NewzIntel.com

Category: Education

  • MIL-OSI Security: St. Louis Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Shootings and Carjacking

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey on Tuesday sentenced a convicted felon who committed an armed 2018 carjacking, a 2021 shooting and two other crimes involving guns to 25 years in prison.

    Darnell L. Clemons left a string of victims terrified and traumatized, according to testimony at Monday’s sentencing hearing.

    On May 16, 2018, Darnell L. Clemons and a nephew robbed and carjacked the manager of a University City, Missouri restaurant. Clemons stole the victim’s 2015 Toyota Corolla, cash and her phone after placing the muzzle of a handgun to her forehead and stomach.

    On July 29, 2021, Clemons’ nephew spotted a gun in a bag belonging to a customer at a Florissant, Missouri gas station and convenience store. The nephew tried to steal the gun, triggering a struggle. Clemons spotted the struggle, ran into the store and shot the victim in the back, resulting in permanent injury. He fired another shot from outside of the store.

    On Aug. 4, 2021, following a shootout with unknown individuals in a car, Clemons jumped through a stranger’s window in the O’Fallon neighborhood in St. Louis. Police found a stolen 9mm pistol with the slide locked back and no ammunition, indicating that Clemons had fired it recently. Clemons initially gave his brother’s name to police and claimed that officers planted the gun they found. A witness saw Clemons with the gun and his fingerprint was on the pistol’s magazine, however.

    On Dec. 8, 2021, Clemons was arrested on outstanding warrants by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department’s Fugitive Unit with the assistance of Homeland Security Investigations. After a foot chase through the Delmar Loop, officers found a 9mm Glock loaded with a large capacity drum magazine. Clemons again gave his brother’s name and falsely claimed that police had planted the gun. He later told police he “should have shot it out with you all” rather than surrendering, and threatened to kill an officer that he recognized, and that officer’s mother.

    Clemons was a “one-man crime wave” for 20 years before that arrest, placing him in the highest criminal history category, according to a sentencing memo. That crime wave included a carjacking committed by Clemons and his nephew at a church and resisting-arrest convictions dating back to age 16. Clemons also “capped off months of domestic abuse by throwing his pregnant girlfriend through a table, causing her to miscarry his own child,” the memo says. He also shot her, the memo says. In a letter to Judge Autrey, Clemons’ former girlfriend said Clemons’ gun went off while he was pistol-whipping her on Mother’s Day. “Hurting people made you laugh, and that’s where you found your joy in life,” she wrote in her letter. “To this day, I still deal with not feeling safe, not even when the police would come, because you have successfully broken into my house countless times. Not only are you my worst nightmare, but also the mother of a child’s worst nightmare as well.”

    “This was a career criminal with no regard for human life and demonstrated a willingness to terrorize communities with violence,” said Mark Zito, Special Agent in Charge of ICE Homeland Security Investigations Kansas City. “This is exactly the kind of dangerous offender HSI targets: armed, repeat violent criminals who think they can operate without consequence. Let this sentencing serve as a clear warning – if you prey on the public with guns and fear, we will find you, we will build the case, and we will make sure you face the full weight of the justice system.”

    Clemons, 38, of St. Louis, pleaded guilty in January in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of carjacking, two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and one count of possession of ammunition by a convicted felon.

    The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the University City Police Department, the Florissant Police Department and the St. Louis County Crime Lab investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Zachary Bluestone and Matthew Martin prosecuted the case.

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Proceedings of the extraordinary general meeting of Spar Nord Bank A/S

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Company announcement no. 22

            

    Proceedings of the extraordinary general meeting of Spar Nord Bank A/S and changes to the Executive Board

    At the extraordinary general meeting held on 24 June 2025, the following resolutions were passed:

    • Election of members to the Board of Directors
    • Dismissal of the auditor and election of a new auditor
    • Amendments to the Articles of Association

    Election of members to the Board of Directors
    All existing members of the Board of Directors elected by the general meeting resigned from the Board of Directors. Michael Rasmussen, Anders Jensen, Tonny Thierry Andersen, Pernille Sindby, and David Hellemann were elected as new members of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors also consists of the following employee representatives: Jannie Merete Thorsø Skovsen, Gitte Holmgaard Sørensen, and Rikke Marie Jacobsen Christiansen.

    At the subsequent Board meeting, the Board of Directors constituted itself with Michael Rasmussen as Chairman and Anders Jensen as Vice Chairman.

    Removal of the auditor and election of a new auditor
    It was resolved to remove the company’s auditor, Deloitte Statsautoriseret Revisionspartnerselskab, and EY Godkendt Revisionspartnerselskab was elected as the new auditor to audit the company’s annual financial statements and to issue a statement on the company’s sustainability reporting.

    Amendments to the Articles of Association
    It was resolved to amend the company’s Articles of Association in accordance with the proposal set out in the notice convening the meeting dated 2 June 2025.

    Changes to the Executive Board
    At the subsequent Board meeting, the Board of Directors appointed Søren Kviesgaard and Dan Erik Krarup Sørensen to the company’s Executive Board, while Lasse Nyby and John Lundsgaard resigned from the Executive Board. The Executive Board also consists of Martin Kudsk Rasmussen and Carsten Levring Jakobsen.

    Søren Kviesgaard holds an MSc (Business Administration and Auditing) from Aarhus School of Business and is a state-authorized public accountant. He joined the Nykredit Group in 2016 from a position as partner at PwC and has since held the position of Executive Vice President of Corporates & Institutions. He was previously Senior Executive Director of FIH Erhvervsbank. Søren has been a member of the Executive Board of Nykredit Bank A/S since 2023.

    Dan Erik Krarup Sørensen holds a PhD in Mathematics from the Technical University of Denmark and a Graduate Diploma in Finance from Copenhagen Business School. He joined the Nykredit Group in 1997 from a position as assistant professor of mathematics at the Technical University of Denmark and has, among other positions, been Vice Executive Director with responsibility for risk management, capital and regulatory affairs. Dan has been a member of the Executive Board of Nykredit Bank A/S since 2015.

    Spar Nord
    Martin Bach
    SVP Corporate Communication

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Proceedings of the extraordinary general meeting of Spar Nord Bank A/S

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Company announcement no. 22

            

    Proceedings of the extraordinary general meeting of Spar Nord Bank A/S and changes to the Executive Board

    At the extraordinary general meeting held on 24 June 2025, the following resolutions were passed:

    • Election of members to the Board of Directors
    • Dismissal of the auditor and election of a new auditor
    • Amendments to the Articles of Association

    Election of members to the Board of Directors
    All existing members of the Board of Directors elected by the general meeting resigned from the Board of Directors. Michael Rasmussen, Anders Jensen, Tonny Thierry Andersen, Pernille Sindby, and David Hellemann were elected as new members of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors also consists of the following employee representatives: Jannie Merete Thorsø Skovsen, Gitte Holmgaard Sørensen, and Rikke Marie Jacobsen Christiansen.

    At the subsequent Board meeting, the Board of Directors constituted itself with Michael Rasmussen as Chairman and Anders Jensen as Vice Chairman.

    Removal of the auditor and election of a new auditor
    It was resolved to remove the company’s auditor, Deloitte Statsautoriseret Revisionspartnerselskab, and EY Godkendt Revisionspartnerselskab was elected as the new auditor to audit the company’s annual financial statements and to issue a statement on the company’s sustainability reporting.

    Amendments to the Articles of Association
    It was resolved to amend the company’s Articles of Association in accordance with the proposal set out in the notice convening the meeting dated 2 June 2025.

    Changes to the Executive Board
    At the subsequent Board meeting, the Board of Directors appointed Søren Kviesgaard and Dan Erik Krarup Sørensen to the company’s Executive Board, while Lasse Nyby and John Lundsgaard resigned from the Executive Board. The Executive Board also consists of Martin Kudsk Rasmussen and Carsten Levring Jakobsen.

    Søren Kviesgaard holds an MSc (Business Administration and Auditing) from Aarhus School of Business and is a state-authorized public accountant. He joined the Nykredit Group in 2016 from a position as partner at PwC and has since held the position of Executive Vice President of Corporates & Institutions. He was previously Senior Executive Director of FIH Erhvervsbank. Søren has been a member of the Executive Board of Nykredit Bank A/S since 2023.

    Dan Erik Krarup Sørensen holds a PhD in Mathematics from the Technical University of Denmark and a Graduate Diploma in Finance from Copenhagen Business School. He joined the Nykredit Group in 1997 from a position as assistant professor of mathematics at the Technical University of Denmark and has, among other positions, been Vice Executive Director with responsibility for risk management, capital and regulatory affairs. Dan has been a member of the Executive Board of Nykredit Bank A/S since 2015.

    Spar Nord
    Martin Bach
    SVP Corporate Communication

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI China: Regular Press Briefing of the Ministry of National Defense on June 13, 2025 2025-06-24 On the afternoon of June 13, 2025, Senior Colonel Jiang Bin, Deputy Director-General of the Information Office of China’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) and Spokesperson for the MND, answered recent media queries concerning the military.

    Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense

    On the afternoon of June 13, 2025, Senior Colonel Jiang Bin, Deputy Director-General of the Information Office of China’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) and Spokesperson for the MND, answered recent media queries concerning the military.

    On the afternoon of June 13, 2025, Senior Colonel Jiang Bin, Deputy Director-General of the Information Office of China’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) and Spokesperson for the MND, answers recent media queries concerning the military. (Photo by Sun Yue)

    (The following English text is for reference. In case of any divergence of interpretation, the Chinese text shall prevail.)

    Jiang Bin: First, I would like to announce two pieces of information.

    First, the third China-ASEAN Defense Think Tank Exchange will be held in Guiyang from June 18 to 20. Themed on “Jointly Promote Regional Peace and Build a Safe and Secure Home”, the Exchange focuses on topics such as innovation in China-ASEAN defense cooperation, maritime security cooperation, and crisis management, providing insights and suggestions for building a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future. Defense policy officials, experts and scholars, as well as think tank representatives from China, ASEAN countries, and Timor-Leste will attend the event.

    Second, the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) will start recruiting the 14th batch of female pilot cadets among high school graduates across 31 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) from June 2025. The selection process will be conducted in two stages: preliminary selection and final selection. Female candidates with excellent National College Entrance Examination scores and outstanding flight potential will have the opportunity to be admitted bythe “joint degree programs”, allowing them to study both at the PLAAF academies and at Peking University, Tsinghua University, or Beihang University. We welcome more aspiring young women to apply for recruitment and join the PLAAF, a force full of honour and dreams. For more details, please visit the official website of the Pilot Selection Bureau of PLA Air Force at www.kjzfw.mil.cn.

    Journalist: It is reported that President Xi Jinping recently had a phone call with US President Donald Trump at the request of the latter. President Xi pointed out that the two sides should enhance exchanges in the fields of diplomacy, economy and trade, military affairs, and law enforcement. What are your expectations on China-US mil-to-mil relations?

    Jiang Bin: China upholds the principle of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, and stays committed to promoting the stable, sound, and sustainable development of China-US military-to-military relations. It is hopedthat the US side stop hyping up the so-called “China threat”, earnestly respect China’s core interests and major concerns, work with China towards the same direction to strengthen communication and dialogue, properly manage differences, and enhance mutual understanding and mutual trust, so as to jointly improve and develop relations between the two militaries.

    Journalist: It is reported that the 2025 military academy enrollment plan for high school graduates has recently been released, which has attracted wide public attention. Could you elaborate on the new features and changes in this year’s enrollment plan?

    Jiang Bin: In line with Xi Jinping Thought on Strengthening the Military, the 2025 enrollment work of military academies fully implements the overarching plan for deepening the reform of military academies, focuses on the core needs of combat readiness, and integrates the needs for cultivating high-calibre military talents and developing academic disciplines.The number of high schoolgraduates that the military academies plan to admit this year is basically the same as last year.

    There are four changes in this year’s recruitment. First,there has been a change in the number of enrolling academies, which has been reduced from 27 to 22, so that the military talent cultivation systembecomes more efficient and streamlined. The PLA Army (PLAA) Special Operations Academy, the PLAA Academy of Border and Coastal Defense, the Special Police College of the People’s Armed Police (PAP), and the PAP Coast Guard College will no longer directly enroll high school graduates. Instead, they will enroll students from other PLAA and PAP academies to continue their specialized military training. Second, the method ofcadet cultivation has been changed. In their enrollment plans, the military academies will no longer make the distinction between “commanding” and “non-commanding” categories. The removal of such a distinction and the resulting clarification of cultivation goals will facilitate the students to have a clearer career plan from the outset. Third, military academy graduates are allowed to directly apply for a master’s degree. Starting from 2025, allmilitary academy graduates will have the opportunity to directly apply for master’s programs in related fields, providing more diverse career paths for cadets. Fourth, a special operations talent selection program has been established. Whiling studying in military academies, those who aspire to join the special operations forces will havethe opportunity to participate in a selection program and receive professional and elite training in special operations.

    Military academies are the cradle for cultivating military talents. What’s more important is that they provide a broad stage for young students to pursue their dreams of serving the country. Here, you will be educated with cutting-edge military science and technology, grow alongside like-minded comrades, and forge an iron will and a strong team spirit. In the journey to make our armed forces strong, opportunities awaits you here. We warmly welcome young aspirants to actively apply for military academies, so as to write a magnificent chapter on strengthening the nation and the military with your passion and youth.

    Journalist: The Japanese Ministry of Defense recently stated that two Chinese aircraft carriers operated simultaneously in the Pacific for the first time, and that carrier-based aircraft came “unusually close” to Japanese Self-Defense Force aircraft. What’s your comment?

    Jiang Bin: Recently, the task groups of the PLA Navy’s aircraft carriers Liaoning and Shandong conducted routine training in the West Pacific. During the training, Japanese vessels and aircraft repeatedly made close-in provocations, and even deliberately created maritime and air securityrisks. We are strongly dissatisfied and has lodged solemn representations with the Japanese side.

    The Chinese aircraft carrier task groups conducted training activities on the high seas, which did not target any specific country or objective, and was in full compliance with international law and international practices. The Chinese side,in response to the Japanese vessels and aircraft’s forcible entryinto the training area, took legitimate, lawful, professional, and restrainedcountermeasures all the way through. We urge the Japanese side to stop dangerous and provocative actions, so as to prevent accidents at sea and in the air.

    Journalist: According to reports, the Taipei School of Economics and Political Science Foundation recently held an unofficial “chief-of-staff” level war-gaming on a Taiwan crisis for the first time. The former “Chief of the General Staff” of the Taiwan military, the former Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the former Chief of Staff of the Japan Self-Defense Forces participated the event. In addition, the US and Taiwan held the so-called Defense Industry Forum in Taipei, advocating closer cooperation in weaponry and equipment. What’s your comment?

    Jiang Bin: The Taiwan question is purely China’s internal affair, which brooks no external interference. Any action that emboldens the “Taiwan independence” separatist forces to seek secession will undermine cross-Strait peace and stability. Whoever does that is bound to get burnt for playing with fire, and taste the bitter fruit of its own doing. We urge relevant countries to truly abide by the one-China principle, and stop sending any wrong signal to the “Taiwan independence” separatist forces. In front of the prevailing trend of the ultimate andcertain reunification of China, any scheme to solicit foreign support for independence and contain China with Taiwan is doomed to failure.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The government has approved Vasily Tsereteli as president of the Russian Academy of Arts

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Document

    Order of June 23, 2025 No. 1610-r

    Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin signed an order approving Vasily Tsereteli as President of the Russian Academy of Arts (RAA).

    Vasily Tsereteli was elected president of the academy for a term of 5 years following the general meeting of members of the Russian Academy of Arts, which took place on May 19, 2025. According to the charter of the academy, its president is approved and dismissed from office by the Government.

    A descendant of the famous sculptor Zurab Tsereteli (1934 – 2025), Russian artist Vasily Tsereteli was born in 1978. He is a graduate of the School of Visual Arts in New York and holds an EMBA degree from the Skolkovo Moscow School of Management.

    Since 2009, Vasily Tsereteli has been vice-president of the Russian Academy of Arts, and in April 2025, after the death of Zurab Tsereteli, who headed the Russian Academy of Arts since 1997, he became acting president of the academy.

    Vasily Tsereteli is an academician of the Russian Academy of Arts and a recipient of the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, 2nd class.

    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.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Tatyana Golikova: Over 17 thousand companies will present vacancies at the All-Russian Job Fair

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    The federal stage of the All-Russian Job Fair “Work of Russia. Time of Opportunities” will take place on June 27. The events of the All-Russian Fair will be held in all 89 regions of the country, and Astrakhan, Yekaterinburg, Mineralnye Vody, Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, Omsk, St. Petersburg and Khabarovsk will join the online marathon.

    In total, the All-Russian Job Fair will unite 1.9 thousand sites. The programs of the main events are presented on the portal “Work of Russia”: HTTPS: // Rustavsem.ru/yarmarka2025.

    “Traditionally, the federal stage of the All-Russian Job Fair will be held on the eve of Youth Day after the completion of final exams and diploma defense. The main goal of the fair is to help young people who have not yet decided on their future place of work, find their employer, ensure a seamless transition from training to employment. At the same time, of course, the fair has offers for established professionals and experienced specialists, those who would like to change their career trajectory. As of today, over 17 thousand companies will present their offers,” said Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova.

    Traditionally, the fair will feature an online marathon of business sessions. 15 cities and more than 30 experts will take part in it. It will start at 10:00 and last until 15:00 Moscow time.

    The first venue of the online marathon will be Yekaterinburg, where a session dedicated to graduate employment issues will be held. The capital will host a discussion on the general development of the labor market and the implementation of the national project “Personnel”. The Nizhny Novgorod venue will discuss the personnel forecast for the next 7 years and the impact of artificial intelligence on the labor market.

    The marathon will end in St. Petersburg, where viewers and session participants will learn how and for whom they can retrain for free in order to remain in demand on the labor market, what a portfolio career is, and how to repackage their own experience for professional self-realization.

    The broadcast of the business program will be available on June 27 on the Work in Russia portal and on the social networks of the Ministry of Labor.

    “As a result of the regional stage of the All-Russian Fair, over 44 thousand people were employed. Moreover, more than half of the visitors to the regional stage of the Fair this year are students and graduates of universities and colleges. Therefore, every year we add new interesting formats to the program of events. For example, at the site in Krasnoyarsk, employers will conduct interviews via teleconference with participants of the Fair from Tuva and Altai, as well as with students of the region who are studying in Moscow and St. Petersburg. The Fair traditionally helps graduates and their parents, students and aspiring specialists across the country to learn about in-demand professions, promising employers and career opportunities,” said the head of the Ministry of Labor Anton Kotyakov.

    Each region has its own program of events planned for the fair’s guests, including presentations by employers and the most attractive vacancies in their companies, master classes, trainings, industrial tours to enterprises and other events. For example, a career guidance meeting with representatives of labor dynasties of industrial enterprises and the transport sector of the region will be held for young people in the Novgorod Region, and a gamified career guidance festival will be held in Bashkiria. In the Lipetsk Region, career guidance will be provided to fair participants at the youth career center using neurobracelets, and there will also be an opportunity to attend virtual excursions to enterprises in the region.

    Some events will take place in shopping malls, libraries, and open urban spaces. Thus, in the Altai Territory, in the Emerald Park, there will be an interactive show called “Generation PROFI” with a presentation of a new career guidance television project for young people with the same name “Generation PROFI” and a special thematic quiz.

    Also, at the fair site in the Ulyanovsk region, an awards ceremony will be held for the winners of the regional stage of the All-Russian competition “Best in Profession”, and in Kazan, a competition will be held within the framework of the competition in the nomination “Second Start” for those retrained for a blue-collar profession.

    Let us recall that the All-Russian Job Fair is held annually on the instructions of the President; since 2025, the event has been part of the national project “Personnel”. The organizer of the fair is the Ministry of Labor and regional employment services with the participation of the RSPP, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Education and Science and Rostrud, as well as with the support of the TASS news agency.

    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.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: EDB responds to media enquiries

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         In response to media enquiries about safeguarding national security, an Education Bureau (EDB) spokesman made the following response today (June 24):

         Safeguarding national security is the Government’s responsibility, as well as the obligation of the whole community of Hong Kong. It is also part and parcel of the routine school work in promoting national security education. With the implementation of the National Security Law for five years, Hong Kong has transited “from chaos to stability” and “from stability to prosperity”.  The EDB has adopted a “multi-pronged and co-ordinated” approach, including activities inside and outside the classroom, to strengthen students’ understanding of Chinese culture, the Constitution and the Basic Law, and their awareness of law-abiding in promoting patriotic education.

         The EDB has issued detailed administrative and educational guidelines to schools, requiring them to establish school-based mechanisms and formulate appropriate measures according to their own circumstances and needs to implement various tasks related to safeguarding national security and national security education. The EDB also provided schools with an updated “National Security: School Self-evaluation Checklist” in April this year, and provided suggestions of refinement and good practices of different areas of work, covering national security work planning, monitoring mechanisms, learning and teaching and related resources, school activities, personnel management and training, and home-school co-operation, in order to effectively prevent and suppress acts and activities that endanger or are detrimental to national security. Schools have the responsibility to play a good gate-keeper role and to enhance the sensitivity of teachers and students to national security.

         Schools offering non-local curricula also have the responsibility to help their students, regardless of their ethnicity and nationality, acquire a correct and objective understanding and appreciation of the concept of national security and the National Security Law, as well as the duty to cultivate a law-abiding spirit among their students. These schools should devise and continuously review relevant strategies and measures in light of their school-based circumstances and needs, with a view to maintaining a safe and orderly learning environment and promoting students’ effective learning and healthy development.

         The EDB will continue to monitor and support schools in implementing the relevant work through various channels, such as daily communication with schools. The EDB will also advance towards more in-depth and effective implementation of work to safeguard national security, and continue to work hand in hand with different stakeholders to help schools build a protective barrier to safeguard the well-being of students.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Charitable giving grew to $593B in 2024, propelled by a strengthening US economy and a booming stock market

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Jon Bergdoll, Associate Director of Data Partnerships at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, Indiana University

    Paul Newman, the late actor and philanthropist, co-founded Camp Boggy Creek, which children with serious illnesses and their families attend for free. AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack

    U.S. charitable giving increased 3.3% to US$593 billion in 2024, lifted by the strength of the economy.

    The annual report from the Giving USA Foundation, produced in partnership with the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy,
    found that this was the second-highest level on record after adjusting for inflation.

    Giving grew at the fastest pace since 2021, when the COVID-19 pandemic led many Americans to make larger-than-usual donations. It was also the first time since then that growth in giving outpaced inflation.

    As two of the report’s lead researchers, we see many signs of healthy growth in charitable giving in 2024. Our data shows that the strong economy, which grew 2.8% in 2024, bolstered individual and corporate giving and allowed foundations to maintain the historically high level of giving seen from them in recent years.

    It also helped that stock markets performed well in 2024, consumer sentiment was generally positive, personal income rose and inflation continued to ease.

    Donations to nearly every charitable category we track grew.

    Individuals and corporations led overall growth

    Individual donors continued to provide the bulk of the nation’s charitable gifts. The $392 billion they gave to charity accounted for two-thirds of the year’s total. Giving by individuals grew 5.1% from 2023 − a swifter pace than for all donations.

    Corporate giving rose even faster. It was up 6% to a record $44 billion.

    This growth reflects the high pretax profits earned by corporations in 2024 and the trend toward corporations donating a higher share of pretax profits in recent years.

    For example, corporations generally donated less than 1% of pretax profits from 2004-2018. But our research team started to see corporate giving rise to 1% or more in the 2019 data. This was also the case in 2024, when corporate giving stood at 1.1% of pretax profits.

    Corporate philanthropy has grown by more than 50% since 2019, a trend that has coincided with rising in-kind donations of insulin products and other pharmaceuticals. Drugmakers made an estimated $24 billion in these donations in 2024 − up 41% since 2019.

    To be sure, corporations’ donations amounted to just 7% of overall giving in 2024.

    Meanwhile, grants made by foundations exceeded $100 billion for the third straight year. Almost $1 out of every $5 contributed to charity was from a foundation in each of those years.

    Giving by foundations in the five years ending in 2024 was higher than any other period since Giving USA has tracked this data. Foundation giving, however, remained fairly flat from 2023 to 2024, at about $110 billion.

    Around 8% of all gifts made in 2024 were from bequests included in people’s wills, the same as in 2023. Bequests totaled $44 billion, down 4.4% when adjusted for inflation. But the total given through bequests varies quite a bit from year to year.

    Most kinds of donations increased

    Donations to most of the nine charitable categories Giving USA tracks increased. The one exception: Gifts to churches and other religious institutions fell 1%. But religious giving remained by far the top category, followed by human services and education.

    Religious causes received 23% of all donations, a total of $147 billion. Giving to human services nonprofits, such as food banks and homeless shelters, increased considerably during the pandemic. It now accounts for about 14% of all donations. In 2024, these gifts totaled $91 billion.

    Giving to education, which primarily consists of donations to colleges and universities has tended to grow more slowly than overall giving in recent years.

    Giving for education rebounded to a record high in 2024, however, rising nearly 10% from a year earlier. And these gifts have grown at a quick pace over the past decade, increasing by more than 22% from 2015 to 2024. The $88 billion in gifts received for education in 2024 was the third-largest of the nine categories we follow.

    Several other categories also reached all-time highs of giving in 2024: health, at $61 billion; arts, culture and humanities, at $25 billion; and environment and animals, at $22 billion.

    The increases in giving for most kinds of nonprofits, supported by strong growth in giving by individuals and corporations, indicate that the charitable sector ended 2024 in a relatively solid position.

    Jon Bergdoll receives grant funding from the Giving USA Foundation, which publishes Giving USA.

    Christina Daniken receives grant funding from the Giving USA Foundation, which publishes Giving USA.

    – ref. Charitable giving grew to $593B in 2024, propelled by a strengthening US economy and a booming stock market – https://theconversation.com/charitable-giving-grew-to-593b-in-2024-propelled-by-a-strengthening-us-economy-and-a-booming-stock-market-259221

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Diversifying the special education teacher workforce could benefit US schools

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Elizabeth Bettini, Assistant Professor of Special Education, Boston University

    The demographics of the special education teacher workforce have remained static, but the student population these educators serve is becoming more diverse. Courtney Hale/E+ via Getty Images

    Teachers of color positively impact all students, including students of color with disabilities. Yet, the special education teacher workforce is overwhelmingly white.

    In our recent research, we found that special education teacher demographics are not keeping pace with changes in the student population.

    In 2012, about 80% of U.S. public school teachers were white, including about 80% of special education teachers, while less than 20% were teachers of color. By contrast, in the same year, students of color constituted 47% of those diagnosed with disabilities.

    In our recent study, we examined whether these numbers have changed. Analyzing multiple national datasets on the teacher workforce, we found the proportion of special education teachers of color has been static, even as the student population is rapidly becoming more diverse.

    So, the special education teacher workforce is actually becoming less representative of the student population over time. Specifically, in 2012, 16.5% of special education teachers were people of color, compared with 17.1% in 2021. In that same span, the share of students with disabilities who are students of color rose from 47.3% in 2012 to 53.9% in 2021.

    In fact, for the special education teacher workforce to become representative of the student population, U.S. schools would need to triple the number of special education teachers of color.

    As scholars who study teacher recruitment and retention and teacher working conditions, we are concerned that this disparity will affect the quality of education students receive.

    Why does a diverse teacher workforce matter?

    Without more support from the government, the U.S. teacher workforce is likely to remain predominantly white.
    gradyreese/iStock via Getty Images

    For children of color, the research is clear: Teachers of color are, on average, more effective than white teachers in providing positive educational experiences and outcomes for students of color, including students of color with disabilities.

    One study found that low-income Black male students who had one Black teacher in third, fourth or fifth grade were 39% less likely to drop out of high school and 29% more likely to enroll in college.

    Moreover, teachers of color are just as effective as white teachers – and sometimes more effective – in teaching white students.

    Providing pathways

    The U.S. has institutions dedicated to attracting and retaining educators of color: Programs at historically Black colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving institutions and other minority-serving institutions prepare a substantial number of new teachers of color annually.

    Further, many local initiatives support educators of color and attract teachers who might not otherwise have opportunities to join the profession.

    These include: Grow Your Own programs that recruit effective teachers of color from local communities, teacher residency programs that help schools retain teachers of color, and
    scholarships and loan forgiveness programs that support all teachers, including teachers of color.

    However, the U.S. educator workforce faces broad challenges with declining interest in the teaching profession and declining enrollment in teacher preparation programs. In this context, our findings indicate that without significant investments, the teacher workforce is likely to remain predominately white – at significant cost to students with disabilities.

    Anti-DEI movement cuts funding

    The Trump administration has canceled teacher preparation grants that recruit teachers of color and has taken other actions that could lead to a less diverse and skilled educator workforce.
    Klaus Vedfelt/Getty Images

    While there have been long-standing challenges, recent steps taken by the Trump administration could limit efforts to boost teacher diversity.

    In its push to end diversity, equity and inclusion programs, the administration has cut grant funding for programs designed to develop a diverse educator workforce.

    The administration has also cut millions of dollars dedicated to training teachers to work in underfunded, high-poverty schools and has threatened additional funding cuts to universities engaging in equity-based work.

    These federal actions make the teacher workforce less adept at addressing the substantial challenges facing U.S. schools, such as declining interest in the teaching profession and and persistent racial disparities in student outcomes.

    Given the strong evidence of the benefits of teachers of color and the national trends that our research uncovered, federal and state investments should prioritize supporting prospective teachers of color.

    Elizabeth Bettini’s research has been funded by the US Department of Education’s National Center for Special Education Research within the Institute of Education Sciences, the US Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs, and the Spencer Foundation. She is affiliated with the Council for Exceptional Children’s Division for Research and Teacher Education Division, for which she edits the journal Teacher Education and Special Education.

    LaRon A. Scott has received funding from the U.S. Department of Education Office of Special Education Programs. He is affiliated with the Council for Exceptional Children’s Teacher Education Division and the American Association for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.

    Tuan D. Nguyen receives funding from the National Science Foundation to do work around STEM teachers and computer science education.

    – ref. Diversifying the special education teacher workforce could benefit US schools – https://theconversation.com/diversifying-the-special-education-teacher-workforce-could-benefit-us-schools-254916

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Diversifying the special education teacher workforce could benefit US schools

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Elizabeth Bettini, Assistant Professor of Special Education, Boston University

    The demographics of the special education teacher workforce have remained static, but the student population these educators serve is becoming more diverse. Courtney Hale/E+ via Getty Images

    Teachers of color positively impact all students, including students of color with disabilities. Yet, the special education teacher workforce is overwhelmingly white.

    In our recent research, we found that special education teacher demographics are not keeping pace with changes in the student population.

    In 2012, about 80% of U.S. public school teachers were white, including about 80% of special education teachers, while less than 20% were teachers of color. By contrast, in the same year, students of color constituted 47% of those diagnosed with disabilities.

    In our recent study, we examined whether these numbers have changed. Analyzing multiple national datasets on the teacher workforce, we found the proportion of special education teachers of color has been static, even as the student population is rapidly becoming more diverse.

    So, the special education teacher workforce is actually becoming less representative of the student population over time. Specifically, in 2012, 16.5% of special education teachers were people of color, compared with 17.1% in 2021. In that same span, the share of students with disabilities who are students of color rose from 47.3% in 2012 to 53.9% in 2021.

    In fact, for the special education teacher workforce to become representative of the student population, U.S. schools would need to triple the number of special education teachers of color.

    As scholars who study teacher recruitment and retention and teacher working conditions, we are concerned that this disparity will affect the quality of education students receive.

    Why does a diverse teacher workforce matter?

    Without more support from the government, the U.S. teacher workforce is likely to remain predominantly white.
    gradyreese/iStock via Getty Images

    For children of color, the research is clear: Teachers of color are, on average, more effective than white teachers in providing positive educational experiences and outcomes for students of color, including students of color with disabilities.

    One study found that low-income Black male students who had one Black teacher in third, fourth or fifth grade were 39% less likely to drop out of high school and 29% more likely to enroll in college.

    Moreover, teachers of color are just as effective as white teachers – and sometimes more effective – in teaching white students.

    Providing pathways

    The U.S. has institutions dedicated to attracting and retaining educators of color: Programs at historically Black colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving institutions and other minority-serving institutions prepare a substantial number of new teachers of color annually.

    Further, many local initiatives support educators of color and attract teachers who might not otherwise have opportunities to join the profession.

    These include: Grow Your Own programs that recruit effective teachers of color from local communities, teacher residency programs that help schools retain teachers of color, and
    scholarships and loan forgiveness programs that support all teachers, including teachers of color.

    However, the U.S. educator workforce faces broad challenges with declining interest in the teaching profession and declining enrollment in teacher preparation programs. In this context, our findings indicate that without significant investments, the teacher workforce is likely to remain predominately white – at significant cost to students with disabilities.

    Anti-DEI movement cuts funding

    The Trump administration has canceled teacher preparation grants that recruit teachers of color and has taken other actions that could lead to a less diverse and skilled educator workforce.
    Klaus Vedfelt/Getty Images

    While there have been long-standing challenges, recent steps taken by the Trump administration could limit efforts to boost teacher diversity.

    In its push to end diversity, equity and inclusion programs, the administration has cut grant funding for programs designed to develop a diverse educator workforce.

    The administration has also cut millions of dollars dedicated to training teachers to work in underfunded, high-poverty schools and has threatened additional funding cuts to universities engaging in equity-based work.

    These federal actions make the teacher workforce less adept at addressing the substantial challenges facing U.S. schools, such as declining interest in the teaching profession and and persistent racial disparities in student outcomes.

    Given the strong evidence of the benefits of teachers of color and the national trends that our research uncovered, federal and state investments should prioritize supporting prospective teachers of color.

    Elizabeth Bettini’s research has been funded by the US Department of Education’s National Center for Special Education Research within the Institute of Education Sciences, the US Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs, and the Spencer Foundation. She is affiliated with the Council for Exceptional Children’s Division for Research and Teacher Education Division, for which she edits the journal Teacher Education and Special Education.

    LaRon A. Scott has received funding from the U.S. Department of Education Office of Special Education Programs. He is affiliated with the Council for Exceptional Children’s Teacher Education Division and the American Association for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.

    Tuan D. Nguyen receives funding from the National Science Foundation to do work around STEM teachers and computer science education.

    – ref. Diversifying the special education teacher workforce could benefit US schools – https://theconversation.com/diversifying-the-special-education-teacher-workforce-could-benefit-us-schools-254916

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Federal energy office illustrates the perils of fluctuating budgets and priorities

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Christelle Khalaf, Associate Director, Government Finance Research Center, University of Illinois Chicago

    How much money goes into which pile often changes with the presidency. valiantsin suprunovich/iStock / Getty Images Plus

    When new presidential administrations enter the White House, federal agencies often find their funding and priorities shifting, sometimes dramatically.

    I’m a scholar who studies how policy and market shifts affect regional economies, labor markets and public systems, particularly in the context of critical infrastructure such as energy and water. I’ve seen how both of those types of changes – of funding levels and priorities – destabilize agencies and cut off long-term projects before they achieve their intended goals.

    In one research project, with co-authors Dr. Deborah A. Carroll and Zach Perkins, I took a close look at one office within a federal agency, the Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. What we found serves as an example of how these changes have played out in the past, and it gives context to how the Trump administration’s changes are playing out now in that agency and across the federal government.

    The office, known by researchers and its personnel as EERE, is mainly focused on funding research and development to advance energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies and reduce the costs of those technologies to consumers. Its key efforts involve low-emission transportation, renewable electricity generation and decreasing the carbon emissions of buildings and industry processes.

    It makes grants to, and enters research and development agreements with, small businesses, industry, national laboratories, universities and state and local governments. Recipients are often required to contribute matching funds or other support to the project to complement the federal funding.

    In general, Congress appropriates funding to the office as part of the yearly budget process. However, the office also receives sporadic influxes of additional funding to stimulate the economy or address concerns related to energy security and greenhouse gas emissions. Ultimately, the amount of funding EERE gets depends in part on overall economic conditions or national crises.

    Boosting funding levels

    Some of those supplemental allocations can be significant, and many last until the funds have been spent, even if that takes a number of years. Following the energy crisis in the early 2000s, Congress allocated EERE a total of about $7 billion in funding for research and development in energy efficiency, renewable energy and biofuels.

    Then in 2009, following the Great Recession, Congress gave EERE $16.7 billion – most of which was to help low-income families pay to install efficient light sources or insulation to save them money. About $5.4 billion was for research and development.

    In 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress passed the Energy Act of 2020, mainly focusing on nuclear energy and carbon capture technologies but also providing over $500 million in research and development funding for EERE.

    In 2021, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act allocated about $16.3 billion to EERE. And in 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act provided an additional $18 billion. As with other additional funding allocations, Congress made most of that money available until the total authorized amount has been spent.

    But the future of these allocations is uncertain. A January 2025 executive order by President Donald Trump requested that all agencies immediately pause the disbursement of funds Congress approved in both laws.

    In its 2026 budget, the Trump administration is proposing spending $900 million on EERE’s work – a 70% reduction from its 2025 allocation of $3.5 billion. This echoes a move during Trump’s first term when the White House proposed the office’s funding be cut by nearly 70% between the 2017 and 2018 budgets. However, at that time, Congress decided to keep the office’s budget largely intact. Congress will review and decide on this proposed budget as well.

    Solar energy is just one of the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s areas of research.
    alexsl/iStock / Getty Images Plus

    Shifting priorities

    How those varying amounts of money are spent also changes, often based on shifts in political leadership with different views about what types of technologies are most worth investing in, and about the most effective role of government in developing new technologies.

    Our qualitative analysis has found that Republican administrations typically believe that very-early-stage research and development is an appropriate role for the federal government, but that as technologies move closer to commercialization, the private sector should take the lead.

    In contrast, we found that Democratic administrations believe that promising innovations often fail to reach the market due to insufficient private sector support during the demonstration and deployment phases. So they tend to advocate for increased federal involvement to assist with the transition from research to market-ready technologies.

    There is also a partisan difference in which technologies get financial support. Solar and wind energy technologies have historically received higher funding under Democratic administrations. In contrast, bioenergy and hydrogen technologies have received higher funding under Republican administrations.

    Funding the future

    EERE often funds projects that are considered too risky for private investors to fund alone. Expanding knowledge requires experimentation, so some EERE projects have achieved notable success, while others have not.

    For instance, the office’s investments have played a pivotal role in both spreading electric vehicle technologies and reducing their cost to consumers. Beginning with a major funding boost from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, and with further allocations in subsequent years, EERE helped fund breakthroughs in battery manufacturing, power electronics and electric drive systems.

    These advancements contributed to a sharp rise in adoption: In 2012, there were just 100,000 electric vehicles registered in the U.S. By 2022, that number was above 3 million. And in 2014, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and battery electric vehicles accounted for 3% of all new light-duty vehicle sales. By 2024, that share had grown to 19%.

    EERE’s investments in electric vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cells, by contrast, have not done so well. Despite significant government support in the 2000s, their commercial availability remains largely limited to California, where most of the country’s hydrogen refueling stations are located.

    Various aspects of electric vehicle technologies have received federal support.
    Cavan Images/Cavan via Getty Images

    A change in approach

    Our analysis of the office’s operations finds that the amount of change in funding levels and priorities can create an environment that hinders thoughtful project selection. Programs that begin under one administration can’t be counted on to continue under subsequent presidents, and dollars allocated for the future may be repurposed down the road, leaving projects only partially finished.

    Studies also find that rapidly increasing budgets can create misaligned incentives as public administrators scramble to use the funds during the authorization period. For example, some may prioritize grantees who can accept and spend money rapidly, regardless of the potential public benefit of their innovation.

    Further, the shifting priorities complicate long-term planning for government officials, researchers and businesses. Sustaining innovation over a long period takes years of commitment. Studies have shown that inconsistent or volatile government funding can hinder overall technological progress and discourage private investment. One example is the exploration of algae-based biofuels in the 1980s, which was shut down in the 1990s due to shifting federal priorities. That stalled progress in the field and led to a loss of more than half of the genetic legacy collected through the program. In the late 2000s, the federal government resumed funding algae-based biofuel research.

    Overall, research by us and others underscores the importance of sustained funding and institutional continuity to ensure the success of publicly funded research and development. That’s what other peer countries are doing: boosting long-term investments in clean energy with consistent priorities and predictable funding.

    Following that model, in contrast to the current practice of ever-shifting priorities, would create more effective opportunities to develop, produce and deploy innovative energy technologies in the U.S., helping to maintain global competitiveness and reduce reliance on foreign manufacturing.

    Christelle Khalaf received funding from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation to examine EERE R&D funding trends. She has also received funding from the Department of Energy for separate research.

    – ref. Federal energy office illustrates the perils of fluctuating budgets and priorities – https://theconversation.com/federal-energy-office-illustrates-the-perils-of-fluctuating-budgets-and-priorities-255936

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: ‘Monkey Biz-ness’: Pop culture helped fan the flames of the Scopes ‘monkey trial’ 100 years ago − and ever since

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Ted Olson, Professor of Appalachian Studies and Bluegrass, Old-Time and Roots Music Studies, East Tennessee State University

    The star attorneys of the Scopes trial: Clarence Darrow, left, for the defense and William Jennings Bryan for the prosecution. Historica Graphica Collection/Heritage Images/Getty Images

    Ask Americans about the Scopes trial, and they might have heard of it as the “trial of the century,” a showdown over teaching human evolution.

    Less well known are its origins. As historian Edward J. Larson observed in “Summer for the Gods,” his Pulitzer Prize-winning book: “Like so many archetypal American events, the trial itself began as a publicity stunt.”

    Held during July 1925 in the tiny railroad town of Dayton, Tennessee, located not far from the public university where I teach Appalachian studies, the trial was a “stunt” prompted by the state legislature’s passage of the Butler Act, which forbade educators in public schools from teaching “any theory that denies the story of the Divine Creation of man as taught in the Bible, and to teach instead that man has descended from a lower order of animals.” Tennessee was the first state to enact this type of legislation.

    This “monkey trial” – so dubbed by journalist H. L. Mencken, for humans’ common ancestor with apes – exposed a cultural rift in the United States, as many Christians wrestled with how to reconcile biblical beliefs with Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution. That rift would be widened by media coverage and national response. Over the past century, collective memories of the trial, as interpreted through music, film and literature, have proven a bellwether of the ongoing “culture wars” in American society.

    Publicity stunt

    In Tennessee, support for the Butler Act was hardly universal. Not in favor was George Rappleyea, manager of a Dayton-area coal and iron mining operation. Rappleyea lobbied other community leaders, some of whom supported the new law, to collectively stage a trial, hoping media attention would generate economic activity in the town.

    Those instigators approached John T. Scopes, a social science and math teacher at the local public high school who had also substitute-taught some biology lessons. The 24-year-old could not recall if his lectures had in fact violated the Butler Act, but the textbook in use at his school included evolutionary theory. Scopes agreed to participate.

    Testifying against their teacher were three students who had clearly been coached to do so. Nevertheless, the presiding judge persuaded the grand jury to indict.

    As an early indication of outside interest, Paul Patterson, the publisher of The Baltimore Sun, paid Scopes’ bail, and the ACLU announced it would defend him.

    Center of the storm

    Arguments started on July 10, 1925, at the Rhea County Courthouse. The trial may have begun as a determination of whether Scopes had violated the Butler Act, but both sides soon focused on debating the relative merits of biblical cosmology versus Darwinian theory.

    American teacher John Scopes, second from left, stands during his trial for teaching Darwin’s theory of evolution.
    Hulton Archive/Getty Images

    Representing the creationist perspective was prosecuting attorney Tom Stewart, a future senator from Tennessee. Special counsel William Jennings Bryan, a former U.S. secretary of state, was included on the prosecution team at the behest of a Christian fundamentalist organization.

    The evolutionary theory position was argued by prominent trade union lawyer Clarence Darrow. An agnostic who distrusted religious fundamentalism, Darrow wrote that “there was no limit to the mischief that might be accomplished unless the country was aroused to the evil at hand.”

    A circuslike atmosphere enveloped Dayton. Embodying the “monkey trial” was the performing chimpanzee Joe Mendi, whose trainers posed him for photographs around town. More than 200 journalists attended the trial, with articles appearing in The New York Times, The New Yorker and other publications around the nation.

    Joe Mendi, a monkey who performed in films and theater, was brought to Dayton during the trial.
    Looking Back at Tennessee Photograph Collection, 1890-1981/Tennessee State Library & Archives

    Receiving the most attention was Mencken, whose reportage for The Baltimore Sun did not attempt to disguise his bias against the cultural values of rural America. Dayton’s people, he wrote, “are simply unable to imagine a man who rejects the literal authority of the Bible.”

    Updates were circulated in real time via radio – the first U.S. trial to be broadcast live nationally. Filmed footage was rushed from Dayton to be shared in the nation’s theaters as newsreels.

    The trial ended on July 21, 1925, with a conviction and a fine. Scopes’ conviction was eventually overturned on a technicality. Since the trial had not challenged the legality of the Butler Act, however, that law remained on the books in Tennessee for more than four decades.

    ‘Monkey Biz-Ness’

    Commenting on the Scopes trial were two 1925 recordings by major singers of the day: a comedic jazz ditty entitled “Monkey Biz-Ness (Down in Tennessee),” performed by the International Novelty Orchestra with singer Billy Murray; and the country hit “The John T. Scopes Trial (The Old Religion’s Better After All),” sung by Vernon Dalhart. The latter song’s lyrics, composed by Carson Robison, warned listeners that “you may find a new belief, it will only bring you grief.”

    Other songs of the era – with titles such as “The Bible’s True,” “You Can’t Make a Monkey Out of Me,” “You Talk Like a Monkey and You Walk Like a Monkey” and “Ain’t No Bugs on Me” – echoed that same line of thought: “rural” skepticism toward the “urban,” pro-science perspective on the origins of humankind.

    Supporters of the ‘Anti-Evolution League’ amid the Scopes trial. From Literary Digest, July 25, 1925.
    Mike Licht/Flickr via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY

    Whereas Scopes was the subject of ridicule in those songs, he and his defenders were celebrated as heroes in “Inherit the Wind,” a 1955 Broadway play by Jerome Lawrence and Robert Edwin Lee. A fictionalized portrayal of the Scopes trial, the play powerfully defended free speech – veiled criticism of Sen. Joseph McCarthy’s recent investigations of various American citizens for their political positions and beliefs.

    “Inherit the Wind” inspired a 1960 film of the same name, directed by Stanley Kramer. Its “fanaticism and ignorance” speech depicts the character based on Darrow – played by Spencer Tracy – arguing that without science, society would regress back to a time of unconstrained bigotry. The film received its debut American screening in Dayton on the 35th anniversary of the end of the Scopes trial; Scopes himself was the guest of honor.

    ‘Fanaticism and ignorance is forever busy, and needs feeding.’

    Representations of rural Tennessee in popular culture depictions and in media coverage of the trial drew from a font of stereotypes about Appalachia that have continued into the present century. Condescending depictions of the region have been present in American culture since before the Civil War.

    Centennial commemoration

    Memory of the Scopes trial endures in popular culture. Take, for instance, a reference in Bruce Springsteen’s 1990 song “Part Man, Part Monkey,” or Ronald Kidd’s 2006 “Monkey Town,” a historical novel for young adults.

    Dayton did benefit from the notoriety of the Scopes trial, thanks to sustained cultural tourism. Proud of its unique history, the town today boasts a historical marker to alert passersby to the significance of the landmark event that took place in the Rhea County Courthouse. And in 2025, Dayton has been hosting a series of events to commemorate the trial’s centennial.

    Back in 1925, even the Baltimore journalist Mencken begrudgingly praised Dayton and its townspeople, admitting, “It would be hard to imagine a more moral town than Dayton.”

    “I expected to find a squalid Southern village … What I found was a country town of charm and even beauty,” he wrote.

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

    – ref. ‘Monkey Biz-ness’: Pop culture helped fan the flames of the Scopes ‘monkey trial’ 100 years ago − and ever since – https://theconversation.com/monkey-biz-ness-pop-culture-helped-fan-the-flames-of-the-scopes-monkey-trial-100-years-ago-and-ever-since-255946

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: ‘Monkey Biz-ness’: Pop culture helped fan the flames of the Scopes ‘monkey trial’ 100 years ago − and ever since

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Ted Olson, Professor of Appalachian Studies and Bluegrass, Old-Time and Roots Music Studies, East Tennessee State University

    The star attorneys of the Scopes trial: Clarence Darrow, left, for the defense and William Jennings Bryan for the prosecution. Historica Graphica Collection/Heritage Images/Getty Images

    Ask Americans about the Scopes trial, and they might have heard of it as the “trial of the century,” a showdown over teaching human evolution.

    Less well known are its origins. As historian Edward J. Larson observed in “Summer for the Gods,” his Pulitzer Prize-winning book: “Like so many archetypal American events, the trial itself began as a publicity stunt.”

    Held during July 1925 in the tiny railroad town of Dayton, Tennessee, located not far from the public university where I teach Appalachian studies, the trial was a “stunt” prompted by the state legislature’s passage of the Butler Act, which forbade educators in public schools from teaching “any theory that denies the story of the Divine Creation of man as taught in the Bible, and to teach instead that man has descended from a lower order of animals.” Tennessee was the first state to enact this type of legislation.

    This “monkey trial” – so dubbed by journalist H. L. Mencken, for humans’ common ancestor with apes – exposed a cultural rift in the United States, as many Christians wrestled with how to reconcile biblical beliefs with Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution. That rift would be widened by media coverage and national response. Over the past century, collective memories of the trial, as interpreted through music, film and literature, have proven a bellwether of the ongoing “culture wars” in American society.

    Publicity stunt

    In Tennessee, support for the Butler Act was hardly universal. Not in favor was George Rappleyea, manager of a Dayton-area coal and iron mining operation. Rappleyea lobbied other community leaders, some of whom supported the new law, to collectively stage a trial, hoping media attention would generate economic activity in the town.

    Those instigators approached John T. Scopes, a social science and math teacher at the local public high school who had also substitute-taught some biology lessons. The 24-year-old could not recall if his lectures had in fact violated the Butler Act, but the textbook in use at his school included evolutionary theory. Scopes agreed to participate.

    Testifying against their teacher were three students who had clearly been coached to do so. Nevertheless, the presiding judge persuaded the grand jury to indict.

    As an early indication of outside interest, Paul Patterson, the publisher of The Baltimore Sun, paid Scopes’ bail, and the ACLU announced it would defend him.

    Center of the storm

    Arguments started on July 10, 1925, at the Rhea County Courthouse. The trial may have begun as a determination of whether Scopes had violated the Butler Act, but both sides soon focused on debating the relative merits of biblical cosmology versus Darwinian theory.

    American teacher John Scopes, second from left, stands during his trial for teaching Darwin’s theory of evolution.
    Hulton Archive/Getty Images

    Representing the creationist perspective was prosecuting attorney Tom Stewart, a future senator from Tennessee. Special counsel William Jennings Bryan, a former U.S. secretary of state, was included on the prosecution team at the behest of a Christian fundamentalist organization.

    The evolutionary theory position was argued by prominent trade union lawyer Clarence Darrow. An agnostic who distrusted religious fundamentalism, Darrow wrote that “there was no limit to the mischief that might be accomplished unless the country was aroused to the evil at hand.”

    A circuslike atmosphere enveloped Dayton. Embodying the “monkey trial” was the performing chimpanzee Joe Mendi, whose trainers posed him for photographs around town. More than 200 journalists attended the trial, with articles appearing in The New York Times, The New Yorker and other publications around the nation.

    Joe Mendi, a monkey who performed in films and theater, was brought to Dayton during the trial.
    Looking Back at Tennessee Photograph Collection, 1890-1981/Tennessee State Library & Archives

    Receiving the most attention was Mencken, whose reportage for The Baltimore Sun did not attempt to disguise his bias against the cultural values of rural America. Dayton’s people, he wrote, “are simply unable to imagine a man who rejects the literal authority of the Bible.”

    Updates were circulated in real time via radio – the first U.S. trial to be broadcast live nationally. Filmed footage was rushed from Dayton to be shared in the nation’s theaters as newsreels.

    The trial ended on July 21, 1925, with a conviction and a fine. Scopes’ conviction was eventually overturned on a technicality. Since the trial had not challenged the legality of the Butler Act, however, that law remained on the books in Tennessee for more than four decades.

    ‘Monkey Biz-Ness’

    Commenting on the Scopes trial were two 1925 recordings by major singers of the day: a comedic jazz ditty entitled “Monkey Biz-Ness (Down in Tennessee),” performed by the International Novelty Orchestra with singer Billy Murray; and the country hit “The John T. Scopes Trial (The Old Religion’s Better After All),” sung by Vernon Dalhart. The latter song’s lyrics, composed by Carson Robison, warned listeners that “you may find a new belief, it will only bring you grief.”

    Other songs of the era – with titles such as “The Bible’s True,” “You Can’t Make a Monkey Out of Me,” “You Talk Like a Monkey and You Walk Like a Monkey” and “Ain’t No Bugs on Me” – echoed that same line of thought: “rural” skepticism toward the “urban,” pro-science perspective on the origins of humankind.

    Supporters of the ‘Anti-Evolution League’ amid the Scopes trial. From Literary Digest, July 25, 1925.
    Mike Licht/Flickr via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY

    Whereas Scopes was the subject of ridicule in those songs, he and his defenders were celebrated as heroes in “Inherit the Wind,” a 1955 Broadway play by Jerome Lawrence and Robert Edwin Lee. A fictionalized portrayal of the Scopes trial, the play powerfully defended free speech – veiled criticism of Sen. Joseph McCarthy’s recent investigations of various American citizens for their political positions and beliefs.

    “Inherit the Wind” inspired a 1960 film of the same name, directed by Stanley Kramer. Its “fanaticism and ignorance” speech depicts the character based on Darrow – played by Spencer Tracy – arguing that without science, society would regress back to a time of unconstrained bigotry. The film received its debut American screening in Dayton on the 35th anniversary of the end of the Scopes trial; Scopes himself was the guest of honor.

    ‘Fanaticism and ignorance is forever busy, and needs feeding.’

    Representations of rural Tennessee in popular culture depictions and in media coverage of the trial drew from a font of stereotypes about Appalachia that have continued into the present century. Condescending depictions of the region have been present in American culture since before the Civil War.

    Centennial commemoration

    Memory of the Scopes trial endures in popular culture. Take, for instance, a reference in Bruce Springsteen’s 1990 song “Part Man, Part Monkey,” or Ronald Kidd’s 2006 “Monkey Town,” a historical novel for young adults.

    Dayton did benefit from the notoriety of the Scopes trial, thanks to sustained cultural tourism. Proud of its unique history, the town today boasts a historical marker to alert passersby to the significance of the landmark event that took place in the Rhea County Courthouse. And in 2025, Dayton has been hosting a series of events to commemorate the trial’s centennial.

    Back in 1925, even the Baltimore journalist Mencken begrudgingly praised Dayton and its townspeople, admitting, “It would be hard to imagine a more moral town than Dayton.”

    “I expected to find a squalid Southern village … What I found was a country town of charm and even beauty,” he wrote.

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

    – ref. ‘Monkey Biz-ness’: Pop culture helped fan the flames of the Scopes ‘monkey trial’ 100 years ago − and ever since – https://theconversation.com/monkey-biz-ness-pop-culture-helped-fan-the-flames-of-the-scopes-monkey-trial-100-years-ago-and-ever-since-255946

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Supreme Court rules Trump can rapidly deport immigrants to Libya, South Sudan and other countries they aren’t from

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Eleanor Paynter, Assistant Professor of Italian, Migration, and Global Media Studies, University of Oregon

    Internally displaced people walk along a street in Juba, South Sudan, on Feb. 13, 2025. Brian Inganga/AP Photos

    For the past several months, the Trump administration has been trying to deport immigrants to countries they are not from – despite an April 2025 federal ruling that had blocked the White House from doing so.

    A divided Supreme Court decided on June 23, in a brief emergency order, that the Trump administration can, for now, legally deport immigrants to countries they were not born in – known as “third countries” – without giving them time to contest their destination. The third countries that President Donald Trump has recently prioritized, including El Salvador, South Sudan and Libya, are known for being dangerous places with weak rule of law and routine human rights violations.

    The 6-3 decision did not specify a legal rationale for the ruling. The court’s three liberal justices, Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson, all dissented.

    “Apparently, the Court finds the idea that thousands will suffer violence in farflung locales more palatable than the remote possibility that a District Court exceeded its powers when it ordered the government provide notice to the targeted migrants,” Sotomayor wrote in a 19-page dissent, joined by Kagan and Brown Jackson.

    Understanding this legal case

    The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court at the end of May to allow the rapid deportation of eight men who were convicted of crimes to South Sudan. Only one of those immigrants is from South Sudan, a politically unstable country in northeastern Africa. The rest are from Cuba, Mexico, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.

    Brian Murphy, a federal judge in Massachusetts, had blocked those immigrants’ deportation to South Sudan on May 21, saying that this move violated his April 2025 court order. In that ruling, he stated that people being deported to third countries should have time to contest their destination if it might put them in danger.

    The flight to South Sudan was rerouted to an American military base in the East African country of Djibouti, where the men are reportedly living in a converted shipping container while they wait to hear whether they will be deported to South Sudan.

    Murphy also ruled in April that the Trump administration cannot send other immigrants to Libya if they are not foreign nationals of that North African country.

    I study how restrictive immigration policies make people’s journeys into a new country dangerous and can harm their well-being. In that research, I have interviewed African migrants who have traversed the Sahara Desert, Libya and the Mediterranean Sea to reach Europe, where they seek asylum.

    The White House has not explained why it wants to send immigrants to South Sudan or Libya.

    Libya’s government has denied any direct coordination with the U.S. on this issue, and South Sudan’s government has said that any immigrants deported there with criminal records would be sent to their own countries.

    But a May federal court filing said that Trump administration officials have tried to negotiate deportation arrangements with Libya and South Sudan that give the governments money or other benefits for taking in immigrants from the U.S.

    South Sudanese President Salva Kiir, right, meets with Abdel Fattah, a general from Sudan, at a September 2024 ceremony in Juba, South Sudan.
    South Sudan Presidency/Anadolu via Getty Images

    South Sudan’s shaky footing

    Migrants can legally be deported to another nation when their country of origin refuses to repatriate them – though this practice is rare.

    Former President Joe Biden, for example, deported Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans to Mexico if it was politically or logistically difficult to repatriate them.

    But the Trump administration is the first to insist on expedited removal of immigrants to countries outside of Latin America.

    South Sudan became a country in 2011, when it split from Sudan after a decades-long war. Since then, South Sudan has been led by a single president – Salva Kiir – who has been described by international critics as authoritarian, meaning he tries to centralize his own power and limit other people’s political rights. In March 2025, Kiir oversaw the arrest of vice president and opposition leader Riek Machar.

    Fighting between the government and opposition forces has prompted more than 2.3 million South Sudanese to flee to neighboring countries since 2013.

    In 2025 alone, the country’s civil conflict has prompted more than 130,000 people to become internally displaced, meaning they were forced to leave their homes and live elsewhere within the country.

    In March, Uganda deployed its troops to South Sudan to support the president, prompting concern of a full-scale civil war between forces backing Kiir and opposition forces. The United Nations then extended a U.S.-sponsored arms embargo in May to prevent weapons from reaching the region.

    The conflict has also blocked the distribution of lifesaving aid, including food and other basic supplies, to reach people in South Sudan. About 57% of the country’s estimated 11 million people do not get enough food.

    In March, the U.S. State Department ordered nonemergency U.S. government employees to leave South Sudan.

    The State Department has also documented “significant human rights issues” in South Sudan, including threats to freedom of expression, as well as arbitrary arrests and detentions.

    Libya’s danger for migrants

    People demonstrate against the Government of National Unity in Tripoli, Libya, on June 20, 2025.
    Mahmud Turkia/AFP via Getty Images

    The Trump administration is also trying to send immigrants to Libya, which has not had a stable government since the U.S. and other countries supported the overthrow of dictator Muammar Gadhafi in 2011. Libya is currently ruled by two rival governments: the internationally recognized Government of National Unity in the country’s western region and the Government of National Stability in the east.

    The U.S. has not had an embassy in Libya since 2014 due to unpredictable and unstable security there.

    Armed militias control sections of Libya, and in some cases, they are also embedded as part of the governments.

    Libya is a significant destination for migrants from countries throughout Africa and the Middle East who want to work in, or just pass through, Libya on their way north to Europe.

    It is also a dangerous place for migrants. A 2023 U.N. fact-finding mission in Libya documented what migrants have long maintained in interviews with advocacy groups – they are regularly held for ransom by human traffickers, enslaved, and arrested and tortured in detention centers partly funded by Europe.

    A mass grave found in 2021 near the village of Tarhouna contained the bodies of hundreds of locals who had disappeared under militia rule. In February 2025, the U.N. confirmed the discovery of mass migrant graves, with bodies showing signs of gunshot wounds.

    In a May 2025 court declaration, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the injunction halting rapid third-country deportations threatens “a significant commercial deal to expand activities of a U.S. energy company in Libya.” In Libya, home to Africa’s largest oil reserves, U.S. companies are actively seeking to rekindle partnerships with the country’s national oil company.

    In June, Trump included Libya on the list of countries banned from sending citizens to the U.S., citing the inability to “safely and reliably vet and screen” citizens from Libya and the other banned countries.

    Other options for Trump administration

    The U.S. is actively seeking additional countries it could send immigrants to in the future, even if they are not from those places.

    Rubio issued a memo on June 14, about expanding the list of countries in the current travel ban against foreign nationals from 12 countries, including Libya. He noted that the 36 additional countries – mostly in Africa and including South Sudan – could mitigate the harsh policy by agreeing to accept immigrants from other countries who are deported from the U.S.

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

    – ref. Supreme Court rules Trump can rapidly deport immigrants to Libya, South Sudan and other countries they aren’t from – https://theconversation.com/supreme-court-rules-trump-can-rapidly-deport-immigrants-to-libya-south-sudan-and-other-countries-they-arent-from-258155

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Summer festival and singing mark school’s official opening

    Source: City of Leicester

    AN OUTSTANDING school in Leicester has celebrated its new building with an official opening event.

    Catherine Infant School, in Belgrave, has been completely rebuilt, with new solar panels, larger play areas, a sports pitch and an outdoor classroom, as well as 15 new classrooms, a new library and a sports hall.

    There are also new rooms for the school’s on-site unit for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), plus rooms for work in small groups to help give pupils extra support when they need it.

    Catherine Infant School was one of 50 schools in the country to be rebuilt under a previous Government scheme to bring outdated buildings up to standard. Work began in May 2023 and pupils and staff moved into the new buildings in January 2025.

    Demolition of the old building was completed in March this year and the area where the old building stood has now been landscaped.

    Headteacher Mitesh Madhaw said: “We are absolutely delighted with our new building and grounds. We now have the space and facilities we need to support and inspire learning – and we’re already seeing the benefits, because our recent Ofsted inspection saw us retain our outstanding quality of education.

    “I’m immensely proud that we have been able to achieve this while managing a major building programme. We all put the children first and this has paid off.

    “Also, because the new building is two-storey and occupies a smaller footprint than the previous school, significantly more space has been given over to outdoor areas for learning and play, which is a fantastic improvement.”

    To mark the official opening of the new building, the whole school celebrated in style with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony, a live band, whole-school singing and a summer festival in the playground.

    Assistant city mayor for education, Cllr Elaine Pantling, who attended the official opening, said: “We are very proud to support Catherine Infant School. It’s so important for both pupils and staff that they have the right learning environment and now, thanks to this rebuilding, they have got fantastic facilities for the future.

    “It’s also great to see such good provision at Catherine Infants for those pupils who need a little extra help and support with their learning, so that they can be an integral part of the school community.”

    The school has space for up to 430 pupils, including 10 specialist provision places and a 60-place nursery. More than 80 members of staff work on the premises.

    ENDS

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: MIEM launches the engine: open testing of the second version of Claw Engine has started

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    The team of the workshop “Game Engineering and Interactive Systems” MIEM launched testing among developers of the second version of the Claw Engine game engine. “Vyshka.Glavnoe” tells about the product, in the creation of which MIEM student project teams are participating.

    The Claw Engine is a video game development tool based on generative neural network technologies for rapid prototyping of game ideas and the use of complex gameplay patterns of mechanics. The complex project has been implemented for about two years by student teams of the Game Engineering and Interactive Systems workshop at MIEM. In the fall of 2024, the first version of the engine was launched, which was focused on the basic architecture and simplified visual interface. The environment allowed working with three-dimensional images and programming your own game scenarios.

    “The goal of Claw Engine is to replace the outdated imported game engines, automate work on routine tasks, optimize the game creation process and simplify the development of not only games, but also other interactive applications. The engine can be used by both novice programmers and experienced game creators: for beginners, there is an intuitive interface and a low-code approach, and professionals can use the C programming language

    In June 2025, open testing of the second version of the game engine began. More than 600 developers took part. The new release demonstrates how an experimental idea has turned into a technologically mature product.

    “The second version of Claw Engine is not just an update. It is already a full-fledged modular platform, a transition to an engineering product with an architecture designed for development, expansion and real-life use,” says Vladimir Nikitin, head of the Claw Engine project and deputy head of the Game Engineering and Interactive Systems workshop.

    The new release includes a completely redesigned visual scene editor, support for custom C scripts

    “We are creating an engine in which you can not only assemble scenes, but also implement your own technological solutions – in graphics, behavior, physics. This is an opportunity for students and young developers to build engineering thinking through real work,” notes Ilya Semichasnov.

    Open testing of the second version of the engine is an important step not only in the development of the product, but also in its expansion beyond the university. Developers from different regions of Russia have gained access to the assembly and are helping to debug its operation in different conditions.

    The team’s immediate plans include adding next-generation graphics and physics modules, expanding AI capabilities, and implementing a plugin system. Development is iterative, taking into account community feedback. Thus, in December 2024, Claw Engine was presented at the RED EXPO exhibition, the main event of the gaming industry in Russia. Visitors could test the pre-alpha version of the engine and evaluate its key features: working with 3D scenes, a basic editor, and support for user scripts. In May 2025, the project was also presented at Positive Hack Days, one of the largest tech forums in the country. The workshop team demonstrated how Claw Engine is used in engineering and educational tasks, from modeling the behavior of objects to creating interactive environments. Participation in these events was an important step in the development of the product and expanding professional interest in it.

    Claw Engine has already been used as the basis for hackathons, training courses, diploma projects and R

    Work on Claw Engine unites several independent student projects implemented within the framework of the innovative project model of MIEM. Today, the teams have formed technical processes, built a testing system, and are actively developing internal documentation and a user support system.

    “Claw Engine is one of those flagship projects at MIEM, where a modern project model is being honed. Today, technological projects require a clear organization of working interaction between numerous project teams solving their problem within the framework of creating a single large product. This is how large IT giants work today. In this sense, the Game Engineering and Interactive Systems workshop functions as a connecting hub, the main operator of the entire product creation process,” says Ilya Semichasnov.

    In 2025, an online master’s degree program will be opened on the basis of the workshop.Digital Engineering for Computer Games” is a program aimed at those who want to not just develop games, but design technological solutions for them. The academic director of the program will be the head of the workshop Ilya Semichasnov.

    The program covers the architecture of game systems, work with AI, mathematical modeling, VR and other areas at the intersection of engineering and game development. The educational process includes project work, cooperation with the industry and the opportunity to become part of teams working on real tools.

    Applications for the Master’s program “Digital Engineering for Computer Games” are open until September 15, 2025.

    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.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Shadow treasurer Ted O’Brien accepts invitation to government’s economic roundtable

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

    The federal opposition has accepted an invitation from Treasurer Jim Chalmers for shadow treasurer Ted O’Brien to attend the August economic roundtable.

    The acceptance contrasts with the position taken by former opposition leader Peter Dutton last term. He refused to attend the government’s jobs and skills summit although the Nationals leader David Littleproud did so.

    The opposition’s decision is in line with the indication from its leader Sussan Ley that she wants to be more constructive than the Liberals were last term.

    The roundtable, focused on productivity, has broadened into a meeting where tax reform is expected to figures heavily. Chalmers is looking for consensus for reforms but the extent to which that can be achieved remains to be seen.

    Chalmers said on Tuesday he had provided the invitation to O’Brien “in good faith. I think it would be a good thing to have the shadow treasurer engaged at the economic reform roundtable.

    “I think it will give us a better chance of making the kind of progress that we desperately need to see on reform and in our economy more broadly.”

    Chalmers is still finalising the invitations, which will go to business, the union movement and civil society representatives.

    O’Brien said he would engage at the roundtable “in a business-like fashion”.

    He said the Coalition would be “constructive where we can and critical where we must”. It would hold the government to account and he would not be at the summit “to rubber stamp a talkfest”.

    “It’s worth the treasurer knowing from the outset that I believe rhetoric is no substitute for reform. I want to see honesty in how the government defines the economic problems our nation faces, and I will be looking to tangible outcomes as real measures of success.”

    On Wednesday Ley will appear at the National Press Club, speaking about her personal story, the Liberals’ federal election defeat, and some markers on policy areas where the Liberals will focus.

    She will also outline some priority policy areas that she’ll champion during this parliamentary term.

    In her address Ley will highlight “aspiration”, saying this is the “thread that connects every single part of Australian society”.

    “Aspiration is the foundation of the Australian promise: that if you work hard, play by the rules, do your best for your kids and contribute to your community, you will be able to build a better life for yourself and your family.”

    In her speech, part of which was released ahead of delivery, Ley acknowledges the opposition didn’t just lose the last election – “we got smashed. We respect the election outcome with humility. We accept it with contrition. And we must learn from it with conviction.”

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

    – ref. Shadow treasurer Ted O’Brien accepts invitation to government’s economic roundtable – https://theconversation.com/shadow-treasurer-ted-obrien-accepts-invitation-to-governments-economic-roundtable-259691

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI: Wrap Technologies Announces Appointment of Gerald “Jerry” Ratigan as Chief Financial Officer

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MIAMI, June 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Wrap Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: WRAP) (“Wrap” or, the “Company”), a global pioneer in innovative public safety technologies and services, today announced the appointment of Gerald “Jerry” Ratigan, seasoned finance executive, as the Company’s new Chief Financial Officer.

    Mr. Ratigan brings over 20 years of experience leading financial strategy across public companies, capital markets, investment banking and performance-focused advisory roles. Mr. Ratigan’s background includes extensive work in both international and domestic publicly traded environments, where Mr. Ratigan has consistently driven financial modernization and organizational agility.

    Mr. Ratigan has demonstrated exceptional ability in scaling finance operations, transforming reporting ecosystems and guiding companies through pivotal milestones—including M&A transactions and enterprise-wide digital transformations.

    Mr. Ratigan’s diverse career spans Big Four public accounting, Fortune 500 audit leadership, and C-suite roles in high-growth sectors such as gaming, fintech, travel and entertainment. Most recently, Mr. Ratigan served as the Senior Vice President of Accounting and Controls—and later as Acting Chief Financial Officer—at The Gearbox Entertainment Company. In this role, Mr. Ratigan led financial operations through a critical phase that culminated in a successful acquisition by Take-Two Interactive.

    Mr. Ratigan’s leadership encompassed building the finance function from the ground up, post-merger integration, ERP implementation, ESG reporting and consolidating multi-entity operations across geographies and currencies.

    Prior to Gearbox, Mr. Ratigan served as Senior Director of Accounting and Financial Reporting at Entertainment Benefits Group (a Creative Artists Agency company), where Mr. Ratigan managed global accounting and audit operations. Mr. Ratigan also held Chief Accounting Officer and Chief Audit Executive roles at MoneyOnMobile, Inc. (MOMT), where Mr. Ratigan led public filings, investor communications and SEC compliance—supporting uplisting efforts and complex carve-outs related to divestitures.

    Earlier in Mr. Ratigan’s career, Mr. Ratigan served as Director of SEC Financial Reporting at Prestige Cruise Holdings (acquired by Norwegian Cruise Line), overseeing public filings, XBRL tagging and IPO readiness. At Cooper Industries (later acquired by Eaton), Mr. Ratigan led internal audit efforts, implementing global audit strategies and streamlining post-acquisition integration.

    Mr. Ratigan began his career at KPMG and Grant Thornton, quickly distinguishing with international assignments and national training roles. Mr. Ratigan’s global experience spans work in the U.S., Mexico, China, the U.K., India, Germany, Australia, Bahrain, Thailand and Sweden.

    An advocate for ethics, compliance, and professional development, Mr. Ratigan currently serves on the Global Board of Directors for the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA), contributes to COSO’s new corporate governance framework, and sits on the Global Advisory Board of The CFO Alliance, offering insight on capital markets and economic trends.

    Mr. Ratigan holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and Finance from the University of Miami and an MBA in Data Analytics from Louisiana State University–Shreveport. Mr. Ratigan is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in Texas, a Certified Management Accountant (CMA), and holds credentials in Strategy and Competitive Analysis (CSCA) and Production and Inventory Management (CPIM).

    “Across every role, Jerry has brought a distinctive blend of technical excellence, operational leadership and strategic vision. His work has consistently aligned financial operations with long-term value creation, enabled agility in complex environments, and driven measurable outcomes that build stockholder confidence and enterprise growth. We believe Jerry’s operational experience in capital markets and public accounting make him the right choice to align Wrap’s financial operations with its long-term strategy,” said Scot Cohen, Chief Executive Officer of Wrap.

    “This appointment emphasizes Wrap’s readiness for accelerating adoption and growing market interest. We believe Jerry’s leadership will help drive product scale, ensure accountability, and position Wrap to maximize the commercial opportunities of its expanding portfolio,” said Jared Novick, President and Chief Operating Officer of Wrap.

    “I am both honored and inspired to join Wrap at this defining moment,” said Mr. Ratigan. “The Company is delivering powerful solutions at the intersection of technology, public safety and compassion. I look forward to contributing to our mission while advancing a disciplined financial strategy that strengthens our foundation and creates sustainable stockholder value.”

    Louis Springer Elevated to Vice President of Finance to Support Financial Operational Scale

    Louis Springer’s promotion from Corporate Development to Vice President of Finance reflects both Wrap’s deep bench of internal talent and its disciplined focus on scaling operations with continuity and precision. Over the past 18 months, Mr. Springer played a central role in enacting the operational elements of Wrap’s cost-cutting initiatives and supporting broader organizational change. We believe his background in financial services, investment banking, and public company capital markets further strengthens Wrap’s ability to align day-to-day financial operations with long-term stockholder value creation.

    “Louis Springer has proven himself over the years with Wrap,” said Chief Executive Officer of Wrap, Mr. Cohen. “He’s earned his spot as Vice President of Finance and will continue to anchor our fiscal strategy under Mr. Ratigan’s leadership—bringing both stability and forward momentum that we believe benefits all stakeholders.”

    About Wrap Technologies, Inc.

    Wrap Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: WRAP) a global leader in innovative public safety technologies and non-lethal tools, delivering cutting-edge technology with exceptional people to address the complex, modern day challenges facing public safety organizations.

    Wrap’s BolaWrap® 150 solution leads the world in pre-escalation and beyond, providing law enforcement with a safer choice for nearly every phase of a critical incident.

    This innovative, patented device deploys a multi-sensory, cognitive disruption that leverages sight, sound and sensation to expand the pre-escalation period and give officers the advantage and critical time to manage non-compliant subjects before resorting to higher-force options. The BolaWrap® 150 is a not pain-based- compliance. It does not shoot, strike, shock, or incapacitate—instead, it helps officers strategically operate pre-escalation on the force continuum, reducing the risk of injury to both officers and subjects. Used by over 1,000 agencies across the U.S. and in 60 countries, BolaWrap® is backed by training certified by the International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training (IADLEST), reinforcing Wrap’s commitment to public safety through cutting-edge technology and expert training.

    Wrap Reality® VR is a fully immersive training simulator to enhance decision-making under pressure.

    As a comprehensive public safety training platform, it provides first responders with realistic, interactive scenarios that reflect the evolving challenges of modern law enforcement. By offering a growing library of real-world situations, Wrap Reality® equips officers with the skills and confidence to navigate high stakes encounters effectively, leading to safer outcomes for both responders and the communities they serve.

    WrapVision is an all-new body-worn camera and evidence management system built for efficiency.

    Designed for efficiency, security, and transparency to meet the rigorous demands of modern law enforcement, WrapVision captures, stores and helps manage digital evidence, with operational security, regulatory compliance and superior video picture quality and field of view.

    The WrapVision camera, powered by IONODES boasts cloud integration and adheres to Trade Agreements Act (TAA) compliance requirements and GSA schedule contracts requirements. Crucially, unlike many competitor devices manufactured overseas in foreign, non-compliant, and possibly hostile regions, WrapVision is built in North America, promoting unparalleled data integrity and reducing critical concerns over unauthorized access or foreign surveillance risks.

    Trademark Information

    Trademark Information Wrap, the Wrap logo, BolaWrap®, Wrap Reality® and Wrap Training Academy are trademarks of Wrap Technologies, Inc., some of which are registered in the U.S. and abroad. All other trade names used herein are either trademarks or registered trademarks of the respective holders.

    Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements – Safe Harbor Statement

    This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “should”, “believe”, “target”, “project”, “goals”, “estimate”, “potential”, “predict”, “may”, “will”, “could”, “intend”, and variations of these terms or the negative of these terms and similar expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. Moreover, forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which involve factors or circumstances that are beyond the Company’s control. The Company’s actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied in forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including but not limited to: the Company’s expectations related to the appointment of the new Chief Financial Officer, the expected benefits of the acquisition of W1 Global, LLC, the Company’s ability to maintain compliance with the Nasdaq Capital Market’s listing standards; the Company’s ability to successfully implement training programs for the use of its products; the Company’s ability to manufacture and produce products for its customers; the Company’s ability to develop sales for its products; the market acceptance of existing and future products; the availability of funding to continue to finance operations; the complexity, expense and time associated with sales to law enforcement and government entities; the lengthy evaluation and sales cycle for the Company’s product solutions; product defects; litigation risks from alleged product-related injuries; risks of government regulations; the business impact of health crises or outbreaks of disease, such as epidemics or pandemics; the impact resulting from geopolitical conflicts and any resulting sanctions; the ability to obtain export licenses for counties outside of the United States; the ability to obtain patents and defend intellectual property against competitors; the impact of competitive products and solutions; and the Company’s ability to maintain and enhance its brand, as well as other risk factors mentioned in the Company’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K, subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and other Securities and Exchange Commission filings. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this release and were based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections as well as the beliefs and assumptions of management. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no duty or obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release as a result of new information, future events or changes in its expectations.

    Investor Relations Contact:
    (800) 583-2652
     ir@wrap.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Semen allergies may be suprisingly common – here’s what you need to know

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Michael Carroll, Reader / Associate Professor in Reproductive Science, Manchester Metropolitan University

    Yuriy Maksymiv/Shutterstock

    Imagine itching, burning, swelling, or even struggling to breathe just moments after sex. For a small but growing number of women, that’s not an awkward anecdote – it’s a medical condition. It’s called seminal plasma hypersensitivity (SPH) – an allergy to semen.

    This rare but underdiagnosed allergy isn’t triggered by sperm cells, but by proteins in the seminal plasma — the fluid that carries sperm. First documented in 1967, when a woman was hospitalised after a “violent allergic reaction” to sex, SPH is now recognised as a type 1 hypersensitivity, the same category as hay fever, peanut allergy and cat dander.

    Symptoms range from mild to severe. Some women experience local reactions: burning, itching, redness and swelling of the vulva or vagina. Others develop full-body symptoms: hives, wheezing, dizziness, runny nose and even anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening immune response.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    Until 1997, SPH was thought to affect fewer than 100 women globally. But a study led by allergist Jonathan Bernstein found that among women reporting postcoital symptoms, nearly 12% could be classified as having probable SPH.

    I conducted a small, unpublished survey in 2013 and found a similar 12% rate. The true figure may be higher still. Many cases go unreported, misdiagnosed, or dismissed as STIs, yeast infections, or general “sensitivity”. One revealing clue: symptoms disappear when condoms are used.

    A 2024 study reinforced this finding, suggesting that SPH is both more common and more commonly misdiagnosed than previously believed.

    The problem isn’t the sperm

    The main allergen appears to be prostate-specific antigen (PSA): a protein found in all seminal plasma, not just that of a particular partner. In other words, women can develop a reaction to any man’s semen, not just their regular partner’s.

    There’s also evidence of cross-reactivity. For example, Can f 5, a protein found in dog dander, is structurally similar to human PSA. So women allergic to dogs may find themselves reacting to semen too. In one unusual case, a woman with a Brazil nut allergy broke out in hives after sex, probably due to trace nut proteins in her partner’s semen.

    Diagnosis begins with a detailed sexual and medical history, often followed by skin prick testing with the partner’s semen or blood tests for PSA-specific antibodies (IgE).

    In my own research involving symptomatic women, we demonstrated that testing with washed spermatozoa, free from seminal plasma, can help confirm that the allergic trigger is not the sperm cells themselves, but proteins in the seminal fluid.

    And it’s not just women. It’s possible some men may be allergic to their own semen.

    This condition, known as post-orgasmic illness syndrome (POIS), causes flu-like symptoms, such as fatigue, brain fog and muscle aches, immediately after ejaculation. It’s believed to be an autoimmune or allergic reaction. Diagnosis is tricky, but skin testing with a man’s own semen can yield a positive reaction.

    What about fertility?

    Seminal plasma hypersensitivity doesn’t cause infertility directly, but it can complicate conception. Avoiding the allergen – usually the most effective treatment for allergies – isn’t feasible for couples trying to conceive.

    Treatments include prophylactic antihistamines (antihistamine medications taken in advance of anticipated exposure to an allergen, or before allergy symptoms are expected to appear to prevent or reduce the severity of allergic reactions), anti-inflammatories and desensitisation using diluted seminal plasma. In more severe cases, couples may choose IVF with washed sperm, bypassing the allergic trigger altogether.

    It’s important to note: SPH is not a form of infertility. Many women with SPH have conceived successfully – some naturally, others with medical support.

    So why don’t more people know about this?

    Because sex-related symptoms often go unspoken. Embarrassment, stigma and a lack of awareness among doctors mean that many women suffer in silence. In Bernstein’s 1997 study, almost half of the women who had symptoms after sex had never been checked for SPH, and many had spent years being misdiagnosed and getting the wrong treatment.

    If sex routinely leaves you itchy, sore or unwell – and condoms help – you might be allergic to semen.

    It’s time to bring this hidden condition out of the shadows and into the consultation room.

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

    – ref. Semen allergies may be suprisingly common – here’s what you need to know – https://theconversation.com/semen-allergies-may-be-suprisingly-common-heres-what-you-need-to-know-259308

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: What Glastonbury is like for deaf people – one of the festival’s DeafZone coordinators explains

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Dai O’Brien, Associate Professor, BSL and Deaf Studies, York St John University

    The sense of community is something Deaf people share with how hearing people experience festivals. Drazen Zigic/Shutterstock

    For the past few years at Glastonbury, sign language interpreters have gone viral on social media for enthusiastically signing songs beside the stage. But those clips tell us nothing about what the overall experience of the festival is like for deaf people. How do deaf people experience and enjoy live music, and how do they create their own alternative space which is not focused around sound?

    I am deaf and use British Sign Language (BSL) as my preferred language. As well as my academic job teaching BSL and Deaf studies at York St John University, I am also one of the coordinators of DeafZone. It’s a small charity which organises, among other things, the BSL interpreters of events like Glastonbury.

    But a key reason for setting up DeafZone was to instigate a space for cultural exchange. In the DeafZone, the more progressive, open-minded people who are attracted to Glastonbury’s tradition as a space of radical thought and alternative lifestyles may be open to learning more about deaf people, our languages and cultures.

    An absolutely key element of deaf people’s experience of festivals is the creation of alternative deaf spaces. Deaf people do not experience festivals in the same way as hearing people in more ways that the simple absence of sound.

    We create our own spaces which are visual and tactile. The interpretation of song lyrics into BSL is only a small, albeit very visible, part of this alternative festival space.

    Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.

    People often look at me strangely when I tell them that one of my best every festival experiences was in a portaloo. Understandable, I suppose, when you consider what usually happens in portaloos in festivals.

    However, this particular experience was focused on the way in which the plastic walls of the portaloo acted as a gigantic amplifier of the sound vibrations in the air. This made the inside of the loo an intensely tactile experience of music, with different frequencies vibrating through different parts of my body.

    A less smelly way of accessing this tactile experience of music is through plastic drinks holders or balloons. Balloons can be a risky option, however, as security sometimes confiscate them under the impression that they are full of nitrous oxide. This is frustrating, but can result in conversations which invite them into the lived deaf space we are inhabiting and give them an alternative way of appreciating music which does not rely on sound.

    Of course, deaf people often also simply position themselves directly in front of the sound stacks. But the key is that the experience of sound is again a physical, tactile one, subverting the idea that music must be enjoyed as an auditory experience.

    The values of the space created have some overlaps with those of the wider festival. Deaf spaces centre the use of signed languages. Their creators – including myself – firmly believe that deaf children should have access to signed languages from birth to stave off language deprivation.

    We also resist the medicalisation of deafness. These are beliefs which find common ground in the radical political roots of Glastonbury, in which ideas of equality and acceptance are core principles.

    This means that at its heart, the festival is a very welcoming space for deaf people, regardless of whether there is a shared language or not. There’s a shared respect for humanity that transcends language modality.

    This comes back to the fact that DeafZone is not just about organising interpreters for access to song lyrics. We give non-signing people a chance to engage with us in our space, to appreciate our values, and to learn about the mistreatment that deaf communities and cultures have suffered.

    Regardless of whether you’re deaf or hearing, the uniqueness of the Glastonbury festival provides opportunities to learn from each other and enjoy each other’s languages. If that includes room for dancing together to your favourite band, so much the better.

    Dai O’Brien is affiliated with DeafZone.

    – ref. What Glastonbury is like for deaf people – one of the festival’s DeafZone coordinators explains – https://theconversation.com/what-glastonbury-is-like-for-deaf-people-one-of-the-festivals-deafzone-coordinators-explains-258532

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: What Glastonbury is like for deaf people – one of the festival’s DeafZone coordinators explains

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Dai O’Brien, Associate Professor, BSL and Deaf Studies, York St John University

    The sense of community is something Deaf people share with how hearing people experience festivals. Drazen Zigic/Shutterstock

    For the past few years at Glastonbury, sign language interpreters have gone viral on social media for enthusiastically signing songs beside the stage. But those clips tell us nothing about what the overall experience of the festival is like for deaf people. How do deaf people experience and enjoy live music, and how do they create their own alternative space which is not focused around sound?

    I am deaf and use British Sign Language (BSL) as my preferred language. As well as my academic job teaching BSL and Deaf studies at York St John University, I am also one of the coordinators of DeafZone. It’s a small charity which organises, among other things, the BSL interpreters of events like Glastonbury.

    But a key reason for setting up DeafZone was to instigate a space for cultural exchange. In the DeafZone, the more progressive, open-minded people who are attracted to Glastonbury’s tradition as a space of radical thought and alternative lifestyles may be open to learning more about deaf people, our languages and cultures.

    An absolutely key element of deaf people’s experience of festivals is the creation of alternative deaf spaces. Deaf people do not experience festivals in the same way as hearing people in more ways that the simple absence of sound.

    We create our own spaces which are visual and tactile. The interpretation of song lyrics into BSL is only a small, albeit very visible, part of this alternative festival space.

    Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.

    People often look at me strangely when I tell them that one of my best every festival experiences was in a portaloo. Understandable, I suppose, when you consider what usually happens in portaloos in festivals.

    However, this particular experience was focused on the way in which the plastic walls of the portaloo acted as a gigantic amplifier of the sound vibrations in the air. This made the inside of the loo an intensely tactile experience of music, with different frequencies vibrating through different parts of my body.

    A less smelly way of accessing this tactile experience of music is through plastic drinks holders or balloons. Balloons can be a risky option, however, as security sometimes confiscate them under the impression that they are full of nitrous oxide. This is frustrating, but can result in conversations which invite them into the lived deaf space we are inhabiting and give them an alternative way of appreciating music which does not rely on sound.

    Of course, deaf people often also simply position themselves directly in front of the sound stacks. But the key is that the experience of sound is again a physical, tactile one, subverting the idea that music must be enjoyed as an auditory experience.

    The values of the space created have some overlaps with those of the wider festival. Deaf spaces centre the use of signed languages. Their creators – including myself – firmly believe that deaf children should have access to signed languages from birth to stave off language deprivation.

    We also resist the medicalisation of deafness. These are beliefs which find common ground in the radical political roots of Glastonbury, in which ideas of equality and acceptance are core principles.

    This means that at its heart, the festival is a very welcoming space for deaf people, regardless of whether there is a shared language or not. There’s a shared respect for humanity that transcends language modality.

    This comes back to the fact that DeafZone is not just about organising interpreters for access to song lyrics. We give non-signing people a chance to engage with us in our space, to appreciate our values, and to learn about the mistreatment that deaf communities and cultures have suffered.

    Regardless of whether you’re deaf or hearing, the uniqueness of the Glastonbury festival provides opportunities to learn from each other and enjoy each other’s languages. If that includes room for dancing together to your favourite band, so much the better.

    Dai O’Brien is affiliated with DeafZone.

    – ref. What Glastonbury is like for deaf people – one of the festival’s DeafZone coordinators explains – https://theconversation.com/what-glastonbury-is-like-for-deaf-people-one-of-the-festivals-deafzone-coordinators-explains-258532

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How aid cuts may be affecting humanitarian workers

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Lucia Berdondini, Associate Professor in Psychology, University of East London

    Humanitarian work takes a profound emotional toll on workers. It places them at the frontline of global crises, at times witnessing the devastating impacts of war, famine, natural disasters, mass displacement and systemic injustice. Humanitarian workers have to cope with emotional exhaustion and burnout, with stress levels in some humanitarian settings comparable to those in combat zones.

    The emotional burden deepens when workers feel unable to live up to the very values that initially drew them to the sector. It can be emotionally painful for people to watch aid fail, or to carry out policies they believe are wrong.

    Psychologists refer to this distress as moral injury — a form of psychological, emotional and spiritual distress that arises when people perpetrate, witness or fail to prevent actions that violate their deeply held moral beliefs. Moral injury arises from guilt, shame, betrayal and anger. This is often directed at others and sometimes at oneself for participating in a harmful system.

    As governments cut foreign aid, this disillusionment is likely to worsen. In our 2023 study published in Displaced Voices, we interviewed aid workers across international organisations and charities working in Calais and Dunkirk.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    Participants shared their experiences of working in environments where they feel they are no longer making a positive impact — or where they must conform to work within systems they perceive as failing those who need assistance. Recent aid cuts are likely to exacerbate these sentiments.

    In the UK, Keir Starmer announced aid would fall from 0.5% to 0.3% of gross national income by 2027 — the lowest level since 1999 — to fund increased defence spending.

    In the US, the Trump administration suspended over 90% of USAid contracts worth around US$60 billion (£44 billion) — halting support for HIV treatment, reproductive health and crisis response. These cuts represent significant structural blows to humanitarian infrastructure. From mass layoffs in Kenya to the sudden closure of programmes worldwide, the consequences have been immediate and demoralising.

    Funding cuts don’t just disrupt operations, they erode the mental and moral resilience of humanitarian workers. Without support for their wellbeing, the sector’s ethical and effective functioning is at risk. Yet research on humanitarian mental health, especially moral injury, remains limited.

    Aid worker distress

    Based on our experience researching the sector, we expect that recent aid cuts in the UK and US will deepen moral injuries among humanitarian workers.

    In an ongoing pilot study, we are examining how aid cuts impact the psychological wellbeing of humanitarian workers. We have analysed 15 publicly available sources (ten blogs and five podcasts) created by aid professionals between 2023 and 2025. While the findings are not yet published, our observation reveals clear patterns of distress linked to moral injury.

    We have also observed some evidence of moral injury stemming from the aid cuts. Some workers expressed moral fatigue – slow exhaustion caused by ethical strain, and a sense of futility and loss of meaning. One practitioner wrote in a blog: “I used to believe we were helping — now I feel like I’m sweeping water uphill.”

    Several blog posts and podcast episodes suggested a sense of complicity; the pain of being part of organisational silence or failure. Workers spoke of “being the face of a broken system” or “used to justify programmes we knew were failing.” As one put it: “Being a human is messy; serving humanity is messier.”

    Still others described the ethical vacuum left by aid cuts, where workers are expected to care without mandate or resources.

    Protesters in the US gather in opposition to the USAid cuts.
    Philip Yabut/Shutterstock

    Our findings so far reveal a troubling overlap between ethical strain and systemic failure in the humanitarian sector. As aid budgets shrink and resources dwindle, workers are overwhelmed, emotionally disoriented and psychologically vulnerable — often forced to choose between compromise and burnout.

