strike a balance between freedom of expression and the right to a fair trial, and to ensure that both victims and defendants receive justice. In the current climate, they need to be made much clearer.
The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
The Little Engine That Could wasn’t the most powerful train, but she believed in herself. The story goes that, as she set off to climb a steep mountain, she repeated: “I think I can, I think I can.”
That simple phrase from a children’s story still holds a lesson for today’s business world – especially when it comes to artificial intelligence.
AI is no longer a distant promise out of science fiction. It’s here and already beginning to transform industries. But despite the hundreds of billions of dollars spent on developing AI models and platforms, adoption remains slow for many employees, with a recent Pew Research Center survey finding that 63% of U.S. workers use AI minimally or not at all in their jobs.
The reason? It can often come down to what researchers call technological self-efficacy, or, put simply, a person’s belief in their ability to use technology effectively.
In my research on this topic, I found that many people who avoid using new technology aren’t truly against it – instead, they just don’t feel equipped to use it in their specific jobs. So rather than risk getting it wrong, they choose to keep their distance.
And that’s where many organizations derail. They focus on building the engine, but don’t fully fuel the confidence that workers need to get it moving.
What self-efficacy has to do with AI
Albert Bandura, the psychologist who developed the theory of self-efficacy, noted that skill alone doesn’t determine people’s behavior. What matters more is a person’s belief in their ability to use that skill effectively.
In my study of teachers in 1:1 technology environments – classrooms where each student is equipped with a digital device like a laptop or tablet – this was clear. I found that even teachers with access to powerful digital tools don’t always feel confident using them. And when they lack confidence, they may avoid the technology or use it in limited, superficial ways.
The same holds true in today’s AI-equipped workplace. Leaders may be quick to roll out new tools and want fast results. But employees may hesitate, wondering how it applies to their roles, whether they’ll use it correctly, or if they’ll appear less competent – or even unethical – for relying on it.
Beneath that hesitation may also be the all-too-familiar fear of one day being replaced by technology.
Going back to train analogies, think of John Henry, the 19th-century folk hero. As the story goes, Henry was a railroad worker who was famous for his strength. When a steam-powered machine threatened to replace him, he raced it – and won. But the victory came at a cost: He collapsed and died shortly afterward.
Henry’s story is a lesson in how resisting new technology through sheer willpower can be self-defeating. Rather than leaving some employees feeling like they have to outmuscle or outperform AI, organizations should invest in helping them understand how to work with it – so they don’t feel like they need to work against it.
Relevant and role-specific training
Many organizations do offer training related to using AI. But these programs are often too broad, covering topics like how to log into different programs, what the interfaces look like, or what AI “generally” can do.
In my study, participants consistently said they benefited most from training that was “district-specific,” meaning tailored to the devices, software and situations they faced daily with their specific subject areas and grade levels.
Translation for the corporate world? Training needs to be job-specific and user-centered – not one-size-fits-all.
The generational divide
It’s not exactly shocking: Younger workers tend to feel more confident using technology than older ones. Gen Z and millennials are digital natives – they’ve grown up with digital technologies as part of their daily lives.
Gen X and boomers, on the other hand, often had to adapt to using digital technologies mid-career. As a result, they may feel less capable and be more likely to dismiss AI and its possibilities. And if their few forays into AI are frustrating or lead to mistakes, that first impression is likely to stick.
When generative AI tools were first launched commercially, they were more likely to hallucinate and confidently spit out incorrect information. Remember when Google demoed its Bard AI tool in 2023 and its factual error led to its parent company losing US$100 billion in market value? Or when an attorney made headlines for citing fabricated cases courtesy of ChatGPT?
Moments like those likely reinforced skepticism – especially among workers already unsure about AI’s reliability. But the technology has already come a long way in a relatively short period of time.
The solution to getting those who may be slower to embrace AI isn’t to push them harder, but to coach them and consider their backgrounds.
What effective AI training looks like
Bandura identified four key sources that shape a person’s belief in their ability to succeed:
Mastery experiences, or personal success
Vicarious experiences, or seeing others in similar positions succeed
Verbal persuasion, or positive feedback
Physiological and emotional states, or someone’s mood, energy, anxiety and so forth.
In my research on educators, I saw how these concepts made a difference, and the same approach can apply to AI in the corporate world – or in virtually any environment in which a person needs to build self-efficacy.
In the workplace, this could be accomplished with cohort-based trainings that include feedback loops – regular communication between leaders and employees about growth, improvement and more – along with content that can be customized to employees’ needs and roles. Organizations can also experiment with engaging formats like PricewaterhouseCoopers’ prompting parties, which provide low-stakes opportunities for employees to build confidence and try new AI programs.
In “Pokemon Go!,” it’s possible to level up by stacking lots of small, low-stakes wins and gaining experience points along the way. Workplaces could approach AI training the same way, giving employees frequent, simple opportunities tied to their actual work to steadily build confidence and skill.
The curriculum doesn’t have to be revolutionary. It just needs to follow these principles and not fall victim to death by PowerPoint, or end up being generic training that isn’t applicable to specific roles in the workplace.
As organizations continue to invest heavily in developing and accessing AI technologies, it’s also essential that they invest in the people who will use them. AI might change what the workforce looks like, but there’s still going to be a workforce. And when people are well trained, AI can make both them and the outfits they work for significantly more effective.
Greg Edwards 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.