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Category: Education

  • MIL-OSI USA: Neag School’s Adam McCready Wins Teaching Award

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Neag School of Education faculty member Adam McCready has been named the 2025 Dr. Perry A. Zirkel Distinguished Teaching Award recipient. McCready teaches in the Neag School’s Higher Education and Student Affairs (HESA) master’s program. His scholarly work examines the college student experience to identify and challenge oppressive educational structures. His research includes studies on students’ experiences in historically white college social fraternities; college men and masculinities; and the impact of social media on student attitudes and behavior.

    The Zirkel Distinguished Teaching Award is awarded annually to a full-time faculty member in the Neag School. Alumnus Perry A. Zirkel ’68 MA, ’72 Ph.D., ’76 JD is a university professor emeritus of education and law at Lehigh University, where he formerly was dean of the College of Education and more recently held the Iacocca Chair in Education for its five-year term. He has a Ph.D. in educational administration and a JD from the University of Connecticut, and a Master of Laws degree from Yale University.

    “To me, the Zirkel Distinguished Teaching Award indicates that my colleagues, students (particularly, those in the Higher Education and Student Affairs master’s program), and other members of the Neag School community value my teaching philosophy and practices,” McCready says. “Teaching is at the core of my identity as a faculty member, and I view learning as a community effort that honors and respects students’ identities, lived experiences, and contexts. Therefore, receiving this award also indicates that I have made progress toward valuing students’ humanity, and fostering community that aids learning and growth.”

    To me, the Zirkel Distinguished Teaching Award indicates that my colleagues, students … and other members of the Neag School community value my teaching philosophy and practices. &#8212 Adam McCready

    “Dr. McCready incorporates flexibility in his teaching, especially when it comes to centering learners’ needs in his courses,” wrote nominators H. Kenny Nienhusser and Milagros Castillo-Montoya, associate professors in the HESA program. “He always wants to find ways to better meet students’ learning needs by asking them for feedback – formally and informally – and making adjustments during and after the course.”

    Nienhusser and Castillo-Montoya also highlighted McCready’s commitment to inclusive pedagogy.

    “At the core of Dr. McCready’s teaching is addressing issues related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice in the higher education setting,” they wrote. “As a white, cisgendered, heterosexual, able-bodied man, he has thoughtfully reflected on how his privileged identities may surface in his teaching. To address this, he has dedicated time to reflecting on and deconstructing how to include material in his courses that focus on minoritized college students, teach subject matter that centers on minoritized students’ strengths, and engage in conversations in the classroom about issues of race/ethnicity, gender, sexuality, disability, among other important topics in preparing future HESA professionals.”

    “Dr. McCready exemplifies rigor in his course instruction while fostering an inclusive and supportive learning environment for all his students,” wrote nominator Laura Burton, professor and head of the Department of Educational Leadership.

    “The mission of the Neag School of Education is, ‘to improve educational and social systems to be more effective, equitable, and just for all,’ ” McCready says. “Although outstanding teaching is important to student learning and development across UConn, it is vital to mission of our School. In short, it is crucial that Neag School faculty members embody the outstanding teaching that we hope our students will provide to their students. The Zirkel Teaching Award helps our faculty community strive for this mission.”

    Since joining the HESA program, McCready has taught diverse core courses that blend academic scholarship with professional practice. His commitment to diversity and inclusion is reflected in course content and how he engages students in reflective dialogue and creates space for marginalized voices.

    McCready’s research has been published in Psychology of Men & Masculinities, Research in Higher Education Innovative Higher Education, Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development, and the Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice. McCready serves as the editor for the Journal of Sorority and Fraternity Life Research and Practice, and previously served as the vice chair for scholarship and research for the American College Personnel Association (ACPA) Coalition on Men and Masculinities.

    In spring 2022, McCready introduced an innovative “ungrading” philosophy, focusing on feedback and reflection rather than numerical scores. This approach has strengthened student learning while influencing fellow faculty members to rethink their evaluation methods. Known for his flexibility, McCready proactively seeks student feedback and adjusts his courses to meet learners’ evolving needs.

    His thoughtful course preparation, commitment to student success, and emphasis on inclusivity have earned him high evaluation scores and praise from students and colleagues. McCready has nearly 20 years of higher education experience, including the past six years at the Neag School. He holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies from The George Washington University, a master’s in college student personnel from Bowling State University, and a Ph.D. in higher education from Boston College.

    Neag School alumni, current students, and faculty were invited to nominate a faculty member for the annual Zirkel Distinguished Teaching Award, and a committee selected the recipient. Previous awardees include Saran Stewart in 2024, Danielle Filipiak  in 2023, Tamika LaSalle in 2022, Milagros Castillo-Montoya in 2020, Jennie Weiner in 2019, and D. Betsy McCoach as the inaugural recipient in 2018.

    McCready received the award during the Neag School’s year-end meeting on May 2. His name will be added to the award plaque on display in the Neag School Dean’s Office.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: A Dose of History: Pioneers of UConn Pharmacy

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Ann Petry: Making the Impossible Possible 

    Raised as a third-generation New Englander and Connecticut native, Ann Petry became the first Black woman to graduate from the Connecticut College of Pharmacy in 1931 (now, the UConn School of Pharmacy).  

    Anna Houston Lane, born in 1908, called Old Saybrook her home. In 1925, Ann graduated from high school as the only person of African American descent. Ann’s parents inspired her to push the limits of what was possible. Change-making didn’t scare the Lane family – Ann’s father, Pete, opened and operated two drugstores as a pharmacist. Her mother, Bertha James Lane, worked in a factory before becoming a shop owner, hairdresser, and chiropodist, and creating her own business, Beautiful Linens for Beautiful Homes. As the youngest of three daughters, Ann and her sisters were raised in “classic New England tradition” with strong familial role models who empowered her in light of systemic racial disadvantages. 

    “The Lanes were a close-knit, middle-class Black family, which provided the young Ann Lane with a strong sense of herself as well as with a level of confidence…”  – A Yęmisi Jimoh (UMass ScholarWorks)

    Ann, inspired by her aunt, Anna L. James, the first black woman pharmacist in Connecticut,  became determined to continue breaking barriers for Black women and to carry on her family legacy by enrolling in the Connecticut College of Pharmacy in New Haven, which has since been transformed into the School of Pharmacy in Storrs. After receiving her Graduate in Pharmacy degree (Ph.G.) from the School, Ann worked in the family business for several years in Old Saybrook and Old Lyme. While working as a pharmacist, Ann also explored her other interest in writing, crafting short stories in her free time.  

    Ann Petry (Wikimedia Commons)

    In 1938, Anne married George Petry, a Louisiana-born resident of Harlem. Soon after, Ann moved to New York City and set aside her pharmaceutical career to become a journalist and writer. She dove into the world of activism, inspired by the Harlem Renaissance, and wrote for The Harlem Amsterdam News and The People’s Voices while writing short stories and novels focused on the Black experience. While her husband was in service during WWII, Ann began work on her first novel The Street, which became the first novel by an African American woman to sell more than a million copies after its publication in 1946. Ann eventually moved back to Saybrook, where she continued her joy of writing, and passed away in 1997 with her loving husband and only daughter, Elizabeth Petry, by her side. Shortly before her death, she was inducted into the Women’s Hall of Fame in Connecticut where her legacy continues to live.  

    As the granddaughter of a slave who self-liberated and traveled to Connecticut through the Underground Railroad, Ann Petry had the forces of history against her. Yet, with the support of her loving family and friends, Ann wrote her own story – finding success in both pharmacy and writing.  

    Varro Tyler: From Pharmacognosist to Philatelist 

    A successful professor, pharmacognosist, and lifelong scholar, Varro Tyler graduated from UConn’s School of Pharmacy with his M.S. in 1951 and his Ph.D. in 1953, becoming the first individual to be awarded both degrees from the School. 

    Born in Nebraska in 1926, Varro was a Southern man at heart but moved to Connecticut for his academic pursuits in herbal medicine. Before attending UConn, he received his bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from the University of Nebraska and studied plant sciences at Yale on an Eli Lilly Research Fellowship for a year before attending UConn.  

    Varro Tyler (Wikimedia Commons)

    Having attained his pharmacy degrees from several colleges and universities, Varro couldn’t leave academics behind. His most notable roles include associate professor and chairman of the Department of Pharmacognosy at the University of Nebraska, a similar position at the University of Washington, and Dean of the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at Purdue University in 1966.   

    Along with his time in academia, Varro served as the first president of the American Society of Pharmacognosy and president of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP). As an active member of professional organizations and his community, Varro implemented his work in several settings – writing more than 270 publications and frequently appearing on TV and radio talk shows.

    As the dietary supplement industry boomed in the 1990s, Varro urged the FDA to take a more assertive role in regulating product quality and manufacturers’ claims while writing a monthly column on herbal remedies for Prevention magazine. Varro grounded his interests in scientific research, opposing para-herbalism (herbalism based on pseudoscience) throughout his academic career. 

    Varro’s research interests were wide-ranging, including herbal medicine, medicinal and toxic constituents of higher fungi, drug plant cultivation, and more. In addition to his literature on these pharmaceutical topics, Varro was an avid stamp collector later in life and specialized in the postage stamps of Japan. As a philatelist, Varro wrote substantial literature on stamp forgery and had a long association with the International Society for Japanese Philately.   

    “Varro had a profound impact on pharmacy education, natural product science, and the use of herbal medicine” and received many awards and accolades.” – James E. Robbers (The American Society of Pharmacognosy)

    After retiring in 1996, Varro continued to be passionate about his interests and passed away in 2001 with his loving wife, Virginia, by his side.  

    Mike Pikal: A Legacy That Lives On  

    With a UConn career spanning almost twenty-five years, Mike Pikal inspired thousands of students and faculty at the School and left an unmatched legacy.  

    Born in 1939 in Minnesota to parents Harold and Sophie, Mike was raised in the Midwest. He stayed close to home, earning his bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from St. John’s University in Minnesota. He later received a doctorate from Iowa State University in 1966.  

    Mike started his career as an assistant professor at the University of Tennessee before joining Eli Lilly Research Laboratories in the early 1970s. After years of dedicated research, Mike became a senior research scientist and won the 1996 President’s Award for his work at the company. Years later, in 1996, he joined UConn Nation as a professor of pharmaceutics.  

    During his time at UConn, Mike made the School proud, serving as the department head of Pharmaceutical Sciences and an Emeritus Professor while maintaining a fully active and highly productive research program. In 2005, he was named the first Pfizer Distinguished Endowed Chair in Pharmaceutical Technology.  

    Mike Pikal (UConn Archives)

    Mike’s research spanned freeze-drying, solid-state chemistry/materials science of pharmaceuticals and protein stability, which led to more than 170 publications. Particularly interested in freeze-drying, Mike was a leader in this field and its technology and was the main contributor to the School’s successful partnerships with groups like The Center for Pharmaceutical Processing (CPPR) and The National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL). He also directed a prominent and diverse research program in freeze-drying. Because of these efforts, as well as his membership in various pharmaceutical associations, Pikal won several awards, becoming one of fewer than twenty scientists to receive the AAPS Distinguished Pharmaceutical Scientist Award.  

    While all his accolades and research pursuits are outstanding, the School is especially grateful for the relationships Pikal formed with his Ph.D. students, postdoctoral fellows, and visiting scholars. Selflessly giving his time and advice to those starting in the pharmacy field, Pikal was truly an inspiration to those around him.

    Surrounded by his loving wife, Janice, five children, and many grandchildren, Pikal passed away in 2018, a year after retiring from UConn.  

    “Mike is just in a different league than most of the rest of us. One of the many things we love about him is that he never makes us feel that way.” — Steve Nail (Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences)

      

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Go High Level Review: ‘Exposed!’ Is It Really Worth It? Pros, Cons & Benefits Uncovered!

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Dallas, TX, May 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

    Welcome to our detailed review of Go High Level CRM, the ultimate all-in-one solution designed to simplify and supercharge your business operations. If you’ve been searching for a comprehensive platform to manage your leads, streamline communications, and scale your marketing efforts, this tool promises to deliver everything you need in one place.

    In this article, we’ll share an honest and detailed walkthrough of Go High Level CRM, covering its standout features, ease of use, benefits, and why it’s considered a powerful system for businesses of all sizes. We’ll also explore how it boosts productivity, improves customer engagement, and consolidates multiple tools into one intuitive platform. Whether you’re a small business owner or part of a larger organization, we’ll help you determine if Go High Level CRM is the right fit for you. Stay with us to uncover everything you need to know!

    >> Begin your 14-day Go High Level trial with zero risk and see real benefits in action! 

    Introduction to Go High Level

    Go High Level CRM is an all-in-one customer relationship management system designed to streamline operations and enhance efficiency for businesses in various industries. The platform combines a wide range of features, including lead generation, pipeline management, appointment scheduling, and marketing automation, all within a single interface. Its user-friendly design ensures accessibility for entrepreneurs with varying levels of technical expertise, making it a versatile option for both beginners and seasoned professionals.

    Who Should Use it?

    The primary purpose of Go High Level CRM is to provide businesses with a centralized tool to manage and optimize their customer relationships. By consolidating multiple tools and processes into one platform, it helps save time, reduce costs, and eliminate the need for juggling multiple software solutions.

    This platform is ideal for small to medium-sized businesses, marketing agencies, and solopreneurs looking to scale their operations and improve customer engagement. Whether you’re managing client campaigns, tracking sales funnels, or nurturing leads, Go High Level CRM is tailored to meet the diverse needs of businesses aiming for growth and efficiency. 

    >> Claim your 14-day risk-free Go High Level trial today and see real benefits in action!

    Key Features

    Go High Level CRM is a game-changer for businesses, offering a comprehensive solution that combines a wide array of essential tools into one powerful platform. This all-in-one approach eliminates the need to manage multiple tools, empowering businesses to streamline operations, build stronger customer relationships, and drive significant growth with ease. Let’s explore the standout features that make Go High Level an indispensable platform for modern businesses.

    >> Begin your 14-day Go High Level trial with zero risk and see real benefits in action! 

    1.CRM (Customer Relationship Management)

    GoHighLevel’s CRM is designed to help businesses organize and streamline how they manage leads and customers. It provides tools to track every interaction, keep growing contact lists in order, and automate follow-ups so businesses never miss a chance to connect.

    With advanced pipelines to visualize sales processes, task-setting options to keep teams on track, and detailed client profiles to personalize interactions, GoHighLevel ensures seamless communication and stronger engagement across every touchpoint. Whether you’re nurturing a lead or maintaining existing client relationships, this CRM helps you stay efficient and effective.

    2.Email and SMS Marketing

    GoHighLevel enables businesses to create and manage personalized email and SMS campaigns that foster deeper client connections. Its automation workflows allow businesses to maintain consistent communication, from follow-ups to appointment reminders, with minimal effort. Dynamic templates make it easy to craft professional messages, while real-time analytics help refine campaigns for better performance. With the ability to target specific audiences and track conversions, businesses can optimize their marketing strategies to achieve higher engagement and stronger results.

    3.Sales Funnels

    Simplifying the process of building effective sales funnels, GoHighLevel offers a range of tools to guide potential customers seamlessly through every stage of the sales journey. Businesses can use customizable templates to create funnels tailored to their goals, while split-testing features allow them to experiment with different approaches to maximize success.

    Conversion tracking provides clear insights into how well each funnel performs, helping users fine-tune their strategy for better customer acquisition and retention. Whether you’re selling a product, generating leads, or promoting services, GoHighLevel’s sales funnel builder ensures every step is optimized for success.

    4.Website and Landing Page Builder

    GoHighLevel’s drag-and-drop website and landing page builder makes creating professional, high-performing pages simple—even for those without technical or coding skills. The platform offers mobile-friendly and SEO-optimized designs that help businesses stand out online while capturing leads more effectively.

    Whether it’s designing a brand-new website or creating targeted landing pages for specific campaigns, users can build visually appealing pages that drive traffic and generate results. With endless customization options, businesses can easily align their online presence with their brand identity.

    >> Claim your 14-day risk-free Go High Level trial today and see real benefits in action!

    5.Automation

    Time-consuming tasks like follow-ups, reminders, and appointment scheduling can now be handled automatically with GoHighLevel’s advanced automation tools. By automating repetitive processes, businesses can reduce manual workloads, eliminate errors, and free up their teams to focus on higher-value activities such as building relationships and developing long-term strategies. From email drip campaigns to task assignments, automation ensures consistency and accuracy, making operations smoother and more efficient.

    6.Appointment Scheduling

    Gone are the days of juggling appointment logistics—GoHighLevel’s integrated scheduling system simplifies the process for both businesses and customers. Clients can easily view and book available time slots, while built-in reminders help reduce no-shows and missed appointments.

    The calendar sync feature ensures all bookings are organized and accessible, making appointment management seamless. Whether you’re running a small team or a large operation, this scheduling system helps you stay organized and deliver a smoother experience for your clients.

    7.Reporting and Analytics

    GoHighLevel’s powerful reporting and analytics tools provide businesses with actionable insights to track performance across campaigns, sales funnels, and customer interactions. From identifying trends and measuring ROI to evaluating the effectiveness of marketing efforts, the platform gives users the data they need to make informed, data-driven decisions. Detailed, easy-to-understand reports allow businesses to fine-tune their strategies and focus on what works, ensuring long-term growth and success.

    8.Mobile App and Desktop App

    Managing your business on the go is easier than ever with GoHighLevel’s mobile and desktop apps. These branded apps give users the flexibility to monitor campaigns, communicate with clients, and manage essential tasks from anywhere, at any time. Whether you’re in the office or on the move, the apps provide full access to the platform’s features, ensuring you’re always connected and in control of your operations.

    9.SaaS Mode

    One of GoHighLevel’s most unique features is SaaS mode, which allows businesses to white-label the platform and resell it as their own SaaS solution. This creates an additional revenue stream, enabling users to offer the platform to their clients under their own branding. With SaaS mode, businesses can scale their operations while building a profitable service offering to complement their existing business model. It’s a powerful way to grow revenue and expand into new opportunities.

    Go High Level CRM is more than just a platform—it’s a complete toolkit for businesses looking to operate smarter, simplify processes, and achieve sustainable growth. Whether you’re managing leads, automating tasks, or building an engaging online presence, GoHighLevel equips you with everything you need to succeed in today’s competitive landscape.

    Go High Level Pricing and Plans

    Go High Level offers three main pricing plans to fit businesses of all sizes — from solo entrepreneurs to agencies scaling with SaaS. Here’s a breakdown of what you get with each plan:

    1.Starter — $97/month

    Perfect for businesses just getting started and wanting essential tools to grow.

    • All the tools to capture more leads
    • Nurture and close leads into customers
    • Online booking, pipelines, social media calendar, website builder, and more
    • Unlimited contacts and users — no extra cost
    • Set up to three sub-accounts

    2. Unlimited — $297/month

    Designed for agencies and businesses ready to scale without limits.

    • Everything included in the Starter plan
    • API access — connect and integrate with anything
    • Unlimited sub-accounts — manage as many client accounts as you need
    • Branded desktop app — add your own domains and fully customize the platform

    3.SaaS Pro — $497/month

    For those ready to launch and manage a SaaS business with Go High Level.

    • Everything included in the Unlimited plan
    • SaaS mode — automatic sub-account creation
    • Rebilling — set your own pricing and profit margins
    • Rebilling available on Conversation AI

    >> Click Here to Start with the 14-day free trial to explore the platform before committing to a plan.  Whether you’re a small business or a growing agency, Go High Level has a flexible solution for you.

    User Experience and Interface

    Go High Level is designed with usability in mind, providing an intuitive interface that simplifies the onboarding process for new users. The platform offers detailed tutorials, guided setups, and a supportive community to help users quickly familiarize themselves with its features. Whether you’re a tech-savvy professional or a newcomer to SaaS tools, the learning curve is minimal, ensuring you can start using the platform effectively in no time.

    Mobile and Desktop Compatibility

    With full compatibility across both mobile and desktop devices, Go High Level ensures seamless access to your tools wherever you are. The platform’s responsive design adapts effortlessly to various screen sizes, allowing you to manage accounts, communicate with clients, and monitor performance on the go. A dedicated mobile app further enhances accessibility, making it easy to stay connected and responsive, regardless of your location.

    How Go High Level Stands Out in the Market?

    What sets Go High Level apart in the crowded CRM market is its all-in-one approach, providing a centralized platform that integrates marketing, sales, and customer management tools. Unlike many traditional CRMs that focus primarily on data organization, Go High Level empowers users with features like automated marketing campaigns, funnel building, and appointment scheduling, making it a comprehensive solution for businesses looking to streamline their operations.

    Its affordability, combined with its robust functionality, makes it especially appealing to small and medium-sized businesses that want enterprise-grade tools without the hefty price tag.

    >> Click here to claim your FREE 14-day trial of Go High Level and watch it transform your business to the next level!

    Key Competitors and Differences

    When compared to other major players such as Salesforce, HubSpot, and Zoho CRM, Go High Level shines in its niche targeting of marketers, agencies, and small business clients. While Salesforce offers extensive customization and enterprise-level capabilities, its complexity and high pricing can be barriers for smaller teams.

    HubSpot, known for its user-friendly interface and inbound marketing focus, often requires add-ons to achieve a similar level of functionality that Go High Level offers out of the box. Similarly, Zoho CRM, while budget-friendly, lacks the depth of marketing automation and integrations that Go High Level provides. By combining marketing, email, SMS, and client management into a single platform, Go High Level eliminates the need for multiple third-party tools, saving businesses both time and money. 

    >> Click here to claim your FREE Go High Level 14-day trial and watch it transform your business to the next level!

    Pros and Cons of Go High Level CRM

    Like any platform, Go High Level comes with its own set of strengths and a few considerations. Fortunately, the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks, especially for businesses seeking an all-in-one marketing and CRM solution.

    Pros

    • All-in-One Platform: Eliminates the need for multiple tools—CRM, email marketing, funnels, website builder, automation, appointment scheduling, and more are all in one place.
    • Unlimited Features: No caps on contacts, emails, funnels, or users—even with the Starter plan. This allows for unlimited growth without surprise costs.
    • Powerful Automation: Automate tasks like follow-ups, reminders, and campaigns to save time and reduce manual errors.
    • SaaS Mode for Agencies: Unique white-labeling and rebilling features help agencies launch their own SaaS offerings and create new revenue streams.
    • Mobile and Desktop Apps: Fully functional mobile and desktop applications let you manage your business on the go with ease.
    • High Customizability: Customize branding, workflows, funnels, dashboards, and more to suit your business and client needs.
    • Robust Funnel and Website Builder: Build landing pages and websites with a drag-and-drop editor that’s intuitive, even for non-tech-savvy users.
    • Excellent Value for the Price: Offers enterprise-grade functionality at a much lower cost than competitors like Salesforce or HubSpot.
    • Responsive Support and Active Community: While the learning curve exists, support reps and a thriving user community help users get up to speed quickly.

    >> Click here to claim your FREE Go High Level 14-day trial and watch it transform your business to the next level!

    Cons

    • Learning Curve for Beginners: Due to its robust feature set, new users may feel overwhelmed at first. However, this is manageable with tutorials and community support.
    • Interface Can Feel Cluttered: With so many tools in one place, the dashboard may feel busy until you get accustomed to it.
    • Occasional Glitches: Like any evolving platform, minor bugs can occur, but the development team is quick to release updates and improvements.
    • Support Wait Times (During Peak Hours): Some users report delays during peak times. That said, off-hour support is often faster and more attentive.

    User Feedback and Reviews

    Go High Level CRM has built a reputation not just for its robust all-in-one functionality but also for its exceptional customer support—a recurring theme across hundreds of user reviews on platforms like Trustpilot.

    Here’s what real users had to say:

    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “This Review Is for Hershey – Not Just GHL”

    Mms Zaman – Canada

    “I went back and forth with multiple agents regarding one issue but did not get the exact solution I needed. Then luckily I got connected with Hershey on my next Zoom call—and she nailed it! I was literally surprised by her depth of knowledge and logical understanding. This review is less for GHL and more for Hershey. Keep shining. The industry needs resources like you.”

    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Off-Hour Support = Hidden Gem”

    Francisco – Team Mortgage, USA
    (Trustpilot)

    “If you try to log in and get help during regular mid-day hours, be prepared to wait. BUT if you log in later in the day—boom, help arrives fast. The rep I spoke with (forgot the name, my brain was processing info!) was awesome and got my issue resolved. GHL (Go High Level) is amazingly robust, but yeah—it’s like getting a degree to learn it all. Hang in there. It’s worth it!”

    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Fantastic Onboarding with Saloni”

    Barbara – Canada
    (Trustpilot)

    “I just finished a great onboarding call with Saloni Singh. She was super helpful and patient while setting up the basics and answering all my questions. She explained the platform in a way that aligned with my business goals. I now feel confident taking the next step inside GHL (Go High Level).”

    ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Raymond Was a Game-Changer!”

    Tuan Luu
    (Trustpilot)

    “Great CRM and world-class support. I spoke with Raymond Sylvester today—he was incredibly helpful in solving my GHL issues and even assisted with some complex business number questions. Can’t say enough good things!”

    >> Try Go High Level risk-free for 14 days and watch it transform your business to the next level!

    My Personal Experience

    I’ve used Go High Level for over a year now, and I can confidently say it’s been one of the best investments I’ve made in my business. Before Go High Level, I was constantly juggling multiple tools to keep things running:

    • An email marketing tool to manage campaigns and nurture leads
    • A CRM to track client interactions and manage customer relationships
    • A funnel builder for creating landing pages and sales funnels
    • A booking tool to schedule calls and appointments
    • A reporting platform to analyze data and measure performance

    It was overwhelming, time-consuming, and costly. Not only was I spending hundreds of dollars each month on these separate tools, but switching between platforms made my processes inefficient and frustrating. It felt like I was always playing catch-up, trying to keep things organized while focusing on growing my business.

    After switching to Go High Level, everything changed. I consolidated all these tools into one intuitive dashboard, which allowed me to simplify my operations and save time. Instead of wasting hours managing disconnected platforms, I could focus on what really matters—delivering value to my clients. On top of that, I saved hundreds of dollars every month by cutting out all the extra subscriptions. 

    The best part? My business results improved across the board. Client engagement skyrocketed, my lead conversions increased, and my overall revenue grew significantly. By streamlining my tools with Go High Level, I was able to work smarter, not harder, and the difference has been incredible. 

    >> Try Go High Level risk-free for 14 days and watch it transform your business to the next level!

    If you’re tired of feeling stuck in a cycle of inefficiency, or if you’re ready to scale your business without the headaches, Go High Level is the solution you’ve been looking for. It’s a game-changer.

    Success Tips for Getting Started

    Here’s how to make the most of your Go High Level experience:

    Start with the Free Trial

    Begin with the free trial to familiarize yourself with the platform’s offerings. >> Click here to claim your FREE Go High Level 14-day trial and watch it transform your business to the next level!. Take your time exploring the features it provides and how they align with your business needs. This trial period is a chance to test out its flexibility and understand which tools will make the biggest impact. Don’t forget to jot down questions or areas where you might need clarification so you can make informed decisions as you move forward.

    Use Tutorials and Templates

    Leverage the extensive library of tutorials and pre-built templates that Go High Level provides. These resources are designed to help you maximize efficiency without a steep learning curve. Templates allow you to create professional, polished campaigns or workflows in no time. Tutorials, on the other hand, offer guidance on advanced functionalities that can help scale your business even faster.

    Automate Your Time-Consuming Tasks

    Focus on automating the tasks that consume the most of your time, such as client follow-ups, email sequences, or appointment scheduling. Automation not only saves you effort but also ensures consistency and reliability in your day-to-day operations. With Go High Level’s automation tools, you can stay focused on strategic priorities rather than manual, repetitive work.

    Customize Funnels and Emails

    Ensure your brand is front and center by customizing your funnels and email campaigns. Add your brand logos, colors, and tone of voice to create a seamless experience for your clients. Personalization within your communication can significantly enhance both engagement and overall results. The platform allows you to easily adjust these elements to align perfectly with your business vision.

    Track and Adjust with Analytics

    The analytics dashboard is one of the most powerful features in Go High Level. Use it to track your campaigns, client interactions, and overall performance. Regularly review this data to identify areas that need improvement or strategies that are working well. By adjusting based on insights, you can continuously optimize your efforts and drive business growth.

    Ready to Transform Your Business?

    Sign up for your FREE 14-day Go High Level trial today and experience the ultimate all-in-one CRM platform. With Go High Level, you can automate your business processes, nurture client relationships, and streamline operations all in one place.

    Take advantage of advanced features like pipeline management, email marketing automation, and a highly customizable dashboard tailored to your needs. Automate your business, close more leads, and watch your revenue grow! Whether you’re a small business owner or managing a team, Go High Level empowers you to work smarter, not harder. Don’t wait — start your free trial today!

    Final Verdict

    Go High Level stands out as a powerful tool designed to simplify and enhance your business processes. Its intuitive platform combines essential features such as automation, customization, and scalability, making it an ideal choice for businesses of all sizes. By leveraging its versatile functionalities, you can maximize efficiency, improve client engagement, and ultimately drive growth.

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    FAQ Section

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    GoHighLevel Contact Information
    Company: HighLevel, Inc
    Website: gohighlevel.com
    Phone: +1 (888) 732-4197
    Address: 400 North St. Paul Street Suite 920Dallas, TX 75201, USA
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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Where tomorrow’s scientists prefer to live − and where they’d rather not

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Christopher P. Scheitle, Associate Professor of Sociology, West Virginia University

    Many students have strong feelings about where they want to move after graduation. Tony Garcia/Stone via Getty Images

    Graduate students interested in an academic career after graduation day have often been told they need to be open to moving somewhere they may not want to live. This advice is because of how hard it is to get a tenure-track professor position.

    These days, this advice may be less relevant as graduate students are increasingly pursuing and ending up in careers outside of academia.

    Where graduate students want to settle post-graduation has potential consequences for communities and states across the country that depend more and more on a steady stream of skilled workers to power their economies. Locations seen as undesirable may struggle to attract and retain the next generation of scientists, engineers, professors and other professions filled by today’s graduate students.

    We are sociologists who are examining some of the factors that influence graduate students’ educational and career paths as part of a research project supported by the National Science Foundation. In March 2025 we distributed a survey to a sample of U.S.-based graduate students in five natural and social science disciplines: physics, chemistry, biology, psychology and sociology.

    As part of our survey, we asked students to identify states they would prefer to live in and places where they would be unwilling to go. To some extent, our findings match some past anecdotes and evidence about the varying number of applications received for academic positions across different states or regions.

    But little data has directly assessed students’ preferences, and our survey also provides some evidence that some states’ policies are having a negative impact on their ability to attract highly educated people.

    Most preferred, most unwilling

    For our study, we built our sample from the top 60 graduate programs for each of the five disciplines based on rankings from U.S. News and World Report. We received responses from nearly 2,000 students. Almost all of these students – 98%, specifically – are pursuing Ph.D.s in their respective fields.

    As part of our survey, we asked students to identify locations where they would “prefer” to live and also those where they would be “unwilling” to live after finishing their graduate program. For each of these questions, we presented students with a list of all states along with the option of “outside of the United States.”

    Just looking at the overall percentages, California tops the list of preferred places, with 49% of all survey-takers stating a preference to live there, followed by New York at 45% and Massachusetts with 41%.

    On the other hand, Alabama was selected most often as a state students said they’d be unwilling to move to, with 58% declaring they wouldn’t want to live there. This was followed by Mississippi and Arkansas, both with just above 50% saying they’d be unwilling to move to either state.

    Clusters of preference

    While the two lists in many respects appear like inversions of one another, there are some exceptions to that. Looking beyond the overall percentages for each survey question, we used statistical analysis to identify underlying groups or clusters of states that are more similar to each other across both the “prefer” and “unwilling” questions.

    One cluster, represented by California, New York and Massachusetts, is characterized by a very high level of preference and a low level of unwillingness. About 35% to 50% of students expressed a preference for living in these places, while only 5% to 10% said they would be unwilling to live in them. The response of “outside of the United States” is also in this category, which is noteworthy given recent concerns about the current generation of Ph.D. students looking to leave the country and efforts by other nations to recruit them.

    A second cluster represents states where the preference levels are a bit lower, 20% to 30%, and the unwillingness levels are a bit higher, 7% to 15%. Still, these are states for which graduate students hold generally favorable opinions about living in after finishing their programs. This cluster includes states such as Colorado, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey.

    A third group of states represents locations for which the rate of preference is similar to the rate of unwillingness, in the range of 10% to 20%. This cluster includes states such as Minnesota, Delaware and Virginia.

    The fourth and fifth clusters consist of states where the rate of unwillingness exceeds the rate of preference, with the size of the gap distinguishing the two clusters. In the fourth cluster, at least some students – 5% to 10% – express a preference for living in them, while around 30% to 40% say they are unwilling to live in them. This cluster includes Florida, Montana, South Carolina and Utah.

    Almost no students express a preference for living in the states contained in the fifth cluster, while the highest percentages – 40% to 60% – express an unwillingness to live in them. This cluster includes Alabama, Kansas, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

    Signs of current politics

    Many factors influence our preferences for where we want to live, including family, weather and how urban, rural or suburban it is. The politics of a community can also influence our perceptions of a place’s desirability.

    Indeed, political factors may be of particular concern to graduate students. In recent years, some states have taken a more hostile stance toward specific academic disciplines, institutions of higher education in general, or professions that are of interest to graduate students. While states such as Florida and Texas have been leading such efforts, many others have followed.

    Interestingly, our statistical grouping of states finds that students’ unwillingness to live in states such as Texas, Florida, Georgia and Ohio is higher than we would expect given those states’ corresponding preference levels. For example, about 10% of students selected Texas as a place they would prefer to live in after graduation. Looking at other states with similar preference levels, we would expect about 10% to 20% of students to say they are unwilling to live in Texas. Instead, this percentage is actually 37%. Similarly, 5% of students say they would prefer to live in Florida. Other states with this preference rate have an unwillingness rate of around 35%, but Florida’s is 45%.

    Although our data does not tell us for sure, these gaps could be a function of these states’ own policies or alignment with federal policies seen as hostile to graduate students and their future employers.

    These findings suggest that communities and employers in some states might continue to face particularly steep hurdles in recruiting graduate students for employment once they finish their degrees.

    Christopher P. Scheitle receives funding from the National Science Foundation and the John Templeton Foundation. This article is based on a study supported by the National Science Foundation (Award #2344563).

    Katie Corcoran receives funding from the National Science Foundation, the John Templeton Foundation, and the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute.

    Taylor Remsburg receives funding from the National Science Foundation and the John Templeton Foundation as a research assistant. This article is based on a study supported by the National Science Foundation (Award #2344563).

    – ref. Where tomorrow’s scientists prefer to live − and where they’d rather not – https://theconversation.com/where-tomorrows-scientists-prefer-to-live-and-where-theyd-rather-not-254431

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How Asian American became a racial grouping – and why many with Asian roots don’t identify with the term these days

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Jennifer Ho, Professor of Asian American Studies, University of Colorado Boulder

    People gather for a rally in New York on March 16, 2023, to protest racism against Asian Americans. Fatih Aktas/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

    For the first time, in 1990, May was officially designated as a month honoring Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage. Though the current U.S. administration recently withdrew federal recognition, the month continues to be celebrated by a wide array of people from diverse cultural backgrounds.

    People from the Pacific Islands have their own distinct histories and issues, delineated in part by a specific geography. Yet when we refer to the even broader category of Asian Americans, a concept with a deep yet often unknown history, who exactly are we referring to?

    There are nearly 25 million people of Asian descent who live in the United States, but the term Asian American remains shrouded by cultural misunderstanding and contested as a term among Asians themselves.

    As a professor of Asian American studies, I believe it is important to understand how the label came into being.

    A long history of Asian people in America

    The arrival of people from Asia to the U.S. long predates the country’s founding in 1776.

    After visits to modern-day America that began in the late 16th century, Filipino sailors formed – as early as 1763 – what is believed to be the first Asian settlement in St. Malo, Louisiana.

    But it wasn’t until the 1849 California Gold Rush that Asian immigration to the U.S. – from China – began on a mass scale. That was bolstered in the 1860s by Chinese laborers recruited to build the western portion of the Transcontinental Railroad.

    Starting toward the end of the 19th century, Japanese immigration steadily picked up, so that by 1910 the U.S. Census records a similar number for both communities – just over 70,000. Likewise, a small number of South Asian immigrants began arriving in the early 1900s.

    An exclusionary backlash

    Yet after coming to the U.S. in search of economic and political opportunities, Asian laborers in America were met by a surge of white nativist hostility and violence. That reaction was codified in civil society groups and government laws, such as the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882.

    By 1924, federal law had expanded into a virtual ban on all Asian immigration, and through the first half of the 20th century, a multitude of anti-Asian laws targeted areas including naturalization, marriage and housing, among others.

    In 1933, Chinese Americans in Sacramento, Calif., protested against deportations of Asian people and for higher unemployment insurance benefits.
    Bettmann/Contributor via Getty Images

    From the start, people from Asian countries in the U.S. were generally identified broadly with identifiers such as “Oriental,” a common term at the time mostly for those from China, Japan and Korea.

    As more Asians came to the U.S, other terms were used to denigrate and demean these new immigrants, whose physical appearance, language and cultural norms were distinctly different from their Euro-American neighbors.

    ‘Asian American’ and the birth of a movement

    The desire to claim America was one of the drivers for activists in the 1960s to create the concept of Asian American that we know today.

    The movement began in the charged political context of anti-Vietnam War protests and the Civil Rights Movement for Black equality. Students of Asian heritage at San Francisco State University and the University of California, Berkeley were organizing for the establishment of ethnic studies classes, specifically those that centered on the histories of Asians in the U.S.

    Rejecting the term “oriental” as too limiting and exotic, since oriental literally means “from the East,” the student activists wanted a term of empowerment that would include the Filipino, Chinese, Korean and Japanese students at the heart of this organizing. Graduate students Emma Gee and Yuji Ichioka came up with “Asian American” as a way to bring activists under one radical organizing umbrella, forming the Asian American Political Alliance in 1968.

    A contested term

    Today, the Asian American label has moved beyond its activist roots. The term might literally refer to anyone who traces their lineage from the whole of the Asian continent. This could include people from South Asian countries such as India, Pakistan or Sri Lanka to parts of West Asia like Syria, Lebanon or Iran.

    Yet not all people who identify as Asian actually use the words Asian American, since it is a term that flattens ethnic specificity and lumps together people with as disparate of backgrounds as Hmong or Bangladeshi, for example.

    A 2023 Pew Research Center survey of self-identified Asian adults living in the U.S. revealed that only 16% of people polled said they identified as “Asian American,” with a majority – 52% – preferring ethnic Asian labels, either alone or in tandem with “American.”

    Chinese immigrants play cards while waiting to be called in the immigration offices in New York in the 1940s.
    Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images

    Moreover, unlike the student activists who worked together through their shared Asian American identity, the majority of people of Asian descent living in the U.S. came after the 1965 Immigration Act was passed, which ended all prior anti-Asian immigration laws. This, combined with a subsequent wave of Asian immigration from parts of Asia not represented in the past – including Vietnam, Taiwan and Pakistan – means that most Asian Americans alive today are either immigrants or one generation removed from immigrants.

    As a largely immigrant and recently Americanized group, many Asians therefore may not relate to the struggles of an earlier history of Asians in the U.S. That may contribute to why many don’t connect with the term “Asian American.” Korean immigrants, for instance, may not see their history connected with third-generation Japanese Americans, particularly when considering their homelands have been in conflict for decades.

    For some, Asian American is too broad a term to capture the complexity of Asian-heritage Americans.

    Indeed, Asian Americans come from over 30 countries with different languages, diverse cultures, and histories that have often been in conflict with other Asian nations. Within such a broad grouping as “Asian American,” a wide range of political, socioeconomic, religious and other differences emerge that greatly complicate this racial label.

    Even though the term remains contested, many Asians still see value in the concept. Much like the activists who first created the label in the 1960s, many believe it signifies a sense of solidarity and community among people who – despite their many differences – have been treated like outsiders to the American experience, regardless of how American their roots are.

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

    – ref. How Asian American became a racial grouping – and why many with Asian roots don’t identify with the term these days – https://theconversation.com/how-asian-american-became-a-racial-grouping-and-why-many-with-asian-roots-dont-identify-with-the-term-these-days-255578

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Change of His Majesty’s Ambassador to Poland: Dame Melinda Simmons

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Change of His Majesty’s Ambassador to Poland: Dame Melinda Simmons

    Dame Melinda Simmons DCMG has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Poland in succession to Ms Anna Clunes CMG OBE who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Dame Melinda will take up her appointment during August 2025.

    Dame Melinda Simmons DCMG

    Curriculum vitae           

    Full name: Melinda Veronica Simmons

    Date Role
    2024 to present Full time language training
    2023 to 2024 University College London, Visiting Professor
    2019 to 2023 Kyiv, His Majesty’s Ambassador
    2016 to 2019 National Security Secretariat, Director, Joint Funds Unit
    2013 to 2016 FCO, Deputy Director, Head of Conflict Department
    2011 to 2013 DFID, Deputy Director, Head of Europe Department
    2010 to 2011 DFID, Head of the Humanitarian Emergency Response Review
    2009 to 2010 DFID, Deputy Director, Head of Middle East Department
    2005 to 2008 Pretoria, Head of DFID Southern Africa
    2002 to 2005 DFID, Deputy Head, Africa Policy Department
    2000 to 2002 DFID, Head of Conflict Policy, Conflict Department
    1998 to 2000 DFID, Team Leader, Russia Desk
    1994 to 1998 International Alert, Public Affairs Officer
    1990 to 1994 Primesight Intl, International Marketing Manager
    1988 to 1990 The Register Group, International Marketing Officer and Associate Director

    Media enquiries

    Email newsdesk@fcdo.gov.uk

    Telephone 020 7008 3100

    Contact the FCDO Communication Team via email (monitored 24 hours a day) in the first instance, and we will respond as soon as possible.

    Updates to this page

    Published 13 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Global: AI can scan vast numbers of social media posts during disasters to guide first responders

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Ademola Adesokan, Postdoctoral Researcher in Computer Science, Missouri University of Science and Technology

    Rescuers need to know ASAP where they’re needed in disasters. AP Photo/Mike Stewart

    When disasters happen – such as hurricanes, wildfires and earthquakes – every second counts. Emergency teams need to find people fast, send help and stay organized. In today’s world, one of the fastest ways to get information is through social media.

    In recent years, researchers have explored how artificial intelligence can use social media to help during emergencies. These programs can scan millions of posts on sites such as X, Facebook and Instagram. However, most existing systems look for simple patterns like keywords or images of damage.

    In my research as an AI scientist, I’ve developed new models that go further. They can understand the meaning and context of posts – what researchers call semantics. This helps improve how accurately the system identifies people in need and classifies situational awareness information during emergencies. The results show that these tools can give rescue teams a clearer view of what’s happening on the ground and where help is needed most.

    From posts to lifesaving insights

    People share billions of posts on social media every day. During disasters, they often share photos, videos, short messages and even their location. This creates a huge network of real-time information.

    How social media can help when a disaster strikes, by the European Commission.

    But with so many posts, it’s hard for people to find what’s important quickly. That’s where artificial intelligence helps. These systems, which use machine learning, can scan thousands of posts every second, find urgent messages, spot damage shown in pictures, and tell real information from rumors.

    During Hurricane Sandy in 2012, people sent over 20 million tweets over six days. If AI tools had been used then, they could have helped find people in danger even faster.

    Training AIs

    Researchers begin by teaching AI programs to understand emergencies. In one study I conducted, I looked at thousands of social media posts from disasters. I sorted them into groups like people asking for help, damaged buildings and general comments. Then, I used these examples to train the program to sort new posts by itself.

    One big step forward was teaching the program to look at pictures and words together. For example, a photo of flooded streets and a message like “we’re trapped” are stronger signals than either one alone. Using both, the system became much better at showing where people needed help and how serious the damage was.

    Finding information is just the first step. The main goal is to help emergency teams act quickly and save lives.

    I’m working with emergency response teams in the United States to add this technology to their systems. When a disaster hits, my program can show where help is needed by using social media posts. It can also classify this information by urgency, helping rescue teams use their resources where they are needed most.

    For example, during a flood, my system can quickly spot where people are asking for help and rank these areas by urgency. This helps rescue teams act faster and send aid where it’s needed most, even before official reports come in.

    AI scans of social media could help guide first responders to where they’re most urgently needed.
    Jon Cherry/Getty Images

    Addressing the challenges

    Using social media to help during disasters sounds great, but it’s not always easy. Sometimes, people post things that aren’t true. Other times, the same message gets posted many times or doesn’t clearly state where the problem is. This mix can make it hard for the system to know what’s real.

    To fix this, I’m working on ways to check a post’s credibility. I look at who posted it, what words they used and whether other posts say the same thing.

    I also take privacy seriously. I only use posts that anyone can see and never show names or personal details. Instead, I look at the big picture to find patterns.

    The future of disaster intelligence

    As AI systems improve, they are likely to be even more helpful during disasters. New tools can understand messages more clearly and might even help us see where trouble is coming before it starts.

    As extreme weather worsens, authorities need fast ways to get good information. When used correctly, social media can show people where help is needed most. It can help save lives and get supplies to the right places faster.

    In the future, I believe this will become a regular part of emergency work around the world. My research is still growing, but one thing is clear: Disaster response is no longer just about people on the ground – it’s also about AI systems in the cloud.

    Ademola Adesokan receives funding from the National Science Foundation and the Kummer Institute for Student Success, Research, and Economic Development at the Missouri University of Science and Technology through the Kummer Innovation and Entrepreneurship Doctoral Fellowship.

    – ref. AI can scan vast numbers of social media posts during disasters to guide first responders – https://theconversation.com/ai-can-scan-vast-numbers-of-social-media-posts-during-disasters-to-guide-first-responders-255316

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why collect asteroid samples? 4 essential reads on what these tiny bits of space rock can tell scientists

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Mary Magnuson, Associate Science Editor

    The OSIRIS-REx sample return capsule contained rock from the asteroid Bennu. NASA/Keegan Barber

    China’s Tianwen-2 asteroid sample return mission is set to launch this month, May 2025, en route to the asteroid Kamoʻoalewa (2016 HO3). The country could join the United States and Japan, whose space agencies have both successfully retrieved a sample from an asteroid to study back on Earth.

    Several space missions have flown by asteroids before and gotten a peek at their compositions, but bringing a sample back to Earth is even more helpful for scientists. The most informative analyses require having physical samples to poke and prod, shine light at, run through CT scanners and examine under electron microscopes.

    These missions require detailed planning and specialized spacecraft, so to shed light on why agencies go through the trouble, we compiled four stories from The Conversation U.S.’s archive. These articles describe the ways asteroid sample return missions generate new scientific insights at every stage – from the collection process, to the container’s return to Earth, to laboratory analyses.

    1. Ryugu’s colorful history

    The asteroid Ryugu is made of carbon-rich rock. Japan targeted Ryugu for its sample return mission Hayabusa2 in 2020.

    A sealed container that holds a piece of the Ryugu sample from Japan’s Hayabusa2 mission.
    NASA/Robert Markowitz

    As planetary scientist Paul K. Byrne from Washington University in St. Louis described in his article, the Hayabusa2 team shot the asteroid with a metal projectile and collected the dusty debris that floated into space. This process allowed the Hayabusa2 craft to gather a sample to bring home and also get a close-up look at the asteroid’s surface.

    One thing the collection team noticed: The material that flew off the asteroid was redder than the surface they shot at, which had a bluer tinge.

    Some parts of Ryugu appear almost striped – the middle latitudes are redder, while the poles look more blue. The sample collection process gave researchers some hints about why that is.

    “At some point the asteroid must have been closer to the Sun that it is now,” Byrne wrote. “That would explain the amount of reddening of the surface.”



    Read more:
    Touching the asteroid Ryugu revealed secrets of its surface and changing orbit

    2. Return capsules make shock waves

    Similar to how researchers gained valuable data just from the Hayabusa2 collection process, atmospheric scientists didn’t even need to open the OSIRIS-REx sample return capsule to learn something new.

    NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission traveled to the carbon-rich asteroid Bennu and sent home a small capsule containing a sample in September 2023.

    Released from the OSIRIS-REx craft, the sample return capsule hurtled down to Earth in a heavy box about the size of a microwave. Aside from the fact that it had been released from a spacecraft about 63,000 miles (102,000 kilometers) away, the return looked strikingly similar to that of a meteorite hitting Earth.

    Scientists don’t often have the advance notice needed to study how real meteoroids – the term given to meteorites before they hit the ground – behave when they enter the atmosphere, so they jumped on the opportunity to study the capsule as it returned to Earth.

    As physicists Brian Elbing from Oklahoma State University and Elizabeth A. Silber from Sandia National Laboratories discussed in their article, OSIRIS-REx’s reentry was the perfect opportunity to study what happens in the atmosphere when meteoroid-size objects fly through.

    The teams set up networks of sensitive microphones and other instruments – both on the ground and attached to balloons – to log the sound wave frequencies that the capsule generated in the atmosphere. Understanding how waves travel through the atmosphere can help scientists figure out how to detect hazards such as natural disasters.



    Read more:
    NASA’s asteroid sample mission gave scientists around the world the rare opportunity to study an artificial meteor

    3. Building blocks of life on Bennu

    Once the OSIRIS-REx return capsule was safely back on Earth, researchers across the world – including geologist Timothy J. McCoy from the Smithsonian Institution and planetary scientist Sara Russell from the Natural History Museum in the U.K. – got to work running tests on its contents, while handling the sample carefully to avoid contaminating it.

    As they described in their article, McCoy and Russell found the sample was mostly water-rich clay, which they expected from a carbon-rich asteroid. But they also found a surprising amount of salty and brine-related minerals. These minerals form when water evaporates off a rock’s surface.

    Because these minerals – aptly called evaporites – dissolve when they come into contact with moisture, scientists had never seen them in the meteorites that fly through Earth’s atmosphere, even ones with similar compositions to Bennu. The spacecraft’s sample container kept the Bennu sample airtight, so these evaporites stayed intact.

    These results suggest that the asteroid used to be wet and muddy. And a salty, water-rich environment like Bennu may have once been a great place for organic molecules to form. Some scientists predict that Earth got its ingredients for life from a collision with an asteroid like Bennu.



    Read more:
    Bennu asteroid reveals its contents to scientists − and clues to how the building blocks of life on Earth may have been seeded

    4. Looking ahead: Asteroid mining

    Asteroid sample return missions generate lots of scientific insights. They can also help space agencies and companies understand what exactly is out there, available to bring home from asteroids. While carbon-rich asteroids like Bennu and Ryugu aren’t flush with precious metals, other asteroids have more valuable contents.

    Launched in 2023 and currently traveling through space, NASA’s Psyche mission will explore a metallic asteroid. The Psyche asteroid likely contains platinum, nickel, iron and possibly gold – all materials of commercial interest.

    Scientists can learn about the formation and composition of Earth’s core from metallic asteroids like Psyche, which is the mission’s main goal. But as planetary scientist Valerie Payré from the University of Iowa wrote in her article, “The Psyche mission is a huge step in figuring out what sort of metals are out there.”

    For now, commercial asteroid mining operations are science fiction – not to mention legally fraught. But some companies have started considering early-stage plans for how they one day might do it. Asteroid sample missions can lay some early groundwork.



    Read more:
    NASA’s robotic prospectors are helping scientists understand what asteroids are made of – setting the stage for miners to follow someday

    This story is a roundup of articles from The Conversation’s archives.

    – ref. Why collect asteroid samples? 4 essential reads on what these tiny bits of space rock can tell scientists – https://theconversation.com/why-collect-asteroid-samples-4-essential-reads-on-what-these-tiny-bits-of-space-rock-can-tell-scientists-255705

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Researchers uncovered hundreds of genes linked to OCD, providing clues about how it changes the brain − new research

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Carol Mathews, Professor of Psychiatry, University of Florida

    No single gene causes OCD, but identifying the genetic markers linked to the condition can help clarify how it develops. Viktoria Ruban/iStock via Getty Images Plus

    Obsessive compulsive disorder has many unknowns, including what causes it, why symptoms can differ so much between people, how medication and therapy for it actually work, and why treatment is effective for some people and not for others. In our newly published research, my colleagues and I made a step toward unraveling some of these mysteries by shedding light on the genetics of OCD.

    Obsessive compulsive disorder is one of the most impairing illnesses worldwide. Affecting about 1 in 50 people globally, OCD is among the top 10 causes of years lost to disability, leading to harmful effects on a person’s ability to work and function in the world and on their family.

    Compared with people without OCD, a person with the condition has a 30% higher chance of dying prematurely from natural causes, such as infections or other illnesses, and a 300% higher chance of dying early from nonnatural causes, such as accidents or suicide.

    People with OCD experience obsessions – disturbing, recurrent and unwanted thoughts, fears or mental images – and compulsions, such as repetitive behaviors and rituals performed to ease the anxiety usually caused by obsessions. For example, someone might wash their hands dozens of times or in a specific way to get rid of germs, even if they know it’s excessive or illogical. Avoiding certain places or situations to reduce anxiety or prevent triggering obsessions and compulsions is also common.

    People with OCD have compulsions that interfere with their daily lives to a debilitating degree.
    Jena Ardell/Moment via Getty Images

    While the exact causes of OCD are unclear, researchers know that both genetic and environmental factors play a role in its development. OCD can run in families; studies attribute between 40% to 65% of OCD cases to genetic factors. OCD that begins in childhood has a stronger genetic influence than OCD that begins in adulthood.

    But unlike some genetic diseases caused by a single faulty gene, such as cystic fibrosis or Huntington’s disease, OCD is influenced by hundreds to thousands of genes that each play a small part in disease risk.

    My colleagues and I analyzed the DNA of over 53,000 people with OCD and over 2 million people without OCD, the largest study of this kind for this condition. We discovered hundreds of genetic markers potentially linked to OCD – data we hope will ultimately lead to improved ways of identifying people who are at risk for OCD and, down the line, to better treatments.

    How scientists study OCD genetics

    To find the genes involved in OCD risk, researchers use a method called a genome-wide association study, or GWAS. These studies compare the DNA of tens to hundreds of thousands of people with a disease of interest with the DNA of people without the disease, looking for tiny differences in the genetic material. These genetic markers may be linked to OCD or indicate the presence of other genes linked to the disease.

    In a GWAS, scientists carefully test each of the millions of genetic markers across the genome to identify those found more often in people with OCD than in people without OCD. They then determine which genes those markers are associated with, where in the body they are active and how they might contribute to the condition.

    GWAS studies look for genetic associations between different traits.

    We identified 30 areas in the genome linked to OCD, containing 249 genes of interest in total. Of those, 25 genes stood out as likely contributors to the development of OCD.

    The top three genes we found are also linked to other brain disorders such as depression, epilepsy and schizophrenia. Several other genes of interest for OCD were found in a region of the genome that plays a role in adaptive immunity and has been associated with other psychiatric disorders.

    Importantly, no single gene can predict or cause OCD on its own. Previous genetic studies have demonstrated that genes across all of the 23 pairs of chromosomes in people may contribute to OCD risk.

    Genetic insights into OCD

    Because the contribution of each genetic marker or gene to disease susceptibility is very small, GWAS are not useful for identifying genes that cause OCD for a given person. Rather, this kind of research helps scientists understand how the brain works in people with OCD and whether OCD shares genetic roots with conditions that commonly occur alongside it.

    For example, the genetic markers we found to be associated with OCD were highly active in several brain regions known to play a role in development of the condition. These brain areas are collectively involved in planning, decision-making, motivation, error detection, emotion regulation, and fear and anxiety, all of which can malfunction in OCD.

    We also found associations with a brain region called the hypothalamus, which converts emotions such as fear, anger, anxiety or excitement into physical responses. The hypothalamus has not been directly linked to OCD before, but it is part of a network of brain regions that may contribute to its symptoms.

    Additionally, we found that certain types of brain cells – particularly medium spiny neurons in a brain region called the striatum – were strongly linked to the OCD genes we identified. Medium spiny neurons play an important role in habit formation, the process by which a behavior becomes automatic and habitual – think compulsions. Specific receptors on medium spiny neurons are common targets for medications that are sometimes used to help treat OCD.

    Many people with OCD also suffer from anxiety.
    triocean/iStock via Getty Images Plus

    The results of our study can help researchers better understand the relationships between OCD and other conditions. We found genetic links between OCD and several other psychiatric disorders, especially anxiety, depression, anorexia and Tourette syndrome. People with OCD also showed lower genetic risk for conditions such as alcohol dependence and risk-taking behavior, aligning with what doctors see in clinics: Many people with OCD tend to be cautious and avoid risks.

    Surprisingly, we also found genetic overlaps between OCD immune-related conditions. While having OCD appears to be linked to an increased risk of asthma and migraines, it may also be linked to a reduced risk of inflammatory bowel disease. These findings may lead to new insights about the role the immune system and inflammation play in brain health.

    More effective OCD treatment

    OCD is a complex disorder that can look very different from person to person. Understanding the genetic and biological factors behind OCD helps researchers move closer to better diagnosis, treatment and possibly even prevention.

    As a practicing psychiatrist and researcher, I have spent my career working to understand the causes of OCD and to improve the lives of those who live with the condition. With larger studies and continued research, my team and I hope to better match specific biological patterns to individual symptoms.

    In time, this could lead to more personalized and effective treatments – improving the lives of millions of people living with OCD around the world.

    Carol Mathews receives funding from the National Institutes of Health. She is a member of the scientific advisory boards for the Family Foundation for OCD Research and the International OCD Foundation, and acts as a consultant for the Office of Mental Health for the State of New York.

    – ref. Researchers uncovered hundreds of genes linked to OCD, providing clues about how it changes the brain − new research – https://theconversation.com/researchers-uncovered-hundreds-of-genes-linked-to-ocd-providing-clues-about-how-it-changes-the-brain-new-research-255572

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China and Central Asian countries ready to deepen cooperation in education

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    URUMQI, May 13 (Xinhua) — The first China-Central Asia Education Ministers’ Meeting was held in Urumqi, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, on Monday, calling for deeper cooperation in areas such as scientific research, vocational education and more.

    Delivering a keynote speech at the meeting, Chinese Education Minister Huai Jinpeng noted that China pays close attention to cooperation with Central Asian countries in the field of education. Over the past two years, the parties have cooperated more closely and achieved fruitful results, he said.

    Regarding deepening China-Central Asia educational cooperation, Huai Jinpeng called for building new platforms for comprehensive exchanges and cooperation, forming a new system of higher education cooperation for joint training of professionals, unleashing the potential of cooperation in vocational education, strengthening cooperation in digital education based on resource sharing, and promoting exchanges between civilizations in China and Central Asian countries.

    As stated by the Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan Sayasat Nurbek, Kazakhstan and China have developed fruitful cooperation in scientific research and education and actively promoted exchanges between specialists, while the youth of the two countries are showing growing interest in studying in each other’s countries.

    At the meeting, he also stressed the importance of expanding academic interaction, strengthening cooperation in postgraduate education, and enhancing the integration of artificial intelligence in the education process.

    At the meeting, the Minister of Education and Science of the Kyrgyz Republic Dogdurkul Kendirbaeva proposed the development of cooperation in the field of developing a green economy and environmental education, supporting projects on artificial intelligence, digital technologies, e-commerce and innovative business models, as well as the continuous development of relevant projects in the field of biodiversity and climate change.

    The Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Tajikistan Rahim Saidzod stated that as the level of informatization of the social sphere increases, Tajikistan will actively promote technological innovations and cooperation in various aspects, including neural networks, robotic automated production, 3D printing, etc.

    Minister of Education of Turkmenistan Jumamyrat Gurbangeldiev noted that Turkmenistan and China maintain an active intercultural dialogue, which has laid a solid foundation for the sustainable development of bilateral cooperation in the field of education.

    The Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of the Republic of Uzbekistan Kongratbay Sharipov put forward an initiative to strengthen cooperation in the “China-Central Asia” format in the field of professional education in such specialized areas as agricultural engineering, green logistics, medical technologies, car maintenance, etc.

    Following the meeting, the Working Charter of the Mechanism of the China-Central Asia Education Ministers’ Meeting and the Urumqi Declaration of the China-Central Asia Education Ministers’ Meeting were adopted.

    The meeting announced the establishment of the China-Central Asia Alliance for the Integration of Education and Production and the Central Asian branch of the Global Institute for Teacher Education, as well as the launch of several projects in the research field.

    Meanwhile, a number of memorandums and agreements between educational institutions were signed at the event. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Using TheirStory to Help Tell Our Stories

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    UConn professor and Associate Director of Africana Studies, Fiona Vernal, is making strides to preserve oral histories from Connecticut communities using a platform called TheirStory.

    TheirStory is an oral history platform and was created during the pandemic. CEO Zack Ellis founded the company as a way to preserve his own family histories.

    The platform has grown since its inception and is supported by a nationwide network of universities and historical organizations from UConn to UCLA. It has features to take people through every step of the process of oral history preservation. Users can record, transcribe, index, organize and more to tailor and share their oral histories.

    “There are many, many ways that you can record. Recording has never been the problem when it comes to collecting stories. It’s always what happens after you record,” says Vernal.  “How do you transcribe it? How do you share it? How do you produce it? How do you package it for preservation? TheirStory fits into that ecosystem by providing the last 50% of the miles that you need for processing.”

    Vernal began working with Ellis and TheirStory in 2022. She was working on a project in Hartford on West Indian, African American, and Puerto Rican migrations to the city and received a call from Ellis. “I had been doing oral histories, but experiencing the same bottlenecks as everyone does,” says Vernal. “I ran my oral histories through TheirStory, and I was a convert immediately.”

    “I had a vision for how to share this resource with other folks who were doing the same kind of work,” Vernal says. “If you don’t have a good way to process and generate a transcript, an index and a summary, it’s very difficult to do anything. And it was my mission to try and change that landscape.”

    A State with Many Stories to Tell 

    Vernal and UConn began a partnership with Connecticut Humanities a year later. Vernal scaled her use of the platform from a personal level to a statewide collaboration between UConn, Connecticut Humanities, and the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History.

    “One of the things that the UConn strategic plan does is that it forces us, as faculty, to figure out what statewide service we can provide to citizens,” Vernal says. “As a state entity, we owe it to the citizens, right? I take it as a serious charge and responsibility that UConn should be benefiting the state.”

    Vernal credits Connecticut Humanities for helping expand her individual license as a researcher into a state license for anyone in Connecticut. The Connecticut Museum of Culture and History also helped expand this program into a statewide initiative, “Not just in terms of visibility, but also in terms of service,” says Vernal.

    The Connecticut Museum of Culture and History had a COVID-era oral history project about the impact of the pandemic on the state. “They were at the beginning of a new oral history project that was more expansive, and not just focused on COVID, so it made sense for them to be our partners as well,” Vernal says.

    The state license for oral history gives everyone in the state free access to the platform. It gives museums, libraries, students, community organizations and more the ability to learn more and utilize information on oral histories around the state.

    One of the pilot projects UConn and Vernal worked on included an oral history project for the Connecticut River Museum’s 50th anniversary. Another was for the Mather Homestead in Darien, “Which involves a house museum connected to the Mather lineage of Increase and Cotton Mather in the 1600s,” says Vernal. The Mather family donated their home to become a museum, and they wanted to gather oral histories of the family for the archives.

    Vernal also worked with the Windsor Historical Society, “which was looking at African American civic engagement in the town of Windsor, and also celebrating its own hundredth anniversary,” Vernal says.

    Connecticut is rich in both history and communities with rich traditions, as the projects Vernal has been involved with demonstrate. At the Enfield Historical Society, there is an exhibition about African American Heritage. In Bloomfield, an exhibit on the town’s African American, Jewish and West Indian heritage will premiere in September 2025. The Caribbean Heritage Museum will open in October to overlap with Founders Day at the West Indian Social Club of Hartford.

    “They are my longest-running collaborators,” says Vernal. “I’ve been collaborating with them since I was in graduate school, and they’re going to lend me a segment of the club to transform it into a permanent gallery for a Caribbean Heritage Museum. Folks can come and have that experience and figure out why Connecticut has West Indians as the largest foreign-born population.”  It will be the first Caribbean Heritage Museum in the Northeast.

    ‘History is Unfolding Now’

    Since activating the state license for the platform, Vernal and UConn have reported 107 projects signed up on TheirStory. Of those, about 50% are active, which means that people working on those stories are actively doing interviews and processing oral histories. “We thought we would get 50, and we’ve more than doubled that,” says Vernal. “For me, that’s been a resounding success.”

    For people who want to share their own stories, Vernal describes the process as “frictionless.” “If you know how to use Zoom, then the barriers to entry are very low,” she says. “You get a link, curate your background for lighting and make sure you look the way you want to look, and then you can focus on being the center of attention for the moment without having to worry about controls.” The people at TheirStory and UConn take care of all the logistical matters, while participating individuals are only responsible for sharing their history.

    Vernal is not worried about people fabricating their stories on the platform. “My mantra is that everyone is an expert in their own life story,” she says. “They might not be an expert into the statistical significance of their experiences, but they’re certainly an expert in their own life experiences and their own emotions.”

    The access to these stories is something Vernal is excited about. “We have the State Historical Society, which is well-staffed, and then we have something like the Wintonbury Historical Society, which is all volunteer. So organizations that are poorly staffed or well-endowed can all use this platform and move forward with building up their collection,” says Vernal. “I like that leveling effect, because that’s what investment in infrastructure should do. It should make it possible that no matter what your entry point is, no matter what your size is, you’re getting the skills, training and software that you need to be successful in your specific mission. Whether you’re the kid who wants to interview your parent or you are the organization that wants to do 500 oral histories, you both get exactly what you need to be successful.

    “I want to make the official case for oral histories as a way to build inclusive collections that help you document the ‘now.’ UConn has a tradition of robust support for oral history; this is part of our roots and our heritage,” says Vernal. “Organizations are obsessed with documents from the 1600s, 1700s, 1800s and the 1900s. History is unfolding now, we’re living through historic times now. We need to document these stories in real time, and oral histories can do that.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why protecting wildland is crucial to American freedom and identity

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Leisl Carr Childers, Associate Professor of History, Colorado State University

    The Wet Beaver Wilderness in Coconino National Forest in Arizona is one of many designated wilderness areas in the U.S. Deborah Lee Soltesz

    As summer approaches, millions of Americans begin planning or taking trips to state and national parks, seeking to explore the wide range of outdoor recreational opportunities across the nation. A lot of them will head toward the nation’s wilderness areas – 110 million acres, mostly in the West, that are protected by the strictest federal conservation rules.

    When Congress passed the Wilderness Act in 1964, it described wilderness areas as places that evoked mystery and wonder, “where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain.” These are wild landscapes that present nature in its rawest form.

    The law requires the federal government to protect these areas “for the permanent good of the whole people.” Wilderness areas are found in national parks, conservation land overseen by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, national forests and U.S. Fish and Wildlife refuges.

    In early May 2025, the U.S. House of Representatives began to consider allowing the sale of federal lands in six counties in Nevada and Utah, five of which contain wilderness areas. Ostensibly, these sales are to promote affordable housing, but the reality is that the proposal, introduced by U.S. Rep. Mark Amodei, a Nevada Republican, is a departure from the standard process of federal land exchanges that accommodate development in some places but protect wilderness in others.

    Regardless of whether Americans visit their public lands or know when they have crossed a wilderness boundary, as environmental historians we believe that everyone still benefits from the existence and protection of these precious places.

    This belief is an idea eloquently articulated and popularized 65 years ago by the noted Western writer Wallace Stegner. His eloquence helped launch the modern environmental movement and gave power to the idea that the nation’s public lands are a fundamental part of the United States’ national identity and a cornerstone of American freedom.

    Humble origins

    In 1958, Congress established the Outdoor Recreation Resources Review Commission to examine outdoor recreation in the U.S. in order to determine not only what Americans wanted from the outdoors, but to consider how those needs and desires might change decades into the future.

    One of the commission’s members was David E. Pesonen, who worked at the Wildland Research Center at the University of California at Berkeley. He was asked to examine wilderness and its relationship to outdoor recreation. Pesonen later became a notable environmental lawyer and leader of the Sierra Club. But at the time, Pesonen had no idea what to say about wilderness.

    However, he knew someone who did. Pesonen had been impressed by the wild landscapes of the American West in Stegner’s 1954 history “Beyond the Hundredth Meridian: John Wesley Powell and the Second Opening of the West.” So he wrote to Stegner, who at the time was at Stanford University, asking for help in articulating the wilderness idea.

    Stegner’s response, which he said later was written in a single afternoon, was an off-the-cuff riff on why he cared about preserving wildlands. This letter became known as the Wilderness Letter and marked a turning point in American political and conservation history.

    Pesonen shared the letter with the rest of the commission, which also shared it with newly installed Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall. Udall found its prose to be so profound, he read it at the seventh Wilderness Conference in 1961 in San Francisco, a speech broadcast by KCBS, the local FM radio station. The Sierra Club published the letter in the record of the conference’s proceedings later that year.

    But it was not until its publication in The Washington Post on June 17, 1962, that the letter reached a national audience and captured the imagination of generations of Americans.

    Wallace Stegner, right, knew the power of American wilderness landscapes. In this photo, probably from the 1950s, he pauses with his son Page and wife, Mary, on a Yosemite National Park hiking trail.
    Multimedia Archives, Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library, University of Utah

    An eloquent appeal

    In the letter, Stegner connected the idea of wilderness to a fundamental part of American identity. He called wilderness “something that has helped form our character and that has certainly shaped our history as a people … the challenge against which our character as a people was formed … (and) the thing that has helped to make an American different from and, until we forget it in the roar of our industrial cities, more fortunate than other men.”

    Without wild places, he argued, the U.S. would be just like every other overindustrialized place in the world.

    In the letter, Stegner expressed little concern with how wilderness might support outdoor recreation on public lands. He didn’t care whether wilderness areas had once featured roads, trails, homesteads or even natural resource extraction. What he cared about was Americans’ freedom to protect and enjoy these places. Stegner recognized that the freedom to protect, to restrain ourselves from consuming, was just as important as the freedom to consume.

    Perhaps most importantly, he wrote, wilderness was “an intangible and spiritual resource,” a place that gave the nation “our hope and our excitement,” landscapes that were “good for our spiritual health even if we never once in ten years set foot in it.”

    Without it, Stegner lamented, “never again will Americans be free in their own country from the noise, the exhausts, the stinks of human and automotive waste.” To him, the nation’s natural cathedrals and the vaulted ceiling of the pure blue sky are Americans’ sacred spaces as much as the structures in which they worship on the weekends.

    Stegner penned the letter during a national debate about the value of preserving wild places in the face of future development. “Something will have gone out of us as a people,” he wrote, “if we ever let the remaining wilderness be destroyed.” If not protected, Stegner believed these wildlands that had helped shape American identity would fall to what he viewed as the same exploitative forces of unrestrained capitalism that had industrialized the nation for the past century. Every generation since has an obligation to protect these wild places.

    Stegner’s Wilderness Letter became a rallying cry to pass the Wilderness Act. The closing sentences of the letter are Stegner’s best: “We simply need that wild country available to us, even if we never do more than drive to its edge and look in. For it can be a means of reassuring ourselves of our sanity as creatures, a part of the geography of hope.”

    This phrase, “the geography of hope,” is Stegner’s most famous line. It has become shorthand for what wilderness means: the wildlands that defined American character on the Western frontier, the wild spaces that Americans have had the freedom to protect, and the natural places that give Americans hope for the future of this planet.

    Death Valley National Park in California contains one of the largest protected wilderness areas in the United States.
    National Park Service/E. Letterman

    America’s ‘best idea’

    Stegner returned to themes outlined in the Wilderness Letter again two decades later in his essay “The Best Idea We Ever Had: An Overview,” published in Wilderness magazine in spring 1983.

    Writing in response to the Reagan administration’s efforts to reduce protection of the National Park System, Stegner declared that the parks were “Absolutely American, absolutely democratic.” He said they reflect us as a nation, at our best rather than our worst, and without them, millions of Americans’ lives, his included, would have been poorer.

    Public lands are more than just wilderness or national parks. They are places for work and play. They provide natural resources, wildlife habitat, clean air, clean water and recreational opportunities to small towns and sprawling metro areas alike. They are, as Stegner said, cures for cynicism and places of shared hope.

    Stegner’s words still resonate as Americans head for their public lands and enjoy the beauty of the wild places protected by wilderness legislation this summer. With visitor numbers increasing annually and agency budgets at historic lows, we believe it is useful to remember how precious these places are for all Americans. And we agree with Stegner that wilderness, public lands writ large, are more valuable to Americans’ collective identity and expression of freedom than they are as real estate that can be sold or commodities that can be extracted.

    Leisl Carr Childers has received funding from the USDA Forest Service, the Henry Luce Foundation, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and Charles Redd Center for Western Studies.

    Michael Childers has received funding from the USDA Forest Service, the Henry Luce Foundation, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and the Charles Redd Center for Western Studies.

    – ref. Why protecting wildland is crucial to American freedom and identity – https://theconversation.com/why-protecting-wildland-is-crucial-to-american-freedom-and-identity-254862

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: AFRICA/CAMEROON – Archbishop of Garoua: “Father Mbaibarem is still in the hands of the kidnappers”

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Yaoundé (Agenzia Fides) – “Father Mbaibarem is still in the hands of the kidnappers. From time to time, they contact some locals to demand a ransom for his release,” Archbishop Faustin Ambassa Ndjodo of Garoua in northern Cameroon told Fides. Father Valentin Mbaibarem, parish priest of the Church of St. John the Baptist in Madingring, was kidnapped on May 7, on the road between Guidjiba and Tcholliré.”The road between Guidjiba and Tcholliré is a dangerous stretch of road, as there have been several cases of kidnappings with the aim of extorting travelers, but this is the first time a priest has been kidnapped on this road,” said Bishop Ambassa Ndjodo. Northern Cameroon has been plagued by kidnappings for years (see Fides, 5/1/2024). According to local newspapers, several teachers were taken hostage on this road a few days before Father Mbaibarem’s kidnapping.The gendarmerie began a search of the area, which led to the release of a hostage who had been kidnapped on May 10 in a village near Garoua. As a sign of solidarity and spiritual support, the Archbishop asked all parishes of the archdiocese to offer a special prayer for Father Mbaibarem on Sunday, May 11. He also invoked the intercession of the Virgin Mary for the priest’s speedy release. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 13/5/2025)
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: IOM and NAUSS Strengthen Regional Cooperation on Migration and Border Governance

    Source: International Organization for Migration (IOM)

    Geneva, 13 May 2025 – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has signed a Letter of Intent with the Naif Arab University for Security Sciences (NAUSS) to establish the framework for the second phase of the Arab Center for Technical Cooperation on Migration and Border Management (ACTC-MBM).

    This milestone builds on the achievements of a longstanding collaboration between IOM and NAUSS—the academic body of the Arab Interior Ministers Council—and reaffirms the shared commitment to advancing regional cooperation on migration and border governance across the 22 Arab States.

    “This partnership with NAUSS and other key institutions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is strategically important to IOM’s global and regional mission. ACTC-MBM has already made a real difference in how migration and border management are addressed,” said Ugochi Daniels, IOM Deputy Director General for Operations. “The next phase offers a clear and ambitious path to deepen our cooperation through data, technology, and innovation, and IOM remains fully committed to advancing this shared vision.”

    The second phase of the ACTC-MBM, spanning 2025 to 2029 with a budget of USD 6 million, will deepen institutional cooperation, scale up technical assistance, and enhance policy dialogue and capacity-building across the region.

    NAUSS plays a critical role in equipping security professionals across the Arab region with cutting-edge skills and knowledge. Its commitment to innovation is reflected in its forward-looking vision, which integrates emerging technologies into curricula and practice—ranging from digital border management tools to data-driven approaches for migration governance.

    The contract will be formally signed later in 2025, during the annual anniversary ceremony of NAUSS, which will be convened under the patronage of the Minister of the Interior of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz.

    The agreement also reinforces IOM’s strategic engagement with Arab States to promote safe, orderly, and regular migration while supporting rights-based and integrated approaches to border management.

    For more information, please contact IOM Media Centre  

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Trump guts low-income energy assistance as summer heat descends and electricity prices rise

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Conor Harrison, Associate Professor of Economic Geography, University of South Carolina

    Cities like Houston get high humidity in addition to the heat, making summer almost unbearable without cooling. Brandon Bell/Getty Images

    The U.S. is headed into what forecasters expect to be one of the hottest summers on record, and millions of people across the country will struggle to pay their power bills as temperatures and energy costs rise.

    A 2023 national survey found that nearly 1 in 4 Americans were unable to pay their full energy bill for at least one month, and nearly 1 in 4 reported that they kept their homes at unsafe temperatures to save money. By 2025, updated polling indicated nearly 3 in 4 Americans are worried about rising energy costs.

    Conservative estimates suggest that utilities shut off power to over 3 million U.S. households each year because the residents cannot pay their bills.

    This problem of high energy prices isn’t lost on the Trump administration.

    On the first day of his second term in 2025, President Donald Trump declared a national energy emergency by executive order, saying that “high energy prices … devastate Americans, particularly those living on low- and fixed incomes.”

    Secretary of Energy Christopher Wright raised concerns about utility disconnections and outlined a mission to “shrink that number, with the target of zero.”

    Yet, the administration’s 2026 budget proposal zeros out funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, the federal program that administers funding to help low-income households pay their utility bills. And on April 1, 2025, the administration laid off the entire staff of the LIHEAP office.

    During the hottest periods, even nighttime temperatures might not drop below 90 in Phoenix. Without air conditioning, homes can become dangerously hot.
    Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

    Many people already struggle to cobble together enough help from various sources to pay their power bills. As researchers who study energy insecurity, we believe gutting the federal office responsible for administering energy bill assistance will make it even harder for Americans to make ends meet.

    The high stakes of energy affordability

    We work with communities in South Carolina and Tennessee where many residents struggle to heat and cool their homes.

    We see how high energy prices force people to make dangerous trade-offs. Low-income households often find themselves choosing whether to buy necessities, pay for child care or pay their utility bills.

    One elderly person we spoke with for our research, Sarah, explained that she routinely forgoes buying medications in order to pay her utility bill. Another research participant who connects low-income families to energy bill assistance in Tennessee said: “I’ve gone into these homes, and it’s so hot. Your eyes roll in the back of your head. It’s like you can’t breathe. How do you sit in here? It’s just unreal.”

    Unfortunately, these stories are increasingly common, especially in low-income communities and communities of color.

    Electricity prices are predicted to rise with worsening climate change: More frequent heat waves and extreme weather events drive up demand and put pressure on the grid. Furthermore, rising energy demand from data centers – supercharged by the increasing energy use by artificial intelligence – is accelerating price increases.

    Shrinking resources for assistance

    LIHEAP, created in 1981, provides funding to states as block grants to help low-income families pay their utility bills. In fiscal year 2023, the program distributed US$6.1 billion in energy assistance, helping some 5.9 million households avoid losing power connections.

    The program’s small staff played critical roles in disbursing this money, providing implementation guidelines, monitoring state-level fund management and tracking and evaluating program effectiveness.

    A long line of utility customers wait to apply for help from the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program in Trenton, N.J., in 2011. In 2023, around 6 million households benefited from LIHEAP.
    AP Photo/Mel Evans

    LIHEAP has historically prioritized heating assistance in cold-weather states over cooling assistance in warmer states. However, recent research shows a need to revisit the allocation formula to address the increasing need for air conditioning. The layoffs removed staff who could direct this work.

    It is unlikely that other sources of funding can fill in the gaps if states do not receive LIHEAP funds from the federal government. The program’s funding has never been high enough to meet the need. In 2020, LIHEAP provided assistance to just 16% of eligible households.

    Our research has found that, in practice, many households rely on a range of local nonprofits, faith-based organizations and informal networks of family and friends to help them pay their bills and keep the power on.

    For example, a research participant named Deborah reported that when faced with a utility shut-off, she “drove from church to church to church” in search of assistance. United Way in South Carolina received over 16,000 calls from people seeking help to pay their utility bills in 2023.

    These charitable services are an important lifeline for many, especially in the communities we study in the South. However, research has shown that faith-based programs do not have the reach of public programs.

    Without LIHEAP, the limited funds provided by nonprofits and the personal connections that people patch together will be stretched even thinner, especially as other charitable services, such as food banks, also face funding cuts.

    What’s ahead

    The $4.1 billion that Congress allocated to LIHEAP for the 2025 fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30, has already been disbursed. Going forward, however, cuts to LIHEAP staff affect its ability to respond to growing need. Congress now has to decide if it will kill the program’s future funding as well.

    Maricopa County in Arizona, home to Phoenix, illustrates what’s at stake. Annual heat-related deaths have risen 1,000% there in the past decade, from 61 to 602. Hundreds of these deaths occurred indoors.

    Cooling becomes essential during Arizona’s extreme summers. Maricopa County, home to Phoenix, reported more than 600 heat-related deaths in 2024.
    AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin

    We believe gutting LIHEAP puts the goal of energy affordability for all Americans – and Americans’ lives – in jeopardy. Until more affordable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, can be scaled up, an expansion of federal assistance programs is needed, not a contraction.

    Increasing the reach and funding of LIHEAP is one option. Making home weatherization programs more effective is another.

    Governments could also require utilities to forgive past-due bills and end utility shut-offs during the hottest and coldest months. About two dozen states currently have rules to prevent shut-offs during the worst summer heat.

    For now, the cuts mean more pressure on nonprofits, faith-based organizations and informal networks. Looking ahead to another exceptionally hot summer, we can only hope that cuts to LIHEAP staff don’t foreshadow a growing yet preventable death toll.

    Etienne Toussaint, a law professor at the University of South Carolina, and Ann Eisenberg, a law professor at West Virginia University, contributed to this article.

    Conor Harrison receives funding from the National Science Foundation and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

    Elena Louder receives funding from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

    Nikki Luke receives funding from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. She previously worked at the U.S. Department of Energy.

    Shelley Welton receives funding from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

    – ref. Trump guts low-income energy assistance as summer heat descends and electricity prices rise – https://theconversation.com/trump-guts-low-income-energy-assistance-as-summer-heat-descends-and-electricity-prices-rise-256194

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: FJCU President Prof. Francis Yi-Chen Lan Pays Courtesy Visit to Director General Wu

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    Fu Jen Catholic University President Prof. Francis Yi-Chen Lan – a true pride of the Taiwanese community in Sydney – visited the city and paid a return call on Director General David Cheng-Wei Wu.
    President Lan shared highlights from his first year at FJCU and outlined a bold roadmap for the university’s future. He expressed confidence that FJCU is on track to become one of the top universities in Taiwan.
    As 2025 marks FJCU’s centennial anniversary, we warmly wish President Lan every success in leading the university to new heights and further strengthening education ties between Taiwan and Australia.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitget Launches Starlink Program to Bridge the Digital Divide in Philippine Island Communities

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SIARGAO, Philippines, May 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget, the leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company, has launched its Starlink Program, bringing high-speed satellite internet to remote islands in the Philippines in a bold move to tackle digital inequality. The initiative, which kicked off in Siargao’s Espoir School of Life and Barangay Pitogo, addresses chronic connectivity gaps that have long hindered education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. By deploying Starlink’s cutting-edge technology, Bitget aims to empower these communities with reliable internet access, laying the groundwork for future blockchain education and financial inclusion.  

    For years, Siargao’s residents have relied on fragile microwave radio connections, leaving them vulnerable to frequent outages, slow speeds, and exclusion from the digital economy. Schools like Espoir, which serves underprivileged children, struggle with offline-only learning, while villages like Barangay Pitogo face isolation due to unreliable communication networks. 

    “Without stable internet, entire communities are locked out of modern education, remote work, and even basic services like telemedicine. This isn’t just about connectivity, it’s about equity. Internet access shouldn’t be a privilege, it’s the foundation for everything from education to decentralized finance. We’re building doors to the digital world one island at a time,” said Vugar Usi Zade, COO at Bitget.

    The program’s first phase includes a Starlink hardware installation at Espoir School and Barangay Pitogo’s public school. This will provide six months of high-speed satellite internet, enabling access to online curricula, teacher training, and e-governance tools. With this, Bitget plans to provide long-term support through $10M Blockchain 4 Youth and $10M Blockchain 4 Her initiatives, which will introduce blockchain literacy and digital finance skills to students and women-led cooperatives. The total investment of 155,400 Philippine pesos, which covers hardware, subscriptions, and logistics. A modest cost for transformative impact. 

    Bitget’s initiative shows a growing recognition in the crypto industry: Adoption starts with access. By addressing infrastructure barriers first, the exchange is creating a replicable model for other underserved regions. Future phases could expand to neighboring islands, leveraging partnerships with local NGOs and government units. 

    The Starlink kits will go live in May, with Bitget documenting the rollout through impact reports and community stories. For Espoir’s students, the change will be immediate: interactive lessons, global collaborations, and soon blockchain workshops. For Barangay Pitogo, it’s a leap toward resilient communication during typhoon seasons. 

    As Bitget scales this program, the message is clear: crypto’s future isn’t just about markets, it’s about people. And sometimes, changing lives starts with something as simple as an internet signal.

    About Bitget

    Established in 2018, Bitget is the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company. Serving over 100 million users in 150+ countries and regions, the Bitget exchange is committed to helping users trade smarter with its pioneering copy trading feature and other trading solutions, while offering real-time access to Bitcoin price, Ethereum price, and other cryptocurrency prices. Formerly known as BitKeep, Bitget Wallet is a world-class multi-chain crypto wallet that offers an array of comprehensive Web3 solutions and features including wallet functionality, token swap, NFT Marketplace, DApp browser, and more.

    Bitget is at the forefront of driving crypto adoption through strategic partnerships, such as its role as the Official Crypto Partner of the World’s Top Football League, LALIGA, in EASTERN, SEA and LATAM markets, as well as a global partner of Turkish National athletes Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu (Wrestling world champion), Samet Gümüş (Boxing gold medalist) and İlkin Aydın (Volleyball national team), to inspire the global community to embrace the future of cryptocurrency.

    For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord | Bitget Wallet

    For media inquiries, please contact: media@bitget.com

    Risk Warning: Digital asset prices are subject to fluctuation and may experience significant volatility. Investors are advised to only allocate funds they can afford to lose. The value of any investment may be impacted, and there is a possibility that financial objectives may not be met, nor the principal investment recovered. Independent financial advice should always be sought, and personal financial experience and standing carefully considered. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Bitget accepts no liability for any potential losses incurred. Nothing contained herein should be construed as financial advice. For further information, please refer to our Terms of Use.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a78ae617-7c0a-42a6-8d66-fc3393c512ca

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Plotly Honored as Bronze Stevie Award Winner In 2025 American Business Awards

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MONTREAL, May 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Plotly, the premier Data App platform for Python, has been named a Bronze Stevie® Award winner in the Artificial Intelligence/ Machine Learning Solution – Other category in The 23rd Annual American Business Awards®.

    Plotly Dash Enterprise empowers data scientists and data analysts to build interactive analytical applications using Python. This AI-powered solution eliminates the need for extensive front-end development skills, bridging the gap between complex analytics and actionable insights and accelerating decision-making. Tailored for diverse industries, including finance and healthcare, as well as for generative AI use cases, Plotly Dash combines cutting-edge AI with robust data app development capabilities to empower organizations to harness the full potential of their data science initiatives while reducing development time and costs.

    “We are extremely pleased to be recognized with this prestigious industry award, which recognizes our contribution in the area of AI and data analytics,” said Jim McIntosh, Plotly CEO. “Over 4 million monthly users are already taking advantage of Plotly AI to create interactive data apps, and by integrating advanced AI capabilities and improving the overall user experience, we’re enabling organizations to transform complex data into intuitive, business-focused dashboards that drive measurable ROI.”

    “Organizations across the United States continue to demonstrate resilience and innovation,” said Stevie Awards president Maggie Miller. “The 2025 Stevie winners have helped drive that success through their innovation, persistence, and hard work. We congratulate all of the winners in the 2025 ABAs and look forward to celebrating their achievements during our June 10 gala event in New York.”

    The American Business Awards are the premier business awards program in the U.S. All organizations operating in the U.S. are eligible to submit nominations – public and private, for-profit and non-profit, large and small. This year, more than 3,600 nominations from organizations of all sizes and in virtually every industry were submitted for consideration in a wide range of categories.

    To learn more about the future of data apps and join the 5,000+ companies that use Plotly:

    • Read the Plotly Blog to get an insider’s look at what’s next for data apps.
    • Join a Plotly Dash Demo to see how Dash makes data come alive in future-forward visualizations and apps.
    • Download this Plotly white paper to learn how AI-powered data app dev builds what BI never could.
    • See how to go from raw data to dynamic apps in minutes in this Plotly Tour.
    • Discover how Plotly Customers are putting data and AI to work for production data applications.

    About Plotly
    Plotly is a leading provider of open-source graphing libraries and enterprise-grade analytics solutions. Its flagship product, Dash Enterprise, enables organizations to build scalable and interactive data apps that drive impactful decision-making. To learn more about Plotly, visit our website at http://www.plotly.com

    For media inquiries:
    Brigit Valencia
    For Plotly
    brigit@compel-pr.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: FAVO Capital Announces Conversion of Super Voting Series C Shares to Common Stock

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., May 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — via IBN — FAVO Capital, Inc. (OTC: FAVO), a publicly traded private credit firm specializing in merchant cash advances (MCAs) and revenue-based financing for underserved small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), today announced the voluntary conversion of all outstanding Super Voting Series C Preferred Shares into common stock.

    The corporate governance action simplifies the Company’s capital structure and aligns voting rights more closely with public market expectations. The move is a proactive step as the Company continues preparations for its planned uplisting to the Nasdaq Capital Market.

    “Converting our Series C Super Voting Shares demonstrates our commitment to transparency, governance and best practices as well as long-term value creation,” said Vincent Napolitano, CEO of FAVO Capital. “It’s another important step forward as we align our structure with shareholder and institutional investor expectations.”

    The conversion eliminates all outstanding Series C Preferred stock with its super voting rights, improving accessibility and aligning with broader market standards for public company governance.

    About FAVO Capital, Inc.

    FAVO Capital, Inc. (OTC: FAVO) is a private credit firm specializing in alternative financing solutions for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) across the United States. Since its inception, FAVO Capital has supported more than 10,000 businesses. FAVO Capital is committed to financial transparency, sustainable growth, and empowering SMBs with flexible funding solutions. Headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, FL, the company also has operations in New York and the Dominican Republic.

    For more information, visit www.favocapital.com and follow us on LinkedIn and X.

    Investor Alerts

    Interested investors and shareholders are encouraged to sign up for press releases and industry updates by registering for Email Alerts at FAVO News Alerts.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements include, but are not limited to, projections, estimates, and expectations regarding future trends, financial performance, and operational strategies. Forward-looking statements are often identified by words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “believes,” “plans,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “may,” “will,” “should,” or similar expressions.

    These statements are based on the company’s current beliefs, expectations, and assumptions and are subject to significant risks, uncertainties, and changes in circumstances that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. Factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to, market conditions, regulatory developments, competition, economic conditions, and the company’s ability to execute its business strategy.

    Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated, and investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events, circumstances, or changes in expectations after the date of this press release, except as required by law.

    Company Contact:

    FAVO Capital, Inc.
    4300 N University Drive
    D-105
    Lauderhill, FL 33351

    Investor Relations:
    Scott McGowan
    InvestorBrandNetwork (IBN)
    Phone: 310.299.1717
    ir@favocapital.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Increase in admissions at MSF centre specialised in treating people for extreme violence in Mexico City

    Source: Médecins Sans Frontières –

    Mexico City – The number of mental health consultations and new patients admitted to the Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Comprehensive Care Centre (CAI, in Spanish) for victims of extreme violence, based in Mexico City, Mexico, has increased significantly in the last six months. MSF attributes the increase to continued violence at the hands of various armed groups — both organised crime groups and security forces — along the migration route through Central America and Mexico, fuelled by a slew of harsh changes to immigration policies by the United States (US) and other governments in the region. As needs increase, we urge public entities and NGOs to strengthen assistance to people in Mexico who have been victims of violence and are seeking safety.  

    In the first quarter of 2025, MSF teams provided 485 individual mental health sessions to patients at the CAI, including to migrants in transit through or stranded in Mexico and Mexican citizens. This represents a 36% increase compared with the number of sessions provided in the three months prior. Throughout 2024, MSF provided an average of 300 to 350 individual mental health sessions each quarter. Between January and March this year, the most common conditions people presented with were post-traumatic stress disorder (48%) and depression (39%), as well as acute stress reactions (7%), grief, and anxiety. 

    “Since the end of January, we have treated people with severe mental health issues due in large part to the impact of restrictive immigration policies recently implemented by the US and other governments in the region,” says Joaquim Guinart, coordinator of the CAI.  

    48 %

    48%

    Post-traumatic stress disorder

    39 %

    39%

    Depression

    7 %

    7%

    Acute stress reactions

    A flurry of executive actions taken by US President Donald Trump in January included the declaration of a national emergency at the US southern border—effectively militarising immigration enforcement— and the temporary suspension of refugee admissions to the US. 

    Even before the executive orders were issued, the new administration took swift action to shut down the CBP One app that, despite its flaws, was the only way to apply for asylum at the US southern border. The impact of these restrictions is further compounded by funding cuts to humanitarian programmes, severely affecting access to shelter and basic healthcare needs. 

    “These abrupt changes have left many people trapped in legal limbo, with no pathway to seek asylum and no access to essential services or protection,” says Guinart.  

    These combined measures further erode access to asylum and increase the risks for migrants—particularly children and other vulnerable groups—as people are pushed towards using increasingly dangerous routes and methods to seek asylum or trapped in unsafe locations where they are at heightened risk of kidnappings, extortion, and sexual violence.

    The CAI opened in 2016 to provide comprehensive care for survivors of extreme violence and torture, including medical care, psychology sessions, and physical therapy, among other services. The goal is to help patients regain their autonomy and heal physically and emotionally. Most people receive three to six months of treatment, and there are between 30-50 patients admitted at any one time. In 2024, MSF teams identified 4,500 victims of moderate to extreme violence through our projects in different points of attention in Mexico or through partners. We admitted 186 to the CAI for comprehensive treatment, others were provided care through mobile and fixed clinics or referred to other organisations for care.  

    Although most patients admitted are migrants, since the last quarter of 2024, the CAI has also focused on treating Mexican patients who are displaced or affected by violence occurring in various parts of the country. This coincides with a significant increase in admissions to the CAI during that period—64 in total, which represents an increase of more than 50 per cent over the usual quarterly average of 40.

    “The goal is for patients to regain their functionality and reintegrate into society,” says Guinart. “The CAI is a refuge for those affected by violence. Kidnappings, extortion, abuse, sexual violence, and other forms of violence affect many people along the migratory route from the south of the continent to Mexico’s northern border with the United States.”  

    “At the CAI we find extremely vulnerable people,” says Guinart. “Women and children make up the bulk of the cohort. We also care for many LGBTQI+ people. Violence leaves deep scars, not only causing physical damage, but also serious psychological disorders. Specialised care is required as many patients experience changes in their perception of safety, trust, and well-being,”.

    “I didn’t know if I would be able to trust people again,” says Elena*, a patient at the CAI. “The violence made me feel unworthy of love or respect.” Through therapy, Elena has begun to regain her self-esteem. “I’ve learned that my past doesn’t define me and that I can build a better future.”  

    “Every day is a struggle,” says another patient. “Anxiety consumes me, but here I feel I have a safe space to express myself and heal.”

    “The difficulty in accessing adequate care makes recovery for many people affected by extreme violence much more arduous,” says Henry Rodríguez, MSF’s general coordinator in Mexico. “In these challenging times of cuts in humanitarian aid, it is essential to recognise the importance of providing comprehensive support and cooperation between public entities and non-governmental organisations to direct these people to the few services available.” 

    *Name has been changed.  

    MSF’s work in the region: Between January 2024 and February 2025, MSF teams in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica, and Panama treated nearly 3,000 victims and survivors of sexual violence and provided more than 20,000 individual mental health consultations, many of them precipitated by violence, displacement, and difficulties in the migration process. 

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Revitalising health infrastructure towards equitable healthcare

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    By Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko

    In recent weeks, pressing infrastructure challenges facing our public hospitals have been in the spotlight. The recent incidents including the patient complaint at Helen Joseph Hospital and two alarming fires at Tembisa Provincial Tertiary Hospital, have intensified the public discourse around the state of our healthcare facilities. As the MEC for Health and Wellness in Gauteng, I want to assure residents that we are committed to revitalising our health infrastructure for quality patient care.

    We understand and acknowledge the public concerns and we are taking active steps to address these issues. The establishment of in-house Infrastructure Unit at the Gauteng Department of Health is a positive step towards accelerating our efforts to improve the health infrastructure in the province. This Unit has developed a maintenance and refurbishment plan and collaborates closely with facility managers to expedite necessary upgrades.

    This initiative is a fundamental shift on how we manage health infrastructure which previously was mainly overseen by our sister Department of Infrastructure Development. Since the formation of Unit, several facilities have already undergone maintenance and refurbishments. Notable projects include the overhaul of several areas at Mamelodi Regional Hospital such as Radiology department, ART Waiting Area, HOD’s Offices, Eye Clinic, Rest Rooms and Triage and Casualty waiting area. In addition, three wards have been extended, namely, the Female Medical Ward, Male Surgical Ward and Paediatric Ward to increase the bed capacity to take in more patients.

    Significant progress continues at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, where we have completed numerous projects, including the new Psychiatric Admission Ward, ICU wards and extensions to the Adult Burns Unit. The Poly Clinic, Paediatric Ward mother’s waiting area, new outpatient waiting area and restrooms at Edenvale Hospital have also been refurbished. Maintenance and the renovation of critical departments at Rahima Moosa Hospital are at an advanced stage towards completion, so far, renovations of the Breast Milk Bank in Dietetics department and Neonatal isolation room are complete. 

    Helen Joseph Hospital’s Emergency Department which we opened in May 2024, boast eight resuscitation and two isolation rooms, 15 medical rooms, 10 surgical rooms and 6 rooms for critically stable patients. The building has been restructured, receiving new ceiling and roofing, flooring, plumbing, electrification and HVEC as well as an enhanced IT system. It also has improved units for persons living with disabilities and improved staff workstations, including those for porters and cleaners. 

    Another facility that has raised public concerns is Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital. Since the fire incident that occurred four years ago, key milestones and progress has been made in restoring the hospital to its full capacity. The appointment of a contractor to undertake the ongoing remedial work project has been completed and the process of destruction and reconstruction is actively underway and progressing well. This remedial work project is being implemented in a phased approach to ensure continuity of the healthcare delivery throughout the reconstruction process. To date, several areas have been completed including the Radiation Oncology Unit, Accident and Emergency Department, access ramp was constructed to allow staff members to easily access 300 parking bays at P3. A new state-of-the-art dry store facility has been constructed to improve storage and accessibility. 

    These projects are just key highlights of our infrastructure revitalisation plan that is underway across all five health districts in the province. A comprehensive maintenance and refurbishment plan developed will ensure that every hospital and clinic undergo the necessary upgrades. We must understand that many of our public hospitals were built decades ago and the aging infrastructure we now face creates challenges for our healthcare system. 

    It is also important to also mention that Gauteng is a populous province with around 16 million residents, many of whom rely on public healthcare services. We also see the influx of patients from nearby provinces and neighbouring countries, this growing population contributes to an increased demand for quality healthcare, further straining the existing facilities. However, we understand that access to healthcare is a Constitutional right for everyone and we continue striving to serve all our patients with compassion and care.  

    As the country gears towards the implementation of the National Health Insurance (NHI), we recognise the urgency to prepare our facilities to meet the set criteria for NHI rollout. Amid the fiscal constraints, we are doing our best to address the infrastructure challenges in the public healthcare system. Our plans include not only rehabilitating existing infrastructure but also constructing new facilities to meet the increasing demand. As announced by the Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi when delivering the State of the Province Address, work is ongoing to accelerate the land suitability investigations and business cases towards the construction of the four new hospitals in Daveyton, Diepsloot, Orange Farm and Soshanguve. These projects will go a long way in alleviating the pressure on the public health system and further expanding access to the much-needed healthcare for the residents of Gauteng. 

    As government, we recognise the importance of private-public partnerships and in Gauteng Health, we have seen the generosity of our partners and donors who continue to play their part in ensuring that our facilities are well maintained and equipped to meet the needs of the communities we serve. These private-public partnerships are a testament of what we can achieve when we work together to improve lives and communities. 

    *Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko is the Member of Executive Council in Gauteng Provincial Government responsible for Health and Wellness portfolio. 
     

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Iran and Ethiopia have a security deal – here’s why they signed it

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Eric Lob, Associate Professor of Politics and International Relations, Florida International University

    Ethiopia and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on 6 May 2025. Under it, their national police agencies will cooperate on security and intelligence. This will include combating cross-border crime, sharing intelligence and building capacity. They will also share experiences and training.

    For Iran, the MOU marks a significant step towards strengthening relations with a regional power that’s strategically located in the Horn of Africa.

    Tehran has been using its security apparatus and military capabilities to establish and expand political and economic ties with countries in Africa. This has included drone transfers to the Ethiopian government that helped it turned the tide of the Tigray war, a separatist struggle in the country’s north that took place from 2020 to 2022.

    Iran has also supplied the Sudanese army with surveillance and combat drones. These have been used against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in Sudan’s ongoing civil war.

    The agreement is important for Ethiopia for two reasons.

    Firstly, it’s likely to enable the Ethiopian government in Addis Ababa to combat ethnic militias more effectively. It faces increasing internal instability, including tensions with hostile factions of the separatist Tigray People’s Liberation Front.

    Secondly, the agreement comes after a meeting in Addis Ababa between the Ethiopian police chief, Demelash Gebremichael, and a delegation from Iran’s regional rival, the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The exchange concentrated on investigating and extraditing cross-border criminals.

    Addis Ababa’s willingness to work with regional rivals in the Middle East shows its pragmatic approach to foreign relations. Ethiopia needs all the friends it can muster as an embattled and weakened state. Since the Tigray war, it has battled the rise of ethnic militias and confronted economic adversity. It is also facing renewed hostility with neighbouring Eritrea.

    What Iran stands to gain

    Since 2016, Ethiopia has been a gateway for Iran to gain a foothold in the Horn of Africa. That year, other countries in the region severed relations with Iran. This followed Tehran’s disengagement from sub-Saharan Africa under Hassan Rouhani, who served as president from 2013 to 2021, and his prioritisation of a nuclear deal with the US.

    The severing of ties was also a byproduct of geopolitical pressure exerted by Saudi Arabia and the UAE on countries in the region. The Middle Eastern states wanted to reduce, if not eliminate, Iran’s presence in the Horn of Africa and Red Sea to limit its support for Houthi rebels in the ongoing Yemeni civil war.

    Read more: Iran’s intervention in Sudan’s civil war advances its geopolitical goals − but not without risks

    Ethiopia was the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to establish relations with Iran during the 1960s. It was also one of its top trading partners on the continent before and after the 1979 Iranian Revolution.

    Strategically and ideologically, this special relationship was based on the pro-western and anti-communist stances of their monarchs: the Shah of Iran Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who ruled from 1941 to 1979, and Emperor Haile Selassie, who was in power from 1930 to 1974.

    After the revolution, Iran-Ethiopia relations revived under Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who served as Iranian president from 2005 to 2013. He pursued an active Africa policy to mitigate Iran’s international isolation and circumvent US sanctions.

    After Rouhani initially downgraded these relations, they were renewed during his second term. This followed US withdrawal from the nuclear deal.

    Relations firmed when Ebrahim Raisi, who served as Iranian president from 2021 to 2024, delivered military drones and other aid to Addis Ababa during the Tigray war.

    What’s in it for Ethiopia

    Ethiopia is facing increasing instability and uncertainty. The Tigray war has depleted the state’s resources. There is an economic crisis caused by rising inflation and unemployment.

    Addis Ababa continues to confront ethnic tensions. Hostile factions of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front remain. It also faces tensions with the Amhara Fano militia, which initially fought alongside the government against Tigrayan forces. Forced disarmament policies and ongoing land disputes caused the militia to take up arms against the government.

    Read more: Somaliland-Ethiopia port deal: international opposition flags complex Red Sea politics

    Ethiopian prime minister Abiy Ahmed also faces growing opposition and resistance from his own ethnic group, the majority Oromo, and their Oromo Liberation Army. The reason for their discontent is Abiy’s imposition of centralised rule on their regional state within a federal system.

    The security and intelligence cooperation with Iran could allow Addis Ababa to combat ethnic militias more effectively.

    It would also enable Ethiopia to prepare for another possible war against neighbouring Eritrea.

    Ethiopia and Eritrea normalised relations and fought together against Tigrayan forces. However, tensions between the two countries have been brewing again. These have been triggered by two factors. First, the conditions of the 2022 Pretoria peace agreement caused Eritrea to maintain forces inside Ethiopia. Second are the ambitions of Addis Ababa to acquire a Red Sea port in Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia. Eritrea has supported Somalia’s opposition to the deal.

    Regional power games

    This isn’t the first time that Ethiopia has tried working with two regional rivals – Iran and the UAE. The UAE is also among its top trading partners, along with Saudi Arabia.

    In 2016, Ethiopia was the only country in the Horn of Africa that didn’t cut ties with Iran, though it was under pressure from the UAE and Saudi Arabia to do so. The decision was taken by Abiy’s predecessor, Hailemariam Desalegn, whose term ran from 2012 to 2018.

    During the Tigray war, Ethiopia received military drones and other assistance from Iran and the UAE, alongside Turkey.

    The civil war in Sudan has presented an even more complicated story. Ethiopia has vacillated between engaging with the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces at different points in the conflict.

    For its part, Iran has supported the Sudanese army. The UAE has backed the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.

    Ethiopia’s efforts to strengthen its security ties with Iran and the UAE show a unique case of convergence between regional rivals that have otherwise remained on opposite sides of conflicts in countries like Yemen and Sudan.

    – Iran and Ethiopia have a security deal – here’s why they signed it
    – https://theconversation.com/iran-and-ethiopia-have-a-security-deal-heres-why-they-signed-it-256486

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI: Farmers of Salem Proudly Spotlights Breast Cancer Survivor and Employee, Loraine Lester, for Her Generous Charitable Giving Work

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    WILMINGTON, Del., May 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Farmers of Salem, a regional mutual insurance company specializing in insurance for home and business owners, is proud to support employee involvement in charitable activities that improve the quality of life in those communities where our employees live. Today, we spotlight Loraine Lester, AVP, Product & Underwriting Development, who is celebrating her 10-year career with Farmers.

    Back in 2016, Loraine was new to Delaware and struggling to find the right oncologist after her 1st diagnosis. At her doctor’s office she was handed a pamphlet about the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition (DBCC). “This organization has been there in my good times, when my cancer went into remission, and in the bad times, when I was diagnosed with a reoccurrence that progressed to Stage IV. I have developed a network of survivors who have been through the same process as me. We share our war stories and compare notes.”

    Loraine is a committee member of DBCC’s Lights of Life Gala, held annually, while also serving as a peer mentor for the Peer Mentor Program. For the Gala, Loraine helps backstage with the Survivor Showcase – organizing doctors and/or industry escorts with survivors, in a backstage manager role. Loraine also, chips in where needed with the Gala event setup, organizing meetings, decorations, etc. Next year’s Gala will be on March 7, 2026, held at Bally’s in Dover, DE.

    The mission of DBCC is to empower the community by raising awareness of breast health issues and increasing access to care through outreach, education and support services, and to facilitate early detection and treatment of breast cancer. Their vision is to create a caring community where barriers to breast cancer screenings are removed and all persons at risk, served by DBCC, have access to quality care and treatment. DBCC will ensure each individual diagnosed receives resources to become a thriving survivor, armed with the knowledge and support needed to conquer this disease.

    Commenting on her volunteer work as a Peer Mentor, Loraine said, “I’ve been fortunate to meet and help many mentees over the years. Once we are trained, we are matched with newly diagnosed breast cancer patients that have a similar diagnosis to ours. We are, basically, an outlet for support, a shoulder to cry on, and a resource for the individual to fully understand all that DBCC can provide the survivor on their cancer journey.”

    Not only does Loraine volunteer for the organization, but she continues to use their services. Loraine says, “The Nurture with Nature service is one of my favorites. This program allows cancer survivors to come together to be nurtured and healed by experiencing the power, beauty, and serenity of nature. I also actively participate in their support groups for metastatic thrivers and young survivors, to name a few.”

    Regarding Loraine’s long career at Farmers, she stated: “I really enjoy my job, it offers lots of variety. I also appreciate and enjoy working with my colleagues. They are an extension of my family.”

    For more information about Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition, visit www.debreastcancer.org. 

    About Farmers of Salem
    Founded in 1851, and located on the Riverfront in Wilmington DE, Farmers of Salem provides insurance coverage to homeowners and businesses in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland through a network of independent agents. Rated A- Excellent by A.M. Best Company and a Financial Stability Rating of A Exceptional by Demotech, Inc. “We pride ourselves in providing Superior Service with Personal Attention,” says Kim Lorenzini, Vice President, Marketing & Business Development.

    Farmers of Salem provides compensated Volunteer Time Off (VTO) to full-time employees for use during their regular workday. Farmers’ recognizes volunteering provides employees with a valuable opportunity to meaningfully support their chosen charitable missions and is very proud of their employee’s service to others.

    For more information about Farmers of Salem, visit www.farmersofsalem.com. 

    As a mutual corporation, fundamentally rooted in serving our community, we engage in corporate philanthropy, giving annually to an array of organizations and causes. Through our giving, in local markets where we have a presence, Farmers of Salem has supported educational development, physical education, and health and wellness programs that provide communities in most need with essential services, opportunities to improve the quality of their lives and provide them with assets to create a better future.

    A partial list of events and organizations that Farmers of Salem supports annually:

    • Autism Delaware
    • Serviam Girls Academy
    • Vehicles for Veterans
    • Salem County Humane Society
    • Habitat for Humanity
    • VFW Post #253
    • Operation Legacy
    • Keeping Hope Alive, Inc.
    • Temple University 
    • Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts
    • Holiday Service Project – Thanksgiving Food Baskets – Salvation Army
    • Make A Wish
    • American Red Cross
    • American Cancer Society
    • Longwood Gardens
    • Bo Lends a Paw Pet Pantry

    Contact: Kim Lorenzini
    856-628-0150
    klorenzini@fosnj.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c27967d8-52cc-4447-968e-f386484557cb

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Secretary-General of ASEAN meets with ASEAN Manaaki Scholars in Wellington

    Source: ASEAN

    Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today met with ASEAN Manaaki Scholars at the Victoria University of Wellington, during his Working Visit to New Zealand. The engagement provided an opportunity for the SG Dr. Kao to interact with ASEAN students pursuing higher education in New Zealand under the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship programme. SG Dr. Kao underscored the importance of education, youth empowerment, and people-to-people connectivity as vital parts of the ASEAN Community.

    The post Secretary-General of ASEAN meets with ASEAN Manaaki Scholars in Wellington appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Iran and Ethiopia have a security deal – here’s why they signed it

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Eric Lob, Associate Professor of Politics and International Relations, Florida International University

    Ethiopia and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on 6 May 2025. Under it, their national police agencies will cooperate on security and intelligence. This will include combating cross-border crime, sharing intelligence and building capacity. They will also share experiences and training.

    For Iran, the MOU marks a significant step towards strengthening relations with a regional power that’s strategically located in the Horn of Africa.

    Tehran has been using its security apparatus and military capabilities to establish and expand political and economic ties with countries in Africa. This has included drone transfers to the Ethiopian government that helped it turned the tide of the Tigray war, a separatist struggle in the country’s north that took place from 2020 to 2022.

    Iran has also supplied the Sudanese army with surveillance and combat drones. These have been used against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in Sudan’s ongoing civil war.

    The agreement is important for Ethiopia for two reasons.

    Firstly, it’s likely to enable the Ethiopian government in Addis Ababa to combat ethnic militias more effectively. It faces increasing internal instability, including tensions with hostile factions of the separatist Tigray People’s Liberation Front.

    Secondly, the agreement comes after a meeting in Addis Ababa between the Ethiopian police chief, Demelash Gebremichael, and a delegation from Iran’s regional rival, the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The exchange concentrated on investigating and extraditing cross-border criminals.

    Addis Ababa’s willingness to work with regional rivals in the Middle East shows its pragmatic approach to foreign relations. Ethiopia needs all the friends it can muster as an embattled and weakened state. Since the Tigray war, it has battled the rise of ethnic militias and confronted economic adversity. It is also facing renewed hostility with neighbouring Eritrea.

    What Iran stands to gain

    Since 2016, Ethiopia has been a gateway for Iran to gain a foothold in the Horn of Africa. That year, other countries in the region severed relations with Iran. This followed Tehran’s disengagement from sub-Saharan Africa under Hassan Rouhani, who served as president from 2013 to 2021, and his prioritisation of a nuclear deal with the US.

    The severing of ties was also a byproduct of geopolitical pressure exerted by Saudi Arabia and the UAE on countries in the region. The Middle Eastern states wanted to reduce, if not eliminate, Iran’s presence in the Horn of Africa and Red Sea to limit its support for Houthi rebels in the ongoing Yemeni civil war.



    Read more:
    Iran’s intervention in Sudan’s civil war advances its geopolitical goals − but not without risks

    Ethiopia was the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to establish relations with Iran during the 1960s. It was also one of its top trading partners on the continent before and after the 1979 Iranian Revolution.

    Strategically and ideologically, this special relationship was based on the pro-western and anti-communist stances of their monarchs: the Shah of Iran Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who ruled from 1941 to 1979, and Emperor Haile Selassie, who was in power from 1930 to 1974.

    After the revolution, Iran-Ethiopia relations revived under Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who served as Iranian president from 2005 to 2013. He pursued an active Africa policy to mitigate Iran’s international isolation and circumvent US sanctions.

    After Rouhani initially downgraded these relations, they were renewed during his second term. This followed US withdrawal from the nuclear deal.

    Relations firmed when Ebrahim Raisi, who served as Iranian president from 2021 to 2024, delivered military drones and other aid to Addis Ababa during the Tigray war.

    What’s in it for Ethiopia

    Ethiopia is facing increasing instability and uncertainty. The Tigray war has depleted the state’s resources. There is an economic crisis caused by rising inflation and unemployment.

    Addis Ababa continues to confront ethnic tensions. Hostile factions of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front remain. It also faces tensions with the Amhara Fano militia, which initially fought alongside the government against Tigrayan forces. Forced disarmament policies and ongoing land disputes caused the militia to take up arms against the government.



    Read more:
    Somaliland-Ethiopia port deal: international opposition flags complex Red Sea politics

    Ethiopian prime minister Abiy Ahmed also faces growing opposition and resistance from his own ethnic group, the majority Oromo, and their Oromo Liberation Army. The reason for their discontent is Abiy’s imposition of centralised rule on their regional state within a federal system.

    The security and intelligence cooperation with Iran could allow Addis Ababa to combat ethnic militias more effectively.

    It would also enable Ethiopia to prepare for another possible war against neighbouring Eritrea.

    Ethiopia and Eritrea normalised relations and fought together against Tigrayan forces. However, tensions between the two countries have been brewing again. These have been triggered by two factors. First, the conditions of the 2022 Pretoria peace agreement caused Eritrea to maintain forces inside Ethiopia. Second are the ambitions of Addis Ababa to acquire a Red Sea port in Somaliland, a breakaway region of Somalia. Eritrea has supported Somalia’s opposition to the deal.

    Regional power games

    This isn’t the first time that Ethiopia has tried working with two regional rivals – Iran and the UAE. The UAE is also among its top trading partners, along with Saudi Arabia.

    In 2016, Ethiopia was the only country in the Horn of Africa that didn’t cut ties with Iran, though it was under pressure from the UAE and Saudi Arabia to do so. The decision was taken by Abiy’s predecessor, Hailemariam Desalegn, whose term ran from 2012 to 2018.

    During the Tigray war, Ethiopia received military drones and other assistance from Iran and the UAE, alongside Turkey.

    The civil war in Sudan has presented an even more complicated story. Ethiopia has vacillated between engaging with the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces at different points in the conflict.

    For its part, Iran has supported the Sudanese army. The UAE has backed the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.

    Ethiopia’s efforts to strengthen its security ties with Iran and the UAE show a unique case of convergence between regional rivals that have otherwise remained on opposite sides of conflicts in countries like Yemen and Sudan.

    Eric Lob 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. Iran and Ethiopia have a security deal – here’s why they signed it – https://theconversation.com/iran-and-ethiopia-have-a-security-deal-heres-why-they-signed-it-256486

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 6 May 2025 Strengthening alcohol control and road safety policies

    Source: World Health Organisation

    The African Region has one of the highest burdens of alcohol-related deaths globally – averaging 70 deaths per 100,000 people – second only to Europe. In some countries, this rises to 84 deaths per 100,000. With rapid population growth, even more people are expected to be affected unless stronger policies are implemented. Yet across much of the continent, comprehensive alcohol policies remain scarce, outdated or poorly enforced, leaving countries ill-equipped to tackle the rising harm from alcohol consumption.

    In April, 60 representatives from 15 countries across the World Health Organization’s (WHO) African Region gathered in Accra, Ghana for a landmark SAFER inter-country learning workshop aimed at strengthening collaboration and accelerating implementation of alcohol control and road safety policies. The workshop was jointly hosted and supported by WHO, the WHO-led SAFER Initiative, and the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety (BIGRS), with financial support from Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Government of Norway.

    The synergy between the SAFER Initiative and Bloomberg Initiative for Global Road Safety (BIGRS) is critical, as both initiatives share a common goal of reducing alcohol-related harm and improving road safety. Let us seize this opportunity to work together for a safer, healthier Ghana and Africa.

    Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, Minister for Health, Ghana

    The 15 country teams included representatives from the ministries of health, transport, finance, and justice, as well as from the offices of the attorneys general, to accelerate the implementation of high-impact alcohol control and road safety policies.

    Multisectoral collaboration is essential – not optional – for achieving lasting public health outcomes. Today’s complex health challenges demand coordinated action across government sectors, civil society, and the private sector, all working together with communities. Only through shared responsibility and joint efforts can we ensure sustainable improvements in population health and wellbeing.

    Dr Adelheid Onyango, Director of Healthier Populations Cluster, WHO Regional Office for Africa (AFRO).

     

    Participants came from Angola, Burkina Faso, Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles, and Uganda.

    This event built on two WHO-led workshops in 2023:

    • The SAFER inter-country learning workshop held in October 2023 in Addis Ababa, which focused on alcohol policy development in seven countries.
    • The BIGRS workshop held in May 2023 in Kampala, which addressed alcohol-related road safety and legislative change in four countries.

    The Accra workshop brought together countries continuing SAFER and BIGRS implementation with 8 newly engaged countries, creating a regional platform for peer learning and collaboration.

    “We have acquired more knowledge on the SAFER package and learned from other countries which started earlier.”  Participant feedback.

    A strategic and evidence-informed approach

    The workshop was grounded in key WHO global and regional strategies, including the Global Alcohol Action Plan 2022–2030, which sets out a roadmap for reducing harmful alcohol use through national leadership, cross-sectoral coordination, and evidence-based interventions.Regionally, it built on the WHO African Region’s Multisectoral Strategy to Promote Health and Wellbeing (2023–2030) and the Regional Framework for Alcohol Control, both of which call for  integrated approaches and policy coherence for alcohol control within public health systems.

    “This workshop helped us break down our national action plan into implementable strategies.” Participant feedback.

    In line with these frameworks, the workshop followed a structured and evidence-informed approach to support policy progress:

    • Pre-work included virtual orientation sessions and bilateral meetings to review country status and update plans
    • During the in-person sessions in Accra, teams engaged in landscape assessments, delivery plan development, and peer-to-peer support
    • Expert panels with remote participation from Vital Strategies, Movendi International and University of Sterling, explored issues like alcohol industry interference and monitoring and evaluation
    • Countries used the WHO Global Survey on Alcohol and Health to guide planning

    “Policy integrity must be protected from alcohol industry interference,”  Dr. Frank John Lule, WHO Ghana Representative

    Multilingual participation

    The workshop was conducted in four working languages English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish – to accommodate the diversity of countries involved. While this presented logistical challenges, it also created a dynamic, inclusive atmosphere where participants engaged across language and regional boundaries. The investment in multilingual participation paid off, encouraging deeper exchange and regional solidarity.

    “It helped us understand how our strategies are faring compared to our neighbours, even when we speak different languages.” Participant feedback.

    Opportunities for strategic exchange

    One of the most engaging moments of the workshop was the gallery walk – a participatory session where country teams set up “stations” to present their group work and delivery plans. Other delegations walked from station to station, discussing strategies, offering feedback, and exchanging ideas with their peers.

    “The gallery walk was a huge opportunity for knowledge exchange and helped us sharpen our thinking.” Participant feedback.

    This format sparked spontaneous discussions on barriers, solutions, and opportunities. It fostered a sense of ownership and reflection and was widely seen as a powerful tool for strategic thinking and applied learning.

    Workshop outcomes and commitments

    This workshop marks a pivotal moment in shifting from planning to coordinated action. With renewed commitment, shared purpose, and regional momentum, countries are better equipped than ever to reduce alcohol-related harm and improve public health.

    As a result of the workshop:

    • 15 countries finalized or revised SAFER delivery plans
    • 8 new countries presented landscape assessments and implementation strategies
    • Country teams shared commitment statements
    • WHO and partners identified case studies for future dissemination
    • Clear next steps were agreed on for monitoring, technical support, and cross-country exchange

    Country teams identified 2 to 3 priority measures from among the high-impact SAFER interventions to accelerate national action and reduce the substantial harm caused by alcohol consumption. These priority actions reflect growing momentum for evidence-based policy change and examples include: raising excise taxes on alcoholic beverages to reduce affordability and curb consumption; establishing a national minimum legal age for purchasing and consuming alcohol; regulating the density and location of alcohol retail outlets; tightening drink-driving laws by lowering legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limits to ≤ 0.5 g/dl in line with international best practice; and integrating alcohol screening, brief interventions, and treatment for alcohol use disorders into mental health and primary care through the WHO Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP).

    Looking ahead, WHO will continue to support countries in implementing their delivery plans, provide tailored technical assistance, foster cross-country learning and regional collaboration and track progress through global surveys and country follow-up.

    Evaluation

    Post-workshop feedback indicated high levels of satisfaction and provided valuable suggestions for improving future events. All respondents reported being satisfied with the workshop, with over half “very satisfied” and one in five “extremely satisfied.”  Participants valued the interactive format – combining group work, peer learning, and facilitator-led sessions – and praised the facilitators’ expertise and responsiveness. Many noted that the workshop strengthened cross-sector collaboration and provided a clearer sense of direction, renewed motivation, and practical next steps to advance national SAFER alcohol control plans. Comments such as “we are not alone in this struggle” and it “enhanced my knowledge and triggered my commitment” reflected both solidarity and strengthened resolve among participants.

    About SAFER and BIGRS:

    The SAFER Initiative supports countries with five key interventions:

    • Restricting availability of alcohol
    • Enforcing drink-driving countermeasures
    • Expanding access to brief interventions and treatment
    • Banning alcohol marketing and sponsorship
    • Raising alcohol prices through fiscal measures

    The BIGRS Initiative complements SAFER by strengthening road safety legislation, especially for drink-driving and other key risk factors. The Accra workshop demonstrated the value of integrating these initiatives into a shared platform for action.

    The workshop was also the result of collaboration across all three levels of the WHO – headquarters, regional offices, and country offices – demonstrating the multidisciplinary and coordinated approach needed to address the harms of alcohol consumption.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: A Center for Training Personnel for the IT Industry will be Created at the HSE

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    The Russian Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media, together with the Analytical Center under the Government of the Russian Federation, have summed up the results of the competitive selection of universities to receive grants for the launch of advanced IT education. 50 universities submitted applications for the competition, and 26 winners from 13 regions have been determined, including the Higher School of Economics.

    With grant funds, universities will launch flagship higher education programs that will provide the labor market with highly qualified IT specialists. By 2029, within the framework of the national project “Data Economy and Digital Transformation of the State”, it is planned to train at least 3.5 thousand advanced IT developers.

    The project will be implemented on the basis of Faculty of Computer Science HSE University together with industrial partners from among leading IT companies. The University will create a Center for training personnel for the IT industry, which will be headed by the academic director of the EP “Software engineering» Nikolay Pavlochev. The center is designed to become a flagship in the field of modern engineering education, combining the best academic practices, active participation of the industry and the use of advanced technologies. It will focus on updating existing educational programs and launching new training areas focused on the current challenges of the digital economy.

    Key areas include systems programming, data analysis, game development, cybersecurity, scientific software, and product management. The curriculum will be strengthened both from the fundamental side (mathematics, algorithms, software architecture) and from the applied side – through modules developed jointly with industrial partners.

    Particular attention is planned to be paid to the integration of AI technologies into the educational process – from intelligent assistants for students to systems for analyzing educational trajectories. The project will also include active development of project activities, expansion of the internship network, support for teaching staff, and development of international mobility.

    The main condition for participation of universities in the competition of the Ministry of Digital Development of the Russian Federation was cooperation with companies for training students and attracting co-financing in the amount of at least 30% of the grant amount, and the application of the National Research University Higher School of Economics to create the center fully met this requirement.

    “Our center will work in close cooperation with leading technology companies, research institutes and industry experts. Our partners are 1C and Yandex, which will contribute not only in the form of financial support. They will participate in the development of training modules, teaching, organizing practical training for students, developing digital infrastructure, and this format of interaction is familiar to our faculty,” said Ivan Arzhantsev, Dean of the HSE Faculty of Computer Science.

    “The creation of the IT Training Center at the Higher School of Economics is not just the launch of a new structure, but also a systemic step towards updating approaches to IT education. The initiative of the Russian Ministry of Digital Development is important not only for our university, but also for the industry and the country as a whole. Specialists will be trained who can immediately join real projects, form a culture of engineering thinking and lay the foundation for technological leadership,” said HSE Vice-Rector Elena Odoevskaya.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • In birthright citizenship case, US Supreme Court gets two controversies in one

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    One of President Donald Trump’s most contentious policies – his attempt to restrict automatic birthright citizenship – arrives at the U.S. Supreme Court this week with an unusual twist: The justices may focus on something else entirely.

    Federal judges in Washington state, Massachusetts and Maryland issued orders blocking Trump’s January executive order nationwide, finding the directive likely violated language in the U.S. Constitution concerning citizenship for babies born in the United States.

    But through an emergency filing, Trump’s administration has focused the Supreme Court’s attention not on the legality of the action by the Republican president but rather on the permissibility of the actions by the three judges – whether federal judges should have the power to issue broad orders that block challenged polices on a nationwide, or “universal,” basis.

    The administration asked the court to narrow the injunctions to let the government enforce Trump’s directive – part of his hardline approach to immigration – to the greatest extent possible while the legal fight over the policy plays out.

    The court may do so “without considering the underlying merits” of Trump’s action, the administration asserted.

    That approach would set up the possibility of the court, which has as a 6-3 conservative majority, allowing broad enforcement of the policy without assessing whether or not it is legal.

    The matter came to the court on a compressed timeline and with minimal written briefing.

    The way the court is considering the case “seems quite strange,” said Alan Trammell, a professor at Washington and Lee University School of Law in Virginia, because “even though the substantive question of birthright citizenship technically isn’t before the court, it still looms large.”

    “It concerns one of the most important provisions of the Constitution and implicates a raging political debate,” Trammell said.

    Trump’s order, signed on his first day back in office, directed federal agencies to refuse to recognize the citizenship of U.S.-born children who do not have at least one parent who is an American citizen or lawful permanent resident.

    Trump’s order was challenged by Democratic attorneys general from 22 states as well as individual pregnant immigrants and advocacy groups. The plaintiffs have said the directive violates a right enshrined in the U.S. Constitution’s 14th Amendment, which was ratified in 1868 and long has been understood to confer citizenship to virtually anyone born in the United States.

    Trammell noted that the administration has not contested whether the injunctions should have been issued, asking the justices only to scale back their nationwide effect to protect just the plaintiffs in the cases.

    “The situation would be very odd indeed if the court concluded that the plaintiffs’ view of the merits is correct, yet gave only the individual plaintiffs the benefit of that ruling,” Trammell said.

    ‘BIRTH TOURISM’

    The 14th Amendment states that all “persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside.”

    The administration contends that the 14th Amendment does not extend to immigrants who are in the country illegally or even to immigrants whose presence is lawful but temporary, such as university students or those on work visas.

    Automatic birthright citizenship does not reflect the best reading of the 14th Amendment and it encourages “birth tourism” by expectant mothers traveling the United States to give birth and secure citizenship for their children, the administration argued in court filings.

    At the Supreme Court, the administration has targeted only the universal scope of the injunctions, content to leave them in place to protect only the people who sued as well as the residents of the 22 states, assuming the Supreme Court finds that these states have the necessary legal standing to bring their cases. That outcome would let Trump’s order go into effect in the 28 states that did not sue, aside from any plaintiffs from those states.

    The Justice Department said the issuance of broad judicial injunctions has bedeviled administrations of both parties, Republican and Democratic, and must be urgently rectified by the Supreme Court. Trump himself on March 20 called the situation “toxic” and urged the Supreme Court to act.

    Since Trump returned to office, many of his numerous executive orders and other initiatives have been impeded by judges, including through universal injunctions.

    “The need for this court’s intervention has become urgent as universal injunctions have reached tsunami levels,” the Justice Department said in a written filing.

    If the justices agree to scale back the judicial blocks, it could lead to a nation geographically fractured between places where babies are born with automatic citizenship and places where they are not, the plaintiffs said.

    “An infant would be a United States citizen and full member of society if born in New Jersey, but a deportable noncitizen if born in Tennessee,” the plaintiffs in the Maryland case told the justices.

    IDAHO TRANSGENDER CASE

    The Justice Department has cited the Supreme Court’s action in a case last year to back up its request to narrow the injunctions. In that case, called Labrador v. Poe, Idaho asked the justices to let the state enforce a Republican-backed ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors after a federal judge blocked it as unconstitutional.

    The Supreme Court, over the dissent of its three liberal members, granted Idaho’s request that the statewide injunction be pared back to cover only the transgender plaintiffs who actually sued.

    The scope of an injunction is significant, the Justice Department told the Supreme Court, and ensuring that lower courts do not act beyond their limited judicial power “is just as critical as merits review,” meaning an assessment of an action’s legality.

    A Justice Department spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.

    Some legal experts said the cases differ for numerous reasons. For instance, they said, the Idaho case involved one state, not a presidential executive order applying nationally.

    Even though the administration has made the dispute primarily about universal injunctions, some court observers have said the justices could decide to rule on the legality of Trump’s order anyway.

    It is unusual for the court “to be considering an emergency application in this context,” University of Chicago law professor William Baude said.

    “Because of that, we won’t know what the court is going to focus on until the oral arguments start,” Baude added.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Myerscough College and Hillier help water flow further in tree nurseries

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Case study

    Myerscough College and Hillier help water flow further in tree nurseries

    Read how Myerscough College and Hillier partnered to improve water management in tree nurseries with the help of the Tree Production Innovation Fund (TPIF).

    Myerscough College is a specialist land-based and sports college in the north-west of England. Dr Andrew Hirons, a senior lecturer in the Arboriculture department, led a Tree Production Innovation Fund (TPIF) project with the aim of improving the efficiency and resilience of water management in tree nurseries. The project was in partnership with Hillier – one of the UK’s biggest ornamental tree growers that have a chain of garden centres across the south of England.

    Dr Andrew Hirons installing a sap flow sensor onto a tree. Credit Dr Andrew Hirons, University Centre Myerscough

    Dr Hirons has specialised in delivering modules relating to tree biology and tree establishment in urban environments for over 20 years. His doctoral research at Lancaster University focused on sustainable water-use in tree nurseries, which harnessed his passion for tree water relations. His ambition is to apply scientific knowledge to the management of trees in a wide variety of landscapes, from ancient woodland to urban environments.

    Dr Andrew Hirons, Senior Lecturer, Myerscough College said:

    It is very rare for research funding to offer me the opportunity to both develop scientific understanding of tree water use and be of practical value to tree nurseries, so finding TPIF really was a win, win for me.

    Hillier operate 22 retail garden centres and grow over 250,000 trees. They have 500 acres of field-produced trees and 100 acres of peat-free container trees in production.

    Adam Dunnett, Amenity Director, Hillier said:

    Hillier are always keen to bring advances in technology into our commercial production. Our mantra is to find ways to grow our trees faster, better, with less environmental impact. This project was something we were very keen to be involved with.

    Flowering cherry trees growing at one of Hillier’s nursery sites. Credit Dr Andrew Hirons, University Centre Myerscough

    Water-use challenges faced by tree nurseries

    Growing trees, like any crop, requires water. The water management in amenity tree nurseries, like Hillier’s, is particularly complex because there may be more than a hundred varieties of species and cultivars (a cultivated tree that retains desired traits) of multiple stock sizes, in a wide range of field soils or containers.

    Dr Andrew Hirons, Senior Lecturer, Myerscough College said:

    This unique complexity presents challenges when trying to forecast and manage the water-use of trees. As water resources become more and more constrained, through both societal demands and a changing climate, it is vital that we have the foresight to develop the understanding required to manage water resources sustainably.

    Support from the Tree Production Innovation Fund (TPIF)

    To address these challenges, the team set out to develop an Internet of Things (IoT) infrastructure (a network of physical and digital devices that exchange data with one another). This monitors real-time tree water-use and supports irrigation protocols present at tree nurseries. Initially, an application for the TPIF was made in 2021, and after a one-year pilot project, an additional 3 years of funding was secured.

    The TPIF grant was used to purchase a range of IoT sensors, including:

    • sap flow sensors (to measure tree water-use)
    • dendrometers (to measure tree growth)
    • psychrometers (to measure relative humidity in the atmosphere)
    • soil moisture (to closely monitor tree and field conditions)

    Around 100 sensors were installed across field and container-grown trees at Hillier’s Hampshire site. These sensors have been collecting data throughout the growing season for the last 4 years. The data has been integrated into dashboards and used to generate predictive models for future forecasting.

    Standard small-leaved lime trees with a soil sensor, sap flow sensor, dendrometer and stem psychrometer, together with solar panels to power these. Crown copyright

    Driving new and exciting efficiencies

    Dr Andrew Hirons, Senior Lecturer, Myerscough College said:

    We have been able to collect and analyse some exceptional datasets that will, in time, result in academic publications and make significant contributions to the understanding of water-use in young trees.

    We have built expertise and knowledge on the use and limitations of a wide range of sensors relevant to monitoring tree performance, especially in the context of tree production.

    The IoT dashboards show tree water-use, measures of tree stress and soil water status in real-time, which will help to inform nursery managers on the physiological health and performance of their trees.

    Vast data sets and a collection of models have been combined and analysed to provide more accurate predictions for ten tree species. Accurate predictions about a tree’s water-use based on the weather and its soil data are now possible. This has led to the creation of a calculator to be used by growers and landscape professionals to predict tree water-use for a range of conditions.

    A dendrometer on the trunk of a tree. Credit Dr Andrew Hirons, University Centre Myerscough

    Collaboration leads to success

    Collaboration has been key to the success of the project. The funding has enabled the development of an interdisciplinary team, who have been essential to the delivery of the project. In addition to Myerscough College and Hillier, data scientists Rebecca Killick and Mengyi Gong from Lancaster University who specialise in time-series analysis, and specialists in IoT software Marcel Steegh and his team at Whysor, have all played a crucial role.

    Every party has gained from this project and has been left seeking opportunities to extend their collaboration and build on the foundations that have been put in place.

    Adam Dunnett, Amenity Director, Hillier said:

    We were unsure how much of the research would be relevant to a commercial tree nursery. We have found that it is incredibly relevant and has fundamentally changed how we see and understand how our trees use and need water.

    We have invested in new irrigation technology on the back of our learnings. We have started to learn how to better manage our water application on different land types and within different species, to make better use of our land and to increase the growth of trees to shorten production cycles, improving production efficiency.

    Semi-mature small-leaved lime trees growing at one of Hillier’s nursery sites. Credit Dr Andrew Hirons, University Centre Myerscough

    Future ideas and opportunities to explore

    Whilst the research has focused on one nursery in Hampshire, the science extends well beyond these fields. The tools and knowledge developed through this project can be translated to any system where trees are growing, whether they are in the forest, field, orchard, garden or street.

    The team would like to gain more understanding around additional species and the influence that different soils have on tree water-use. They are hoping to further develop their ability to predict tree water-use based on weather forecasting and other real-time analysis. Having multi-year datasets has been critical as, even in the last 3 years, the growing season climate conditions has been vastly different year-on-year.

    Read further details of Dr Andrew Hirons’ research on tree water-use and more about the Tree Production Innovation Fund.

    Updates to this page

    Published 13 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: MMO grants coastal protection marine licences

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    MMO grants coastal protection marine licences

    Storm headwall, coastal erosion protection and flood defences feature in the latest marine licences granted by MMO Marine Licensing team.

    Storm water headwall in Blyth

    The marine licensing team granted a marine licence for the installation of a new storm water headwall at the Energy Central Learning Hub in Blyth, Northumberland.

    The headwall is required to ensure that water flow does not erode the pipe or the surrounding area of the learning campus structure.

    The marine licensing team initially requested several application updates from the applicant and, as a result of these, the mapping was updated to reflect the position of the headwall in the marine area. This enabled the applicant to assess the marine plan policies in that area. A water framework directive assessment was also requested and provided.

    The applicant’s responses meant that the team was able to adequately assess risks to ensure they were in acceptable limits. This ensured that the wider project could be completed with consideration for the marine environment by the applicant.

    Additionally, a draft decision was prepared and shared with the applicant, this gave the applicant an opportunity to clarify any issues.

    Flood and coastal erosion protection on the South Coast

    The North Portsea Island Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Scheme applied for a marine licence to complete works in the marine area below Mean High Water Springs (MHWS).

    The project is split into six construction phases and a marine licence is required for phase five at Ports Creek. The phase five works comprise of a combination of raised earth embankments with rock revetments, retaining walls, encasement of bridge abutments and upgrading the existing slipway. It also includes landscaping and updating public realm features.

    The scheme will provide a long-term standard of protection from flooding to businesses and communities.

    Flood defence for new housing development

    The marine licensing team worked with Dorset Council to produce a joint Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Scoping Opinion for flood defence works to support a new housing development in Weymouth.

    EIA scoping will inform a future marine licence application for construction of flood defences associated with a new housing development in Weymouth. This provides key information to the applicant on what to include in their application for the flood defence development.

    The marine licensing team and Dorset Council agreed the council would act as lead authority under the Coastal Concordat, with MMO supporting the process. The team exchanged information to ensure both authority’s legislation was followed, as well as reviewing/adding information to the final product. Working together as authorities prevented duplication of effort. This saved the applicant time and money and allowed regulators to align scoping opinions and decision making for the project.

    Updates to this page

    Published 13 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –