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Category: Education

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why we fall for fake health information – and how it spreads faster than facts

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Angshuman K. Kashyap, PhD candidate in Health Communication, University of Maryland

    Should you share that health-related Instagram post? Catherine McQueen/Moment via Getty Images

    In today’s digital world, people routinely turn to the internet for health or medical information. In addition to actively searching online, they often come across health-related information on social media or receive it through emails or messages from family or friends.

    It can be tempting to share such messages with loved ones – often with the best of intentions.

    As a global health communication scholar studying the effects of media on health and development, I explore artistic and creative ways to make health information more engaging and accessible, empowering people to make informed decisions.

    Although there is a fire hose of health-related content online, not all of it is factual. In fact, much of it is inaccurate or misleading, raising a serious health communication problem: Fake health information – whether shared unknowingly and innocently, or deliberately to mislead or cause harm – can be far more captivating than accurate information.

    This makes it difficult for people to know which sources to trust and which content is worthy of sharing.

    The allure of fake health information

    Fake health information can take many forms. For example, it may be misleading content that distorts facts to frame an issue or individual in a certain context. Or it may be based on false connections, where headlines, visuals or captions don’t align with the content. Despite this variation, such content often shares a few common characteristics that make it seem believable and more shareable than facts.

    For one thing, fake health information often appears to be true because it mixes a grain of truth with misleading claims.

    For example, early in the COVID-19 pandemic, false rumors suggested that drinking ethanol or bleach could protect people from the virus. While ethanol or bleach can indeed kill viruses on surfaces such as countertops, it is extremely dangerous when it comes into contact with skin or gets inside the body.

    Stopping to check the facts helps stem the spread of misinformation.
    World Health Organization adaptation from Siouxsie Wiles and Toby Morris in The Spinoff, CC BY-SA

    Another marker of fake health information is that it presents ideas that are simply too good to be true. There is something appealingly counterintuitive in certain types of fake health information that can make people feel they have access to valuable or exclusive knowledge that others may not know. For example, a claim such as “chocolate helps you lose weight” can be especially appealing because it offers a sense of permission to indulge and taps into a simple, feel-good solution to a complex problem. Such information often spreads faster because it sounds both surprising and hopeful, validating what some people want to believe.

    Sensationalism also drives the spread of fake health information. For instance, when critics falsely claimed that Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the chief medical adviser to the president at the time, was responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, it generated a lot of public attention.

    In a study on vaccine hesitancy published in 2020, my colleagues and I found that controversial headlines in news reports that go viral before national vaccination campaigns can discourage parents from getting their children vaccinated. These headlines seem to reveal sensational and secret information that can falsely boost the message’s credibility.

    The pull to share

    The internet has created fertile ground for spreading fake health information. Professional-looking websites and social media posts with misleading headlines can lure people into clicking or quickly sharing, which drives more and more readers to the falsehood. People tend to share information they believe is relevant to them or their social circles.

    In 2019, an article with the false headline “Ginger is 10,000x more effective at killing cancer than chemo” was shared more than 800,000 times on Facebook. The article contained several factors that make people feel an urgency to react and share without checking the facts: compelling visuals, emotional stories, misleading graphs, quotes from experts with omitted context and outdated content that is recirculated.

    Visual cues like the logos of reputable organizations or photos of people wearing white medical coats add credibility to these posts. This kind of content is highly shareable, often reaching far more people than scientifically accurate studies that may lack eye-catching headlines or visuals, easy-to-understand words or dramatic storylines.

    But sharing content without verifying it first has real-world consequences. For example, studies have found that COVID-19-related fake information reduces people’s trust in the government and in health care systems, making people less likely to use or seek out health services.

    Unfounded claims about vaccine side effects have led to reduced vaccination rates globally, fueling the return of dangerous diseases, including measles.

    Check it out before you share.

    Social media misinformation, such as false claims about cinnamon being a treatment for cancer, has caused hospitalizations and even deaths. The spread of health misinformation has reduced cooperation with important prevention and treatment recommendations, prompting a growing need for medical professionals to receive proper training and develop skills to effectively debunk fake health information.

    How to combat the spread of fake health information

    In today’s era of information overload in which anyone can create and share content, being able to distinguish between credible and misleading health information before sharing is more important than ever. Researchers and public health organizations have outlined several strategies to help people make better-informed decisions.

    Whether health care consumers come across health information on social media, in an email or through a messaging app, here are three reliable ways to verify its accuracy and credibility before sharing:

    • Use a search engine to cross-check health claims. Never rely on a single source. Instead, enter the health claim into a reputable search engine like Google and see what trusted sources have to say. Prioritize information from established organizations like the World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, United Nations Children’s Fund or peer-reviewed journals like The Lancet or Journal of the American Medical Association. If multiple reputable sources agree, the information is more likely to be reliable. Reliable fact-checking websites such as FactCheck.org and Snopes can also help root out fake information.

    • Evaluate the source’s credibility. A quick way to assess a website’s trustworthiness is to check its “About Us” page. This section usually explains who is behind the content, their mission and their credentials. Also, search the name of the author. Do they have recognized expertise or affiliations with credible institutions? Reliable websites often have domains ending in .gov or .edu, indicating government or educational institutions. Finally, check the publication date. Information on the internet keeps circulating for years and may not be the most accurate or relevant in the present context.

    • If you’re still unsure, don’t share. If you’re still uncertain about the accuracy of a claim, it’s better to keep it to yourself. Forwarding unverified information can unintentionally contribute to the spread of misinformation and potentially cause harm, especially when it comes to health.

    Questioning dubious claims and sharing only verified information not only protects against unsafe behaviors and panic, but it also helps curb the spread of fake health information. At a time when misinformation can spread faster than a virus, taking a moment to pause and fact-check can make a big difference.

    Angshuman K. Kashyap 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. Why we fall for fake health information – and how it spreads faster than facts – https://theconversation.com/why-we-fall-for-fake-health-information-and-how-it-spreads-faster-than-facts-250718

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Can One Be Just in an Unjust Society? A Graduate Conference on Ethics and Politics

    Source: Universities – Science Po in English

    What happens when ethics meet politics? A new generation of political theorists is rethinking classic notions and divides dating back from Ancient Philosophy and the Age of Enlightenment. On the occasion of the eleventh edition of Sciences Po’s Graduate Conference in Political Theory, in May 2025, we spoke with its organisers, Sciences Po School of Research’s PhD students Cloé Artaut, Thomas Charrayre, Sibylle Léonard and Ciara Luxton. From ancient ideals of the just city to contemporary struggles over global justice, they walk us through the Conference’s purpose and programme.

    Why did you choose to bring together these two concepts, “ethics” and “politics”, for this eleventh doctoral conference?

    Thomas Charrayre: Going back – perhaps in a somewhat textbook-like way – to ancient philosophy, we see that the notions of ethics and politics have long been closely intertwined. For instance, Plato develops the idea of an organic unity between the good life and the just city: a well-organised society was seen as a necessary condition for a happy life, and, conversely, the virtue of citizens as essential to the establishment of justice.

    In the modern world, this unity dissipates: we tend to draw a clear line between private and public life, between what we do as individuals and what we do as citizens. We assume that it is possible to act justly even within an unjust society. Our moral imagination is, in fact, full of heroic figures who manage to follow their own ethical code despite living in politically unjust contexts – think, for example, of the Righteous Among the Nations.

    This separation between ethics and politics is also reflected in the academic world. We distinguish between ethical philosophy and political philosophy, political theory and political science, as though ethics were solely concerned with right and wrong, while politics dealt only with what is or isn’t possible. Indeed, when we ask for an ethical analysis of a situation, we expect a moral judgement; whereas a political analysis is supposed to describe power dynamics and potential outcomes.

    The conference we are organising seeks to revisit these distinctions, which we often take for granted, without necessarily advocating a return to the Greek conception of the good. That is why it revolves around three key areas, all aimed at showing just how blurred the boundary between ethics and politics can be. The first area brings together presentations focused on the historical study of the relationship between ethics and politics, in order to illustrate how this relationship varies depending on context. The second explores the possible need to “moralise” politics – that is, to view it as a domain governed first and foremost by ethical norms. Lastly, the third area features contributions that offer a political critique of moral norms, analysing the political implications of our ethical beliefs.

    Participants in the conference come from France, but also from Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Quebec, and the United Kingdom. What does this international perspective bring?

    Ciara Luxton: Having spent time in France and elsewhere in Europe as a visiting fellow, Nancy Fraser, our the guest of honour for this edition, has shown how much scholarship can benefit from engagement with ideas that are culturally embedded. Her work demonstrates a deep appreciation both for what is specific to national contexts and for the perspectives that intersect around questions of global justice. Inspired by Nancy Fraser’s example, we have put together panels ranging from the intimate ethics of the body and sexuality to intrinsically collective issues such as planetary justice and climate transition. The international outlook of our conference therefore enriches these reflections on the connections and tensions between ethics and politics.

    Intercultural exchange offers us a unique opportunity to challenge our intuitions – often shaped by national and cultural inheritances – and to rethink them in light of other traditions. We have the privilege and the pleasure of welcoming to Sciences Po – an institution that is resolutely international and multilingual – young researchers from far and wide, brought together by a shared language of political and moral theory. The bilingual nature of the event (French–English) facilitates direct and inclusive dialogue between participants, reflecting our shared commitment to advancing research together. Here, political theory takes on a truly global dimension: our conclusions, far from being confined to a single country, engage with the realities of diverse societies. In a connected world, our analyses are interdependent: an idea originating in Quebec can inspire reform in Italy, just as a moral insight from Ireland can cast new light on a political hypothesis from France.

    In this way, we are creating a space for exchange among a new generation of scholars, who will continue this dialogue throughout their careers. Together, we will develop new ways of thinking about politics and ethics, experiment with more flexible and inclusive methodologies, and build conceptual tools suited to a globalised world.

    Nancy Fraser, Professor of Philosophy at the New School in New York, will be giving a public lecture during your event. She has worked extensively on social justice, feminism, and equality. What perspective will she bring?

    Sibylle Léonard: Nancy Fraser is the guest of honour for this edition. She brings a fundamentally critical perspective to the theme of “Ethics and Politics.” Like many feminist theorists, she challenges the classical Enlightenment-era separation between the ethical and political spheres – a division that sees ethics as a matter of individual conscience, while politics is understood as an impersonal domain concerned with government systems, laws, public policy, and quantifiable data such as votes and taxes. I am thinking in particular of Iris Marion Young’s book Justice and the Politics of Difference, which addresses this issue.

    In her approach to social justice, Nancy Fraser puts forward the ethical-political norm of parity of participation: everyone must be able to take part, on an equal footing, in social, economic, and political life. This is an ethical norm in that it defines what it means to treat individuals as equals; but it is also – and above all – political, insofar as it demands institutions that can guarantee the real-world conditions for such equality. This demand is expressed through her tripartite conception of justice – redistribution, recognition, and representation – which she sets out in her book Scales of Justice. According to Fraser, these three dimensions are co-constitutive; they cannot be ranked or addressed in isolation. It is their imbrication that enables a nuanced analysis of contemporary injustices.

    Thus, against single-issue approaches that fragment social struggles, Nancy Fraser advocates for an integrative way of thinking, at the intersection of theory and practice, ethics and politics. She stands within a critical tradition that combines insights from Marxism, materialist feminism, anti-racist and anti-imperialist struggles, and democratic and ecological theory. The cross-cutting nature of her thought explains its deep resonance with the wide range of topics addressed during this graduate conference.

    A highlight of the conference will be Nancy Fraser’s lecture on 19 May, titled “Politics and Ethics in Extremis: A View from Trump’s America.” It will echo her recent analyses of the rise of authoritarian right-wing movements, the impasses of liberal progressivism, and the need to build counter-hegemonic blocs capable of advancing a genuine emancipatory project – themes she explores in her 2019 book The Old Is Dying and the New Cannot Be Born.

    What will you take away from organising this major conference?

    Cloé Artaut: The Graduate Conference is part of a well-established tradition within Sciences Po’s doctoral programme in political theory. Organising its eleventh edition, in May 2025, has been both a unique and formative intellectual and collective experience for us. We now fully appreciate just how valuable it is to have the opportunity, early in our research careers, to organise an academic event of this scale. It is a real learning experience, and one that reflects an essential aspect of the work of a scholar.

    From an organisational point of view, it allowed us to strengthen our skills in scientific coordination, learning how to balance intellectual rigour with logistical constraints and the expectations of participants. On the intellectual front, our aim was to create a space for international and interdisciplinary dialogue around a theme we saw as both classical and timely: the relationship between ethics and politics. Drawing on a line of thinking that dates back to ancient philosophy, as Thomas reminded us, but has undergone many developments in the contemporary era, we wanted to explore how these two concepts – and the links between them – continue to shape our political practices and analyses. This meant building a conference programme that reflected that ambition, giving equal space to both historical approaches and more modern reinterpretations.

    While we feel we largely achieved that goal, it was both surprising – and very rewarding – to discover that some of the proposals we received were quite far from what we had initially imagined when drafting the call for papers, yet still highly relevant to our theme. The gap between what we anticipated and what actually emerged proved to be immensely fruitful, allowing us to construct a rich and diverse programme that we are ultimately very proud of!

    Following the conference, we are considering coordinating a special journal issue dedicated to the conference theme. This project would allow us to extend the conversation we began, showcase the research presented, and continue fostering dialogue among the young scholars involved.

    En savoir plus 

    Cover image caption: Sibylle Léonard, Cloé Artaut, Ciara Luxton et Thomas Charrayre, PhD students at Sciences Po (credits: Sciences Po)

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Fuelling the school day

    Source: Scottish Government

    Breakfast clubs to help tackle poverty.

    Thousands more children will benefit from free breakfasts supported by the Scottish Government.

    The Bright Start Breakfasts fund is now open to applications and will provide £3 million so more primary school children can have a nutritious start to the day and parents can benefit from free childcare.

    Nearly half of Scotland’s schools already provide breakfast at the start of the school day. The Bright Start Breakfasts funding will support expansion of existing clubs and establishment of new ones, creating more free places for primary school children. 

    In addition to more breakfast clubs, the Scottish Government is expanding the Extra Time programme, which provides funding for 31 local football clubs and trusts to provide free access to before school, after school and holiday clubs for targeted primary school children from families on low incomes.

    Work is also under way in 23 communities to design and deliver further childcare services for priority families.

    Visiting a breakfast club at Riverside Primary School in Glasgow Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said:

    “We know how important a healthy breakfast can be for children, particularly those most at risk of living in poverty, and breakfast clubs have a crucial role in our mission to eradicate child poverty.

    “They help set children up for the day, supporting them to achieve their learning potential, and provide families with childcare, helping more parents to get to work in the morning.

    “Applications are open and I encourage anyone who could deliver a breakfast club to contact Inspiring Scotland.”

    Celia Tennant, Chief Executive at Inspiring Scotland, said:  

    “Inspiring Scotland is pleased to be working with Scottish Government to manage the Bright Start Breakfasts fund.

    “We are committed to working together to tackle child poverty and improve family wellbeing. We are delighted to see applications starting to come in since launching the fund on Wednesday”

    Background

    The Bright Start Breakfast fund is being managed by Inspiring Scotland. Guidance on applying to the fund can be found here: Bright Start Breakfasts – Inspiring Scotland.

    Inspiring Scotland invites applications from groups and organisations who deliver or want to deliver breakfast clubs, including:

    • Primary schools
    • local authorities
    • third-sector organisations
    • registered childcare providers
    • activity providers
    • parent or volunteer groups
    • childminding services

    Work to design and deliver childcare services for priority families is taking place in 23 Early Adopter Communities across six local authority areas (Clackmannanshire, Dundee, Glasgow, Inverclyde, Fife and Shetland).

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: ODS demonstrates significant economic and social impact

    Source: City of Oxford

    Friday, 16 May 2025

    ODS, the City Council wholly owned provider of essential and commercial services in Oxford and Oxfordshire, has released its 2023/24 Economic Impact Assessment.

    It reveals a total contribution of £65.6 million Gross Value Added (GVA) to the local economy and the support of over 1,150 jobs. 

    Established in 2018, the organisation provides a wide range of statutory and commercial services, including waste management, property maintenance, highways and fleet services. 

    The report, commissioned from SQW, details ODS’s economic, environmental, and social contributions to Oxford and the wider region. SQW are experts in public policy and work with clients to research, implement and evaluate social and economic development. For more details please visit their website. 

    Key findings include: 

    • employment and economic output: In 2023/24, ODS employed 560 people, generating £35.1m in direct GVA. The company’s operations supported a total of 1,154 jobs, including 728 in Oxford 

    Social value and community engagement 

    ODS embeds social impact through a clear commitment to inclusivity, workforce development, and local partnerships. Highlights include: 

    • community partnerships with local schools, charities, and rehabilitation programmes, including employment support for individuals with convictions. 

    Environmental leadership 

    As a holder of ISO 14001 and PAS2030 certifications, ODS is accelerating Oxford’s low-carbon future. Key initiatives include: 

    • maintenance of 900 acres of green spaces, and community education on sustainability through schemes like Podback, which collects and recycles Oxford residents’ coffee pods as part of their kerbside recycling and waste collections, and the Waste Education Programme. 

    Comment 

    “ODS is more than a service provider – it’s an engine for inclusive, sustainable growth in Oxford. This report shows how ODS is delivering economic value while putting social and environmental purpose at the heart of what it does.” 

    “ODS”s sustainability work is essential to support the ambition to make Oxford a greener city. Of course there is more to do. ODS’ Carbon Management Plan charts a path to net zero for the company through investment in clean energy, building decarbonisation, and cultural change.” 
    Councillor Nigel Chapman, Cabinet Member for Citizen Focused Services and Council Companies 

    “It’s great to see the excellent contribution ODS makes across a range of measures in Oxford and beyond as set out in this report by SQW. Our strap line is ODS – Doing Good – and we mean it.” 
    Simon Howick, Managing Director, ODS 

    To read the full report visit the ODS website. 

    About ODS 

    ODS is comprised of ODS Limited (ODSL) and ODS Trading Limited (ODSTL). ODSL delivers statutory services and maintains Oxford City Council’s housing stock. ODSTL offers commercial services to businesses and organisations across the Thames Valley. Together, ODS is a vital contributor to Oxford’s economic resilience, environmental goals, and inclusive community ambitions. 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Svitlana Buriak wins the 11th IBFD Frans Vanistendael Award

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Amsterdam, May 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — At a ceremony this afternoon, Svitlana Buriak was announced as the winner of the award for her publication titled “International Taxation of Global Value Networks“, published by IBFD Doctoral Series.

    The ongoing discussions regarding the allocation of taxing rights between countries in the digital age have primarily centered around concepts such as permanent establishments (PE) and substantive economic presence. In her book, Svitlana Buriak addresses a crucial yet often overlooked aspect: the increasing trend of ‘servicification’ in the global economy. Adopting a multi-disciplinary approach, the author brings into focus the role of intangibles and non-equity modes of internationalization, shedding light on the challenges associated with the division of economic rent that arises from these developments. Overall, an eminently readable and thought-provoking work.

    For these reasons, the jury concluded that the publication deserved to win the award, which was personally conferred by Rosa Vanistendael, the widow of Frans Vanistendael.

    About the author

    Dr. Svitlana Buriak is a tax advisor specializing in transfer pricing at Loyens & Loeff (Amsterdam), assistant professor at the University of Amsterdam (UvA), and director of the UvA Centre for Transfer Pricing and Income Allocation. With around 10 years of experience combining practice and policy-oriented academic work, Dr. Buriak focuses on addressing complex international tax and transfer pricing challenges through innovative and practical solutions. Her approach is grounded in legal research, economics, and policy considerations, taking into account evolving economic and business realities, as well as international relations, aiming to deliver legal analyses that are both legally sound and relevant in today’s global landscape.

    Applications and Nominations are welcome for the 12th IBFD Frans Vanistendael Award 2026

    Submissions are accepted until 31 December 2025 at ibfd.award@ibfd.org. Competition rules for 2026 will be available on the website as of next week. The 12th Frans Vanistendael Award will be conferred at IBFD’s headquarters in Amsterdam in May 2026. 

    About IBFD
    IBFD is a leading international provider of cross-border tax expertise, with a long-standing history of supporting and contributing to tax research and academic activities. As an independent foundation, IBFD utilizes its global network of tax experts and its Knowledge Centre to serve Fortune 500 companies, governments, international consultancy firms and tax advisers.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Young India Rises to Solve for Tomorrow: Samsung’s Innovation Drive Takes Flight

    Source: Samsung

     
    Solve for Tomorrow 2025: Nudging young minds to see problems as opportunities and innovation as a way of life
     
    A quiet revolution is underway. With Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Season 4 in full swing, India’s youth is rising to the challenge with ideas that aim to transform lives, communities, and the country.
     
    After a successful launch earlier this year, the programme has now entered a dynamic phase: Design Thinking Workshops for school students and Open House sessions for college innovators. These events are not just about learning, they are about sparking a mindset shift, nudging young minds to see problems as opportunities and innovation as a way of life.
     
    With roadshows already underway in nine cities – New Delhi, Gurugram, Jaipur, Patiala, Ludhiana, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Ranchi and Sonepat, the excitement is palpable. Thousands of students from 20 schools and colleges have participated so far. And this is just the beginning. Samsung plans to take this initiative to every corner of India, including the North East.
     
    “Solve for Tomorrow is important because it gives students the tools and mindset to identify real problems around them and create practical, innovative solutions, something traditional classrooms often miss,” said Dr. Ashish Dwivedi, a faculty member at O.P. Jindal Global University, which recently hosted a Design Thinking Open House.
     
    At the university, curious students spent the day immersed in the design thinking process. The energy in the room was electric. Ideas were born, problems dissected, and visions shared. The students emerged inspired, transformed, and ready to take on the world.
     
    “It helped turn a vague idea into a clearer, actionable solution,” said Aditya Naresh, a student at O.P. Jindal Global University.
     
    Similarly, another student, Riddhima Sharma said that she learnt how to work in a team and listen to different perspectives while solving a problem.
     
    In schools, the Design Thinking Workshops from Samsung left an equally indelible mark.
     
    Young minds at work during a Design Thinking Workshop at a school
     
    “The workshop conducted by Samsung and FITT-IIT Delhi has been really insightful,” said Surbhi, a teacher at ITL Public School, Delhi. “Many students from the first batch have already approached me for help with the application process.”
     
    At Mother’s Mary School in Delhi, the girls of Classes 9 and 10 are dreaming big.
     
    Aanya, for instance, wants to build an AI-powered app to help design sustainable homes, while Kritika is working on an eco-friendly Kindle to replace school textbooks. Interestingly, Kriti, a Class 12 student, is exploring safer menstrual products to prevent cervical cancer, all under Solve for Tomorrow’s key themes.
     
    The passion to solve and lead, is just about as fierce among college students.
     
    “There are many problems in the world but very few solvers,” said R. Deepika, a Business Analytics student at University of Hyderabad. “This workshop made me want to be one of them.”
     
    “It’s helped me figure out how to build a startup and chalk out my ideas better,” said Sawan Kesari from the BA programme at University of Hyderabad. “I want to improve diagnostic services in rural India through telemedicine.”
     
    With roadshows already underway in nine cities, the excitement is palpable as students queue up to apply for Solve for Tomorrow 2025
     
    The clarity and purpose with which these students are identifying community problems is nothing short of inspiring. Whether it’s Aditya’s mission to make clean drinking water accessible in rural areas, Riddhima’s drive to tackle plastic waste, Prerna’s dream of assistive devices for visually impaired students, every idea echoes the larger purpose of Solve for Tomorrow, to empower the next generation of changemakers.
     
    “Our students are eager to connect with mentors and experts through Solve for Tomorrow to bring their ideas to life.” said Poonam Verma, Principal of Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies.
     
    The application window for the initiative will be open till June 30, 2025.
     
    After the initial application phase, the top 100 teams will be chosen, with 25 teams selected from each of the themes. At this stage, participants will undergo online training led by thematic experts, followed by a video pitch round where 40 teams will be shortlisted – 10 teams from each theme.
     
    With thousands of students now engaged and more joining each week, Solve for Tomorrow is no longer just a competition, it’s a national innovation movement.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Putin is testing how far he can push Trump by not turning up for Istanbul talks

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Natasha Lindstaedt, Professor in the Department of Government, University of Essex

    Over three years after Russia invaded Ukraine, the countries are finally meeting for direct peace talks in Istanbul. Vladimir Putin will be not be attending.

    Ironically, given his no-show, it was Putin who suggested the peace talks instead of immediately agreeing to a proposed 30-day ceasefire. But like Russia’s 2024 presidential elections, from the outside the peace talks appear to be a total farce. Putin is not just stringing the international community along, he is also testing his “friendship” with the US president, Donald Trump.

    Trump ran on a platform that he would he end the war in Ukraine quickly (in 24 hours), arguing that he was the only one with the gravitas and strength to handle the Russian leader. Yet Putin has repeatedly ignored Trump’s warnings.

    Two days after Trump was inaugurated, the US president posted that new sanctions would be imposed on Russia if the conflict did not end quickly. Then in early and late March, Trump again threatened sanctions if there was no ceasefire. Most recently, on May 8, Trump called for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire, warning that violations would be met with sanctions.

    Putin disregarded every threat, and Trump did nothing to follow through. The pattern seems to be repeating itself.

    Now, Trump is trying to save face by claiming that peace talks are only possible if he and Putin meet in person. If that was the case, why didn’t Trump himself attend? He was only a four-hour plane flight away, making billion dollar deals in the Gulf. But as recently as Thursday, Trump floated the idea that he would only attend if “something happened”.

    Given how important these peace talks should be, it’s odd that there’s so much confusion about why Putin and Trump are not attending. US special envoy Keith Kellogg stated that if Putin had attended, Trump would be there. Trump, meanwhile, has framed Putin’s snub the other way around, claiming the only reason Putin did not attend was because he was not there.


    Institute for the Study of War, CC BY-ND

    Meanwhile, Europeans had warned Putin that if he did not attend and the talks failed to produce a ceasefire, he would face tougher sanctions. But Putin was never going to attend these peace talks even as his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, goaded him to do so by arriving in Ankara a few days ahead of time.

    What could still happen?

    Representatives from the Turkish, Ukrainian and American delegations were due to meet on the morning of May 16, followed by a session with Russia. Reportedly, Turkey is doing everything it can to get the two sides in the same room.

    But hopes are not high for any breakthrough. The US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, said he has no expectations, and Zelensky believes Russia is not serious about achieving anything at these talks.

    Though Putin was the one who suggested the peace talks “without preconditions”, he has sent a low-level delegation. Zelensksy promised to attend if Putin did, but has interpreted the Russian president’s absence as a sign of disrespect.

    Given this backdrop, what can be achieved? Putin has sent his aide (and former minister of culture) Vladimir Medinsky, who Zelensky describes as a “theatre prop”. In Zelensky’s place, the Ukrainian delegation is led by Kyiv’s defence minister, Rustem Umerov.

    Umerov has an impossible task, but will be trying to use the peace talks to take the first steps towards de-escalation. The only real winner in these talks is Turkey, which is playing a much bigger role than expected on the international stage as a power broker and mediator, since Putin didn’t come. Turkey also has good relationships with both Putin and Zelensky.

    It’s certainly hard to take peace talks seriously when there is an awkward back-and-forth just about who is going to attend. And while Trump thinks peace is only possible through bilateral meetings between himself and Putin, it’s clear he can’t even influence Putin to show up to peace talks that the Russian president himself suggested.

    This should give the world little confidence that Putin will agree to a 30-day ceasefire, Ukraine’s main proposal, let alone ever agree to any wider concessions. What’s not clear is what Trump is going to do about it.

    Natasha Lindstaedt 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. Putin is testing how far he can push Trump by not turning up for Istanbul talks – https://theconversation.com/putin-is-testing-how-far-he-can-push-trump-by-not-turning-up-for-istanbul-talks-256820

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Assisted dying: five questions that need answering before it can work in pratice

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Suzanne Ost, Professor of Law, Lancaster University

    Collagery/Shutterstock

    An attempt to make assisted dying legal in England in Wales continues to make its way through parliament, with MPs currently scheduled to have a final vote on the bill in June.

    The bill has sparked both passionate support and strong opposition, raising vital questions: how would such a law work in practice? Who would deliver it? And what would it cost?

    While much attention has focused mostly on the ethics of assisted dying, the government’s recently published impact assessment looks at the practical side and it deserves closer attention.

    Of course, we shouldn’t base a decision about life and death solely on financial or logistical grounds. But if assisted dying is to become part of the law in England and Wales, we need to understand how it would work in reality. The report highlights a number of key challenges:

    1. The medication question

    The assessment draws mainly on data from 11 other jurisdictions, especially Oregon, where assisted dying has been legal for years. It found that the drugs used can lead to prolonged and unpredictable deaths, in part due to inconsistent drug availability.

    However, the report doesn’t compare this to Switzerland, where assisted dying must be self-administered and is tightly regulated. There, a single barbiturate is typically used, leading to death within two to ten minutes depending on whether it’s taken orally or via injection. This raises questions about what kind of medications would be used in the UK and how reliably they would work.

    2. Opt-outs: who will deliver the service?

    Experience from countries like Canada shows that most doctors opt out of providing assisted dying. In Canada, over 5,000 assisted deaths were carried out by just 80 people. Similarly, in the US and New Zealand, entire institutions – especially palliative care services – have opted out.

    Kim Leadbeater, the MP sponsoring the bill, has confirmed that it would not oblige hospices to participate. While this protects individual conscience, it may leave patients struggling to find willing clinicians or being discharged home to die.

    3. Can the NHS cope with a new service?

    The bill assumes the NHS would be responsible for delivering assisted dying. But is the system ready?

    Switzerland uses volunteer doctors outside the healthcare system, which may be more sustainable. In the UK, oversight is expected to come from a panel including a senior judge or lawyer, a psychiatrist and a social worker.

    However, the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCP) has raised serious concerns, both about the role psychiatrists would play and whether there are enough professionals to fulfil that role. The RCP currently opposes the bill.

    4. Funding: a two-tier system?

    The impact assessment suggests assisted dying would be free at the point of delivery. Yet palliative care – the alternative end-of-life support – often receives less than 40% government funding, relying heavily on charity.

    Could this create a two-tier system, where assisted dying is fully funded while palliative care remains under resourced?

    5. Legal costs and challenges

    If passed, the bill could trigger human rights challenges, particularly around mental capacity and access. Legal experts suggest several grounds on which it might be contested and these cases would need to be defended, incurring additional costs.

    Families might also seek judicial review of a panel’s decision to permit a request for assisted dying. And public protests outside clinics or hospitals offering the service could require increased policing and security – all of which have financial and social implications.

    This bill tackles one of the most morally sensitive issues in society. But if it is to succeed, and be implemented safely, it must be built on more than good intentions.

    The government’s impact assessment lays out the many practical hurdles: medication protocols, workforce readiness, conscientious objection, legal protections, and funding disparities. These aren’t technicalities. They’re the framework that would determine whether assisted dying is accessible, safe and ethically delivered.

    As the bill progresses, the debate must move beyond principle alone. The future of this legislation – and its real world impact – will depend on how well we address these deeply human, and deeply complex, practicalities.

    Suzanne Ost has previously received funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the British Academy for research that she has conducted.

    Nancy Preston receives funding from Horizon Europe but not for her work on assisted dying. She is affiliated with European Association of Palliative Care where she Co-Chairs the Task Force on the role of palliative care professionals in supporting patients and families considering assisted dying.

    – ref. Assisted dying: five questions that need answering before it can work in pratice – https://theconversation.com/assisted-dying-five-questions-that-need-answering-before-it-can-work-in-pratice-256270

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Governments continue losing efforts to gain backdoor access to secure communications

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Richard Forno, Teaching Professor of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, and Assistant Director, UMBC Cybersecurity Institute, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

    Signal is the poster child for strong encryption apps. AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato

    Reports that prominent American national security officials used a freely available encrypted messaging app, coupled with the rise of authoritarian policies around the world, have led to a surge in interest in encrypted apps like Signal and WhatsApp. These apps prevent anyone, including the government and the app companies themselves, from reading messages they intercept.

    The spotlight on encrypted apps is also a reminder of the complex debate pitting government interests against individual liberties. Governments desire to monitor everyday communications for law enforcement, national security and sometimes darker purposes. On the other hand, citizens and businesses claim the right to enjoy private digital discussions in today’s online world.

    The positions governments take often are framed as a “war on encryption” by technology policy experts and civil liberties advocates. As a cybersecurity researcher, I’ve followed the debate for nearly 30 years and remain convinced that this is not a fight that governments can easily win.

    Understanding the ‘golden key’

    Traditionally, strong encryption capabilities were considered military technologies crucial to national security and not available to the public. However, in 1991, computer scientist Phil Zimmermann released a new type of encryption software called Pretty Good Privacy (PGP). It was free, open-source software available on the internet that anyone could download. PGP allowed people to exchange email and files securely, accessible only to those with the shared decryption key, in ways similar to highly secured government systems.

    Following an investigation into Zimmermann, the U.S. government came to realize that technology develops faster than law and began to explore remedies. It also began to understand that once something is placed on the internet, neither laws nor policy can control its global availability.

    Fearing that terrorists or criminals might use such technology to plan attacks, arrange financing or recruit members, the Clinton administration advocated a system called the Clipper Chip, based on a concept of key escrow. The idea was to give a trusted third party access to the encryption system and the government could use that access when it demonstrated a law enforcement or national security need.

    End-to-end encryption and backdoor access explained.

    Clipper was based on the idea of a “golden key,” namely, a way for those with good intentions – intelligence services, police – to access encrypted data, while keeping people with bad intentions – criminals, terrorists – out.

    Clipper Chip devices never gained traction outside the U.S. government, in part because its encryption algorithm was classified and couldn’t be publicly peer-reviewed. However, in the years since, governments around the world have continued to embrace the golden key concept as they grapple with the constant stream of technology developments reshaping how people access and share information.

    Following Edward Snowden’s disclosures about global surveillance of digital communications in 2013, Google and Apple took steps to make it virtually impossible for anyone but an authorized user to access data on a smartphone. Even a court order was ineffective, much to the chagrin of law enforcement. In Apple’s case, the company’s approach to privacy and security was tested in 2016 when the company refused to build a mechanism to help the FBI break into an encrypted iPhone owned by a suspect in the San Bernardino terrorist attack.

    At its core, encryption is, fundamentally, very complicated math. And while the golden key concept continues to hold allure for governments, it is mathematically difficult to achieve with an acceptable degree of trust. And even if it was viable, implementing it in practice makes the internet less safe. Security experts agree that any backdoor access, even if hidden or controlled by a trusted entity, is vulnerable to hacking.

    Competing justifications and tech realities

    Governments around the world continue to wrestle with the proliferation of strong encryption in messaging tools, social media and virtual private networks.

    For example, rather than embrace a technical golden key, a recent proposal in France would have provided the government the ability to add a hidden “ghost” participant to any encrypted chat for surveillance purposes. However, legislators removed this from the final proposal after civil liberties and cybersecurity experts warned that such an approach would undermine basic cybersecurity practices and trust in secure systems.

    In 2025, the U.K. government secretly ordered Apple to add a backdoor to its encryption services worldwide. Rather than comply, Apple removed the ability for its iPhone and iCloud customers in the U.K. to use its Advanced Data Protection encryption features. In this case, Apple chose to defend its users’ security in the face of government mandates, which ironically now means that users in the U.K. may be less secure.

    Apple pulled its advanced encryption service from the U.K. market rather than grant the U.K. government backdoor access.

    In the United States, provisions removed from the 2020 EARN IT bill would have forced companies to scan online messages and photos to guard against child exploitation by creating a golden-key-type hidden backdoor. Opponents viewed this as a stealth way of bypassing end-to-end encryption. The bill did not advance to a full vote when it was last reintroduced in the 2023-2024 legislative session.

    Opposing scanning for child sexual abuse material is a controversial concern when encryption is involved: Although Apple received significant public backlash over its plans to scan user devices for such material in ways that users claimed violated Apple’s privacy stance, victims of child abuse have sued the company for not better protecting children.

    Even privacy-centric Switzerland and the European Union are exploring ways of dealing with digital surveillance and privacy in an encrypted world.

    The laws of math and physics, not politics

    Governments usually claim that weakening encryption is necessary to fight crime and protect the nation – and there is a valid concern there. However, when that argument fails to win the day, they often turn to claiming to need backdoors to protect children from exploitation.

    From a cybersecurity perspective, it is nearly impossible to create a backdoor to a communications product that is only accessible for certain purposes or under certain conditions. If a passageway exists, it’s only a matter of time before it is exploited for nefarious purposes. In other words, creating what is essentially a software vulnerability to help the good guys will inevitably end up helping the bad guys, too.

    Often overlooked in this debate is that if encryption is weakened to improve surveillance for governmental purposes, it will drive criminals and terrorists further underground. Using different or homegrown technologies, they will still be able to exchange information in ways that governments can’t readily access. But everyone else’s digital security will be needlessly diminished.

    This lack of online privacy and security is especially dangerous for journalists, activists, domestic violence survivors and other at-risk communities around the world.

    Encryption obeys the laws of math and physics, not politics. Once invented, it can’t be un-invented, even if it frustrates governments. Along those lines, if governments are struggling with strong encryption now, how will they contend with a world when everyone is using significantly more complex techniques like quantum cryptography?

    Governments remain in an unenviable position regarding strong encryption. Ironically, one of the countermeasures the government recommended in response to China’s hacking of global telephone systems in the Salt Typhoon attacks was to use strong encryption in messaging apps such as Signal or iMessage.

    Reconciling that with their ongoing quest to weaken or restrict strong encryption for their own surveillance interests will be a difficult challenge to overcome.

    Richard Forno has received research funding related to cybersecurity from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Department of Defense (DOD), and the US Army during his academic career since 2010.

    – ref. Governments continue losing efforts to gain backdoor access to secure communications – https://theconversation.com/governments-continue-losing-efforts-to-gain-backdoor-access-to-secure-communications-253016

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Placenta bandages have far more health benefits than risky placenta pills − a bioengineer explains

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Marley Dewey, Assistant Professor of Bioengineering, University of California, Santa Barbara

    With some bioengineering, placentas can be recycled for various medical treatments. mikroman6/Moment via Getty Images

    Eating a placenta may not give you the health benefits some people want you to believe it has, but using it as a bandage might.

    The placenta is an organ created during pregnancy that provides nutrients to a growing fetus through an umbilical cord. It’s usually large and relatively flat, composed of blood vessels, stem and immune cells, and collagen. It doesn’t look particularly appetizing to most people, and those who have eaten placentas often mention an unpleasant taste or smell.

    But in the early 2000s, the practice of mothers eating their placenta after childbirth, claiming health benefits and mood improvement, gained mainstream attention. This trend typically involves putting your placenta into capsules you can take as pills, and there are even companies selling custom-made and do-it-yourself products online.

    While some mammals may eat their own placentas due to limited nutritional resources in the wild, the benefits people might get from eating placentas is unclear.

    If boiled and dehydrated, the useful components of the placenta may be altered and reduced. If ingested raw, pathogens may remain on the surface of the placenta. In 2016, after a newborn was hospitalized multiple times from an infection potentially resulting from the mother ingesting her placenta, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended mothers avoid taking placenta pills.

    I can’t personally speak to the taste of placentas. However, as a bioengineer who designs materials to regenerate injured bones and other tissues, I along with my colleagues have uncovered a much clearer picture of the benefits placentas can offer as a biomaterial to repair wounds – if used properly.

    The placenta contains many medically useful components – just not when eaten.
    Sinhyu/iStock via Getty Images Plus

    Placenta as biomaterial

    Biomaterials are materials designed to interface with your body to repair damage. If you burned your skin, for example, your doctor may use a biomaterial such as a skin graft to help your body repair the damaged tissue, ideally providing nutrients to the damaged area to promote cell growth.

    Researchers have been exploring recycling placentas, which are often thrown away after delivery, as a type of biomaterial to regrow wounded tissue in patients. Because the placenta is rich in nutrients and stem cells that give it antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and pro-regenerative properties, this organ is a particularly good candidate for medical applications.

    Your body normally responds to a wound with inflammation, which is an immune reaction that clears harmful stimuli and pathogens, often resulting in swelling and pain around the injury site.

    Unfortunately, sometimes this inflammatory process can get out of hand and lead to chronic wounds and prevent healing. But the active biomolecules within the placenta work with your immune system to promote repair by reducing inflammation and preventing scar formation.

    For example, chronic diabetic foot ulcers are a challenging injury that sometimes never closes and leads to foot amputation. Researchers found that using biomaterials made of parts of the placenta to treat these injuries resulted in a wound closure rate 6.24 times higher than conventional treatments. Researchers have also found that placenta-based biomaterials can reduce scarring after heart injury.

    I have used human placentas in my own research to study how they work in a variety of wound repair scenarios. I can take a volunteer patient’s donated placenta and remove factors that may negatively affect healing, such as all cells, blood and other components that may cause inflammation. Then I can take the material that’s left – primarily containing essential growth nutrients and the tissue foundation that cells used to live in – and use it to improve bone or tendon repair.

    Placentas undergo significant processing before they can be used in biomaterials.
    Kolliopoulos et al./Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, CC BY-SA

    Moreover, placentas contain stem cells that can also be useful for medicine. These cells are able to turn into various other types of cells of your body. This can be particularly helpful for repairing organs that are difficult to directly harvest cells from, such as the heart, liver and nerves. For example, placental stem cells can be added to an injured heart and become heart cells themselves to aid in repair.

    Researchers have also used stem cells from the placenta and the umbilical cord for applications such as stem cell transplantation to treat disease and injury. Studies have found that placenta-derived stem cells transplanted into rats could reverse Parkinson’s and nerve death. Stem cells from the placenta can also serve as a more promising source of cells for cell transplantation therapies compared with stem cells from fat and bone marrow.

    On your skin, not in your stomach

    So placentas do have some clear health benefits. But why are they more useful as a biomaterial bandage than as a pill or food, taste considerations aside?

    Unlike placenta products that are ingested – pills, dried jerky or raw placenta – biomaterials have undergone rigorous testing to ensure they are safe and effective. They are processed and handled in a controlled laboratory environment and often sterilized to ensure no bacteria or other pathogens can enter the patient. The Food and Drug Administration has approved several placenta-based biomaterials for use in the clinic, including to treat diabetic foot wounds, surgical wounds and tissue replacement.

    In contrast, placentas and placenta products eaten at home may not receive proper treatment to kill the many harmful pathogens that may be present during transport. The processing to turn placentas into something ingestible may also damage their beneficial components, leading to increased health risks and reduced benefits. No ingested placenta products have received FDA approval to date.

    Eating placentas won’t make you any healthier. But science says applying a lab-processed, placenta-based biomaterial to a recent wound might speed up healing and result in smoother, scar-free skin.

    Marley Dewey receives funding from the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health.

    – ref. Placenta bandages have far more health benefits than risky placenta pills − a bioengineer explains – https://theconversation.com/placenta-bandages-have-far-more-health-benefits-than-risky-placenta-pills-a-bioengineer-explains-256075

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Landing on the Moon is an incredibly difficult feat − 2025 has brought successes and shortfalls for companies and space agencies

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Zhenbo Wang, Associate Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Tennessee

    Several missions have already attempted to land on the lunar surface in 2025, with more to come. AP Photo

    Half a century after the Apollo astronauts left the last bootprints in lunar dust, the Moon has once again become a destination of fierce ambition and delicate engineering.

    This time, it’s not just superpowers racing to plant flags, but also private companies, multinational partnerships and robotic scouts aiming to unlock the Moon’s secrets and lay the groundwork for future human return.

    So far in 2025, lunar exploration has surged forward. Several notable missions have launched toward or landed on the Moon. Each has navigated the long journey through space and the even trickier descent to the Moon’s surface or into orbit with varying degrees of success. Together, these missions reflect both the promise and difficulty of returning to the Moon in this new space race defined by innovation, competition and collaboration.

    As an aerospace engineer specializing in guidance, navigation and control technologies, I’m deeply interested in how each mission – whether successful or not – adds to scientists’ collective understanding. These missions can help engineers learn to navigate the complexities of space, operate in hostile lunar environments and steadily advance toward a sustainable human presence on the Moon.

    Why is landing on the Moon so hard?

    Lunar exploration remains one of the most technically demanding frontiers in modern spaceflight. Choosing a landing site involves complex trade-offs between scientific interest, terrain safety and Sun exposure.

    The lunar south pole is an especially attractive area, as it could contain water in the form of ice in shadowed craters, a critical resource for future missions. Other sites may hold clues about volcanic activity on the Moon or the solar system’s early history.

    Each mission trajectory must be calculated with precision to make sure the craft arrives and descends at the right time and place. Engineers must account for the Moon’s constantly changing position in its orbit around Earth, the timing of launch windows and the gravitational forces acting on the spacecraft throughout its journey.

    They also need to carefully plan the spacecraft’s path so that it arrives at the right angle and speed for a safe approach. Even small miscalculations early on can lead to major errors in landing location – or a missed opportunity entirely.

    Once on the surface, the landers need to survive extreme swings in temperature – from highs over 250 degrees Fahrenheit (121 degrees Celsius) in daylight down to lows of -208 F (-133 C) at night – as well as dust, radiation and delayed communication with Earth. The spacecraft’s power systems, heat control, landing legs and communication links must all function perfectly. Meanwhile, these landers must avoid hazardous terrain and rely on sunlight to power their instruments and recharge their batteries.

    These challenges help explain why many landers have crashed or experienced partial failures, even though the technology has come a long way since the Apollo era.

    Commercial companies face the same technical hurdles as government agencies but often with tighter budgets, smaller teams and less heritage hardware. Unlike government missions, which can draw on decades of institutional experience and infrastructure, many commercial lunar efforts are navigating these challenges for the first time.

    Successful landings and hard lessons for CLPS

    Several lunar missions launched this year belong to NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services program. CLPS is an initiative that contracts private companies to deliver science and technology payloads to the Moon. Its aim is to accelerate exploration while lowering costs and encouraging commercial innovation.

    An artist’s rendering of Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lander, which navigated and avoided hazards during its final descent to the surface.
    NASA/GSFC/Rani Gran/Wikimedia Commons

    The first Moon mission of 2025, Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost Mission 1, launched in January and successfully landed in early March.

    The lander survived the harsh lunar day and transmitted data for nearly two weeks before losing power during the freezing lunar night – a typical operational limit for most unheated lunar landers.

    Blue Ghost demonstrated how commercial landers can shoulder critical parts of NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to return astronauts to the Moon later this decade.

    The second CLPS launch of the year, Intuitive Machines’ IM-2 mission, launched in late February. It targeted a scientifically intriguing site near the Moon’s south pole region.

    An artist’s rendering of Intuitive Machines’ IM-2 mission, which is scheduled to land near the lunar south pole for in-situ resource utilization demonstration on the Moon.
    NASA/Intuitive Machines

    The Nova-C lander, named Athena, touched down on March 6 close to the south pole. However, during the landing process, Athena tipped over. Since it landed on its side in a crater with uneven terrain, it couldn’t deploy its solar panels to generate power, which ended the mission early.

    While Athena’s tipped-over landing meant it couldn’t do all the scientific explorations it had planned, the data it returned is still valuable for understanding how future landers can avoid similar fates on the rugged polar terrain.

    Not all lunar missions need to land. NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer, a small lunar orbiter launched in February alongside IM-2, was intended to orbit the Moon and map the form, abundance and distribution of water in the form of ice, especially in shadowed craters near the poles.

    Shortly after launch, however, NASA lost contact with the spacecraft. Engineers suspect the spacecraft may have experienced a power issue, potentially leaving its batteries depleted.

    NASA is continuing recovery efforts, hoping that the spacecraft’s solar panels may recharge in May and June.

    An artist’s rendering of NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer spacecraft. If recovered, it will orbit the Moon to measure the form and distribution of water on the lunar surface.
    Lockheed Martin Space

    Ongoing and future missions

    Launched on the same day as the Blue Ghost mission in January, Japanese company ispace’s Hakuto-R Mission 2 (Resilience) is on its way to the Moon and has successfully entered lunar orbit.

    The lander carried out a successful flyby of the Moon on Feb. 15, with an expected landing in early June. Although launched at the same time, Resilience took a longer trajectory than Blue Ghost to save energy. This maneuver also allowed the spacecraft to collect bonus science observations while looping around the Moon.

    The mission, if successful, will advance Japan’s commercial space sector and prove an important comeback for ispace after its first lunar lander crashed during its final descent in 2023.

    The Resilience lunar lander days before its launch in the payload processing facility at the U.S. Space Force station. The Resilience lander has completed its Earth orbit and a lunar flyby. It is now completing a low-energy transfer orbit and entering an orbit around the Moon.
    Business Wire

    The rest of 2025 promises a busy lunar calendar. Intuitive Machines plans to launch IM-3 in late 2025 to test more advanced instruments and potentially deliver NASA scientific experiments to the Moon.

    The European Space Agency’s Lunar Pathfinder will establish a dedicated lunar communications satellite, making it easier for future missions, especially those operating on the far side or poles, to stay in touch with Earth.

    Meanwhile, Astrobotic’s Griffin Mission-1 is scheduled to deliver NASA’s VIPER rover to the Moon’s south pole, where it will directly search for ice beneath the surface.

    Together, these missions represent an increasingly international and commercial approach to lunar science and exploration.

    As the world turns its attention to the Moon, every mission – whether triumph or setback – brings humanity closer to a permanent return to our closest celestial neighbor.

    Zhenbo Wang receives funding from NASA.

    – ref. Landing on the Moon is an incredibly difficult feat − 2025 has brought successes and shortfalls for companies and space agencies – https://theconversation.com/landing-on-the-moon-is-an-incredibly-difficult-feat-2025-has-brought-successes-and-shortfalls-for-companies-and-space-agencies-256046

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: CCUS explained: experts answer your questions

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    News story

    CCUS explained: experts answer your questions

    Got a question about Carbon Capture, Usage, and Storage (CCUS) and the technology involved? Experts answer some of the most common questions here.

    How does CCUS work? 

    Olivia Powis, CEO at the Carbon Capture and Storage Association, says:  

    Carbon Capture, Usage, and Storage (CCUS) is essential for reducing emissions from heavy industries. It can also be used to generate low-carbon power by gas power stations with carbon capture and storage as well as enabling hydrogen power. These sources of power are important for when the sun isn’t shining, and the wind isn’t blowing.

    This low carbon technology captures carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from industrial facilities, compresses it, and then transports it by pipeline or ship for utilisation or safe and permanent storage deep under the seabed, preventing the CO2 from entering the atmosphere. The CO2 is stored in porous rocks – in old oil fields, gas fields, or saline formation – that act like a sponge and are covered by layers of trapping mechanisms such as impermeable ‘caprock’ – ensuring safe and permanent storage. The CO2 is then monitored to make sure that its stored securely.

    Is CCUS a proven technology? 

    Professor Stuart Haszeldine, Professor of Carbon Capture and Storage at University of Edinburgh, says: 

    Yes, carbon capture and storage has been operating successfully and safely since 1996 at the Sleipner storage site in the North Sea, halfway between Aberdeen and Bergen. A similar project has been developed at Snøhvit offshore in Norway. Experience gained in those operations has led to the Northern Lights project, situated north of Bergen which offers secure CO2 storage commercially to European industries.

    Is CCUS safe? 

    Professor Niall Mac Dowell, Professor in Energy Systems Engineering at Imperial College London, says: 

    Yes, various technical components of the carbon capture, utilisation, transport, and storage value chain have all been extensively deployed in other contexts around the world for decades. In the UK, not only can existing Health and Safety legislation effectively regulate the safety of CCUS, but we are also fortunate to have a wealth of experience in the offshore industry, which will be used to safely store the CO2 several kilometres below the seabed, in formations similar to those that have trapped natural gas for millennia.

    Does CCUS help us tackle climate change? 

    Chris Stark, former CEO at the Climate Change Committee and Head of Mission Control for Clean Power 2030 at the Department of Energy Security & Net Zero, says:

    CCUS provides the lowest cost pathway to reaching net zero which is why the independent Climate Change Committee has declared it a ‘necessity, not an option.’ CCUS gives a range of options to decarbonise that would otherwise not be possible, and it minimises the climate warming emissions released to the atmosphere on our journey to net zero. It will be an important part of our industrial future.

    With an increase in renewable energy, why do we need CCUS? 

    Louise Stott, Deputy Director for Policy at Energy UK, says:

    To help secure our energy supply, we need low-carbon power that is available at all times of the day and in all weathers. Gas-fired power stations with CCUS, used alongside all other forms of low-carbon energy generation, will be able to provide flexible power on the system. Beyond power generation, CCUS will also play an important role in the decarbonisation of heavy industry. There are certain industrial processes, such as cement production, which will only be able to decarbonise through technologies like carbon capture.

    Is CCUS too expensive? 

    Mathilde Fajardy, Energy Analyst at the International Energy Agency, says: 

    CCUS technologies are critical to put energy systems around the world on a sustainable path. The cost of a project depends heavily on the source of the CO2 captured, the distance and mode used to transport it, as well as where and how it is stored. The cost of CCUS also needs to be considered against alternative decarbonisation options – in some cases, CCUS may be the only option available today.

    Is there enough space to safely store carbon captured by CCUS projects? 

    Stuart Payne, CEO at the North Sea Transition Authority, says: 

    The North Sea has the potential to store up to 78 GT of CO2 in a combination of depleted oil and gas reservoirs and natural saline aquifers. That could be enough capacity on the UK Continental Shelf to store centuries worth of UK emissions. In fact, we believe we have an exceptional case for the UK to become a carbon storage centre for the world.

    Further information

    Read more about UK carbon capture, usage and storage.

    Updates to this page

    Published 16 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: China supports WFP to improve nutrition for over 100,000 school children in the Kyrgyz Republic

    Source: World Food Programme

    BISHKEK – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the Government of the People’s Republic of China, through the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), will provide nutritious school meals to more than 100,000 children in the Kyrgyz Republic. This marks CIDCA’s first multilateral initiative in the country and in Central Asia through its Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund.

    To launch this initiative, a handover ceremony was held yesterday at the #86 School in Osh province in the south of the country, with the Ambassador of China in the Kyrgyz Republic, H.E. Liu Jiangping, the Deputy Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic in Osh region, Ilyas Tashbaev and the WFP Representative and Country Director in the Kyrgyz Republic, Kojiro Nakai.

    “As a strategic partner of the Kyrgyz Republic, China has been supporting the country through bilateral channels, improving infrastructure and other sectors,” said H.E. Liu Jiangping, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the Kyrgyz Republic. “The support from CIDCA aims to enhance the National School Meals Programme via multilateral channels, which will complement China’s existing large-scale assistance and set a good example for South-South cooperation initiative.”

    In 2025, 1,700 metric tons of fortified wheat flour, vegetable oil, rice and lentils will be delivered to 300 schools across Osh, Jalal-Abad and Batken provinces. WFP and the Ministry of Education and Science selected these schools based on poverty levels and nutritional needs.

    “WFP is grateful for this new contribution from the Government of China. This support will help address the serious micronutrient deficiencies affecting primary school children in three provinces. WFP remains committed to strengthening the school meals programme and contributing to the growth of a healthy and successful young generation,” said Kojiro Nakai, WFP Representative and Country Director.

    Under the leadership of the Ministry of Education and Science and supported by WFP, the National School Meals Programme has already introduced nutritious meals in 920 schools across the country, with support from various donors. Each year, WFP not only supplies food but also upgrades school kitchen infrastructure, provides catering equipment and trains cooks to ensure the safe and nutritious preparation of meals.

    Together, the Ministry of Education and Science, WFP, and their partners remain committed to further improving the National School Meals Programme, nourishing children for a healthier and brighter future.

    #                 #                  #

    The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

    Follow us on X, formerly Twitter, via @WFPinKG 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 16 May 2025 Departmental update Neglected tropical diseases centre-stage at the Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly

    Source: World Health Organisation

    Sunday 18 May 2025 10:30−13:30
     
    Restaurant Vieux-Bois, Avenue de la Paix 12    		 Snakebite envenoming : reaching our 2030 targets
     
    Host: Ministry of Health, Kenya    		 The objective of this meeting is to build visibility for snakebite on the global health agenda
     
    Sunday 18 May 2025
    17:30−19:30
     
    Restaurant Vieux-Bois, Avenue de la Paix 12
     
         		 Shared progress: how collaborative philanthropy can accelerate country-led health goals
     
    Host: Mohammed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity    		 Under the theme Shared Progress: How Collaborative Philanthropy Can Accelerate Country-led Health Goals, the reception will convene country representatives; global health leaders; philanthropic organizations; and multilaterals to discuss how countries and donors can work collaboratively to forge new pathways for global health progress. 
    Monday 19 May 2025
    13:00−14:30
     
    Centre d’Accueil de la Genève Internationale (CAGI), La Pastorale, Route de Ferney 106    		 Protecting Progress: Integration for Infectious Disease Elimination in a Shifting Geopolitical Landscape
     
    Host: Global Institute for Disease Elimination (GLIDE)    		 The global health landscape is undergoing tectonic shifts, driven largely by the recent significant changes in traditional donor priorities. This, compounded by ongoing challenges of climate change and humanitarian crises threatens to erode decades of progress in eliminating preventable infectious diseases such as malaria, polio, and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Given this new reality, integration—both across disease programs and within broader health and development efforts—has never been more urgent.
    Tuesday 20 May 2025
    08:00−10:00
     
    Hôtel Royal, Rue de Lausanne 41    		 Health financing : what now ? What next? Insights from malaria, dengue & NTDs
     
    Hosts: Health Finance Coalition (HFC); Malaria No More; and the International Society for Neglected Tropical Diseases (ISNTD)    		 The world is witnessing major shifts in the global health landscape. Among these, the decrease in donor funding for climate-sensitive infectious and tropical diseases on the one hand, and the explosive growth of health threats such as arboviruses including dengue, as well as the persistent threat of malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) on communities worldwide are likely to be among the most defining factors of future health policy.
    Tuesday 20 May 2025 17:00−19:00
     
    Pavillon Gallatin, Domaine de Penthes, Route de Pregny 26    		 5 Billion Mectizan Treatments Donated and Counting
     
    Hosts: Mectizan Donation Program, Task Force for Global Health    		 The event will celebrate the tremendous progress made towards the elimination of onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis, notably the 5 billion ivermectin (Mectizan) treatments that have been donated. Since 1987 MSD and the Mectizan Donation Program have provided Mectizan to eliminate onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis worldwide.
    Tuesday 20 May 2025 18:00−20:00
     
    Hôtel Président Wilson, Quai Wilson 47    		 Skin diseases as a global public health priority
     
    Hosts: International Alliance of Dermatology Patient Organizations (GlobalSkin), International League of Dermatology Societies (ILDS), Anesvad Foundation, Health Diplomacy Alliance    		 The event will discuss the importance of addressing skin diseases as a public health problem, and will provide critical discussions on the groundbreaking WHA resolution, “Skin Diseases as a Global Health Priority”.
    Wednesday 21 May 2025
    08:00−09:30
     
    Restaurant Vieux-Bois, Avenue de la Paix 12
         		 Strengthening Strategic Partnerships to fight VBDs, NTDs, and Emerging Infectious Diseases
     
    Hosts: Japan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Assoc. (JPMA), Permanent Mission of Japan, IFPMA    		 As the field of global health undergoes significant transformation, we aim to raise global awareness of the challenges and solutions related to infectious diseases such as VBDs, NTDs, and emerging infectious diseases that have long affected LMICs. As part of this effort, we would like to overview the progress made and the challenges we face, as well as showcase strategic initiatives/contributions in this field by governments, private sector and international organizations
    Wednesday 21 May 2025
    09:00−13:30
     
    Campus Biotech Innovation Park, Avenue de Sécheron 15    		 Economics of elimination and NTDs
     
    Host: Global Institute for Disease Elimination (GLIDE)    		 The event will initiate an International Economics Working Group (IEWG) dialogue, share current work, and explore collaboration on the economics of elimination and neglected tropical diseases.
    Wednesday 21 May 2025
    12:00−15:00
     
    Geneva Press Club,
    Domaine de Penthes,
    Chemin de l’Impératrice 18    		 Accelerating NTD elimination through country-driven efforts and cross-border collaboration
     
    Hosts: Global Onchocerciasis Network for Elimination (GONE), African Union, END Fund, DNDi
     
    Member State Leadership: Cameroon, Chad, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda    		 The purpose of the meeting is to share progress and celebrate successes of NTD elimination milestones, share cross-border collaboration examples, celebrate the endorsement of cross-border agreements and a Call for Action which will inspire and further enhance cross-border and multi-disease collaboration to accelerate progress towards global disease elimination targets. Ministers of Health of Chad, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda will sign a MoU to End VL in Africa. The event will stress the importance of country ownership and strategies to reach NTD public health target and to mitigate the risk of losing the gains made over the past decades, highlighting the opportunity of the implementation of the proposed resolution on skin diseases at WHA78. A signature of an MoU for Visceral Leishmaniasis in East African countries will take place during the ceremony.
    Wednesday 21 May 2025 18:00−20:00
     
    Hõtel Royal, Rue de Lausanne 41    		 Roundtable dinner: The Future of Funding for NTDs
     
    Hosts: The END Fund, DEVEX    		 The event will be hosted by Kate Warren EVP and Executive Editor, Devex and Dr Solomon Zewdu, CEO, The END Fund. The roundtable dinner will bring together a select group of 10–12 senior stakeholders from the private sector, philanthropy, global health, policy and international financing organizations to engage in meaningful dialogue , enabling key decision-makers to share insights, align priorities and identify actions to accelerate progress in combating NTDs. Roundtable dinner: The Future of Funding for NTDS
    Wednesday 21 May 2025 18:30−19:30
     
    Colladon Parc Restaurant,
    Chemin Colladon 5,
    Petit-Saconnex    		 Reception for countries endemic for dracunculiasis (Guinea-worm disease) and in pre-certification Guinea
     
    Hosts: Ministry of Health, Chad and The Carter Center    		 The reception will be an occasion to celebrate the tremendous progress toward eradication, rally behind the WHA Resolution being voted on, reflect on commitments made in the Abu Dhabi Declaration and N’Djamena Commitment, and look ahead to what remains to achieve Guinea worm eradication by the year 2030.
    Wednesday 21 May 2025 18:30−20:30
     
    The International Red Cross & Red Crescent Museum, Geneva, Avenue de la Paix 17    		 “A seat at the table” – art installation
     
    Hosts: Gilead Sciences, Harvard Medical School Center for Primary Care Program in Global Primary Health Care, International Alliance of Patient Organizations (IAPO) and UNAIDS    		 Frontline AIDS in collaboration with the Female Genital Schistosomiasis Integration Group (FIG), Education as a Vaccine, Alliance for Public Health, and LVCT Health will contribute artwork to this important event. It will feature stories and an art installation that bring the importance of people-centered care into focus— addressing the imbalance of power in which people with lived experience of disease are too often left out of health system decision-making.
    Wednesday 21 May 2025 18:30−21:00
     
    Hôtel Mandarin Oriental,
    Quai Turrettini 1    		 Ministerial summit: REACH network
     
    Hosts: Nigeria, REACH Network (Chairs: Minister Muhammad Ali Pate [Nigeria] and Professor Samba Sow [former Minister of Health, Mali])    		 The event is convened to reinforce ministerial commitment from existing REACH countries and expand the network’s impact by engaging potential new member countries. It will emphasize integrated, equitable and evidence-driven child survival strategies, particularly mass drug administration of azithromycin
    Thursday 22 May 2025
    08:00−10:00
     
    Hôtel Président Wilson,
    Quai Wilson 47    		 Surveillance and innovation for dengue & arboviruses: international unity to avert future health emergencies
     
    Host: the International Society for Neglected Tropical Diseases    		 The event will focus on updates on the progression of the arboviral threat worldwide (dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever, Oropouche fever), will provide a platform for Member States to make statements on arboviruses experiences and collaborative surveillance strategies, will enable discussions among participants, will serve as a forum for exchange of best practices and networking among participants
    Thursday 22 May 2025
    12:00−14:00
     
    Hôtel Intercontinental,
    Chemin du Petit-Saconnex 7−9    		 Innovation Meets Unity: Advancing Global Health Solutions for Africa
     
    Host: Merck KGaA, Circle Diplomatique Genève    		 Global health leadership discussion to discuss diminished engagement with multilateral institutions which has resulted in weakened health systems in Africa and diminished international support

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI: Nutanix Announces Updates to its Board of Directors

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New Board Member Eric K. Brandt Brings Extensive Leadership and Finance Experience to Nutanix Board

    David Humphrey Resigns from Nutanix Board

    SAN JOSE, Calif., May 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Nutanix (NASDAQ: NTNX), a leader in hybrid multicloud computing, announced today that it has added Eric K. Brandt to its board of directors, effective May 15, 2025.

    “Eric brings deep expertise in both CEO and CFO roles across a variety of industries. His long-term service on boards of public companies also gives him a richness of experience from which Nutanix is sure to benefit,” said Virginia Gambale, Chair of the Board at Nutanix. “I look forward to serving with him together on the Nutanix board as the company continues to focus on driving sustainable, profitable growth while providing customers with a single platform for running applications and managing data, anywhere.”

    Brandt is a seasoned executive and board director with more than 30 years of global experience spanning finance, operations, and corporate governance. He served as Chief Financial Officer of Broadcom Corporation from 2007 until it was acquired by Avago Technologies Limited in 2016, where he played a pivotal role in the company’s growth into one of the world’s largest semiconductor firms. Prior to that, he held senior executive positions, including President and CEO of Avanir Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Chief Financial Officer of Allergan, Inc. Brandt currently serves on the boards of Gen Digital Inc., Lam Research Corporation, The Macerich Company, and Option Care Health, Inc. He previously served on the boards of Altaba Inc. and DENTSPLY SIRONA Inc., among others. He holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.

    Additionally, David Humphrey resigned from Nutanix’s board of directors, effective May 15, 2025. Humphrey, a Partner at Bain Capital, joined the Nutanix Board as part of Bain Capital’s $750 million investment in September 2020. Following Humphrey’s resignation, Max de Groen, another Partner at Bain Capital, will continue to serve as a member of Nutanix’s board of directors.

    “We thank David for the constructive engagement, guidance and expertise that he brought to the board during a period of significant transformation and growth for Nutanix,” said Gambale. “We are grateful for his valuable contributions and the investment of service he has made over the past four years.”

    “Since Bain Capital’s investment in September 2020, Nutanix has grown substantially, evolved into a hybrid multicloud leader, and scaled its profits and cash flows significantly. We are impressed by the company’s performance and believe it has significant opportunity ahead as well,” said Humphrey. “Bain Capital remains a significant stockholder of Nutanix and continues to value its partnership with Nutanix,” added de Groen. “I look forward to my continued service on the Nutanix Board.”

    About Nutanix

    Nutanix is a global leader in cloud software, offering organizations a single platform for running applications and managing data, anywhere. With Nutanix, companies can reduce complexity and simplify operations, freeing them to focus on their business outcomes. Building on its legacy as the pioneer of hyperconverged infrastructure, Nutanix is trusted by companies worldwide to power hybrid multicloud environments consistently, simply, and cost-effectively. Learn more at www.nutanix.com or follow us on social media @nutanix.

    © 2025 Nutanix, Inc. All rights reserved. Nutanix, the Nutanix logo, and all Nutanix product and service names mentioned herein are registered trademarks or unregistered trademarks of Nutanix, Inc. (“Nutanix”) in the United States and other countries. All other brand names or marks mentioned herein are for identification purposes only and may be the trademarks of their respective holder(s). This press release is for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes a warranty or other binding commitment by Nutanix. This release contains express and implied forward-looking statements. Such statements are not historical facts and are instead based on Nutanix’s current expectations, estimates and beliefs. The accuracy of such statements involves risks and uncertainties and depends upon future events, including those that may be beyond Nutanix’s control, and actual results may differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied by such statements. Any forward-looking statements included herein speak only as of the date hereof and, except as required by law, Nutanix assumes no obligation to update or otherwise revise any of such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

    Investor Contact:

    Richard Valera
    ir@nutanix.com

    Media Contact: Jennifer Massaro
    pr@nutanix.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6fcb69a5-92eb-43fd-b900-5322ebf501cc

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: AFRICA/SOUTH SUDAN – Catholic University a beacon of academic excellence in the region

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Friday, 16 May 2025

    HK

    Tombura Yambio (Agenzia Fides) – “This university is a beacon of excellence in East Africa, it is fully equipped with the necessary resources, experienced faculty, and a strong academic foundation to prepare our youth for a bright future and we encourage all young people to enroll and take advantage of this life-changing institution”, the bishop of the Catholic diocese of Tombura-Yambio, Eduardo Hiiboro Kussala said, referring to the Catholic University of South Sudan, St. John Campus of Yambio.In the note sent to Fides, Bishop Hiboro explains that the University is expanding its academic programs for next year and that the initiative spearheaded by the Catholic Diocese of Tombura-Yambio, aims to empower South Sudanese youth with globally competitive education rooted in local values.The bishop commended the University for maintaining high academic standards and playing a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of leaders.Founded in 2019, the Catholic University’s St. John Yambio Campus has quickly grown into a respected institution, producing top-performing graduates.In 2023, its first cohort walked the graduation stage four of them earning first-class honors, while in a second batch has already graduated, and a third is on course to complete their studies by November this year.In response to increasing demand, the Acting Administrator of the institution announced that the university is set to relocate to a new, larger campus in August, marking a major milestone in its expansion strategy in Yambio.As South Sudan continues to navigate economic recovery and nation-building, institutions like the Catholic University, St. John Campus in Yambio are stepping up to nurture the skills, knowledge, and leadership necessary for long-term development. With its expanding facilities, dedicated faculty, and a clear vision, the university is fast becoming a cornerstone of academic excellence in the region.For many young South Sudanese, the path to a brighter future now begins in Yambio the Western Equatoria State Capital. (AP) (Agenzia Fides, 16/5/2025)
    Share:

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: International logistics operator Tablogix shared its experience of digital product labeling with students of the State University of Management

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    The State University of Management hosted a lecture by the industrial partner of the State University of Management – the international logistics operator Tablogix. The lesson was held as part of the course “Cargo Science” for students of the educational program “Logistics and Supply Chain Management”. The lesson was devoted to digital marking of goods in the “Honest Sign” system.

    The speaker was Anna Shchukina, Head of Project Management and Business Analysis at Tablogix. The specialist analyzed real cases, mistakes to avoid, and shared life hacks that will save budgets. The session was practice-oriented.

    During the lesson, students learned: – Why the “Honest Sign” is needed by businesses, and not just the regulator; – How to properly implement labeling in logistics and warehouses; – Why you can’t do without adapting WMS and ERP; – How Tablogix reduces risks and improves the accuracy of product accounting; – How to properly prepare for an interview with an employer and what qualities a logistician needs today.

    Of particular value to the students were the expert’s advice in the field of team management, the use of project management tools, which can be used in the implementation of their own projects in the field of logistics.

    The Department of Transport Complex Management thanks the Tablogix company and the speaker Anna Shchukina for the lecture.

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 05/16/2025

    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-OSI Russia: “In the next 20 years we will stop aging”

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    Jose Luis Cordeiro

    © Higher School of Economics

    Leading Russian and Western scientists gathered at the anniversary XXV Yasin (April) International Scientific Conference. One of the guests at the special foresight session was Doctor of Philosophy Jose Luis Cordeiro, member of the World Academy of Art and Science, chairman of the Venezuelan node of the Millennium Project, former professor at MIPT and HSE, author of the book Death Must Die.

    — Dear Jose Luis, we are glad that you accepted our invitation to participate in the foresight session dedicated to the future of AI. This is not your first visit to HSE. How would you rate your experience of cooperation with our university?

    — I am always happy to return to HSE, which, by the way, many call the Russian Harvard, because I sincerely believe that it is one of the best universities in Russia, in Europe and in the world. All research and all academic work here is conducted at the highest level. And so I am inspired and happy to collaborate in any way possible.

    — Which areas of research and topics covered during the foresight session seem most relevant today?

    — I am interested in following the path from narrow AI to general AI and going even further, looking into the area of artificial superintelligence. Because this will be a level of AI that surpasses human in everything. I think this is inevitable and we need to be prepared for it.

    — Artificial intelligence causes both fear and excitement in society. What does this new technology generate more — threats or opportunities?

    — Every technology can be used for good and for bad, starting with one of the first human technologies, fire, which was probably developed by humans about half a million years ago. Obviously, it could be used for many good things, like cooking, heating, and so on. But it could also be used to kill, destroy, and burn cities. Same with nuclear energy. It can be used to make electricity or to make nuclear weapons. So all technologies can be used for good or for bad. But again, in general, technologies are used for good purposes. They are developed by people for people in cooperation with other people. So I am actually very inspired by the incredible capabilities of artificial intelligence.

    Maybe I’m not so afraid of AI because I’m more worried about human stupidity. Human stupidity is really my main concern! And so if we can become smarter with AI, I’ll be very happy about it.

    — Each person draws a certain image of the future, preferable, possible or undesirable, clear or vague, a certain picture where he places himself. What place does artificial intelligence occupy in your image of the future?

    — AI will be everywhere, it will assist us in everything constantly and continuously. It will be as natural as mobile phones are now, or earlier — the Internet, and even earlier — just ordinary landline phones.

    So AI will be everywhere. It is a general purpose technology, like electricity, which is everywhere today.

    — What, in your opinion, are the most important challenges facing humanity today? Have they changed much in recent years?

    — Look, there are different challenges in different historical periods. This is reasonable. Once, you know, fire was a big challenge. And a few thousand years later, nuclear weapons became a challenge. For a long time after World War II, humanity lived in fear of the constant threat of nuclear destruction. Until biochemical weapons were added to it. And now there are two challenges. But today, it seems to me, in terms of the greatest threat, environmental challenges are in the foreground. I believe that they are the main modern problem for humanity.

    But AI, like all technology, is actually more of a help than a problem. So I’m very optimistic about AI and I’m looking forward to AI finally helping us solve previous problems and challenges before it becomes a problem itself.

    — During the foresight session, some speakers criticized foresight, claiming that it is experiencing a decline in public interest because it is too old-fashioned. Do you agree with this statement?

    — I think that foresight and future studies in general, on the contrary, are becoming more and more relevant, because the world is changing faster and faster. When things, ways of life and technologies had not changed for centuries, when everything happened very slowly, then foresight was not so important. But now, when everything happens almost instantly, we need more, not less foresight.

    So no, I don’t think it’s old-fashioned. In fact, I think foresight is coming into fashion and it should become even more common in the future. Well, look, it’s like saying that mathematics is old-fashioned or physics is outdated. Well, they’re not, they’re not old-fashioned. We need mathematics, we need physics, and we need foresight. And I repeat: we need it more than ever.

    — You were one of the founders of the Millennium Project, which unites futurologists from all over the world. HSE Foresight Center is also active in futures research. In what areas do you see the greatest synergy from collaboration?

    — In many. If you remember, I already mentioned that HSE, ISSEK, Institute for Statistical Research and Economics of Knowledge. — Ed.) and the Foresight Center are at the forefront of modern scientific forecasting. They have achieved incredible success in the field of technological and scientific foresight. I like their forecasting tool for processing big data (iFORA. — Ed.). By the way, iFORA is something we could collaborate on, we could help promote it on the market, already at the international level. iFORA is just one example.

    Now, as part of the Millennium Project, we are working on developing State of the Future Indexes. We are creating indices of the future states of companies, cities, countries, industrial sectors and the world as a whole. So, since HSE is very strong in statistics, we could collaborate on state of the future indices. Choose a direction and create an index.

    Or a third example: we are assembling a navigator for Futures Research Methodologies. And a Foresight Center that develops such methodologies and has most of the foresight methods in its arsenal would be indispensable in our work.

    And finally, we conduct international Delphi surveys annually, now online surveys. And of course, we want to involve Russian scientists in our expert circle. Russia is one of those countries in the world where a lot of expertise has been collected in various technological areas, and we will be very happy to include it in our Delphi surveys.

    So, a lot, a lot of things. The future is open, and foresight and future research are the future.

    — Could you tell us about your current research interests?

    — Right now I am mainly interested in three areas. The first is space. Space is an important part of the history and future of humanity. And in the next decade we will have space colonies on the Moon and Mars. Life on other planets will radically change the attitude and view of our own tiny planet Earth. So space is very important. And of course, Russia, remaining one of the leading countries in space research, will participate in this space expansion.

    The second area that interests me is artificial intelligence and the transition to superintelligence. As soon as we create a new machine-human civilization, the world around us will change radically. For this, we will need a lot of intelligence, both natural and artificial. I really want to look into the future, in which superintelligence operates.

    And the third area of my interest is biotechnology, health and longevity. Now with new medical technologies we have the ability to increase the life expectancy of people, and soon we will be able to rejuvenate people. It seems incredible, but the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 2012 was awarded to Shinyo Yamanaka, who discovered a way to reprogram cells to change their biological age. After that, other scientists began to do this at the organ level, in 12 years we moved from cells to organs. And now many people are working on the transition from organs to whole organisms, to animals. Of course, they usually start with simpler and smaller animals, and then move on to more complex and larger ones, so that eventually we can try it on people. I believe that in the next 20 years we will stop aging. We will take control of the aging process and begin to rejuvenate people. This was the first dream of mankind – immortality. And now we are very close to making it come true thanks to biotechnology. And so I’m very excited about this. So, three areas: space, artificial intelligence and longevity.

    The interview was prepared by Sergey Sychev, leading expert of the Department of Science Statistics ISSEK HSE

    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: Choi Yuk-lin promotes HK in Seoul

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Secretary for Education Choi Yuk-lin visited Seoul National University (SNU) on the last day of her Korea trip today.

    She exchanged views with the university’s president Ryu Hong Lim on deepening higher education collaboration between Korea and Hong Kong, and promoted the “Study in Hong Kong” brand.

    Ms Choi said Hong Kong boasts a highly internationalised and diverse post-secondary education sector, adding that a number of measures have been put in place by the Government to enhance the city’s status as an international education hub.

    Apart from striving to host international education conferences and exhibitions, the Government also encourages local post-secondary institutions to enhance collaboration and exchanges with their counterparts around the world in promoting the “Study in Hong Kong” brand on a global scale. It also attracts more overseas students to study in Hong Kong through the provision of scholarships.

    In addition, the Government is developing the Northern Metropolis University Town to encourage local post-secondary institutions to introduce more branded programmes, research collaborations and exchange projects with renowned Mainland and overseas institutions in a flexible and innovative manner.

    At the meeting, Ms Choi introduced to the SNU the various large-scale education mega events to be held in Hong Kong, such as the Learning & Teaching Expo to be held during Digital Education Week in July this year, as well as the Asia-Pacific Association for International Education Conference & Exhibition to be held in February 2026.

    The education chief welcomed representatives from universities in Korea to come to Hong Kong to take part in the events and forge collaborations and exchanges with institutions worldwide.

    Ms Choi also welcomed students from Korea and other places to study in Hong Kong or participate in short-term student exchange programmes, and said that she looked forward to further strengthening education ties between Korea and Hong Kong.

    Ms Choi also met Hong Kong students studying at SNU to learn about their school life and encouraged them to return to Hong Kong to develop their careers after completing their studies.

    Today and yesterday, Ms Choi paid courtesy calls on the Chinese Ambassador to Korea Dai Bing and the Consul General of China in Jeju Chen Jianjun, respectively to introduce Hong Kong’s latest education policy.

    Yesterday, she also joined a side event of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Education Ministerial Meeting to visit an elementary school in Jeju to learn about its experiences in promoting artificial intelligence and digital innovation education.

    Ms Choi will depart for a visit to the UK tomorrow.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI: No Credit Check Loans Guaranteed Approval Direct Lender: Instant Small Payday Loans Online – No Denial, Direct Lenders Only! – 

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Brisbane, May 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

    Do you have bad credit but require instant financial help? It can be difficult to know where to get loans guaranteed approval direct lender products without credit checks.

    This in-depth guide discusses how Viva Payday Loans matches bad credit borrowers with direct lenders providing no credit check loans with guaranteed approval. We’ll discuss everything from application procedures to funding times so you can make informed choices about these financial products.

    Why Viva Payday Loans is the Best Option for No Denial Payday Loans

    Viva Payday Loans has become the leading match service for those who are looking for a payday loan with no credit check services. Unlike other lenders that base their decisions heavily on credit scores, Viva Payday Loans’s database of direct lenders places more emphasis on other parameters when considering loan requests, making it simpler for individuals with bad credit to borrow money when they need it.

    What separates Viva Payday Loans from others is its large network of lenders that provide offerings that cater directly to credit-strained borrowers. By negotiating with multiple direct lenders at once, Viva Payday Loans improves approval odds for those who would otherwise be rejected.

    Most customers select Viva Payday Loans due to their honest loan terms and responsible lending principles. With guaranteed approval from direct lenders in their portfolio, Viva Payday Loans ensures that borrowers realize the total effect of their loan contract prior to proceeding.

      >>>> Viva Payday Loans Offers Instant No Credit Check Loans – Apply Today! <<<<

    Learning About No Credit Check Loans with Guaranteed Approval from Direct Lenders

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    A no credit check loan is a financial product whereby lenders extend cash advances without carrying out conventional credit checks via significant credit bureaus. In place of credit history, no credit check guaranteed approval direct lender alternatives weigh other criteria such as:

    • Recent income
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    This method makes these loans especially available to those with bad credit or limited credit history who may not be able to qualify for traditional financing.

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    How Do No Credit Check Loans Exactly Work?

    When you request a loan with no credit check via a site such as Viva Payday Loans, the process differs from traditional loans. Rather than checking your credit report, lenders provide approval based mainly on your present financial status and ability to repay.

    The application process usually takes these steps:

    • Fill out a simple online application with financial and personal details
    • Viva Payday Loans immediately connects your application with their group of direct lenders
    • Your information is reviewed by the lenders, and you get rapid approval decisions
    • You are offered loan terms directly by the lender in case of approval
    • After you accept the loan offer, money is usually transferred by direct deposit
    • Money tends to reach your account within one business day

    The whole process—application to funding—is optimized for speed and convenience, which makes these loans especially suitable for emergency spending when time is of the essence.

    No Denial Payday Loans Direct Lenders Only No Credit Check from Viva Payday Loans

     

    Viva Payday Loans’s Unique Lending Platform – No Credit Check Loan Services

    Viva Payday Loans serves as an intermediary between borrowers and a wide range of direct lenders. This arrangement makes it more likely for bad credit individuals to be approved, as lenders on the site provide no credit check loans and make decisions based on other criteria.

    Some of the main features of Viva Payday Loans’s platform are:

    • Proprietary matching algorithm that effectively matches borrowers with appropriate lenders
    • Higher chances of loan approval than applying directly with individual lenders
    • Sophisticated encryption to secure sensitive personal and financial data
    • Efficient process eliminating the agony of repeated rejections

    Time-efficient method for borrowers looking for payday loans online with no credit check facilities

    Viva Payday Loans platform is unique in providing online payday loans that are fast, safe, and available 24/7. By emphasizing speed and confidentiality, Viva Payday Loans has emerged as the first choice for online credit check loans.

     <<<< Apply with Viva Payday Loans Today – Even If Credit Isn’t Perfect! >>>>

    How Viva Payday Loans’s Direct Lender Network Ensures No Denial Loans

    Viva Payday Loans’s network consists of direct lenders specializing in guaranteed approval loans. The lenders do not solely depend on conventional credit checks but rather on your present financial standing. By considering factors like income and employment, Viva Payday Loans provides no denial of payday loans, even for individuals with a bad credit history.

    This large network provides Viva Payday Loans a competitive advantage when it comes to providing guaranteed approval loans and direct lender access, better ensuring you secure the loan that you need.

    Why Viva Payday Loans Provides Guaranteed Approval for Bad Credit Borrowers

    Viva Payday Loans has established its name by offering access to approval for individuals typically not accepted by mainstream lending avenues. Their emphasis on guaranteed approval for bad credit borrowers is based on their knowledge that credit scores don’t always paint the full picture of a person’s financial situation.

    Most individuals with poor credit histories are financially stable but have encountered temporary financial setbacks such as:

    • Medical crises
    • Loss of employment
    • Divorce
    • Natural disasters
    • Other situations beyond their control

    Viva Payday Loans understands that such individuals are entitled to financial products even with bad credit and operates only with lenders having this value system.

    The “guaranteed approval” feature is derived from Viva Payday Loans’s belief in their large pool of lenders and matching process. Although no financial product can guarantee 100% approval for all applicants, Viva Payday Loans’s method maximizes the chances of identifying a matching lender for each borrower’s case.

    The Viva Payday Loans Advantage for Credit-Challenged Borrowers

    Poor credit or credit-invisible borrowers frequently find themselves with no good lender to turn to. Viva Payday Loans offers a reputable site that welcomes a wide variety of credit profiles and matches users with lenders that provide payday loans and no credit online.

    Viva Payday Loans also streamlines the process of obtaining a loan through a simple online application and a high approval rate, making it well-suited for people in an emergency situation that requires immediate money.

     <<<< Need Fast Funds? Viva Payday Loans Approves You in Minutes! >>>>

    Viva Payday Loans’s Application and Funding Process – Instant Payday Loans Online Guaranteed Approval

    Viva Payday Loans has developed one of the most streamlined application and funding processes in the industry, allowing them to make good on the guarantee of instant payday loans online with guaranteed approval.

    Their simplified application process includes the following:

    Simple Online Application

    • Only takes around 5-10 minutes to fill out
    • Can be completed on any device with an internet connection
    • Gathers basic information regarding identity, income, employment, and banking information

    Immediate Matching System

    • Links applications with suitable lenders in real-time
    • Offers real-time processing of data

    Rapid Approval Decisions

    • The majority of borrowers have decisions within minutes
    • Permits instant examination of loan terms and offers

    Quick Funding Capabilities

    • Several borrowers receive money through direct deposit within the next business day
    • Some lenders provide same-day funding opportunities
    • Ideal for urgent financial requirements

     <<<< Your Emergency Cash Solution: Viva Payday Loans – Click to Qualify! >>>>

    Viva Payday Loans’s Small Payday Loan Options

    Viva Payday Loans’s rapid funding ability makes it a valuable asset for emergency financial circumstances. Whether you’re looking for a $100 emergency payday loan or a $500 cash advance no credit check, Viva Payday Loans has you covered. These small payday loans online are tailored for short-term expenses and are available even for individuals with poor credit.

    Benefits of small payday loans through Viva Payday Loans include:

    • Loan amounts start from as little as $100
    • Simplified approval processes
    • Faster funding times compared to larger loans
    • More manageable repayment terms
    • Shorter repayment periods
    • Potentially lower total costs

    Viva Payday Loans also offers flexibility in repayment, enabling borrowers to align their loan terms with their pay cycle, minimizing the likelihood of default.

    Viva Payday Loans’s No Credit Check Options vs. Traditional Loans

    Traditional bank loans usually involve high credit scores, extensive paperwork, and days (or even weeks) of waiting for approval. Viva Payday Loans, by contrast, offers online no credit check loans with quick approval and quick funding.

    This makes Viva Payday Loans’s services suitable for urgent requirements and easier for borrowers with bad credit who would otherwise be turned down because of previous credit records.

     <<<< Viva Payday Loans – Instant Payday Relief Is One Click Away! >>>>>

    Features and Benefits of No Credit Check Loans

    No credit check loans have a number of advantages:

    • Fast Approval: The majority of applicants are instantly approved.
    • Bad Credit Friendly: For people with bad credit or poor credit.
    • Direct Lender Access: No intermediaries—Viva Payday Loans links you directly to lenders with guaranteed approval loans.
    • Flexible Terms: Choice of payday loans, installment loans, and personal loans based on your requirements.

    Eligibility Criteria for Loans Without Credit Check

    Most direct lenders ask for:

    • Age 18+ (or age of majority in your state)
    • Valid government-issued ID
    • Active checking account for direct deposit
    • Regular income from employment or other source that is verifiable
    • Citizenship in the U.S. or permanent resident status

    Credit score is not a high consideration, so loans without credit are available to nearly anyone who qualifies based on the minimal requirements.

    Documents Usually Required:

    • Identification (driver’s license or state ID)
    • Income verification (recent paycheck stubs or bank statements)
    • Active bank account information (account number and routing number)
    • Contact information
    • Social Security Number

    Various Types of Emergency Loans | Instant Payday Loans Online Guaranteed Approval for Borrowers Looking for No Credit Check Payday Loans

    • Personal Loans

    Personal loans are utilized for multiple purposes and tend to have longer repayment periods. Traditional personal loans look into your credit score, but no credit check personal loans for bad credit individuals are provided by certain direct lenders.

    • Credit Card Cash Advances

    This provides you with the ability to withdraw cash against your credit limit. Yet, excessive interest charges and fees may turn this into an expensive proposition.

    • Payday Loans

    Short-term payday loans are ideal for emergencies. Viva Payday Loans offers online payday loans with guaranteed approval direct from lenders who don’t require a credit check.

    •  Title Loans

    These require a car title as collateral. While easy to obtain, the risk of losing your vehicle makes them a last resort.

    • Paycheck Advances

    Usually provided by an employer or a third-party software program, they enable access to earned wages before receiving a payday. They could act as payday loan alternatives.

      <<<< Viva Payday Loans – Get Cash Now, No Credit Check! >>>

    How Long Does It Take to Get Approved?

    With sites such as Viva Payday Loans, the majority of borrowers get immediate approval once they finish filling out the online application. The assessment is determined by income and employment status, not credit score.

    Payday Loans Online No Credit Check Instant Approval

    • Disbursement Schedule for Quick Loans No Credit Check

    Direct deposit of payday loans online guaranteed approval funds are typically made within 24 hours. 1-hour payday loans can be issued in some instances.

    • 1 Hour Payday Loans Online No Credit Check Instant Approval

    These are best in emergencies that necessitate same-day funding. Viva Payday Loans gives you access to direct lenders with 1-hour payday loans online with no credit check and instant approval.

    • $255 Payday Loans Online Same Day

    A fast way to borrow among Californians and residents in other states, the $255 payday loan has no credit check and is simple to obtain. Access to this loan can be obtained through the network of direct Viva Payday Loans lenders.

    Pros and Cons of No Credit Check Loans

    Pros:

    • Accessibility: Available to subprime borrowers with bad credit
    • Speed: Easy, rapid process to apply for and get money
    • Convenience: Easy online application with few documents required
    • No credit hit: Application doesn’t harm credit score
    • Flexibility: Money can be spent on many things
    • No collateral needed: Most are unsecured

    Cons:

    • High expense: Much higher interest rates and fees than regular loans
    • Short payment terms: Creates pressure to repay
    • Risk of debt cycles: Can cause renewal or rollover cycles
    • Limited credit building: Most don’t report a good payment history
    • Size restrictions: Usually, smaller loan sizes
    • Regulatory differences: Availability and terms differ by state

    For borrowers considering these loans, the most important point is grasping whether the short-term advantage is worth the long-term expense. These products should ideally be considered emergency measures and not part of general money management.

      <<<< Apply with Viva Payday Loans Today – Even If Credit Isn’t Perfect! >>>>

    No Credit Check Loan Scenario in the USA

    The demand for payday loans and no credit checks is growing as many Americans face falling credit scores. Sites such as Viva Payday Loans offer an essential solution to cope with this demand by providing loans with guaranteed approval and direct lender access.

    Small Payday Loans Online With No Credit Check

    1. Options to Small Payday Loans Online No Credit Check and Urgent Loans No Credit Check

    Other alternatives are credit unions, peer-to-peer loans, or a secured loan. These can have more favorable terms and lower interest.

    2. $500 Cash Advance No Credit Check Loans

    Viva Payday Loans’s network provides cash advances of up to $500 for borrowers who need money urgently. These loans are available with rapid approval and guaranteed approval even for bad credit borrowers.

    3. Emergency Loans No Credit Check

    These loans are only for medical bills, car repairs, or emergencies. Viva Payday Loans facilitates your timely access to these emergency loans with no credit check.

    How to Apply for No Denial Payday Loans Direct Lenders Only With No Credit Check?

    • Go to Viva Payday Loans’s website.
    • Complete the loan application.
    • Matched with a direct lender.
    • Accept the loan offer.
    • Fund via direct deposit.

    Types of Alternatives to No Credit Check Loans Guaranteed Approval: Direct Lenders for Instant Cash

    1. Payday Loans Online No Credit Check Instant Approval Alternatives up to $5000

    Sites such as Upstart or LendingClub provide greater loan amounts to those with better financial health, although they do involve a soft credit check.

     2. $255 Payday Loans Online Same Day No Credit Check Alternatives

    Apps such as Earnin or Dave provide paycheck advances with low fees and no conventional credit checks.

    3. 1 Hour Payday Loans Online No Credit Check Instant Approval

    These are ideal for emergencies, as provided by Viva Payday Loans and some select guaranteed approval direct lenders.

      <<<< Your Emergency Cash Solution: Viva Payday Loans – Click to Qualify! >>>>

    Alternatives to Loans for Bad Credit No Credit Check

    Consider alternatives such as secured loans, installment loans, or financial aid programs through community organizations.

    Some Risk-Free Alternatives to No Credit Check Loans – Alternatives to Unsecured Installment Loans

    1. Secured Loans

    Employ collateral such as a vehicle or savings account to secure lower rates and improved terms.

    2. Credit Unions

    Credit unions tend to provide improved rates and lenient approval for bad credit members.

    3. Peer-to-Peer Lending

    Sites such as Prosper or LendingClub provide personal loans with less stringent credit check requirements.

    4. Tribal Loans No Credit Check

    These are provided by Native American tribes and are not subject to state regulations, but costs can be high.

    What Are the Risks of No Credit Check Loans?

    Although no credit check loans offer useful access to capital for many borrowers, they involve serious risks that must be carefully weighed:

    • High APRs
    • Short time to repay
    • Risk of debt trap if not used responsibly
    • No Credit Building Benefits
    • Limited Regulation in Some States
    • Aggressive Collection Practices

    Why Go For No Credit Check Loans?

    These loans open the door to funds when conventional banks close them because of bad credit or no credit history. These loans offer instant approval, are simple to apply for, and are ideal for emergencies.

    Loan Services and Borrowing Options – How to Find a Reputable No Credit Check Loan Direct Lender?

    Always choose licensed and transparent websites like Viva Payday Loans. Search for lenders who provide:

    • Simple loan terms
    • No concealed charges
    • Direct access to the lender
    • Reasonable repayment solutions

    Where to Get The Best No Denial Payday Loans From Direct Lenders Only With No Credit Check?

    Viva Payday Loans is the best lender platform for bridging borrowers and direct lenders of good standing, providing no-denial payday loans. They have a comprehensive network, fast application process, educational tools, and transparency guarantees that make them the best alternative for credit-hard-pressed borrowers looking for guaranteed funding solutions with approval possibilities.

      <<<< Need Fast Funds? Viva Payday Loans Approves You in Minutes! >>>>

    Final Thoughts

    No credit check loans with guaranteed approval direct lenders such as Viva Payday Loans provide a convenient solution for individuals facing bad credit or financial crises. From personal loans to payday loans, Viva Payday Loans provides quick approval, flexible terms, and peace of mind. Whether you require a small cash advance or an emergency loan, the correct platform can be the difference-maker.

    Secure your financial future—begin your online loan process with Viva Payday Loans today.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is the easiest loan to get with no credit?

    Payday and installment loans are generally simplest to obtain with no credit.

    Who is the easiest lender to get a loan from?

    Online lending platforms such as Viva Payday Loans, which have big networks of lenders, usually have the easiest requirements.

    Can I get a loan with a 450 credit score in USA?

    Yes, you can get a short-term loan with 450 credit score from Viva Payday Loans.

    Can I get a loan with a 500 credit score?

    You can get a small personal loan or payday loan with your 500 credit score from direct lenders like Viva Payday Loans.

    Which loan company is best for bad credit?

    Viva Payday Loans is one of the best companies to locate lenders who accept bad credit.

    What is the best legit payday loan app?

    Viva Payday Loans is a legitimate and secure method to locate payday loan offers.

    Can I get a loan without a credit check?

    Yes, there are lenders like Viva Payday Loans that will lend you money without doing a hard credit check.

    Which loan company is easiest to get?

    Viva Payday Loans is undoubtedly one of the easiest sites to have a quick loan approved.

    Disclaimer: This announcement contains general information about Get Payday Loan loan services and should not be considered financial advice. Loans are available to US residents only.

    Media Details:

    Website – https://vivapaydayloans.com/

    Company name – Viva Payday Loans

    Email – support@vivapaydayloans.com

    Address – 4/134 Constance St, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006, Australia

    Phone – +61 455 466 131

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: New chancellor, old constraints: Germany’s Friedrich Merz will have a hard time freeing the country from its self-imposed shackles

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Mark I. Vail, Worrell Chair of Politics and International Affairs, Wake Forest University

    German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has had an uncertain start to his tenure. John MacDougall/AFP via Getty Images

    Friedrich Merz received a rude shock on the morning of May 6, 2025, as he prepared to lose the “in-waiting” qualifier from his title as German chancellor.

    After weeks of negotiations following February’s federal election, Merz’s Christian Democrats (CDU) had struck a coalitional bargain with the center-left Social Democrats (SPD), giving the bloc a thin majority of 13 seats in the 630-member Bundestag, the lower house of Germany’s parliament. Yet, Merz still struggled to ratify his chancellorship.

    He fell short of the majority he needed on the first vote, with 18 members of his coalition voting against him.

    Though he was elected on a second ballot, the initial “no” vote was unprecedented for an incoming chancellor in the postwar federal republic, with insiders claiming that some of those voting “no” were conservatives opposed to Merz’s push to loosen German fiscal rules. Aside from the immediate political embarrassment, the vote was symptomatic of something else: a more deep-seated weakness in both the new chancellor and his government. As a scholar of German politics and history and the author of a forthcoming book on German state traditions and economic governance, I see Merz’s problems, and those of his country, as having deep historical roots.

    Taking the brakes off?

    For Germany and Europe, the stakes in the run-up to the vote to ratify Merz as chancellor could not have been higher – a cascade of crises confronts both. As SPD’s parliamentary leader Jens Spahn noted in the run-up to the May 6 vote: “All of Europe, perhaps the whole world, is watching this ballot.”

    The German chancellor is looking to strengthen both Europe and Germany through firm leadership and heavier spending. He has promised a massive increase in defense outlays in order to create the “strongest conventional army in Europe,” to counter the threat from a bellicose Russia and the United States’ wavering over traditional security commitments to the continent.

    This broad vision, however, is confronted by a number of obstacles, most importantly the so-called “debt brake.” Adopted after the 2008 financial crisis, this “brake” limited annual deficits to a paltry 0.35% of gross domestic product and proscribed any debts at all for the German “Länder,” or regions.

    In March, soon after the February election but before the seating of the new Bundestag, then-presumptive Chancellor Merz called for an exemption to the debt brake for defense spending above 1% of annual gross domestic product, with a promise to do “whatever it takes” to bolster Germany’s military and verbally committing to spend up to US$1.12 trillion (1 trillion euros) over 10 years. The outgoing parliament agreed and also created a $560 billion (500 billion euros) fund dedicated to rehabilitating Germany’s crumbling infrastructure.

    But Merz’s plans to revitalize Germany’s military and infrastructure could be seriously undermined by domestic forces – both within and outside of his coalition. It runs up against long-standing German norms and ideologies that threaten to hamper the state’s capacity and the government’s ability to act decisively.

    Ambivalence about state power

    This wobbly start to the new government hearkens back to old and deeply rooted divisions about the character of the post-World War II German state.

    In the late 1960s, West German Chancellor-to-be Willy Brandt quipped that the federal republic had become an “economic giant but a political dwarf.”

    Though the phrase would become a cliché, it captured both the fraught legacies of World War II and older German ambivalence about state power, which had long been associated with authoritarian politics under both the Nazis and the Wilhelmine Reich following German unification under Bismarck in 1871.

    U.S. President John F. Kennedy, left, rides through the streets of Berlin with West Berlin Mayor Willy Brandt, center, and Chancellor Konrad Adenauer.
    Bettmann/Contributor

    Until the 1980s, such constraints posed relatively few problems. The country’s postwar “economic miracle” legitimized the fledgling democratic state, while empowering capital and labor within the export sectors that fueled the boom. This effectively devolved political power to economically strategic actors.

    These institutional features also reflected a distinctive postwar model of German politics that weakened centralized power. Achieved in the late 1940s by Chancellor Konrad Adenauer, West German sovereignty was fragmented: domestically by federalism and decentralized political institutions, and internationally through integration into NATO and the European Economic Community.

    This “semi-sovereign state,” in political scientist Peter Katzenstein’s famous formulation, helped reclaim German moral credibility from the ashes of fascism and genocide. A decentralized state with robust checks and balances was viewed as both a bulwark against authoritarianism and a recipe for export-led growth and political stability.

    Even after the restoration of full sovereignty with German reunification in 1990, German officials still trod lightly. Their concern was that a more assertive Germany would reawaken old fears about German militarism. Moreover, they were content to privilege economic rather than military power as the coin of their peculiar realm.

    A nation of Swabian housewives?

    The historical ambivalence about the German state’s role and related dilemmas about German power will not be easy for Merz to resolve.

    With respect to Germany’s capacity for decisive leadership, the past three years suggest that much work remains to be done. Confronted with a series of unprecedented shocks − from Russian military aggression in Ukraine, to the attendant energy crisis that exposed German dependence on imported Russian gas, to the rise of the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) − Merz’s predecessor, Social Democrat Olaf Scholz, called in 2022 for a “Zeitenwende,” or “epochal change,” in defense and energy policy.

    But instead, Scholz’s “traffic light coalition” of (yellow) Liberals, Greens, and (red) Social Democrats dithered and bickered, eventually succumbing to a rare – in German politics – public interparty squabble that ultimately brought down the government in late 2024.

    Reluctant to send its most advanced weapons – notably long-range Taurus cruise missiles – to Ukraine, and unable to overcome the Liberals’ hostility to badly needed fiscal expansion, Scholz was criticized for leading from behind, wary of backlash from pacifist currents in the German electorate and captive to long-held German concerns over expanding the national debt.

    Merz is looking not to repeat the same mistakes. But to accomplish his vision of a revitalized and more secure Germany, he has to overcome both the debt brake and, even more important, the deep ideological currents that gave rise to it.

    These factors intensified long-standing constraints on defense spending, which had failed to keep up with inflation for much of the 2000s and remained far below the NATO norm of 2% of annual gross domestic product.

    The “brake” was subsequently embraced by governments of both left and right, from SPD Chancellor Gerhard Schröder’s “Red-Green” coalition of 1998 to 2005 to the governments of Christian Democrat Angela Merkel from 2005 to 2021. As is abundantly clear in the pages of Merkel’s recent memoir, the proverbial character of the frugal “Swabian housewife” was one that she relished rather than resisted.

    But to many observers, this fetishization of austerity has contributed to decades of underinvestment in domestic infrastructure − from roads, to schools, to public buildings, to broader public services − failures which the AfD has been eager to exploit. And as promising as it seems, Merz’s commitment of $560 billion (500 billion euros) is approximately equivalent to the country’s existing needs, without accounting for future depreciation.

    Far-right activists gather near the Ostkreuz railway station in Berlin, Germany, on March 22, 2025 .
    Omer Messinger/Getty Images

    Even Germany’s traditionally punctual train service has become a laughingstock, with jokes about late or canceled trains now standard fare for German comics.

    Going beyond rhetoric

    It remains unclear whether Merz’s rhetorical shift and a constitutional change that permits but does not in itself create more robust defense spending augur a new direction in German politics, or whether Europe’s largest economy will continue to be hobbled by self-imposed constraints and parliamentary squabbling. If the latter happens, Germany risks both continued economic decline and bolstering the AfD, whose support comes disproportionately from economically stagnant former Eastern regions, and which last month surpassed Merz’s CDU in public opinion polls.

    And despite Merz’s commitments, not a single euro of the promised military and infrastructure funds has yet been budgeted. And even if it were, that would not address the country’s yawning needs in other areas, such as state-funded research and development and education.

    Europe, too, needs Merz’s words to turn into action − and soon. The threat of Russia to the east and the turning tide of relations with Trump’s America to the west has put the EU in a bind and in need of strong leadership.

    Mark I. Vail 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. New chancellor, old constraints: Germany’s Friedrich Merz will have a hard time freeing the country from its self-imposed shackles – https://theconversation.com/new-chancellor-old-constraints-germanys-friedrich-merz-will-have-a-hard-time-freeing-the-country-from-its-self-imposed-shackles-256048

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: NDA appoints two new Non-Executive Board Members

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    NDA appoints two new Non-Executive Board Members

    NDA announces Catriona Schmolke CBE FREng and Dr Neil Bruce OBE CEng as NDA Board members.

    NDA logo

    The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) has announced that Catriona Schmolke CBE FREng and Dr Neil Bruce OBE CEng have been appointed to the NDA Board as Non-Executive Board members.

    Neil and Catriona will begin their three-and-a-half-year term on 1 June 2025.

    Catriona brings 40 years of expertise in the infrastructure sector as a hydrogeologist and engineer, with significant experience in Chief Executive, Board Chair and Non-Executive roles. Her career has spanned numerous sectors and major programmes, including nuclear, energy, water, waste, and contaminated land.

    She served as the Chief Safety Security and Sustainability Officer at Jacobs from 2014 to 2020. Catriona currently holds the position of Chair at Artus Air Ltd. Additionally, she serves as a Non-Executive Director and member of the Audit & Risk Committee for the National Physical Laboratory and Scottish Water Group. She is also a Non-Executive Director with NES Fircroft Ltd.

    Catriona is a former Visiting Professor of Sustainability at Newcastle University and serves as a lay member and Chair of the Statutory Safety Committee at Strathclyde University.

    Neil has 40 years of experience, including as a Chief Executive, Board Chair, and Non-Executive Director, in the maritime, resources, nuclear, built environment, and energy sectors. He has managed global and regional markets in over 50 countries, working with public, private, and PE-backed companies.

    Neil’s current roles include Non-Executive Director at McDermott International and Dar Groups; Executive Advisor and Chair with two private equity groups; Chair of a start-up waste-to-biofuels technology business and Visiting Professor at Robert Gordon University Aberdeen.

    His previous roles include President and CEO of SNC Lavalin Group Inc, Group COO at AMEC plc, and various leadership and delivery positions in major projects and in industry associations.

    Peter Hill CBE, the Chair of the NDA, said:

    I am delighted that Catriona and Neil are joining us. Their extensive experience will be invaluable in helping us to drive forward our nationally important mission.

    Catriona Schmolke CBE FREng said:

    I am honoured to join the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority as a Non-Executive Director. As we navigate the complexities of decommissioning and environmental stewardship, I look forward to contributing my expertise and experience in sustainable solutions to this nationally important mission, thus safeguarding the future for generations to come.

    Dr Neil Bruce OBE CEng said:

    It is a privilege to join the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority at this important juncture, as the breadth of its decommissioning work is set to expand. I am committed to leveraging my experience in energy and nuclear markets to support the NDA’s efforts in decommissioning the UK’s nuclear legacy, ensuring we meet the highest standards of safety and efficiency.

    Catriona and Neil were appointed to the NDA Board by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) following a fair, open and transparent selection process.

    Updates to this page

    Published 16 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Trump’s vision for Air Force One will turn it from the ‘Flying White House’ to a ‘palace in the sky’

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Janet Bednarek, Professor of History, University of Dayton

    Former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy helped design Air Force One’s color scheme, which has been used since her husband’s presidency. Jeff J. Mitchell/Getty Images

    Since President Donald Trump excitedly announced that he would be accepting a US$400 million plane from the Qatari government to serve as the next Air Force One, even members of his own party have expressed alarm.

    There’s the price tag of refurbishing the plane with top-secret systems – upward of $1 billion, according to some estimates. Then there are the conflicts of interest from accepting such a large present from a foreign nation – what some say would be the most valuable gift ever given to the U.S.

    But it would also mark a striking departure from tradition.

    While they’re often variants of commercial planes, presidential planes have almost always been U.S. military aircraft, flown and maintained by the Air Force.

    The first White Houses in the sky

    I’m an aviation historian who once worked in the United States Air Force’s history program for three years, so I’m well-acquainted with the history of presidential aircraft.

    Franklin D. Roosevelt became the first president to fly while in office. In January 1943, he boarded the Navy-owned, civilian-operated Boeing Dixie Clipper – a sea plane – for a trip to Casablanca to meet with Allied leaders.

    President Franklin D. Roosevelt made the first presidential flight on a Dixie Clipper, a sea plane built by Boeing.
    Hulton Archive/Getty Images

    The security measures needed to safely transport the president – especially during wartime – spurred the creation of the first custom-built aircraft for presidential use, a heavily modified VC-54 Skymaster. Though officially named “The Flying White House,” the new presidential aircraft became better known by its nickname, the “Sacred Cow.”

    President Harry Truman used the Sacred Cow as his presidential aircraft through much of his first term in office.

    In late 1947, the U.S. Air Force ordered a second custom-built presidential aircraft, a modified DC-6, which Truman named the Independence.

    While in office, Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry Truman flew on a modified Douglas C-54, nicknamed the Sacred Cow.
    Museum of Flight/Corbis via Getty Images

    During Dwight D. Eisenhower’s two terms, the president flew on two different planes operated by the Air Force: the Columbine II, which was a customized, military version of Lockheed’s commercial airliner the Constellation, and the Columbine III, which was a Super Constellation.

    Embracing the jet age

    In the 1960s, the use of jet engine technology in U.S. commercial aircraft revolutionized air travel, allowing planes to fly higher, farther and faster. Jet travel became associated with the glamorous and the elegant lifestyles of the “jet set” crowd.

    So it’s fitting that President John F. Kennedy – who was sometimes called the “the first celebrity president” – was the first White House occupant to fly in a jet, the Boeing 707.

    Kennedy’s aircraft was also the first painted in the distinctive light blue-and-white scheme that’s still used today. First lady Jacqueline Kennedy developed it with the help of industrial designer Raymond Loewy.

    It would go on to serve eight presidents before leaving the presidential fleet in 1990, when Boeing delivered the first of two modified Boeing 747s.

    These are the aircraft that continue to serve as the president’s primary plane. Boeing signed a contract to provide two new aircraft in 2017, during Trump’s last term. In 2020, the company decided to refurbish two existing aircraft that were originally built for another customer.

    The refurbishment has been more cumbersome and expensive than building a new aircraft from scratch. But it’s the only option because Boeing closed its 747 assembly line in late 2022.

    A nickname sticks

    On a trip to Florida, the crew of Columbine II first used “Air Force One” as the plane’s call sign to clearly distinguish the plane from other air traffic.

    While the public has associated the name Air Force One with the modified Boeing 707s and 747s and their distinctive colors, any plane with the president aboard will carry that call sign.

    They include several smaller aircraft, also operated by the Air Force, such as the North American T-39 Sabreliner used to transport Lyndon B. Johnson to his ranch in Texas and the Lockheed VC-140B JetStars, the fleet of backup planes used by several presidents, which Johnson jokingly called “Air Force One Half.”

    A cultural and political symbol

    Air Force One has long served as a symbol of the power and prestige of the presidency.

    It became an indelible part of U.S. history in November 1963, when Johnson took his oath of office from Air Force One’s cabin while Kennedy’s body lay in rest in the back of the aircraft.

    Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson is sworn in as president aboard Air Force One following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
    Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

    Air Force One carried President Richard M. Nixon to China and the Soviet Union for historic diplomatic missions. But it also famously flew him from Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland to his home state, California, after he resigned from office. On that day, the plane took off as Air Force One. But it landed as SAM 27000, the plane’s call sign used when the president wasn’t on board.

    Trump has been compared to Nixon in more ways than one.

    And Trump’s complaint that Arab leaders have bigger and more impressive airplanes than the current Air Force One is reminiscent of Nixon’s own concerns of being outclassed on the world stage.

    The Nixon family boards Air Force One to fly to California on Aug. 9, 1974, following President Richard Nixon’s resignation.
    Wally McNamee/Corbis via Getty Images

    When president, Nixon strongly advocated for American supersonic transport – a 270-passenger plane designed to be faster than the speed of sound – that he hoped could be modified to serve as a new Air Force One. He feared the failure to develop an SST would relegate the U.S. to second-tier status, as other world leaders – particularly those from England, France and the USSR – traversed the globe in sleeker, better performing aircraft.

    Trump’s concerns about Air Force One seem less focused on safety and security and more on size and opulence. His longing for a “palace in the sky” is befitting for a president drawn to soaring skyscrapers, lavish parades and gold ornamentation.

    Janet Bednarek 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. Trump’s vision for Air Force One will turn it from the ‘Flying White House’ to a ‘palace in the sky’ – https://theconversation.com/trumps-vision-for-air-force-one-will-turn-it-from-the-flying-white-house-to-a-palace-in-the-sky-256745

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Trump’s battle with elite universities overlooks where most students actually go to college

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Amy Li, Associate Professor of Higher Education, Florida International University

    There are nearly 20 million undergraduate college students in the United States. Anadolu/Getty Images

    Headlines often mention the ongoing power struggle between President Donald Trump’s administration and private colleges such as Columbia University and Harvard University.

    But such elite universities educate only a small portion of America’s total undergraduate population, which stood at 20 million in fall 2024.

    As an associate professor of higher education, I have published research on policies that affect college access, retention and graduation. My work has examined data across different types of higher education institutions.

    The Ivies and other elites

    Less than 1% of American college students attend elite private colleges.

    A small group of colleges, consisting of Ivy League schools and other highly selective universities known as “Ivy-Plus,” fit in this category.

    The Ivy League consists of eight private schools that formed an athletic conference in the 1950s. The member universities are known for their academic excellence.

    The Ivy-Plus are highly prestigious colleges located across the country with similar reputations for outstanding academics such as Stanford University, Duke University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

    These colleges have extremely competitive admissions, often accepting less than 10% of applicants.

    They enroll students from high-income backgrounds more than any other type of institution. Students from upper-income families represent 60% to 70% of attendees at elite privates.

    Elite private universities confer undergraduate and graduate degrees and focus on research.

    Elite public colleges

    Elite public colleges, such as the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Virginia, are near the top of the U.S. News & World Report’s rankings. They also are often the flagship university in their state, such as the University of Michigan.

    These colleges have highly selective admissions processes as well and often accept about 10% to 20% of applicants.

    The largest portion of revenue at public universities, roughly 40%, comes from government sources that include federal, state and local government grants, contracts and appropriations, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

    Students from upper-income families constitute 50% to 55% of attendees at elite public colleges.

    Like elite private colleges, elite public colleges confer undergraduate and graduate degrees and focus on research.

    Community colleges

    There are 1,024 community colleges in the U.S., serving 39% of undergraduate students.

    These public, two-year colleges grant associate degrees and occasionally bachelor’s degrees. They also offer certificates, workforce training and noncredit courses to prepare students for college-level courses.

    Community colleges have a strong teaching focus and a mission to serve their communities. They tend to guarantee admission to anyone who wants to enroll and offer lower tuition and fees.

    Community colleges are also critical entry points for students from lower-income households and those who identify as racial or ethnic minorities or who are the first in their family to attend college.

    Like other public institutions, community colleges depend heavily on state funding, as well as local property taxes.

    Regional universities

    Roughly 70% of undergraduate students who attend public, four-year institutions enroll at regional public universities.
    Newsday RM via Getty Images

    Of all undergraduates who attend public, four-year institutions, roughly 70% enroll in regional institutions.

    They include colleges in state-run systems such as the State University of New York and California State University.

    There is wide variation in acceptance rates among regional public universities, but they tend to be moderately selective, accepting between half and 70% of applicants.

    Regional public universities offer a wide range of academic programs mostly at the bachelor’s and master’s levels. They also depend heavily on state funding.

    Small private colleges

    Small, less selective private colleges often have acceptance rates of 60% or higher and enroll 3,000 or fewer students.

    Their budgets depend primarily on tuition and fees.

    Some of these types of colleges have suffered from enrollment declines since the early 2000s, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Many of these institutions lacked the large endowments that allowed elite privates to weather the financial challenges brought on by the pandemic.

    A number of small private colleges, such as Eastern Nazarene College in Massachusetts, have closed or merged with other universities due to financial difficulties.

    These small private colleges often offer academic programs at the bachelor’s and master’s levels.

    Private for-profit

    About 5% of students attend private for-profit colleges.

    These colleges offer courses in convenient formats that may be attractive to older adult students, including those with full-time jobs.

    For-profit college students disproportionately identify as older, Black and female. Students who attend these colleges are also more likely to be single parents.

    In recent years, the federal government has cracked down on false promises some for-profit institutions made about their graduates’ job and earnings prospects and other outcomes.

    The enforcement led to the closure of some colleges, such as ITT Technical Institute and Corinthian Colleges.

    Minority-serving institutions

    Minority-serving institutions, including historically Black colleges and universities, have a mission to serve certain populations.
    Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images

    Minority-serving institutions have a mission to serve certain student populations.

    Minority-serving institutions include historically Black colleges and universities, or HBCUs, such as Morehouse College; Hispanic-serving institutions, or HSIs, such as Florida International University; Asian American, Native American and Pacific Islander-serving institutions, or AANAPISIs, such as North Seattle College; and tribal colleges and universities, or TCUs, such as Blackfeet Community College, which serve Native American students.

    The federal government determines which colleges fit the criteria.

    These are primarily two- and four-year colleges, but some grant graduate degrees.

    Amy Li 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. Trump’s battle with elite universities overlooks where most students actually go to college – https://theconversation.com/trumps-battle-with-elite-universities-overlooks-where-most-students-actually-go-to-college-254680

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Beechside children’s home receives outstanding Ofsted rating

    Source: City of Portsmouth

    Beechside short breaks children’s home, which provides short-break services for children with learning and/or physical disabilities, has proudly received outstanding ratings in all areas following a recent Ofsted inspection.

    The unannounced inspection of Portsmouth City Council’s Beechside short breaks children’s home on 15 and 17 April 2025, evaluated the home on the following criteria:

    • Overall experiences and progress of children and young people: Outstanding
    • How well children and young people are helped and protected: Outstanding
    • The effectiveness of leaders and managers: Outstanding

    Cllr Nicholas Dorrington, Cabinet Member for Children, Families, and Education, said: “This outstanding achievement is a testament to the hard work and commitment of the Beechside staff and the wider council team.

    “We are incredibly proud of this recognition by Ofsted and remain dedicated to providing the best possible care for the children and young people we care for at Beechside children’s home and their families.”

    The outstanding rating reflects the dedication and hard work of Beechside’s team in providing high-quality care and support to some of the most vulnerable children and young people in our community. Additionally, the comprehensive improvements made over the past couple of years, including renovations to the house, have significantly enhanced the positive experiences of those cared for at Beechside.

    You can read the full report here: https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/2/SC037588?utm_source&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=report

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • Novel approach to HIV vaccine shows early promise

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The first human clinical trials testing a new strategy to protect against HIV infections have yielded promising early results, according to two separate reports published on Thursday in Science.
     
    The trials tested “germline targeting” HIV vaccines, which aim to activate immune system B cells in their naive, or germline, state, inducing them to become specialized cells that produce broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs).
     
    By delivering a variety of HIV immunogens – typically, viral protein fragments – germline vaccines train the B cells to produce antibodies that can recognize and block a broad range of different strains of HIV from infecting healthy cells.
     
    Germline targeting requires an initial dose to prime the correct B cells, and subsequent doses to guide their maturation until they can produce effective bnAbs, the researchers reported.
     
    “Across the participants we saw an immune response that indicates that we’re on the right track,” Rogier Sanders of Amsterdam UMC, senior investigator on one of the trials, said in a statement.
     
    “We saw that we can target the cells that we need to target with atomic precision. The next step is to further stimulate these cells to secrete broadly neutralizing antibodies,” Sanders said.
     
    In a separate paper, a different team of researchers reported on two early trials that used mRNA-encoded nanoparticles produced by Moderna to successfully prime the germline B cells, although a small proportion of patients had skin reactions to the vaccines.
     
    The mRNA technology, similar to that used in Moderna’s COVID-19 shots, would allow for faster vaccine development, the study authors said.
     
    One of the trials was conducted in the United States and the other in Rwanda and South Africa. The majority of HIV patients live in Africa, but germline targeting has not previously been attempted there.
     
    The researchers said the mRNA approach appeared to work with both North American and African populations, opening the door to further testing of germline-targeting vaccines for “African populations in most need of an HIV vaccine.”
     
    EASING THERAPIES FOR SOME PROSTATE, CERVIX CANCERS
     
    Two new studies suggest that patients with certain cancers might do just as well with a shorter course of radiation or a less extensive surgery as with standard treatments.
     
    In JAMA Oncology, researchers reported that in men who require radiation after undergoing the most extensive type of surgery for prostate cancer, a form of high-dose radiation delivered in just five sessions known as stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) appears to be as safe as conventional treatment delivered daily for up to seven weeks.
     
    SBRT is a well-established treatment for prostate cancer, but its use after a radical prostatectomy has been limited due to concerns about the shifting position of the prostate bed and nearby healthy tissues.
     
    The researchers tracked 100 men treated with SBRT in the single-arm study. Two years after the treatment, outcomes and side effects were similar to what the researchers had seen in the past from patients who received the longer-course treatments.
     
    If randomized studies and longer follow-up confirm the results, “this approach could remove a major barrier to post-surgery radiation therapy,” study leader Dr. Amar Kishan of the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA said in a statement.
     
    In JAMA Network Open, a separate team of researchers reported that women with low-risk early-stage cancer of the cervix do as well after simple hysterectomy as after modified radical hysterectomy or radical hysterectomy.
     
    Among 2,636 carefully selected patients treated for stage IA2 or IB1 cervical carcinoma at accredited cancer hospitals, there was no difference in survival rates at 3 years, 5 years, 7 years or 10, or in postoperative outcomes after the three types of surgery.
     
    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI Russia: GUU will become the venue for the plenary conference of MAEF-2025

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    On June 4-5, 2025, the central events of the VII Moscow Academic Economic Forum (MAEF-2025) will be held in a combined format (offline and online) on the topic: “Russia – 2025: the trajectory of dynamic balanced socio-economic development”. On June 5, the State University of Management will host the participants of the plenary conference of the Forum.

    The Moscow Academic Economic Forum has been held by the Free Economic Society of Russia and the Russian Academy of Sciences since 2019. Last year, the Forum was held at 110 regional venues in 32 countries. The total number of registered participants reached 15,500 people.

    The main events of MAEF-2025: June 4 – Plenary session at the Russian Academy of Sciences; June 5 – Plenary conferences at leading universities and research centers; The final plenary session at the VEO of Russia Congress Hall.

    On June 5, the State University of Management will host a plenary conference on the topic of “Institutions for Balanced Socioeconomic Development of Russia.” Other venues include: the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, MGIMO, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, RUDN University, and other universities.

    To participate in an event or give a presentation at the State University of Management, you must register using a special form.

    Online registration for MAEF participants is available on the official website of the forum.

    Detailed information in the attached document:

    Structure of the program of the plenary conference of MAEF-2025

    Subscribe to the tg channel “Our State University” Announcement date: 05/16/2025

    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-OSI United Kingdom: New Lord Mayor and Deputy announced for the year

    Source: City of Plymouth

    Councillor Kathy Watkin has been elected as Lord Mayor of Plymouth, with Councillor Chip Tofan as the new Deputy Lord Mayor for the coming year.

    • The Deputy Lord Mayor Councillor Chip Tofan
    • The Lord Mayor and Consort Councillor Kathy Watkin and Alderman Dr John Mahony

    They were both elected at the Annual General Meeting this morning (Friday 16 May)

    Councillor Watkin trained and worked as a speech and language therapist before training as a solicitor.

    Kathy worked in the legal sector in two well known firms in Plymouth and as a registered sole practitioner in her own practice for 13 years prior to retirement.

    She has served on various committees including Licencing, Corporate Parenting, Mount Edgcumbe, Planning and has been the vice chair for the Health Scrutiny Committee and Health and Wellbeing Board.

    In 2023 she was elected as Deputy Lord Mayor.

    She said: “What a privilege it is to be elected as Lord Mayor, I am really looking forward to the coming year, meeting all the different communities in Plymouth and engaging with them.

    “I want to thank my fellow Councillors for choosing me as their next Lord Mayor for the year.”

    Councillor Chip Tofan was born in Iasi, Romania, graduating from Iasi Gheorghe Ashachi University, with a bachelor’s degree in engineering and now runs his own business providing consultancy services.

    Chip was first elected to Plymouth City Council in May 2022, representing Eggbuckland Ward.

    During his time as a councillor, Chip has been a member of different committees including Scrutiny, Licensing, Natural Infrastructure and the Growth Scrutiny Panel.

    Chip said: “I am so pleased to be elected as Deputy Lord Mayor and look forward to supporting Kathy over the next year in office and working together.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Victory Anniversary at the Center of Legal Discussion: Conference Opening at the Polytechnic

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    The plenary session of the XXVI annual All-Russian scientific and practical conference with international participation “Problems of Law in Modern Russia” was held in the conference hall of the Academic Council of Peter the Great Polytechnic University. The event is traditionally held by the Higher School of Jurisprudence and Forensic Science of the Humanitarian Institute of SPbPU. This year’s conference acquired special significance in connection with the celebration of the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.

    The plenary session was opened by the Vice-Rector for Security of SPbPU Alexander Airapetyan. He congratulated everyone on the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War, noting the importance of the scientific and practical events of the Polytechnic University, which play a fundamental role in consolidating security and maintaining unity. The Director of the Higher School of Law and STE Dmitry Mokhorov welcomed the conference participants, congratulated them on the Great Victory Day, reflecting the fateful milestones of polytechnic thought in Russian and Soviet reality.

    Traditionally, the event brought together leading scientists and representatives of the professional community from the system of state and municipal administration, the judicial system, law enforcement agencies, the legal profession, notaries, forensic examination and representatives of the real sector of the economy.

    The guests of the event delivered welcoming remarks. Deputy Head of the Secretariat of the Council of the Interparliamentary Assembly of the CIS Member Nations, Director of the International Institute for Monitoring the Development of Democracy, Parliamentarism and Observance of Electoral Rights of Citizens of the CIS Member States Ivan Mushket read out a greeting from the Secretary General – Head of the Secretariat of the Council of the IPA CIS Dmitry Kobitsky. In his address, Dmitry Kobitsky emphasized the importance of the unity and courage of the Soviet people, noting that the Victory in the Great Patriotic War is a common heritage, and also called for confronting racism and xenophobia, recalling the criminal actions of Nazism, recognized by the International Military Tribunal in Nuremberg.

    Law should serve as a tool for maintaining justice, protecting human rights and freedoms, and we must work on its development together, noted Dmitry Kobitsky.

    The President of the Leningrad Region Bar Association, Denis Laktionov, greeted his colleagues on behalf of the legal community and emphasized the practical importance of the traditional conference “Problems of Law in Modern Russia” for the industry.

    Olga Safronova, Director of the Legal Department of the North-West Bank of Sberbank PJSC, noted the demand for significant events aimed at legal education and educating young people in the spirit of respect for the law and historical justice, emphasizing that the modern realities of the development of scientific and technological progress require us to take adequate professional measures to protect state interests and the rights of citizens, especially in the field of cybersecurity.

    Representatives of legislative and executive bodies of federal and regional authorities, courts, the prosecutor’s office, the Investigative Committee, and law enforcement agencies sent welcoming words to the organizing committee and participants.

    The scientific part of the plenary session included reports on the issues of historical justice of the Nuremberg Trials in the context of modern understanding, the role of the prosecutor’s office during the war and the problems of cybersecurity in the modern social and legal reality. The participants were addressed by Vladimir Mikhailov, Senior Justice Advisor, Senior Prosecutor of the Criminal and Judicial Department of the Leningrad Region Prosecutor’s Office, Artem Klinitsky, Associate Professor of the Higher School of Law and European Economics, and representatives of the North-West Bank of Sberbank Olga Safronova, Natalia Eroshenko and Kirill Yakovlev.

    At the end of the meeting, a video trailer for the historical film “Blockade Justice” was shown, containing rare archival footage of the activities of the courts, prosecutors and lawyers during the Great Patriotic War.

    On the first day of the conference, work was carried out in the sections “Theoretical-historical and public-law sciences”, “Private law (civil) sciences”, “Criminal-law sciences”. More than 250 people took part in the conference in person and over 70 section reports were presented, and an online broadcast with the possibility of open connection was also conducted. Abstracts of the reports will be published in a collection based on the results of the conference, and the best articles will be sent to the journals of the Higher Attestation Commission and the Russian Science Citation Index.

    The conference will include a round table (International teleconference St. Petersburg – Baku) “Modern Methods of Engineering and Technical Expertise”; a discussion platform “Application of Special Expert Knowledge in Legal Practice”; a round table “Counteracting Terrorism and Cybercrime”; master classes on forensic examination; a round table “Economic and Legal Regulation of Environmental Safety”; a discussion platform “East – West: Paths of Cultural Dialogue”; an International Theoretical and Practical Dialogue – Prospects for Development and Integration (Russia – Uzbekistan); a discussion platform (International teleconference St. Petersburg – Andijan) “Modern Trends in Legal Education and Enlightenment”; an exhibition of scientific, educational and educational-methodical works on jurisprudence and forensic examination.

    The detailed program can be found aton the website of the Higher School of YuISTE.

    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 United Kingdom: Championing the cream of the crop at Balmoral Show

    Source: Northern Ireland City of Armagh

    The Ballylisk’s of Armagh stand was very busy this year

    A Food Heartland envoy, including the Lord Mayor, Councillor Sarah Duffy, Deputy Lord Mayor, Councillor Kyle Savage, Alderman Paul Greenfield (Chair of Economic Development and Regeneration Committee) and Chief Executive Roger Wilson OBE, visited Balmoral Show yesterday – Thursday 15th May – to show support for breeders and agri-businesses from across the borough.

    The Food Heartland Agri Champions were also present, taking the opportunity to meet with producers, engage with visitors, and network with key industry players. Their presence underscored the borough’s dedication to innovation and sustainability within the agri-food sector.

    Throughout the event, Food Heartland representatives connected with important stakeholders including the Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU), the Rural Support Network, and Food NI, reinforcing strong collaborative ties that continue to strengthen the region’s agricultural economy.

    The Balmoral Show remains a vital platform for showcasing the talent, quality, and resilience of the local agri-food industry, and Food Heartland was delighted to be part of it.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –