Category: Education

MIL-OSI USA: Next Phase of Star Tax Relief Rolls Out

Source: US State of New York

overnor Kathy Hochul today announced the start of phase two of the School Tax Relief (STAR) program benefit season. Eligible homeowners in communities with school tax due dates in August or September will start receiving their STAR benefit in the coming weeks. Most homeowners eligible for a STAR credit will receive a check between $350 and $600. Most seniors eligible for an Enhanced STAR credit will receive a check between $700 and $1,500. STAR recipients can visit ny.gov/STAR to track their check delivery or enroll in direct deposit.

“The STAR program provides needed school tax relief to millions of New York homeowners — and the program is now in full swing,” Governor Hochul said. “During a time of financial uncertainty due to funding cuts by Republicans in Washington, my administration is putting money back in the pockets of families with check and credit deliveries continuing to go out to hundreds of thousands of homeowners statewide.”

New York State Department of Taxation and Finance Acting Commissioner Amanda Hiller said, “Visit our STAR resource page to sign up for STAR if you are a new homeowner and, if you’re an existing homeowner, to check on when your STAR credit or direct deposit will arrive.”

Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said, “At a time when Republicans in Washington are slashing funding and leaving working families with uncertainty, the STAR program remains a lifeline for millions of homeowners, helping ease the burden of rising property taxes and helping working families stay afloat. With phase two of STAR benefits now underway, checks and credits of up to $1,500 are reaching hundreds of thousands of households. The Senate Democratic Majority worked closely with Governor Hochul and our colleagues in the Assembly to ensure that, in addition to STAR, we also delivered Inflation Rebate Checks, expanded child care assistance, and boosted child tax credits. These initiatives reflect our dedication to putting more money back in the pockets of hardworking New Yorkers.”

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said, “While the administration in Washington is creating financial uncertainty for families across the country, here in New York, we’re working to put money back in the pockets of New York families. Because of the STAR program, more than three million homeowners across the state will receive $2.2 billion in tax relief, easing the financial burden on families and putting money back into our communities.”

Phase one saw STAR credits and checks delivered to parts of the state with school tax due dates in June and July – including New York City, Yonkers, Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse. STAR deliveries to these regions were completed last week.

The STAR program provides property tax relief to eligible New York State homeowners. During STAR benefit season, which runs from June to November, nearly three million homeowners will receive more than $2.2 billion in property tax relief through the program.

Homeowners who are eligible and enrolled in the STAR program receive their benefit each year in one of two ways: as an exemption that reduces their school tax bill, or as a credit issued as a check or direct deposit.

Those who receive the STAR credit as a check or direct deposit can visit the STAR Credit Delivery Schedule to learn when credits will be issued in their area. Property owners who are looking for details about STAR credits that have already been issued should visit the Property Tax Credit Lookup.

Enroll in STAR Direct Deposit

Homeowners can enroll in the STAR Credit Direct Deposit program through the Homeowner Benefit Portal within the Tax Department’s secure Online Services system. Homeowners can also use the Homeowner Benefit Portal to manage their STAR benefits easily and efficiently.

The direct deposit option enables eligible STAR credit recipients to get their STAR credits without having to wait for and cash a check. To ensure they receive their STAR credit by direct deposit this year, homeowners should enroll as soon as possible. Homeowners who enroll fewer than 15 days before their STAR credit is issued will receive a check this year and direct deposit will begin next year. To find out when STAR credits will be issued in your area, use the STAR Credit Delivery Schedule lookup.

Regional breakdown of this year’s $2.2 billion in STAR tax relief for nearly three million New Yorkers:

REGION	STAR TAX RELIEF	RECIPIENTS
Capital District	$144.5 million	242,000
Central New York	$131.1 million	176,000
Finger Lakes	$205.2 million	279,000
Long Island	$698.4 million	582,000
Mid-Hudson	$488.5 million	404,000
Mohawk Valley	$66.3 million	101,000
New York City	$158.6 million	483,000
North Country	$47.2 million	88,000
Southern Tier	$109.6 million	156,000
Western New York	$178.5 million	320,000
TOTAL	$2.2 BILLION	2.83 MILLION

State Senator Leroy Comrie said, “This next phase of the STAR program is welcome news for homeowners across Southeast Queens. Putting money back in people’s pockets helps ease the burden of rising costs and lets families stay rooted in the communities they’ve built their lives in. I thank Governor Hochul for keeping this commitment to New Yorkers.”

State Senator Roxanne J. Persaud said, “This vital tax relief means eligible homeowners, especially seniors, can expect to receive their STAR or Enhanced STAR payments in the coming weeks. Nearly three million New Yorkers will receive over $2.2 billion this season, which is real support that eases financial strain and puts money back into our communities.”

State Senator Luis R. Sepúlveda said, “I am pleased by Governor Kathy Hochul’s announcement of the next phase of the STAR tax relief program, which will directly benefit nearly three million New Yorkers. This program is putting money directly into the pockets of the working families and seniors who need it most. In communities like ours, in the Bronx, where the rising cost of living continues to affect so many people, this assistance means much more than just a check — it is essential financial relief that can make the difference between stability and hardship.”

State Senator Shelley B. Mayer said, “I am pleased that millions of New Yorkers, including over 400,000 residents in the Hudson Valley, receive tax relief this summer and fall through the New York School Tax Relief (STAR) program. Many families in Westchester struggle with the high cost of living, and the STAR program will offer much-needed assistance. I encourage those eligible for STAR to enroll in direct deposit to simplify the process of receiving your STAR checks. I would also like to thank Governor Kathy Hochul for her commitment towards a hassle-free program that helps alleviate the burden of property taxes.”

State Senator Rachel May said, “The STAR program helps make homeownership more affordable for seniors and families across New York. In Central New York, this kind of targeted tax relief makes a real difference. I’m grateful to Governor Hochul for continuing to support a program that helps so many of our neighbors stay in their homes.”

State Senator Robert Jackson said, “In a state where working families shoulder some of the highest property taxes in the nation, this next phase of STAR is more than a benefit—it’s real relief. This is government at its best: directly returning hard-earned dollars to those who sustain our communities. From the Bronx to Buffalo, from seniors relying on fixed incomes to young families striving for stability, these checks aren’t just policy—they embody the principle that public dollars must serve the public good. I commend Governor Hochul and the Legislature for coming together and demonstrating precisely what good governance looks like—putting meaningful resources directly into the hands of the people we represent.”

State Senator Jeremy Cooney said, “The STAR program is one of many ways we are tackling affordability in New York and making our state a place where everyone is able to live and thrive. With billions in relief being sent out, including over $205 million for the Finger Lakes region, I want to thank Governor Hochul for putting money back in the pockets of New Yorkers and for her commitment to increasing the quality of life across our state.”

State Senator Michelle Hinchey said, “Over $630 million in property tax relief is headed straight to homeowners in the Mid-Hudson Valley and Capital Region, and I’m proud to have fought for it. For seniors on fixed incomes and working families trying to keep up, putting money back into people’s pockets through the STAR program is critical to making life more affordable. We’ll keep pushing to deliver the tax relief New Yorkers deserve through this program and beyond.”

State Senator Lea Webb said, “The STAR program continues to be a vital lifeline for hardworking families and seniors across the Southern Tier, and I’m proud to see the second phase of disbursements reaching residents in my district. This additional round of tax relief helps ease the financial burden for millions of New Yorkers. It means more breathing room in family budgets and peace of mind for seniors. Whether it’s paying for essentials, catching up on bills, or planning for the future, this support strengthens our communities and helps people remain in the homes they’ve worked so hard to maintain.”

State Senator April N.M. Baskin said, “Thanks to Governor Hochul, a substantial number of New York residents, including 320,000 in Western New York, will have more money in their pockets over the next few months because of the STAR tax relief program. In these uncertain economic times, this program is particularly helpful to working families and older residents who benefit from such meaningful financial relief.”

State Senator Christopher Ryan said, “This is real, meaningful tax relief for Central New York homeowners. More than 176,000 families in our region will see a total of $131 million coming back to them through the STAR program. Whether you’re a senior on a fixed income or a working family trying to stay ahead, this puts money back in your pocket when it’s needed most. I’ll keep fighting to make sure programs like this continue to deliver for our communities.”

Assemblymember Charles D. Lavine said, “This is welcome news for tens of thousands of hard-working families and seniors right here in Nassau County. Thanks to Governor Hochul’s continued commitment to this program and the economic needs of residents, real money will soon be back in their pockets which they can use however they would like.”

Assemblymember Harry B. Bronson said, “Making New York more affordable for our seniors and middle-class families is one of my highest priorities. Phase 2 of the STAR Tax Relief Program, funded through the New York State budget, will deliver relief to thousands of residents in Monroe County and the City of Rochester, putting much-needed money back in people’s pockets as we head into the cooler days of fall. I am proud to have worked alongside my State Legislative colleagues and Governor Hochul to continue this critical tax cut.”

Assemblymember Steve Otis said, “This announcement shares the next phase of STAR tax relief payments funded in this year’s budget by Governor Hochul, the Assembly and Senate. The focus of our adopted state budget was to address affordability issues for New York families through a range of state programs. I continue to focus on delivering state dollars directly to Westchester families and through state assistance to local governments and school districts to help lower the burden of property taxes. Established decades ago, Basic STAR and Enhanced STAR help reduce the burden of school property taxes across the state.”

Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn said, “Governor Hochul’s rollout of Phase 2 of the STAR Tax Relief Program, represents a critical investment in the well-being of New York homeowners – particularly our seniors living on fixed incomes and hardworking families striving every day to make ends meet. At a time when the cost of living continues to rise, this property tax relief helps ensure residents can remain in their homes and maintain long-term financial stability. The STAR program does more than deliver a check—it delivers tranquility and strengthens the very foundation of our neighborhoods. I applaud Governor Hochul for prioritizing this vital support and for ensuring that these benefits are delivered efficiently and equitably to millions of New Yorkers.”

Assemblymember Al Taylor said, “At a time when working families and seniors are feeling the weight of inflation, the STAR tax relief program is delivering real, tangible help. Phase 2 will bring hundreds of dollars in direct relief to millions of New Yorkers, including nearly half a million right here in New York City. I commend Governor Hochul for advancing this vital program and ensuring that homeowners, especially our seniors on fixed incomes, get the support they deserve. This is what government should do: make life more affordable and help people stay in their homes.”

Assemblymember Clyde Vanel said, “Queens families continue to face rising costs. This next round of STAR tax relief comes at a critical time for all of them. I applaud Governor Hochul’s commitment to easing the burden on homeowners across New York State. Nearly three million New Yorkers, including thousands right here in Queens, will feel real financial relief this summer and fall.”

Assemblymember Harvey Epstein said, “As the cost of living continues to increase in our state, it is important to put money back in the pockets of New Yorkers. The STAR tax credit will offer property tax relief to many homeowners who need it.”

Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar said, “Governor Hochul is delivering real, meaningful relief to millions of New Yorkers. At a time when families are feeling the pinch, the Governor’s leadership is putting money back in people’s pockets, making life more affordable, and opening up opportunities for working families. By easing the burden of school property taxes, she is helping New Yorkers build a stronger future — with more financial security and more resources to invest in their families and communities. This is what people-first government looks like.”

Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas said, “As the second phase of the STAR Tax Credit rebate check distribution commences, I commend Governor Hochul, Speaker Heastie and my colleagues for ensuring New York homeowners get the support, especially in the midst of economic turmoil. The STAR rebate check disbursement is an opportunity to support homeowners throughout New York State. A $350 check can make a big difference for many families today. Thank you to all who helped make this happen so we can provide more relief to all New Yorkers.”

Assemblymember Yudelka Tapia said, “Putting money back in the pockets of New Yorkers is one of the most important things we can do to help families put food on the table and keep our state affordable. Here in New York City, nearly half a million homeowners are receiving over $158 million in property tax relief. I applaud Governor Hochul for moving this effort forward and delivering for working families across every corner of our state.”

Assemblymember Dana Levenberg said, “My constituents are extremely concerned about affordability, especially in light of the devastating cuts to the federal assistance programs on which many households rely to make ends meet. I am proud that in New York, we are looking out for your bottom line providing STAR program tax relief totaling $2.2 billion across the state, with payments coming via direct deposit, credit on your school tax bill, or a check in your mailbox in the coming weeks.”

Assemblymember Gabriella A. Romero said, “I’m proud to see the successful implementation of phase two of the School Tax Relief (STAR) program across New York State begin this month. This important investment focuses on those most affected by rising school taxes, providing real, lasting relief. I’m honored to stand with Governor Hochul and my colleagues in the State Legislature for securing its place in this year’s budget.”

Assemblymember MaryJane Shimsky said, “Some recipients have already received the STAR benefit in the form of a tax exemption this year, but many others will receive it by check in the coming weeks and months. With major funding cuts coming from Washington, this benefit will be even more crucial as our households struggle harder to make ends meet. I urge our homeowners to check their eligibility for both Basic STAR and Enhanced STAR, and to consult the delivery schedule for their area.”

MIL OSI USA News –

July 23, 2025

MIL-OSI Submissions: People with MS and other fluctuating health conditions are often forced to quit their jobs when they want to work

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Alice Martin, Head of Research, Work Foundation, Lancaster University

Andrey_Popov/Shutterstock

Plans to cut health-related benefits in the UK continue to give the government political grief – as well as being a huge worry for claimants. Underpinning the controversy are government plans to move more people into work with a long-term ambition of 80% employment.

But cutting welfare costs is a blunt and unhelpful way to face the challenge of increasing employment among people with long-term health conditions.

For people with fluctuating and often invisible conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS), welfare and work are not opposed. They are usually part of the same life journey – one that is rarely linear and requires systems and supports that are flexible, not punitive.

This was the focus of a recent study led by my research colleague Aman Navani and the MS Society. It is a major UK survey of people with MS with more than 1,100 respondents, and highlights systemic failures in workplace support and welfare systems.

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Because of its fluctuating nature, MS can act as an important case study to understand how work should accommodate people’s evolving health needs. It also offers lessons that are relevant to a wide array of other conditions.

Cases of MS are rising globally. Around 150,000 people in the UK live with the condition, which affects the central nervous system and causes pain, mobility problems, cognitive issues and fatigue.

Women are more likely to have MS, which is usually diagnosed in people in their 30s or 40s. These, of course, are peak working years.

The vast majority of people with MS (96%) who participated in our study reported that their condition has affected their ability to work. This is because MS can make commuting and navigating workplace environments challenging, and physical and mental health impacts often overlap.

Managing symptoms such as cognitive changes, pain and restricted mobility can contribute to anxiety and depression. All of these things put additional strain on the working lives of those affected.

For a quarter of respondents (24%), MS had such a severe effect that they felt unable to work at all. Worryingly, one in two people said they have compromised their health by staying in a job.

For many, leaving work is the only solution they can see. More than one-quarter (26%) cited unmanageable workloads, 19% could not afford to stay in work due to low pay, 20% lacked flexible hours, and for 22% the flexibility they were offered did not meet their needs.

Just 8% said their employer helped them adapt their job to suit their health, and only 2% had progression opportunities tailored to their condition. But nearly half (45%) of those who left work said they could have stayed if their employer had understood their condition better.

Almost half (46%) of respondents who were in work had used the personal independence payment (Pip) as a lifeline. This is an allowance that helps people with the extra living costs associated with having a disability. Under the government’s plans, conditions will be tightened for new claimants.

Designing better jobs

Living with a fluctuating condition requires constant adaptation, from coping with exhaustion to managing the extra time and cost of daily activities. As such, the way jobs are designed matters.

A government report has said that one-quarter of those who are out of work and claiming health and disability benefits might be able to work if they could do so from home.

The rise of remote and hybrid work has indeed been a lifeline for some disabled workers. A recent major study of people who are classified as disabled highlights just how vital this change has been for them: 85% said remote or hybrid work was essential or very important when job hunting, and 79% wouldn’t apply for roles without it.

Among those working fully remotely, 64% said their physical health improved. Homeworking was valued by those with fluctuating conditions such as MS, and for disabled women and carers in particular, full-time homeworking was their preference.

But these gains are precarious. Growth in hybrid roles has stalled and some employers are grabbing headlines with “return-to-office” mandates even at the risk of losing key members of their workforce.

Return-to-office mandates can force some workers to navigate a challenging commute.
AlvaroRT/Shutterstock

Nearly one in four working-age people in the UK are disabled. Work and welfare must be designed from the perspective of this growing and diverse cohort – ensuring financial security for people with health conditions, both in work and out of work.

Expanding and protecting access to secure and flexible jobs is key, including remote and hybrid roles, baking these models into more sectors of the economy. The government could lead by example with public sector workers, and protect jobs from knee-jerk employer mandates.

In January this year, only 3.8% of vacancies on the Department for Work and Pensions jobs portal included an option for hybrid or remote work.

Finally, it’s vital to improve job design and in-work support, with effective occupational health systems, consultation with workforces, normalising shorter working weeks and time off.

This would enable people with fluctuating conditions to attend appointments, recuperate and even take career breaks without harming their careers. For this, the UK needs a benefits system that supports movement in and out of work, avoiding financial cliff edges.

Too many people with MS and similar conditions who can and want to work are forced to leave jobs early due to inadequate support. They face a trade-off between progressing their working life and managing their health. The challenge for government and employers now is to remove this tension.

Alice Martin works for the Work Foundation think tank at Lancaster University, which received funding from MS Society to conduct the research.

– ref. People with MS and other fluctuating health conditions are often forced to quit their jobs when they want to work – https://theconversation.com/people-with-ms-and-other-fluctuating-health-conditions-are-often-forced-to-quit-their-jobs-when-they-want-to-work-259083

MIL OSI –

July 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Submissions: Dog thefts: what really happened during the COVID pandemic

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Daniel Allen, Animal Geographer, Keele University

smrm1977/Shutterstock

Dog theft can be a devastating crime. During the COVID pandemic, newspapers suggested there was an epidemic of “dognapping” in the UK. If you have a dog, the reports may have alarmed you at a time when there were already many reasons to feel afraid.

There are mixed views on whether or not lockdown triggered an increase in dog ownership. Animal welfare charity Battersea attributed a 53% increase in dog adoption to lockdown, and online pet adoption service Pets4Homes said in their 2022 report that demand for puppies rose 104% at the peak of lockdown in May 2020.

But animal charity PDSA said its survey data pointed to a gradual increase in dog ownership since 2011 rather than a dramatic surge during lockdown. However, we do know lockdown saw inflated prices for dogs, with some fashionable breeds going for £9,000.

In terms of criminal activity, social distancing restrictions seemed to lead to a decline in some forms of crime, including shoplifting and burglary. But many media outlets reported the number of dog thefts had increased up to 250% during the pandemic.

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We wanted to explore if the data supported claims of a dognapping epidemic and whether patterns in dog theft could suggest ways to help reduce it. Our recent study found new insights into dog theft patterns and showed the situation was more complicated than it seemed at first glance.

Under the Theft Act 1968, dog theft is not a specific offence. It comes under other theft offences, such as burglary or theft from a person.

This means police records on dog theft were not included in crime statistics. The only way to access such information is through Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to individual police forces. There are 45 territorial and three special police forces in the UK, and each has its own reporting and recording practices.

Although police FOI data for dog theft must be approached with caution, it is useful. Previous studies exploring police FOI data found an upward trend in recorded dog thefts in England and Wales: rising nearly 20% from 2015 (1,545) to 2018 (1,849) for 41 police forces combined; and up 3.5% year on year from 2019 (1,452) to 2020 (1,504) for 33 police forces.

DogLost, a UK online community for reuniting lost and stolen dogs with their owners, reported a 170% increase in stolen dogs (with Crime Reference Numbers) registered on their website in 2020 (465), compared to 2019 (172). This figure was widely quoted as a national increase “since lockdown started” by the media.

The 250% increase figure first quoted in December 2020 was actually a comparison of two seven-month periods (January-July 2019 and 2020) for only one police force.

Patterns and trends

Our study found the data for the period covering the COVID pandemic is also incomplete. Data was provided by 32 forces (71%) for 2020, by 27 forces (60%) for 2021, and 23 forces (51%) for 2022.

Patterns and trends do, however, emerge. Between 2020 and 2022, the available data shows a 3.7% rise in dog thefts in the UK, from 1,573 to 1,631. When making adjustments for the number of police forces providing data (which decreased over the period), the estimated national figures suggest there may have been more significant rise of up to 44.2%.

While we cannot assume that the forces who supplied data are representative of all 45 regional forces, if this were the case, it would equate to 2,212 recorded dog thefts in 2020, 2,645 in 2021, and 3,191 in 2022.

There was a lot of variation between different areas. For example, Cambridgeshire, Gwent and Northumbria police forces experienced increases of 36%, 49% and 80% respectively in the number of recorded dog thefts between 2020 and 2021.

Monthly analysis of data from regional police forces and DogLost, show that the number of reports of stolen dogs started to go up when the UK entered its first national lockdown and again during part of the third lockdown. But the average number of police-recorded dog thefts was actually slightly higher outside of lockdown periods than during them between 2020 and 2022.

However, in contrast with police trends, DogLost data shows a 65.2% drop in dogs reported stolen on DogLost’s website in 2022 compared to 2020. Lower DogLost numbers may reflect limited visibility or presence of their networks, the use of alternative lost and stolen dog services, or reluctance to share personal details online due to scams targeting dog theft victims.

Dogs are often stolen from inside their own homes.
GoodFocused/Shutterstock

Our study found that, overall, there probably was an increase in dog theft from
2020 to 2022, following already identified increases in the preceding years. This rise was probably driven by a combination of opportunity (more dogs, higher value) and situational factors (accessibility, dogs unattended in gardens while owners were inside).

Our evidence does not support the notion of a widespread epidemic as portrayed by the media. However, increased media interest probably amplified awareness of the issue, and influenced the creation of the Pet Theft Taskforce, a UK government initiative set up in May 2021 to investigate and tackle dog thefts.

New research appears to confirm the idea that dog abduction has significant welfare effects on both dogs and their owners. We also know that few dog thefts are successfully resolved, with under a quarter of stolen dogs likely to be returned and around 1%-5% of reported dog thefts result in someone being charged.

However, there is potential good news. Our ongoing research suggests the number of police-recorded dog thefts decreased slightly in 2023, and again in 2024. This is supported by research from pet insurer Direct Line, which has estimated a 21% decrease in the number of stolen dogs from 2,290 in 2023 to 1,808 in 2024 in the UK.

Daniel Allen is founder of Pet Theft Reform and patron of the Stolen and Missing Pets Alliance (Sampa).

Melanie Flynn is a member of the Research Advisory Committee of the Vegan Society (UK).

John Walliss 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. Dog thefts: what really happened during the COVID pandemic – https://theconversation.com/dog-thefts-what-really-happened-during-the-covid-pandemic-252061

MIL OSI –

July 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Submissions: What are education and health care plans and why are parents worried about them being scrapped?

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Jonathan Glazzard, Rosalind Hollis Professor of Education for Social Justice, University of Hull

Drazen Zigic/Shutterstock

For children in England with special educational needs and disabilities, an education and health care plan (EHCP) is a central pillar of support. The government is due to set out its educational strategy for children with special educational needs and disabilities in the autumn, though, and has not ruled out scrapping ECHPs. Their removal would signal radical change in how the system works in England.

ECHPs are individualised plans that set out the needs of a particular child and the support they should receive – from education, health services and social care – in order have the best opportunity to thrive. But demand for ECHPs is soaring and providing support is proving financially catastrophic for local authorities.

One of the criticisms of EHCPs is that they prioritise providing children with individual models of support, rather than developing inclusive cultures within schools and within the broader education system. Education secretary Bridget Phillipson has outlined a vision of building a system where more children with special educational needs and disabilities can attend mainstream schools.

But removing ECHPs leads to the possibility of children who need more specialist support missing out.

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To secure an ECHP, local authorities carry out a statutory assessment to determine whether a child’s needs warrant additional support. An assessment does not always lead to an EHCP, but if one is issued, it must outline how the child’s needs will be met and the additional resources needed to do so.

These resources might include funding to provide a child with a teaching assistant, funding for equipment and transport to school, or funding to go to a specialist school. This system of support helps school leaders ensure that children and young people have the right support, at the right time.

According to a report published earlier this year, the demand for EHCPs has risen by 140% since 2015. Recent data shows that there are 482,640 children and young people in England with an EHCP.

Many more children have special educational needs, but do not have an ECHP. These pupils are classed as receiving special educational needs support. The percentage of pupils with an EHCP has increased to 5.3%, from 4.8% in 2024. The percentage of pupils with special educational needs support has increased to 14.2%, from 13.6% in 2024.

Despite government investment of £10.7 billion to local authorities in 2024-25, a House of Commons committee report outlines that long waiting times for assessments, as well as to access support such as speech and language therapy, has led to parents losing confidence in the system.

Support may include equipment or additional sessions.
ABO PHOTOGRAPHY/Shutterstock

Funding is allocated to each local authority from central government to fund provision in their areas. It is for local authorities, in consultation with their schools, to determine the individual allocation to schools. However, local authorities are struggling to meet the increased demand for EHCPs. Even when funding is allocated through EHCPs, it is not always sufficient to address the needs of those with complex needs.

And funding is not sufficient to meet demand. Local authorities have accumulated huge deficits due to spending exceeding funding, placing some at risk of going bankrupt.

Future plans

Bridget Phillipson has refused to be drawn on whether EHCPs will be axed. “What I can say very clearly,” she has said, “is that we will strengthen and put in place better support for children.”

Building more inclusive schools is obviously one way of achieving this vision. If scrapping EHCPs means less funding for children for special educational needs and disabilities, though, this cannot be the answer. Children need more support, not less, to enable them to thrive.

The solution is for the government to work out what models of inclusion work well in mainstream schools and to decide how these can be resourced and evaluated. Clarity is also needed on inclusion in mainstream schools can be measured in order to assess whether it is working.

Making more support in mainstream schools work also requires an adequate supply of knowledgeable, well-trained teachers. The government is prioritising this through revision to initial teacher education courses, with an emphasis on all teachers being teachers of special educational needs.

If the government doesn’t get this right, the result may be poorer educational and long-term outcomes for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities. It may also lead to issues with teacher recruitment and retention in mainstream schools, particularly if teachers feel that they do not have the level of support in place that they need to meet the needs of their pupils.

Jonathan Glazzard 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. What are education and health care plans and why are parents worried about them being scrapped? – https://theconversation.com/what-are-education-and-health-care-plans-and-why-are-parents-worried-about-them-being-scrapped-260622

MIL OSI –

July 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Submissions: The A to K of vitamins: what you need and where to get it

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Dan Baumgardt, Senior Lecturer, School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol

SpeedKingz/Shutterstock

The late, great comedian Barry Humphries (of Dame Edna fame) once spoke whimsically about the health benefits of kale. Just one fistful, he joked, contained enough essential vitamins, minerals and trace elements to keep you in a sedentary position in the bathroom for two whole days. Apparently, it wasn’t tasty enough to justify a second helping.

In a world where “superfoods” are relentlessly marketed for their supposed ability to deliver all the nutrients we need, it’s worth asking: which vitamins really are essential? And aside from kale (which I actually rather like), what foods help us meet our daily needs?

Vitamin A

Let’s start at the top. Vitamin A – also known as retinol – is found in foods like eggs, oily fish and dairy products. It plays a crucial role in keeping your skin and immune system healthy.

But it’s probably most famous for supporting vision. Vitamin A binds with light-sensitive pigments in the rod and cone cells of your retina, helping you to see, particularly in low light.

A deficiency in vitamin A, though uncommon in wealthy countries, can lead to serious vision problems and even blindness. Another source of vitamin A is beta-carotene, found in colourful fruits and vegetables like carrots, peppers, spinach and pumpkin. Your body converts beta-carotene into vitamin A, which is why we associate carrots with seeing in the dark.

Vitamin B

The B vitamins are a family of eight different nutrients, each with its own number and role.

B1 (thiamin) helps the nervous system and aids digestion. People with chronic alcoholism are especially at risk of deficiency, which can lead to Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, a serious neurological disorder that affects memory and movement.

B2 (riboflavin) and B3 (niacin) support similar functions, while B9 (folate) and B12 (cobalamin) are essential for red blood cell production. A lack of either can lead to anaemia.

Folate is especially important in early pregnancy, helping to prevent neural tube defects like spina bifida. That’s why it’s recommended for people who are pregnant or trying to conceive.

You’ll find B vitamins in everything from beans and legumes to meat, fish and dairy; a wide-ranging family of nutrients in a wide-ranging variety of foods.

Vitamin C

The go-to vitamin when we’re under the weather, whether from a virus or a hangover, vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is known as the “healing” vitamin for good reason. It promotes wound healing, supports tissue repair and helps maintain blood vessels and bones.

A deficiency in vitamin C causes scurvy – a condition once common among sailors – with symptoms like fatigue, bruising, depression and gum disease.

Fortunately, vitamin C is found in many different fruits and vegetables, especially citrus fruits. That’s why 19th-century British sailors were given limes to prevent scurvy, earning them the nickname “limeys”.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is essential for bones, teeth and muscles. It can be absorbed through diet, especially from oily fish, eggs and meat, but your body also makes it in the skin, thanks to sunlight.

In the summer, most people get enough vitamin D from being outside. But in the winter months, diet and, if needed, supplementation become more important.

Deficiency is more common, especially in areas with limited sun exposure. It can lead to soft, weakened bones and symptoms like bone pain, fractures and deformities – including the classic bow-legged appearance. In children, this condition is known as rickets; in adults, it’s called osteomalacia.

Vitamin E

Often overlooked, vitamin E helps protect cells, supports vision and bolsters the immune system. You’ll find it in nuts, seeds and plant oils and it’s usually easy to get enough through a varied diet.

Vitamin F (Sort of)

Not actually a vitamin, “vitamin F” is just a nickname for two omega fatty acids: alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) and linoleic acid (LA). These essential fats support brain function, reduce inflammation, and help maintain healthy skin and cell membranes. Since they’re technically not vitamins, we’ll let them quietly bow out.

Vitamin K

No, you didn’t miss vitamins G through J: they were renamed over the years. But vitamin K is real, and crucial for blood clotting.

Deficiencies are more common in children, and can lead to bruising and bleeding that’s hard to stop. Supplements are effective and given after birth.

Most adults get enough through foods like leafy greens and grains.

And the winner is…

All these vitamins are important – and all are found in a wide range of everyday foods. But which single food provides the widest variety?

Kale, oily fish and eggs come in strong at second, third and fourth. But number one is: liver.

Yes, liver. The stuff of childhood dread and overcooked school dinners. But it’s also rich in vitamins A, B, D and K. So rich in Vitamin A, in fact, that it’s advised to eat it only once a week to avoid vitamin A toxicity, and not at all if you’re pregnant. Sometimes, you just can’t win.

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

– ref. The A to K of vitamins: what you need and where to get it – https://theconversation.com/the-a-to-k-of-vitamins-what-you-need-and-where-to-get-it-261209

MIL OSI –

July 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Submissions: Sylvia Plath’s ‘fig tree analogy’ from The Bell Jar is being misappropriated

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Elisha Wise, English, University of Sheffield

In chapter seven of Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar (1963), protagonist Esther Greenwood imagines her life branching out before her like a green fig-tree. Each individual fig on the branches represents a different “wonderful future” – a family, a successful career, romance, travel, fame, etc.

High-achieving Esther has innumerable figs she can choose from, yet she envisages herself “starving to death” in the crook of the tree because she can’t make up her mind on which of the figs she should choose.

Her indecision stems from the knowledge that choosing one wonderful future means losing out on the other, equally appealing opportunities. She wants to experience all of them, but knows she cannot, and, in the end, spends so long deciding that every single fig rots and falls to the ground, dead.

By wanting to do everything, Esther misses her chance to do anything at all. This is a metaphor about wasted potential, fears of choosing the wrong pathway, and feeling rushed into making decisions before you truly know what you want. There is little wonder that it appeals to teenagers.

The “fig tree analogy”, as it is known online, is beloved by gen Z and has become a TikTok staple over the last three years. It was first discussed on the platform as part of the 2023 “Roman Empire” meme, with female users citing it as an example of something they constantly think about.

It then reached a new peak in early 2024 thanks to the “my fig tree” trend, in which users (again, predominantly young women) wrote future hopes and dreams onto a stock image of a fig branch in videos featuring accompanying audio of the passage being read aloud.

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This trend was, in essence, a way for people to share their dream jobs – with career pathways as varied as “surgeon” and “influencer” sometimes appearing on a single branch. But it also allowed young users to express their anxieties about planning for the future.

In one video, “I can’t help but wonder if I’m going to be truly happy in [my chosen career] forever” is written beside a beautifully illustrated fig tree. I remember feeling this way myself when I read The Bell Jar for the first time in the middle of university applications and big life choices.

When you are young, it can feel like you have only one choice and can never remake it, which is why Plath’s words spoke to me then and seem to be speaking to hundreds now.

But why exactly is this metaphor resonating so strongly with gen Z?

The girls who are participating in the “my fig tree” trend are not subject to the same binary choice of marriage or career that Esther faced. It is now possible to have loads of lovers and then a husband and family, and neither disqualifies you from also being a “brilliant professor” or “amazing editor” or anything else you wish to be.

In The Bell Jar, Plath treats these things as distinct because they would truly have felt that way in Esther’s time of enforced purity and nuclear families. She was, after all, writing pre-second-wave feminism.

So why, in our fourth-wave feminist world, do women still feel their options are so narrow? It could be because women workers are disproportionately at risk of being displaced by AI, or because other TikTok sensations like the “trad wife” are promoting to young women the very purity culture that Plath rallied against.

Perhaps, for this generation, it really seems urgent to grasp hold of one fig before all are lost.

However, as the “fig tree analogy” goes more and more viral, it is at risk of being removed from its original context. The signs of this are already visible on TikTok, as the passage has in the last month been used to soundtrack #romanticisinglife content and promote fig-themed homeware at a garden centre.

It was also referenced in a recent episode of reality dating show Love Island, where it was incorrectly named the “fig theory” and not attributed to Plath.

All of this suggests that the passage has now reached an audience of people who have not read The Bell Jar and see the analogy more as some generic life wisdom than a literary device. Indeed, TikTok videos by self-styled philosophers encouraging watchers to pick any or every fig off the tree instead of being paralysed by indecision like Esther are gaining traction.

While these may prove helpful to Zoomers unsure about their future pathway, I feel that the conversation around this metaphor is increasingly overlooking the fact that Esther is unable to choose a fig because she is depressed.

The real meaning of the fig tree analogy

The Bell Jar may be a novel about coming of age as a woman, but it’s also, at its core, the story of a woman having a breakdown. In the pages preceding the “fig tree analogy”, Esther calls herself “dreadfully inadequate” and claims that “I was only purely happy until I was nine years old”.

So, in the context of the novel, the metaphor can be read as a product of depressive thinking. It is not meant to be a universal truth.

Instead, it represents the subjective thoughts of a narrator who feels herself a failure, despite her plentiful opportunities, because she is mentally ill. Turning Plath’s prose into a theory or philosophy or meme minimises its darker aspects, particularly as the popular TikTok audio that accompanies “fig tree analogy” videos often cuts off before the figs fall, due to the app’s preference for short content.

Some users may well have participated in the “my fig tree” trend without even realising that the quotation ends with Esther losing everything.

Perhaps it should be concerning so many young people relate to a narrator who becomes so overwhelmed by her conflicting ambitions that she attempts to kill herself. I certainly wonder how Plath would feel about her words now being treated as emblematic of a collective female experience. If nothing else, I am sure she would be disappointed at how little has changed in 60 years.

This article features references to books that have been included for editorial reasons, and may contain links to bookshop.org. If you click on one of the links and go on to buy something from bookshop.org The Conversation UK may earn a commission.

Elisha Wise will receive funding from the White Rose College of Arts and Humanities (ARCH) from October 2025.

– ref. Sylvia Plath’s ‘fig tree analogy’ from The Bell Jar is being misappropriated – https://theconversation.com/sylvia-plaths-fig-tree-analogy-from-the-bell-jar-is-being-misappropriated-261597

MIL OSI –

July 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Features of admission to a fee-paying place at the HSE

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: State University “Higher School of Economics” –

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MIL OSI Russia News –

July 23, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: NSF Graduate Research Fellow helps turn ‘forever chemicals’ into valuable resource

Source: US Government research organizations

“Forever chemicals” are everywhere — from Teflon pans and dental floss to raincoats and microwave popcorn bags. Known as PFAS, these chemicals (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are noted for their resistance to heat, oil and water. That same staying power makes them a growing concern. PFAS have been linked to a range of serious health risks, including increased risk of certain cancers, fertility issues, immune system dysfunction and developmental problems. Because PFAS remain in water, soil and air for a long time (hence the name “forever chemicals”), removing them from the environment has become a public priority.

Earlier this year, a team of scientists from Rice University (including U.S. National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program alum Kevin Wyss) announced the development of a new method to break down PFAS that is not only extremely effective (removing 99.98% of the most common PFAS pollutant), but also creates the valuable manufacturing material graphene, one of the world’s strongest and lightest materials.

This pioneering method involves combining PFAS with granular activated carbon and salts, then heating it to over 3,000 degrees Celsius in under a second. The intense heat breaks the chemical bonds in PFAS, turning them into harmless fluoride salts. At the same time, the activated carbon in the mixture is turned into graphene, which is used in industries such as manufacturing, electronics and construction.

This new method of PFAS disposal holds both health and economic promise. This article from Rice University notes that it works on a wide range of PFAS compounds, even Teflon-R, the most difficult to remove. The heating process can also be altered to produce carbon nanotubes and nanodiamonds, increasing its economic potential.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Analysis: There is no known cure for ALS, but medical tourism exploits desperation for profit

Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Judy Illes, Professor, Neurology, University of British Columbia

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurological disorder of unknown cause, in which motor nerve cells of the brain and spinal cord that transmit signals to muscles progressively degenerate. This weakens limbs and affects speech, swallowing and ultimately the ability to breathe, resulting in death, typically within just a few years.

Each year in Canada, approximately two people per 100,000 are diagnosed with ALS, amounting to about 1,000 cases based on the current population. In British Columbia, where we are located, the rate is estimated at just over three per 100,000 or roughly 190 new cases per year.

This equates to approximately 4,000 Canadians — and 400 British Columbians — living with ALS at any given time.

Rigorous ALS research is underway locally, nationally and internationally to slow — and ideally reverse — the relentless progression of this disease. Significant advances in understanding the genetic and environmental drivers of ALS are providing genuine hope that motor neuron diseases will one day be defeated.

As experts in neurology and ethics, we are committed to delivering the best available health care and information throughout B.C. and across Canada. Trust in science and informed hope are essential to achieving the best possible outcomes and the longest possible trajectories in enjoying life when facing the overwhelming odds of ALS.

A disturbing case

In June, CBC’s The National reported on the case of Geoff Sando, a person living with ALS who pursued an unproven intervention for his condition. Sando travelled to Moose Jaw, Sask., to seek treatment at a clinic that claims to provide a cure for ALS.

CBC’s The National reports on a Saskatchewan clinic claiming to offer ALS treatments.

The ALS Society of Saskatchewan and the provincial New Democrat Party allege the clinic attended by Sando and several other patients is a form of medical tourism — travelling elsewhere to seek treatment — that can prey on the most vulnerable in society: those whose quality of life is deteriorating, and whose futures are tragically cut short.

Medical tourism for a wide variety of other health-related conditions is not new. For example, treatments for cancer, strokes and orthopedic conditions have been available abroad for decades.

In the United States and Mexico, unfounded stem cell interventions for ALS have been advertised for years. But until recently, it had been unusual to find such offerings in Canada. Their emergence speaks to the need for Health Canada to revisit its guidance on both regulated health and unregulated wellness products, including all forms of treatments, medications and device-based approaches.

Read more:
Giving patients the ‘right to try’ experimental drugs is a political maneuver, not a lifesaver

We understand the urgency and desire to pursue any thread of hope in the face of desperation, but claims of dramatic improvement or cures from ALS by unregulated clinics that seem too good to be true are likely just that.

Before investing in alternative treatments, we recommend that patients conduct their due diligence by consulting with their health-care team and their provincial ALS society for guidance. Ineffective interventions can jeopardize not only recipients, but also caregivers, especially when financial resources are drained.

Trusted sources

Developing approved therapies for ALS has been painfully slow, as evidenced by the failure of more than 95 per cent of ALS clinical trials in the past 28 years. Only three drugs — riluzole, edaravone and tofersen — have been approved by Health Canada and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Although riluzole and edaravone are only modestly effective, they remain the only widely approved pharmacological options for all forms of ALS. Tofersen is the first gene therapy recently approved to treat hereditary ALS caused by SOD1 gene abnormalities. Other treatments are being evaluated worldwide.

This marks only the beginning of such treatment approaches to not only hereditary ALS but also non-hereditary ALS, which makes up about 90 per cent of all cases.

Read more:
A promising new study could lead to a reduction in symptoms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

For those affected by ALS and their families, ample resources are provided by various organizations, including ALS Canada and related provincial organizations, including the ALS Society of BC.

Future hope

Canadians generally trust science and scientists more than citizens of other countries and, on the whole, value science and believe in our government’s support for the work that scientists do.

But in this time of geopolitical upheaval, vast incursions of disinformation and reversals of prior evidence-based human and health rights abroad means keeping up this level of trust — trust that leads to hope — will only become more challenging.

The disproportionate suffering and impact on people who are marginalized by serious health conditions will only grow if dubious treatment offerings become normalized in Canada.

Erik P Pioro consults for MT Pharma, which manufactures edaravone (Radicava) and for Biogen, which manufactures tofersen (Qalsody). He has received funding support for ALS research from the ALS Association and the National Institutes of Health.

Judy Illes 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. There is no known cure for ALS, but medical tourism exploits desperation for profit – https://theconversation.com/there-is-no-known-cure-for-als-but-medical-tourism-exploits-desperation-for-profit-261057

MIL OSI Analysis –

July 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Breaking: US announces withdrawal from UNESCO again

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

WASHINGTON, July 22 (Xinhua) — The United States on Tuesday announced its decision to withdraw from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), two years after rejoining it.

According to a statement from the US State Department, the decision was made in connection with UNESCO’s policy, which Washington believes “promotes divisive social and cultural initiatives” against the backdrop of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. –0–

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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MIL OSI Russia News –

July 23, 2025
MIL-OSI: AutoScheduler Receives Investment from Ben Gordon, Founder of Cambridge Capital LLC

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

AUSTIN, Texas, July 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AutoScheduler.AI, a leader in Agentic AI Warehouse Orchestration, announces receiving a strategic investment from Benjamin Gordon, a leading investor in logistics and supply chain technology companies. This investment marks a significant milestone in AutoScheduler’s continued growth and commitment to transforming warehouse orchestration through Agentic AI.

“Ben Gordon brings unmatched expertise in logistics technology and a proven track record of scaling high-growth supply chain innovators,” says Keith Moore, CEO of AutoScheduler.AI. “Ben understands that we’re entering a new era in warehousing, where Agentic AI enables proactive, intelligent decision-making across operations, driving speed, agility, and performance. This strategic partnership will help us accelerate our roadmap, enhance customer outcomes, and bring Agentic AI warehouse orchestration to even more enterprises.”

“In a world where disruptions are the norm, companies need intelligent, responsive systems that can orchestrate warehouse operations in real time and AutoScheduler delivers exactly that and more,” says Benjamin Gordon. “We are impressed with the team, technology, and leadership at the company and look forward to supporting their continued growth.”

Benjamin Gordon is Managing Partner of Cambridge Capital, an investor in niche supply chain leaders. He is also Managing Partner of BGSA Holdings LLC (BGSA), an investment banking firm focused on the supply chain industry. Prior to founding BGSA, Ben founded 3PLex and led strategy projects in transportation and technology at Mercer Management consulting. Ben received a Masters in Business Administration from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale College.

AutoScheduler continues to partner with global brands seeking to modernize warehouse operations and boost efficiencies and productivity within the warehouse environment. The investment will support AutoScheduler’s continued expansion, including enhancements to its product suite, growth of its leadership and engineering teams, and increased go-to-market efforts. Previous investments & follow on investments were also made by core AutoScheduler partners Noro-Moseley Partners and Blue Impact LLC.

About AutoScheduler.AI
AutoScheduler.AI empowers your supply chain with its Agentic AI-based warehouse orchestration platform that integrates with your existing WMS/LMS/YMS or any other solution to drive value across the supply chain by improving throughput, cutting labor costs, and ensuring customer service goals are met. AutoScheduler automates critical tasks for the warehouse like labor scheduling, task sequencing, and dock management, ensuring everything runs smoothly and efficiently. Our Agentic AI-based platform makes better decisions to create an adaptive, living supply chain. For more information, visit: http://www.AutoScheduler.AI.

About Cambridge Capital
Cambridge Capital is a leading investment firm focused on the supply chain sector. Based in West Palm Beach, FL, the firm invests in high-growth companies in logistics, transportation, and supply chain technology. Learn more at www.cambridgecapital.com.

Contact:
Becky Boyd
MediaFirst PR
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Cell: (404) 421-8497

The MIL Network –

July 23, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Government publishes plan to address presence of chemicals from pet flea and tick treatments in UK waterways
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Press release

Government publishes plan to address presence of chemicals from pet flea and tick treatments in UK waterways

New plans to address the presence of chemicals from flea and tick treatments in rivers and streams across the UK have been unveiled today
New plans to address the presence of chemicals from flea and tick treatments in rivers and streams across the UK have been unveiled today (Tuesday 22 July).

The initiative by the Cross-Government Pharmaceuticals in the Environment (PiE) Group focuses primarily on two chemicals – fipronil and imidacloprid – commonly used in topical parasite treatments for pets. These medicines play an essential role in protecting both animal and human health against fleas and ticks, however there are growing concerns around the amount of fipronil and imidacloprid finding its way into UK rivers and lakes .

The new roadmap outlines key actions to reduce levels of flea and tick treatments in the environment while protecting animal welfare – which includes commissioning research to better understand this issue and using this evidence to support an international review of environmental risk assessment guidelines . The three key stages of the roadmap are:

Communication and Education (Short Term):
The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) will collaborate with veterinary professionals and industry stakeholders to improve pet owner awareness about the appropriate use and disposal of flea and tick treatments.

Evidence Gathering (Medium Term):
The group will build a comprehensive understanding of the environmental impacts of these chemicals, alongside evaluating potential consequences of changing use patterns on animal and human health. The VMD has commissioned scientific research investigating how these substances enter rivers and streams and is working closely with the Environment Agency to assess the environmental risks they pose.

Regulatory Actions (Long Term):
Based on the evidence collected, the PiE Group will support a review of international environmental risk assessment guidelines and consider future regulatory approaches to mitigate environmental risks.

Defra Biosecurity Minister, Baroness Hayman said:

This Government is absolutely committed to restoring nature and reducing harms posed by chemicals in the environment.

Our new Roadmap will develop a better understanding of the impact of flea and tick treatments on the environment, while recognising these treatments play a vital role in pet and human health.

Abigail Seager, Chief Executive Officer of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD), said:

This roadmap represents an important step forward in ensuring that the benefits of effective parasite control are maintained while taking necessary actions to reduce environmental risks.

It reflects our commitment to an evidence-based approach, working closely with partners across government to protect both animal health and the environment.

Kelly Short, Environment Agency Chemicals Manager said:

The launch of this roadmap is an important step in tackling the presence of harmful chemicals like fipronil and imidacloprid in our rivers and streams.

By improving public awareness, building the evidence base, and working together to assess environmental risks, we can take meaningful action to protect our water environment and the wildlife that depends on it.

The PiE Group brings together key government bodies, including the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD), Environment Agency (EA), Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), and representatives from devolved administrations in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

This collaborative initiative aims to develop a coordinated strategy to reduce the environmental impact of pharmaceuticals from human, veterinary, agricultural, and non-agricultural sources.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

The full roadmap is available at: Cross-government Pharmaceuticals in the Environment Group Roadmap – GOV.UK

All flea and tick treatments authorised in the UK have undergone an environmental risk assessment (ERA). This is a requirement for all veterinary pharmaceuticals authorised by the VMD. Currently, for pharmaceuticals for companion animals, the ERA is limited to an exposure assessment, known as a Phase I assessment. This is based on VICH (International Cooperation on Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Registration of Veterinary Medicinal Products) guidelines. Due to environmental concerns, the VMD are supporting a call for a review of the process for assessing environmental risk from parasiticides for companion animals at an international level and are gathering evidence to inform future policy decisions.

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Published 22 July 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
July 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Financing Agreements to Strengthen Education in Mauritania and Chad

Source: APO

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The Governments of Mauritania and Chad today signed funding agreements for the Regional Engagement for Learning and Collaboration in Education (RELANCE) Project, supported by the World Bank and the Federal Republic of Germany, for a total of $137 million.

This ambitious project aims to transform education systems in both countries by strengthening sector governance and expanding access to flexible and inclusive learning pathways. It targets more than 850,000 young people, half of whom are girls, while promoting access to learners with special needs.

In a regional context of sustained demographic growth, disparities in access to education, and increasing demand for job-relevant skills, RELANCE offers a collaborative and integrated approach. It builds on ongoing efforts to strengthen education systems while introducing regional mechanisms for coordination, resource sharing, and innovation.

The project includes the establishment of a Regional Institute of Education in Nouakchott to strengthen executive capacity in the education sector, drive applied research, and inform policy through data and evidence. Supported by the Association of African Universities, the institute is positioned to become a center of academic excellence for both countries, fostering structured, long-term collaboration and knowledge exchange.

“The signing of the financing agreements for the RELANCE Sahel project reflects our collective commitment to building a resilient, educated, and forward-looking Sahel,” said Sid’Ahmed Bouh, Minister of Economy and Finance.

The initiative includes the creation of a regional Open School in each country, designed to meet the needs of young people outside the traditional education circuits, especially in areas where access to education remains limited. This hybrid system will combine digital learning, face-to-face support and professional training.

“The Regional Open School is a concrete response to the educational realities of our country. It will allow thousands of young people, often far from traditional structures, to have access to adapted learning paths that bring skills and hope,” said Dr. Aboubakar Assidick Tchoroma, Minister of National Education and Civic Promotion of Chad.

The project also benefits from significant financial support from the Federal Republic of Germany, through KfW, under the Sahel and West Africa Coast Multi-Donor Trust Fund. This partnership reflects a shared commitment to enhanced regional cooperation.

“RELANCE reflects an ambitious and pragmatic regional approach. By supporting this initiative, Germany reaffirms its willingness to support Sahel countries in their efforts to build more inclusive education systems that are better grounded in local realities,” said H.E. Dr. Florian Reindel, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Mauritania.

The World Bank is supporting participating countries through a strategic partnership that combines technical support with long-term financing. RELANCE builds on the achievements of existing national projects, such as the Basic Education Sector Support Project (PASEB II) in Mauritania and the Project to Improve Learning Outcomes in Basic Education (PARAEB) in Chad, while introducing a unique regional dimension.

“Shaping minds is about charting the path to a brighter future. Like a carefully planted seed, an ambitious education policy carries the promise of progress. The RELANCE project thus reflects our shared commitment to making education a transformative force in Mauritania and Chad, by training informed, empowered generations ready to take on the challenges of tomorrow,” said Ousmane Diagana, World Bank Vice President for Western and Central Africa.

Designed as an open regional platform, the project will be open to other Sahel countries interested in joining. It marks an important step towards building a more integrated Sahelian educational space capable of meeting the aspirations of a dynamic and committed youth.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The World Bank Group.

MIL OSI Africa –

July 23, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Two more Plymouth schools to make Safer School Streets permanent
Source: City of Plymouth

Two more Plymouth schools will be making their ‘Safer School Streets’ schemes permanent after the summer holiday, following successful 18-month trials.

The schemes see roads closed to school-run and through traffic during morning and afternoon drop-off and pick-up times, improving safety for everyone, making it easier for families to walk, cycle or scoot to school and creating a healthier street environment with cleaner air.

Stuart Road Primary Academy was the first to run an extended trial of the restrictions before making them permanent last year. It will now be joined by Compton CofE Primary and St Paul’s RC Primary, where the measures have made a significant change to the way families travel to school.

At Compton, surveys and counts carried out by Sustrans and the Council’s road safety team showed the number of children being driven to school fell by 34 per cent after the scheme was put in place and there was a 60 per cent increase in children using the Pearn Road crossing. St Paul’s reported a “huge drop in parked vehicles in Barne Lane”.

Councillor John Stephens, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Transport, said: “It’s great to see another two schools making their Safer School Streets schemes permanent. This shows how effective the measures can be in tackling inconsiderate and dangerous parking and making school journeys safer. They also help to reduce congestion and improve air quality around the school gates, as well as encourage active travel.

“We work hard to encourage families to leave the car at home where possible and promote active travel (including schemes such as walk and stride and walking buses). Making sure local roads and footways are safe and accessible is a huge part of this.

Every weekday during term time, roads outside each school are closed with temporary barriers during their morning and afternoon school run times.
- St Paul’s (Barne Lane): 8.15am to 9am and 2.30pm to 3.30pm
- Compton (Pearn Road and Pearn Gardens): 8.15am to 9.15am and 2.45pm to 3.45pm
There will be no changes to these timings.

Families are encouraged to walk, cycle or scoot to school or, if they need to drive to work, to ‘park and stride’ – where they park a five or 10 minute walk from the school and go the rest of the way by foot.

Access is maintained for local residents and businesses, parents and children with disabilities, the emergency services, deliveries and other service vehicles.

The measures have been trialled for 18 months under an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order. The permanent Traffic Regulation Order has been advertised in the local press and on street and the school community and local residents are being made aware.

The decision to make the scheme permanent was signed on 25 June and can be viewed on our decisions page.

For more information visit our Safer School Streets page or the School Streets website.
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
July 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/SOUTH KOREA – Like a hidden treasure. Korean Catholics treasure the memory of their martyrs

Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

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by Pascale RizkSeoul (Fides Agency) – “If we follow the example of the martyrs and believe in the word of the Lord, then we will understand the sublime freedom and joy with which they went to their death.” These were the words of Pope Francis to the Korean people during the Mass for the beatification of Paul Yun Ji-Chung and his 123 fellow martyrs, celebrated on Saturday, August 16, 2014, at Gwanghwamun Gate in Seoul, during his apostolic journey to South Korea.In a Korea that hardly resembles that of three centuries ago, the joy and freedom of the martyrs of the past continue to attract many Koreans and lead them to encounter Christ.It is the places, the descendants, and even the soil that today hold “like a treasure” the memory of those who, with simple courage and the gift of self, left everything behind so as not to be “separated from the love of Christ” (Rom 8:35).This July, the Catholic Church in Korea pauses to commemorate the centenary of the beatification of its first 79 martyrs, canonized in 1984.Pilgrimages in the footsteps of martyrsIn recent years, the emotion felt by many Koreans who visit the sites of their martyrdom seems to be growing and becoming increasingly intense.In 2011, bishops and priests responsible for places of martyrdom in various dioceses created an ideal itinerary entitled “Shrines of Catholicism in Korea,” an initiative that has become a valuable guide for pilgrims. It collects and lists 167 references to shrines dear to the memories of the Church, 69 of which are places of martyrdom. The guidebook includes a prayer to begin the pilgrimage and another to conclude it. In its revised edition published in 2019, the guide distinguishes between shrines, places of martyrdom, and places of pilgrimage.The most well-known and popular places are the itineraries proposed by the Archdiocese of Seoul as pilgrimage routes, which were also approved by the Holy See on September 14, 2018. Three itineraries, presented as the ‘ Good News Road’, ‘the Eternal Life Road’ and ‘the Unity Road’, offer visitors the chance to walk through the streets of the capital, visiting the most important monuments in the history of the Catholic Church on the peninsula, such as Gwanghuimun Gate, where the bodies of martyred Catholics were carried, hence its nickname ‘Gate of the Dead’. Other significant sites include the Jeoldusan Shrine, a rocky promontory where thousands of baptized Christians were martyred, and the Gahoe-dong Church, where the first Mass was celebrated in 1795. At other points identified along the route, such as the site of the house of John the Baptist Yi Byeok, who welcomed the first Korean Christians, only commemorative plaques remain, after centuries of destruction and reconstruction have radically altered the urban landscape.The descendants honor their ancestorsIn September, the Catholic Church in Korea commemorates its 103 saints and 124 blessed. The former were canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1984, while the latter were proclaimed blessed by Pope Francis in 2014. The relics presented to public worship a few days ago, on July 2, in Seoul, belong to four Korean saints. The relics belong to three French missionaries of the Societé des Missions Etrangères de Paris (Bishop Laurent Imbert, Priests Pierre Maubant and Jacques Chastan), together with the first Korean priest, Andrea Kim Tae-gon. The Korean Bishops’ Conference received these relics on February 19, previously kept by the Sisters of St. Benedict of Olivetano in Korea. In particular, they are a fragment of Andrew Kim’s foot bone and hair from the others. Kim was martyred at the age of 25 on September 16, 1846, while the French missionaries were beheaded on September 21, 1839, in Saenamteo, on the north bank of the Han River, in the Yongsan-gu district of Seoul. The ceremony was part of a series of commemorative events for the centenary of the holy month of the beatification of the 79 martyrs.New faces of martyrdomCurrently, the Catholic Church in Korea is pursuing the beatification process for two other groups of baptized Christians who were killed during the persecutions. The first is that of the Servant of God John Baptist Yi Byeok and his 132 lay companions killed during the Joseon dynasty between 1785 and 1879. Yi Byeok played a key role in the first Korean Christian community and his companions included Francis Xavier Kwon Il-shin and Ambrose Kwon Cheol-shin.The second group is that of Bishop Francis Borgia Hong Yeong-ho and his 80 companions who lived in modern times, some of whom died in the 1901 massacre in Jeju and others killed after the division of Korea, including 20 priests and 3 foreign missionary nuns. Among them are Sister Marie Mechtilde of the Blessed Sacrament and Sister Teresa of the Child Jesus of the Carmelite monastery in Seoul who, together with three other foreign sisters, founded the small convent in Hyehwa-dong, desired by Bishop Won Larriveau in 1940. All of them had the opportunity to flee abroad, but decided to remain with the Korean nuns: two of them were kidnapped and tortured. Eventually, during the infamous “death march” from Pyongyang to Chunggangjin on the Amnok River, they were martyred and buried in North Korea. The other three were repatriated to their country of origin, France, thanks to a prisoner exchange.The Maryknoll missionary Patrick Byrne, the first bishop of Pyongyang, who was originally from the United States, also chose to remain in Korea during the war. Refusing to denounce the United States, the United Nations, and the Vatican, he was sentenced to death by the North Koreans but managed to survive, albeit after suffering brutal treatment. He later joined other prisoners on a forced march led by a ruthless commander known as “the Tiger.” Despite his suffering and exhaustion, Byrne assisted dying soldiers, praying and giving blessings along the way. On the third day of the march, while giving general absolution to the soldiers kneeling with him in the snow-covered mountains, he fell seriously ill and died in a freezing North Korean hospital with no medicine, known to the prisoners as “the morgue.”The investigation for the beatification process was completed in June 2022 in Korea, and the relevant material was sent to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.The hidden shrine of HantiDuring the Joseon dynasty, Catholics fled to the south of the country and sought refuge in the mountains. They tried to stay close to or at least in secret contact with their families who had been imprisoned and arrested in various places. Thus, the first Christian families arrived at the mountain called Hanti, located 600 meters above sea level, northwest of Palgongsan and north of the city of Daegu, in the province of Gyeongsang. After the persecutions of Eulhae (1815), Jeonghae (1827), and Gihae (1839), and during a period of easing tensions in the middle of the century, the presence of Catholics in the country had become significant. This is also attested to by the letter sent in 1862 to François-Antoine Albrand, Superior General of the Paris Foreign Missions Society, by Siméon-François Berneux, Vicar Apostolic of Korea (1854-1866), which reads: “I went to a very isolated village on the side of a large mountain, and about 40 Christians received Holy Communion.”With the Byeongin persecution (1866), which followed the Gyeongsin persecution (1860), the tribulations of Korean Catholics reached their peak of violence, becoming extermination: nearly 8,000 out of 10,000 were killed. Then came the Mujin persecution (1868), which struck the inhabitants of Hanti, martyred on the spot for apostasy.The first pilgrimages to the site began a hundred years later, and in 1988 six martyrs’ graves were exhumed and transferred. Present at the site, Joo-gang Thomas Aquinas, professor of anatomy at the National University of Kyeongpook’s medical school, recounts in an article in a Catholic newspaper: “The body in front of me was decapitated. The neck was bent at the waist and the lower part of the body was lying on the ground. I carefully examined the cervical vertebrae. There were no fractures and the number matched; it seemed that only the flesh had been cut with a sharp knife. Tears streamed from my eyes.“ Today, 37 tombs of the “countless unknown martyrs” rest on Hanti Hill in the metropolitan archdiocese of Daegu.The soil soaked with the blood of martyrsThere were just as many nameless martyrs in the diocese of Daejeon, 157 kilometers from Daegu. “In 2014, Father Peter Kim Dongyum oversaw the transfer of the graves of the nameless Korean martyrs, who belonged to the lowest social class and were killed in the 19th century in Deoksan, Haemi, and Hongju, cities located in the diocese. This intervention was necessary because rising water levels threatened the integrity of the graves,“ says Father Agostino Han, head of the office at the Dicastery for Evangelization. ”The graves were transferred to a plot of land adjacent to the Silli Shrine. In Silli, Saint Marie-Nicolas-Antoine Daveluy, M.E.P., fifth bishop of the Korean peninsula, secretly carried out his pastoral ministry for 21 years. During the transfer, Peter Kim felt compelled to preserve some of the soil around the graves, believing that it might contain relics of the Martyrs, who had been buried without proper funeral rites due to the harsh persecutions of the time. For this reason, he reserved a portion of that soil for the creation of ceramic crucifixes and rosary beads, incorporating the soil taken from the tombs of the Martyrs. It can therefore be assumed that these rosary beads contain soil imbued with the blood and bone fragments of those Martyrs who offered their lives in witness to their faith. It is a way of honoring them, their faith, and their memory.”(Fides Agency 22/7/25)Share:

MIL OSI Europe News –

July 23, 2025
MIL-OSI: MiddleGround Capital Announces Seven Promotions Across Multiple Offices
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

LEXINGTON, Ky., July 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MiddleGround Capital (“MiddleGround”), an operationally focused private equity firm that makes control investments in North American and European headquartered middle-market B2B industrial and specialty distribution companies, today announced that it has promoted seven of its professionals to more senior positions within the firm. The individuals serve in a range of roles across the organization, including investment, business development, operations, and accounting.
- Shelby Hundley has been promoted to Managing Director, Chief of Staff. Based in the firm’s Lexington, KY headquarters, Shelby acts as a strategic and operational cornerstone, partnering with the Managing Partner to translate the firm’s vision into actionable goals while driving optimization and efficiency. Shelby joined MiddleGround in 2021 following her time at General Electric, where she led long-term synergies, organizational growth, and both employee and union relations for Oil & Gas and Steam Power segments. Shelby holds a master’s degree in human resource management from the University of Central Florida as well as a master’s degree in safety, security, and emergency management from Eastern Kentucky University.
- Erica Richardson has been named Vice President. Based in MiddleGround’s headquarters in Lexington, KY, Erica works on the transaction team. She joined the firm in 2022, bringing experience from Wells Fargo, where she was an Investment Banking Analyst, and from Harbor View Advisors, where she was an Associate. Erica holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
- Zachary Spencer has been named Vice President. Working out of MiddleGround’s New York office, Zachary is a member of the investment team focusing on due diligence and underwriting activities. He joined MiddleGround in 2021 after working at Wells Fargo in the Industrials group, where he concentrated on building product manufacturers. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Auburn University.
- Taylor Hall has been named Vice President. Working from MiddleGround’s headquarters in Lexington, KY, Taylor collaborates with management teams across the portfolio to drive value creation through operational initiatives. Prior to joining MiddleGround in 2021, he held roles at GE Appliances within its financial development program. He holds a master’s in business administration from Indiana University.
- Graham Sparks has been promoted to Senior Associate. Based in MiddleGround’s New York office, he works on deal origination as part of the firm’s Business Development team. Before joining MiddleGround in 2022, Graham worked at JP Morgan where he was a Private Banking Analyst. Graham holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and administration from the University of Kentucky.
- Sebastian Ruff has been elevated to Senior Associate in MiddleGround’s EU location in Amsterdam. In this role, Sebastian provides the deal team with support in evaluating and executing transactions, specifically analyzing portfolio company performance and business initiatives. He was an Associate at global investment bank Harris Williams prior to coming to MiddleGround in 2023. Sebastian holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt and a master’s degree in management from the University of Mannheim.
- Tyler Sebastian has been named Senior Accountant. Working from MiddleGround’s headquarters in Lexington, KY, he participates in various accounting activities for the firm, including accounts payable and prepaids, along with other financial reporting tasks. Tyler holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and a master’s degree in accounting and data from Northern Kentucky University, and first joined the firm in 2022.
“These promotions reflect the depth of talent across our firm and the meaningful contributions each individual has made in their respective areas,” said John Stewart, Founding and Managing Partner of MiddleGround. “We’re proud to recognize their hard work spanning various business units and offices – from investment and business development to accounting and operations – and are excited to support their continued growth as we scale to meet the evolving needs of our investors and portfolio companies.”

About MiddleGround Capital
MiddleGround Capital is a private equity firm based in Lexington, Kentucky with over $4.1 billion of assets under management. MiddleGround makes control equity investments in middle market B2B industrial and specialty distribution businesses. MiddleGround works with its portfolio companies to create value through a hands-on operational approach and partners with its management teams to support long-term growth strategies. For more information, please visit: https://middleground.com/.

MiddleGround Capital Media Contacts
Doug Allen/Maya Hanowitz
Dukas Linden Public Relations
MiddleGround@dlpr.com
+1 (646) 722-6530

The MIL Network –
July 23, 2025
MIL-OSI: MiddleGround Capital Announces Seven Promotions Across Multiple Offices
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

LEXINGTON, Ky., July 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MiddleGround Capital (“MiddleGround”), an operationally focused private equity firm that makes control investments in North American and European headquartered middle-market B2B industrial and specialty distribution companies, today announced that it has promoted seven of its professionals to more senior positions within the firm. The individuals serve in a range of roles across the organization, including investment, business development, operations, and accounting.
- Shelby Hundley has been promoted to Managing Director, Chief of Staff. Based in the firm’s Lexington, KY headquarters, Shelby acts as a strategic and operational cornerstone, partnering with the Managing Partner to translate the firm’s vision into actionable goals while driving optimization and efficiency. Shelby joined MiddleGround in 2021 following her time at General Electric, where she led long-term synergies, organizational growth, and both employee and union relations for Oil & Gas and Steam Power segments. Shelby holds a master’s degree in human resource management from the University of Central Florida as well as a master’s degree in safety, security, and emergency management from Eastern Kentucky University.
- Erica Richardson has been named Vice President. Based in MiddleGround’s headquarters in Lexington, KY, Erica works on the transaction team. She joined the firm in 2022, bringing experience from Wells Fargo, where she was an Investment Banking Analyst, and from Harbor View Advisors, where she was an Associate. Erica holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
- Zachary Spencer has been named Vice President. Working out of MiddleGround’s New York office, Zachary is a member of the investment team focusing on due diligence and underwriting activities. He joined MiddleGround in 2021 after working at Wells Fargo in the Industrials group, where he concentrated on building product manufacturers. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Auburn University.
- Taylor Hall has been named Vice President. Working from MiddleGround’s headquarters in Lexington, KY, Taylor collaborates with management teams across the portfolio to drive value creation through operational initiatives. Prior to joining MiddleGround in 2021, he held roles at GE Appliances within its financial development program. He holds a master’s in business administration from Indiana University.
- Graham Sparks has been promoted to Senior Associate. Based in MiddleGround’s New York office, he works on deal origination as part of the firm’s Business Development team. Before joining MiddleGround in 2022, Graham worked at JP Morgan where he was a Private Banking Analyst. Graham holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and administration from the University of Kentucky.
- Sebastian Ruff has been elevated to Senior Associate in MiddleGround’s EU location in Amsterdam. In this role, Sebastian provides the deal team with support in evaluating and executing transactions, specifically analyzing portfolio company performance and business initiatives. He was an Associate at global investment bank Harris Williams prior to coming to MiddleGround in 2023. Sebastian holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt and a master’s degree in management from the University of Mannheim.
- Tyler Sebastian has been named Senior Accountant. Working from MiddleGround’s headquarters in Lexington, KY, he participates in various accounting activities for the firm, including accounts payable and prepaids, along with other financial reporting tasks. Tyler holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and a master’s degree in accounting and data from Northern Kentucky University, and first joined the firm in 2022.
“These promotions reflect the depth of talent across our firm and the meaningful contributions each individual has made in their respective areas,” said John Stewart, Founding and Managing Partner of MiddleGround. “We’re proud to recognize their hard work spanning various business units and offices – from investment and business development to accounting and operations – and are excited to support their continued growth as we scale to meet the evolving needs of our investors and portfolio companies.”

About MiddleGround Capital
MiddleGround Capital is a private equity firm based in Lexington, Kentucky with over $4.1 billion of assets under management. MiddleGround makes control equity investments in middle market B2B industrial and specialty distribution businesses. MiddleGround works with its portfolio companies to create value through a hands-on operational approach and partners with its management teams to support long-term growth strategies. For more information, please visit: https://middleground.com/.

MiddleGround Capital Media Contacts
Doug Allen/Maya Hanowitz
Dukas Linden Public Relations
MiddleGround@dlpr.com
+1 (646) 722-6530

The MIL Network –
July 23, 2025
MIL-OSI: The University of Ottawa Students’ Union Partners with Bounce to Build a More Inclusive and Connected Campus for 2025-2026
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

OTTAWA, Ontario, July 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The University of Ottawa Students’ Union (UOSU) is ushering in a bold new chapter for student life on campus. With a new partnership with Bounce for the 2025-2026 academic year, the UOSU executive team is delivering on its promise to create a more inclusive and connected campus experience.

A Leadership Team Raising the Bar

Strengthening student life on campus at the University of Ottawa is the cornerstone of the mandate of new UOSU President Jack Coen. This includes every aspect of student life, from better engagement and visibility to a safer campus for students.

“Our executive team came into this year with a clear mission: make student life more accessible and more visible for everyone,” said Coen. “We know how hard our campus leaders and clubs work to build community, and it’s our job to give them the tools and platform to shine.”

For many students, one of the biggest barriers to engagement is visibility. Without a centralized platform to showcase their efforts, clubs that work tirelessly to build community often go unnoticed. This year’s UOSU executive team is bringing a new light to this old problem.

“We knew we had to tackle this challenge in an innovative way,” said Emilia Bah, interim Student Life Commissioner. “There’s so much happening at uOttawa, but it’s often hard for students to find and navigate. When we saw what Bounce could offer, a single place where everything comes together, it became an easy decision.”

With Bounce, the UOSU will join the top unions in the country who are bringing the entire campus experience under one umbrella in an intuitive, centralized platform.

For student organizations, this means:
- Streamlined tools to manage members, recruitment, and communication.
- Smarter ways to promote events and attract students who align with their mission.
- Easier coordination of RSVPs, ticketing, and processing payments all in one platform.
For students themselves, it means:
- Finding and joining clubs that align with their interests.
- Easily discovering new campus activities to try.
- Staying up to date on what’s happening on their campus.
“If Bounce had existed in my first year, I would have felt way less overwhelmed. There were so many events and clubs happening, but it was hard to know what was actually going on or, when, or where.” said Mari Laviola, a uOttawa undergraduate student, “Now, everything’s going to be in one place, like a living map of campus life. I’m excited because it’s going to change how students meet friends, discover what we are into, and actually become a part of the community much earlier and more easily”.

Safety, Transparency, and Inclusivity

The union’s commitment to student well-being also guided this partnership. Bounce includes real-time event safety scoring, anonymous reporting features, and communication tools that prioritize transparency and responsiveness. These features align directly with Coen’s pledge to strengthen campus safety.

Bounce’s track record at peer student unions, like its role in helping St. Francis Xavier reach the 99th percentile for event safety, offers a strong foundation for what can be achieved by Coen’s team at uOttawa.

Built for a Better Tomorrow

As the UOSU navigates an exciting year of transition and renewed purpose, this partnership positions them at the forefront of innovation in student engagement. The whole executive team is united in their goal to build a campus where no student feels left out, and where participation is seamless, safe, and celebrated.

“This isn’t just about new technology or another tool,” said Coen. “This is about finally solving a problem that students have been facing for years of not knowing where to go or how to get involved. We’re proud to be joining the ranks of the great student unions across the country who are choosing a better, more connected path forward.”

In addition to student life tools, Bounce also offers centralized, easy-to-use workflows for event approvals, club budget requests, and student elections management. These governance tools are available to any student union looking to save time and money by simplifying their internal processes.

The UOSU joins a rapidly growing list of top student unions in Canada who are transforming student engagement with Bounce.

Ready to join the movement and bring your student union to the forefront? Let’s talk.

https://www.bouncelife.com/admin

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/315832e8-5ea5-40d2-b70f-54cad8b15efc

The MIL Network –
July 23, 2025
MIL-OSI: The University of Ottawa Students’ Union Partners with Bounce to Build a More Inclusive and Connected Campus for 2025-2026
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

OTTAWA, Ontario, July 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The University of Ottawa Students’ Union (UOSU) is ushering in a bold new chapter for student life on campus. With a new partnership with Bounce for the 2025-2026 academic year, the UOSU executive team is delivering on its promise to create a more inclusive and connected campus experience.

A Leadership Team Raising the Bar

Strengthening student life on campus at the University of Ottawa is the cornerstone of the mandate of new UOSU President Jack Coen. This includes every aspect of student life, from better engagement and visibility to a safer campus for students.

“Our executive team came into this year with a clear mission: make student life more accessible and more visible for everyone,” said Coen. “We know how hard our campus leaders and clubs work to build community, and it’s our job to give them the tools and platform to shine.”

For many students, one of the biggest barriers to engagement is visibility. Without a centralized platform to showcase their efforts, clubs that work tirelessly to build community often go unnoticed. This year’s UOSU executive team is bringing a new light to this old problem.

“We knew we had to tackle this challenge in an innovative way,” said Emilia Bah, interim Student Life Commissioner. “There’s so much happening at uOttawa, but it’s often hard for students to find and navigate. When we saw what Bounce could offer, a single place where everything comes together, it became an easy decision.”

With Bounce, the UOSU will join the top unions in the country who are bringing the entire campus experience under one umbrella in an intuitive, centralized platform.

For student organizations, this means:
- Streamlined tools to manage members, recruitment, and communication.
- Smarter ways to promote events and attract students who align with their mission.
- Easier coordination of RSVPs, ticketing, and processing payments all in one platform.
For students themselves, it means:
- Finding and joining clubs that align with their interests.
- Easily discovering new campus activities to try.
- Staying up to date on what’s happening on their campus.
“If Bounce had existed in my first year, I would have felt way less overwhelmed. There were so many events and clubs happening, but it was hard to know what was actually going on or, when, or where.” said Mari Laviola, a uOttawa undergraduate student, “Now, everything’s going to be in one place, like a living map of campus life. I’m excited because it’s going to change how students meet friends, discover what we are into, and actually become a part of the community much earlier and more easily”.

Safety, Transparency, and Inclusivity

The union’s commitment to student well-being also guided this partnership. Bounce includes real-time event safety scoring, anonymous reporting features, and communication tools that prioritize transparency and responsiveness. These features align directly with Coen’s pledge to strengthen campus safety.

Bounce’s track record at peer student unions, like its role in helping St. Francis Xavier reach the 99th percentile for event safety, offers a strong foundation for what can be achieved by Coen’s team at uOttawa.

Built for a Better Tomorrow

As the UOSU navigates an exciting year of transition and renewed purpose, this partnership positions them at the forefront of innovation in student engagement. The whole executive team is united in their goal to build a campus where no student feels left out, and where participation is seamless, safe, and celebrated.

“This isn’t just about new technology or another tool,” said Coen. “This is about finally solving a problem that students have been facing for years of not knowing where to go or how to get involved. We’re proud to be joining the ranks of the great student unions across the country who are choosing a better, more connected path forward.”

In addition to student life tools, Bounce also offers centralized, easy-to-use workflows for event approvals, club budget requests, and student elections management. These governance tools are available to any student union looking to save time and money by simplifying their internal processes.

The UOSU joins a rapidly growing list of top student unions in Canada who are transforming student engagement with Bounce.

Ready to join the movement and bring your student union to the forefront? Let’s talk.

https://www.bouncelife.com/admin

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/315832e8-5ea5-40d2-b70f-54cad8b15efc

The MIL Network –
July 23, 2025
Vadhavan Port to add 23.2 million TEUs to India’s maritime capacity

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

The Vadhavan Port, a major infrastructure initiative located on the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), is expected to significantly boost India’s container handling capacity by 23.2 million TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit). The development of this deep-draft port is set to strengthen India’s position as a leading global maritime hub.

The project is not only focused on enhancing port infrastructure but is also creating avenues for skill development and livelihood generation for local communities.

In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal shared key updates on the progress of the Vadhavan Port Project. He said that the project is not only focused on expanding maritime infrastructure but also aims to create employment opportunities through targeted skilling initiatives in the region.

As part of these efforts, a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between Vadhavan Port Project Ltd (VPPL) and Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University (YCMOU) to promote education and training for local communities. Another MoU has been signed between the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority and the Directorate General of Shipping to provide skill development training to local residents and project-affected individuals through selected Maritime Training Institutes.

To support rural entrepreneurship and the agricultural value chain, VPPL has also entered into a strategic partnership with Sahyadri Farms. In addition, skill training programmes for heavy vehicle driving and mechanical work are being conducted in collaboration with non-governmental organisations in the region.

Further enhancing outreach, VPPL has launched a dedicated WhatsApp Chatbot to connect directly with the youth of Vadhavan. This platform enables interested candidates to easily access information and register for skilling programmes.

July 23, 2025
MIL-OSI: Brag House Files First Quarterly Report as Public Company Highlighting Strengthened Balance Sheet, Strategic Partnership with Learfield, and Platform Readiness for Fall Expansion
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

NEW YORK, July 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Brag House Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: TBH) (“Brag House” or the “Company”), the Gen Z engagement platform operating at the intersection of gaming, college sports, and digital media, today announced the filing of its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2025. This is the Company’s first quarterly report since becoming a publicly listed company in March.

The filing reflects significant balance sheet improvements following the Company’s initial public offering, as well as strategic positioning ahead of key growth initiatives scheduled for later this year.

Key Highlights from the Q1 2025 Filing:
- Strengthened Capital Position: As of March 31, 2025, the Company held $3.5 million in cash, bolstered by net proceeds from its IPO.
- Convertible Debt Eliminated: All $6.6 million of convertible debt including accrued interest was eliminated through equity conversion, significantly strengthening the Company’s financial foundation.
- Balance Sheet Turnaround: Brag House moved from a $8.5 million deficit to a $1.6 million surplus in stockholders’ equity during the quarter, reflecting strong investor confidence as evidenced by the Company’s IPO and the full exercise of the Overallotment option.
“This quarter validates the strategy we set in motion leading up to our IPO,” said Lavell Juan Malloy II, CEO and Co-Founder of Brag House. “We’ve entered the public markets with a strong balance sheet and a clear plan for scaling revenue, data capabilities, and brand partnerships.”

Strategic Partnership with Learfield Fuels Fall Activation

In Q1, the Company secured a strategic partnership with Learfield Communications, the media and technology powerhouse in college athletics. Through this agreement, Brag House gains access to more than 200 NCAA collegiate properties, including premier football programs and student communities.

Following several successful beta activations, including the inaugural Brag Gators Gauntlet at the University of Florida on May 17, 2025, Brag House is now preparing to launch the Brag Gators series this fall, aligned with the college football season.

This partnership underpins the Company’s multi-layered revenue model and supports its evolution into a data-driven platform that delivers anonymized Gen Z behavioral insights to brand partners seeking to lower customer acquisition costs and optimize campaign engagement.

Zacks Valuation Signals Upside Potential

On July 9, 2025, Zacks Small-Cap Research initiated coverage on Brag House with a $4.40 valuation target — more than [6x] the Company’s current share price based on the closing price as of July 21, 2025. The report underscores Brag House’s differentiated Gen Z-first model and scalable growth potential.

“We are honored to be recognized by Zacks for the strategic and structural foundation we’ve built,” added Malloy. “Like Zacks, we believe Brag House is uniquely positioned to scale into a $6.7 billion Total Addressable Market focused on Gen Z.”

About Brag House

Brag House is a leading media technology platform dedicated to transforming casual college gaming into a vibrant, community-driven experience. By merging gaming, social interaction, and collegiate culture, Brag House enables brands to authentically connect with the influential Gen Z demographic through gamified experiences, live-streaming content, and scalable data insights. For more information, visit www.braghouse.com.

Media Contact
Fatema Bhabrawala
Director of Media Relations
fbhabrawala@allianceadvisors.com

Investor Relations Contact
Adele Carey
VP, Investor Relations
ir@thebraghouse.com

The MIL Network –
July 23, 2025
MIL-OSI: JMU experts offer back-to-school insights on AI, student wellness, and more
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

HARRISONBURG, Va., July 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As AI becomes increasingly embedded in college life, James Madison University is equipping students and faculty with the tools to think critically about its use. Professor Philip Frana, a leading voice on the ethical and educational implications of AI, urges the campus community to go beyond simply using AI — and start questioning it.

Topics Frana is available to discuss include:
- – Conformity risks: How AI-generated content may push students toward generic, conformist and even mediocre expression.
- – The value of originality: How tools that reduce originality or ingenuity have no place in higher education. “AI can aid brainstorming,” he said, “but it can’t replace an authentic student question or genuine personal insight.”
- – The design of dependency: How AI interfaces, like social media, are designed to be habit-forming, encouraging overreliance on automation.
- – The role of higher education: How universities must guide educators to use AI responsibly in the service of society and empower them to contribute directly to AI innovation on campus.
- – The future of education: How AI will increase the need for a university education that encourages critical thinking and fosters ethical reasoning.
In addition to Frana, the following experts are available to discuss students’ health and wellness, learning routines, budgeting and dating habits:

John Almarode, a professor in the College of Education, researches transitions, recalibrating routines and enhancing learner readiness.

Jeremy Akers, a professor in the College of Health and Behavioral Studies, researches nutrition, exercise and weight management.

Trent Hargens, a professor in the College of Health and Behavioral Studies, researches the physiological links between sleep quality, physical activity and sedentary behavior.

Ron Rubin, a lecturer in the College of Business, helps students understand the importance of personal financing, identifying basic budgeting strategies, how to build creditworthiness and saving for retirement.

Dayna Henry, a professor in the College of Health and Behavioral Studies, studies sexuality education and can discuss sexual assault prevention and sexual and relationship health.

Jennie Rosier, a professor in the College of Arts and Letters, researches romantic and parent-child relationships and has done several interviews recently on Gen Z dating habits.

To arrange an interview with these experts, please contact Chad Saylor at saylorcx@jmu.edu or Eric Gorton at gortonej@jmu.edu

The MIL Network –
July 23, 2025
MIL-OSI: Schurz Communications Appoints John Smarrella as General Counsel

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

MISHAWAKA, Ind., July 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Schurz Communications, Inc. (“Schurz”) today announced that John Smarrella, Esq. has been appointed as General Counsel, effective July 28, 2025. As General Counsel, Smarrella will join the executive leadership team to manage and direct Schurz’s legal and enterprise risk management operations.

“We are excited to welcome John to the Schurz team,” said John Reardon, President and CEO, Schurz Communications. “He brings decades of legal expertise and a wealth of knowledge of our family-owned business, having worked as outside counsel to the Company for the past decade. He is a team player who works productively with our shareholders, executives, and board to achieve successful results. John will be a valuable addition to the business as we continue to grow and expand.”

Smarrella brings more than two decades of legal expertise as a corporate and M&A transactional attorney with a strong background of serving as outside counsel for closely held and family-owned businesses. Prior to joining Schurz Communications, he was a partner at Barnes & Thornburg, one of the 100 largest law firms in the United States. With a concentration in corporate and business law, he has deep experience in acquisitions, joint ventures, minority investments, as well as contracts, regulations, policies, and more. Smarrella earned a J.D. (magna cum laude) from the University of Notre Dame and holds a Bachelor of Science (magna cum laude) in Business and History/Political Science from Greenville University.

“Schurz is a multi-generational family business that has stood the test of time, evolving and advancing to become a leader in connecting and empowering people through innovative technologies,” said Smarrella. “I greatly admire the entire team and am excited to join this dynamic company. I look forward to contributing to the future of the business.”

Smarrella will be based in the Schurz Communications headquarters office in Mishawaka, Indiana.

About Schurz Communications
Schurz is a family-owned corporation that has been helping businesses, communities and individuals make meaningful connections for five generations. The Schurz legacy began in newspaper publishing, radio, and television, and today, the company remains committed to making information more accessible through the platforms and technology of the digital age. Schurz Communications’ recent investments include regional broadband companies and cloud managed services providers, and the company’s portfolio also includes a variety of minority investments. For more information, visit: www.schurz.com.

The MIL Network –

July 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: GUU became the winner of the All-Russian competition of youth projects 2025

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Official website of the State –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

The State University of Management was among the winners of the All-Russian competition of youth projects among universities, implemented with the support of Rosmolodezh and Rosmolodezh.Grants.

A total of 2,803 projects from 293 educational institutions were submitted to the competition, and 89 universities won.

The State University of Management received the maximum grant of 22.5 million rubles for the implementation of youth initiatives.

The head of the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs, associate professor of the Department of State and Municipal Management of the State University of Management Grigory Gurov noted that “the grant is no longer a one-time subsidy, but a two-year program for the development of youth policy. Comprehensive programs that receive funding go beyond individual events and become systemic work.”

In 2025-2026, 14 project solutions aimed at forming value systems and guidelines among young people will be implemented at the State University of Management:

School of Coordinators “KUL” All-Russian Forum of Student Commissions on Education Quality and Centers for Researching Students’ Opinions “Exploring Students” Creation of a System for Popularizing Volunteering “The Path of Good” School of Student Self-Government Activists “Successful Leader’s Course” Military-Patriotic Game “Defenders of the State University of Management” Student Interregional Historical Ball “Inspiration” Festival of Youth Brass Bands “St. George’s Trumpets” Youth Festival of Creativity “Raising the Flag” School of Administrators of the Service-Learning Program Interregional Accelerator “Entrepreneur for Russia” Student Coworking Zone on the -1 Floor of the Main Academic Building Entrepreneurial Coworking Zone Festival of Interethnic Friendship and Harmony Dedicated to the Year of the Defender of the Fatherland “Hero of His People” Patriotic Festival “Family History. Immortal Memory”

We will report on the progress of the projects on our website and in the official social networks of the State University of Management, subscribe so as not to miss important information: VKontakte, Telegram, Zen, Rutube.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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MIL OSI Russia News –

July 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) hosts Digital Village twinning event in Rwanda to advance digital agriculture

Source: APO

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The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with Rwanda’s Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI), hosted a Digital Village twinning event as part of the Fostering Digital Villages through Innovative Advisory and Profitable Market Services in Africa (FDiVi) project.

The event brought together more than 130 participants, including representatives from farmer organizations, private sector partners, digital ambassadors, and officials from the Ministry of ICT and Innovation (MINICT), MINAGRI, and the Rwanda Information Society Authority (RISA). The gathering served as a platform for sharing experiences and best practices in leveraging digital technologies to enhance agricultural productivity, market access, advisory services, and access to real-time data and knowledge.

A key highlight of the event was a Peer Learning Session, during which members from 48 farmer cooperatives shared testimonies and best practices on how digital tools have transformed their daily lives. These stories illustrated the real-world impact of digital transformation in agriculture, particularly in improving efficiency, profitability, and market connectivity.

During a panel discussion, district authorities from Musanze, Nyanza, Ngororero, and Nyagatare reflected on the opportunities and challenges of scaling digital agriculture in rural communities. The four districts expressed their commitment to integrating the FDiVi project into local development plans and emphasized the importance of cross-district collaboration and peer learning both within Rwanda and as a model for other countries.

FAO Representative a.i in Rwanda Nomathemba Mhlanga commended the role of digital ambassadors in guiding farmers through the digital literacy journey and underscored the need for continued support from local governments.

“District and sector authorities must remain the bridge between policy and practice, between strategy and implementation,” she said.

As part of the event, outstanding farmer cooperatives were recognized during an awards ceremony. FAO provided 99 smartphones to selected farmer organizations to support access to digital tools.

“This smartphone will transform how our cooperative accesses information, connects with markets, receives digital advisory services, and promotes our agricultural products using technology,” said Nyirabakiga Immaculée, one of the recipients.

Through the FDiVi project, FAO continues to empower rural communities by fostering inclusive digital ecosystems that drive innovation, market integration, and improved livelihoods across Rwanda.

FAO’s FDiVi project, launched in April 2024, empowers around 150 farmer groups in Malawi, Rwanda, and Zimbabwe by using digital tools such as tablets, AI‑chatbots, and social media to enhance agricultural advisory services, improve market access, and boost rural livelihoods.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO): Regional Office for Africa.

MIL OSI Africa –

July 22, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Young musicians hit the high notes in concert series

Source: City of Wolverhampton

Over 4 nights, 400 members of Wolverhampton Music Service represented 60 city schools and performed 50 individual pieces of music as part of Wolverhampton Summer Sounds, a celebration of musical talent held at the Wulfrun Hall, University of Wolverhampton at The Halls.

Organised by Wolverhampton Music Service, it included performances by the Youth Choir, Concert String Orchestra, Keyboard Ensemble, Fusion Fives, Big Top SEND Ensemble, Bhangra Fusion Percussion, the Primary and Secondary Rock ‘n’ Pop groups, Guitar Group, Concert Wind Band, New Wind, Early Strings, New Strings, Jazz Big Band, Youth Wind Orchestra and Youth Orchestra.

Head of Service Ciaran O’Donnell said: “It has been an aspiration to bring all 16 musical groups to the city’s most iconic venue, and I am so proud of everyone who took part and made it happen.

“Many parents went for coffee or something to eat beforehand; in this way, alongside our educational ambition for our children and young people, the Music Service can also really support the city’s nighttime economy. I hope we can do it again next year.”

Councillor Jacqui Coogan, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, said: “This concert series was a powerful showcase of the dedication, creativity and spirit of Wolverhampton’s young musicians.

“Their talent deserved to be heard and celebrated on the big stage and it was great that so many family and friends were able to watch on proudly as their young people took part in these very special performances.”

The Summer Sounds concert series was made possible thanks to a generous donation of £10,000 donation from the Friends of Wolverhampton Music Service.

Wolverhampton Music Service’s team of 34 hard working staff provide high quality tuition and musical opportunities for youngsters from schools across the city, including the chance to perform with its flagship groups, Wolverhampton Youth Orchestra and Wolverhampton Youth Wind Orchestra.

Recent feedback from the Arts Council cited school engagement at 94%, with curriculum support the highest in the West Midlands.

The Music Service will be recruiting new members in September – to find out more, please visit Wolverhampton Music Service.

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

July 22, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Derby praised for work to keep children safe outside the school gates

Source: City of Derby

Children are enjoying safer journeys to and from school thanks to a pioneering Council scheme, which has now won a nationally recognised award for helping to keep children safe by the school gates.

School Safe Haven Zones operate outside of schools, using temporary road closures or restrictions to limit the use of cars for school drop-offs and pick-ups. Enforced by ANPR cameras, the zones restrict vehicles during peak hours to improve air quality and safety for students.

The zones, which have been trialled in multiple locations across the city, have brought tangible benefits to both school children and local residents. Not only are there fewer hazards caused by moving and dangerously parked vehicles, but air quality has improved, and active travel – such as walking and cycling – has increased. Residents living close to the zones have also seen reductions in traffic ‘rat-runs’ and felt that their communities were safer, more pleasant places to be.

Data collected through the scheme is used to identify high-risk locations, monitor compliance and enhance the technology, making sure that any enforcement is fair and accurate. Data collected in Derby has shown significant reductions of Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) concentrations, with reductions of up to 48.8% in some locations.

The pioneering zones been formally recognised with Derby’s parking and transport teams winning Best Service Team of the Year at this year’s MJ Awards, which recognise and celebrate the vital, but often unseen, work that happens across local government. The first local authority to implement this type of scheme outside of London and Wales, the award highlighted the Derby City Council’s innovative and strategic approach, such as the positive impact on child safety, use of active travel methods and the improvements in air quality around schools across the city.

Councillor Carmel Swan, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Transport and Sustainability said:

“We’re incredibly proud of the positive impact that our School Safe Havens have brought to Derby, and I’m so pleased that this work has been recognised on a national level.

“This isn’t just about reducing traffic; it’s about making sure that our children are safe outside the school gates and enabling healthy habits from a young age by promoting active travel and contributing to a healthier generation.

“By partnering with other local authorities to share our expertise, we’re not just making Derby safer, we’re also helping other councils do the same.”

Following overwhelming success in trials, the Council has teamed up with councils in Walsall, Coventry and Hull to roll out the project and improve safety elsewhere in the UK. Income of around £500,000 has been generated through this roll-out that is being reinvested into the project and other local services, such as providing cycle training and bicycles for school children as well as supporting other highways projects and the work of the school crossing patrol team.

More information about School Safe Haven Zones can be found on the Council’s website.

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

July 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: NSU students took part in the first All-Russian festival of student families

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Novosibirsk State University –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

The festival was created with the aim of uniting student families, as well as rectors, vice-rectors and specialists responsible for the implementation of family policy in universities. A pair of young scientists, Tatyana and Danil Sboev, had the opportunity to represent NSU at the first All-Russian Festival of Student Families. Tatyana completed her first year of Master’s degree Physics Department of NSU, and Danil is a 1st year postgraduate student Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics of NSU.

— It was an honor for us to represent Novosibirsk State University at the All-Russian Festival of Student Families. Participation in the festival is, first of all, new acquaintances. We talked with the rector and vice-rector of Buryat State University, exchanged experiences and ideas in the field of supporting families within the university, — said Tatyana.

During the festival, a plenary session was held, at which the Chairperson of the Federation Council Valentina Matviyenko, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Government Dmitry Chernyshenko and the Head of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia Valery Falkov told students in a question-and-answer format about measures to support young families.

— The program was very busy. Unfortunately, we were able to attend only the first day of the festival. But during that day we managed to participate in a quiz dedicated to family traditions, where our team took second place, and we received many memorable prizes, and also participated in a master class on psychological well-being of the family. Among other things, the festival provided an opportunity to voice the questions and problems that young student families face. At the plenary session, we asked a question that concerns us as a family of young scientists, and we hope that measures to support the families of young scientists will be developed at the state level, — Tatyana added.

During the plenary session, Valentina Matvienko personally invited Tatyana and Danil to take part in the V Congress of Young Scientists, which will be held from November 26 to 28, 2025, in the federal territory “Sirius” of Krasnodar Krai. The event is part of the national project “Youth and Children”.

— I liked the festival. We met other student families, exchanged experiences, what kind of support universities offer when entering into marriage. I liked the quiz about family values and traditions. There were guys from Penza, Lugansk and Skolkovo on our team. In addition, despite the busy festival program, Tanya and I managed to take a short walk around summer Moscow, — Danil shared.

Material prepared by: Varvara Frolkina, NSU press service

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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MIL OSI Russia News –

July 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: A member of the RUDN construction team told how the third work shift is going

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Peoples’Friendship University of Russia –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Every weekday morning, Jean-Pierre Tsishugi Bisimva, a member of the RUDN Meridian Druzhby construction team, comes to the assembly line at 8:45 a.m. before the start of the work day. He works as a painter in the 11th block of the dormitory. Before this summer, he had never had to paint anything, but in three weeks he has already learned a lot.

His experience working in a repair crew will definitely be useful to him in the future. After all, Jean-Pierre came to Russia from the Democratic Republic of Congo and graduated from the preparatory faculty to enroll in the RUDN Engineering Academy in the Construction program. He will begin his studies on September 1, but in the meantime, he is gaining useful practical skills in advance.

“In the morning, we discuss the work plan for the day, and then we go to our site. I have a wonderful supervisor who is always ready to give professional advice and just suggest something on personal issues. I got used to the work faster than I thought, learned how to paint walls, stairs, radiators. To make it look prettier and more even, we use tape to separate the borders between colors and to avoid painting too much,” Jean-Pierre Tsishugi Bisimva (Construction, 1st year).

Insidious paints

Jean-Pierre already has not only useful knowledge and skills “under his belt”, but also a funny story about his colleague from the construction team.

“He also worked as a painter, but he didn’t know much about paint. When he had to work in the bathroom, he didn’t cover the floor with anything to protect the surface from the oil paint that was dripping off the walls. This was because he thought that all paints were the same and could be easily washed off after work. As a result, my friend spent a long time cleaning the floor, and it was difficult to do. And that’s why we are always advised to use protective bags, film or cardboard to cover surfaces and keep the work area clean,” Jean-Pierre Tsishugi Bisimwa (Construction, 1st year).

Concerts on Fridays

The construction team members work from 09:00 to 18:00, with a lunch break. They go to the university cafeteria to recharge their batteries or bring food with them. In the evening, they hand over their completed work to the foreman and go home to rest and tidy up their work uniforms so that they are clean and ready for the new day. However, they are not always in a hurry to part with each other after checking in with the foreman.

“We have a friendly, even family-like atmosphere. On Wednesdays we play football. And on Fridays we organize concerts where everyone can demonstrate their talents: sing, dance, play the guitar. In addition, excursions are organized for us. We have already seen the iconic places of Moscow, learned about its history and architecture,” – Jean-Pierre Tsishugi Bisimva (Construction, 1st year).

At the end of July and in August, students will also be able to compete for the titles of “Miss and Mister of the Construction Team”. Who knows, maybe Jean-Pierre will receive the title of “Mister”? Time will tell.

The third semester of the RUDN construction team “Meridian of Friendship” started on June 27. In total, more than 190 students from 55 countries are taking part in it.

They were divided into two work areas: “Atlantes” are engaged in the improvement of student dormitories, and the guys from “Prometheus” are repairing classrooms, laboratories and sports areas of the university. The teams will work for two months.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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MIL OSI Russia News –

July 22, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: View from The Hill: How much can Jim Chalmers get out of the economic reform roundtable?

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

We’re now less than a month away from the start of the Albanese government’s “economic reform” (aka “productivity”) roundtable, but it has become quite hard to get a fix on exactly what this gathering will amount to.

The guest list for the August 19-21 summit is obviously tight, given the government decided it wanted the meeting to fit into the cabinet room (so avoiding a more extensive “talkfest”).

But excluding the states and territories from a meeting that discusses deregulation and taxation means major players in these policy areas are not in the room (the NSW treasurer, Daniel Mookhey, chair of the board of treasurers, is the only state government representative invited). Treasurer Jim Chalmers says he will meet state treasurers beforehand, but that doesn’t quite cover their omission.

The government has flagged that industrial relations isn’t on the table, although the unions will be at that table. Yet IR is a major issue in productivity, so that excludes a central area from discussion. The unions are being given a level of protection other players potentially do not have.

Tax reform is a central topic at the roundtable, the themes of which are productivity, budget sustainability and economic resilience. But the scope of what is up for serious consideration is limited.

The government is not willing to consider changing the GST, even if it is not formally ruling out it being canvassed.

When it was put to him that he opposed altering the GST, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told the ABC this week what he would not do was “go to an election and secure a majority because our government concentrated on cost-of-living measures in our first term […] and immediately we get elected and we say, we’re going to put up the price of everything that you buy.

“That is not something that’s tenable. That’s something which would have represented a breach of trust upon which we were elected on May 3rd.”

Rejecting an overhaul of the GST kyboshes, for better or worse, a major tax switch from our over-reliance on personal income tax to putting more of the tax burden on indirect tax. This is a change many tax experts advocate.

Despite the hype around the pre-roundtable discussion of broad tax reform, what appears likely to find favour with the government are tax changes affecting wealth (but excluding the family home) and the resources sector.

It remains unclear to what extent Chalmers will seek to define the outcome beforehand. That is: will he, after reviewing the submissions, go into the roundtable with a firm idea of what he wants to get out of it, and then see how much he can get over the “consensus” line?

Helpfully for everyone at the roundtable, the Productivity Commission is about to release a series of reports on various aspects of productivity, which will provide data and ideas.

These cover economic resilience, improving workforce skills and adaptability, harnessing digital technology, improving care delivery, and investing in the net zero transformation.

Meanwhile business, which felt it was made something of a patsy in the 2022 jobs and skills summit, with the government using that meeting to gain traction for what it already wanted to do, is being cautious this time.

Even before the formal announcement of the roundtable, it set up a group following the government’s nomination of productivity as a central priority for this term. The umbrella body’s first meeting was attended by more than 20 groups representing businesses of all sizes, universities and the investment community. This body is ongoing. It includes the Business Council of Australia, the Australian Industry Group, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Minerals Council of Australia and the Council of Small Business Organisations.

The umbrella body will put forward a suite of recommendations for the roundtable including on investment, innovation, reducing red tape, planning and approval processes, tax, education and employment.

We now have the full list of roundtable participants. It’s interesting for who’s there and who’s not. Ken Henry, of the seminal Henry taxation report – of which Chalmers has vivid memories from his days as a staffer of former treasurer Wayne Swan – will be present. Henry last week gave a strong presentation at the National Press Club about the pressing need for reform of the environment protection regime.

Also scoring an invitation is teal crossbencher Allegra Spender, who made tax reform one of her core issues last term. Spender is holding her own “tax reform roundtable” on Friday, with a who’s who of experts.

But left off the Treasurer’s invitation list list was the Minerals Council of Australia. This despite the fact that tax changes in the resources area seem a ripe area for discussion.

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

– ref. View from The Hill: How much can Jim Chalmers get out of the economic reform roundtable? – https://theconversation.com/view-from-the-hill-how-much-can-jim-chalmers-get-out-of-the-economic-reform-roundtable-261095

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

July 22, 2025

Category: Education

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Vitamin D

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Vitamin F (Sort of)

Vitamin K

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Trusted sources

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Government publishes plan to address presence of chemicals from pet flea and tick treatments in UK waterways

Defra Biosecurity Minister, Baroness Hayman said:

Abigail Seager, Chief Executive Officer of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD), said:

Kelly Short, Environment Agency Chemicals Manager said:

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