Category: housing

MIL-OSI: RateUniversity Hosts Free First-Time Homebuyer Education Event in Boston
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

BOSTON, March 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Rate, a leader in fintech mortgage solutions, reinforces its dedication to expanding homeownership access by hosting RateUniversity Boston, a free first-time homebuyer education event on Saturday, April 26, 2025, from 10 AM to 1 PM at Roxbury Community College, Building 3.

Visit Rate.com to Register Today

RateUniversity is more than just a financial literacy event—it’s a unique, interactive experience designed to bridge the financial knowledge gap that affects adults from all backgrounds. While many financial workshops focus on underserved communities, RateUniversity recognizes that a lack of financial education is a widespread issue, even among college graduates and working professionals. The program is structured to provide practical, strategic knowledge about credit, mortgages, and financial tools that empower individuals to build wealth through homeownership.

“RateUniversity is not just another financial workshop. It’s about filling the massive knowledge gap for so many adults, regardless of their background or education level,” said Shant Banosian, President of Rate Mortgage. “Most people graduate high school, college, and even advanced degree programs. But, they never learn how credit works, how to leverage a mortgage, or how financial products can be a tool for building wealth. That’s a huge problem. RateUniversity is designed to change that by making financial education accessible, engaging, and directly applicable to people’s lives. We want to give people the knowledge they need to make informed decisions, take control of their financial future, and ultimately, build generational wealth.”

Originally launched in Chicago, RateUniversity continues to expand into new cities, bringing financial education to diverse communities in an engaging, culturally relevant, and interactive format. Attendees of the Boston event will participate in bilingual workshops in English and Spanish, covering essential financial topics such as building credit, understanding mortgage options, and accessing specialized affordable lending programs. Bilingual loan officers will be available for one-on-one consultations, answering questions and assisting with pre-approvals.

RateUniversity attendees can expect:
- Free educational workshops in English and Spanish
- One-on-one consultations with bilingual loan officers
- Expert guidance on homebuying programs and financial planning
- Access to nonprofit resources focused on homebuyer assistance and grants
- Networking opportunities with real estate professionals and community partners
- Complimentary food and refreshments
In addition, attendees who complete the program and proceed with a home purchase will be eligible for a $500 closing cost credit.

“At Rate, we are committed to making financial wellness an integral part of homeownership,” said Arlyn Kalinski, SVP of Fair & Equitable Lending Strategies for Rate. “RateUniversity isn’t just about learning the basics of credit and mortgage lending—it’s about empowering people with the tools and strategies they need to build a stronger financial future. By delivering expert guidance in multiple languages and partnering with community organizations, we’re creating real opportunities for more families to achieve homeownership.”

Media Availability

The Rate team will be available for media interviews. Please contact press@rate.com for direct coordination.

For more information or to register for RateUniversity, visit rate.com/rateuniversity.

About Rate

Rate Companies is a leader in mortgage lending and digital financial services. Headquartered in Chicago, Rate has over 850 branches across all 50 states and Washington D.C. Since its launch in 2000, Rate has helped more than 2 million homeowners with home purchase loans and refinances. The company has cemented itself as an industry leader by introducing innovative technology, offering low rates, and delivering unparalleled customer service.

Honors and awards include Best Mortgage Lender for First-Time Homebuyers by NerdWallet for 2023; HousingWire’s Tech100 award for the company’s industry-leading FlashClose℠ digital mortgage platform in 2020, MyAccount in 2022, and Language Access Program in 2023; the most Scotsman Guide Top Originators for 11 consecutive years; Chicago Agent Magazine’s Lender of the Year for seven consecutive years; and Chicago Tribune’s Top Workplaces list for seven straight years.

Visit rate.com for more information.

Media Contact

press@rate.com

The MIL Network –
April 1, 2025
MIL-OSI: insightsoftware Drives Global Expansion of JustPerform, a Financial Planning, Forecasting, and Closing Companion
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

RALEIGH, N.C., March 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — insightsoftware, the most comprehensive provider of solutions for the Office of the CFO, today announced the global expansion of JustPerform, an all-in-one financial planning, forecasting, and close companion. The financial performance platform is now available in APAC, North America, the UK, and Ireland.

Finance teams often struggle with the complexity of implementing and maintaining traditional systems, hindering their ability to plan, close, and report effectively. JustPerform addresses this with an all-in-one solution enabling effortless collaboration on plans, faster closes, accurate reporting, and confident decision-making without IT reliance. Featuring an intuitive, Excel-like interface and step-by-step guidance, the platform simplifies even the most complex tasks. Users can master processes in under five minutes and establish consistent workflows for reliable, repeatable results.

“Growing expectations for finance to serve as a strategic business partner fuel demands among finance professionals for a unified approach to planning, forecasting, and closing,” said Monica Boydston, General Manager, EPM & Controllership at insightsoftware. “JustPerform’s intuitive interface enables finance teams to hit the ground running. Finance-driven ownership empowers teams to streamline processes and focus on delivering strategic insights that drive business impact.”

Key Capabilities Include:
- All-in-One Simplicity and Cloud Scalability: JustPerform connects planning, close, consolidation and reporting. Whether an organization deploys on the public or private cloud, it handles unlimited data volumes, dimensions, and metrics, letting models grow in size and complexity without slowing down.
- Simplified Processes: Pick up any process in under five minutes. Even the most complex tasks feel simple with an Excel-like interface and step-by-step guidance.
- Direct Integration and Excel-Friendly Transition: Native connectors link to over 80 systems, including SAP, Oracle, and Microsoft Dynamics, without delays or extra steps. With an Excel-like interface and modern Microsoft 365 connector, it makes moving from spreadsheets to JustPerform seamless.
- Real-Time Planning: Live data updates keep financial and operational planning connected across teams. Members stay in sync, making decisions faster and smarter, without missing a step.
“JustPerform successfully addresses the key requirements of the planning, forecasting, and reporting market with its unified, cloud-native platform designed around the needs of finance professionals,” said Craig Schiff, President and CEO of BPM Partners. “Many finance teams struggle with patching together siloed systems and legacy products. JustPerform delivers a truly modern and connected experience. Its human-centered design simplifies complex processes, ensuring accessibility and adaptability. The platform easily scales as user count and data volume grow over time, combining usability and precision—essential traits for financial professionals seeking both efficiency and flexibility.”

Discover how JustPerform provides 60%-time savings in data transformation, a 50% reduction in manual close cycles, 40% faster budget preparation, and twice the return on investment. Join the “Financial Performance, for the Way You Work” webinar on April 10, 2025, at 10 am ET, to learn more about how this finance companion helps organizations hit the ground running. Register here.

About insightsoftware
insightsoftware is a global provider of comprehensive solutions for the Office of the CFO. We believe an actionable business strategy begins and ends with accessible financial data. With solutions across financial planning and analysis (FP&A), accounting, and operations, we transform how teams operate, empowering leaders to make timely and informed decisions. With data at the heart of everything we do, insightsoftware enables automated processes, delivers trusted insights, boosts predictability, and increases productivity. Learn more at insightsoftware.com.

Media Contacts
Inkhouse for insightsoftware
insightsoftware@inkhouse.com

Daniel Tummeley
Corporate Communications Manager
PR@insightsoftware.com

The MIL Network –
April 1, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: Veterans Affairs Canada and the Department of National Defence mark 15th anniversary of the end of Operation Hestia

Source: Government of Canada News

Ottawa, ON – Today, Veterans Affairs Canada and the Department of National Defence, issued the following statement:

“Fifteen years ago, one of the deadliest earthquakes in history struck the Caribbean nation of Haiti. The need for urgent, international aid was clear, and Canada answered the call.

“The earthquake left more than 200,000 people dead and destroyed or damaged most of the buildings in the capital of Port-au-Prince. More than a million Haitians became instantly homeless, and one-third of the population was affected by the quake as water, power and other basic services collapsed and healthcare facilities became swamped.

“Within less than a week, the Canadian Armed Forces deployed Joint Task Force Haiti (JTFH) to bring critical aid to the country. The frigate His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Halifax and the destroyer HMCS Athabaskan, carrying a CH-124 Sea King helicopter detachment, brought emergency medical services, engineering expertise, mobility by sea, land and air, and security and defence support. The JTFH also included Search and Rescue technicians and firefighters, a field hospital, the Disaster Assistance Response Team, and security and defence personnel.

“At its peak, JTFH included some 2,050 personnel from many branches of our military.

“For two months, the Canadian contingent delivered food, clean water, and medical and security services. They set up a military clinic on the beach in Jacmel and food distribution points in Léogâne. Airport operations personnel and others worked to restore critical airport infrastructure so they could be operated safely.

“While their mission ended 15 years ago today, their contributions demonstrate Canada’s enduring commitment of being a good neighbour.

In 2025, Veterans Affairs Canada will focus on commemorating the efforts of the Canadian Armed Forces in the Americas. In addition to Haiti, our troops have helped provide aid in the United States after Hurricane Katrina, and in places like Nicaragua, Honduras and Guatemala.

“Today, we pause to remember and thank Veterans and the brave members of the Canadian Armed Forces for their dedication and professionalism toward others in need.”

Associated Links

Haiti – Veterans Affairs Canada

Operation HESTIA – Canada.ca

MIL OSI Canada News –

April 1, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: An Interview with Foreign Law Intern at the Law Library of Congress, Yuri Rattanaboonsen

Source: US Global Legal Monitor

Today’s blog post is an interview with a foreign law intern at the Law Library of Congress, Panicha Rattanaboonsen. She works with foreign law specialist Sayuri Umeda in the Global Legal Research Directorate.

Describe your background.

My name is Panicha Rattanaboonsen, also known as Yuri. I am originally from Thailand and come from an overseas Chinese family. I moved to Bangkok during high school, where I attended Triam Udom Suksa School. I am fluent in Thai and English and have basic proficiency in Mandarin and Lao.

What is your academic/professional history?

Currently, I am an LL.M. candidate in the Environmental and Energy Law program at Georgetown University Law Center. Before pursuing my graduate studies, I had experience in the public sector at the national level in Thailand, contributing to policies and measures addressing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting energy innovation. I also worked as a legal analyst and adviser, focusing on renewable energy projects and energy policy.

My professional background includes my role as a business tax associate, where I provided strategic tax advisory services to international clients, and my internship in the legal department of a big consulting firm, as well as my experience in arbitration and mediation at the Thai Arbitration Center, where I gained expertise in resolving complex domestic and international disputes.

How do you describe your job to other people?

I am a foreign law intern at the Global Legal Research Directorate of the Law Library of Congress. I conduct legal research and analysis on Thailand’s legal framework, including monitoring global legal articles and assessing Thai laws and regulations updates. Additionally, I have contributed to legal reports that will be published by the Law Library, such as Thailand: Civic Space Legal Framework, which examines legal policies affecting civic engagement and is set to be published at a later date.

Why did you want to work at the Library of Congress?

The Library of Congress houses one of the world’s most extensive and valuable collections of legal resources. Contributing to the development of reports and articles that serve organizations, scholars, and policymakers is a unique and meaningful opportunity. Moreover, working on the legislative research for Congress provides me with invaluable life experience.

What is the most interesting fact that you’ve learned about the Library?

I was fascinated to learn that the Law Library of Congress holds one of the world’s largest collections of legal materials. I was particularly intrigued to discover that Thai legal books and collections are also preserved there.

What’s something that most of your co-workers don’t know about you?

Beyond my work in law and policy, I am also interested in finance and investment. I am currently pursuing a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) certification.

Subscribe to In Custodia Legis – it’s free! – to receive interesting posts drawn from the Law Library of Congress’s vast collections and our staff’s expertise in U.S., foreign, and international law.

MIL OSI USA News –

April 1, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Remarks

Source: NATO

First of all, thank you so much, Mr President, dear Donald again for hosting me and also for taking time in Florida a couple of weeks after you were re-elected. And of course, our phone call a couple of weeks ago.

And I must say, Trump 45 you basically, you originated the fact that in Europe, we’re now spending, when you take it to aggregate 700 billion more on defence than when you came in office in 2016/2017. But that was Trump 45. But then when you look at Trump 47 what happened the last couple of weeks is really staggering. The Europeans committing to a package of 800 billion defence spending. The Germans now potentially up to half a trillion extra in defence spending. And then, of course, you have Keir Starmer here – the British Prime Minister – and others all committing to much higher defence spending. They’re not there. We need to do more. But I really want to work together with you in the run up to the Hague Summit to make sure that we will have a NATO which is really reinvigorated under your leadership, and we are getting there.

We’ll also discuss defence production, because we need to produce more weaponry. We are not doing enough, and not in the US, not in Europe, and we are lagging behind when you compare to the Russians and the Chinese, and you have a huge defence industrial base. Europeans buying four times more here than the other way around, which is good, because you have a strong defence industry, but we need to do more there to make sure that we ramp up the production and kill the red tape. So I would love to work with you on that.

And finally, Ukraine. You broke the deadlock, as you said – all the killing, the young people dying, cities getting destroyed. The fact that you did that, that you started the dialogue with the Russians and the successful talks in Saudi Arabia, now with the Ukrainians, I really want to commend you for this. So, well, The Hague is my hometown. I’d love to host you there in the summer and work together to make sure that it will be a splash. A real success – projecting American power on the world stage.

MIL Security OSI –

April 1, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: “California-Mexico border, once overwhelmed, now nearly empty”

US Senate News:

Source: The White House
In the latest indication of success from President Donald J. Trump’s unprecedented effort to secure the homeland, the Los Angeles Times writes that “migrant crossings have slowed to near a halt” along the California-Mexico border following years of unchecked illegal immigration.
From the article:
“But migrant crossings have slowed to a near halt, bringing a striking change to the landscape along the southernmost stretch of California.
Shelters that once received migrants have closed, makeshift camps where migrants waited for processing are barren, and nonprofits have begun shifting their services to established immigrants in the U.S. who are facing deportation, or migrants stuck in southern Mexico.
[…]
Border Patrol agents in the San Diego sector are now making about 30 to 40 arrests per day, according to the agency. That’s down from more than 1,200 per day during the height of migrant arrivals to the region in April.”
Click here to read the full story.

MIL OSI USA News –

April 1, 2025

MIL-OSI: Investview, Inc. (“INVU”) Reports Full Year 2024 Financial Results, Operational Highlights and a Year-End Message from the CEO

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

$55.4M in Gross Revenue | $8.3M in Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities | Strong Balance Sheet |Share Repurchase Program and Strategic Expansion- for the year ended December 31, 2024

Haverford, PA, March 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Investview, Inc. (OTCQB: INVU), a diversified financial technology services company that offers multiple business units across key sectors, including a financial education division offering tools, products and content through a global network of independent distributors; a manufacturing division focused on proprietary aesthetics, health, nutrition, & cognitive wellness products for wholesale and retail markets, with strategic plans for global expansion; an early-stage online trading platform that intends to offer self-directed retail brokerage services; and a business unit that owns and operates a sustainable blockchain business focused on bitcoin mining, today reported its full-year 2024 financial results and shared highlights of key operational progress, strategic milestones, and forward-focused initiatives.

Summary Consolidated Financial Highlights:

Results of Operations and Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities – Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2024 vs December 31, 2023

Gross Revenue (a Non-GAAP measure) decreased 24.0% to $55.4 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2024, as compared to $72.9 million for the comparable prior year period.
Net Revenue decreased 22.9% to $52.4 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2024, as compared to $67.9 million for the comparable prior year period.
Net income from operations decreased 63.2% to $1.7 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2024, as compared to $4.6 million for the comparable prior year period.
Net cash provided by operating activities increased 36.9%, reaching $8.3 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2024, as compared to $6.1 million for the comparable prior year period, reflecting the results of our disciplined business model.

Balance Sheet Data-December 31, 2024, vs December 31, 2023

Cash and cash equivalents increased by 7.4%, reaching $22.5 million for twelve months ended December 31, 2024, an increase of $1.6 million from $20.9 million at December 31, 2023, even after having repurchased $3.4 million of common stock and $1.1 million for the acquisition of substantially all the assets of Renu Laboratories Inc. during 2024. Our cash balances provide us with working capital that we can direct towards our strategic initiatives and growth investments.
Total assets at December 31, 2024 were $31.6 million, a decrease of $2.1 million from $33.7 million of assets at December 31, 2023, mainly due to non-cash depreciation and impairment charges relating to our mining servers and a decrease in deposits with vendors, partially offset by an increase our cash balance, an increase in Bitcoin holdings and the addition of a goodwill balance related to the acquisition of substantially all the assets of Renu Laboratories Inc.
Working Capital Balance increased by 30.8% to $16.2 million at December 31, 2024, an increase of $3.8 million from December 31, 2023.
Current Ratio is strong, up 14.3%, reaching 2.32 at December 31, 2024, an increase of 0.29 from our previous current ratio of 2.03 at December 31, 2023, confirming our strong balance sheet position.
Outstanding debt decreased by 10.0%, to $3.2 million at December 31, 2024, a decrease of $0.4 million, from the $3.6 million of debt at December 31, 2023, with total liabilities also decreasing by $0.5 million during the comparative period.
Total stockholders’ equity at December 31, 2024 was $17.2 million, a decrease of $1.6 million or 8.5% from the $18.8 of stockholders’ equity at December 31, 2023, mainly due to the repurchase of common shares during 2024.
Common stock issued and outstanding decreased by approximately 20.3% to 1.859 billion shares at the end of December 31, 2024, a decrease of 474 million shares from 2.333 billion shares at December 31, 2023, primarily attributable to strategic stock repurchases aimed at further reducing outstanding share count in an effort to enhance shareholder value.

Comments on our industry segments and business units

Our Financial Education and Technology Segment

iGenius recognized net revenue for the twelve months ending December 31, 2024, of $47.1 million. This reflects a decrease of 16.8% or $9.5 million less than the comparable prior year period. The decrease was largely attributable to a combination of shifts in consumer behavior and demand following the COVID-19 pandemic as individuals re-evaluated their spending priorities, lifestyle habits, and engagement preferences, as well as broader global macroeconomic changes that have caused a general slowdown in direct sales and home-based business. Despite the drop in revenue, we are hopeful that over time we can regain some of the ground that we have lost as we try to build our sales network organically and develop additional product and service offerings that we offer into our sales network. We firmly believe our direct selling model has broad scalable potential beyond financial education. As part of our strategic vision, we expect to be able to expand the product suite available through our sales network—particularly through the introduction of offerings from our myLife Wellness- health, beauty, and wellness division.

Our Blockchain Technology and Crypto Mining Products and Services Segment

SAFETek recognized net revenue for the twelve months ending December 31, 2024, of $5.2 million. This reflects a decrease of 54.2% or $6.2 million less than the comparable prior year period. The decrease in net revenue was the result of Bitcoin halving, which cut block rewards by 50%, an increase in network difficulty over 29%, and a government-mandated energy curtailment resulting from low hydroelectric reservoir levels in our host country.

Despite the challenging environment in which we now operate, in 2024, SAFETek produced 85.92 Bitcoin, navigating industry-wide headwinds including the April halving event, a sharp rise in network difficulty, and a government energy curtailment. While these factors impacted output, they also helped reduce power costs, turning a challenge into a cost-management initiative that we expect will serve us well over time.

Further, in 2024, we implemented strategic enhancements, including the retirement of older miners, deployment of next-gen ASICs, and consolidation of operations, significantly lowering our hash cost and strengthening our market position. As a result, we remain debt-free on all equipment purchases and maintain flexibility with our strong balance sheet, as we evaluate future expansion opportunities.

Despite the challenging environment, our long-term view of BTC mining remains cautiously optimistic, and we are maintaining a disciplined and strategic posture while preparing for future expansion should the economic environment return to prior levels.

Our Manufacturing and Development of Health, Beauty and Wellness Products Segment

In October 2024, we entered the over-the-counter health, beauty, and wellness market when our subsidiary, myLife Wellness Company (“myLife Wellness”), acquired the business of Renu Laboratories, Inc. (“Renu Labs”), a contract developer and manufacturer, producing both proprietary and non-proprietary health, beauty, and wellness products for third-party clients. This move creates the potential for us to extend our platform into consumer verticals, with a focus on aesthetics, nutrition, and cognitive health. Since the acquisition, we’ve strategically accelerated investment in Renu Labs’ technology, equipment, and talent, resulting in measurable improvements in production and operational efficiency.

myLife Wellness will serve as both the marketing and e-commerce platform engine for the products developed and manufactured by Renu Labs, with a focus on aesthetics, health, nutrition, and cognitive wellness. These products are expected to be distributed through both retail and wholesale channels. In addition to operating as a standalone platform, myLife Wellness also expects to be able to leverage retail, wholesale, and direct-to-consumer channels through collaboration with our affiliated business platform, iGenius, to promote and offer myLife wellness products to its global membership base and its customers, expanding reach and creating new revenue opportunities.

We plan to further the development and growth of both Renu Labs and myLife Wellness in 2025, as well as establishing our presence in the health and wellness industry and supporting our broader global growth objectives.

Our Financial Services Initiatives

March 2024 marked a major milestone in our fintech initiatives with the acquisition of Opencash Securities LLC—an early-stage registered broker-dealer. Although it has not yet achieved commercial operations, it is our objective to develop Opencash as a modern, mobile-first platform for low-cost, and commission-free trading of stocks, ETFs, and options, targeting accessibility and simplicity for retail investors worldwide. Currently, Opencash is progressing through clearing integration, infrastructure buildout, and testing in preparation for launch.

Our Opencash initiative is intended to complement our proprietary MPower Trading Systems- Prodigio trading engine, acquired in 2021, and once fully developed, may be expected to yield two synergistic platforms: Opencash for everyday users and OpencashPro for advanced traders. Together, they will offer a seamless, data-driven trading experience.

Message from Investview’s CEO – Victor Oviedo

2024 was a transformative year for Investview—one marked by strategic discipline and a focused commitment to delivering long-term shareholder value. Aligned with our capital allocation priorities, we successfully reduced our outstanding debt by 10%, or $0.4 million, bringing it to $3.2 million by year-end. Simultaneously, we advanced our shareholder-focused strategy through a significant reduction in common stock by repurchasing and retiring approximately 474 million shares, a 20.3% decrease in issued and outstanding shares, at a blended 53% discount to the market.

These actions reflect our continued focus on building intrinsic value while enhancing capital structure efficiency. Importantly, even after executing these initiatives, we concluded the year with a strong cash position of $22.5 million, providing us with both the resilience and flexibility to pursue appropriate investment opportunities, should they arise, pursue strategic acquisitions, and fund the continued development of our platforms.

Further, the Company recently announced in March 2025 the launch of a $1 million share repurchase program, reaffirming its confidence in the long-term value of its business. This initiative reflects management’s belief that the current market price of its common stock does not accurately reflect the Company’s underlying strength and growth potential.

Despite a challenging macroeconomic environment and industry headwinds, Investview continues to demonstrate resilience, adaptability, and long-term vision across its dynamic portfolio of business units—including financial education, wellness product manufacturing, sustainable blockchain mining, and a soon-to-launch online trading platform.

As we look to the future, our aspirations are clear: scale our highest-potential business segments, maintain financial strength, and unlock new sources of value across our ecosystem.

Entering the Wellness Market with myLife Wellness and Renu Labs

Our entry into the over-the-counter health, beauty, and wellness market reflects a strategic step in broadening our platform and aligning with growing consumer demand in key wellness categories. This expansion began when our subsidiary, myLife Wellness Company (“myLife Wellness”), acquired the business of Renu Laboratories, Inc. (“Renu Labs”), a contract developer and manufacturer of both proprietary and non-proprietary health, beauty, and wellness products for third-party clients.

The acquisition provides a pathway for us to extend into consumer verticals with a focus on aesthetics, nutrition, and cognitive health areas that complement our broader long-term growth objectives.

In addition to myLife Wellness operating as a standalone platform, myLife Wellness also expects to be able to leverage retail, wholesale, and direct-to-consumer channels through collaboration with our affiliated business platform, iGenius, to promote and offer myLife wellness products to its global membership base and its customers, expanding reach and creating new revenue opportunities.

Since the acquisition, we have made targeted investments in Renu Labs’ technology, equipment, and team. These enhancements have already contributed to improved production capacity and operational efficiency, laying a solid foundation for continued growth and development in this space.

Positioned for a Breakout Year in 2025 and Beyond

As we move into 2025, Investview is looking to accelerate growth and drive innovation across all verticals. Our key priorities include:

Launching the Opencash trading platform
Expanding iGenius’ global distribution network
Investing in new products and technology
Pursuing strategic and synergistic acquisitions
Maintaining a strong cash position and balance sheet discipline
We remain cautiously optimistic as to the long-term value of Bitcoin mining, and we intend to take deliberate steps to stabilize operations until favorable conditions return to support the business expansion.

We enter 2025 with a clear vision, and a strong sense of purpose. Our leadership team is aligned around innovation, execution, and long-term value creation. With $22.5 million in cash, reduced debt, and a motivated team, we are anxious to pursue new opportunities and unlock shareholder value.”

At Investview, we are not just building for today—we are shaping a future defined by possibility. We believe the best is yet to come.

About Investview, Inc.

Investview, Inc., a Nevada corporation, operates a financial technology (FinTech) services company, offering several different lines of business, including a Financial Education and Technology business that delivers a series of products and services involving financial education, digital assets and related technology, through a network of independent distributors; and a Blockchain Technology and Crypto Mining Products and Services business, including leading-edge research, development and FinTech services involving the management of digital asset technologies with a focus on Bitcoin mining and the new generation of digital assets. In addition, we are planning to create a Brokerage and Financial Markets business within the investment management and brokerage industries by, among others, commercializing on a proprietary trading platform we acquired in September 2021. For more information on Investview, please visit: www.investview.com.

About Opencash Securities LLC

Brokerage services are provided by Opencash Securities LLC, a member of FINRA and SIPC. Options involve risk and are not suitable for all investors. Please review Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options prior to engaging in options trading. Opencash Securities LLC does not provide investment advice. Please consult with investment, tax, or legal professionals before making any investment decisions. All investments involve risks, including the possible loss of capital. Check the background of this investment professional on BrokerCheck. Opencash Securities LLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Investview, Inc.

Forward-Looking Statement

All statements in this release that are not based on historical fact are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and describe our future plans, strategies, and expectations, can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terms such as “believe,” “expect,” “may,” “should,” “could,” “seek,” “intend,” “plan,” “goal,” “estimate,” “anticipate” or other comparable terms. These forward-looking statements are based on Investview’s current beliefs and assumptions and information currently available to Investview and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Our forward-looking statements expect that we will ultimately be able to develop retail brokerage operations at Opencash, although it is currently in the pre-revenue and early stage of its operations. We plan to do this by, among others, investing the funds we believe are necessary to develop the infrastructure necessary to achieve retail operations. This includes, among others, the on-boarding of customer support personnel and software developers, the development and implementation of a marketing strategy, the securing of necessary securities clearing arrangements, and the continued development of the online Opencash trading platform and completing its integration with the proprietary algorithmic trading platform we acquired in September 2021. Despite our best efforts, there can be no assurance that we will be able to achieve these objectively on a timely basis, if at all, as the development of an early-stage securities brokerage business involves inherent regulatory and operational risks and uncertainties. Our forward-looking statements also assume that the curtailment in our hydroelectric energy supply will be addressed within the near term and will not continue to have a long-term negative impact on our Bitcoin mining operations, although we are unable to predict when our mining levels will return to pre-2024 levels. More information on potential factors that could affect Investview’s financial results is included from time to time in Investview’s public reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K. The forward-looking statements made in this release speak only as of the date of this release, and Investview, Inc. assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements to reflect actual results or changes in expectations, except as otherwise required by law.

Investor Relations
Contact: Ralph R. Valvano
Phone Number: 732.889.4300
Email: pr@investview.com

Reconciliation of Gross Revenue to Net Revenue (unaudited)

As used in this report, Gross Revenues are not a measure of financial performance under United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”). Gross Revenues are presented as they are used by management to understand the total revenue before certain items such as refunds, incentives, credits, chargebacks and amounts paid to third party providers. The non-GAAP Gross Revenue measure is a supplement to the GAAP financial information. A reconciliation between Gross Revenue (non-GAAP) and Net Revenue is presented in the table below.

Gross Revenue (non-GAAP) to Net Revenue reconciliation for the twelve months ended December 31, 2024 is as follows:

	Membership revenue			Mining revenue		Health and wellness product sales			Other Revenue		Total
Gross billings/receipts	$	50,086,839		$	5,186,606	$	110,856		$	23,404	$	55,407,705
Refunds, incentives, credits, and chargebacks		(3,025,549	)		–		(185	)		–		(3,025,734	)
Net revenue	$	47,061,290		$	5,186,606	$	110,671		$	23,404	$	52,381,971

Gross Revenue (non-GAAP) to Net Revenue reconciliation for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023 is as follows:

	Membership Revenue			Cryptocurrency Revenue			Mining Revenue		Miner Repair Revenue		Total
Gross billings/receipts	$	60,516,836		$	990,785		$	11,348,156	$	23,378	$	72,879,156
Refunds, incentives, credits, and chargebacks		(4,480,784	)		–			–		–		(4,480,784	)
Amounts paid to supplier		–			(477,500	)		–		–		(477,500	)
Net revenue	$	56,036,052		$	513,285		$	11,348,156	$	23,378	$	67,920,871

The MIL Network –

April 1, 2025

MIL-OSI: Brag House Announces Strategic Innovation Initiatives Following Nasdaq Public Listing

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

NEW YORK, March 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Brag House Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: TBH), a pioneering media-tech platform at the intersection of gaming, college sports, and brand engagement, today announced its latest innovation roadmap following its successful public listing on Nasdaq. The company is enhancing its leadership in Gen Z engagement by integrating machine learning (ML) technology and expanding strategic data partnerships to deliver deeper proprietary insights for brands.

“An important part of our vision has always been to create a seamless connection between brands and the next generation of consumers,” said Lavell Juan Malloy II, CEO & Co-Founder of Brag House. “With our upcoming enhanced AI capabilities and through our partnerships, we are setting a new standard for authentic engagement in the gaming and college sports ecosystem. This marks a pivotal moment for Brag House as we continue our commitment to deliver innovation at scale.”

Strategic Data Partnership with Artemis Ave and Evemeta

To further strengthen its data-driven approach, Brag House has entered into a strategic partnership with Artemis Ave and Evemeta, two industry leaders in social-video engagement, AI-powered behavioral insights and data infrastructure. These collaborations will enhance Brag House’s ability to deliver anonymized, actionable insights to brands, offering a smarter, more efficient way to connect with Gen Z.

Gregory Butler, CEO of ZuCasa (also known as Artemis Ave), commented:
“The Gen Z audience requires a fundamentally different approach to engagement, one that prioritizes authenticity, relevance, and interactivity. Our partnership with Brag House is a game-changer—bringing AI-powered insights to their clients without sacrificing real human connection. It’s something that is usually overlooked in the digital age that Brag House is committed to solving.”

Evemeta’s cutting-edge data infrastructure solutions will further optimize Brag House’s real-time analytics capabilities, ensuring scalable and cost-efficient operations for its growing platform.

Advancing Data-Driven Engagement with AI & Machine Learning

Brag House is investing in ML-driven engagement tools that will provide brands with deeper insights into Gen Z behavior. These innovations will allow brands to predict user engagement trends, personalize brand interactions, and optimize marketing performance within Brag House’s dynamic gaming and social ecosystem. Additionally, Brag House will offer these insights through a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution, equipping brands with the tools to leverage behavioral data beyond the platform.

Through predictive analytics and proprietary data modeling, Brag House aims to set a new benchmark for community-driven brand engagement, ensuring that marketing efforts align seamlessly with Gen Z’s evolving digital habits.

Scaling the Future of Gen Z Engagement

Brag House has already proven its ability to deliver high-impact engagement and cost-effective brand reach to millions of college students. The platform, to date, drove 1.75X longer view times (19 minutes vs. 11-minute industry average), achieved a 3X lower cost-per-click (CPC) ($0.24 vs. $0.70 industry average), and offered 2X lower cost-per-thousand impressions (CPM) ($3.10 vs. $5.64 industry average). By combining social gaming, AI-driven insights, and strategic brand activations, Brag House is redefining how brands connect with the next generation of consumers—offering measurable engagement at scale.

As part of its long-term strategy, Brag House will continue expanding its platform capabilities, optimizing its B2B data subscription model, and leveraging Nasdaq listing proceeds to fuel further innovation and global market penetration.

About ZuCasa

Holding the exclusive rights for entertainment and gaming to Evemeta’s proprietary Eve encoding, ZuCasa is revolutionizing video engagement for their clients globally through an extensive tech stack of solutions that improve the efficiencies of data modeling and streaming on the back end, while delivering powerful social tools like watch parties and video chat to the end users.

About Brag House

Brag House Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: TBH) is a next-generation engagement platform that leverages social gaming, AI-driven insights, and collegiate sports to connect brands with Gen Z. Through a community-first approach, Brag House provides immersive experiences, authentic data-driven brand activations, and a scalable engagement model tailored for the modern digital consumer.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements involve risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to the company’s ability to scale its platform, integrate new technologies, and generate sustainable revenue growth. For a full discussion of these risks, please refer to Brag House’s SEC filings.

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

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

The MIL Network –

April 1, 2025
MIL-OSI: Justin Sun: Forbes Cover Marks New Beginning, Vows 40-Year Commitment to Crypto Industry

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

SINGAPORE, March 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Justin Sun, Global Advisor of HTX and Founder of TRON, has been featured on the Forbes Digital Assets Daily Cover, which lauds him as a “Crypto Billionaire Who Helped The Trumps Make $400 Million.” This marks a historic moment as Sun becomes the second Chinese entrepreneur—after Jack Ma—to be featured on Forbes’ English digital asset spotlight. On the evening of March 28, Sun joined a live broadcast session hosted by HTX titled “Justin Sun Featured on Forbes! Another Legendary Moment for Crypto?” to share his thoughts and experiences. The livestream also featured Molly, Spokesperson of HTX, along with several well-known Chinese crypto influencers and representatives from leading industry media.

Showcasing Chinese Leadership on the Global Crypto Stage

Sun views this recognition as an opportunity to represent both himself and the broader crypto industry on the global stage. “This helps the public better understand who I am, what the crypto industry stands for, and can potentially reshape public perception,” said Sun. “It’s also a great opportunity for the industry’s growth in China. We can now prove to the world that the crypto sector can represent Chinese voices and interests on a global level.”

“This is definitely a milestone, but it’s just the beginning,” he added. Prior to him, only CZ, Brian Armstrong, and SBF had received this level of recognition. “This validates the achievements we’ve made in the industry, and also enhances the visibility and reputation of brands like HTX and TRON. In the business world, Forbes’ endorsement brings credibility and trust to our work.”

Forbes Recognition to Accelerate HTX’s Global Expansion

The three previously recognized crypto leaders corresponded to Binance, Coinbase, and FTX. Now, Sun represents HTX. “Not long ago, Forbes named HTX one of the world’s most trustworthy crypto exchanges. This, along with the latest feature, strongly supports our global expansion,” said Sun. “Since rebranding to HTX, our platform has become easier for international users to recognize and connect with. I’m very optimistic about HTX’s next phase of growth.”

Sun has also praised HTX on social media, citing steady trading volume increases, successful asset launches, and over $100 million in net inflows for three consecutive months. “Based on current liquidity levels, HTX ranks around sixth globally,” he said. “With sustained effort, we have a real opportunity to return to the global top three.”

A Vision to Build the Industry for the Next 40 Years

March 28 also marks the 10th anniversary of Jack Ma’s Lakeside University. As an alumnus, Sun noted: “The biggest difference is, when Jack Ma appeared on Forbes, Alibaba was already a household name. But blockchain is still in its early stages. Out of 7 billion people worldwide, TRON has only 300 million users—we’re still early.”

Looking ahead, Sun remains ambitious. “I believe I can contribute to the industry for at least another 40 years. I entered the crypto space in 2012—it’s been just 13 years. If given three times more time, I’m confident I can help elevate the industry to new heights.”

About HTX

Founded in 2013, HTX has evolved from a virtual asset exchange into a comprehensive ecosystem of blockchain businesses that span digital asset trading, financial derivatives, research, investments, incubation, and other businesses.

As a world-leading gateway to Web3, HTX harbors global capabilities that enable it to provide users with safe and reliable services. Adhering to the growth strategy of “Global Expansion, Thriving Ecosystem, Wealth Effect, Security & Compliance,” HTX is dedicated to providing quality services and values to virtual asset enthusiasts worldwide.

To learn more about HTX, please visit HTX Square or https://www.htx.com/, and follow HTX on X, Telegram, and Discord.

For further inquiries, please contact:
Ruder Finn Asia
glo-media@htx-inc.com.

Disclaimer: This press release is provided by HTX. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in crypto and mining related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector–including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining–complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release.Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose.Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility.

Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3f568896-43a1-4685-898f-04524880fc09

The MIL Network –

April 1, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: The Panama Canal’s other conflict: Water security for the population and the global economy

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Karina Garcia, Researcher and Lecturer in Climate, Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá

The Panama Canal carries cargo ships between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, cutting weeks off shipping time. Danny Lehman/The Image Bank via Getty Images

The Panama Canal is one of the most important waterways in the world, with about 7% of global trade passing through. It also relies heavily on rainfall. Without enough freshwater flowing in, the canal’s locks can’t raise and lower ships traveling between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Droughts mean fewer ships per day, and that can quickly affect Panama’s finances and economies around the world.

But the same freshwater is also essential for Panama’s many other needs, including drinking water for about 2 million Panamanians, use by Indigenous people and farmers in the watershed, as well as hydropower.

When the region experiences droughts, as it did in 2023-2024, the resulting water shortages can lead to increasing water conflicts.

One of those conflicts involves a new dam the Panama Canal Authority plans to begin building in 2027. It would be designed to secure enough water to keep the canal, which contributes about 4.2% to the country’s gross domestic product,, operating into the future, but it would also submerge farming communities and displace over 2,000 people from their homes.

The Panama Canal Authority plans to build a new dam and reservoir that would submerge the village of Limon and hundreds of homes in the region.
AP Photo/Matias Delacroix

This recent drought wasn’t an anomaly. As an academic who studies the effects of rising temperatures on water availability and sea level rise, I’m aware that as the climate warms, Panama will likely face more extremes, both long dry spells and also periods of too much rain. That will force more trade-offs between residential needs and the canal over water use.

Complex engineering remade the landscape

The Panama Canal was built over a century ago at the narrowest point of the country and in the heart of its population center. The route was historically used by the Spanish colonies and later for a rail line between the oceans.

The idea of a canal connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans began as a French endeavor, led by architect Ferdinand D. Lesseps, designer of the Suez Canal in Egypt. After the French effort failed, the U.S. government signed a treaty with newly independent Panama in 1903 to take over the project.

The U.S. acquired the rights to build and operate the Panama Canal in exchange for US$10 million and annual payments of $250,000. Later, the Torrijos-Carter Treaty in 1977 committed the U.S. to transfer the control of operations to Panama at the end of 1999.

One week of shipping on the Panama Canal. Source: Maps.com using World Economic Forum data.

The canal project was designed to take advantage of the region’s tropical climate and abundant average rainfall.

It harnessed the water of the Chagres River basin to run three sets of locks – chambers that, filled with fresh water, act like elevators, lifting or lowering ships to compensate for the difference in water levels between the two oceans.

To ensure enough water would be available for the locks, the canal’s designers changed the shapes of the region’s mountains and rivers to create a large watershed – over 1,325 square miles (3,435 square kilometers) – that drains toward the canal’s human-made lakes, Gatun and Alajuela.

About 65% of the water that flows from the watershed today goes to operate the locks. The majority of that water is quickly lost to the oceans.

Even the two newest locks, built in 2016, only reuse about 60% of water on each transit – 40% is flushed to avoid saltwater from the oceans intruding into the watershed.

Threats to water security

Panama’s wet tropical weather is predominantly influenced by its location near the equator, the trade winds and the oceans. Most of its rain falls during the wet season, from May to November. However, weather records show a drop in average precipitation starting around 1950.

The driest years resulted in dangerously low water levels in Gatun Lake that made canal operations difficult, including in 1998, 2016 and most recently 2023-2024. El Niño weather patterns can mean particularly low rainfall.

Water levels at Gatun Lake since 1965 show how low 2023 and 2024 were.
EIA

In December 2023, the Panama Canal Authority was forced to limit the number of daily transits to 22, compared with 36 to 38 usual crossings, because too little freshwater was available.

To avoid steep financial losses, the Panama Canal Authority raised prices and auctioned transit opportunities to the highest bidders. Without those measures, the authority estimated it would lose $100 million a month from reduced ship traffic because of the water shortage.

Ecosystems also need enough water, and changes in forest tree composition have become evident on Barro Colorado Island in Gatun Lake in response to rising temperatures and more frequent droughts.

Climate change is also creating greater variability in rainfall. Too much rain can also be a problem for canal operations. In December 2010, the biggest storm on record caused landslides and $150 million in damage that interrupted transits on the canal.

Sustaining Panama’s canal and its people

Temporary measures for saving water have been already implemented. The Panama Canal Authority shortened the chamber size in some of its locks to use less water for smaller vessels and minimized direction changes.

In January 2025, the authority approved plans to build the new dam on the Indio River to increase water available for the canal. The dam could solve some water concerns during drier periods for the canal.

However, it also illustrates the country’s water conflicts. Once filled, the dam’s reservoir will submerge over 1,200 homes by some counts, and more people in the region will lose access to land and travel routes. The Panama Canal Authority promises that residents will be relocated, but some of those living in the region fear they will lose their livelihoods, along with the communities their families have lived in for generations.

Panama Canal representatives explain to community members in El Jobo in 2024 how a planned dam on the Indio River would affect the future of their community.
AP Photo/Matias Delacroix

Residents across Panama, meanwhile, regularly hear media campaigns that encourage them to save water. An Environmental Economic Incentives Program promotes forest conservation and sustainable family agriculture to conserve water resources.

The Panama Canal is a crucial part of international trade, and it will face more periods of water stress. I believe responding to those future changes, as well as market and societal demands, will require innovative solutions that respect ecosystem limits and the needs of the population.

Karina Garcia 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. The Panama Canal’s other conflict: Water security for the population and the global economy – https://theconversation.com/the-panama-canals-other-conflict-water-security-for-the-population-and-the-global-economy-253100

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

April 1, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Bird flu could be on the cusp of transmitting between humans − but there are ways to slow down viral evolution

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Ron Barrett, Professor of Anthropology, Macalester College

Workers who are in frequent contact with potentially sick animals are at high risk of bird flu infection. Costfoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Disease forecasts are like weather forecasts: We cannot predict the finer details of a particular outbreak or a particular storm, but we can often identify when these threats are emerging and prepare accordingly.

The viruses that cause avian influenza are potential threats to global health. Recent animal outbreaks from a subtype called H5N1 have been especially troubling to scientists. Although human infections from H5N1 have been relatively rare, there have been a little more than 900 known cases globally since 2003 – nearly 50% of these cases have been fatal – a mortality rate about 20 times higher than that of the 1918 flu pandemic. If the worst of these rare infections ever became common among people, the results could be devastating.

Approaching potential disease threats from an anthropological perspective, my colleagues and I recently published a book called “Emerging Infections: Three Epidemiological Transitions from Prehistory to the Present” to examine the ways human behaviors have shaped the evolution of infectious diseases, beginning with their first major emergence in the Neolithic period and continuing for 10,000 years to the present day.

Viewed from this deep time perspective, it becomes evident that H5N1 is displaying a common pattern of stepwise invasion from animal to human populations. Like many emerging viruses, H5N1 is making incremental evolutionary changes that could allow it to transmit between people. The periods between these evolutionary steps present opportunities to slow this process and possibly avert a global disaster.

Spillover and viral chatter

When a disease-causing pathogen such as a flu virus is already adapted to infect a particular animal species, it may eventually evolve the ability to infect a new species, such as humans, through a process called spillover.

Spillover is a tricky enterprise. To be successful, the pathogen must have the right set of molecular “keys” compatible with the host’s molecular “locks” so it can break in and out of host cells and hijack their replication machinery. Because these locks often vary between species, the pathogen may have to try many different keys before it can infect an entirely new host species. For instance, the keys a virus successfully uses to infect chickens and ducks may not work on cattle and humans. And because new keys can be made only through random mutation, the odds of obtaining all the right ones are very slim.

Given these evolutionary challenges, it is not surprising that pathogens often get stuck partway into the spillover process. A new variant of the pathogen might be transmissible from an animal only to a person who is either more susceptible due to preexisting illness or more likely to be infected because of extended exposure to the pathogen.

Even then, the pathogen might not be able to break out of its human host and transmit to another person. This is the current situation with H5N1. For the past year, there have been many animal outbreaks in a variety of wild and domestic animals, especially among birds and cattle. But there have also been a small number of human cases, most of which have occurred among poultry and dairy workers who worked closely with large numbers of infected animals.

Pathogen transmission can be modeled in three stages. In Stage 1, the pathogen can be transmitted only between nonhuman animals. In stage 2, the pathogen can also be transmitted to humans, but it is not yet adapted for human-to-human transmission. In Stage 3, the pathogen is fully capable of human-to-human transmission.
Ron Barrett, CC BY-SA

Epidemiologists call this situation viral chatter: when human infections occur only in small, sporadic outbreaks that appear like the chattering signals of coded radio communications – tiny bursts of unclear information that may add up to a very ominous message. In the case of viral chatter, the message would be a human pandemic.

Sporadic, individual cases of H5N1 among people suggest that human-to-human transmission may likely occur at some point. But even so, no one knows how long or how many steps it would take for this to happen.

Influenza viruses evolve rapidly. This is partly because two or more flu varieties can infect the same host simultaneously, allowing them to reshuffle their genetic material with one another to produce entirely new varieties.

Genetic reshuffling – aka antigenic shift – between a highly pathogenic strain of avian influenza and a strain of human influenza could create a new strain that’s even more infectious among people.
Eunsun Yoo/Biomolecules & Therapeutics, CC BY-NC

These reshuffling events are more likely to occur when there is a diverse range of host species. So it is particularly concerning that H5N1 is known to have infected at least 450 different animal species. It may not be long before the viral chatter gives way to larger human epidemics.

Reshaping the trajectory

The good news is that people can take basic measures to slow down the evolution of H5N1 and potentially reduce the lethality of avian influenza should it ever become a common human infection. But governments and businesses will need to act.

People can start by taking better care of food animals. The total weight of the world’s poultry is greater than all wild bird species combined. So it is not surprising that the geography of most H5N1 outbreaks track more closely with large-scale housing and international transfers of live poultry than with the nesting and migration patterns of wild aquatic birds. Reducing these agricultural practices could help curb the evolution and spread of H5N1.

Large-scale commercial transport of domesticated animals is associated with the evolution and spread of new influenza varieties.
ben/Flickr, CC BY-SA

People can also take better care of themselves. At the individual level, most people can vaccinate against the common, seasonal influenza viruses that circulate every year. At first glance this practice may not seem connected to the emergence of avian influenza. But in addition to preventing seasonal illness, vaccination against common human varieties of the virus will reduce the odds of it mixing with avian varieties and giving them the traits they need for human-to-human transmission.

At the population level, societies can work together to improve nutrition and sanitation in the world’s poorest populations. History has shown that better nutrition increases overall resistance to new infections, and better sanitation reduces how much and how often people are exposed to new pathogens. And in today’s interconnected world, the disease problems of any society will eventually spread to every society.

For more than 10,000 years, human behaviors have shaped the evolutionary trajectories of infectious diseases. Knowing this, people can reshape these trajectories for the better.

Ron Barrett 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. Bird flu could be on the cusp of transmitting between humans − but there are ways to slow down viral evolution – https://theconversation.com/bird-flu-could-be-on-the-cusp-of-transmitting-between-humans-but-there-are-ways-to-slow-down-viral-evolution-250232

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

April 1, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Massive cuts to Health and Human Services’ workforce signal a dramatic shift in US health policy

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Simon F. Haeder, Associate Professor of Public Health, Texas A&M University

The new plan will shrink the Health and Human Services workforce from more than 82,000 to 62,000 employees. Sarah Stierch via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY

On March 27, 2025, Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. announced plans to dramatically transform the department. HHS is the umbrella agency responsible for pandemic preparedness, biomedical research, food safety and many other health-related activities.

In a video posted that afternoon, Kennedy said the cuts and reorganization to HHS aim to “streamline our agency” and “radically improve our quality of service” by eliminating rampant waste and inefficiency. “No American is going to be left behind,” the health secretary told the nation.

As a scholar of U.S. health and public health policy, I have written about administrative burdens that prevent many Americans from accessing benefits to which they are entitled, including those provided by HHS, like Medicaid.

Few experts would deny that the federal bureaucracy can be inefficient and siloed. This includes HHS, and calls to restructure the agency are nothing new

Combined with previous reductions, these cuts may achieve some limited short-term savings. However, the proposed changes dramatically alter U.S. health policy and research, and they may endanger important benefits and protections for many Americans. They may also have severe consequences for scientific progress. And as some policy experts have suggested, the poorly targeted cuts may increase inefficiencies and waste down the line.

Health and science in a big-budget agency

HHS is tasked with providing a variety of public health and social services as well as fostering scientific advancement.

Originally established as the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare in 1953, HHS has seen substantial growth and transformation over time. Today, HHS is home to 28 divisions. Some of these are well known to many Americans, such as the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Others, such as the Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships and the Administration for Community Living, may fly under the radar for most people.

HHS oversees Medicare, through which 68 million Americans, primarily adults age 65 and older, receive health insurance benefits.
Richard Bailey/Corbis Documentary via Getty Images

With an annual budget of roughly US$1.8 trillion, HHS is one of the largest federal spenders, accounting for more than 1 in 5 dollars of the federal budget.

Under the Biden administration, HHS’s budget increased by almost 40%, with a 17% increase in staffing. However, 85% of that money is spent on 79 million Medicaid and 68 million Medicare beneficiaries. Put differently, most of HHS’ spending goes directly to many Americans in the form of health benefits.

A new direction for Health and Human Services

From a policy perspective, the changes initiated at HHS by the second-term Trump administration are far-reaching. They involve both staffing cuts and substantial reorganization.

Prior to the March 27 announcement, the administration had already cut thousands of positions from HHS by letting go probationary employees and offering buyouts for employees to voluntarily leave.

Now, HHS is slated to lose another 10,000 workers. The latest cuts focus most heavily on a handful of agencies. The FDA will lose an additional 3,500 employees, and the NIH will lose 1,200. The CDC, where cuts are steepest, will lose 2,400 positions.

In all, the moves will reduce the HHS workforce by about 25%, from more than 82,000 to 62,000. These changes will provide savings of about $1.8 billion, or 0.1% of the HHS budget.

Along with these cuts comes a major reorganization that will eliminate 13 out of 28 offices and agencies, close five of the 10 regional offices, reshuffle existing divisions and establish a new division called the Administration for a Healthy America.

In his latest message, Kennedy noted that this HHS transformation would return the agency to its core mission: to “enhance the health and well-being of all Americans”. He also announced his intention to refocus HHS on his Make America Healthy Again priorities, which involve reducing chronic illness “by focusing on safe, wholesome food, clean water and the elimination of environmental toxins.”

How HHS’ new reality will affect Americans

Kennedy has said the HHS overhaul will not affect services to Americans. Given the magnitude of the cuts, this seems unlikely.

HHS reaches into the lives of all Americans. Many have family members on Medicaid or Medicare, or know individuals with disabilities or those dealing with substance use disorder. Disasters may strike anywhere. Bird flu and measles outbreaks are unfolding in many parts of the country. Everyone relies on access to safe foods, drugs and vaccines.

The plan to restructure HHS will trim its budget by 0.1%.

In his announcement, the health secretary highlighted cuts to HHS support functions, such as information technology and human resources, as a way to reduce redundancies and inefficiencies. But scaling down and reorganizing these capacities will inevitably have implications for how well HHS employees will be able to fulfill their duties – at least temporarily. Kennedy acknowledged this as a “painful period” for HHS.

However, large-scale reductions and reorganizations inevitably lead to more systemic disruptions, delays and denials. It seems implausible that Americans seeking access to health care, help with HIV prevention or early education benefits such as Head Start, which are also administered by HHS, will not be affected. This is particularly the case when conceived rapidly and without transparent long-term planning.

These new cuts are also further exacerbated by the administration’s previous slashes to public health funding for state and local governments. Given the crucial functions of HHS – from health coverage for vulnerable populations to pandemic preparedness and response – the American Public Health Association predicts the cuts will result in a rise in rates of disease and death.

Already, previous cuts at the FDA – the agency responsible for safe foods and drugs – have led to delays in product reviews.

Overall, the likelihood of increasing access challenges for people seeking services or support as well as fewer protections and longer wait times seems high.

A fundamental reshaping of American public health

The HHS restructuring should be viewed in a broader context. Since coming to office, the Trump administration has aggressively sought to reshape the U.S. public health agenda. This has included vast cuts to research funding as well as funding for state and local governments. The most recent cuts at HHS fit into the mold of rolling back protections and reshaping science.

The Trump administration has already announced plans to curtail the Affordable Care Act and roll back regulations that address everything from clean water to safe vaccines. State programs focused on health disparities have also been targeted.

HHS-funded research has also been scaled back dramatically, with a long list of projects terminated in research areas touching on health disparities, women’s and LGBTQ-related health issues, COVID-19 and long COVID, vaccine hesitancy and more.

The HHS reorganization also revamps two bodies within HHS, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, that are instrumental in improving U.S. health care and providing policy research. This change further diminishes the likelihood that health policy will be based on scientific evidence and raises the risk for more politicized decision-making about health.

More cuts are likely still to come. Medicaid, the program providing health coverage for low-income Americans, will be a particular target. The House of Representatives passed a budget resolution on Feb. 25 that allows up to $880 billion in cuts to the program.

All told, plans already announced and those expected to emerge in the future dramatically alter U.S. health policy and roll back substantial protections for Americans.

A vision for deregulation

Regulation has emerged as the most prolific source of policymaking over the last five decades, particularly for health policy. Given its vast responsibilities, HHS is one of the federal government’s most prolific regulators. Vast cuts to the HHS workforce will likely curtail this capability, resulting in fewer regulatory protections for Americans.

At the same time, with fewer experienced administrators on staff, industry influence over regulatory decisions will likely only grow stronger. HHS will simply lack the substance and procedural expertise to act independently. More industry influence and fewer independent regulators to counter it will also further reduce attention to disparities and underserved populations.

Ultimately, the Trump administration’s efforts may lead to a vastly different federal health policy – with fewer benefits, services and protections – than what Americans have become accustomed to in modern times.

Dr. Simon F. Haeder has previously received funding from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) .

– ref. Massive cuts to Health and Human Services’ workforce signal a dramatic shift in US health policy – https://theconversation.com/massive-cuts-to-health-and-human-services-workforce-signal-a-dramatic-shift-in-us-health-policy-253316

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

April 1, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Trump’s use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelans to El Salvador sparks legal questions likely to reach the Supreme Court

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Jennifer Selin, Associate Professor of Law, Arizona State University

Prisoners stand in a cell as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks during a tour of the Terrorist Confinement Center in Tecoluca, El Salvador, on March 26, 2025. AP Photo/Alex Brandon

A federal appeals court on March 26, 2025, upheld a temporary block on President Donald Trump’s deportation of hundreds of Venezuelan immigrants, including alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, to a maximum security prison in El Salvador.

The court was skeptical of Trump’s use of the Alien Enemies Act to defend the deportations. The act, passed in 1798, gives the president the power to detain and remove people from the United States in times of war.

On March 28, Trump asked the Supreme Court for permission under the act to resume deporting Venezuelans to El Salvador while legal battles continue.

Attorney General Pam Bondi previously said the deportations are necessary as part of “modern-day warfare” against narco-terrorists.

Nanya Gupta, policy director of the American Immigration Council, is among experts who note that the Trump administration’s evidence against the migrants, which relied in part on the immigrants’ tattoos and deleted social media pictures, is “flimsy.”

Those who are challenging Trump’s actions in court say the administration has violated constitutional principles of due process. That’s because it gave the migrants no opportunity to refute the government’s claims that they were gang members.

But what is due process? And how does the government balance this important right against national security?

As a constitutional law professor who studies government institutions, I recognize the delicate balance government must strike in protecting civil rights and liberties while allowing presidential administrations to preserve national security and foreign policy interests.

Ultimately, the U.S. Constitution’s framers left it to the courts to determine this balance.

Due process explained

The phrase “due process of law” goes back to at least 1215. That’s when England’s Magna Carta established the principle that government is not above the law.

This principle guided the framers of the U.S. Constitution. The Fifth Amendment and 14th Amendment, for example, prohibit federal and state governments from depriving people of their “life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.”

But what constitutes due process has varied over time.

Government officials see the limits of their power from one lens. People affected by the exercise of that power view it differently.

To combat this problem, the Constitution’s framers placed the judiciary in charge of determining what due process means and when people’s due process rights have been violated.

Court decisions on the issue traditionally weigh the government’s interests in taking specific actions against claims that those actions violate people’s civil rights and liberties.

Even when the law authorizes the president to detain people, historically the Supreme Court has held that those people should receive notice of the reason for their detention, and they should have a fair opportunity to rebut the government’s claims.

When the high court, for example, heard cases about the rights of detainees held in Guantanamo Bay by President George W. Bush after 9/11, it ruled that principles of due process apply to noncitizens and even those whom the government designates as enemy combatants.

One of the important considerations in legal analysis of the procedures the government must follow when depriving people of their liberty is the risk that the government will make a mistake in its decision-making.

For example, some representatives of the deported Venezuelan migrants argue that they have been falsely accused of having ties to Tren de Aragua based on their country of origin and tattoos. They claim that without more investigation, including an opportunity for the migrants to present their evidence refuting the government’s claims, there is a large risk that government will mistakenly deport people.

When can the president avoid due process?

In some cases, the president can skirt traditional due process considerations in pursuit of broader policy concerns.

As put by U.S. District Judge James Boasberg in his initial order blocking the deportations, the president’s action in this area implicate “a host of complicated legal issues, including fundamental and sensitive questions about the often-circumscribed extent of judicial power in matters of foreign policy and national security.”

Before Trump took executive action using the Alien Enemies Act, the measure had only been used three times – all during times of war.

The act was part of a series of four laws passed in 1798 known as the Alien and Sedition Acts. These laws, among other things, gave the president the power to deport any noncitizen thought to be dangerous.

A woman holds a sign during a rally on March 18, 2025, in Caracas, Venezuela, to protest the deportation from the U.S. of alleged members of a Venezuelan gang, who were transferred to an El Salvador prison.
AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos

President Thomas Jefferson allowed most of the acts to expire. But Jefferson and subsequent presidents kept in place the provisions that empowered the president to detain or deport noncitizens in times of war, “invasion” or “predatory incursion” by foreign powers.

Today, the law authorizes the president to apprehend and remove people over the age of 14 that the administration determines to be “alien enemies.” However, it places procedural requirements on the president.

Notably, the president’s ability to act requires a declared war against or an “invasion or predatory excursion” by a foreign nation. In such an event, the president must issue a proclamation saying he plans on using the act against perceived enemies.

To justify the Venezuelan deportations, Trump issued a proclamation on March 15 claiming Tren de Aragua is perpetrating and threatening an invasion against the U.S.

But the act also says people considered alien enemies must be given reasonable time to settle their affairs and voluntarily depart from the country. And it gives the courts power to regulate whether such persons even fall within the definition of “alien enemies.”

The Venezuelan migrants claim Trump has violated these parts of the act.

The current fight

This is where things become complicated.

All parties in the case acknowledge that the Alien Enemies Act grants the president authority to act. However, the argument is whether the government has given people the opportunity to challenge the government’s decision to classify them as “alien enemies.”

Trump claims Tren de Aragua is a foreign terrorist organization engaged in warfare against the U.S. in the form of narco-terrorism – the use of drug trade to influence government operations.

His administration argues that it doesn’t have to tell migrants it considers them alien enemies. And the administration says it’s not required to give them time to ask the courts to step in before they are deported.

In a March 24 hearing on the issue, D.C. Circuit Court Judge Patricia A. Millet noted that during World War II, even the “Nazis got better treatment under the Alien Enemies Act.”

The dispute has prompted international questions about the legality of the U.S. government’s deportation procedures and its treatment of the migrants.

And Democratic members of Congress have called for an investigation into the administration’s deportation practices.

The case will most likely head to the Supreme Court to determine what due process means and when the president can act in the name of national security to limit people’s due process rights. That’s just as the framers of the Constitution intended.

Jennifer L. Selin has received funding and/or support for her research on the executive branch from the Administrative Conference of the United States. The views in this piece are those of the author and do not represent the position of the Administrative Conference or the federal government.

– ref. Trump’s use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelans to El Salvador sparks legal questions likely to reach the Supreme Court – https://theconversation.com/trumps-use-of-the-alien-enemies-act-to-deport-venezuelans-to-el-salvador-sparks-legal-questions-likely-to-reach-the-supreme-court-253011

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

April 1, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Why do dogs love to play with trash?

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Nancy Dreschel, Associate Teaching Professor of Small Animal Science, Penn State

Dogs will be dogs. Raul Arboleda/AFP via Getty Images

Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to CuriousKidsUS@theconversation.com.

Why do dogs love to play with trash? – Sarah G٫ age 11٫ Seguin٫ Texas

When I think about why dogs do something, I try to imagine what motivates them. What does a dog get out of playing with trash? As a veterinarian and a professor who teaches college students about companion animals, I believe there’s an easy answer: Garbage smells delicious and tastes good to dogs.

Dogs have an amazing sense of smell. They have 300 million receptors for smell in their noses, while humans have only 6 million. People can make use of this sniffing ability to train dogs to detect illegal drugs, explosives and endangered species, and to help locate people lost in the woods.

While you might not like how your trash smells, to your dog it is an appealing buffet brimming with apple cores, banana peels, meat scraps and stale bread. Even used napkins and paper towels are tempting to dogs, when they are smeared with and carry the smell of yesterday’s lunch.

Because dogs can find trace amounts of explosives or a person buried under 6 feet (1.8 meters) of snow after an avalanche, they are certainly capable of locating last night’s pizza crust and chicken bones in the kitchen garbage can.

Sometimes it’s hard to see what the attraction is. My Australian cattle dog mix, Sparky, loves to eat used tissues – gross, right?

Even empty cans smell inviting to dogs. Trash cans in kitchens and bathrooms are often at their nose level, too, making for easy access. Add to that the fact that if the dog got into the garbage once and found something tasty, they will likely keep searching with the hope of being rewarded again.

A Colombian police officer uses a drug-sniffing dog to search packages of flowers prior to export at El Dorado International Airport in Bogota on Feb. 5, 2025.
Raul Arboleda/AFP via Getty Images

Thrill of the hunt

Searching and digging around for food is natural for dogs because it provides some of the thrill of the hunt, even if they just ate and aren’t hungry.

The most successful prehistoric dogs ate the bones and scraps that humans left behind more than 10,000 years ago. Hanging around humans and their garbage was a way they could get plenty to eat. Even your pup today has some of those same old searching instincts.

While our trash has changed from the days of hunting and gathering, the discarded paper napkins, plastic wrappers and food scraps we throw away all still smell like food to dogs. And this scavenging behavior is still hardwired in our pampered pets. Although it may look to us like they’re playing, our dogs’ sniffing out and tearing things up from the trash and tossing them around mimics what their ancestors did when they tugged on and tore up an animal carcass they had found.

Many people take advantage of this instinct and use “snuffle mats” – cloth or paper where food is hidden – or puzzle feeding toys to keep their pups’ minds active. Having to hunt for and find their food helps them use their noses and sharpens their skills.

Annoying or even dangerous

While spreading trash all over the home may be natural for dogs, cleaning it up is no fun for the people they live with. And if your dog pokes its nose in a garbage can, it could be in danger. Eating plastic bags, string, chicken bones, chemicals or rotten food can cause blockages, diarrhea and poisoning. Commonly referred to as “garbage gut,” garbage poisoning can be life-threatening.

I’ve treated dogs that cut their tongues and mouths on cans or broken glass. I once performed surgery to remove a corncob from the intestines of a dog that had eaten it a month earlier. He was certainly relieved when he woke up.

How can you keep your dogs away from the trash?

It can be hard to train a dog to leave garbage alone, especially if they have found a tasty morsel or two by raiding the trash can in the past. I recommend that you invest in a garbage can with a lid closed by a latch that they can’t open. If that fails, you can put garbage – especially food scraps – out of reach in a closet, cupboard or behind a closed door.

My trash cans are all behind closed doors, and the bathroom doors are always shut, which also keeps my cat, Penny, from unrolling the toilet tissue. But that’s another story. Our kitchen trash is in a latched cupboard.

No one knows exactly what goes through dogs’ minds. And yet looking at what motivates your canine companion and how dog behaviors have evolved may help explain why these animals do the things they do.

Hello, curious kids! Do you have a question you’d like an expert to answer? Ask an adult to send your question to CuriousKidsUS@theconversation.com. Please tell us your name, age and the city where you live.

And since curiosity has no age limit – adults, let us know what you’re wondering, too. We won’t be able to answer every question, but we will do our best.

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

– ref. Why do dogs love to play with trash? – https://theconversation.com/why-do-dogs-love-to-play-with-trash-247081

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

April 1, 2025
MIL-OSI China: China releases new national standards for residential buildings

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

BEIJING, March 31 — China’s Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development on Monday released new national standards for residential projects, aiming to meet the people’s demand for improved living quality.

The new standards, targeting residential projects as a whole, emphasize safety, comfort, green practices and smart design while specifying requirements for construction, use and maintenance in terms of scale, layout, functionality, performance and key technical measures.

The new standards, effective on May 1, cover seven aspects that include general principles, basic regulations, living environment, building space, structure, indoor environment, and building equipment.

Key provisions include a minimum ceiling height of three meters for new residential buildings, mandatory elevators for structures with four or more floors, and enhanced sound insulation standards for walls and floors.

According to China’s existing home design standards, which have been in effect since 2012, the ceiling height requirement is 2.8 meters.

An official from the ministry said that rapid economic and social development, coupled with improvements in living standards and construction technology, have raised expectations for housing quality.

The new standards, formulated through extensive consultation and research, will further support the high-quality development of urban housing, the official added.

MIL OSI China News –

April 1, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: UK nuclear deterrent: the mutual defense agreement is at risk in a Trumpian age

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Becky Alexis-Martin, Peace Studies and International Development, University of Bradford

Keir Starmer aboard one of the UK’s Vanguard class submarines. CC BY-NC-ND

Prime Minister Keir Starmer recently boarded one of the UK’s four nuclear-armed submarines for a photo call as part of his attempts to demonstrate the UK’s defence capabilities as tensions with Russia continue.

However, Starmer faces a problem. The submarine, and the rest of the UK’s nuclear fleet, is heavily reliant on the US as an operating partner. And at a time when the US becomes an increasingly unreliable partner under the leadership of an entirely transactional president, this is not ideal. The US can, if it chooses, effectively switch off the UK’s nuclear deterrent.

British and US nuclear history is irrevocably interwoven. The US and UK cooperated on the Manhattan project, under the 1943 Quebec agreements and the 1944 Hyde Park aide memoire. This work generated the world’s first nuclear weapons, which were deployed on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.

It also led to the first rupture. In 1946, the US classified UK citizens as “foreign” and prevented them from engaging in secret nuclear work. Collaboration with the UK immediately ceased.

The UK decided to develop its own arsenal of nuclear weapons. The successful detonation of the “Grapple Y” hydrogen bomb in April 1958 cemented its position as a thermonuclear power.

In the meantime, however, Russia’s launch of the Sputnik satellite in 1957 had demonstrated the lethal reach of Soviet nuclear technology. This brought the US and UK back together as nuclear partners.

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Talks on how to counter the Russian threat became the foundation of an atomic partnership that endures to the present day. This mutual defence agreement, signed in 1958, has provided the UK with affordable access to the latest nuclear technology and a reliable western ally. The treaty has been amended and adapted over time to reflect changes in the US-UK working relationship and the two are now so entangled that it is very hard to leave the co-dependent relationship.

Both sides have benefited from security and protection, especially during the cold war. However, Trump’s new “special relationship” with Russia’s Vladimir Putin has reconfigured the global order of geopolitics.

Serious concerns are now being raised about the UK’s nuclear capacity, given the unpredictability and potential unreliability of the new US administration. Trump could ignore or threaten to terminate the agreement in a show of power or contempt.

The UK’s nuclear subs

The UK’s Trident nuclear deterrence programme consists of four Vanguard nuclear-powered and armed submarines. The UK has some autonomy, as it is operationally independent and controls the decision to launch.

However, it remains dependent on the US because the nuclear technologies at the heart of the Trident system are US designed and leased by Lockheed Martin – and there is no suitable alternative. The Trident system therefore relies on the US for support and maintenance.

The UK is currently in the process of upgrading the current system. But its options seem limited. If the US were to renege on its commitments, the UK would either have to produce its own weapons domestically, collaborate with France or Europe or disarm. Each scenario creates new issues for the UK. Manufacturing nuclear weapons from scratch in the UK, for example, would be a costly and protracted activity.

Technical collaboration with France seems the most plausible back-up option at the moment. The two countries already have a nuclear collaboration treaty in place. France has taken a similar submarine-based approach to deterrence as the UK and French president Emmanuel Macron has suggested its deterrent could be used to protect other European countries. Another alternative would be to spread the cost across Europe and create a European deterrence – but both strategies just re-embed the UK’s current nuclear reliance.

The UK is reliant on others for its nuclear deterrent.
Number 10/Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND

While these weapons may deter a hostile nuclear strike, they have failed to prevent broader acts of aggression. Nuclear weapons have not been used in warfare for 80 years. Perhaps it is time to completely and permanently unshackle the UK from nuclear deterrence, and consider alternative forms of defence.

The UK’s nuclear arsenal is expensive to maintain. The cost of replacing Trident is £205 billion. In 2023, the Ministry of Defence reported that the anticipated costs for supporting the nuclear deterrent would exceed its budget by £7.9 billion over the next ten years. This funding could be channelled into more pressing security threats, such as cybersecurity, terrorism or climate change.

Nuclear weapons will become strategically redundant if the UK cannot act independently. As Nato and the US dominate the global nuclear stage, the UK’s capacity to respond has become contested. The time has come to decide whether the US is really our friend – or a new foe.

Becky Alexis-Martin 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. UK nuclear deterrent: the mutual defense agreement is at risk in a Trumpian age – https://theconversation.com/uk-nuclear-deterrent-the-mutual-defense-agreement-is-at-risk-in-a-trumpian-age-252674

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

April 1, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Donald Trump likes tariffs, but they damage the economies of everyone involved

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Muhammad Ali Nasir, Associate Professor in Economics, University of Leeds

Donald Trump is calling April 2 2025 “Liberation Day”. For the rest of the world it will just be the day when they discover the details of his latest round of tariffs.

Those tariffs have already become the stand out economic feature of Trump’s second term in the White House. And frankly, it’s been hard to keep track.

There have been tariffs imposed and then lifted, tariffs with exemptions, tariffs on metal and tariffs on wood. Now Trump has announced a 25% tariff on all imported cars to take effect on April 2, when he also plans to reveal his “reciprocal tariffs” on other trading partners.

Trump thinks the US has been “ripped off for decades by nearly every country on Earth”. He also counts “tariff” as his favourite word, and a tool which is “”very powerful, both economically and in getting everything else you want”.

Whether or not the president gets everything he wants remains to be seen. But the frequent changes in tariff policies over the past few weeks have definitely created uncertainty in trade with the US, which research shows can be harmful in itself.

And the evidence clearly shows that the reasons for the US trade deficit are more to do with domestic issues such as productivity and fiscal discipline than international trade.

So what are the possible outcomes if Trump continues to pursue this policy?

The worst case

Our analysis shows that in the worst-case scenario, non-reciprocated tariffs on Canada and Mexico could result in a significant fall in GDP for all three countries. Canada would be the worst affected (a dip of 16.5%) followed by Mexico (6.6%). GDP in the US would fall by 0.19%.

Canada is particularly dependent on selling its oil and gas – and the US is heavily reliant on its northern neighbour for its fuel supply. In 2024, total trade between the two nations reached US$762.1 billion (£589 billion).

The impact on Mexico would also be devastating. Over 40% of the country’s GDP is derived from exports – and 80% of those exports go to the US.

High tariffs and subsequent retaliations would quickly reduce the confidence of companies on both sides. Costs passed on to consumers would reduce demand and then profits, forming a vicious cycle of economic recession. Trade protectionism could then rise further, potentially even turning a recession into a depression

Middle ground

We also found that even if the economic effects of tariffs were less severe, no nation involved would manage to achieve GDP growth. And Canada and Mexico would still suffer the most.

In this situation, some kind of stalemate could emerge, where tariffs lead to rising inflation, reducing the political appetite for escalation. Trade friction would likely continue until 2026, when a renegotiation of the trade agreement between the US, Mexico and Canada is due to take place.

Best case

Even under the best-case scenario, with reduced economic impact, GDP for all three countries still falls. Put simply, imposing tariffs creates no winners.

Since the tariff has been seen as a bargaining chip, the best option for Canada and Mexico will be to enter trade negotiations with the US, aiming for a balanced trade policy that is beneficial to all parties.

Read more:
Donald Trump is planning more trade barriers if he becomes president – but they didn’t work last time

In the meantime, they should cooperate with other economies affected by US tariffs – such as the EU and China – in the hope that this encourages Trump to make concessions.

All three countries could then revert to their original low-tariff levels before the trade war. This constitutes the optimal scenario within our projected framework – and could be what happens eventually.

US treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, has said that Trump’s second favourite word is “reciprocal”. If that’s true, then it is possible that the Trump administration has the overall intention of cooling down the intensity of this trade war ahead of negotiating a new version of its trade deal with Canada and Mexico – and a new one with China too.

The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Donald Trump likes tariffs, but they damage the economies of everyone involved – https://theconversation.com/donald-trump-likes-tariffs-but-they-damage-the-economies-of-everyone-involved-252322

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

April 1, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Climate change isn’t fair but Tony Juniper’s new book explains how a green transition could be ‘just’

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Alix Dietzel, Senior Lecturer in Climate Justice, University of Bristol

Tony Juniper. Jason Bye, CC BY-NC-ND

Inequality – between the rich and poor or between the powerful and the weak – is the main factor stalling action on environmental problems including biodiversity loss, pollution and climate change, according to British environmentalist Tony Juniper.

In his new book, Just Earth: How a Fairer World Will Save the Planet, he argues that “if we want to build a secure future, both environmental priorities and social justice must be pursued together”. Much of this is about how decisions are made: “Disadvantaged groups rarely have a say, while those deciding on policy continue to comprise a narrow social segment.”

It is interesting to see Juniper’s views on the topic of a just transition, given his decades of experience. Juniper has served as the executive director of environmental charity Friends of the Earth, he was a Green party parliamentary candidate in the 2011 general election and previously led The Wildlife Trusts. He is currently chair of Natural England, the official government organisation working for the conservation and restoration of the natural environment.

His views on this subject certainly matter. His key message that social justice is at the heart of solving environmental problems helps to explain why we have collectively failed to address these.

This injustice is an issue that has been raised for decades by those most affected by environmental issues, those who work in the environment sector and academics like me who focus on environmental justice.

The UK environment sector, for example, is notoriously one of the least diverse, with only 3.5% of those working in environmental jobs identifying as an ethnic minority. In addition, the climate change movement is sometimes portrayed by the media as a middle-class preoccupation. Research shows a tendency for mainstream media to position environmentalism as a position of the wealthy. That’s reflected by the use of distancing terminology such as “middle-class tree huggers”.

However, 39% of UK working class voters experience climate anxiety. That’s only slightly below the 42% of middle-class voters.

Levels of climate concern have stayed high throughout both the COVID-19 pandemic and cost of living crises, while support for government action on climate mitigation policies, such as decreased meat consumption and flying, has remained steady.

At the global level, there have always been tensions between developed and developing countries in terms of what is “fair”. Entrenched power dynamics ensure that developed countries have historically won out when deciding what a fair future looks like.

Most recently, those tensions have been evident in the lack of clarity around how loss and damage will be funded and managed – who will pay out when an island disappears, or a village becomes inhabitable to due drought, for example? There’s also much debate around how a new finance goal should be defined, with huge disagreements between the developed and developing countries.

As Juniper explains, not only is it unclear what fairness means at global negotiations, there is clear evidence that these tend to favour the more powerful countries, such as the US or members of the EU, and create an unjust regime. Steven Vanderheiden, one of the earliest climate justice philosophers, claims that developing nations are usually offered a “take it or leave it” deal, such as the new finance goal of US$300 billion (£232 billion) or about half of what developing countries were asking for, once developed nations have made decisions without them.

A fairer vision

In response to these inequalities and ongoing tensions, Juniper sets out a vision for a fairer, greener society – also known as a just transition.

A just transition is hard to define. It was once a relatively well demarcated and clearly grounded concept associated with worker’s rights.

Over time, it has become an increasingly all-encompassing policy objective, untethered from any specific policies, political objectives or priorities. Indeed, while there are certainly overlaps between the different visions of a just transition, significant aspects directly contradict one another.

Just Earth by Tony Juniper is out now.
CC BY-NC-ND

Many of the messages in Juniper’s book have been shouted by those less privileged for decades. By using his platform to amplify the importance of climate justice, he is striving to make a difference. However, the voices of those from affected communities in developing countries, the working class in richer countries, and women (who will be hardest hit by climate change) are somewhat absent.

Juniper neatly encompasses 40-plus years of global negotiations on climate change and biodiversity, reflecting on core issues blocking progress, such as populism and fossil fuel interests. Getting your head around negotiations is a complex task – and it’s one that Juniper executes very well.

Juniper also discusses rising inequality, especially post-COVID, and the intersecting relationship between affluence and environmental destruction, with the richest consuming far more than the poorest and the top 10% wealthiest individuals having emitting more greenhouse gases than the poorest 50%.

He sets out the impacts of consumption, particularly of the wealthiest, and the unfairness of those being hit hardest consuming the least. He carefully dissects why indefinite growth of GDP can no longer be taken as a given.

Then he sets out his vision for a just transition with a ten-point agenda, including new measures of progress. He suggests focusing on wellbeing and sustainable consumption, not GDP.

He highlights the importance of financing the future and raising the transition war chest – that involves carbon tax regimes and additional public resources for environmental protection to build climate resilience. He advises switching subsidies to green energy rather than fossil fuels, and also advocates for the use of ecocide law to protect future generations.

While progress is possible, Juniper is a realist. He outlines how much our culture needs to shift away from consumption, competition, devaluing nature, and towards a fairer society for all. As he puts it: “We have nowhere else to go. There is just Earth.”

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 40,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

Alix Dietzel 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. Climate change isn’t fair but Tony Juniper’s new book explains how a green transition could be ‘just’ – https://theconversation.com/climate-change-isnt-fair-but-tony-junipers-new-book-explains-how-a-green-transition-could-be-just-250671

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

April 1, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/SOUTH KOREA – Archbishop Nappa celebrates the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the Korean Pontifical Mission Societies in Seoul

Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

Don Marco Kim

Seoul (Agenzia Fides) – “It is with great emotion that I visit this land of martyrs that is Korea, a unique country in the history of the Church, where the faith took root spontaneously before the arrival of the missionaries.” With these words, Archbishop Emilio Nappa began his homily at the commemorative Mass for the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Korean National Direction of the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS). The Eucharistic concelebration was presided over this morning, Monday, March 31, by Bishop Mathias Iong-hoon Ri, President of the Korean Bishops’ Conference, in the Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Seoul, in Myeongdong.Archbishop Nappa, current Secretary General of the Governorate of the Vatican City and former President of the Pontifical Mission Societies, concelebrated the Mass at 10 a.m., in the presence of Cardinal Andrea Yeom, Archbishop Emeritus of Seoul; Archbishop Giovanni Gaspari, Apostolic Nuncio to South Korea; and numerous prelates, priests, former national directors of the Pontifical Mission Societies, religious sisters and lay missionaries, as well as hundreds of faithful. “Your ancestors in the faith,” said Archbishop Nappa, “kept their faith under severe persecution, dreaming of eternal life. Nobles and servants sat together, calling each other brothers and sisters.” The former PMS president “gave thanks and praise to God” for all those who have served the Korean PMS throughout their history, inviting the faithful to “implore with the same ardent intention […] so that the steadfast faith that animated your ancestors in the faith may be awakened in you.”In his welcoming address, Cardinal Andrew Soo-jung Yeom, Archbishop Emeritus of Seoul, retraced the history of the Korean PMS, recalling that the Pontifical Mission Societies of Korea were established on June 29, 1965, under the name ‘Pontifical Commission for the Propagation of the Faith’.He also emphasized that in 60 years, we have moved from a “Church that receives” (referring to the period when Korea was still poor and seminaries benefited from PMS subsidies) to a “Church that gives.” Indeed, “the Church on mission,” the Cardinal explained, “is a Church on the move, a Church that spreads the fragrance of Christ through the charity of daily life.”The Eucharistic celebration was followed by a conference on mission and several testimonies from consecrated and lay missionaries. Thomas Aquinas Seong-ho Song and Rosa Eun-hyung Rosa Yang, a Consolata lay missionary couple and grandparents of three grandchildren, recounted how they were called at the age of 60 to a mission in Tanzania after a previous experience in Mozambique. “Living with people and loving them” in order to “be able to proclaim Christ” were the main characteristics of the mission witnessed by the couple. As administrators at the Mission Center, he and her vice-directors, Thomas and Rosa, also reiterated the importance of learning the language and obtaining a driver’s license to begin interacting with the local community and becoming accustomed to its cultural expressions. They also emphasized that the situation they have embraced is “a place where it is difficult to live without prayer.”Another significant testimony came from Sister Anna Kang, a member of the Conceptionist Teaching Missionaries and a missionary in the Philippines from 2018 to 2023. With the help of the PMS and thanks to the support of many other donors, Sister Anna continued a daycare project, created specifically to provide a place of welcome and education for children who come from these homes where “a single room serves as a kitchen, dormitory, and bathroom.”During the lecture given by Father Peter Dong Won Kim, head of the Department of Mission ad Gentes of the Archdiocese of Seoul, he recounted his missionary experience in Taiwan, working with an aboriginal parish in the mountains, emphasizing that “missionary travel is not dictated by personal preferences (even if it seems so), but by the missionary’s response to God’s call.””We hope that the missionary spirit you experienced as President of the Pontifical Mission Societies will continue to accompany you in fulfilling your new mission,” expressed Father Marco Sungsu Kim, official of the Dicastery for Evangelization (section for the First Evangelization and the New Particular Churches), who accompanied the Archbishop during his visit to Japan and South Korea. The former President of the PMS took the time, at the end of his homily, to thank the Korean Church, which places its priests at the disposal of the universal Church.Archbishop Nappa’s visit to South Korea began on March 26 with a visit to the Apostolic Nunciature and a meeting with the Nuncio, Msgr. Giovanni Gaspari, and ended this morning. During his stay, Archbishop Nappa participated with a message of good wishes in the Mass celebrated on March 26, also in Myeongdong, for the 12th anniversary of the papal election of Pope Francis, with all the Korean bishops gathered for the Ordinary Plenary Assembly of the Korean Bishops’ Conference.The Archbishop also celebrated a Mass with the Salesian Sisters (about 30 sisters) on March 27 and took the opportunity to thank them for their commitment to North Korean youth. On the same day, he visited the Korean Bishops’ Conference where he was welcomed with “deep gratitude” by Secretary General Stefano Cheol-soo Lee and conveyed the greetings of Cardinal Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization.The day’s program concluded with a meeting with Catholic secondary school students. On March 28, he then visited the Diocese of Daegu, where he celebrated Mass, had a brief meeting with Bishop Thaddeus Hwan-kil Cho, and visited the Daegu Archdiocesan Major Seminary, Gwandeokjung (Museum of Martyrdom), the cathedral, the headquarters of ‘Catholic Times’, and the regional headquarters of the ‘Catholic Peace Broadcasting Corporation’. On the 29th, he visited the Diocese of Suwon, where Bishop Mathias Iong-hoon Ri, president of the Korean Bishops’ Conference, is bishop. In the afternoon, after visiting the Marian Shrine of Namyang (dedicated first to the anonymous martyrs, and later, in 1991, to the Virgin Mary), he concelebrated Mass with approximately 200 children at the parish of St. Pio of Pietrelcina in Hwaseong (Dongtan Bansong-dong Catholic Church). He then returned to the Seoul Major Seminary on Sunday, March 30, and visited the Seosomun Martyrs’ Shrine, the site where many early Korean Catholics were martyred, including the first to be baptized, Peter Seung-hun Yi.The gifts that Archbishop Nappa brought to the bishops and collaborators in Japan and Korea consisted of a wooden reproduction of the crucifix offered by Saint John Mary Vianney to Blessed Pauline Jaricot (prepared by the Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith, POPF) and booklets on the life of the foundress of the societies and of Jeanne Bigard (foundress of the Pontifical Society of Saint Peter the Apostle, POSPA), as well as the missionary rosaries of the Dicastery. (PR) (Agenzia Fides, 31/3/2025)
Don Marco Kim

Don Marco Kim

Don Marco Kim

Don Marco Kim

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MIL OSI Europe News –

April 1, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/MYANMAR – Lack of medicine and shelter: The Catholic community launches humanitarian aid and calls for a ceasefire

Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

Karuna Myanmar

Mandalay (Agenzia Fides) – “There is a lack of medicine and emergency shelter, as many are injured and thousands are homeless on the streets,” reads a statement from Karuna Myanmar (Caritas Burma) sent to Fides. “Local groups, volunteers, and civil society organizations on the ground are working to assess the full extent of the damage and provide initial emergency assistance. The destruction is widespread and the civilian population has been severely affected. The earthquake has caused power outages and disrupted communications. Myanmar’s National Disaster Management Committee has declared a state of emergency in many regions. Thousands of people in Mandalay remain on the streets,” reads the statement from the Catholic Church’s charitable organization, which has activated its network of diocesan offices to monitor the situation and organize humanitarian aid. Numerous buildings, including monasteries, mosques, pagodas, seminaries and churches, schools, hospitals, banks, hotels, airports, residential buildings, bridges, and highways, suffered significant damage. Cities worst affected include Yangon, Mandalay, Naypyidaw, Sagaing, Aungpan, Bago, Kalay, Magway, Kyaukse, Muse, Yinmapin, Taunggyie, and some areas in Shan State. The national Karuna office and diocesan offices have mobilized their volunteer teams to assist the worst-affected Diocese of Mandalay, which has initiated coordination with local authorities, other religious leaders, and local charities. “Under the current conditions, it is difficult to provide an accurate picture with data and figures due to the lack of telecommunications and restricted access to various areas. Karuna volunteer teams are still unable to travel to the affected areas due to disruptions or lack of security,” the Mandalay-based relief agency said. Instead, Karuna’s national office is coordinating with Caritas Internationalis, UNHCR, OCHA, and other aid organizations to seek channels for humanitarian resources and assistance. In the Mandalay, Magway, Sagaging, Bago, and Shan regions, the death toll from the earthquake that struck the country on March 28 continues to rise: more than 2,000 dead, 3,400 injured, and more than 300 missing have been confirmed, but for organizations involved in humanitarian assistance, the number is sure to rise. Myanmar’s ruling military junta has declared a week of national mourning from today, March 31, to April 6. As the civil war continues, the Catholic Church in the country is firmly calling for “an urgent ceasefire to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid,” according to an appeal issued by the Bishops’ Conference of Myanmar. “This tragic event has further exacerbated the profound multidimensional humanitarian crisis already gripping Myanmar, where, according to UN estimates, nearly 20 million people, including 6.3 million children, are in urgent need of assistance,” the Burmese bishops wrote. “The Catholic Church reaffirms its unwavering support for those affected and expresses its condolences to the families who have lost loved ones. We pray especially for those who have died in places of worship, pagodas, and mosques. We are deeply touched by the moving messages we have received from Pope Francis, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, and the Chargé d’Affaires of the Nunciature, Archbishop Andrea Ferrante,” the country’s bishops wrote. With a view to mobilizing the international community, the bishops assure that “the Catholic Church will participate in the support to help the people with food, medicine, and shelter.” They also reiterate: “This humanitarian crisis requires an urgent cessation of hostilities. We urgently call for an immediate and complete ceasefire by all parties involved in the conflict to ensure the safe and unhindered delivery of essential humanitarian aid from local and international donors.” (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 31/3/2025)
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MIL OSI Europe News –

April 1, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK adults dial up importance of mobile phones

Source: Anglia Ruskin University

A new survey reveals that the UK public considers the mobile phone to be the second most important invention of all time, with the majority of people admitting they couldn’t live without theirs.

The poll, carried out on behalf of Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) by OnePoll, surveyed 2,000 UK adults between 19-24 March and coincides with the launch of the Connecting Worlds research hub at ARU, to highlight the university’s groundbreaking research and innovation, and make it more accessible to the public.

The survey found that 52% of respondents view their mobile phones as indispensable, with this figure rising to 65% among those under 45.

When asked to name the most important invention ever, the wheel topped the list at 31%, ahead of the mobile phone at 15%. Interestingly, among the under-45s, the mobile phone was the clear winner at 26%, rising to 33% among people aged 18-24.

Early research into mobile phone technology was led by researchers at the Chelmer Institute in Essex, which later became Anglia Ruskin University, and these pioneering prototypes were featured in the 1970s on popular TV shows such as Blue Peter and Tomorrow’s World.

When questioned about the most significant scientific discovery ever made, a third of those surveyed said electricity (33%), followed by penicillin, the first antibiotic (26%), and then DNA, the genetic code of living organisms (16%).

Looking to the future, just over a third of people (34%) believe that finding a cure for cancer will be the biggest scientific breakthrough to occur over the next century. More “out of this world” breakthroughs such as colonising Mars and discovering alien life were selected by only 4% and 5% of people, respectively.

At ARU, senior researchers are leading important research into different new cancer treatments, including for breast cancer and bowel cancer, and are also instrumental in work to provide cancer screenings for homeless people.

Despite the impactful work being carried out at universities, the survey revealed that 43% of people were unaware that most UK universities engage in important, life-changing research alongside providing undergraduate and postgraduate education to students.

“Crucially, our survey found that a high proportion of people aren’t aware of the twin roles of most UK universities – research and education. Our new Connecting Worlds research hub highlights that ARU, like many universities in the UK, carries out world-class research that benefits all parts of society.

“It’s really important for us that our research activities are of the highest quality and contribute to knowledge and understanding in the academic literature. However, just as important for us is that we can continue to work in collaboration with partners, funders, policy makers, industry and civic leaders to undertake research which will have real and positive impact on the everyday experiences of individuals, communities, the professions and industry both locally and globally.

“At ARU, this ranges from developing new treatments for cataracts, to helping to save the UK from future food shortages, to highlighting discrimination in the labour market and working to revive endangered languages. We encourage everyone to explore the innovative work being carried at ARU.”

Professor Yvonne Barnett, Deputy Vice Chancellor at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU)

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

April 1, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Our early human ancestors were surprisingly slow

Source: Anglia Ruskin University

Computer simulated anatomy, used in the study, of the lower limb of Australopithecus afarensis. Bates et al.

By Tom O’Mahoney, Anglia Ruskin University

Imagine the scene, around 3 million years ago in what is now east Africa. By the side of a river, an injured antelope keels over and draws its last breath. The carcass is soon set on by hyenas, who tussle with a crocodile. The crocodile surfaces and grabs part of the animal.

The hyenas win and the crocodile retreats with only a leg. After having their fill, the hyenas slope off. Some funny-looking apes approach, walking upright. They have what appear to be stones with sharp edges in their hands. They hurriedly cut off some scraps of meat and start chewing at them.

Their squabbling attracts the attention of a nearby Homotherium (an extinct, scimitar-toothed big cat) who creeps up and suddenly breaks cover. Will these strange apes survive the encounter? Can they run fast enough, and far enough?

Our team’s research modelled the anatomy of these early humans, Australopithecus afarensis, to find out how well they could run. Australopithecus afarensis is one of the best-known early human ancestors dating from 2.9-3.9 million years ago.

The partially complete Australopithecus afarensis skeleton Lucy, or Dinkʼinesh (Amharic: ድንቅ ነሽ, lit.“you are marvellous”) is globally iconic as a representation of early bipedalism (the ability to walk on two legs). Found in the Afar Depression in north east Ethiopia, this discovery received worldwide attention when it was made in 1974. It was evidence that brain expansion evolved after human ancestors started walking on two legs, as scientists had long believed.

Reconstruction of the fossil skeleton of Lucy the Australopithecus afarensis. Wikimedia/Author 120, CC BY-SA

Some researchers have also linked Australopithecine anatomy to an, as yet unknown, knuckle-walking common ancestor of humans, gorillas and chimpanzees. This hypothesis has since been refuted.

Scientists now believe that knuckle-walking probably evolved several times in apes, as the style of walking and internal architecture of ape hands and elbows are subtly different from each other. Researchers also think that the anatomy we see in hominins reflects an adaptation for upright movement in trees in a distant ancestor.

Early bipeds, such as Ardipithecus kadabba which looked a bit like a gorilla, lived in Africa between 5.8 and 5.2 million years ago. They lived in mosaic habitats (a mixture of open and wooded landscapes) so some adaptation to moving in trees would make sense.

Until recently, scientists thought that only animals of the genus Homo, which emerged around 2 million years ago, made stone tools. The discovery of cut-marked bones in Dikika, Ethiopia (in 2009) dated at 3.4 million years, and in 2011 of stone tools at Lomekwi, Kenya from 3.3 million years ago, changed scientists’ ideas of how much access Australopithecus had to meat.

The debate is now more a matter of whether Australopithecus regularly killed animals themselves, or if they were eating from carcasses after other predators (secondary access).

For primary access and regular kills, they needed to be able to do two things. Run fast (bursts of speed to outpace an unaware animal), and run for long amounts of time (to wear down a prey animal).

This is the endurance running hypothesis. The emergence of this behaviour is thought to coincide with more modern anatomy, such as seen in Homo erectus, who lived from around 2 million years ago to around 1 million years ago. The best way to test if Australopithecus was capable of endurance running at what we consider “modern” speeds is to reconstruct the skeleton of Australopithecus afarensis and simulate how they may have moved.

To try and answer this question, my team reconstructed the complete skeleton of Lucy, using 3D modelling. Where parts were missing, we estimated these using scaled versions of other Australopithecus skeletons. Since Lucy is closely related to chimpanzees as well, we also morphed Australopith and modern human and chimpanzee skeletal material, using an analytical technique called geometric morphometrics.

We then started putting muscles onto the bones of the pelvis and lower limbs of Australopithecus and a modern human model, using the open source software Gaitsym. Muscles and other soft tissues are not preserved in fossils so we varied the muscle properties from chimpanzee-like to human-like, producing a range of estimates for running speed and economy.

We also ran multiple simulations where we added and removed a long Achilles tendon, which chimpanzees don’t have, as it is thought to affect running speed and energy use by enhancing recovery.

This was a team effort, with reconstructions across multiple labs. The simulations were run on the high performance computing facilities at the University of Liverpool.

These simulations revealed that Lucy wasn’t as good at running as modern humans. The top speed our simulations could produce was 11mph, with a minimum of about 3.35mph. Elite sprinters, however, can reach peak speeds of more than 20mph. Even non-elite sprinters can reach around 17.6mph.

We also found that the metabolic cost of transport (how much energy it takes to move) was between 1.7 and 2.9 times higher in Lucy than in a modern human. The more “ape like” you make the muscle architecture and the shorter you make the Achilles tendon, the higher this cost is.

It appears that modern human limb proportions, combined with key changes in architecture of the calf muscle (such as relatively short fibres and large cross sectional areas), plus a long Achilles tendon, enabled much faster running in the genus Homo.

This means that it was probably not physiologically possible for Australopithecus afarensis to engage in persistence hunting, unlike later species of the genus Homo species.

Going back to our story at the start, it is likely the Australopithecines in this group wouldn’t have escaped the big cat. They simply couldn’t run fast enough, or for long enough.

Tom O’Mahoney, Senior Lecturer in Biomedical Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

The opinions expressed in VIEWPOINT articles are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of ARU.

If you wish to republish this article, please follow these guidelines: https://theconversation.com/uk/republishing-guidelines

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

April 1, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy will help support city’s most vulnerable residents
Source: City of Stoke-on-Trent

Published: Monday, 31st March 2025
A new strategy is being developed in Stoke-on-Trent to help support individuals facing homelessness and reduce rough sleeping.

A four-week consultation is underway on the draft Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2025-2030, which sets out how the city council will prevent, intervene in and reduce homelessness – as well as provide support to those affected by it.

It also outlines the council’s priorities around homelessness over the next five years, which include:

Raising the priority of homelessness prevention within the city

Relieving homelessness and tackling rough sleeping quickly by making the best use of accommodation options available in the city

Ensuring those most vulnerable to homelessness have the right level of support tailored to their needs

The strategy is being developed on the back of a Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Review, which was carried out by the council in 2024 and assessed the current and likely future state of homelessness in the city.

The review found that the most common reasons people lose their accommodation in Stoke-on-Trent are that family and friends are no longer willing to accommodate and the loss of a private-rented tenancy.

It also noted that the number of homelessness enquiries received by the council in 2024 increased by 16 per cent in the last five years.

Councillor Chris Robinson, cabinet member for housing and planning at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “Homelessness is a complex issue which we know has been exacerbated over the last few years due to things like the cost of living crisis and housing pressures.

“Locally, there are simply not enough affordable homes available to those on the lowest incomes.

“But we are committed to doing everything we can to ensure everyone – including our most vulnerable residents – have a decent place to call home. And we want to make sure that they are being given the support they need to live independently.

“Working with local residents and our trusted partners, this strategy will set out our collective vision and the steps we will take to prevent and reduce homelessness in Stoke-on-Trent over the next five years.

“This will build on all the work we are already doing to ensure our city is a healthier, safer and fairer city for all.”

Over the past five years, the city council has made a number of significant developments around homelessness and rough sleeping in the city.

These include securing £20 million of government funding for various rough sleeping initiatives, the creation of 74 new bed spaces for people sleeping rough and the launch of the Hanley Connects homelessness hub which supported more than 1,000 people in its first six months.

In addition, the council’s Rough Sleeper Service successfully supported 1,014 people off the streets.

Now the authority is launching a final consultation on its new draft Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy, to gather residents’ views on whether they think the vision and priorities are the right ones to focus on over the next five years.

To have your say visit www.stoke.gov.uk/homelessnessstrategy and fill in the online survey.

The consultation will run for four weeks until Sunday 27 April.
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
April 1, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: PM remarks at the Organised Immigration Summit in central London: 31 March 2025

Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Speech

PM remarks at the Organised Immigration Summit in central London: 31 March 2025

The Prime Minister’s remarks at the Organised Immigration Summit in central London today (Monday 31 March).

It’s great to welcome you all to Lancaster House. It was right here, earlier this month that the UK convened leaders from across Europe together with President Zelenskyy to support a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.

Because we know that Ukraine’s security is our security. And we can only deliver it by taking bold action at home, with the biggest increase in defence spending since the Cold War.

And also, by working together with our international partners.

Now – the same is clearly true for the security of our borders.

Illegal migration is a massive driver of global insecurity. It undermines our ability to control who comes here. And that makes people angry.

It makes me angry, frankly because it is unfair on ordinary working people who pay the price, from the cost of hotels to our public services struggling under the strain.

And it’s unfair on the illegal migrants themselves. Because these are vulnerable people being ruthlessly exploited by vile gangs.

So look, we must each take decisive action in our own countries to deal with this. Nobody can doubt that the people we serve want this issue sorted.

But the truth is – we can only smash these gangs, once and for all if we work together.

Because this evil trade, it exploits the cracks between our institutions. Pits nations against one another. Profits from our inability at the political level to come together.

And that’s why from the moment I took office we said the UK would convene this Summit.

And I’m delighted today to be joined by all of you. Representatives from more than 40 countries across the world, building a truly international effort to defeat organised immigration crime.

And let me tell you why. Let me take you back to a visit I made as a relatively new Member of Parliament in 2016 to the camp on the outskirts of Calais.

I can still picture it now. The muddy ground, sodden with rain and human waste.

Children as young as five and seven, the same age as my children were then huddling together in freezing temperatures with almost nothing to keep them warm.

Now, of course, that infamous camp has long since gone. But the evil of the people smuggling businesses that put people there, that remains.

The gangs remain. That exploitation of desperation, misery and false hope – that all remains.

There’s nothing progressive or compassionate about turning a blind eye to this. Nothing progressive or compassionate about continuing that false hope which attracts people to make those journeys.

No – we have got to get to grips with it once and for all. That’s why when I spoke at the INTERPOL meeting in Glasgow last year I said we need to treat people-smuggling as a global security threat similar if you like to terrorism.

We’ve got to bring to bear all the powers we have at our disposal in much the same way we do against terrorism.

Before I was a politician, I was the Director of Public Prosecutions in England and Wales. We worked across borders throughout Europe and beyond to foil numerous plots.

Saving thousands of lives in the process. We prevented planes from being blown up over the Atlantic. And we brought the perpetrators to justice.

So I believe we should treat organised immigration crime in the exactly same way. I simply don’t believe organised immigration crime cannot be tackled.

So – we’ve got to combine resources. Share intelligence and tactics. Tackle the problem upstream at every step of the people smuggling journey, from North Africa and the Middle East to the high streets of our biggest cities.

And look, to that end, we’ve already got to work. Begun to make progress since I came into office. The UK has re-set its entire approach to international collaboration.

I’ve put smashing the gangs on the agenda of international summits. Showing that the UK now means business. Working together with our allies. We’ve struck new agreements and plans with so many of the countries represented in the room here today.

Take our work with France as a good example. Now previously – their maritime doctrine prevented French law enforcement from responding to small boats in shallow waters.

But now we’re working with them to change that, to make sure we get new border patrols and specialist units on the French coast using state-of-the-art surveillance technology.

With Germany another example, if you can believe it, it wasn’t technically illegal to facilitate people-smuggling to a country outside the EU, like the United Kingdom. But now it will be.

And with our new bilateral agreement Germany will be able to prosecute the criminal networks facilitating this vile trade.

Just a few examples of the international collaboration that is so important to taking this challenge on. And it’s beginning to bear fruit.

At the end of last year, a major operation by French, German and British law enforcement smashed an Iraqi smuggling network with multiple arrests and the seizure seizing hundreds of boats and engines.

In Amsterdam, a man was arrested on suspicion of supplying hundreds of small boat parts to people smugglers.

That was a joint operation with our National Crime Agency together with Dutch and Belgian police.

We’re also working upstream to address factors that drive people towards small boats in the first place.

Working with the authorities in Albania and Vietnam on campaigns to deter those who are thinking about making that perilous journey.

Because there is also nothing progressive about allowing working age people to come here illegally instead of supporting them to build their own economies, secure a better future for their own countries, and build a safer, more prosperous world.

But look – as we work together more closely I think than ever before we’ve also got to take the tough measures at home in our own countries.

That doesn’t mean gimmicks. You may be familiar with the gimmicks of the last 14 years here in Britain. It means understanding the problem.

And coming up with pragmatic solutions that work. Actually, fixing what’s wrong.

Few things show this more clearly, than our approach to border security. We inherited this total fragmentation between our policing, our Border Force and our intelligence agencies.

A fragmentation that made it crystal clear, when I looked at it, that there were gaps in our defence. An open invitation at our borders for the people smugglers to crack on.

To be honest it should have been fixed years ago. But we’re doing it now with our new Border Security Command. Led by Martin Hewitt – who many of you I think will know.

We’re recruiting hundreds of specialist investigators from across our police, our Border Force and intelligence agencies. Creating an elite Border Force. Working with our international partners. Ending the fragmentation.

£150 million invested over the next two years and new powers and criminal offences to get the job done. So the police will be able to seize the phones and devices of migrants arriving on our shores and gather intelligence about the smugglers.

The police will be able to act when they have reason to believe preparations are being made for criminal activity instead of waiting for a crime to happen before they can act.

And it will be an offence to endanger lives at sea to prevent more tragic deaths in the Channel.

We are also redeploying resources away from the Tory’s wasteful Rwanda scheme. A scheme that spent over 700 million pounds of taxpayer money to remove just four volunteers.

You know, even if that scheme had gone well, they were claiming they might remove – 300 people a year.

Since coming to office – I can announce today we have returned more than 24,000 people who have no right to be here.

That would have taken the Rwanda scheme 80 years to achieve. This is what I mean about not giving in to gimmicks. Just focusing our efforts and resources on the nuts and bolts of removing people. Getting the asylum system working properly. That’s how we’ve delivered the highest returns rate for eight years and the four biggest return flights ever.

We’re also ramping up the deportation of Foreign National Offenders with a new team of specialist frontline staff going into our prisons, speeding up the removal of prisoners who have no right to be in this country.

Now, all of this is providing a real disincentive to people thinking about coming to Britain illegally. But if we’re talking about incentives – we need to talk about the people smugglers as well.

Because they don’t care about borders. They don’t care about the people they traffic. And they don’t care about our country and our people.

They only care about one thing: money. They make huge profits out of ruining people’s lives. I mean – a few months ago, I went to see some of the boats that had been seized at the NCA headquarters.

Now we call them small boats, but honestly they’re not worthy of the name boat. I don’t know what you would call them. To me they look like death traps.

Flimsy. Rubber. No firm structure. You would not let your children climb aboard, even for a second in shallow waters.

Seriously – if they were a car, they’d be off the road in minutes. The police would intervene.

And don’t tell me they’ve got any purpose other than people smuggling. So I see no reason why we can’t go after them. And so we are.

We have seized hundreds of boats and engines, driving up the costs for the smugglers.

We have taken down 18,000 social media accounts. That’s 10,000 more than last year, disrupting the way smugglers promote their services.

And more than that, we have announced a new sanctions regime. Treating people smugglers like terrorists. Freezing their assets, banning their travel.

Putting them behind bars – where they belong. But just as important – putting their entire model, out of business, securing our borders on behalf of working people.

Because as I said at the start – this is about fairness. And there is little that strikes working people as more unfair than watching illegal migration drive down their wages, their terms and their conditions through illegal work in their community.

We have to be honest here. For too long, the UK has been a soft touch on this. While the last government were busy with their Rwanda gimmick, they left the door wide open for illegal working.

Especially in short-term or zero-hours roles like in construction, beauty salons and courier services.

And while of course most companies do the responsible thing and carry out right to work checks.

Too many dodgy firms have been exploiting a loophole to skip this process: hiring illegal workers, undercutting honest businesses, driving down the wages of ordinary working people.

And all of this, of course fuelling that poisonous narrative of the gangs who promise the dream of a better life to vulnerable people yet deliver a nightmare of squalid conditions and appalling exploitation.

Well, today we are changing that because this government is introducing a tough new law to force all companies to carry out these checks on right to work.

They take just minutes to complete – so they are not burdensome for business. And they can be done free of charge – so there will be no excuses.

And no ability to claim they didn’t know they had illegal workers. And failure to comply will result in fines of up to £60,000. Prison terms of up to 5 years and the potential closure of their business.

Now, none of these strategies on their own are a silver bullet. I know that.

But each of them is another tool. An arsenal we are building up to smash the gangs once and for all.

We must pull every lever available. And that is what this Labour government is doing.

No short cuts, no gimmicks. Just the hard graft of sleeves-rolled-up, practical government.

Securing our borders. Getting a grip on illegal migration. Delivering our Plan for Change.

We want to work with you and with everyone who is as determined as we are to end the misery and evil of people-smuggling.

Because together we will save lives.

We will secure our borders.

We will smash the gangs that undermine our security…

And deliver fairness for the working people we serve.

Thank you.

Updates to this page

Published 31 March 2025

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

April 1, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Appeal: officers look to return jewellery to rightful owners

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

Officers are seeking to reunite owners with their property, after stolen jewellery was recovered as part of a proactive police operation in London and the home counties.

The jewellery includes identifiable items such as a World War 1 officers’ Rolex watch, a gold locket containing old pictures, an engraved gold ring and an engraved gold pocket watch from Harlow Bros Ltd.

A gold wedding ring, gold necklaces and a gold hair pin were also found.

Detective Sergeant Lee Davison who is leading the investigation said:

“The stolen jewellery was largely taken from London’s south Asian community across 2023 and 2024 in Houslow and was recovered as part of a year-long operation.

“While it is believed to be worth over a million pounds in total, it is the sentimental value that remains priceless.

“This is why myself and the team are working tirelessly to identify the owners and are urging anyone who recognises the jewellery to contact us on 101, quoting 01/1113701/24.

Four men have been charged with conspiracy to commit burglary and await trial.

ENDS

MIL Security OSI –

April 1, 2025
MIL-OSI: CLEAR, an Official TSA PreCheck® Enrollment Provider, Expands Enrollment and Renewal Options by Opening a New Location at Salesforce Transit Center in Downtown San Francisco

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

NEW YORK, March 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CLEAR (NYSE: YOU), an official TSA PreCheck® enrollment provider, continues to expand locations outside the airport environment to enroll and renew consumers in the Trusted Traveler program by opening a new location at the Salesforce Transit Center in downtown San Francisco. This marks CLEAR’s first non-airport location in the area for TSA PreCheck enrollment and renewal services, complementing its 58 airport-based enrollment and renewal locations across the U.S. TSA PreCheck enrollment and renewal services through CLEAR are also available at select Staples stores nationwide.

The launch of this new enrollment location represents the ongoing expansion of CLEAR’s national TSA PreCheck enrollment footprint. Throughout 2025, CLEAR will continue delivering convenience to consumers by launching additional locations and extended hours of operation for enrollment and renewals.

“TSA PreCheck through CLEAR provides a fast and efficient travel experience,” said Caryn Seidman Becker, CEO of CLEAR. “We’re excited to bring this trusted traveler program to the Salesforce Transit Center, a key hub for Bay Area travelers in the heart of San Francisco. By expanding TSA PreCheck enrollment beyond airports, we’re making it easier and more convenient than ever for travelers to enroll or renew—helping them move through security faster and more efficiently.”

“Salesforce Transit Center is a vital connection point for commuters and travelers across the Bay Area, and we are always looking for ways to enhance the services available to our visitors,” said Adam Van de Water, TJPA Executive Director. “Bringing TSA PreCheck enrollment to the Transit Center provides a new level of convenience for those looking to simplify their future air travels, whether they’re frequent flyers or planning ahead for their next trip. We’re excited to partner with CLEAR to bring this valuable service to Downtown San Francisco.”

Located in the Grand Hall of the Salesforce Transit Center, the enrollment local hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. PT to 6 p.m. PT; and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. PT to 5 p.m. PT. Look for the TSA PreCheck through CLEAR standing banners and pods.

TSA PreCheck members benefit from the convenience of keeping shoes, belts and light jackets on through the airport security checkpoint, and keeping laptops and 3-1-1 compliant liquids in carry-on bags. Members typically get through security screening much faster, with about 99% of members waiting less than 10 minutes at airport checkpoints nationwide.

New TSA PreCheck applicants can pre-enroll or find an enrollment location by visiting the authorized CLEAR’s authorized TSA PreCheck website, https://tsaprecheckbyclear.tsa.dhs.gov/. Most existing TSA PreCheck members can renew directly on the website, regardless of the provider they enrolled with originally.

A list of CLEAR enrollment locations for TSA PreCheck is included below, and on the CLEAR, TSA PreCheck website: https://tsaprecheckbyclear.tsa.dhs.gov/locations.

About TSA PreCheck®
TSA PreCheck is a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Trusted Traveler program that allows enrolled travelers expedited screening through airport security. TSA PreCheck lanes are located at over 200 airports with nearly 90 airlines participating. Since TSA first launched the TSA PreCheck application program as a DHS Trusted Traveler Program for low-risk travelers in December 2013, active membership in the program has grown to more than 20 million members.

About CLEAR
CLEAR’s mission is to strengthen security and create frictionless experiences. With over 30 million Members and a growing network of partners across the world, CLEAR’s identity platform is transforming the way people live, work, and travel. Whether you are traveling, at the stadium, or on your phone, CLEAR connects you to the things that make you, you – making everyday experiences easier, more secure, and friction-free. CLEAR is committed to privacy done right. Members are always in control of their own information, and we never sell Member data. For more information, visit clearme.com.

About the Transbay Joint Powers Authority (TJPA)
The Transbay Joint Powers Authority (TJPA) is charged with delivering the Transbay Program, a visionary transportation and housing project that has transformed downtown San Francisco and the Bay Area’s regional transportation system by creating a world-class transportation hub in the heart of downtown San Francisco. The TJPA has completed two of the three components of the Program by replacing the former Transbay Terminal at First and Mission streets with a modern regional transit hub, the Salesforce Transit Center, that currently connects nine Bay Area transit systems and creating a transit-oriented neighborhood with new residents, shops and open-space.

The TJPA is working to complete the Program by delivering the third and final component of the Program, The Portal, also known as the Downtown Rail Extension, which will extend Caltrain and ultimately, California High-Speed Rail service from 4th and King streets to the Transit Center in downtown San Francisco. As the owner and operator of the multimodal Transit Center, the TJPA manages the 5.4-acre public Salesforce Park, found on the Transit Center’s rooftop and partners with the East Cut Community Benefit District to provide free Park activities and events throughout the year. The name of the Salesforce Transit Center and Salesforce Park is the result of a naming rights agreement with salesforce.com that helps fund the Center’s operating costs.

Forward-Looking Statements
This release may contain statements that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that any and such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or results and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results, developments and events may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those described in the Company’s filings within the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the sections titled “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10- K. The Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained herein.

CLEAR
media@clearme.com

This press release was published by a CLEAR® Verified individual.

The MIL Network –

March 31, 2025
MIL-OSI: Enlight Announces the Financial Close for Project Country Acres

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

The debt financing package includes $773 million of construction loans

Country Acres consists of 403 MW of solar generation and 688 MWh of energy storage capacity, and is expected to reach full COD during the second half of 2026

TEL AVIV, Israel, March 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Enlight Renewable Energy Ltd. (“Enlight”, “the Company”, NASDAQ: ENLT, TASE: ENLT.TA), a leading global renewable energy platform, announced today that the Company has received debt financing (the “Debt Financing”) for project Country Acres (“Country Acres” or “the Project”), located near Sacramento, California, USA.

As part of the Debt Financing, Enlight, through its subsidiary Clenera Holdings LLC, has secured construction financing commitments with a consortium of four leading global banks including BNP Paribas Securities Corp, Crédit Agricole, Natixis Corporate & Investment Banking, and Norddeutsche Landesbank Girozentrale (Nord/LB), totaling $773 million.Upon the Project’s COD, the construction loan is expected to convert into a $376 million term loan.

The Project has a 30-year solar generation busbar PPAand 20-year energy storage busbar purchase agreement with the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (“SMUD”).The Company expects to conclude a tax equity transaction during the construction period, noting that the Project has met the terms required to achieve safe harbor status for beginning of construction.

Country Acres consists of 403 MW solar generation and 688 MWh of energy storage capacity, and is expected to reach full COD during the second half of 2026. Construction at the 966-acre site has already begun, and all procurement contracts have been signed. The Project is expected to provide clean electricity equivalent to the average annual consumption of approximately 80,000 California households.

“We are grateful to once again be partnering with leading banks on one of our largest projects,” said Adam Pishl, President and CEO of Clenera. “The American-generated, reliable energy produced at Country Acres will fueling the homes and businesses in central California for decades to come.”

After the completion of Apex in Montana and Atrisco in New Mexico, Country Acres is one of several major solar and energy storage projects that Enlight and Clenera are now constructing in the U.S. These include Quail Ranch (128 MW and 400 MWh) and Roadrunner (290 MW and 940 MWh). Along with additional projects planned to be built in the years to come, these projects are driving Enlight’s massive expansion into the U.S. renewable energy market. This is best illustrated by the growing run rate of Enlight’s U.S. revenue base, which is expected to reach $195-207 million annually after the completion of the projects now under construction.

The Company’s next projects in the western Unites States are Snowflake (600 MW and 1,900 MWh) and CO Bar (1,211 MW and 824 MWh). The two mega projects have almost completed their development phase, and are scheduled to begin construction in the coming months. Each of the two projects employs a grid connection of 1.0 GW, one of the largest in the US. These grid connections generate potential additional development opportunities in the future through the Company’s “Connect and Expand” strategy, which seeks to leverage existing interconnect infrastructure with additional generation capacity.

“Country Acres is the second financial closing that we have accomplished with the same group of lenders in the past three months, illustrating the extent of our partnership and cooperation,” said Ilan Goren, GM of Enlight USA. “We look forward to further deepening this relationship as Enlight and Clenera continue the build out of our large US project portfolio.”

“After the successful closing of Roadrunner, BNP Paribas is proud to once again support Clenera and Enlight as Coordinating Lead Arranger on their new landmark project financing of Country Acres,” said Aashish Mohan, Co-Head of Energy, Resources & Infrastructure Americas, at BNP Paribas. “Supporting premier platforms like Clenera squarely fits our energy infrastructure ambitions, and we look forward to growing our partnership with Clenera as they continue to execute on their high-quality U.S. renewables pipeline.”

Nasir Khan, Managing Director & Head of Real Assets and Global Trade Americas at Natixis Corporate & Investment Bankng said, “Natixis is thrilled to close our second transaction with Clenera on another robust renewable energy project financing, which aligns perfectly with our commitment to the energy transition. As Clenera continues to expand its pipeline of large-scale energy projects, we look forward to further strengthening our partnership and providing innovative capital solutions to meet its long-term financial needs.”

“CACIB is proud to partner with Clenera and Enlight once again on a landmark project which will deliver reliable, clean power to SMUD, underscoring our collective objective to provide long term sustainable and affordable power,” said Julien Tizorin – Head of Power and New Energy at CACIB

Sondra Martinez, Managing Director and Head of Originations Nord/LB’s said “Nord/LB is extremely excited to support Clenera and Enlight on the Country Acres financing. This deal demonstrates our commitment to supporting recurring clients as they advance the energy transition and provide affordable power to local communities.”

About Enlight Renewable Energy

Founded in 2008, Enlight develops, finances, constructs, owns, and operates utility-scale renewable energy projects. Enlight operates across the three largest renewable segments today: solar, win energy storage. A global platform, Enlight operates in the United States, Israel and 10 European countries. Enlight has been traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange since 2010 (TASE: ENLT) and completed its U.S. IPO (Nasdaq: ENLT) in 2023. Learn more at www.enlightenergy.co.il.

Investor Contact

Yonah Weisz
Director IR
investors@enlightenergy.co.il

Erica Mannion or Mike Funari
Sapphire Investor Relations, LLC
+1 617 542 6180
investors@enlightenergy.co.il

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements as contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements contained in this press release other than statements of historical fact, including, without limitation, statements regarding the Company’s expectations relating to the Project, the PPA and the related interconnection agreement and lease option, and the completion timeline for the Project, are forward-looking statements. The words “may,” “might,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “target,” “seek,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” “contemplate,” “possible,” “forecasts,” “aims” or the negative of these terms and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, though not all forward-looking statements use these words or expressions. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the following: our ability to site suitable land for, and otherwise source, renewable energy projects and to successfully develop and convert them into Operational Projects; availability of, and access to, interconnection facilities and transmission systems; our ability to obtain and maintain governmental and other regulatory approvals and permits, including environmental approvals and permits; construction delays, operational delays and supply chain disruptions leading to increased cost of materials required for the construction of our projects, as well as cost overruns and delays related to disputes with contractors; our suppliers’ ability and willingness to perform both existing and future obligations; competition from traditional and renewable energy companies in developing renewable energy projects; potential slowed demand for renewable energy projects and our ability to enter into new offtake contracts on acceptable terms and prices as current offtake contracts expire; offtakers’ ability to terminate contracts or seek other remedies resulting from failure of our projects to meet development, operational or performance benchmarks; various technical and operational challenges leading to unplanned outages, reduced output, interconnection or termination issues; the dependence of our production and revenue on suitable meteorological and environmental conditions, and our ability to accurately predict such conditions; our ability to enforce warranties provided by our counterparties in the event that our projects do not perform as expected; government curtailment, energy price caps and other government actions that restrict or reduce the profitability of renewable energy production; electricity price volatility, unusual weather conditions (including the effects of climate change, could adversely affect wind and solar conditions), catastrophic weather-related or other damage to facilities, unscheduled generation outages, maintenance or repairs, unanticipated changes to availability due to higher demand, shortages, transportation problems or other developments, environmental incidents, or electric transmission system constraints and the possibility that we may not have adequate insurance to cover losses as a result of such hazards; our dependence on certain operational projects for a substantial portion of our cash flows; our ability to continue to grow our portfolio of projects through successful acquisitions; changes and advances in technology that impair or eliminate the competitive advantage of our projects or upsets the expectations underlying investments in our technologies; our ability to effectively anticipate and manage cost inflation, interest rate risk, currency exchange fluctuations and other macroeconomic conditions that impact our business; our ability to retain and attract key personnel; our ability to manage legal and regulatory compliance and litigation risk across our global corporate structure; our ability to protect our business from, and manage the impact of, cyber-attacks, disruptions and security incidents, as well as acts of terrorism or war; changes to existing renewable energy industry policies and regulations that present technical, regulatory and economic barriers to renewable energy projects; the reduction, elimination or expiration of government incentives for, or regulations mandating the use of, renewable energy; our ability to effectively manage our supply chain and comply with applicable regulations with respect to international trade relations, tariffs, sanctions, export controls and anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws; our ability to effectively comply with Environmental Health and Safety and other laws and regulations and receive and maintain all necessary licenses, permits and authorizations; our performance of various obligations under the terms of our indebtedness (and the indebtedness of our subsidiaries that we guarantee) and our ability to continue to secure project financing on attractive terms for our projects; limitations on our management rights and operational flexibility due to our use of tax equity arrangements; potential claims and disagreements with partners, investors and other counterparties that could reduce our right to cash flows generated by our projects; our ability to comply with tax laws of various jurisdictions in which we currently operate as well as the tax laws in jurisdictions in which we intend to operate in the future; the unknown effect of the dual listing of our ordinary shares on the price of our ordinary shares; various risks related to our incorporation and location in Israel; the costs and requirements of being a public company, including the diversion of management’s attention with respect to such requirements; certain provisions in our Articles of Association and certain applicable regulations that may delay or prevent a change of control; and other risk factors set forth in the section titled “Risk factors” in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and our other documents filed with or furnished to the SEC.

These statements reflect management’s current expectations regarding future events and speak only as of the date of this press release. You should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee that future results, levels of activity, performance and events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or will occur. Except as may be required by applicable law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

The MIL Network –

March 31, 2025
MIL-OSI: Maris-Tech Announces Full Year 2024 Financial Results and Reports Record 51% Revenue Growth for 2024 with Improved Profitability

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Revenues Increased by 51%, Gross Profit Increased by 82% and Net Loss Reduced by 54% for the Year Ended December 31, 2024

Rehovot, Israel, March 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Maris-Tech Ltd. (Nasdaq: MTEK, MTEKW) (“Maris-Tech” or the “Company”), a global leader in video and artificial intelligence (“AI”)- based edge computing technology, today announced its financial results for the full year ended December 31, 2024. The Company reported record revenues of approximately $6.1 million, an increase of 51% compared to approximately $4 million for the year ended December 31, 2023. Gross profit for the year ended December 31, 2024, grew by 82%, reaching approximately $3.5 million compared to approximately $1.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2023.

Mr. Israel Bar, Chief Executive Officer of Maris-Tech, said, “In 2024, we focused on new developments, strategic partnerships and expanding our presence in key markets. We strengthened our position in the defense sector, particularly in the miniature drone and unmanned aerial vehicles industry, and in armored vehicles and tanks. Among our key achievements, we launched the Uranus Drones – a miniature codec tailored for the drone industry – and introduced the Diamond System, which is already deployed in the battlefield, providing comprehensive protection for thousands of vehicles. We also increased our investment in marketing and business development in the United States, which has contributed to our accelerated growth.”

Financial Highlights

●    Revenues: Revenues for the year ended December 31, 2024, were approximately $6.1 million, an increase of 51% compared to approximately $4 million for the year ended December 31, 2023.

●    Gross Profit: Gross profit for the year ended December 31, 2024, was approximately $3.5 million, an increase of 82% compared to approximately $1.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2023.

●    Net Loss: Net loss for the year ended December 31, 2024, was approximately $1.2 million, a decrease of 54% compared to approximately $2.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2023.

●    Net Loss per Ordinary Share: Net loss per ordinary share for the year ended December 31, 2024, was approximately $0.16, a decrease of 53% compared to approximately $0.34 for the year ended December 31, 2023.

●    Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Bank Deposits: Cash and cash equivalents and short-term bank deposits as of December 31, 2024, were approximately $2.3 million, compared to approximately $5.2 million as of December 31, 2023.

●    Trade Receivables Balance: Increased to approximately $3.5 million as of December 31, 2024, compared to approximately $3.0 million as of December 31, 2023.

We expect that our existing cash and cash equivalents as of December 31, 2024, along with anticipated revenue from existing customers pursuant to existing orders and the availability of a $4 million line of credit, will be sufficient to fund our operations and meet our obligations for the next twelve months.

Year Ended 2024 Highlights

We strengthened our position in the defense and homeland security (“HLS”) markets, and accelerated revenue growth:

●    In January 2024, we secured a new purchase order for approximately $590,000 for an AI-based HLS and Defense Surveillance Application based on the Jupiter AI platform;

●    In February 2024, we received a purchase order for approximately $190,000 for a miniature low-power solution to enhance gun sight capabilities in tactical applications;

●    In February 2024, we received a repeat purchase order for approximately $600,000 with an option to increase the purchase order to approximately $730,000 to provide armored and autonomous vehicles with enhanced situational awareness;

●    In April 2024, we secured a new purchase order for $415,800 for a defense solution based on our Jupiter Nano platform;

●    In April 2024, we received a new purchase order for approximately $110,000 for a novel miniature intelligence-gathering product based on the Maris platform technology;

●    In June 2024, we received a new purchase order for $225,000 from Aero Sol military drone manufacturer for our Uranus-Drones solution;

●    In June 2024, we secured a repeat purchase order for approximately $957,000 for our situational awareness solution for Armored Vehicles;

●    In August 2024, we secured a $700,000 purchase order for innovative AI-Based Video Distribution Solution; and

●    In December 2024, we secured a $1 million purchase order from a U.S. repeat customer in the HLS industry for our advanced Jupiter-based video solution.

Strategic Partnerships

●    In March 2024, we entered into a collaboration agreement with Renesas Electronics Corporation, one of the world’s largest semiconductor manufacturers, and we were accepted into the Renesas’ Preferred Partner Program; and

●    In June 2024, we entered into a collaboration agreement with LightPath Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: LPTH) (“LightPath”) for AI-Ready Infrared Cameras, providing AI accelerated hardware, software and algorithms for LightPath’s infrared cameras.

New Products & Developments

●    In February 2024, we launched Emerald, a Jupiter-based multiple-channel high-definition and standard-definition raw video recording platform especially designed for defense armored vehicles;

●    In July 2024, we unveiled Diamond – a revolutionary defense 360° 3D Situational Awareness Solution for armored fighting vehicles;

●    In September 2024, we announced that our Amethyst Edge Computing video solution now supports 5G, enabling ultra-speed and high data transfer;

●    In September 2024, we enhanced our Diamond platform ability to combat airborne threats with Diamond Ultra; and

●    In December 2024, we completed the development of Uranus-Drones technology, which is now available for large-scale delivery.

Expanded Global Awareness

Maris-Tech strengthened our presence in the U.S. with the engagement of new sales representatives and increased participation in international defense and technology exhibitions, showcasing the Company’s cutting-edge solutions to a global audience.

Backlog and Outlook

Our backlog as of January 1, 2025, was approximately $9.8 million, which represents an increase from our backlog as of January 1, 2024, of approximately $9.76 million. Our backlog, as of March 28, 2025, was approximately $9.9 million.

We define backlog as the accumulation of all pending orders with a later fulfillment date for which revenue has not been recognized, and we consider valid. The backlog consists of executed purchase orders from new customers and existing customers with which we have had long standing relationships and from governmental agencies.

Mr. Bar concluded, “We remain committed to driving long-term growth by focusing on strategic innovation, expanding our market presence, and strengthening our relationships with global defense and homeland security customers. We believe that our pipeline of opportunities and strong order backlog position us well for continued growth in 2025 and beyond.”

About Maris-Tech Ltd.

Maris-Tech is a global leader in video and AI-based edge computing technology, pioneering intelligent video transmission solutions that conquer complex encoding-decoding challenges. Our miniature, lightweight, and low-power products deliver high-performance capabilities, including raw data processing, seamless transfer, advanced image processing, and AI-driven analytics. Founded by Israeli technology sector veterans, Maris-Tech serves leading manufacturers worldwide in defense, aerospace, Intelligence gathering, homeland security (HLS), and communication industries. We’re pushing the boundaries of video transmission and edge computing, driving innovation in mission-critical applications across commercial and defense sectors.

For more information, visit https://www.maris-tech.com/

Forward-Looking Statement Disclaimer

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that are intended to be covered by the “safe harbor” created by those sections. Forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and describe the Company’s future plans, strategies and expectations, can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terms such as “believe,” “expect”,” “may”, “should,” “could,” “seek,” “intend,” “plan,” “goal,” “estimate,” “anticipate” or other comparable terms. For example, the Company is using forward-looking statements when it is discussing: its growth in 2025 and beyond; expanding its market presence; strengthening its relationships with global defense and homeland security customers; future pipeline and opportunities; its backlog and the anticipated fulfillment of that backlog; the demand for its defense and AI-powered solutions; expanding its presence in key markets; and its position in the defense sector, particularly in the miniature drone and unmanned aerial vehicles industry, and in armored vehicles and tanks. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of the Company’s control. The Company’s actual results and financial condition may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause the Company’s actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, among others, the following: the Company’s ability to successfully market its products and services, including in the United States; the acceptance of its products and services by customers; its continued ability to pay operating costs and ability to meet demand for its products and services; the amount and nature of competition from other security and telecom products and services; the effects of changes in the cybersecurity and telecom markets; its ability to successfully develop new products and services; its success establishing and maintaining collaborative, strategic alliance agreements, licensing and supplier arrangements; its ability to comply with applicable regulations; and the other risks and uncertainties described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2024, filed with the SEC on March 28, 2025, and its other filings with the SEC. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

Investor Relations:

Nir Bussy, CFO
Tel: +972-72-2424022
Nir@maris-tech.com

The MIL Network –

March 31, 2025
MIL-OSI NGOs: People affected by violence and cholera in South Sudan arrive exhausted in Ethiopia
Source: Médecins Sans Frontières –
In South Sudan’s Upper Nile state, people are affected by violence and cholera, causing them to seek safety across the border in Ethiopia’s Gambella region.

MSF teams are on both sides of the border, providing critical care to people.

Urgent support is needed to provide safe water, implement widespread cholera vaccination campaigns, and reinforce treatment capacity for both cholera patients and trauma cases.
A humanitarian crisis is rapidly unfolding on both sides of the South Sudan–Ethiopia border, as escalating violence, displacement and a widespread cholera outbreak are pushing communities to the brink, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) warns.

Clashes between government forces and armed groups, which initially began in Upper Nile state, South Sudan, now risk spreading to other parts of the country. Across the border, Ethiopia’s Gambella region is experiencing the effects of this violence. According to the United Nations, approximately 10,000 displaced people have crossed into Ethiopia since the beginning of March.

“We have already witnessed how this violence has fuelled the spread of cholera in several areas, but a larger, escalating conflict could push the entire country into an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe,” says Zakaria Mwatia, MSF head of mission in South Sudan. “We urgently call on all parties to the conflict to ensure the protection of civilians, healthcare workers, and medical facilities, and to grant unhindered access for humanitarian and medical assistance, in line with international humanitarian law.”

A map of MSF’s response on both sides of the border in March 2025.

South Sudan has been grappling with cholera outbreaks across the country since last year. The latest wave, which began in Upper Nile state, is now spreading further into neighbouring Jonglei state, the Greater Pibor Administrative Area, and across the border into Ethiopia’s Gambella region, where MSF teams are working to treat patients amid the surge in cases.

In Upper Nile state, MSF is treating people wounded in the violence and supporting cholera treatment facilities in Ulang, Malakal and Renk counties. In Jonglei state, MSF is responding in Lankien as well as in Akobo, where a 100-bed cholera treatment unit set up by MSF in Akobo County hospital has treated over 300 patients in just over two weeks. MSF is also responding in Pibor town in the Greater Pibor Administrative area. Since the beginning of March, MSF teams have treated over 1,000 cholera patients across South Sudan and received over 30 patients wounded in the violence.

Ruach Riek Chuol was admitted to MSF hospital in Ulang with injuries he sustained in the violence. “My goods and property for my business were all burned inside the house,” he says. “Everything was destroyed in the fire, including the house where I was.”

In Ethiopia’s Gambella region, MSF, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, has treated over 560 cholera patients since the start of the response in early March, in its cholera treatment centre and units in Mattar, Moan and Burbeiye with a capacity of 100 beds. MSF is also running oral rehydration points and conducting water, sanitation, and hygiene and community-based activities including door-to-door cholera awareness and water purification efforts, reaching over 5,000 people across multiple locations. In addition to cholera treatment, MSF teams have also provided medical care to 160 patients wounded in the clashes in South Sudan.

A cattle market in close to MSF’s cholera treatment unit in Ethiopia’s Gambella region. Ethiopia, March 2025.
Metasebia Teshome/MSF

“I came here because back home in Nasir, people are being killed,” said a South Sudanese mother who recently arrived in Burbeiye, Ethiopia. “There was nothing to eat, and when we arrived at the areas where we took respite, my kids became sick. There were no health facilities that we could run to.”

The situation is rapidly deteriorating as thousands fleeing violence in South Sudan are crossing the border to seek safety. In Wanthoa Woreda, a new encampment in Burbeiye has emerged almost overnight, with over 6,500 new arrivals reported by local administrators — many of them women, children, and the elderly, arriving after days of travel.

“The displaced people are arriving in Gambella with little more than what they can carry,” said Joshua Eckley, MSF head of mission in Ethiopia. “Our teams are responding to the cholera outbreak and providing care to those arriving exhausted and in poor condition. There are significant needs, and without additional support, the situation could worsen.”

This crisis comes at a time when South Sudan and Ethiopia are facing major reductions in donor funding, including the recent USAID cuts. While MSF does not accept funding from the US government, the cuts in the humanitarian and health assistance would severely reduce capacity of other organisations to respond to such crises.

“In places like Akobo in Jonglei state, the cholera response has been highly impacted by funding cuts, including closure of critical health services,” says Mwatia. “A number of mobile clinics have already shut down following US funding cuts, and some organisations that supported health facilities, including cholera treatment units, have suspended all activities. This is part of a broader trend across the country.”

The healthcare system in South Sudan suffers from chronic underfunding, shortages of skilled health staff, medicines and supplies, and has limited capacity to respond to emergencies. The country, already struggling to meet its own medical and humanitarian needs, is further burdened by the arrival of over one million people fleeing war in neighbouring Sudan. Urgent support is needed to provide safe water, implement widespread cholera vaccination campaigns, and reinforce treatment capacity for both cholera patients and trauma cases.

“Disruptions in cholera treatment services, combined with reduced actors’ capacity to support oral vaccination campaigns, heighten the risk of further spread,” says Mwatia. “We urge donors to allocate emergency funds for emergency response in South Sudan and neighbouring Ethiopia amid this escalating crisis.”

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MIL OSI NGO –
March 31, 2025
MIL-OSI Banking: Samsung Solves: Tips To Recover From The Clocks Going Forward

Source: Samsung

Do you find yourself feeling more tired once the clocks spring forward for British Summer Time? Well, you’re not alone. Although losing an hour the night of Daylight Saving Time (DST) may seem insignificant, a study of the sleep patterns of Samsung Health users[1] across the world including 40 European countries reveals disruptions to sleep patterns can be felt weeks later, hitting younger age groups the hardest.

Clock Changes Takes a Toll on Sleep, With Younger Generations Most Disrupted

When looking into how much of an impact the clock change has on people the morning after, one thing is clear: everyone’s sleep patterns are affected. In fact, people fall asleep on average 37 minutes later than the previous night, and wake up 34 minutes earlier. While losing sleep isn’t easy at any age, those in their twenties likely felt it the most, losing half-an-hour more than everyone else thanks to an extremely late bedtime and a seeming inability to sleep in.

Sleep patterns remained inconsistent in the days following the time change as people struggled to return to their regular bedtimes and wake times, and those in their twenties again seemed to be affected the most. Unable to get their sleep patterns under control, this cohort continued to fall sleep more than 20 minutes later than normal, yet woke up only 5 minutes later – missing critical rest. By the third week, sleep patterns for all age groups were still not back to normal, with bedtimes 3 minutes later and wake up times still 14 minutes earlier than average.

Sleep Score – calculated based on an evaluation of a user’s total sleep time, time awake, sleep cycle, plus physical and mental recovery – was at the worst level for weeks after – and again, people in their twenties appeared to be most affected. When looking at the seven-day Sleep Score average, the twenties age group demonstrated the slowest score recovery rate, while older age groups adapted much quicker.

Useful Tips to Help You Recover for a Good Night’s Sleep

The time transition clearly affects the sleep patterns of all age groups long after the clocks change, but for younger generations, prioritising sleep management during this time couldn’t be more important. Sleep is essential for rest and repair of our body, as well as good physical and mental health[2].

In recognition of the clock changes, Sleep scientist and Samsung Wellness Council member, Vanessa Hill, shares useful tips in collaboration with Samsung Health on how to harness technology to understand your sleep patterns and habits for a better night’s rest as the clocks change.

Creating an ideal sleep environment is critical to a good night’s sleep.
Later this month, a Samsung Health app update[3] will make this possible by receiving insights into the key factors that influence sleep quality, including temperature, humidity, air quality and light intensity via a Sleep environment report[4] – leveraging Samsung’s home-based technology and the power of its extensive device ecosystem. With a better understanding of how your environment affects sleep, you can easily optimise your room conditions for an improved night’s rest.

In addition to perfecting your sleep environment, understanding how activity levels can impact sleep quality is key.
Samsung Health updates also bring enhancements to Energy Score, which provides an indicator of how much energy users can expend throughout the day. In addition to sleep and heart rate, a new detailed factor about activity – Activity Balance – will help you understand overall conditions in greater detail by evaluating the consistency of activity levels based on recent data from the past 2 weeks.

It can be helpful to understand how you’re sleeping and then make necessary adjustments through sleep coaching.
Sleep Coaching[5] makes this simple by seamlessly tracking your sleep patterns over 7 days and assigning a sleep animal based on the results. With a personally tailored coaching program, develop healthy habits and routines that set you on a positive path to achieving your sleep goals.

[1] Findings analysed sleep data of Samsung Health users via Galaxy Watch series and Galaxy Ring during DST in the spring of 2024.
[2] https://www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/mental-health-issues/sleep/
[3] Not intended for use in the detection, diagnosis, treatment, monitoring or management of any medical condition. Certain features may vary by market, carrier or paired device.
[4] Sleep Environment report feature will be available on smartphone with One UI 7 and Samsung Health app version 6.29.5 or later.
[5] Requires sleep data of at least 7 days, including 2 days off.

MIL OSI Global Banks –

March 31, 2025

Category: housing

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