    Some may leave the sector; others will stay, but with hardened hearts. We’ve seen this first-hand through our work on the UEL Mental Wellbeing Portal, where professionals share stories of programme closures, job loss, grief and a deep sense of powerlessness — echoing our pilot-study findings.

    A sustainable (and compassionate) aid system must urgently recognise and address the psychological toll of working in a system that workers feel no longer aligns with their humanitarian values. This crisis of moral injury is not inevitable. The sector needs investment not just in operations, but in the people who carry them out. That starts with understanding and acknowledging the emotional cost of aid cuts.

    Lucia Berdondini: I received funding from DifD in 2010, the British Council in 2011 and the Academy of Medical Sciences in 2020. I am an Associate Professor at the University of East London, where I lead the MSc in Humanitarian Intervention (Distance Learning) and the UEL Mental Wellbeing Portal for Humanitarian Workers. I also collaborate with NGOs and academic institutions in the humanitarian field. These affiliations are relevant to the subject of this article.

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

    – ref. How aid cuts may be affecting humanitarian workers – https://theconversation.com/how-aid-cuts-may-be-affecting-humanitarian-workers-257482

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Care leavers show they are up for the cup in national finals

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    Organised by the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Reach Leaving Care Team in collaboration with Wolves Foundation, the inspiring six-a-side football tournament offered care experienced young people aged 16-24 the opportunity to compete, connect, and showcase their skills on Molineux’s hallowed turf.

    Following a series of knock out matches involving 20 teams from as far afield as Yorkshire and Milton Keynes, Warwickshire County beat Redcar and Cleveland in the final to claim the coveted 2025 Championship Cup – but, in reality, all of the participants were winners.

    Councillor Jacqui Coogan, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, said: “We were delighted to support this annual event which once again proved the old adage that football can be more than just a game.

    “For some, it can be an escape and a breath of fresh air, and the day enabled these young people – who have already faced so many challenges in their lives – to not only showcase their talents on the pitch of one of England’s most prestigious sporting venues, but also to demonstrate their resilience and spirit off it.”

    Tournament organiser Sam Neath, a Young Person Advisor with the council’s Children’s Services, said: “Some participants woke up at 4am, others couldn’t sleep because they were that excited. A young person that hadn’t engaged with me for six months found out about the tournament and came training; that’s the power of football.

    “The National Championship Cup is getting bigger and better each year, and I want to take it to Wembley next year and for hundreds more young people to be able take part. I want Sky Sports and BBC to be there – I want these young people to be celebrated and championed.”

    Young people explained how the tournament had helped them. Ubi, from Wolverhampton Warriors, said: “If you play in a team, it gives you life experience and it helps you to build confidence. Some of us aren’t that confident; playing sports gets me out of my comfort zone and gets me interacting with people that I wouldn’t usually talk to.”

    Shahla, who travelled from Chesterfield to represent the Derbyshire team, added: “It definitely helps my mental health. Being a care leaver, you are quite singled out in life, so this helps us get out and feel less isolated.”

    Warinder Juss, MP for Wolverhampton West, was on hand to help with the presentation of the cup and later celebrated the success of the tournament with his fellow MPs in Parliament, congratulating the young people, EFL in the Community, the council, Wolves Foundation and social impact company Spectra for supporting the event, and adding that “recognising and celebrating the potential of our young people in this way can empower them to thrive for themselves and for our communities.”

    Robert Macpherson from the Department of Education said: “Congratulations on hosting such a great event – it must have taken so much time and effort to organise.”

    A Redcar and Cleveland representative described it as a “day they will remember for a long time”, while a representative from the Stoke-on-Trent side added: “It was a fantastic experience for everyone involved, and we’re genuinely grateful to have been included.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Expanding Opportunities: At SPIEF 2025, GUU signed a number of cooperation agreements

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

    Rector of the State University of Management Vladimir Stroyev signed several cooperation agreements at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.

    One of the new partners of the State University of Management has become ANO “Eurasia”, with which it is planned to conduct joint programs, internships, forums and projects where students will be able to grow and take part in various activities.

    “We are pleased with the new cooperation, it opens up new opportunities for both our organizations. It seems to me that we have a happy, working and friendly future for the benefit of our Eurasia,” said Vladimir Stroyev, Rector of the State University of Management.

    State Duma deputy, Chairperson of the Council of the ANO “Eurasia” Alena Arshinova also noted the importance and benefits of future joint projects:

    “It’s good when such platforms unite us, because the efforts we make become visible to an even larger circle of partners. This is where the integration takes place, because our “Eurasia” is precisely about integration and about promoting the development of international cooperation, first and foremost. So thank you very much for agreeing to sign an agreement with us.”

    Also at SPIEF-2025, the rector signed agreements with such organizations as Rostelecom, Tsifroinvest Management Company, the Fatherland Defenders Foundation, Rostransnadzor, and Transmashholding.

    In addition, Vladimir Stroyev spoke at the session “Investments in the Future: How Business Inspires and Supports Youth Initiatives” and presented awards to the winners of the “My Country – My Russia” competition.

    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.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Take Extreme Caution as Heat and Severe Weather Persist

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today urged New Yorkers to take safety precautions during periods of extreme heat throughout Primary Day. New Yorkers can expect dangerously hot and humid conditions to continue today with feels-like temperatures between 90-106 degrees statewide. In addition, there is the potential for severe thunderstorms throughout most of the state this afternoon and evening that could contain damaging winds. Feels-like temperatures on Wednesday are expected to be 82-100 degrees with the potential for severe thunderstorms with damaging winds in the southern part of the state possible in the afternoon and evening. In response to the severe weather that impacted Central New York over the weekend, Governor Hochul declared a State of Emergency in 32 counties and state agencies are responding to assist New Yorkers with storm damage and impacts from extreme heat.

    “With dangerously hot weather expected throughout most of the state today, I am urging all New Yorkers to stay cool and safe — especially those waiting in line to cast ballots,” Governor Hochul said. “State emergency response personnel are standing by and prepared to help New Yorkers through this extreme weather, and as this heat wave peaks, I am reminding everyone to have a safe place to stay cool, limit time outdoors, and drink plenty of water.”

    This weekend, Governor Hochul signed legislation repealing an outdated section of New York’s election law — the new legislation now supports voters by allowing refreshments to be provided as they wait in line to exercise their civic duty.

    Governor Hochul today directed the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to offer extended hours at State swimming and cooling facilities and other State parks during the current heat wave as a way to help New Yorkers beat the heat.

    New Yorkers can also stay cool by utilizing nearby cooling centers. Find a cooling center near you on the State Department of Health website. Residents of New York City can find cooling center information here. Certain State Park swimming facilities will also extend their hours on Tuesday and Wednesday.

    For Those Impacted by Storms on Sunday
    In response to severe weather that impacted the State over the weekend, Governor Hochul declared a State of Emergency in 32 counties. At the Governor’s direction, the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services has activated the State Emergency Operations Center to Enhanced Monitoring Mode to track the storms and damage. They are working closely with local emergency managers and governments to support requests and provide assistance as requested. State agencies stand ready to respond with equipment and personnel. Light towers have been provided to Oneida County and other materials stored in the State’s nine stockpiles including generators and pumps are also available to support local needs.

    Homeowners and businesses in impacted areas are encouraged to fill out an online form allowing residents to self-report damages to their homes and/or businesses. The purpose of this form is solely to collect information that may help state and local officials identify supplemental damages to develop and augment potential requests for available federal assistance programs. This is not an application for relief programs.

    The Department of Financial Services also has a number of resources for homeowners dealing with their insurance companies following a disaster:

    • File Claims Promptly
    • Making Necessary Repairs
    • Keep Records of Dealings with Insurance Representatives
    • Inventory Your Belongings
    • Flood Damage
    • Keep Your Receipts If You Relocate During Repairs
    • Filing Complaints
    • Information on Homeowners’ Insurance

    More resources are available at the DFS Disaster and Flood Recovery Resource Center.

    State Agency Response

    Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services
    The Office of Emergency Management is in regular contact with county emergency managers to ensure cooling centers are available, and to offer support and advise on extreme heat risks. In addition, the agency is facilitating preparations and coordinating guidance and communications with State agency partners. Information on how to manage extreme heat can be found online. To receive real time weather and emergency alerts, New Yorkers are encouraged to text the name of their county or borough to 333111.

    New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation
    The following State Park swimming facilities will be open for extended hours:

    Long Island

    • Jones Beach State Park: Field 6 & Central Mall; extended swimming until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday
    • Robert Moses State Park: Field 2 & 5; extended swimming until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday
    • Sunken Meadow State Park: Main Beach; extended swimming until 7:00 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday
    • Hither Hills State Park: extended swimming until 7:00 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday

    Hudson Valley

    • Bear Mountain State Park: extended swimming until 6:30 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday
    • Lake Tiorati State Park: extended swimming until 6:45 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday
    • Rockland Lake State Park: extended swimming until 6:30 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday
    • Lake Minnewaska: extended swimming until 7:45 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday
    • Lake Minnewaska-Awosting: extended swimming until 6:30 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday

    New York City

    • Gantry Plaza State Park: spray pad hours extended to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday
    • Four Freedoms State Park: spray pad hours extended to 6:45 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday
    • Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park: extended swimming until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday

    Capital District

    • Grafton Lakes State Park: extended swimming until 7:00 p.m. Tuesday
    • Thompson’s Lake Campground/Thacher State Park: extended swimming until 7:00 p.m. Tuesday
    • Moreau Lake State Park: extended swimming until 7:00 p.m. Tuesday
    • Saratoga Spa State Park: extended swimming until 7:00 p.m. Tuesday
    • Lake Taghkanic State Park: extended swimming until 7:00 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday
    • Taconic-Copake State Park: extended swimming until 7:00 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday
    • Taconic Kiddie Pool: extended swimming until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday

    Western New York

    • Allegany State Park – Red House Lake: extended swimming until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday
    • Allegany State Park – Quaker Lake: extended swimming until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday
    • Beaver Island State Park: extended swimming until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday
    • Evangola State Park: extended swimming until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday
    • Fort Niagara State Park: extended swimming until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday
    • Woodlawn Beach State Park: extended swimming until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday

    Central New York

    • Green Lakes State Park: extended swimming until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday
    • Delta Lake State Park: extended swimming until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday
    • Verona Beach State Park: extended swimming until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday
    • Chenango Valley State Park: extended swimming until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday

    Finger Lakes

    • Letchworth State Park: extended swimming until 7:45 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday
    • Fair Haven Beach State Park: extended swimming until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday
    • Robert Treman State Park: extended swimming until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday
    • Seneca Lake-Spray Ground: spray ground hours extended until 7:30 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday
    • Taughannock Falls State Park: extended swimming until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday
    • Sampson State Park: extended swimming until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday
    • Filmore Glen State Park: extended swimming until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday

    North Country

    • Southwick Beach State Park: extended swimming until 7:00 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday
    • Westcott Beach State Park: extended swimming until 7:00 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday

    Swimming availability may be affected by hazardous weather, changing water conditions or staffing. Please check State Parks’ website parks.ny.gov or call the park you wish to visit directly to confirm availability.

    Department of Financial Services
    After contacting insurance companies, residents can get assistance with insurance information regarding policy coverage for losses and suggestions on how to document their losses and safeguard their property by calling the Department’s Disaster Hotline at 800-339-1759.

    New Yorkers who have been impacted by flooding are encouraged to visit the DFS Disaster and Flood Recovery Resource Center for helpful information.

    New York State Department of Public Service
    DPS is tracking electric system conditions and overseeing utility response to any situations that may arise as a result of this week’s extreme heat and potential thunderstorm activity. There are currently 9,997 electric outages reported statewide. DPS remains in direct contact with utility operations Leadership to ensure they are continuously tracking system conditions and responding to cases of trouble and outages as quickly as possible to restore the system and customers. New York’s utilities have approximately 5,500 workers available, as necessary, to engage in damage assessment, response, repair and restoration efforts across New York State for this heat event. Agency staff will track utilities’ work throughout the event and ensure utilities shift appropriate staffing to regions that experience the greatest impact.

    During heat waves, increased usage of electric devices such as air conditioners place a considerable demand on the state’s electricity system and instances of low voltage or isolated power outages can result. The record for such usage was set on July 19, 2013, when it reached 33,956 MWs (one megawatt of electricity is enough to power up to 1,000 average-sized homes).

    National Grid will continue with repair and restoration efforts today for the remaining electric customers impacted by Sunday morning’s severe thunderstorms. Some portions of National Grid’s territory experienced straight-line winds exceeding 90 mph and an EF-1 tornado with winds up to 105 mph, with more than 101,000 electric customers affected statewide.

    Department of Health
    The State Health Department is taking a number of steps to promote the safety of all New Yorkers in periods of extreme heat, especially those most at risk. The Department has distributed guidance to all hospitals, diagnostic and treatment centers, adult care facilities, home care and hospice providers and nursing homes and has issued additional guidance to hosts of any scheduled public events with more than 5,000 people in attendance. The Department is working with DSHES and local health departments and emergency managers to ensure access to cooling centers and safe spaces during this extreme heat.

    Learn more about heat related illness, including signs and symptoms and when to take action on the State Health Department’s extreme heat advice webpage.

    The New York State Department of Health’s interactive Heat Risk and Illness Dashboard allows the public and county health care officials to determine the forecasted level of heat-related health risks in their area and raise awareness about the dangers of heat exposure.

    NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets
    The agency has compiled important information, including preventative measures, to help mitigate the effects of extreme heat on farm workers and farm animals. The Department will also be working closely with partners at The New York Extension Disaster Education Network (NY EDEN) at Cornell University to monitor any potential impacts of the extreme heat expected this week. NY EDEN is also a resource for farmers and farm workers during a heat wave, and additional information can be found at https://eden.cce.cornell.edu/natural-hazards/heat-wave/.

    Department of Environmental Conservation
    DEC reminds outdoor adventurers that unpredictable weather — including rapidly changing temperatures and storms in the Adirondacks, Catskills, and other backcountry areas — can create unexpectedly hazardous conditions. Visitors should be prepared with proper clothing and equipment for rain, mud and warmer temperatures to ensure a safe outdoor experience.

    Hikers in the Adirondacks are encouraged to check the Adirondack Backcountry Information webpages for updates on trail conditions, seasonal road closures and general recreation information.

    Hiking in the heat is always risky. New Yorkers and visitors should review the following tips to prevent heat exhaustion and heat stroke:

    • Slow your pace.
    • Drink water and rest often.
    • Seek shade and avoid long periods in direct sunlight.
    • Bring at least 2 liters of water for any hike.
    • Bring a water filter, especially for longer hikes.
    • Bring salty snacks to keep your electrolytes in check.
    • Wear sunscreen.
    • Leave your pets at home — the heat is harder on them, especially walking on hot rocks.
    • Consider staying home yourself and rescheduling for another day when weather conditions improve.

    Even if the weather is forecast to be high heat all day, there’s always a chance of hypothermia due to a sudden storm or drop in temperatures. This can increase dramatically if you’re sweating and not wearing sweat-wicking clothing (made of fabrics like wool or polyester). Many cases of hypothermia are in the summer when people least expect it.

    Whether you are hiking, mountain biking or paddling, Hike Smart NY can help you prepare with a list of 10 essentials, guidance on what to wear, and tips for planning your trip with safety and sustainability in mind. In an emergency, call 9-1-1. To request Forest Ranger assistance, call 1-833-NYS-RANGERS.

    Air Quality
    DEC is continuing to monitor air quality across the State and will issue air quality health advisories as necessary. New Yorkers are encouraged be “Air Quality Aware” and check airnow.gov for accurate information on air quality forecasts and conditions. To view the latest DEC air quality forecasts, visit the DEC website.

    Extreme Heat
    DEC recently released preliminary Urban Heat Island maps to help communities better understand, plan for, and adapt to extreme heat exposures on the neighborhood level. Links to the maps, as well as additional information and data, can be found on DEC’s Extreme Heat Action Plan webpage  and posted at nys-heat.daveyinstitute.com/hottest-hour. The project advances a key action in the Extreme Heat Action Plan and advances a 2022 law signed by Governor Hochul directing DEC to study the impacts of disproportionate concentrations of extreme heat in disadvantaged communities across the State.

    Harmful Algal Blooms
    Following periods of heavy rainfall, nutrient runoff can cause harmful algal blooms (HABs) to form in freshwater lakes, ponds, rivers and streams. New Yorkers should avoid swimming, boating, recreating in, or drinking water with a bloom.

    When it comes to HABs, DEC encourages New Yorkers to “KNOW IT, AVOID IT, REPORT IT”:

    • KNOW IT – HABs vary in appearance from scattered green dots in the water to long, linear green streaks, pea soup or spilled green paint, to blue-green or white coloration.  
    • AVOID IT – People, pets, and livestock should avoid contact with water that is discolored or has algal scums on the surface.  
    • REPORT IT – If members of the public suspect a HAB, report it through the NYHABs online reporting form available on DEC’s website. Symptoms or health concerns related to HABs should be reported to New York State Department of Health at [email protected]. 

    The New York State Department of Labor has released comprehensive guidance to help employers better protect outdoor workers during extreme heat and advises workers and employers to engage in extreme heat best practices such as:

    • Ensure access to clean drinking water at no cost to workers, available at all times and as close to the worksite as possible.
    • Provide shade and paid rest when the heat index reaches 80 degrees Fahrenheit or above, and more frequent rest breaks once the heat index exceeds 90 degrees.
    • Wear proper PPE so long as they do not interfere with safety equipment, including sunscreen, cooling vests, wide-brim hats, and lightweight, loose-fitting clothing.

    More information on best practices for working in extreme heat can be found here.

    Thruway Authority maintenance crews will be conducting standard daily operations during times where temperatures are lowest and will enhance patrols monitoring the highway. Motorists are reminded and encouraged to take breaks at one of 26 service areas or three Welcome Centers located on the Thruway system.

    Department of Transportation maintenance crews will conduct most outdoor work during morning hours and follow established hydration and rest protocols to help mitigate the risks associated with high temperatures.

    Office of Children and Family Services
    The agency is taking a number of actions to ensure activities at residential centers, detention programs and congregate care programs are conducted in a safe manner during the heat. This includes checking cooling equipment, ensuring proper amounts of water are available and consumed, rescheduling activities and meetings, and identifying staff and clients who may be affected by heat. They are also providing guidance to child care programs and groups associated with the Commission for the Blind statewide.

    New York State Office of Mental Health
    In advance of the hot conditions, New Yorkers should be aware of the impact high heat may have on individuals receiving antipsychotic medications, who are at particular risk of heat stroke and neuroleptic malignant syndrome during periods of extreme heat, which is more likely in poorly ventilated areas. Children and the elderly are at increased risk.

    In addition to monitoring individuals at risk, such conditions are best prevented by a heightened attention to hydration, particularly those at high risk, including individuals taking antipsychotic medications, the elderly, children and those with poor fluid intake.

    Also, individuals at high-risk should remain in cooler areas; be monitored for temperature elevations; avoid direct exposure to sunlight and wear protective clothing and sunscreen. Anticholinergic medications may interfere with sweating and should be minimized.

    Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance
    The agency is reminding local departments of social services and emergency homeless shelter operators of the need to provide fans to help maintain reasonable air circulation during times of extreme heat and humidity. Also, shelter providers should provide a cooling room in the facility for residents, if feasible.

    Metropolitan Transportation Authority
    To reduce potential impacts to service and reduce response times to heat-related events, NYC Transit will implement heat patrols to proactively increase track inspections and stage extra personnel in key risk areas including power substations, machine rooms, generators, cables, and connections. To ensure functioning air conditioning, subway railcars and buses will be inspected before being placed in service. Paratransit service providers are reminded vehicles must have functioning air-conditioning. Buses and operators will be on standby for any support needed with subways or emergency service. NYC Transit also completes a continuous welded rail watch when rail temperatures exceed 100 degrees to be vigilant of rail kinks or other issues.

    Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad crews will be staged at key locations to be able to respond quickly to weather-related issues. The railroads will monitor rail temperatures, deploy heat patrols to inspect the rails for any kinks, and stage additional Power Department personnel to protect power substations and overhead aerial lines. Train crews have been instructed to report any rail conditions that need attention.

    The Port Authority Office of Emergency Management coordinates with facility teams to monitor weather conditions and operational impacts and maintains communication with regional partners to support response readiness during periods of elevated temperatures.

    For a complete listing of weather watches, warnings, advisories and latest forecasts, visit the National Weather Service website.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Capped leave liability in the public sector stood at R16.24 billion- report

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    The total capped leave liability in the public sector stood at R16.24 billion as of December 2023, the Public Service Commission (PSC) said on Tuesday.

    Standing at R16.24 billion and covering 189,039 employees, the total capped leave liability represents approximately 14% of the total public service workforce. 

    “It is important to note that this cost continues to increase in line with cost-of-living adjustments and/or appointments into higher positions,” PSC Commissioner Anele Gxoyiya said at a media briefing in Pretoria.

    Addressing media on the commission’s Quarterly Bulletin titled: “The Pulse of the Public Service”, Gxoyiya said the majority of employees holding capped leave are concentrated in the education and health sectors. Most of them were also closer to retirement and according to the Commissioner, that raises concern about potential future skills shortages in these critical areas if not proactively addressed.

    WATCH | PSC media briefing 

    [embedded content]

     
    “In relation to study leave, which is a type of special leave, data from national departments indicates that 17 733 – 20 651 employees took study leave from 2020 to 2023,” he said.

    At provincial level, 21 004 – 23 265 employees took study leave from 2020 to 2023.

    “In some provinces, over 70% of these employees were from the Health and Education Departments.  On average, study leave days ranged from five to eight days, with national departments having the highest average at 8.5 days. KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape provinces followed with 7.4 and 6.5 days respectively,” he said.

    The Commissioner further explained that special leave is a negotiated benefit in terms of the public service employment conditions.

    “Prior to the adoption of the General Public Service Sector Bargaining Council Resolution 2 of 2024, departments operated under varied special leave policies, leading to a lack of uniformity across the public service.”

    Meanwhile, there was also a notable increase in sick leave usage observed in 2022, following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions and the return to full-time workplace operations.

    Grievances

    With regard to the number of grievances handled by the PSC, Gxoyiya said that as at 31 March 2025, the PSC registered 439 grievances, including 85 cases carried-over from the previous financial year.

    “Of the 439 grievances, 338 (77%) have been concluded and 101 (23%) remained pending as at end of 31 March 2025. 

    “Of the 338 concluded cases, 18 (5%) was substantiated, 84 (25%) were unsubstantiated, nine  (3%) were partially substantiated, 43 (13%) were internally resolved within departments following the PSC’s intervention and the remaining 184 (54%) were closed for various reasons, including those that were also pending before different sectoral bargaining councils, the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration or courts.”

    Of the 439 grievances (including 85 cases carried over from the previous financial year), 403 were for employees on salary levels 2-12 and 36 for members of the Senior Management Service (SMS).

    Of the 403 grievances of employees on salaries level 2 to 12, 309 were concluded, of which 282 (91%) were concluded within 150 working days of receipt by the PSC investigator.

    Of the 36 grievances of SMS members, 29 were concluded, of which 24 (83%) were concluded within 150 working days of receipt by the PSC investigator.

    The Commission also expressed concern with the continued failure by some departments to conclude grievances within the timeframes prescribed in the bargained Resolution 14 of 2002 for grievances of employees on salaries level 2 to 12, and Chapter 10 of the SMS Handbook.

    “The PSC will in future investigate the cause of delays in grievance conclusion by departments This will assist in determining whether or not the delays are as a result of the agreed timeframes being unrealistic, or whether it is the human resource capacity issue or whether it is because of any other reason other than these,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za
     

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Packed programme of summer holiday fun returns to Plymouth

    Source: City of Plymouth

    Children who receive benefits-related free school meals can enjoy a wide range of free activities this summer as the popular Fit and Fed programme returns to Plymouth.

    Fit and Fed offers eligible children access to free holiday clubs, where they are encouraged to get active and receive a nutritious lunch each day.

    The summer activity programme for 2025 is now available to view, with holiday club bookings opening from Monday 30 June.

    There’s a huge range of holiday clubs on offer for eligible children aged between four and 16-years-old. Activities include circus skills, football, dance, karate, water sports and more creative pursuits too, including filmmaking, photography and arts and crafts. There are also SEND specific holiday clubs to support children with more complex needs.

    Young people taking part in Fit & Fed activities in 2024

    Young people between 12 and 16-years-old can also sign up for Teen Taster activities, giving them the opportunity to try new activities such as go karting, adventure golf and trampolining.

    There’s also a range of family activity sessions on offer, so children can enjoy a day out with their parents or carers. These sessions include bowling, tennis, bike rides and golf.

    New for this year, Plymouth Active Leisure are offering a huge range of free activities to eligible children too, with the chance to swim at one of the indoor pools or Tinside Lido. Other activities include bouldering, junior gym sessions, pickle ball and bowls.

    Every year, Fit and Fed also goes on tour. While the bookable activities are only available to children who receive benefits-related free school meals, the ‘on tour’ sessions are held in parks and green spaces across Plymouth and everyone is welcome to attend. The fun days feature a huge range of free activities, and children are provided with a healthy lunch. This year, the programme will visit:

    • Victoria Park on Tuesday 5 August
    • Ernesettle Green on Tuesday 12 August
    • Tothill Park on Tuesday 19 August
    • Central Park on Tuesday 26 August.
    Fit and Fed on tour 2024

    Councillor Sue Dann, Cabinet Member for Sport and Leisure, said: “It’s fantastic to see the Fit and Fed programme will be returning this year with even more activities for children, young people and their families to enjoy.

    “It’s such an important programme, which not only helps children by encouraging them to get active, try new things and make amazing memories with new friends, but also supports families by helping to alleviate some of the financial pressures of the school holidays by giving children access to healthy lunches and activities that may otherwise be unaffordable.”

    Fit and Fed is funded by the Department for Education’s Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme. The aim is to provide children with healthy and nutritious meals during the school holidays, while also encouraging physical activity and giving children and young people the opportunity to have fun and meet new friends.

    In summer 2024, more than 2,400 children and young people took part in holiday clubs while thousands more attended the Fit and Fed on Tour events where 1,900 packed lunches were handed out.  

    For more information about this year’s Fit and Fed programme, please see: www.plymouth.gov.uk/fit-and-fed.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Work starts on wide range of improvements at Bushbury park

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    City of Wolverhampton Council and developers JP Landscapes & Construction Ltd have begun the transformation work at Northwood Park in Bushbury.

    The work is taking place after the council consulted with residents and children’s groups. Improvements include the replacement of existing play equipment as well as the creation of a new multi-use games area (Muga).

    The play area will include inclusive equipment designed to be used by children with restricted mobility, including swings, a seesaw and roundabout. There will also be seated springer rides, climbing equipment with slides and a springy surfboard.

    The new Muga will be built next to the park’s existing skate park and basketball pitch, providing a high-quality, all-weather area for football, cricket and other ball games.

    Other improvements include a fitness area towards the centre of the park, new fencing, new seats and litter bins, creation of a wildflower meadow and planting of 40 trees. A new paved path on the north-eastern corner of the park will also improve access and cater for activities such as dog walking.

    The work is being funded under a Section 106 Planning Agreement which relates to the new Hampton Park development on land at the former Northicote School, near to the park. The development includes 178 new homes and is named after the school’s former head teacher, Sir Geoff Hampton.

    Work will take place over the coming weeks and residents are advised that some areas of the park will not be accessible on a temporary basis while the improvements are being made.

    Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal, City of Wolverhampton Council’s cabinet member for resident services, said: “How exciting to see that work has started at Northwood Park.

    “We’ve got a wide range of improvements planned with exciting new play equipment and a new multi-use games area. We’re also spreading out the revamp with a fitness area and a real spruce up of the rest of the park.

    “We’ve made sure that the views that were put forward in the consultation have been taken into account, and we’d like to thank people for sharing their thoughts. We’re really looking forward to delivering this great range of new attractions and refurbishments for local people to enjoy.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Government hosts Portuguese Ambassador to the UK24 June 2025 Education, culture, and community collaboration were celebrated and explored by His Excellency Nuno Brito, Portuguese Ambassador to the UK, during his first official visit to Jersey last week. The… Read more

    Source: Channel Islands – Jersey

    24 June 2025

    Education, culture, and community collaboration were celebrated and explored by His Excellency Nuno Brito, Portuguese Ambassador to the UK, during his first official visit to Jersey last week.

    The Ambassador’s visit recognised Jersey’s deep-rooted Portuguese heritage and reaffirmed cross-border engagement that seeks to improve the lives of Islanders.

    Alongside cultural visits to Jersey Archives, Jersey War Tunnels and Mont Orgueil Castle, Mr Brito joined Assistant Chief Minister Deputy Carina Alves at a community lunch at the Town Hall, bringing together members of Jersey’s Portuguese community to celebrate their contribution to the Island’s social and economic success. 

    Learning and language were also central to the two-day tour, with Mr Brito signing a new Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, on behalf of the Instituto Camões – one that extends the provision of Portuguese lessons in Island schools for another five years. 

    On a visit to Le Rocquier School with the Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning, Deputy Rob Ward, Mr Brito spoke to pupils about the benefits of developing their home language and how the MoU would be implemented on a day-to-day basis. Year 11 students Tomas and Victoria also described their recent visit to the Portuguese Youth Parliament in Lisbon. 

    The Ambassador spent time with Ministers at the Government’s Union Street office, including Deputy Ian Gorst, Deputy Elaine Miller and the Chief Minister, Deputy Lyndon Farnham, who signed the MoU for the Government of Jersey. 

    Deputy Ward said: “This renewed agreement with Instituto Camões adds strength to our support for Portuguese language education in Jersey. The scheme provides an opportunity for our youth to connect further with Portuguese heritage and culture, and I thank the Instituto Camões for their continued role in facilitating it.”​

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Downfield Primary School wins Three Prestigious Digital Awards

    Source: Scotland – City of Dundee

    Downfield Primary School has been awarded three digital school awards. 

    The school were awarded the Digitals Schools Award Scotland, Digital Well-being Award and Equitable Creative Coding Award. 

    The school was praised for its commitment to preparing young people for the future in a technological world. The young people have developed coding skills and gained an understanding of how to use artificial intelligence. 

    This digital journey began during covid and has grown steadily over the years since. The school has a digital leader and digital pupil leaders to drive this digital journey. 

    The school were recognised for the wide range of digital opportunities for young people, especially for young people with additional support needs.  

    Young people across all year groups have shown their enthusiasm for making use of digital technology to enhance their own learning. 

    Parents are also regularly updated and given advice on how to support and monitor the children’s use devices at home. 

    The next step for Downfield Primary will be working towards achieving the Digital Schools Europe award which would complete the school’s full suite of Digital Awards. 

    Convener of Children, Families and Communities Stewart Hunter said: “These three accolades highlight the true commitment and dedication off everyone ad Downfield towards digital development.  

    “It really is a remarkable feat to receive all three awards. It’s great to see the school and young people working together to embrace technology and the role in education. It’s also encouraging to see the school engaging with parents to offer support and advice on using technology at home and monitor devices, which we know this can be a daunting task. 

     
    “I would like to thank everyone involved and wish the school the best as they set their sights on achieving the Digital Schools Europe Award.” 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –