NewzIntel.com

Category: Education

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Tak£500+ applications are now open for your chance to receive up to £1000!

    Source: Northern Ireland City of Armagh

    Launching the new Tak£500+ project for 2025 is the Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Councillor Sarah Duffy with the Participatory Budgeting Working Group.

    Applications for the Tak£500+ project are now open and groups can receive up to an incredible £1000 for a project to benefit their area!

    This Participatory Budget Fund encourages local residents within the Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon borough to apply for funding for a project that they think will have a positive impact on their community.

    This is the fourth year of this fantastic project so, if you have an idea in mind of something that would bring value to your area and support your community, especially in these increasingly difficult times, look no further!

    There are seven information sessions taking place over the new few weeks where you can find out all you need to know, so come along and find out more!

    “Tak£500+ is an excellent opportunity to get funding for a project in your local community and really make a difference to those living in your area. I would encourage everyone to come along to one of the information sessions and see how you can benefit from this fantastic project,” commented Councillor Sarah Duffy, Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon.

    “I have seen the difference that the Tak£500+ project has made to local communities and the incredible impact it has had across the borough. This project is now in its fourth year and continuing to grow – so don’t miss out on the chance to receive up to £1000 to help benefit the residents in your area.”

    Information sessions are as follows:

    • Thursday 1st May: Craigavon Civic and Conference Centre, 7pm – 8pm
    • Friday 2nd May, Online via Zoom, 10am-11am
    • Tuesday 6th May, Banbridge Civic Building, 7pm-8pm
    • Wednesday 7th May, Chamber at Armagh Palace Demesne, 7pm – 8pm
    • Thursday 8th May, Online via Zoom, 10am-11am
    • Thursday 8th May, Online via Zoom, 2pm-3pm
    • Tuesday 13th May Online via Z00m, 7pm-8pm

    Both constituted groups and non-constituted groups can apply for funding to help bring an idea to life. Ideas can be based on the Take 5 Ways to Wellbeing – which are a great guide to helping you to look after yourself and others during these uncertain days, including keeping you connected to the people around you and encouraging communities to lean on each other.

    Applications can be made online here: www.armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk/take500plus

    If you need more information or support, please contact a member of the PB Working Group who will be happy to help you. Full contact details are online or alternatively, you can email

    *protected email*

    This project is being taken forward by Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Community Planning Partnership and has been funded by a range of partners including the Public Health Agency, ABC Council, Heritage Places, Southern Health and Social Care Trust, PSNI, Department for Communities, Ark Housing, Northern Ireland Housing Executive and Arbour Housing.

    It has also been supported by the Community and Voluntary Panel, the Children and Young Peoples Strategic Partnership, the Policing & Community Safety Partnership, Education Authority and Sport NI.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Welch, Britt Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Refocus National Hydrology Research, Boost Flood Resiliency Bill would make permanent the hydrology research center at UVM

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Katie Britt (R-Ala.) this week reintroduced the bipartisan Water Research Optimization Act of 2025, legislation to streamline hydrological forecast modeling within the National Weather Service. The Senators’ legislation would place America’s 13 River Forecast Centers under the supervision and oversight of the Office of Water Protection and solidify existing hydrology work conducted through the Cooperative Institute for Research to Operations in Hydrology (CIROH), the United States’ first-ever center for water forecast operations.  
    CIROH has evolved into a revolutionary, collaborative hub between the public and private sector for research and development. The Water Research Optimization Act of 2025 would make CIROH’s research center at the University of Vermont (UVM) permanent and align UVM’s hydrology work with the National Weather Service to boost flood resiliency research.  
    “Investing in hydrology modeling and prediction is crucial to boosting flood resilience across the country, from Vermont to Alabama. That includes supporting important hydrology research and programs at the University of Vermont that improve hydrologic forecasting, such as the Cooperative Institute for Research to Operations in Hydrology,” said Senator Welch. “Our bipartisan bill will strengthen and align current hydrology research at the National Weather Service with vital research at UVM to foster flood resilience and help communities rebuild better after natural disasters.”  
    “The National Water Center has been instrumental to NOAA’s efforts to strengthen America’s water forecasting capabilities, improve weather-preparedness, and modernize water research technologies,” said Senator Britt. “I’m proud of the Center’s world-class capabilities, and I have no doubt this legislation will further enhance critical research and applied sciences that benefit our entire nation. I’m grateful to Senator Welch for his support and leadership through our bipartisan bill.” 
    “We are grateful to Senators Welch and Britt for their leadership in introducing pivotal legislation to support CIROH. Funding for these efforts allows the University of Vermont to continue vital research on water that impacts the quality of life of Vermonters and communities across the country. We are proud to be able to contribute to this work,” said Kirk Dombrowski, Vice President for Research and Economic Development, University of Vermont. 
    CIROH’s national coalition of academic, industry, and non-profit partners includes the University of Vermont, which functions closely alongside the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Water Center to support stakeholders with hydrological data and important weather-related forecasts and warnings. This legislation would place CIROH Centers under the supervision and oversight of the National Weather Service’s Office of Water Protection and codify the National Water Center’s authority to lead the transition of water resources research.  
    Read and download the full text of the bill. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Ascend Learning Acquires myTIPreport to Enhance MedHub Offering

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BURLINGTON, Mass., May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ascend Learning, a leading healthcare and learning software company, has acquired myTIPreport, a platform that modernizes medical education feedback and competency tracking. myTIPreport will be integrated into Ascend’s MedHub brand, enabling medical education institutions to more efficiently and conveniently track the performance of both medical trainees and programs. With this enhanced offering, medical training institutions and programs can ensure the next generation of clinicians have the training and clinical competencies needed to deliver best-in-class care for the growing patient population.

    By incorporating the myTIPreport technology into the MedHub portfolio of products and services, alongside curriculum and assessment technology, Ascend provides medical education institutions with comprehensive solutions to track trainee, program, and institutional performance and effectiveness. myTIPreport offers a suite of features enabling:

    • Real-time feedback for streamlined evaluation processes benefitting educators and trainees
    • Increased engagement via mobile notifications and gamification, building a positive culture around feedback across institutions
    • Comprehensive evaluation and tracking via class summary reports and tools for rotation assessments
    • Streamlined milestone reporting
    • Data visualization and increased understanding via reporting and analytics dashboards

    “myTIPreport is a vital tool for numerous medical education programs and specialty boards worldwide, many of which are also clients of MedHub,” said Mike DeSimone, VP of Product, Medicine and Workforce Solutions at Ascend Learning. “Through these offerings, we’re enhancing our capabilities to help institutions efficiently manage learner, program, and institutional processes and data.”

    “Since its inception in 2014, myTipReport has grown organically, driven by users who find genuine value in its ability to solve critical feedback challenges in medical training. Allowing MedHub to carry myTIPreport into the future is a natural progression for us, as they bring a deep understanding of the medical education landscape, robust technical capabilities, and the reach to expand our impact across multiple specialties,” said Taylor Lafrinere, Creator of myTIPreport. “Together, both companies aim to enhance competency-based training and foster a culture that values the essential process of giving and receiving feedback, ultimately contributing to the development of better healthcare professionals.”

    About Ascend Learning
    Ascend Learning is a leading healthcare and learning technology company. With products that span the learning continuum, Ascend Learning focuses on high-growth careers in a range of industries, with a special focus on healthcare and other licensure-driven occupations. Ascend Learning products, from testing to certification, are used by physicians, emergency medical professionals, nurses, allied health professionals, certified personal trainers, financial advisors, skilled trades professionals and insurance brokers. Learn more at www.ascendlearning.com. 

    About MedHub
    MedHub is a leading provider of healthcare education management solutions for graduate and undergraduate medical education and advanced practice healthcare institutions. MedHub consolidates disparate data into one platform, providing an integrated approach to healthcare education management. Its focus is boosting overall program efficiencies, including daily programmatic and workflow processes, so that curriculum, coursework, scheduling, assessments, site management, task distribution, and other program facets can live in a single platform.

    Media Contact
    V2 for Ascend Learning
    ascend@v2comms.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Virginia Giuffre’s treatment in the media highlights the great consequences of accusing high profile men of abuse

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Lindsey Blumell, Lecturer in Journalism, City St George’s, University of London

    Virginia Giuffre, one of the most prominent accusers of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, has died at age 41. Her family said she died by suicide at her farm in Australia.

    Giuffre had long accused Prince Andrew of sexually assaulting her when she was a teenager. She brought a civil sexual assault case against him, which Andrew ultimately settled out of court for an undisclosed sum. He has denied all claims against him. But the accusations and his friendship with Epstein ultimately led to Andrew’s partial withdrawal from public life.

    Giuffre’s story is a poignant reminder of the great consequences to anyone who speaks out about their abuse, especially someone who speaks out against the powerful.

    Giuffre was not just a victim of Epstein’s crimes, she was also the focus of brutal tabloid media coverage in the UK and around the world. That’s not to say there weren’t moments of great reporting. But those were often overshadowed by sensationalising and stereotyping that regularly accompany reporting on those who come forward with allegations of sexual abuse.

    A search for Virginia Giuffre on news database Factiva yields over 25,000 results. It’s hard to imagine carrying the weight of so much attention, positive or negative.

    News coverage was a mix of support and scrutiny, starting almost 15 years ago and then intensifying in the last six years, when Epstein was arrested. He died while in jail, awaiting trial for sex trafficking charges.

    The first wave of news coverage on Giuffre dates back to early 2011. The tabloids and broadsheets often referred to Giuffre (known as Virginia Roberts then) as a “masseuse” or more explicit terms, while also reporting that she was a minor when she was first allegedly sexually exploited and abused by Epstein and only 17 when she first met Prince Andrew. Coverage largely included one-word quotes from Giuffre, but nothing that humanised her to readers.

    The Times and other publications reported on Andrew’s friendly connection to Epstein – though there was no direct accusation against him at that time.

    There was a breezy tone to coverage that focused on catchy wordplay headlines between the prince and the “pervert” Epstein. Epstein was already a registered sex offender in 2008, but there was little reflection on his horrendous actions that led him to that title.

    More glaringly, there was little to no concern for Giuffre or other survivors. They were salacious fodder. There was little empathy for what they experienced and the risks they took speaking publicly. The main focus was on the apparent embarrassment of Andrew’s friendship with Epstein, which eventually led to the prince stepping down from his trade envoy role.

    The important men and their roles were the news angles. Giuffre was only a supporting character.

    The second wave of news coverage on Giuffre happened in 2019, when Epstein was arrested for accusations of child sex trafficking. She was named in court documents and noted as a victim of Epstein in media, but was again overshadowed by Epstein’s connections to other powerful men such as Donald Trump or Bill Clinton (both deny knowing of Epstein’s crimes).

    None of this is to imply that those linked to Epstein shouldn’t be named and investigated. But, as my research shows, when powerful men are accused, the coverage largely revolves around those powerful men and the monetary or career consequences to them. The survivors and the abuse and trauma they experience are a footnote.

    Research shows that how journalists evaluate the newsworthiness of a story often values power structures, men’s perspectives and celebrity status. Therefore, when someone like Giuffre does come forward, her story and voice come secondary to the more powerful accused.

    Changing headlines

    A shift in the tone of coverage came in 2020, when Giuffre and others were the focus of a Netflix docuseries on Epstein’s crimes. Watching the detailed accounts from so many humanised Giuffre and others, while showing the tremendous weight put on survivors when they come forward. Their stories elicited empathetic responses from viewers.

    News coverage has made some progress in the last decade due to the ##MeToo movement and survivors speaking out. However, this has since been tempered by a backlash to #MeToo – and problematic attitudes persist within news and entertainment industries. Threats of legal action from those accused can leave journalists hesitant to report on sexual abuse.

    In February 2022, Andrew settled a civil sexual assault case with Giuffre for an undisclosed amount. The coverage was more sensitive to Giuffre than a decade prior – the mislabelling and scandalising were mostly left out – but still lacked survivors’ perspectives. Andrew was stripped of his royal and military titles at the time but appears to remain in standing with the royal family unofficially.

    There has also been compassion in the coverage of Giuffre’s death, particularly in interviews with her family and friends. There are calls for accountability from Andrew, as well as the usual, terrible tabloid coverage exploiting the situation.

    One limitation of reporting on sexual abuse cases is that often survivors don’t want to speak publicly to news media because of the tremendous risks and consequences they face. Survivors face backlash when telling friends and family in their private circles because they are blamed, or are not believed. These consequences are intensified when survivors go public.

    Several organisations have provided guidelines to news organisations on how to report more fairly and accurately on sexual abuse.

    Many people who experience sexual abuse never come forward. Giuffre did, and repeatedly spoke to media for over a decade. While some news organisations learned how to be more sensitive, the focus has never been enough on her story, her life and her determination.

    If any of the content in this piece affects you or someone you know, resources are available.

    In the UK: Samaritans are available by phone, for free, at 116 123, or by email at jo@samaritans.org. Further resources can also be found here.

    Contact Rape Crisis England & Wales online or by phone at 0808 500 2222.

    If you are in crisis in the US, please call, text or chat with the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741.

    Lindsey Blumell receives funding from City St George’s, University of London

    – ref. Virginia Giuffre’s treatment in the media highlights the great consequences of accusing high profile men of abuse – https://theconversation.com/virginia-giuffres-treatment-in-the-media-highlights-the-great-consequences-of-accusing-high-profile-men-of-abuse-255443

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Ukraine minerals deal: the idea that natural resource extraction can build peace has been around for decades

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Bridget Storrie, Teaching Fellow, Institute for Global Prosperity, UCL

    Ukraine has finally signed its minerals agreement with the US. The deal states that Washington will eventually receive a share of the profits from the sale of Ukrainian natural resources, providing an economic incentive to continue investing in Ukraine’s defence and reconstruction.

    The US treasury secretary, Scott Bessant, says the deal demonstrates the Donald Trump administration’s commitment to peace in Ukraine.

    On the surface, there is nothing surprising about the deal. The idea that natural resource extraction can play a role in building peace has been around for a decade or two, and has been promoted by the World Bank, the UN and the mining industry itself.

    But what is surprising is how the conversation about mining and peace has changed. It used to be about increasing prosperity in war-torn countries, rather than the “who gets what” that has been associated with this deal.



    Read more:
    US-Ukraine minerals deal looks better for Kyiv than expected – but Trump is an unpredictable partner

    The idea that mining can contribute to peace emerged somewhat paradoxically from the demonstrated capacity of natural resources to drive conflict in places like Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Sierra Leone. The theory is that mining can also lead to development – and therefore peace – if it is managed properly.

    If local communities are consulted, revenues are shared fairly, harms are minimised, and if there is transparency and accountability, a mine can play a role in lifting countries out of the economic, environmental and social mess war brings.

    In reality, things are more complicated. The idea that mining can bring about positive change suffers from the same top-down and externally led approach to building peace as the wider peacebuilding model in which it sits. It doesn’t necessarily take local realities and aspirations into account.

    But over the past two decades, natural resources in conflict-affected areas have attracted an enormous amount of attention from UN agencies. The United Nations Environmental Programme (Unep), for example, established an initiative in 2008 aimed at understanding the risks and opportunities presented by high-value natural resources.

    It developed policies and practices related to mining intended to be part of the UN’s peace and security architecture. These included guidance for UN staff working in post-conflict countries that are rich in resources.

    In Sierra Leone, Unep identified the inability of the Environmental Protection Agency to monitor environmental performance and force compliance as a significant risk to the sustainable development of the mining industry. The agency had become overwhelmed by the number of environmental impact assessments submitted for review as the sector expanded after the end of the civil war in 2002.

    A dedicated project to build capacity in Sierra Leone was set up by the UN to remedy this. The project team report that the environmental impact assessment process itself provided an opportunity for dialogue and trust-building between those involved.

    Around the same time, a raft of initiatives were was developed for the extractive sector itself to encourage responsible mining. These included the Kimberley Process, a UN-mandated certification scheme designed to eliminate the trade in conflict diamonds. Sierra Leone has been a member since it was launched in 2003.

    The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), an Oslo-based organisation of government, industry and civil society representatives was also established in 2003. Its aim is to promote the good governance of oil, gas and mineral extraction through the reporting of revenues and payments.

    The concept of good governance has been expanded to include promoting the participation of women, as well as the disclosure of information relating to the environmental impact of a mine. Over 50 countries now implement the EITI Standard.

    All these initiatives and processes can be criticised. But the point is that natural resources in conflict zones have, to a degree at least, been understood as sites for negotiation and dialogue for some time.

    Lowering the bar

    The natural resources beneath Ukraine have become sites for something else – a conflict-riven back-and-forth over their control. And it’s not just in Ukraine. The US is reportedly considering a minerals-for-security deal in the DRC, where Rwandan-backed rebels are currently seizing resource-rich territory in the east.

    The bar appears to have dropped substantially where mining and peacebuilding is concerned. In the heyday of the liberal peacebuilding project, metal and mineral deposits in war-torn countries, like the copper beneath Afghanistan, promised a more positive future, albeit with caution. That optimism now seems misplaced.

    In Afghanistan, this is because the country has fallen back under the control of the Taliban. Mines are quickly being developed to take advantage of the country’s mineral wealth. But the technical, financial and environmental checks associated with mining are reportedly being bypassed. There are concerns that any revenues won’t benefit the population in the way they should.

    In Ukraine, it’s something different. The mineral deposits there are being used to prop up geopolitical ambitions that reflect the dangerous, transactional and increasingly extractive world we now seem to live in. Specifically, the Ukrainian mineral deposits are bringing an authoritarian, Trumpian version of peace to life.

    It is a peace that comes through the geopolitical expression of power by the operation of mines, the acquisition of territory, the expulsion of citizens from certain places, and the top-down transformation of other people’s space.

    This has already expressed itself in Trump’s vision for the US to take over the Gaza Strip, which prompted the UN’s secretary-general, António Guterres, to warn against ethnic cleansing.

    An opencast manganese ore mine in Ukraine.
    Romeo Rum / Shutterstock

    I have written about the problem of natural resource-related peacebuilding before. Whether liberal or illiberal, this problem is the same: geological resources are non-renewable.

    There is a profound paradox here. Whatever we want these resources to do for us, they can’t do it indefinitely. And we are heading for even more trouble if we think they can.

    Expecting a voracious Trump administration or a beleagured Ukrainian one to think about this is expecting too much. But therein lies the tragedy of current peacebuilding endeavours.

    They are fixated on the here-and-now, in the hope that the social, environmental, ecological and geological future will take care of itself. Unfortunately, it won’t.

    Bridget Storrie 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. Ukraine minerals deal: the idea that natural resource extraction can build peace has been around for decades – https://theconversation.com/ukraine-minerals-deal-the-idea-that-natural-resource-extraction-can-build-peace-has-been-around-for-decades-252090

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Laudato Si’: A look back on Pope Francis’s environmental legacy

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Donald Wright, Professor of Political Science, University of New Brunswick

    The Vatican’s College of Cardinals will soon gather in Rome to elect a new head of the Catholic Church following the death of Pope Francis.

    As the church prepares for the papal conclave, the world is assessing Francis’s legacy and his stance on the role of women in the church, LGBTQ+ rights and the needs of migrants and refugees.

    However, every assessment should include a discussion of Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home, his 2015 encyclical on climate change.

    In many ways, it’s a remarkable document. At once rational and urgent, it calls on all of us — “every person living on this planet” — to think about what we are doing to the only planet we have.



    Read more:
    Three ways Pope Francis influenced the global climate movement

    Our common home, Francis wrote, “is like a sister with whom we share our life and a beautiful mother who opens her arms to embrace us.” And yet, we “have come to see ourselves as her lords and masters, entitled to plunder her at will.”

    The end result? Runaway climate change in the form of higher temperatures, extreme weather events and biodiversity loss. In this sense, reading Laudato Si’ — “Praise be to you” in Italian — is like reading an assessment report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

    Unlike the IPCC report, however, Francis didn’t pull his punches. “The Earth, our home,” he wrote, “is beginning to look more and more like an immense pile of filth.”

    Francis didn’t hold back

    A few months after the publication of Laudato Si’, the world gathered in Paris to draft a new climate treaty. It too is a remarkable document. However, if the authors of the Paris Agreement couldn’t mention the economic roots of the climate crisis – they couldn’t even use the term fossil fuels — the pope could and did.

    Francis relentlessly called out our “models of growth which have proved incapable of ensuring respect for the environment,” our “irrational confidence in progress and human abilities” and our “blind confidence in technical solutions.”

    He was critical of “current models of production and consumption” and our faith in “the invisible forces of the market,” as well as our “misguided anthropocentrism” and our “throwaway culture.”

    Francis pointed a finger at obstructionism and denial. He worried about the rise of social media, which has led to disconnection from each other and from nature. And he was critical of “the idea of infinite or unlimited growth.”

    Although terribly “attractive to economists, financiers, and experts in technology,” it’s a fantasy based on the lie “that there is an infinite supply of the Earth’s goods.” There isn’t, and the planet is “being squeezed dry beyond every limit.”

    Using ironic quotation marks, he even criticized “green” rhetoric, so fashionable in eco-capitalist circles.

    It wasn’t the first time Francis talked about a global economy that doesn’t work. A few years earlier, in 2012, he caused a minor fit in some circles with the publication of Evangelli Gaudium. Wealth moves up, not down, he argued, while the poor are excluded and grow in number.

    The late American pundit Rush Limbaugh called it “pure Marxism.” Undeterred, Francis went further in Laudato Si’ when he linked the climate crisis to an economy premised on constant consumption.

    Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, a Catholic convert and at the time a presidential aspirant, told him to stick to his knitting: “I don’t get economic policy from my bishops or my cardinal or my pope.”

    Laudato Si’ and abortion

    Of course, Francis had stuck to his knitting in one important way: on at least four separate occasions in Laudato Si’, he singled out abortion — or, in his words, “eliminating children” — as part of the climate problem. He wrote:

    “Thinking that we enjoy absolute power over our own bodies turns, often subtly, into thinking that we enjoy absolute power over creation.”

    No, it doesn’t. Moreover, empowering women through access to birth control and abortion care is part of the solution to poverty in both the Global South and the Global North, something Francis cared deeply about, like his namesake St. Francis of Assisi.



    Read more:
    Francis − a pope who cared deeply for the poor and opened up the Catholic Church

    In 2023, Francis published Laudate Deum, a short followup to Laudato Si’. At the same time as he urged the world to act, he condemned those who blame climate change on the poor for having so many children and who “attempt to resolve the problem by mutilating women in less developed countries.”

    According to one Catholic news and information site, this was an apparent reference “to campaigns in favour of contraception and abortion regularly conducted by the West.”

    Centuries of pro-life absolutism in the Catholic Church meant that Francis couldn’t make the connection between women’s lack of bodily autonomy and poverty, and between reproductive justice and climate justice, and, in part, the idea that climate change disproportionately impacts women.

    Still, Laudato Si’ invites all of us to connect the dots between growth, consumption, poverty and climate breakdown. One doesn’t need to be Catholic, or even religious, to read Pope Francis’s encyclical on climate change for what it is: a powerful and deeply moral reminder that the climate is not something separate from us.

    To quote Francis, it’s a “common good” that belongs to all of us.

    Donald Wright 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. Laudato Si’: A look back on Pope Francis’s environmental legacy – https://theconversation.com/laudato-si-a-look-back-on-pope-franciss-environmental-legacy-255604

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Bank of Canada announces 2024–25 scholarship recipients

    Source: Bank of Canada

    The Bank of Canada is pleased to announce this year’s recipients of its scholarship awards for students with disabilities, Indigenous students, LGBTQ2S+ students, francophones and students who identify as a woman or as a member of a racialized group. We know that the inclusion of diverse identities and ideas fosters innovative thinking and better policy outcomes for Canadians. It’s core to our success as a leading central bank. That is why our scholarships are designed to encourage Canadians from diverse backgrounds to further their education and consider employment in fields related to the work of the Bank.

    The 2024-25 award recipients are as follows:

    • Abigail Meloche, pursuing a Bachelor of Economics at Carleton University
    • Allison Tsypin, pursuing a Bachelor of Mathematics at McGill University
    • Andy Duan, pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Economics at Princeton University
    • April Quill, pursuing a Bachelor of Science with major in Statistics at University of Manitoba
    • Wendy Liao, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in computer science and business at Western University
    • Elliot Thordarson, pursuing a Bachelor of Commerce at I.H. Asper School of Business (University of Manitoba)
    • Katherine Brennan, completed a bachelor’s degree in economics and statistics at University of Toronto, with plans to pursue a master’s degree in economics
    • Katherine Karapetrovic, pursuing a Bachelor of International Economics at University of British Columbia
    • Laila Virani, pursing a bachelor’s degree in business at University of British Columbia
    • Linda Nidale-Sadeck, pursuing a Bachelor of Economics at Carleton University
    • Manahil Malik, completed a bachelor’s degree in economics at University of Toronto, with plans to pursue a master’s degree in economics
    • Manuel Fernandez, pursuing a Bachelor of Commerce, Management, Economics and Finance at University of Guelph
    • Melody Johnson, pursuing a college diploma in Protection, Security and Investigation at Conestoga College
    • Rand Al-Nauimi, pursuing a Bachelor of Commerce with option in Business Technology Management at Telfer School of Management (University of Ottawa)
    • Rosana Gao, pursuing a Bachelor of Applied Science in Engineering Science at University of Toronto
    • Simeon Muepu, pursuing a Bachelor of Finance at Université de Montreal
    • Xavier Desroches Borelly, pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science at Western University
    • Yeo Eun Chi, completed a bachelor’s degree in business administration with specialization in finance at University of Toronto, with plans to pursue a master’s degree in economics

    The 2024–25 recipients of the Bank’s Scholarship Award for Post-Secondary Students receive Can$8,000. The award is intended to assist the following students with tuition at an accredited academic institution:

    • students with disabilities
    • Indigenous students
    • LGBTQ2S+ students
    • francophones
    • students who identify as a woman
    • students who identify as a member of a racialized group

    Successful candidates may be offered a work opportunity at the Bank, with mentorship by a Bank employee.

    Recipients of the Master’s Scholarship Award for Women in Economics and Finance must have completed or be in the final two years of an undergraduate degree at a Canadian university and self-identify as a woman. In addition to the award of Can$10,000, successful candidates may be offered a work opportunity at the Bank, with mentorship by a Bank employee.

    For more information on all opportunities for students, please visit our webpage.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Samsung Honors Educators with Special Discounts During Teacher Appreciation Week

    Source: Samsung

    From May 5 to 9, school communities throughout the United States will celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week, a week dedicated to thanking educators for their hard work in inspiring and shaping the young minds of tomorrow. Samsung would like to take this opportunity to recognize all educators for their commitment to instilling students with the knowledge and skills necessary for future success by offering exclusive savings for educators and school administrators from May 1 to 31.
    “Educators are the backbone of our future successors, expanding the horizons of millions of students and guiding them on the path to become the leaders of tomorrow,” said Sara Grofcsik, Head of Sales, Display Division, Samsung Electronics America. “In today’s rapidly evolving digital world, access to impactful, user-friendly technology is essential in empowering both teachers and students. By offering best-in-class education solutions, we’re not just supporting educators, we’re investing in learning, innovation and opportunities for all.”

    Big Thanks, Bigger Savings on Interactive Displays and Monitors
    Teacher Appreciation Week deals include discounts up to $800 on select products on Samsung.com, including $300 off the Interactive Display (model name: WAD), Samsung’s first Google Enterprise Devices Licensing Agreement (EDLA)-certified classroom display. Powered by the Android 13 operating system, the Samsung WAD Interactive Display — available in 65-, 75- and 86-inch models — provides an intuitive and engaging experience that eliminates the learning curve of new instructional tools for teachers and students alike. To enhance student collaboration and classroom engagement, the WAD series offers a natural writing experience with infrared (IR) touch and supports up to 40 simultaneous touchpoints.
    Additional savings include up to a $620 discount on the award-winning 27-inch ViewFinity S9 monitor — a 5K high-resolution screen that delivers incredible detail when developing engaging and vibrant classroom materials. Educators can also enjoy $300 off the immersive curved 34-inch ViewFinity S65VC and up to $360 off the 34-inch ViewFinity S65TC monitors that maximize screen real estate and improve productivity when it comes to crafting lesson plans, reviewing curriculum or managing the classroom.

    Saluting Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Champions: 10 Schools, New Tech!
    Samsung recently awarded 10 public middle and high schools with a Samsung Interactive Display (model name: WAF) and specialized training from the Samsung Education Solutions team as part of the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow national STEM competition. Now in its 15th year, Solve for Tomorrow challenges students in grades 6–12 to use STEM to develop real-world solutions to issues impacting their local communities. This milestone year celebrates a legacy of student-driven innovation, with more than $2 million in prizes awarded in 2025 alone. At the core of Solve for Tomorrow is a mission to advance STEM literacy, proficiency and equity, ensuring that educators are equipped with transformative technology and students are empowered to think boldly and creatively. To date, Samsung has provided over $29 million in technology and classroom resources to nearly 4,300 public schools across the United States, helping to bridge the knowledge and resource gaps in STEM education.
    “Receiving the Samsung WAF Interactive Display is a game-changer for our school. It will open up new possibilities for how we teach, connect and inspire the next generation of innovators,” said Dr. Kirstin Milks, science teacher, Bloomington High School South in Bloomington, Indiana.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI: Lewis Hamilton Foundation Mission 44 and HP Inc. Join Forces to Drive STEM Skills and Future of Work Readiness for Young People

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MIAMI, May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today at the F1 Miami Grand Prix circuit, Sir Lewis Hamilton’s global foundation Mission 44 and HP Inc. (NYSE: HPQ) announced a multi-year partnership to fuel access to technology and skills needed to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

    This collaboration unites Mission 44’s drive for greater inclusivity in STEM with HP’s ambition to accelerate digital equity for 150 million people globally by 2030, equipping disconnected adolescents and adults with the critical skills needed to thrive in the future of work.

    Through targeted initiatives in Miami and then expanding to the UK, the partnership will provide the technology, training, digital skills, and mentorship young people need to unlock opportunities to participate in the digital economy.

    Mission 44 and HP will first support two Miami-based tech hubs. America on Tech, an early pipeline tech talent accelerator that creates career pathways for young people and Miami EdTech, which aims to provide workforce development through computer science and digital skilling.

    Later this year, HP and Mission 44 will expand their collaboration to support schools and educators in the UK to increase learning access to equip young people for tomorrow’s workforce.

    “The partnership between HP and Mission 44 harnesses the unique strength and influence of our organizations. HP’s ability to shape the future of work through technology, combined with Mission 44’s drive for impactful change, makes this collaboration truly powerful,” said Michele Malejki, Global Head of Social Impact at HP Inc. and Executive Director of the HP Foundation. “Together, we are fuelling access to essential skills and technology, equipping disconnected adolescents and adults to participate and thrive in the digital economy, and we are excited to bring this program to more people globally. Through a new HP Future of Work Skills Hub and support for local NGOs and educators, we are empowering the next generation with the tools they need to succeed.”

    “At Mission 44, we strongly believe in the power of collaboration, and our partnership with HP is the perfect example,” said Jason Arthur, CEO of Mission 44. “By bringing together a global tech leader and local non-profits, we know we can make a meaningful impact for young people, raising aspirations and achievement, and enabling access to exciting careers in STEM.”

    To kick off the partnership, the two organizations invited a group of young people from the Miami area to the Grand Prix circuit to meet Lewis Hamilton, whose personal experiences of education and motorsport have left him determined to build a more inclusive future. The group was given an exclusive tour of the Scuderia Ferrari HP Team garage and F1 paddock and participated in talks with industry insiders on the opportunities and skills required for careers in STEM related industries.

    Empowering Learners and Educators in Miami and Beyond

    In conjunction with the partnership announcement, HP has launched the new online Future of Work Skills Hub, designed to equip learners and educators across the globe with the tools needed to thrive in an ever-evolving digital world. The online portal offers a variety of skills courses, including AI and data science as well as business leadership. Additionally, it provides resources to assist educators in understanding and utilizing generative AI in education.

    Furthering their commitment to empowering young people, HP, Mission 44, Miami EdTEch and America on Tech have established the first on the ground Future of Work Hubs. These physical hubs in Miami combine lasting access to HP technology with long-term learning support for young people in those communities.

    “Technology is at the heart of our mission to empower underrepresented young people,” said Carlos Vazquez, Founder of Miami EdTech. “Thanks to HP and Mission 44, and the creation of our new hub, we now have more tech to teach with, giving our students the skills they need to succeed in STEM.”

    “We are proud to partner with Mission 44 and HP to help shape a meaningful tech education ecosystem in Miami. Together, we are investing in the brilliance and potential of young people—ensuring they have access to the resources, mentorship, and opportunities they need to thrive in the innovation economy,” said Jessica Santana, Chief Executive Officer, America on Tech. “This partnership reflects our shared commitment to closing the digital divide and creating pathways that empower the next generation of tech leaders.”

    Miami EdTech

    Miami EdTech is a registered 501(c)(3) education technology non-profit organization on a mission to address the biggest challenges we face in education through innovation and technology. We provide teachers with engaging and effective professional development in the areas of Computer Science & Entrepreneurship, develop curriculum and tech-enabled learning environments, and support edtech innovation through pilots, consulting, and mentorship. The organization delivers high-quality education, targeted mentorship,
    industry-aligned internships, and apprenticeship programs to give underserved youth the support they need to succeed in STEM. To learn more visit: https://miamiedtech.com.

    America on Tech

    America On Tech (AOT) is a national nonprofit preparing the next generation of technology leaders from underestimated communities. AOT provides high-quality, no-cost tech education, skills development, and workforce readiness programs starting with high school youth in New York City, Los Angeles, Miami, and now Atlanta. The organization offers training in Web Development, Artificial Intelligence, UX Design, Product Management, Digital Marketing, Data Science, and Cybersecurity, connecting students with mentorship and career opportunities in the tech sector. Since its founding in 2014, AOT has served more than 5,000 students, facilitated over 1,000 internship placements, and helped students earn $4.1 million in wages through paid work-based learning experiences. To learn more visit: https://www.americaontech.org/.

    About Mission 44

    Founded by seven-time Formula One World Champion Sir Lewis Hamilton, Mission 44 is a global charitable foundation driving change so that every young person can thrive in school and access great careers in STEM. To learn more, visit www.mission44.org.

    About HP

    HP Inc. is a global technology leader and creator of solutions that enable people to bring their ideas to life and connect to the things that matter most. Operating in more than 170 countries, HP delivers a wide range of innovative and sustainable devices, services, and subscriptions for personal computing, printing, 3D printing, hybrid work, gaming, and more. For more information, please visit http://www.hp.com.

    To access the new Future of Work Skills Hub, please visit www.hp.com/future-skills. For more information about HP’s social impact initiatives visit hp.com/digital-equity.

    hp.com/go/newsroom

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Is a faith-based charter school a threat to religious freedom, or a necessity to uphold it? The weighty decision lies with the Supreme Court

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Charles J. Russo, Joseph Panzer Chair in Education and Research Professor of Law, University of Dayton

    Supporters of charter schools rally outside the Supreme Court building on April 30, 2025, during oral arguments over a proposed Catholic charter school. AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein

    As demonstrators gathered outside, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments on April 30, 2025, about whether Oklahoma can operate the nation’s first faith-based charter school. St. Isidore of Seville would be a virtual, K-12 school run by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and the Diocese of Tulsa.

    Charters are typically public schools of choice, funded by taxpayer dollars. Unlike regular public schools, they are free from most state regulations on curriculum and teacher qualifications. Until now, however, charters, like other public schools, have been secular.

    The litigation over St. Isidore reveals a built-in tension in the First Amendment religion clauses, under which “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” While the free exercise clause guarantees people the right to believe as they wish, controversy remains over what constitutes an “establishment” of religion.

    Here, the specific question is the extent to which, if any, states can spend public funds to allow parents to enroll their children in a faith-based charter school. Supporters are appealing a 2024 ruling from the Supreme Court of Oklahoma, which held that a religious charter school violated state law, as well as the Oklahoma and federal constitutions.

    The Oklahoma Supreme Court bench in the state Capitol building in Oklahoma City.
    AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki

    Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, a Republican supporter of St. Isidore, has said the case “stands to be one of the most significant religious and education freedom decisions in our lifetime.”

    On the other hand, the attorney for St. Isidore’s challengers – led by Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond, who blocked the school’s opening – said that a victory for St. Isidore “would result in the astounding rule that states not only may but must fund and create public religious schools, an astounding reversal from this court’s time-honored precedents.”

    It remains to be seen whether a ruling in favor of St. Isidore’s would prove to be a win for religious freedom, as Stitt claimed, or a threat. Even so, as a professor focused on education law, I believe an order to continue expanding taxpayer aid to faith-based institutions looks more likely after Wednesday’s arguments, where five of the eight participating justices seemed sympathetic to St. Isidore.

    The issues

    The Supreme Court faces two key questions.

    First, do the teachings of “a privately owned and run school constitute state action simply because it contracts with the state to offer a free educational option for interested students?” In other words, is a charter school a state actor?

    Second, the justices will weigh how the First Amendment religion clauses apply to a faith-based charter school. According to the First Amendment, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” The question is whether Oklahoma violates the free exercise clause by excluding schools from the charter program “solely because the schools are religious.” If so, is the exclusion justified by concerns about the government “establishing” religion?

    The dispute over St. Isidore comes at a time when the Supreme Court has been steadily expanding the limits of aid to faith-based schools. Starting in 2016, a trio of cases have held that states cannot deny institutions and believers generally available, taxpayer-funded aid based solely on their religions. These cases covered aid to enhance playground safety at a Missouri preschool, the right to participate in Montana’s educational tax credit program, and providing tuition assistance to Maine parents in districts lacking public secondary schools.

    The other issue – the “state actor” question – essentially asks whether a state-funded school teaching Catholicism would constitute the government promoting a religion, in violation of the First Amendment’s prohibition against doing so.

    The Supreme Court building on April 30, 2025, the day of oral arguments in St. Isidore’s case.
    AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein

    Drummond, Oklahoma’s attorney general, is also a Republican. However, he reversed his predecessor’s action allowing St. Isidore’s creation, arguing that the school “misuses the concept of religious liberty by employing it as a means to justify state-funded religion.”

    In a 2024 brief to the Supreme Court, Drummond noted that Oklahoma’s “charter schools bear all of the hallmarks of a public school,” such as being entirely state-funded. During April arguments, his attorney emphasized that charters are “required to be public schools by the Congress of the United States and the legislatures of 47 states.”

    If this argument prevails, it means St. Isidore is a government actor, and therefore it cannot promote any one religion over another.

    The state action claim may be difficult for St. Isidore’s supporters to overcome. However, the ace in the hole is the Supreme Court’s recent trend of expanding the boundaries of government aid to faith-based schools and their students.

    In fact, Chief Justice John Roberts authored the majority opinion in all three of those cases. Excluding a religious preschool “from a public benefit for which it is otherwise qualified, solely because it is a church, is odious to our Constitution all the same, and cannot stand,” he wrote in the 2016 decision.

    Justice Amy Barrett, a supporter of increased aid to faith-based schools, recused herself from participating in the oral arguments, without explanation. This leaves five justices who support expanding public aid for faith-based schools: Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Roberts.

    Oral arguments

    During questioning, Roberts commented that St. Isidore’s creation seems like “much more comprehensive [state] involvement” with a religious organization, compared with the previous cases that expanded taxpayer aid to religious schools – leaving the door open to speculation over how he might vote. Nevertheless, he and the other four proponents of aid appeared open to St. Isidore’s argument that to exclude faith-based schools from charter programs is unconstitutional discrimination on the basis of religion.

    “All the religious school is saying is don’t exclude us on account of our religion,” Kavanaugh commented. He added, “You can’t treat religious people and religious institutions and religious speech as second class in the United States.”

    The remaining justices – Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson – appeared skeptical of expanding state aid to faith-based schools.

    Illustrating the tensions within the First Amendment, Sotomayor remarked to the attorney representing St. Isidore, “what you’re saying is the free exercise clause trumps the essence of the establishment clause.”

    Jackson said to the same attorney that St. Isidore is “not being denied a benefit that everyone else gets. It’s being denied a benefit that no one else gets, which is the ability to establish a religious public school.”

    If Roberts agrees with these three justices, resulting in a 4-4 tie, the judgment of the Supreme Court of Oklahoma would remain undisturbed.

    In the words of the baseball sage Yogi Berra, “it ain’t over ‘till it’s over.” The court is expected to rule near the end of its term, likely in late June.

    This article includes material from an article originally published on Jan. 31, 2025.

    Charles J. Russo 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. Is a faith-based charter school a threat to religious freedom, or a necessity to uphold it? The weighty decision lies with the Supreme Court – https://theconversation.com/is-a-faith-based-charter-school-a-threat-to-religious-freedom-or-a-necessity-to-uphold-it-the-weighty-decision-lies-with-the-supreme-court-253536

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: What causes RFK Jr.’s strained and shaky voice? A neurologist explains this little-known disorder

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Indu Subramanian, Clinical Professor of Neurology, University of California, Los Angeles

    U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks at an April 16, 2025, news conference in Washington, D.C. Alex Wong via Getty Images

    Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has attracted a lot of attention for his raspy voice, which results from a neurological voice disorder called spasmodic dysphonia.

    Kennedy, 71, says that in his 40s he developed a neurological disease that “robbed him of his strong speaking voice.” Kennedy first publicly spoke of the quiver he had noticed in his voice in a 2004 interview with journalist Diane Rehm, who also had spasmodic dysphonia.

    In 2005, Kennedy was receiving shots of botulinum toxin, the neurotoxin that is now used in Botox as well as to treat migraines and other conditions, every four months. This first-line treatment for dysphonia helps to weaken the vocal folds that contract abnormally with this condition. He used botulinum toxin injections for 10 years and then stopped using them, saying they were “not a good fit” for him.

    Kennedy initially developed symptoms while in the public eye teaching at Pace University in New York. Some viewers wrote to him suggesting that he had the condition spasmadic dysphonia and that he should contact a well-known expert on the disease, Dr. Andrew Blitzer. He followed this advice and had the diagnosis confirmed.

    I am a movement disorders neurologist and have long been passionate about the psychological and social toll that conditions such as dysphonias have on my patients.

    Kennedy says his condition began in 1996, when he was 42.

    Types of dysphonias

    In North America, an estimated 50,000 people have spasmodic dysphonia. The condition involves the involuntary pulling of the muscles that open and close the vocal folds, causing the voice to sound strained and strangled, at times with a breathy quality. About 30% to 60% of people with the condition also experience vocal tremor, which can alter the sound of the voice.

    Typically, a neurologist may suspect the disorder by identifying characteristic voice breaks when the patients is speaking. The diagnosis is confirmed with the help of an ear, nose and throat specialist who can insert a small scope into the larynx, examine the vocal folds and rule out any other abnormalities.

    Because the disorder is not well known to the public, many patients experience a delay in diagnosis and may be misdiagnosed with gastric reflux or allergies.

    The most common type of spasmodic dysphonia is called adductor dysphonia, which accounts for 80% of cases. It is characterized by a strained or strangled voice quality with abrupt breaks on vowels due to the vocal folds being hyperadducted, or abnormally closed.

    In contrast, a form of the condition called abductor dysphonia causes a breathy voice with breaks on consonants due to uncontrolled abduction – meaning coming apart of the vocal folds.

    Potential treatments

    Spasmodic dysphonia is not usually treatable with oral medications and sometimes can get better with botulinum toxin injections into the muscles that control the vocal cords. It is a lifelong disorder currently without a cure. Voice therapy through working with a speech pathologist alongside botulinum toxin administration may also be beneficial.

    Surgical treatments can be an option for patients who fail botulinum toxin treatment, though surgeries come with risks and can be variably effective. Surgical techniques are being refined and require wider evaluation and long-term follow-up data before being considered as a standard treatment for spasmodic dysphonia.

    The sudden, uncontrollable movements caused by irregular folding of the vocal folds are referred to as spasms, which gave rise to the name spasmodic dysphonia.

    Dysphonias fall into a broader category of movement disorders

    Spasmodic dysphonia is classified as a focal dystonia, a dystonia that affects one body part – the vocal folds, in the case of spasmodic dysphonia. Dystonia is an umbrella term for movement disorders characterized by sustained or repetitive muscle contractions that cause abnormal postures or movements.

    The most common dystonia is cervical dystonia, which affects the neck and can cause pulling of the head to one side.

    Another type, called blepharospasm, involves involuntary muscle contractions and spasms of the eyelid muscles that can cause forced eye closure that can even affect vision in some cases. There can be other dystonias such as writer’s cramp, which can make the hand cramp when writing. Musicians can develop dystonias from overusing certain body parts such as violinists who develop dystonia in their hands or trumpet players who develop dystonia in their lips.

    Stigmas and psychological distress

    Dystonias can cause tremendous psychological distress.

    Many dystonias and movement disorders in general, including Parkinson’s disease and other conditions that result in tremors, face tremendous amounts of stigma. In Africa, for instance, there is a misconception that the affected person has been cursed by witchcraft or that the movement disorder is contagious. People with the condition may be hidden from society or isolated from others due to fear of catching the disease.

    In the case of spasmodic dysphonia, the affected person may feel that they appear nervous or ill-prepared while speaking publicly. They may be embarrassed or ashamed and isolate themselves from speaking to others.

    My patients have been very frustrated by the unpredictable nature of the symptoms and by having to avoid certain sounds that could trigger the dysphonia. They may then have to restructure their word choices and vocabulary so as not to trigger the dysphonia, which can be very mentally taxing.

    Some patients with dysphonia feel that their abnormal voice issues affect their relationships and their ability to perform their job or take on leadership or public-facing roles. Kennedy said in an interview that he finds the sound of his own voice to be unbearable to listen to and apologizes to others for having to listen to it.

    A 2005 study exploring the biopsychosocial consequences of spasmodic dysphonia through interviews with patients gives some insight into the experience of people living with the disorder.

    A patient in that study said that their voice sounded “like some kind of wild chicken screeching out words,” and another patient said that it “feels like you’re having to grab onto a word and push it out from your throat.” Another felt like “there’s a rubber band around my neck. Someone was constricting it.” And another said, “It feels like you have a sore throat all the time … like a raw feeling in your throat.”

    Patients in the study described feeling hopeless and disheartened, less confident and less competent. The emotional toll can be huge. One patient said, “I used to be very outgoing and now I find myself avoiding those situations.” Another said, “People become condescending like you’re not capable anymore because you don’t speak well.”

    As conditions such as spasmodic dysphonia become better recognized, I am hopeful that not only will treatments improve, but that stigmas around such conditions will diminish.

    Indu Subramanian 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. What causes RFK Jr.’s strained and shaky voice? A neurologist explains this little-known disorder – https://theconversation.com/what-causes-rfk-jr-s-strained-and-shaky-voice-a-neurologist-explains-this-little-known-disorder-250769

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Fleeting fireflies illuminate Colorado summer nights − and researchers are watching

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Orit Peleg, Associate Professor of Computer Science, University of Colorado Boulder

    Fireflies in Boulder, Colo., during the summer of 2023. Radim Schreiber/Firefly Experience, CC BY

    The Colorado June air was thick with summer heat. Mosquitoes rose in clouds around us, testing our resolve while we gathered our cameras and sensors. We walked into the wetland, down the unmarked path until the cattails rose shoulder-high. The sounds of frogs and crickets filled the air as we set up our cameras and waited. Then we spotted them: tiny lights lifting from the grasses, blinking in slow rhythms.

    Bioluminescent lampyrid beetles, commonly known as fireflies or lightning bugs, are widespread throughout the Eastern United States but far more scarce west of Kansas.

    Even though many are stargazers and hikers, most Colorado residents don’t know that fireflies share their state.

    We are an associate professor of computer science and a Ph.D. candidate who are working to shed light on Colorado’s hidden fireflies.

    In the past few years, we have observed and filmed elusive bioluminescent fireflies all over Colorado, racing each summer against their brief and unpredictable flashing season.

    The authors − Orit, left, and Owen − in the field, taking notes and observing specimens.
    Nolan R. Bonnie and Mac Stone

    Last year in early June it was too early, we thought, for fireflies in Colorado. For weeks we had been checking weather forecasts, comparing them to previous years, waiting for warmer nights and rising temperatures − the signs that would tell us it’s firefly time.

    Then we got a tip. A friend mentioned seeing one or two flashes near their property. The next morning we packed our gear, rearranged our schedules and contacted our volunteer network. The field season began in a literal flash.

    As adults, fireflies live and flash for only about two weeks a year − and even then, just for a few hours each night. It’s easy to blink and miss the entire season. The next generation overwinters underground as larvae, emerging as adults the following year, though development may take up to two years in arid climates. Making the most of that narrow window is one of the many reasons we rely on volunteers who help us spot the first flashes and record observations across Colorado.

    Western fireflies face unique environmental challenges

    Our work joins a growing chorus of scientific observation focused on western fireflies, which pop up across the arid landscape near temporary wetlands, marshes, drainages, desert rivers and other water sources. Because of the dry landscape, these populations tend to be fragmented, isolated to where the water is and nowhere in between.

    This strong tie to small, unstable habitat spells vulnerability for the fireflies. If the water runs out, or their habitats are damaged by water or light pollution, the flashing populations could vanish. Pesticides in water are toxic to firefly larvae and their prey, and artificial light inhibits the flash courtship between males and females, preventing successful reproduction. Many populations and species of fireflies are threatened with extinction in the United States due to these factors.

    Organizations such as our lab at the University of Colorado and the Xerces Society for Inverteberate Conservation are studying the distribution of and direct threats to western firefly populations. Many of the species are either endangered or not yet described.

    The fireflies of the Photuris genus along the Front Range, for example, still do not have a species name and appear to be genetically distinct from other Photuris around the country. Preliminary genetic results suggest at least one new species might be found here. The genetic data also suggests at least five different bioluminescent species of fireflies are present in Colorado.

    How flash patterns help fireflies (and us) tell species apart

    During their short mating season, fireflies use their flash patterns as mating calls.

    Males produce a series of flash-on, flash-off events, each with specific durations and pauses. These Morse code-like signals communicate what type and how fit the fireflies are to potential mates in the darkness.

    When females detect a suitable male, they respond with their own unique flash pattern.

    Our work piggybacks on this evolutionary adaptation. We first recorded populations from around the U.S. using two video cameras, which allowed us to accurately track individual fireflies in three dimensions and separate their flash patterns.

    We used the data on the flash behavior from different species to train a neural network that can classify the firefly’s flash pattern with a high degree of accuracy. Our algorithm learns the unique flash patterns from our data and can identify the species of firefly that is present in a video.

    This is a powerful tool for firefly conservation efforts. The camera footage can cover more time and ground than field surveys conducted by humans, and our algorithm can more quickly identify species that might be threatened.

    Fostering community engagement with citizen science

    Based on our success with community science data collection across other states, including Tennessee, South Carolina and Massachusetts, we wanted to apply the same principles to Colorado’s firefly populations. This is a big undertaking: There are dozens of fragmented sites where fireflies are active across Colorado, and more are reported by volunteers every season. Our team of two cannot visit and survey every site during the short firefly season.

    In 2023 we put out our first call for volunteers in Colorado. Since that time, 18 community members in Boulder, Fort Collins, Divide and Loveland joined the filming effort. We provide cameras for the volunteers, who bring them to their nearby wetlands and set them up in the fading light.

    Last summer we partnered with local land management agencies in Boulder, Fort Collins and Loveland to host informative community events, where we spoke about firefly biology and conservation to audiences of all ages. On many of those nights, as the flashes began, we heard the excitement build: quiet gasps, hushed enthusiasm and a whisper such as, “Look at that beautiful streak of light!”

    Fireflies have an important story to tell, and here in Colorado that story is just beginning. Their brief flashes each summer help us learn about communication, ecology and how these delicate insects respond to an ever-changing world.

    If you’d like to help us find and study fireflies in Colorado, you can sign up to join our community science project.

    Orit Peleg receives funding from the City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks, CU Boulder’s Timmerhaus Fund Ambassadors, National Geographic Society, and Research Cooperation for Science Advancement.

    Owen Martin receives funding from Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP).

    – ref. Fleeting fireflies illuminate Colorado summer nights − and researchers are watching – https://theconversation.com/fleeting-fireflies-illuminate-colorado-summer-nights-and-researchers-are-watching-253593

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: What makes people flourish? A new survey of more than 200,000 people across 22 countries looks for global patterns and local differences

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Victor Counted, Associate Professor of Psychology, Regent University

    Flourishing is about your whole life being good, including the people and places around you. Westend61 via Getty Images

    What does it mean to live a good life? For centuries, philosophers, scientists and people of different cultures have tried to answer this question. Each tradition has a different take, but all agree: The good life is more than just feeling good − it’s about becoming whole.

    More recently, researchers have focused on the idea of flourishing, not simply as happiness or success, but as a multidimensional state of well-being that involves positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning and accomplishment − an idea that traces back to Aristotle’s concept of “eudaimonia” but has been redefined within the well-being science literature.

    Flourishing is not just well-being and how you feel on the inside. It’s about your whole life being good, including the people around you and where you live. Things such as your home, your neighborhood, your school or workplace, and your friends all matter.

    We are a group of psychological scientists, social scientists and epidemiologists who are all contributors to an international collaboration called the Global Flourishing Study. The goal of the project is simple: to find patterns of human flourishing across cultures.

    Do people in some countries thrive more than others? What makes the biggest difference in a person’s well-being? Are there things people can do to improve their own lives? Understanding these trends over time can help shape policies and programs that improve global human flourishing.

    What does the flourishing study focus on?

    The Global Flourishing Study is a five-year annual survey of over 200,000 participants from 22 countries, using nationally representative sampling to understand health and well-being. Our team includes more than 40 researchers across different disciplines, cultures and institutions.

    With help from Gallup Inc., we asked people about their lives, their happiness, their health, their childhood experiences, and how they feel about their financial situation.

    The study looks at six dimensions of a flourishing life:

    1. Happiness and life satisfaction: how content and fulfilled people feel with their lives.

    2. Physical and mental health: how healthy people feel, in both body and mind.

    3. Meaning and purpose: whether people feel their lives are significant and moving in a clear direction.

    4. Character and virtue: how people act to promote good, even in tough situations.

    5. Close social relationships: how satisfied people are with their friendships and family ties.

    6. Financial and material stability: whether people feel secure about their basic needs, including food, housing and money.

    We tried to quantify how participants are doing on each of these dimensions using a scale from 0 to 10. In addition to using the Secure Flourish measure from Harvard’s Human Flourishing Program, we included additional questions to probe other factors that influence how much someone is flourishing.

    For example, we assessed well-being through questions about optimism, peace and balance in life. We measured health by asking about pain, depression and exercise. We measured relationships through questions about trust, loneliness and support.

    Who is flourishing and why?

    Our first wave of results reveals that some countries and groups of people are doing better than others.

    We were surprised that in many countries young people are not doing as well as older adults. Earlier studies had suggested well-being follows a U-shape over the course of a lifespan, with the lowest point in middle age. Our new results imply that younger adults today face growing mental health challenges, financial insecurity and a loss of meaning that are disrupting the traditional U-shaped curve of well-being.

    Married people usually reported more support, better relationships and more meaning in life.

    People who were working – either for themselves or someone else – also tended to feel more secure and happy than people who were seeking jobs.

    People who go to religious services once a week or more typically reported higher scores in all areas of flourishing – particularly happiness, meaning and relationships. This finding was true in almost every country, even very secular ones such as Sweden.

    It seems that religious communities offer what psychologists of religion call the four B’s: belonging, in the form of social support; bonding, in the form of spiritual connection; behaving, in the cultivation of character and virtue through the practices and norms taught within religious communities; and believing, in the form of embracing hope, forgiveness and shared spiritual convictions.

    But some people who attend religious services also report more pain or suffering. This correlation may be because religious communities often provide support during hard times, and frequent attendees may be more attentive to or more likely to experience pain, grief or illness.

    Your early years shape how you do later in life. But even if life started off as challenging, it doesn’t have to stay that way. Some people who had difficult childhoods, having experienced abuse or poverty, still found meaning and purpose later as adults. In some countries, including the U.S. and Argentina, hardship in childhood seemed to build resilience and purpose in adulthood.

    Globally, men and women report similar levels of flourishing. But in some countries there are big differences. For example, women in Japan report higher scores than men, while in Brazil, men report doing better than women.

    Where are people flourishing most?

    Some countries are doing better than others when it comes to flourishing.

    Indonesia is thriving. People there scored high in many areas, including meaning, purpose, relationships and character. Indonesia is one of the highest-scoring countries in most of the indicators in the whole study.

    Mexico and the Philippines also show strong results. Even though these countries have less money than some others, people report strong family ties, spiritual lives and community support.

    Japan and Turkey report lower scores. Japan has a strong economy, but people there report lower happiness and weaker social connections. Long work hours and stress may be part of the reason. In Turkey, political and financial challenges may be hurting people’s sense of trust and security.

    One surprising result is that richer countries, including the United States and Sweden, are not flourishing as well as some others. They do well on financial stability but score lower in meaning and relationships. Having more money doesn’t always mean people are doing better in life.

    In fact, countries with higher income often report lower levels of meaning and purpose. Meanwhile, countries with higher fertility rates often report more meaning in life. These findings show that there can be a trade-off. Economic progress might improve some things but weaken others.

    One of the authors reflects on what the survey data reveals about what helps people truly flourish across the world.

    The big picture

    The Global Flourishing Study is helping us see that people all over the world want many of the same basic things: to be happy, healthy, connected and safe. But different countries reach those goals in different ways. There is no one-size-fits-all answer to flourishing. What it means to flourish can look different from place to place and from one person to another.

    One challenge with the Global Flourishing Study is that it uses the same set of questions in all 22 countries. This method, known as an etic approach, helps us compare results across cultures. But it can miss the nuance and local meanings of flourishing. What brings happiness or purpose in one country or context might not mean the same thing in another.

    We consider this study to be a starting point. It opens the door for more emic studies – research that uses questions and ideas that fit the values, language and everyday life of specific cultures and societies. Researchers can build on this study’s findings to expand how we understand and measure flourishing around the world.

    Tyler J. VanderWeele reports consulting fees from Gloo Inc., along with shared revenue received by Harvard University in its license agreement with Gloo according to the University IP policy.

    Byron R. Johnson and Victor Counted do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. What makes people flourish? A new survey of more than 200,000 people across 22 countries looks for global patterns and local differences – https://theconversation.com/what-makes-people-flourish-a-new-survey-of-more-than-200-000-people-across-22-countries-looks-for-global-patterns-and-local-differences-243671

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: Greenlight Re Announces Appointment of Martin Vezina as Head of Underwriting Analytics

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    GRAND CAYMAN, Cayman Islands, May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Greenlight Reinsurance, Ltd. (“Greenlight Re” or the “Company”), a subsidiary of Greenlight Capital Re, Ltd. (NASDAQ: GLRE), today announced the appointment of Martin Vezina as Head of Underwriting Analytics with immediate effect. In this capacity, Vezina will play a pivotal role in overseeing Greenlight Re’s underwriting analytics and pricing function and will be based out of the Company’s headquarters in Grand Cayman.

    “I am excited to join Greenlight Re and look forward to the continued enhancement of the Company’s underwriting platform. Through my prior collaboration with various members of the Greenlight Re team, I have come to recognize the value in the Company’s combination of technical expertise and deep industry knowledge,” said Vezina.

    Tom Curnock, Group Chief Underwriting Officer, said, “Martin brings over 30 years of experience in reinsurance, with a diverse background in underwriting and pricing functions. Martin will play a pivotal role advancing the use of analytics to inform underwriting decisions and aid in shaping our strategic direction. With his extensive experience in the Property Catastrophe and Insurance-Linked Securities space, we are fortunate to welcome such a high caliber addition to our team.”

    About Martin Vezina
    Vezina has held various senior underwriting positions at Allianz, New Ocean Capital, AQR Re, and Markel (previously Alterra/Harbor Point Re/Chubb Re). He also held actuarial roles at American Re and Overseas Partners Re early on. Vezina holds a Bachelor of Science. in actuarial science from Laval University and holds the professional designations: Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society, Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter, Associate in Reinsurance, and Certified Catastrophe Risk Analyst. Vezina’s appointment at Greenlight Re is subject to applicable immigration approvals.

    About Greenlight Capital Re, Ltd.
    Greenlight Capital Re, Ltd. (www.greenlightre.com) provides multiline property and casualty insurance and reinsurance through its licensed and regulated reinsurance entities in the Cayman Islands and Ireland, and its Lloyd’s platform, Greenlight Innovation Syndicate 3456. The company complements its underwriting activities with a non-traditional investment approach designed to achieve higher rates of return over the long term than reinsurance companies that exclusively employ more traditional investment strategies. In 2018, the company launched its Greenlight Re Innovations unit, which supports technology innovators in the (re)insurance space by providing investment capital, risk capacity, and access to a broad insurance network.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws. We intend these forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements in the U.S. Federal securities laws. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements made on the company’s behalf. These risks and uncertainties include the impact of general economic conditions and conditions affecting the insurance and reinsurance industry, the adequacy of our reserves, our ability to assess underwriting risk, trends in rates for property and casualty insurance and reinsurance, competition, investment market fluctuations, trends in insured and paid losses, catastrophes, regulatory and legal uncertainties and other factors described in our Forms 10-K and 10-Q filed with the Securities Exchange Commission. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.

    Investor Relations Contact
    Karin Daly
    Vice President, The Equity Group Inc.
    +1 212 836 9623
    IR@greenlightre.ky

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Chapman Becomes Chief Executive Officer of Renasant

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TUPELO, Miss., May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today, Renasant Corporation (the “Company”) announced that Kevin D. Chapman has officially assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer and President of both the Company and Renasant Bank (the “Bank”). C. Mitchell Waycaster, immediate past Renasant CEO, will continue as Executive Vice Chairman for both the Company and the Bank. As Executive Vice Chairman, Waycaster will continue to be involved in strategic planning, investor relations, mergers and acquisitions, and providing guidance and board level oversight for the Company.

    “As previously announced with our company’s succession plan, it is with full confidence and great enthusiasm that the Board and I pass the leadership torch to Kevin Chapman as our new CEO,” said E. Robinson McGraw, Chairman of the Board of the Company and the Bank. “We are in exceptionally capable hands under Kevin’s leadership, and we are confident that his proven track record and vision will guide Renasant to even greater success. On behalf of our shareholders, board, and employees, we congratulate Kevin on this well-deserved promotion and look forward to supporting him as he leads Renasant into the future.”

    About Kevin D. Chapman: Chapman has been President since May 2023 and Chief Operating Officer for the Company since May 2018. Prior to his current role, Chapman held several different roles including Chief Financial Officer, Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Accounting Officer and Corporate Controller.

    Chapman has worked in the financial services industry for more than 25 years with experience that includes initial public offerings, capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, capital raises, investor relations and corporate strategy. Prior to Renasant, he served as Corporate Controller for a large regional bank and as an accountant with Ernst and Young in Birmingham, Alabama.

    Chapman received his M.B.A. and B.S. in Accounting from Troy University.  He is a licensed C.P.A. in the state of Alabama. Chapman is involved in many community and non-profit organizations and has served as a board or committee member of the Community Development Foundation of Tupelo, the Health Care Foundation of North Mississippi, North Mississippi Medical Center, Yocona Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America, United Way of Northeast Mississippi, and the North Mississippi Symphony Orchestra.

    Chapman has served as a past board member of Mississippi Bankers Association and
    Mississippi Young Bankers. Additionally, he has served on various committees for the American Bankers Association.

    ABOUT RENASANT CORPORATION:
    Renasant Corporation is the parent of Renasant Bank, a 121-year-old financial services institution. As of April 1, 2025, Renasant has assets of approximately $26.0 billion and operates more than 280 banking, lending, mortgage and wealth management offices throughout the Southeast and offers factoring and asset-based lending on a nationwide basis.

    Contacts: For Media:   For Financials:
      John S. Oxford   James C. Mabry IV
      Senior Vice President   Executive Vice President
      Chief Marketing Officer   Chief Financial Officer
      (662) 680-1219   (662) 680-1281

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2c43105d-19a8-4344-a211-8c758211b062

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Silvaco Partners with Kyung Hee University’s Professor Jin Jang on AI-Powered Fab Technology Co-Optimization for Next Generation Display Technologies

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SANTA CLARA, Calif., May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Silvaco Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: SVCO) (“Silvaco” or the “Company”), a provider of TCAD, EDA software and SIP solutions that enable semiconductor design and digital twin modeling through AI software and innovation, today announced a strategic research and development partnership with Professor Jin Jang and the Advanced Display Research Center (ADRC) at Kyung Hee University (KHU), South Korea. This four-year collaboration, which officially commenced on February 1, 2025, aims to advance display technology innovation through the integration of FTCO™ (Fab Technology Co-Optimization) with AI-driven Digital Twin modeling.

    Under the partnership, Silvaco will fund Ph.D. students at KHU and closely collaborate with Prof. Jang’s team to provide high-quality measurement data for emerging display technologies—specifically Micro-LED and OLED. The joint research effort will combine this experimental data with Silvaco’s industry-leading simulation tools and FTCO solution platform to create a comprehensive display technology Digital Twin spanning process, device, and circuit levels.

    “Our goal is to demonstrate how FTCO and AI-enabled Digital Twins can revolutionize the development and production of advanced display technologies,” said Prof. Jin Jang. “The collaboration with Silvaco allows us to bridge physical experimentation with virtual modeling, creating a robust foundation for faster, more accurate decision-making in fabs.”

    Silvaco’s role in the partnership includes running corresponding TCAD simulations and developing a complete FTCO flow using Victory TCAD™ simulators with Victory DoE™ and Victory Analytics™ in conjunction with its EDA tools, SmartSpice™ and UTMOST IV™. Combined with experimental data from KHU, this FTCO-based Digital Twin will enable fab engineers to simulate the impact of process variations on device and circuit performance in real-time, significantly accelerating optimization cycles in manufacturing environments.

    “Partnering with Professor Jin Jang and the ADRC team marks a major step forward in applying FTCO and Digital Twin approaches to optimize next generation display technologies,” said Eric Guichard, Senior Vice President and General Manager of the TCAD business unit at Silvaco. “With their world-class expertise in Micro-LED, OLED devices, and related circuits combined with our advanced simulation and analytics platforms, we aim to unlock new levels of efficiency in process optimization, design, and yield improvement. This partnership represents a unique fusion of academic research paving the way for future innovations in display manufacturing and beyond.”

    About Silvaco
    Silvaco is a provider of TCAD, EDA software, and SIP solutions that enable semiconductor design and digital twin modeling through AI software and innovation. Silvaco’s solutions are used for semiconductor and photonics processes, devices, and systems development across display, power devices, automotive, memory, high performance compute, foundries, photonics, internet of things, and 5G/6G mobile markets for complex SoC design. Silvaco is headquartered in Santa Clara, California, and has a global presence with offices located in North America, Europe, Brazil, China, Japan, Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan. Learn more at silvaco.com.

    Contacts
    Media Relations:
    Tiffany Behany, press@silvaco.com

    Investor Relations:
    Greg McNiff, investors@silvaco.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why do people continue to support politicians who attack their democracies? Expert Q&A

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Scott Williamson, Associate Professor, Department of Politics and International Relations, University of Oxford

    Ahead of a public event in London on May 8 on what the latest research can tell us about the state of democracy, The Conversation asked Scott Williamson, Associate Professor in Comparative Political Economy at the University of Oxford, to help us understand why people don’t always immediately push back when politicians attack their democracies.

    Your findings show that people around the world have relatively similar ideas about what democracy means and are relatively committed to this idea of democratic governance. So why are so many people polarised about whether today’s crop of politicians are attacking our democracies and what to do about it?

    Most people in most countries say it is important to them that they live in a democracy. Research by my colleagues and me also suggests that people tend to agree that competitive elections and protections for civil liberties are central elements of democratic governance.

    Yet, many people who claim to care about democracy also support political leaders and movements that have attacked democratic institutions and values.

    We have to recognise that even when people agree about the fundamental definition of democracy, there is still plenty of room to disagree over the specifics of how democracy is implemented in practice.

    Democracy in decline? The risk and rise of authoritarianism

    Democracy is under pressure around the world in 2025. But is this part of a larger historical cycle or does it signal a deeper, more fundamental shift? Join us for a free event in central London on May 8 to discuss these important questions. Come for a panel discussion and stay for food, drinks and conversation.

    Get tickets here

    Anti-democratic political leaders can take advantage of these disagreements to argue that their actions defend rather than disrupt democracy. Their supporters will often be motivated to believe these claims, especially where politics and the media are highly polarised.

    In the US, Donald Trump and the Republican party have long argued they are protecting American democracy from the deep state and the Democratic party. A prominent example is the claim that Democrats stole the 2020 election, and that subsequent charges against Trump were an attempt at political persecution.

    This message is consistently amplified by rightwing media. Such claims are false, but they create a framework for justifying Trump’s actions in democratic terms.

    A second potential problem is that people who understand democracy similarly and view democracy favourably may still decide that opposing anti-democratic leaders is less important than securing other political objectives. Several recent studies suggest that people in many countries, including the United States, are reluctant to make such trade-offs. Commitment to democracy is relatively strong.

    However, this research also highlights certain conditions under which people may begin to give up this commitment. Some people will care less about democracy if they can secure significantly better economic outcomes. In ongoing research with my co-authors, we also show that perceived threats to safety are especially likely to induce democratic trade-offs.

    One important finding from these studies is that people are strongly committed to maintaining competitive elections in their countries, but they are more willing to give up civil liberties and constraints on executive power in exchange for preferred economic and security outcomes. Some people are openly sympathetic to a majoritarian vision of democracy that empowers elected leaders to ignore institutional constraints if it means giving the people what they want.

    The relatively weaker commitment to these aspects of democracy means that anti-democratic leaders who first focus on undermining political freedoms and expanding their own power, rather than undercutting elections, are less likely to face a backlash.

    This well-used playbook may explain why Trump has faced relatively inconsistent pushback from the public, despite brazenly seizing legislative powers and violating civil liberties.

    Because Trump won the 2024 election, and because many Americans likely believe that subsequent elections will still meet democratic standards, they may tolerate attacks on civil liberties and checks and balances – especially if it gives them policy outcomes they prefer.

    Yet, it is important for Americans who care about democracy to recognise that several of Trump’s actions directly threaten the ability of the United States to hold free and fair elections in the future. The president and his allies have deployed lawsuits and withheld legally obligated funding in an effort to silence critical voices in the media, universities, NGOs, businesses, the legal community, and the Democratic party. Such actions are already muting criticisms of Trump and will make it harder for opposition to compete fairly in upcoming elections.

    Vice president J.D. Vance recently accused European leaders of “running in fear” from voters over immigration. What did you make of his intervention?

    These comments are a good example of how political leaders who attack democracy often claim to be defending democracy instead. A common strategy is to claim that they are the true representatives of the people and their preferences. As a result, their actions must be democratic, and those who oppose them are blocking the will of the people.

    Such claims about immigration should be viewed as a rhetorical cudgel used by the extreme right to beat back accusations of their own anti-democratic stances. Even if their immigration policies are more preferred by the public, this stronger alignment on a single issue should constitute only a small piece of the pie in terms of evaluating their democratic credentials.

    And their claims to represent public opinion on immigration stand on shaky ground at best. Attitudes toward immigration are complicated and multifaceted. Though negative views on the issue are clearly prevalent, attitudes have become more favourable over time in several European countries.

    Negative voices are often louder but do not necessarily represent the majority. Public opinion also fluctuates. In the United States, Trump was perceived more favourably than Kamala Harris on immigration during the 2024 election. But already by late April, a majority of Americans expressed opposition to Trump’s extreme approach.

    How can defenders of democracy meet these challenges?

    In countries where anti-democratic parties are on the rise, political leaders and the public should resist normalising them. The more they are treated as just any other party, the more people may begin to perceive their anti-democratic politics as acceptable.

    When anti-democratic parties come to power, it is important for their opponents to push back as forcefully as possible before the party can consolidate an authoritarian regime. As the political system becomes more repressive, people will increasingly hide their views, and it will be harder to mobilise opposition moving forward.

    For these efforts to succeed, it is important for the opposition to remain as unified as possible. If the ruling party can use its power to make elections less fair, state institutions more biased, and protests more dangerous, then the opposition will need to make use of every advantage they can to oust the government. A divided opposition will be much more likely to fail.

    Scott Williamson receives funding from the UKRI/EPSRC Frontier Research Guarantee Scheme (EP/Y036832/1) for the project Democratic Values and Authoritarian Legitimacy (DEVAL).

    – ref. Why do people continue to support politicians who attack their democracies? Expert Q&A – https://theconversation.com/why-do-people-continue-to-support-politicians-who-attack-their-democracies-expert-qanda-255565

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why older adults shouldn’t worry about having sore muscles after a workout – new research

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Lawrence Hayes, Lecturer in Physiology, Lancaster University

    Kostiantyn Voitenko/ Shutterstock

    Only 2% of people over the age of 70 strength train at least twice a week. This is worrying, as age-related muscle loss can increase risk of social isolation, falls, loss of independence and even early death.

    There are many reasons why older people may avoid strength training, such as a lack of knowledge about exercise, lack of access to a gym and stigma. Another major reason is the fear that exercise might make their muscles and joints even more sore than they already are.

    But the good news is that older adults are no more likely to experience muscle soreness after a workout than young adults are. In fact, our recent study found older adults actually experienced less muscle soreness following exercise than young adults did. This research overturns the widespread belief that ageing muscles are less resilient.

    We pooled data from 36 studies which looked at a total of 389 younger adults and 390 older adults with the aim of comparing their experiences of exercise-induced muscle damage. We analysed three different types of studies in our research, including those where participants self-reported on their muscle soreness, studies which looked at markers of muscle damage in the blood, and studies which analysed muscle function the day after a workout.

    We found that older adults do not experience greater muscle function loss after exercise compared with younger people. Maybe most importantly, muscle soreness was consistently lower in older adults after a workout. Older adults experienced only two-thirds of the soreness younger people did at 48 hours, and only one-third of the muscle soreness at 72 hours compared with younger people.

    Because we looked at 36 different studies, not all of them compared the same age groups. But they generally compared younger adults (people in their 20s) to older adults (people aged between 30 and 60).

    We also found that biological sex appeared to play a role in muscle function recovery, with males showing slightly greater losses in muscle function after exercise than females. This effect was true for both upper body and lower body exercises, as well as body strength and aerobic workouts.

    These findings challenge the widespread belief that ageing muscles recover more slowly or are more prone to exercise-induced damage. This misconception often discourages older adults from engaging in regular physical activity due to fears of prolonged soreness or weakness. The findings also show us that older adults may not need longer recovery periods between workouts – potentially allowing for more frequent or intense training sessions, leading to better long-term health outcomes.

    How to get started

    Although our study shows that older adults are no more likely to experience muscle damage compared to younger adults, this doesn’t mean older people won’t experience some soreness when they start working out.

    There are two important factors that can increase muscle damage (including soreness) after exercise.

    Women were less likely to experience losses in muscle function.
    nastya_ph/ Shutterstock

    The first is novelty. If you haven’t done a particular exercise before (or even for a long time) then it’s more likely you’ll feel sore for a couple of days afterwards if you overdo it. This happens because a new movement or type of exercise challenges our muscles. This causes the body to trigger a cascade of processes that build new muscle. While this temporarily makes us sore, it ultimately makes it easier for us to cope when we do that exercise again.

    The second are “eccentric” muscle contractions. What we mean by eccentric contractions is when you’re attempting to slow down a weight (imagine the downwards phase of a bicep curl – your bicep is working to slow the bar from dropping to the floor). Another example of an eccentric muscle movement is downhill running.

    Eccentric muscle contractions cause more damage than other movements mainly because they subject the muscle fibers to exceptionally high force loads, which is often distributed unevenly. This can overstretch and disrupt the integrity of our muscles, causing stress and damage. But while this leads to soreness in the short-term, these changes ultimately make us stronger.

    To overcome the problem of being new to exercise, you should ease yourself into a new exercise programme. The couch to 5K programme is a great example of this. This programme guides people to build their aerobic fitness gradually.

    So for instance, you might start by going for a 5-minute walk on Monday. If you feel okay on Wednesday, you might try a 10-minute walk instead. This means that every walk is only five additional minutes of novel exercise, allowing your body to gradually build fitness without too much risk of soreness.

    The same principle applies to the eccentric exercises we might do while strength training. Start easy. For an older beginner, just standing up from a chair and returning to seated can be a starting point. This is a very useful movement as it uses our main leg muscles. Being able to raise from a chair is also a huge predictor of independence in later life. Another benefit of this exercise is that you can always return to the seat if you lose balance – so it is quite safe.

    If you can do five of these in a row on Tuesday, see you if you can do two lots (we call these sets) of five on Thursday. Much like aerobic fitness, you’ll soon improve your muscle strength. For the upper body, raising light weights above your head and back down to your lap can be a start. You could also use tins of unopened beans if you don’t have any equipment at home. Try to do these strength-based activities at least two days per week.

    The findings of our study and many others suggest exercise has no age limit. Move more to live longer and healthier. Aim for 150 minutes of activity each week, add strength training twice per week – and most importantly, find a workout you love. When you enjoy it, you’re more likely to stick with it.

    Lawrence Hayes has received funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the Chief Scientist Office (CSO), the RS Macdonald Charitable Trust, and the Physiological Society.

    John Fernandes 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. Why older adults shouldn’t worry about having sore muscles after a workout – new research – https://theconversation.com/why-older-adults-shouldnt-worry-about-having-sore-muscles-after-a-workout-new-research-254262

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Robert Macfarlane’s new book is a plea to feel the pulse of our rivers

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Julian Dobson, Senior Research Fellow, Sheffield Hallam University

    beerlogoff/Shutterstock

    Suggesting that a river could be alive has the potential to change everything. Robert Macfarlane, one of Britain’s best-read writers on the natural environment, has done just this in his latest book.

    At one level, Is A River Alive? is a travelogue of adventuring in extreme environments: a lucid, lyrical addition to a genre Macfarlane has made his own. His odyssey through the cloudforests of Ecuador, the stricken rivers of Chennai in India and the tumultuous rapids of the Mutehekau Shipu in north-east Canada has it all: larger-than-life companions, astonishing revelations about the natural world and inadvisable levels of personal risk (including some particularly scary whitewater kayaking).

    Like all good odysseys, it’s a journey of psychological and spiritual self-discovery with a profound sense of nostos, an ancient Greek word meaning the journey home. But it’s much more than that.

    This is a quest with an agenda and an urgency and one that puts its cards on the table from the outset. If a river is alive, our perceptions, laws and politics must change course to recognise that, Macfarlane argues.

    That recognition must be rapid, because we’re already seeing the consequences of treating rivers – and the natural world – as “limitless source and limitless sump”, as he puts it. As an illustration, think of Lake Ontario in the 1990s, which he suggests was so chemically polluted that you could develop photographic film in its water.



    Read more:
    Some rivers have ‘legal personhood’. Now they need a lawyer

    This is new territory for Macfarlane, who shows a sharper critical edge than in his earlier work but also engages more personally and emotionally with his material. Wrecked or restored relationships between humans and the natural world prompt the writer, like a contemporary William Blake, to throw down a moral gauntlet to those who hold economic and political power.

    While lacking the anticolonial anger of Indian author Amitav Ghosh’s polemic The Nutmeg’s Curse, Macfarlane comes to comparable conclusions. Ghosh declares in his book that “if non-human voices are to be restored to their proper place, then it must be, in the first instance, through the medium of stories”. Is A River Alive? seeks to do that.



    Read more:
    Rivers are increasingly being given legal rights. Now they need people who will defend these rights in court

    Interrogating a mystery

    Macfarlane engages seriously with knotty complexities. A river may be alive, but not in any way that can be readily incorporated into human systems. “If you interrogate a mystery, don’t expect answers in a language you can understand,” he muses. He also insists on the necessity of opening our perceptions to the life of and in a river: “to imagine that a river is alive causes water to glitter differently.”

    Macfarlane adopts an animist outlook, declaring non-human entities to have voices and worth in and of themselves. His stance is part of a wave of thinking and writing that is transporting such beliefs from the margins of western spirituality and scholarship into mainstream literature.

    This is vital work, but the challenge shouldn’t be overestimated. If you address these questions from a government perspective, you quickly get quagmired in legal systems and questions of ownership. The result, critics say, is ecological injustice, silencing the voices of nonhumans and of the humans who speak up for them. Yet action to give legal rights to rivers is increasing, from the Rio los Cedros in Ecuador to the Whanganui in Aotearoa New Zealand.

    Logics of inaction

    These are important victories, and work to foreground the rights of nature is gathering pace in the UK. In my own city of Sheffield, my colleagues and I are part of a growing network of academics and community organisations working with the River Dôn project, exploring how the river that runs through our city centre could be given a voice, legal status and, we hope, stronger protection from environmental damage.

    This work joins an increasing flow of thinking in universities, cities and communities that challenges extractive mindsets. But such voices remain sidelined even as the evidence of the damage wrought by the rapacious exploitation of Earth becomes starker.

    My own research has shown how “logics of inaction” persist – even when policymakers know they need to invest in and protect the natural world (in cities, urban parks and wild places), they find reasons to avoid doing so. More often than not, it comes down to money – finances are too tight, or the benefits aren’t obviously quantifiable.

    Even when the benefits of natural spaces are compiled and described in terms that pose no philosophical challenge – they support human health and wellbeing, relationships, participation in society – these benefits are deemed insufficient to stop the cycle of neglect. Indeed, as UK chancellor Rachel Reeves recently declared, developers should “stop worrying about bats and newts” and “focus on getting things built”.

    Is a River Alive? may not stem the tide of environmental destruction. But for those frustrated by the logics of inaction of short-term decision-making, it provides timely and necessary inspiration.

    Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

    Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 45,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

    Julian Dobson 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. Robert Macfarlane’s new book is a plea to feel the pulse of our rivers – https://theconversation.com/robert-macfarlanes-new-book-is-a-plea-to-feel-the-pulse-of-our-rivers-247580

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why Donald Trump’s trade tariffs are a threat to global food security

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Lotanna Emediegwu, Senior Lecturer in Economics, Manchester Metropolitan University

    Billion Photos/Shutterstock

    Donald Trump’s tariffs will make many things more expensive for his fellow US citizens. The price of imported cars, building materials and some tech will go up – and so will the cost of the food on American dining tables.

    The US currently imports around 16% of its food supply, with a large proportion of its fruit and vegetables coming from countries now hit by tariffs.

    Mexico stands out. It supplies over half the fresh fruit and nearly 70% of the fresh vegetables consumed in the US.

    And even when it comes to home grown produce, the US still depends on imported fertiliser for its crops, with Canada providing up to 85% of its neighbour’s supply.

    So grocery bills for American families, especially for fresh produce (and processed foods dependent on foreign ingredients) will get higher. But there will also be a noticeable effect on food prices outside the US.

    The consequences could be particularly serious for developing economies that rely on stable international prices to secure affordable food imports. The prices of many global staples including maize, wheat and soybeans are benchmarked against US markets so when disruptions occur, they reverberate globally.

    Research I conducted with a colleague found that when international prices are disturbed, local food prices, especially in developing countries, go up.

    Take global maize prices, which this year rose by 7% between April 2 (Trump’s “liberation day”) and April 11. Our study suggests this will immediately lead to a similar increase in local maize prices in places like sub-Saharan Africa.

    This is where many of the world’s poorest people live, with hundreds of millions in households earning below the World Bank’s poverty line of US$2.15 (£1.61) per day. When much of that income is spent on food, a 7% increase in the price of maize could be devastating.

    Growth market

    According to another study, tariffs on agricultural products such as fertiliser will increase global production costs, potentially lowering crop yields and worsening food insecurity.

    While the US has reduced tariffs on Canadian potash from 25% to 10%, other fertiliser producers face steeper levels (up to 28% for another major exporter, Tunisia, before Trump’s reciprocal tariffs were paused).

    This is especially worrying for agriculture in countries like Brazil, India and Nigeria, which are still reeling from fertiliser shortages caused by the war between Russia and Ukraine. As with food costs, US tariffs are likely to drive up prices in the global fertiliser market, making it more expensive for everyone, everywhere.

    And when the cost of farming rises, crop production can suffer. This could significantly weaken food production in developing countries that are already battling climate change and volatile markets.

    Another study I conducted found that countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Somalia – already struggling with food insecurity – are among the most vulnerable to local food price shocks. These economies depend heavily on food imports and face high exposure to currency fluctuations and transport costs.

    A banana field in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
    giulio napolitano/Shutterstock

    If the trade war escalates, farmers in these regions may be forced to abandon staple crops for cash commodities such as cocoa or coffee, deepening their reliance on volatile global markets and reducing their food self-sufficiency. Global inequality will worsen unless things change.

    One option would be to protect essential agricultural imports, especially fertilizers and staple foods, from punitive tariffs. This would stabilise prices and protect vulnerable economies. The recently announced 90-day pause for negotiations offers a glimmer of hope, but it must be used wisely to build a more equitable trading system.

    In the long term, developing countries need to bolster the resilience of their food systems. My research recommends investing heavily in mechanised agriculture which is resilient to climate change, incentivising farmers with government support, and strengthening regional trade.

    The global food system is heavily interconnected. Decisions made in Washington can quickly affect food prices in Lagos, Cairo and New Delhi. And if tariffs go unchecked, they may unleash a silent and subtle crisis – one measured not in GDP, but in millions of empty stomachs.

    Lotanna Emediegwu 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. Why Donald Trump’s trade tariffs are a threat to global food security – https://theconversation.com/why-donald-trumps-trade-tariffs-are-a-threat-to-global-food-security-255064

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Astonishing Things: The Drawings of Victor Hugo at the Royal Academy is dark and brilliant

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Martin Lang, Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader in Fine Art , University of Lincoln

    The Royal Academy’s latest exhibition, Astonishing Things: The Drawings of Victor Hugo offers a rare glimpse into the dark and moody world of the renowned writer best known for his novels The Hunchback of Notre-Dame and Les Misérables.

    The exhibition is set in exceptionally low lighting, a necessary measure to preserve the fragile drawings, which are usually only accessible under archival conditions. This dim ambience enhances the foreboding atmosphere of Hugo’s works, which are often landscapes featuring cathedrals that appear to be in ruin or emerging from mist or dust clouds.

    These drawings are reminiscent of Dennis Creffield’s gestural, energetic and dark, cathedral sketches. Hugo’s are similar, but much smaller and with a more post-apocalyptic and surreal twist.

    Titles like The Dead City attest to this, while Breakwater on Jersey, with its obscure imagery that recalls looking up a steep incline towards some towers, evokes a sense of Gothic horror, reminiscent of Dracula.

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

    Other drawings in the exhibition are more surreal. One features a giant mushroom with a face looming over a desolate landscape, eerily evoking nuclear war (something that Hugo could not have possibly fathomed in 1850). Windmill on the Roof of a Farmhouse depicts a windmill improbably emerging from another building, adding to the surreal quality of Hugo’s work. And, one of the first drawings visitors encounter is of a poisonous tree with a skull emerging from its shadow, setting the tone for the exhibition.

    The Serpent resembles a Chinese dragon twisting through the sky over the sea with a mountain obscured in mist below its fire-breathing jaws. The light specs illuminating the water add to the mystery, as the light source itself remains unclear. Is the light emanating from the dragon’s mouth or from behind the mountain? This ambiguity adds to the surreal quality of the work.

    The Bowels of Leviathan is one of the largest and most abstract pieces in the exhibition. Loose brushwork, possibly created with a large brush or feather (as suggested by the wall text) fills the surface. Vertical lines appear like prison bars in a dark arch (one of many allusions to Les Misérables in the exhibition), while the title actually refers to the Parisian sewers – a recurring theme in Hugo’s novel.

    Several drawings in the exhibition can be interpreted as metaphors for political turmoil. Lighthouse at Casquets, Guernsey features a heavily tilting ship, while Boat without Sails depicts what appears to be a single piece of wood from a ship wreck, or perhaps a raft afloat.

    Ship in a Storm further emphasises the theme of stormy waters, reflecting the turbulent political landscape of Hugo’s time. His father was a general in the Napoleonic empire, which crumbled when Victor was 12. He saw the Bourbon monarchy restored, then the revolutions of 1830 and 1848. Not only a witness, Hugo was deeply involved in politics, resulting in his exile to the Chanel Islands, where he made most of the drawings on display, during the reign of Napoleon III.

    The Durande Ship After Sinking and The Wreck are positioned on either side of Octopus, a fantastical depiction of what lies beneath the stormy seas. Or perhaps life after the storm, strange and other worldly. There are two versions of Octopus on display, both of which would not look out of place as illustrations for a H.P. Lovecraft novel. These pieces suggest a strange and otherworldly life after turmoil and the sense of uncertainty feels oddly present today.

    Hugo’s use of lace imprints and collage, such as postage stamps, was avant-garde for his time. He combined charcoal, pen, brown ink and wash, gouache, graphite, and more, showcasing his experimental approach to art. Compositionally, these works are sophisticated and live up to Van Gogh’s description of them as “astonishing things”.

    Astonishing Things: The Drawings of Victor Hugo at the Royal Academy is a captivating exhibition that offers a rare opportunity to experience the dark and surreal world of one of history’s most celebrated writers and artists. The exhibition is a must-see for art lovers and fans of Victor Hugo alike.

    Astonishing Things: The Drawings of Victor Hugo is on at the Royal Academy, London until June 29 2025.

    Martin Lang 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. Astonishing Things: The Drawings of Victor Hugo at the Royal Academy is dark and brilliant – https://theconversation.com/astonishing-things-the-drawings-of-victor-hugo-at-the-royal-academy-is-dark-and-brilliant-255262

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Current legal frameworks can’t protect the oceans from deep-sea mining and the negative impacts on humankind

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Susan Reid, Postdoctoral Fellow, University of British Columbia

    A soil boring boat used to collect geological information from the seafloor. (Shutterstock)

    The international legal order is floundering. The geopolitical and resource policy priorities of the United States are shifting.

    These changes now implicate the international framework for governing the seabed: on April 24, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order that moves toward allowing deep-sea mining by the Americans.

    Driven by a critical minerals expansionary agenda, the U.S. is considering measures to fast-track approvals for corporations to mine the international seabed.

    What is the difference — for marine environments — between excavation under an international legal framework or U.S. domestic law? Both systems permit state and private organizations to mine vulnerable marine ecosystems: does an international framework offer stronger environmental protections than U.S. law?

    A ‘constitution’ for the ocean

    Under the United Nations’ watch, ocean conditions have declined.

    The international seabed zone encompasses 54 per cent of the planet’s surface. The designation was created in 1994 under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). When described as the “constitution for the oceans,” UNCLOS deceivingly implies that its role is protective. However, the treaty functions as architecture for exploiting ocean resources.

    It does this by dividing the ocean into zones that control how and where nations and corporations can exploit the seas. As well, it supports the idea of the ocean as a vast, exploitable resource. Weak environmental protections are offered in return. UNCLOS speaks little of either the ocean itself or of diverse human-ocean relationships.

    It is a constitution for the ocean, without the ocean.

    PBS reports on the impacts of deep-sea mining.

    Regulating mining

    UNCLOS established the International Seabed Authority (ISA) to manage the international seabed as the “common heritage of humankind.” Since it was established 30 years ago, the ISA has prioritized the development of a regulatory framework for commercial mining. But the ISA’s stewardship of the deep seabed as humankind’s common heritage involves more than the advancement of commercial mining.

    Given the multiple ocean crises intensifying under the impacts of climate change, it is bewildering that the ISA could still be pursuing such a destructive regime.

    Under UNCLOS, the ISA has legal responsibilities to protect the marine environment. Yet it doesn’t have a comprehensive environmental policy, environmental management plan or dedicated scientific division. This is despite the central role marine science plays in understanding and protecting the ocean. Instead, the ISA appears to be patching together environmental regulations on the fly.

    Extractive interests

    The scientific data that the ISA relies on comes from the very companies seeking to mine the seabed. Commercial miners conduct their own environmental assessments and benchmarks, and as such, the ISA’s governance approach appears to be one of companies self-regulating.

    Despite the “ocean emergency” and scientific concerns about marine ecological risks, the ISA maintains an extractivist path.

    It is now finalizing regulations to allow commercial mining in the Clarion–Clipperton zone of the North Pacific Ocean. If all exploration licences currently issued in this zone are converted to exploitation licenses, this will be the largest mining operation the planet has ever experienced.

    The ISA’s 170 members, including the U.S., have upheld a consensus-based governance approach. In doing so, they’ve prevented any unilateral claims to the international seabed. Although the U.S. never ratified UNCLOS, it too has largely observed the consensus-based legal order. Until now.

    The Metals Company (TMC), a Canadian deep-sea mining company, recently announced its intention to bypass the ISA and work with the Trump administration to pursue seabed mining in international waters. To do so, it will rely on the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act (DSHMRA), administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA). Congress had previously noted that this domestic law was always considered a temporary measure until the development of an acceptable system under UNCLOS.



    Read more:
    Terminations at U.S. government agencies that monitor extreme weather events will have negative effects

    In principle, NOAA’s deep ocean scientific expertise enables it to competently oversee U.S. seabed mining. This includes assessing the potential environmental impacts of mining and ensuring the protection of the marine environment. It has already developed DSHMRA mining regulations within a “precautionary and adaptive management framework.”

    Before granting a mining licence, NOAA is required to prepare and publish an environmental impact statement. However, recent staff cuts and the new administration’s rollback of marine environmental protections potentially compromise its oversight capacity.

    How NOAA’s scientific teams feel about fast-tracking a “gold rush” is another story.

    The ISA has denounced its snubbing by The Metals Company. However, by shopping around for a jurisdiction of convenience, TMC has inadvertently shone a spotlight on gaps in the ISA’s environmental governance approach.

    Future marine research

    In the meantime, momentum for a ban or moratorium is growing.

    Without a foundational science policy or in-house scientific expertise, the ISA is ill-equipped to safeguard the deep ocean. Marine science offers a way to better understand the deep ocean and its vulnerabilities and can help re-imagine the ISA’s direction toward a more generative role as an environmental steward.



    Read more:
    Humanity depends on the ocean — Here is what we need to prioritize for immediate ocean science research

    Through marine social sciences, ocean humanities and Indigenous knowledge, other pathways can be explored toward a better understanding of human-ocean relationships. The ISA has the potential to step up to its planetary stewardship role by developing policy guidelines to guide such transitions. The oceanographic background of the ISA’s new secretary-General, Leticia Carvalho, bodes well. Perhaps this may happen through a renewed focus on marine science — time will tell.

    Susan Reid 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. Current legal frameworks can’t protect the oceans from deep-sea mining and the negative impacts on humankind – https://theconversation.com/current-legal-frameworks-cant-protect-the-oceans-from-deep-sea-mining-and-the-negative-impacts-on-humankind-254967

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Using fire to produce nanoparticles could revolutionize various industries

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Keroles Riad, Postdoctoral fellow, Energy and Particle Technology Laboratory, Carleton University

    Fire is how most widely used nanoparticles — and by extension nanotechnologies — are made. (Shutterstock)

    Fire is arguably humanity’s earliest discovery. It was pivotal in advancing society — underpinning many of humanity’s most transformative inventions, from cooking and forging weapons to generating energy and enabling car combustion engines.

    Today, fire continues to be the gateway to some of the most cutting-edge nanotechnologies currently being developed for use in cancer treatments and as breath sensors for early detection of diabetes and other metabolic diseases.

    Nanotechnologies can be found in almost every aspect of our daily lives. For instance, I have previously written about the nanotechnology used in the mRNA vaccines that helped us through the pandemic, and have facilitated conversations discussing how nanotechnology affects our wine, gut and climate.

    For example, gas sensors incorporating nanoparticles made via fire can be used to verify that there’s no methanol in alcoholic beverages. Methanol is a highly poisonous alcohol contaminant, and has caused numerous poisonings worldwide.

    Fire is how most widely used nanoparticles — and by extension, nanotechnologies — are made. For example, a third of a car tire’s weight is comprised of carbon black nanoparticles, which are made using fire. These nanoparticles help to reinforce the tire. The white paint we use on our walls and the coatings on some pills contain fire-made titania nanoparticles. Similarly, fumed silica — which is used in the optical fibres needed for internet and communication systems — are also forged in fire.

    How nanotechnology is made

    So how do nanoparticles, which are 80 to 100 thousand times smaller than the thickness of a human hair, form inside a fire?

    I specialize in making nanoparticles in fire — specifically using a technology called flame spray pyrolysis.

    In my research, I burn flammable chemicals that contain the target metal elements to form my nanoparticles. Everything gets oxidized during combustion: carbon becomes CO2, hydrogen becomes water vapor and metal elements become metal oxides.

    During the milliseconds that these metal oxide particulates spend inside the fire, they collide and grow into nano- or micro-particles. I collect these particles on a filter on top of the fire. Important properties such as the size and crystal structure of the nanoparticles that are produced depend on how much time these particles spend inside the fire.

    The more time the particles have to collide inside the forging fire, the larger they grow. We can also make complicated particles consisting of multiple elements by burning a mixture of different chemicals. This process is both versatile and scalable — allowing millions of tonnes of nanoparticles to be produced each year.

    Carbon black is a nanoparticle that is produced through flame spray pyrolysis.
    (Shutterstock)

    Overcoming limitations

    Being able to mass-produce nanoparticles has been one of the biggest challenges of producing nanotechnologies on a larger scale. This is because most of the nanoparticles used in nanotechnologies can only be made via “wet chemistry,” or by using liquids.

    It can take hours of working with liquid in beakers, mixing them, heating them, then separating and centrifuging them just to obtain tiny amounts of material. These processes are often too expensive and too dangerous to scale enough for viable commercialisation.

    For instance, quantum dots (nanoparticles made from semiconducting materials which have both optical and electrical properties) — the discovery of which was celebrated by the Chemistry Noble Prize in 2023. These have the potential to revolutionize many technologies — including solar cells, carbon capture and contrast agents used in medical imaging.

    However, quantum dots are hardly ever used in those technologies on a large scale because the prohibitive cost of making them via wet chemistry can be as high as US$45,000 per gram.

    But unlike wet chemistry, fire is simple, cheap, scaleable and surprisingly safe. So when processes that allow for the production of high value nanoparticles, such as quantum dots, with fire are developed, costs drastically drop and they become immediately scaleable and of potential interest to industry.

    Fire can also produce harmful particles and by-products.

    For instance, if you place a napkin in front of the exhaust of your car, black stuff will accumulate on it. This black residue is soot particles produced by the fire burning inside the engine. Similarly, smoking cigarettes causes soot to form and accumulate in a smoker’s lung, often causing cancer.

    Soot is also, by some estimations, the third highest contributor to global warming after carbon dioxide and methane. However, those assessments may actually be underestimating the true contribution of soot to greenhouse gas effects.

    Flame spray pyrolysis technology has also been used to simulate combustion conditions to not only study the impact of generated soot more accurately, but also test process changes that could virtually eliminate soot emissions. For example, one study used flame spray pyrolysis to show that injecting air downstream of jet fuel combustion can reduce soot emission by more than 90 per cent. Flame spray pyrolysis could continue to be a useful tool in researching the impacts of pollution.

    The future of nanoparticles

    But not all nanoparticles can be produced by fire. As such, research exploring new recipes and processes to make high-value nanoparticles that are not yet possible to make in fire could have a large impact.

    For example, a major focus of my current work is to explore the possibility of using fire to make graphene. Graphene is the strongest material known at the nanoscale. My previous work shows that by using ultraviolet light, graphene can be transformed into strong macroscopic structures — possibly allowing it to be used in 3D printing.

    Graphene is the strongest material known at nanoscale.
    (Shutterstock)

    Further, there’s massive untapped potential in nanomedicine to integrate the nanoparticles that are already possible to make in fire. Only about 30 types of nanoparticles are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration — such as those used in COVID-19 vaccines, as well as iron-based nanoparticles used for treating anemia and kidney disease.

    All those approved nanomedicines are given via injections. This leaves plenty of room to explore the benefits of inorganic nanoparticles in medicine — especially orally administrated therapeutics.

    Keroles Riad is the founder and CEO of O Nanotech Solutions, a startup that produces flame-made quantum dots. He also receives funding from NSERC as a Canada Banting Postdoctoral Fellow. He also receives funding from MITACS as a part of their Accelerate Entrepreneur Program. He holds both scholarships at Carleton University. He is also the CEO of enuf, a Bcorp-certified social enterprise focused on sustainable waste management.

    – ref. Using fire to produce nanoparticles could revolutionize various industries – https://theconversation.com/using-fire-to-produce-nanoparticles-could-revolutionize-various-industries-234058

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The woman who turned the Met Gala into the biggest party of the year

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Elizabeth Castaldo Lundén, SweAmfo/ASF Research Fellow at USC School of Cinematic Arts | Fulbright Scholar, University of Southern California

    Diana Vreeland takes a drag from her cigarette as she greets Andy Warhol. Ron Galella Collection/Getty Images

    The annual Met Gala in New York City is a dazzling collision of celebrity, fashion and media frenzy.

    The event is ostensibly a fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute, which houses a vast collection of historical costumes and fashion artifacts.

    But for many people, it’s that time of year when their social media feeds become awash with posts, stories and live streams of A-list actors, musicians and influencers ascending the iconic steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art to showcase their elaborate outfits.

    Zendaya at the 2024 Met Gala, which was themed ‘Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion.’
    Neilson Barnard/MG24/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue

    The gala has come a long way since its early days as an intimate fundraising event for the local fashion industry and New York’s old-guard elite.

    Through my research at the Met’s Thomas J. Watson Library, I discovered the ways in which a former fashion editor named Diana Vreeland elevated this formerly stuffy charity ball into a global media sensation.

    A low-key affair

    Philanthropist and arts patron Irene Lewisohn launched the Museum of Costume Art in 1937 to promote the preservation and study of historical clothing. In 1946, New York fashion publicist Eleanor Lambert helped bring the museum’s collection under the purview of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, with the caveat that it would operate independently of the museum’s budget. It was then renamed the Costume Institute.

    Dorothy Shaver burnished the reputation of the Costume Institute in its early years.
    Erwin Blumenfeld/Condé Nast via Getty Images

    In 1948, Lambert organized the inaugural gala to raise funds for the institute. The following year, Lord & Taylor president Dorothy Shaver established a formal management structure for both the institute and its annual gala, streamlined operations, and helped burnish the reputation of the fledgling institution among New York’s social elite. During her tenure, gala revenues climbed steadily, from US$31,723 in 1949 to $118,775 in 1958 – roughly $1.3 million in today’s dollars.

    The Met Gala that Shaver shaped looked similar, in many ways, to today’s: There was a theme, a formal dinner, live entertainment and a fashion parade that attendees could participate in. There were also a photographers row, where guests could be snapped by famed fashion photographers for a fee, and raffles with department store prizes.

    After Shaver’s death in 1958, department store executives continued to steer the gala, but attendance and revenue waned. In 1961, in an effort to cut costs and revive interest, the event was moved into the museum itself.

    The gala needed a reinvention. Soon, it would get one.

    Vreeland’s vision

    Diana Vreeland took the reins of the Met Gala in 1973.

    She’d had a storied career in fashion journalism, including stints as fashion editor of Harper’s Bazaar and editor-in-chief of Vogue.

    Vreeland, however, understood that in order for the gala to grow, it needed to become a newsworthy event that would be of interest to those who might not even attend the gala itself. So she selected spectacular, sometimes controversial themes that would generate interest from the press.

    Vreeland’s first exhibition in 1973 was bold: a tribute to a single designer, Cristóbal Balenciaga.

    “The World of Balenciaga” was funded by the Spanish government, Iberia Airlines and five Spanish banks – a controversial move, considering Spain was still under Francisco Franco’s dictatorship. The show featured Franco’s granddaughter’s wedding dress as one of the central pieces.

    Some curators also bristled at Vreeland’s unorthodox approach to exhibition planning, such as blurring time periods, displaying clothes without providing historical context and prioritizing beauty over scholarship.

    “She knows fashion and who wore it,” one former museum official said, “but she doesn’t know history.”

    Nonetheless, critics deemed the gala and its accompanying exhibition a huge success. American designer Stan Herman declared that the garments “belong in a museum, like good paintings.”

    In the coming years, Vreeland’s other themes included “Romantic and Glamorous Hollywood Design,” “The ‘10s, ’20s and ’30s,” and “American Women of Style.” The latter was accompanied by a Vogue magazine spread starring actress and model Marisa Berenson, who channeled iconic American “it girls” like Irene Castle, Consuelo Vanderbilt and Josephine Baker.

    Models and actresses wear costumes and masks for the Costume Institute’s 1974 exhibition ‘Romantic and Glamorous Hollywood Design.’ Diana Vreeland is seated in the center, sans mask.

    Buzz and pizzazz

    Before Vreeland, coverage of the gala was limited to society pages and publications like Women’s Wear Daily.

    Vreeland knew how to generate buzz because she thought like an editor. She also knew how to charm the press. Vreeland popularized words like “pizzazz,” “splendeur” and “deeveen.” She told tales of discovering model and actress Lauren Bacall and the work of fashion designer Roy Halston. She regaled reporters with stories of allegedly visiting Buffalo Bill in Wyoming.

    Under Vreeland’s leadership, media coverage of the gala and exhibitions exploded, with articles appearing in The New York Times, The New Yorker, New York Magazine, People, Interview, Le Figaro, Le Monde, Revista Hola!, ABC de las Americas, Il Tempo, Paris Herald Tribune and Tokyo’s High Fashion, among others. During her tenure, she also opened the doors to reporters and photographers so they could cover the night of the event.

    In an interview with Women’s Wear Daily she said, “I am an entertainer. And I believe in wit, and good nature, and laughter.”

    Corporate controversies

    With “The World of Balenciaga,” Vreeland also pioneered the use of corporate sponsorships to finance the exhibitions and parties. In 1982, Pierre Cardin Management funded “La Belle Époque,” a Met Gala theme associated with the relaunch of the famed Paris restaurant Maxim’s, in which Cardin had invested.

    In 1983, Vreeland courted controversy again with the first exhibition honoring a living designer — Yves Saint Laurent — underwritten by the Pierre Bergé Foundation. Bergé was Saint Laurent’s life and business partner.

    The show was launched amid rumors of the designer’s declining health and growing criticism of the museum being exploited as a publicity platform.

    “One day the god of the Temple of Dendur will cry: ‘I am not on earth to share a museum with a bunch of fashion freaks!’” critic John Heilpern groused in the East Side Express.

    The following year, Ralph Lauren became the central sponsor and guest of honor for “Man and the Horse.”

    Diana Vreeland and designer Ralph Lauren at the 1984 gala, which was themed ‘Man and the Horse’ and sponsored by Lauren.
    Sonia Moskowitz/Getty Images

    The Met set

    Under Vreeland, a new kind of guest list also emerged.

    The rise of celebrity culture in the 1960s gave birth to the “jet set” – beautiful people whose fame transcended traditional society circles.

    Vreeland embraced this shift. She made space at the gala for the likes of Andy Warhol, Bianca and Mick Jagger, Halston and his Halstonettes, David Bowie, Cher, Diana Ross, Warren Beatty and Jack Nicholson.

    Their presence helped transform the gala from society soirée to pop culture phenomenon.

    After Vreeland’s death in 1989, the event lost some its splendor under the guidance of museum curators. Women’s Wear Daily columnist Aileen Mehle later lamented the decline, writing that the event had become “a far cry from the dear old Diana Vreeland days when that fashion oracle called the Costume Institute’s shots, and elegance and anticipation abounded.”

    In the late 1990s, however, the museum curators who had run the event since Vreeland’s death ceded control back to the fashion industry. High-end brands like Chanel, Versace and Christian Dior sponsored the Met Gala, while fashion editors such as Liz Tilberis and Anna Wintour chaired the event.

    By channeling Vreeland’s vision, they were able to turn the gala into the global media spectacle it is today, which now thrives in an era of social media and global branding.

    This year’s theme, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Styles,” is co-chaired by rapper-producer Pharrell Williams, who is also the artistic director of Menswear at Louis Vuitton. The LVMH conglomerate – Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton – is the sponsor, showing how the gala continues to operate as a platform where corporate branding, celebrity culture and high culture converge.

    Taylor Swift attends the 2014 Met Gala, themed ‘Charles James: Beyond Fashion.’
    Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

    Elizabeth Castaldo Lundén received funding from Fulbright (2023-2024)

    – ref. The woman who turned the Met Gala into the biggest party of the year – https://theconversation.com/the-woman-who-turned-the-met-gala-into-the-biggest-party-of-the-year-250363

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Pandas and politics − from World War II to the Cold War, zoos have always been ideological

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By John M. Kinder, Professor of History and American Studies, Oklahoma State University

    Giant panda Xiao Qi Ji walks around his enclosure at the Smithsonian National Zoo in September 2023 in Washington, D.C. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

    President Donald Trump’s sweeping range of more than 130 executive orders and other decisions aim to upend everything from long-standing immigration policy to the control of a performing arts center.

    But so far, zoos are not among the many issues the Trump administration has focused on.

    That might no longer be the case.

    Trump issued an executive order on March 27, 2025, to restore “truth and sanity” at federal history sites.

    “Over the past decade, Americans have witnessed a concerted and widespread effort to rewrite our Nation’s history,” Trump wrote in the executive order, “replacing facts with a distorted narrative driven by ideology rather than truth.” As a corrective, he instructed Vice President JD Vance to ferret out “improper ideology” at the Smithsonian Institution, a group of museums and research centers created and funded by the federal government.

    The executive order also applied to the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., which has been part of the Smithsonian since 1890.

    For Trump’s critics, the suggestion that zoos might be indoctrinating visitors was absurd.

    NBC “Late Night” host Seth Meyers joked about the executive order on his show on April 2, characterizing it as evidence of an authoritarian personality.

    “Seriously, what the hell is ‘improper’ ideology at the zoo? Trump is starting to get into weird dictator s—,” Meyers said.

    Meyers’ astonishment should come as no surprise. Zoos go to great lengths to portray themselves as scientifically objective and politically neutral.

    Yet as a scholar of wars’ effects on American culture and society, I know that zoos have always been ideological, sending subtle – and not so subtle – messages about topics that have little to do with animals.

    Historically, zoos have been used to justify colonial exploitation. They have lent weight to eugenicist ideas about racial hierarchy. And they have served as backdrops for all kinds of political theater.

    During the 1920s and 1930s, for example, Italian strongman Benito Mussolini liked to climb inside the lion cage at the Rome Zoo to demonstrate the courage and vitality he associated with fascist politics.

    As I argue in my 2025 book “World War Zoos: Humans and Other Animals in the Deadliest Conflict of the Modern Age,” the links between zoos and national politics are especially pronounced in periods of war.

    Benito Mussolini, the longtime fascist dictator of Italy, visits a zoo in Rome in 1924.

    World war zoos

    Zoo ownership and funding models depend on the individual zoo, but many zoos receive at least some government funding to operate.

    At the start of World War II, most governments required zoos to embrace an ideology of sacrifice – a willingness to set the needs of the state above their own.

    For zoos in North America and the British Empire, this meant slashing workers’ pay, rationing food supplies and offering uniformed soldiers special access to zoo facilities.

    It also meant destroying animals considered a threat to public safety, especially in the event of a bombing or assault that could set them free. In 1939, the London Zoo killed more than 200 animals, starting with the black widow spiders and venomous snakes. Other zoos did the same, slaughtering their animal collections as a precaution against possible escape.

    Joan the hippo at the London Zoo gets a drink of water in June 1939.
    Fox Photos/Getty Images

    Authoritarian governments during World War II exercised almost total control over their nations’ zoos.

    Under Adolf Hitler, German zoos enforced “Aryan-only” visitation policies, festooned their grounds with swastikas, hosted galas for Nazi dignitaries and exhibited animals looted from zoos in occupied nations.

    In Japan, the governor of Tokyo ordered the Ueno Zoo to carry out a series of “propaganda killings” aimed at strengthening public commitment to the wartime struggle. Starting in August 1943, zoo staff shot, electrocuted, stabbed and strangled more than 20 animals, including a polar bear, an American bison, a python and a leopard cub.

    Tokyo’s zoo also starved to death three elephants named Jon, Tonki and Hanako. Weeks after the zoo held an official funeral for its animals, two of the three elephants that were not actually dead continued to suffer, their cages covered in bunting so the public would not see the ghastly evidence.

    Even as the fighting raged, the Soviet government directed its zoos to develop practical measures to help the war effort. At the Moscow Zoo, staff taught people how to breed mice and rabbits for medical applications, such as vaccine testing.

    All the while, Soviet zoo employees had to demonstrate ideological vigilance in the workplace. Any slipup could mean official sanction, loss of position or worse.

    Cold War zoos

    During the Cold War, governments around the world continued to view zoos through an ideological lens.

    This was especially true in Berlin, where the city’s two zoos – one in the capitalist West, the other in the communist East – became symbols of competing ideological worldviews.

    No zoo animals were more ideologically fraught in the Cold War than giant pandas, endemic to the forested mountains of central China.

    In the 1950s and 1960s, American zoos were denied permission by the U.S. government to import pandas from China. The State Department considered them “enemy goods.”

    First lady Pat Nixon welcomes pandas to the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., in 1972.

    That changed in 1972, when President Richard Nixon, during a thawing of the Cold War, famously returned from China with Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing, the first giant pandas who were gifted to and exhibited in the U.S. in decades.

    The National Zoo unveiled China’s latest “soft power ambassadors” in January 2025. Three-year-old pandas Bao Li and Qing Bao are set to remain in D.C. for 10 years – long enough to win the hearts and minds of millions of zoo visitors.

    John M. Kinder 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. Pandas and politics − from World War II to the Cold War, zoos have always been ideological – https://theconversation.com/pandas-and-politics-from-world-war-ii-to-the-cold-war-zoos-have-always-been-ideological-255305

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Guns in America: A liberal gun-owning sociologist offers 5 observations to understand America’s culture of firearms

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By David Yamane, Professor of Sociology, Wake Forest University

    About 86 million American adults own at least one of the estimated 400 million firearms in the U.S. today. Paul Campbell, iStock / Getty Images Plus

    An Asian American and lifelong liberal from the San Francisco Bay Area, I became a first-time gun owner as a 42-year-old in 2011. I began a now 14-year journey into an unfamiliar and complex world of firearms. In my work, I draw on both my personal experiences and sociological observations to understand the long-standing presence of a robust legal gun culture in America.

    In contrast to the dominant scholarly approaches, which focus on gun deviance and harm, I find there is more to firearms than criminal violence, injury and death; more to gun owners than straight white men; and more to gun culture than democracy-destroying right-wing politics.

    Let me share five observations essential to understanding guns in America:

    1. Guns are normal

    About 86 million American adults – 1 in 3 – own at least one of the estimated 400 million firearms in the U.S. today.

    Imagine if everyone who uses TikTok in the U.S. owned a gun – and then add the population of New York City. That is enough gun owners to fill over 1,000 NFL stadiums.

    Humans have used projectile weapons like rocks and spears from the beginning. This unbroken history continues in every society, with firearms as the weapon of choice in all but the most isolated communities. People who could legally own guns in colonial America commonly did so. Even today, civilian firearms ownership remains exceptionally high in the U.S. compared with other industrialized nations.

    The right of everyday Americans to own guns is a deep part of American culture, enshrined in the U.S. Constitution and many state constitutions.

    2. Gun culture 2.0

    The culture of guns in the U.S. has evolved over time.

    Before the mid-1800s, people primarily used firearms for practical purposes: hunting for food, defense from and offense against indigenous populations, controlling enslaved people, expanding territory and fighting against oppressive rulers.

    Kevin Dixie, at a firearms retailer and gun range in Ballwin, Mo., believes that gun rights are about empowering minority communities and ensuring freedom for every American.
    AP Photo/Jeff Roberson

    Starting in the mid-1800s, Americans developed a more complex gun culture that included recreational hunting, organized target shooting and gun collecting. These elements continue today, but, in a shift, Americans increasingly own guns for self-defense.

    Evidence for the evolution to what I call “Gun Culture 2.0” appears in three key areas: surveys about why people own guns, the loosening of gun-carrying laws beginning in the 1980s, and changes in both the types of firearms sold and how companies market them, especially toward small, concealable pistols.

    3. Gun ownership is diverse

    Black Americans have a particularly strong tradition of gun ownership dating at least to the 19th-century abolitionist movement.

    Today, 1 in 4 Black Americans, as well as 1 in 5 Latinos and 1 in 4 women, personally own a gun. Twenty percent of gun owners consider themselves politically liberal. For every four evangelical Protestants who own handguns, three people who don’t identify with any religion own them too. Scholars are even beginning to discover the importance of LGBTQ+ gun owners.

    Gun Culture 2.0 is more diverse and inclusive than the United States’ historical gun culture because security is a universal human concern.

    The response to feelings of insecurity varies. Portfolios of protective measures in the U.S. include home security systems, dogs, the hyperlocal social networking service Nextdoor, gated communities and firearms.

    4. Guns are lethal tools

    Many tools like knives and chainsaws are lethal, meaning they have the capacity to cause death. Guns differ because their lethality is by design. Consequently, guns can make dangerous situations more deadly.

    Despite their ubiquity and deadly potential, accidental firearm deaths are relatively rare and declining in the U.S., numbering fewer than 500 annually in recent years. Most gun deaths are intentional, with suicides accounting for 58% and homicides for 38% of 46,728 gun deaths in 2023.

    While the U.S. has a moderate overall suicide rate compared with other developed countries, it has a firearm suicide rate that substantially exceeds these other nations. This is because firearms are widely available and highly lethal. When people attempt suicide using guns, they die in up to 90% of cases.

    Similarly, although the U.S. is not exceedingly violent or criminal compared with peer nations, its criminal violence is more deadly because these lethal tools are more frequently involved.

    Starting in the mid-1800s, Americans developed a more complex gun culture that included recreational hunting, as depicted in this 1852 lithograph of woodcock hunters.
    Universal History Archive/Getty Images

    5. Guns are paradoxical

    Despite high rates of firearm suicide and homicide, most guns in the U.S. will not kill anyone, and most American gun owners will not commit violence against themselves or others. My calculations, based on the 2023 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, indicate that just one gun death occurred per 8,560 firearms and 1,840 gun owners – meaning at least 99.99% of guns and 99.95% of gun owners were not directly involved in fatalities that year.

    These observations collectively point to a final insight: Guns resist simple categorization and embody multiple paradoxes.

    To different people, they are fun and frightening, dangerous and protective, diffuse and concentrated, unifying and divisive, attractive and repulsive, interesting and controversial, useful and useless, good and bad, and neither good nor bad.

    This is to say, guns are not inherently anything. They take on different meanings according to the various purposes to which people put them.

    A realistic view requires maintaining a clear-eyed understanding of the lethal capabilities of firearms. But the tendency to focus exclusively on firearms-related harms, while understandable, becomes a problem, in my view, when it fails to acknowledge the normality of guns and the diversity of gun owners.

    David Yamane has received funding from The Louisville Institute for the Study of American Religion to study church security. He is a member of the Liberal Gun Club, National African American Gun Association, and National Rifle Association, and financially supports the Liberal Gun Owners 501c4 and Walk the Walk America 501c3 organizations.

    – ref. Guns in America: A liberal gun-owning sociologist offers 5 observations to understand America’s culture of firearms – https://theconversation.com/guns-in-america-a-liberal-gun-owning-sociologist-offers-5-observations-to-understand-americas-culture-of-firearms-251084

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Deporting international students risks making the US a less attractive destination, putting its economic engine at risk

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By David L. Di Maria, Vice Provost for Global Engagement, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

    Boston University students march to demand the school declare itself a sanctuary campus to protect their peers from the federal government regardless of their immigration status, on April 3, 2025. Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

    In early April 2025, the Trump administration terminated the immigration statuses of thousands of international students listed in a government database, meaning they no longer had legal permission to be in the country. Some students self-deported instead of facing deportation.

    The U.S. Department of Homeland Security recently announced that it would reverse the terminations after courts across the country determined they did not have merit.

    These moves come as the White House seeks to enhance vetting and screening of all foreign nationals.

    The State Department in March announced plans to use artificial intelligence to review international students’ social media accounts.

    As an administrator and scholar who specializes in international higher education, I know that international students in the United States have long been subjected to a high level of vetting, screening and monitoring.

    Inserting additional bureaucracy into current processes could make the U.S. a less attractive study destination. I believe this would ultimately hamper the Trump administration’s ability to achieve its “America First” priorities related to the economy, science and technology, and national security.

    International students in the US

    The U.S. has long been the global leader in attracting international students. But competition for these students is increasing as other countries, such as Germany and South Korea, enact strategies for attracting international education.

    The U.S. hosts 16% of all students studying outside of their home country, down from 22% in 2014 and 28% in 2001, according to the Institute of International Education. Of the more than 1 million international students who were present in the U.S. during the 2023-2024 academic year, 54% came from just two countries, China and India.

    Most international students pursue graduate degrees in STEM fields – science, technology, engineering and mathematics. And, according to the National Science Foundation, international students make up a significant portion of enrollment at the master’s and doctoral levels.

    How international students are screened

    International students in the U.S. are already subjected to intense screening and continuous monitoring. These measures include:

    • Vetting the student’s school. Before they can apply for a visa, international students must be admitted to a school authorized by the Department of Homeland Security to enroll people on student visas.

    • Vetting at the embassy. As part of the visa application process, international students are subjected to national security reviews carried out by various intelligence and law enforcement agencies. In some cases, such as when a U.S. consular officer in their home country decides that more information is required from external sources to determine visa eligibility, additional screenings occur. That is done through a process known as administrative processing.

    • Vetting upon arrival. When they arrive in the U.S., international students are again screened by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer. If the officer is unable to verify any information, the student is sent to secondary inspection, a secure interview area where the student waits while officers complete additional assessment. The student is then either admitted to the U.S. or forced to depart the country.

    • Ongoing monitoring while in the U.S. If permitted to enter the country, students must enroll full time, earn good grades and notify their school within 10 days of substantive changes to their circumstances.

    Examples include a change to their address, academic major or financial sponsor. And school officials are required to report this information to the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, part of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s National Security Investigations Division.

    Students participating in temporary, postgraduation training programs must continue to comply with reporting requirements. And certain STEM graduates, and their employers, are subject to additional requirements. They include certification of training plans, annual evaluations and site visits.

    Most international students prefer to study in the U.S., recent research shows. But they are willing to change their preferences as other countries introduce friendlier visa policies, such as more flexible post-study work opportunities and lower visa costs.

    Given the current level of screening and monitoring already imposed on international students in the U.S., it is unclear how additional measures would add value.

    Boston University police officers speak to each other as students protest outside a dean’s office demanding the school declare itself a sanctuary campus, on April 3, 2025.
    Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe via Getty Images

    Critical to an America First agenda

    President Donald Trump’s “America First” agenda aims to grow the U.S. economy.

    It also intends to maintain U.S. leadership in science and technology and enhance national security.

    Trump administration officials have underlined the importance of recruiting top global talent. And Trump has said that international students who graduate from U.S. colleges should be awarded a green card with their degree.

    During the 2023-2024 academic year, international students contributed US$43.8 billion to the U.S. economy through tuition and living expenses, which supported an estimated 378,175 U.S. jobs.

    Their contributions don’t end following graduation, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research. Many go on to launch successful startups at a rate that is eight to nine times higher than their domestic peers. In fact, 25% of billion-dollar companies in the U.S. were founded by a former international student.

    Such companies include Eventbrite, Grammarly, Moderna, OpenAI, Robinhood and SpaceX.

    International students also help the U.S. maintain global leadership in STEM.

    Consider that 45% of STEM workers in the U.S. holding a doctoral degree were born outside the U.S.

    A 2024 report cautions that the U.S. is failing to develop domestic STEM talent at all levels of the education system. Just 3.2% of U.S. high school graduates are estimated to enter the STEM workforce.

    Moreover, the country’s ability to attract and retain international STEM talent is decreasing due to immigration restrictions and increased global competition.

    Finally, international students are critical to establishing global networks and promoting soft power diplomacy. This is evidenced by the U.S. having graduated more world leaders than any other nation.

    Further restricting the ability of international students to study in the U.S. will ultimately redirect talent to other countries, allies and adversaries alike.

    David L. Di Maria 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. Deporting international students risks making the US a less attractive destination, putting its economic engine at risk – https://theconversation.com/deporting-international-students-risks-making-the-us-a-less-attractive-destination-putting-its-economic-engine-at-risk-249245

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Meet Members of the UConn Law Class of 2025

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    The UConn School of Law is preparing to grant nearly 200 students JD, LLM, and SJD degrees. The Class of 2025 comes from across the country and the world, bringing diverse experiences to the UConn Law community. They now prepare to bring those experiences and the ones they had during law school into the legal profession. Nine graduating students shared their stories:

    Paul Alderete was exposed to the intersection of law, policy, philosophy, and science in undergraduate cross-curricular classes. That curiosity is growing into a legal career.

    Kimberly Luciano said the evening program is “not for the weak,” but that she found solidarity and support within her cohort. She is proud to be included in this group of such hard-working, multi-faceted, amazing people.

    *This is the first installment of an ongoing series that will run until Commencement on May 18.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Unmanned Drones Carrying Bathymetric Lidar Systems Being Utilized to Cover Larger Areas Quickly

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PALM BEACH, Fla., May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FN Media Group News Commentary – LIDAR is being used in more industries across all markets and in many environments… one of which is water. People have studied the underwater depth of river, sea, and ocean floors for thousands of years to be able to safely navigate boats through the water. Today, such depth measurements are done using advanced technology that includes either sound (sonar), or laser pulses (LiDAR). The study of underwater topographies is called bathymetry, whereas studying underwater depths is known under terms such as seafloor mapping or imaging. According to a recent report from Precedence Research the global LiDAR market, including bathymetric LiDAR, is projected to reach a substantial $13.74 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 21.56% from 2024 to 2033. This growth is driven by increased adoption in various sectors, including autonomous vehicles, infrastructure development, and environmental applications like forestry and flood modeling. A recent article by an industry insider said: “Bathymetric LiDAR was first used to detect submarines. However, many more applications have been developed that use bathymetric LiDAR as a result of advancing sensor technology. With smaller platforms including unmanned drones and small helicopters that can carry heavier payloads, bathymetric LiDAR systems can cover large areas quickly and capture accurate 3D data that includes the seabed and surrounding terrain of different water bodies.   Over time, bathymetric LiDAR has proven to be a fast, reliable, accurate, and safe technique for rapidly mapping nearshore waters, beaches, coastal engineering structures, and more. Compared to traditional methods, such as sonar-based systems or manual depth soundings, bathymetric LiDAR can generate more detailed and precise maps of underwater topography. It also allows for seamless mapping of both water and surrounding land, with the ability to reach up to three times the visible water depth.” Active Companies in the drone industry today include ZenaTech, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZENA), Draganfly Inc. (NASDAQ: DPRO), AeroVironment (NASDAQ: AVAV), Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (NYSE: TDY), Ouster, Inc. (NASDAQ: OUST).

    The article continued: “The advantage of using green light for bathymetric LiDAR is that it penetrates further into the water than other frequencies, to capture deeper depths that standard bathymetry methods may miss. Green light also scatters less off suspended particles than other wavelengths, reducing inaccuracies caused by suspended sediment or algae in the water column.   Bathymetric LiDAR is also a more sustainable and safer option for underwater mapping as it doesn’t require expensive and fuel-consuming survey vessels, or people entering the water. These might get lost or injured during surveys, while the use of bathymetric LiDAR sensors eliminates such potential risks. Bathymetric LiDAR technology offers rapid, accurate, and cost-effective data collection for hydrographic surveying, which involves measuring the physical features of water bodies (depth, currents, and underwater topography). Using bathymetric LiDAR, submerged archeological sites are found and studied, such as ancient shipwrecks and submerged settlements.”

    ZenaTech’s (NASDAQ:ZENA) Drone as a Service (DaaS) Offerings Expand to Bathymetric Surveys for Underwater Terrain Mapping for Commercial and Government Customers – ZenaTech, Inc. (FSE: 49Q) (BMV: ZENA) (“ZenaTech”), a technology company specializing in AI (Artificial Intelligence) drones, Drone as a Service (DaaS), enterprise SaaS, and Quantum Computing solutions, announces its DaaS offerings have expanded to include bathymetric surveys, a specialized method of mapping underwater terrain using drones equipped with sonar. These surveys are important for critical underwater depth and contour data to support maintenance, dredging, environmental planning, and aquatic development for both commercial and government customers.

    ZenaTech’s DaaS bathymetric surveys are now available in South Florida through the recently acquired Wallace Surveying where the team has both golf course and Intracoastal Waterway project relationships and surveying expertise. Utilizing advanced sonar and ZenaDrone drones, high-resolution underwater maps help customers make informed decisions ─ from enhanced water management and lake and channel design strategies, to ensuring long-term sustainability.

    “The Wallace team brings key customer relationships and bathymetric survey expertise that will enhance our national DaaS drone offerings. Bathymetric surveys using aerial drones offer faster, safer, and more cost-effective data collection, especially in hard-to-reach or hazardous environments. Unlike conventional manned survey vessel methods, drones require fewer personnel, reduce operational risks, and can access shallow or narrow areas with greater precision,” said CEO Shaun Passley, Ph.D.

    According to DataIntelo market research, the global Bathymetry Survey Sonar Market was valued at approximately $1.2 billion in 2023, this market is projected to reach $2.1 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 6.2%. This encompasses sonar systems utilized in bathymetric surveys, including those deployed on drones.

    ZenaTech’s DaaS business will incorporate the ZenaDrone 1000 and the IQ series of multifunction autonomous drones to provide a variety of service solutions from land surveys to power line inspections or power washing, made accessible and cost effective through an Uber-like business model on a regular subscription or pay-per-use basis. Customers can conveniently access drones for eliminating manual or time-consuming tasks achieving superior results, such as for surveying, inspections, security and law enforcement, or precision farming applications, without having to buy, operate, or maintain the drones themselves.

    The DaaS business model offers customers such as government agencies, real estate developers, construction firms, farmers or energy companies reduced upfront costs as there is no need to purchase expensive drones, as well as convenience, as there is no need to manage maintenance and operation. The model also offers scalability to use more often or less often based on business needs and enables access to advanced drone technology sensors or attachments without the need for specialized training.   Continued… Read this full release by visiting: https://www.financialnewsmedia.com/news-zena/

    Other recent developments in the markets include:

    AeroVironment (NASDAQ: AVAV), a global leader in intelligent, multi-domain autonomous systems, recently announced it has been awarded a $46.6M contract by the Italian Ministry of Defence (MOD) for the delivery of its JUMP® 20 vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) medium uncrewed aircraft system (MUAS). The five-year contract encompasses the procurement of JUMP 20 air vehicles, engineering services, initial sustainment and onsite technical support – ensuring rapid fielding and operational readiness from day one.

    JUMP 20 is a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL), fixed-wing UAS with 30 pounds of payload capacity, 13+ hours of endurance and an operational range of 185 km (115 mi). Purpose-built for expeditionary operations, the system can be stored and transported with ease and autonomously launched and recovered without personnel intervention, making it ideal for dynamic on-the-move operations.

    In a new whitepaper, Teledyne FLIR Defense, part of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (NYSE: TDY), says that emerging cost-effective precision strike solutions that can be safely recovered and reused offer a strong alternative to more commonly deployed ‘One-Way Attack’ or First Person View (FPV) drones.

    In the new paper, USE IT, DON’T LOSE IT: The Case for Recoverable and Reusable Loitering Munitions, FLIR Defense argues that newer, advanced loitering munition unmanned aircraft systems (LMUAS) are better suited to support operations in the ‘atmospheric littoral.’ An emerging strategic concept, the atmospheric littoral describes the very low-altitude airspace (up to several hundred feet above ground level) which, if controlled, can significantly enhance the ground maneuver of combat units.

    Ouster, Inc. (NASDAQ: OUST) recently announced the launch of a cloud portal for Ouster Gemini, its digital lidar perception platform for security, intelligent transportation systems, crowd analytics, and logistics. With the cloud portal, users can seamlessly configure, manage, and view all of their on-premise Ouster Gemini lidar deployments through a unified interface.

    Ouster Gemini combines Ouster’s 3D digital lidar with AI-powered perception software to accurately detect, classify, and track people and vehicles, even in adverse weather or low light conditions. The solution offers seamless integration with video management systems and traffic controllers, delivering high-performance real-time 3D situational awareness to enhance security, safety, and operational efficiency.

    Draganfly Inc. (NASDAQ: DPRO), an industry-leading developer of drone solutions and systems, recently announced the formation of its Public Safety Advisory Board. This new initiative reinforces Draganfly’s commitment to delivering cutting-edge, mission-critical technologies that support enforcement and public safety agencies worldwide. Renowned global public safety expert and Homeland Security advisor Paul Goldenberg will serve as the inaugural Chair of the Board.

    With more than 30 years of experience in law enforcement, global security, and national intelligence, Goldenberg brings unparalleled expertise to the role. Recently named America’s Most Influential Person in Homeland Security, he has advised U.S. Presidents, members of Congress, and international security bodies on counterterrorism, cybercrime, and public safety. As a former senior member of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC), Goldenberg led pivotal initiatives, including the DHS Cybersecurity Task Force and the Countering Foreign Influence Task Force. He currently serves as Chief Advisor for Policy and International Policing at the Rutgers University Miller Center on Policing, a Distinguished Visiting Fellow for Transnational Security at the University of Ottawa, and a member of the National Sheriffs’ Association Southern Border Security Committee.

    About FN Media Group:

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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Buxton Helmsley Announces Corporate Transformation, Director and Officer Appointments

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Announces Recent Corporate Transformation and Further Plans Involving Reimagined Enterprise

    Announces Commencement of USD$50mm Private Placement of Common Stock Ownership in Buxton Helmsley Parent Company, Having Received Immediate Subscriptions, and Exploring Possible Direct Listing on New York Stock Exchange

    Substantial Majority of Offering Proceeds to Be Temporarily Allocated Toward Launch of Inaugural Fund, with Parent Company Investors Obtaining Fee-Free Indirect Fund Exposure and Unique Economic Benefits Not Experienced by Unaffiliated Limited Partners

    Alexander E. Parker, Ranked Among the Top 15% of Global Activist Investors by Engagement Volume According to Bloomberg’s “Activism League Tables,” Appointed as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer

    Appoints Independent Financial Industry Veterans Charles Garcia, Rumbi Petrozzello, and Beth Haddock to Board of Directors

    Appoints Tenured Financial and Venture Capital Professional Johnathan Flickinger as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

    Appoints Former BNP Paribas and UBS Equity Research Head Weiyee In [殷 維一] as Head of Capital Markets Research

    Plans to Form The Buxton Helmsley Foundation, to Begin Operations in Q4 2025

    NEW YORK, May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Buxton Helmsley, Inc. (together with certain of its affiliates, “BH”, “we”, or the “Company”), a New York City-based alternative asset manager, today announced a series of actions taken between February and April 2025. These initiatives follow the continued success of its flagship low-correlation defensive activism strategy, which has consistently captured opportunities across market cycles. BH has also unveiled plans involving a USD$50 million private placement of common stock in parent company Buxton Helmsley, Inc. (offering unique benefits to investors distinct from underlying BH fund offerings):

    • Commencement of USD$50 Million Private Placement of Common Stock in Parent Company, Buxton Helmsley, Inc. – BH has commenced a Rule 506(c) private placement of USD $50 million of common stock (the “New Private Offering”). Immediately prior to commencement (under Rule 506(b)), BH secured initial subscriptions. A substantial majority of the proceeds from the New Private Offering will be allocated to sponsoring BH’s inaugural investment fund, carrying forward an expanded version of the defensive activism strategy developed by Alexander E. Parker. This initiative further solidifies the Buxton Helmsley name among the top 15% of global activist investors by engagement volume, as ranked within Bloomberg’s “Activism League Tables.” BH has also begun exploring a potential direct listing of its common stock on the New York Stock Exchange.

      BH is preparing to launch its largest investor advocacy initiative to date, targeting a global corporation with a market capitalization of over $5 billion. Evidence of extensive insider trading among senior executives and “hush money” payments to whistleblowers is anticipated to drive an immediate, majority board refresh, allowing for BH to thereafter unlock significant operational and financial improvements. Given the anticipated media coverage and heightened investor interest once the initiative becomes public, pricing for future BH common stock sales will likely be adjusted upward following the public disclosure of this latest and largest campaign. Prospective investors wishing to participate under the current terms of the New Private Offering are encouraged to inquire about investing before the public announcement.

      Interested investors should inquire via e-mail at ir@buxtonhelmsley.com.

    • Commencement of Investor Discussions and Acceptance of New Private Offering Subscriptions – BH has initiated discussions with investment banks, high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and institutional investors, and has begun accepting New Private Offering subscriptions. All investors must be accredited, and reasonable steps will be taken to verify accreditation in accordance with U.S. securities laws. The New Private Offering is not being conducted in any jurisdiction where such an offering would be unlawful under that jurisdiction’s securities laws, and eligibility screening will apply to all investors, regardless of domicile.
    • Appoints Financial Industry Veterans Charles Garcia, Rumbi Petrozzello, and Beth Haddock to Board of Directors:
      • Charles Garcia – Mr. Garcia serves as the Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee and a Member of Audit Committee at BH, where he contributes his expertise in executive leadership, corporate governance, and financial oversight. With significant experience across capital markets and financial services, he brings valuable perspective to the Company’s leadership structure. Before joining BH, Mr. Garcia founded Climb Leadership International, a company dedicated to fostering leadership excellence at Fortune 500 companies, financial institutions, and financial technology firms. His distinguished career includes serving as a Managing Director at Citadel and Director of Business Development at BlackRock. Mr. Garcia began his professional journey at Bloomberg LP, where he spearheaded the company’s strategic expansion across Latin America. Beyond his corporate achievements, Mr. Garcia has made significant academic contributions as an adjunct professor at Columbia University, and as a professor and Assistant Dean at Long Island University Post’s School of Business. His combined experience in financial markets, leadership development, and academia provides BH with comprehensive governance expertise.
      • Rumbi B. Petrozzello, CPA CFF CFE – Ms. Petrozzello serves as the Chair of the Audit Committee and a Member of the Nominating and Governance Committee at BH, where she contributes her extensive expertise in accounting, forensic investigation, and compliance oversight. As a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF), and a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), she brings critical financial governance skills to the firm’s leadership team. Before joining BH, Ms. Petrozzello established herself as a principal at Rock Consulting, where she provides specialized consulting services focused on internal control adequacy and litigation support for accounting and financial matters. At Seramount, a professional services and research firm, she serves as Head of Strategy, Consulting, driving initiatives to advance high-performing, inclusive workplaces. Her leadership experience includes serving as past President of the New York State Society of CPAs, in addition to actively serving as a member of the Board of Directors of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). Ms. Petrozzello’s combination of forensic accounting expertise, strategic consulting experience, and professional leadership provides BH with exceptional financial oversight capabilities.
      • Beth Haddock, Esq. – Ms. Haddock serves on the Audit Committee and the Nominating and Governance Committee at Buxton Helmsley, bringing over 25 years of strategic leadership in financial services, fintech, and corporate governance. She has held leadership roles across diverse environments, from large public multinationals to privately held startups, with revenues ranging from under $100 million to over $10 billion. Her background includes leadership roles at AXA S.A., Brown Brothers Harriman, Guggenheim Investments, and AdvisorEngine (acquired by Franklin Templeton), driving growth through strategic corporate development, risk management, and operational execution. Beth’s expertise spans finance, regulation, and market development, with notable initiatives including the launch of new European Union service centers, successful government grant applications, compliance program redesigns, and global fund expansion. With over seven years of experience in emerging technologies, she is well-versed in regulatory strategy, compliance, and litigation. Beth has led high-impact legal and compliance departments, holds a patent for measuring return on investment with relation to compliance initiatives, and is the author of Triple Bottom-Line Compliance, where she advocates for pragmatic, sustainable governance frameworks that deliver protection, productivity, and long-term value.
    • Appoints Alexander E. Parker as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer – Mr. Parker’s defensive and transformative investor engagement campaigns have resulted in the Buxton Helmsley name, over the course of approximately a decade, being ranked among the top 15% of global activist investors (according to Bloomberg, based on investor engagement volume). With a proven track record of impact-oriented investing to resolve market integrity issues and to catalyze positive corporate transformations, Mr. Parker has successfully led the firm’s investor advocacy initiatives by combining straightforward business acumen with a deep knowledge of securities, accounting, and legal obligations at publicly traded companies. Before establishing his leadership at BH, Mr. Parker built a reputation as an effective whistleblower, with securities regulators subsequently charging violations at entities he identified. His investor engagement campaigns have gained recognition in prestigious publications, including The Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance. Mr. Parker studied finance and economics at Mercy University of New York City, where he participated in the school’s honors business program. Based in Manhattan, he maintains an influential network that advances Buxton Helmsley’s investor objectives. Mr. Parker has been featured in leading financial publications including The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, MarketWatch, The Irish Times, and TheStreet.com. As a licensed investment professional through the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and a FINRA-appointed arbitrator, he brings additional credibility and regulatory insight to his leadership role.
    • Appoints Johnathan J. Flickinger as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer – Mr. Flickinger has been appointed to serve as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at BH, bringing nearly a decade of experience in financial management and private equity operations. His career spans public multinational organizations and high-growth startups, where he has led initiatives to scale internal operations and strengthen financial reporting. Prior to joining BH, Mr. Flickinger held roles at AngelList, Unilever, and The Livekindly Collective. He has overseen compliance operations for emerging venture firms, global financial planning and analysis initiatives, and has included implementation of post-acquisition financial reporting controls across international organizations. Before joining BH, Johnathan founded a venture-backed fintech company delivering an AI-native solution for registered investment advisors. Recognized for his ability to build scalable financial infrastructure, Mr. Flickinger brings to the firm a distinctive blend of corporate finance acumen, entrepreneurial perspective, and strategic leadership.
    • Appoints Weiyee In [殷 維一] as Head of Capital Markets Research – Mr. In serves as the Head of Capital Markets Research and Chair of the Expert Advisory Board at BH, where he leverages his extensive background as a publishing Wall Street analyst and senior executive at global financial institutions. With expertise spanning technology, media, and telecommunications (TMT) equities, Mr. In has played a pivotal role in shaping investment strategies across multinational banks, including UBS and BNP Paribas. Mr. In has also engaged in digital asset custody and institutional trading at several chartered financial institutions. Over his career, he has held leadership roles in equity research, sustainability strategy (ESG), and regulatory advisory, developing AI-driven solutions for financial compliance frameworks such as MiFID II, GDPR, and AML/KYC regulations. A native of New York City, Mr. In has spent much of his career as an expatriate, working in London, Paris, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and across Southeast Asia. As an active angel investor and advisor, he has contributed to fintech, AI, data analytics, and industrial automation startups across Asia and Europe. His work in digital ledger technology (DLT) integration, trade analytics, and financial custody solutions has driven innovation in institutional investment and regulatory compliance.
    • Revocation of Historical “Buxton Helmsley” Trademark Licensees – On February 24, 2025, BH acquired the “Buxton Helmsley” trademark and related intellectual property (the “BH IP”) from BH founder Alexander E. Parker. Immediately prior to BH’s acquisition of the BH IP, Mr. Parker formally revoked the authorization to use the BH IP from two unaffiliated entities (Buxton Helmsley Holdings, Inc. and The Buxton Helmsley Group, Inc.), both of which have no shared economic interest or affiliation with BH. BH expressly disclaims any and all activities of these entities for which it is entirely unaffiliated. Immediately after BH’s acquisition of the BH IP, BH filed for formal registration of the BH IP with the USPTO.
    • Formation of Buxton Helmsley USA, Inc. – Following the formation and acquisition of the BH IP, BH formed Buxton Helmsley USA, Inc., a newly-registered exempt reporting advisor, having filed the necessary documents with the State of New York.
    • Plans to Form The Buxton Helmsley Foundation in Q4 2025 – As part of its continuing commitment to driving positive public impact, BH plans to establish The Buxton Helmsley Foundation (the “BHF”) in Q4 2025. Concurrent with the formation of BHF, BH will appoint a board of trustees to manage the charitable affairs of BHF. BHF will focus on strategic philanthropy, including medical research and innovation, development of education and economic opportunity, and whistleblower protection. BHF will manage its endowment, comprised of contributions from BH and external donors, to drive a long-term and sustainable impact.

      Mr. Parker intends to donate to BHF his direct personal economic interest in a pending lawsuit filed against defendants Assertio Holdings, Inc. and its Chief Executive Officer, Brendan P. O’Grady. The suit alleges defamation per se (the “Assertio Defamation Claim”) arising from the defendants’ response to a scheme of clinical data fraud alleged by multiple former executives-turned-whistleblowers of an Assertio subsidiary (specifically, Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc., the maker of cancer drug Rolvedon, previously clinically tested as Rolontis). Mr. Parker will request that the BHF board of trustees earmark such funds for allocation to cancer-focused causes.

      To view the official court filing for Mr. Parker’s Assertio Defamation Claim: https://www.buxtonhelmsley.com/asrt/

      The official court transcript from the most recent hearing in which Mr. Parker is a party to (though, BH and its affiliates are not a party to): https://www.buxtonhelmsley.com/asrt/

    “This transformation marks a defining moment in Buxton Helmsley’s trajectory,” said Alexander E. Parker, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “What was once a broader, multi-pronged enterprise has now been reimagined as a focused, high-conviction enterprise dedicated solely to alternative asset management. With this sharpened mission and a newly fortified leadership team of industry-leading professionals, Buxton Helmsley is positioned to deliver institutional-grade strategy, integrity-driven investing, and scalable impact. The launch of our $50 million private offering, alongside the formation of The Buxton Helmsley Foundation, underscores our commitment to shaping capital markets and societal outcomes alike, with both precision and purpose, to leave a long-term legacy.”

    Accredited investors interested in the USD$50 million New Private Offering may obtain more details at: https://www.buxtonhelmsley.com/news-and-insights/announcements/our-next-chapter

    About Buxton Helmsley

    Buxton Helmsley, Inc. is a New York City-based alternative asset management firm, managing both active and passive investment strategies across a range of asset classes, with a general focus on opportunities in North America and Europe. The firm’s investment approach is based on deep fundamental analysis and risk management, with a focus on ensuring disclosure obligations are being upheld under applicable accounting standards and securities laws.

    Disclosures Related to Private Offering

    The information provided within this press release by Buxton Helmsley, Inc. (“BH”) and its affiliates is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy any securities or investment products. This information does not constitute investment, legal, tax, or other advice. BH makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information contained herein.

    BH is an alternative asset manager and has not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”) and, as such, investors will not be entitled to the benefits of the Investment Company Act. Investments in BH may involve a high degree of risk and may employ speculative investment practices. Past performance is not indicative of future results. The value of investments may fluctuate, and investors may lose the entire amount invested. Investment in any of the investment funds or securities offered by BH is available only to eligible investors pursuant to the relevant offering documents, which should be read in their entirety.

    BH and its affiliates, officers, directors, employees, and agents shall have no liability for any loss or damage arising from reliance on the information contained herein. Access to this website may be restricted under the securities laws in certain jurisdictions. Readers should verify that they are permitted to access this information under applicable law, given that this information may be republished. BH disclaims any and all liability for any unlawful access to this information.

    Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

    The information herein contains “forward-looking statements.” Specific forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts and include, without limitation, words such as “may,” “will,” “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “explores,” “estimates,” “projects,” “potential,” “targets,” “forecasts,” “seeks,” “could,” “should” and/or the negative of such terms or other variations on such terms or comparable terminology. Similarly, statements that describe our objectives, plans, or goals are forward-looking and are subject to various risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. There is no assurance that any idea or assumption herein is, or will be proven, correct, or that any of the objectives, plans or goals stated herein will ultimately be undertaken or achieved. If one or more of such risks or uncertainties materialize, or if any of BH’s underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, any actual results may vary materially from any outcomes indicated or suggested by these statements. Accordingly, any and all forward-looking statements should not be regarded nor interpreted as a representation by BH that any and/or all future plans, estimates, or expectations contemplated will ever be achieved.

    The MIL Network –