Category: KB

  • MIL-OSI Africa: G20’s ability to respond to multilateral tests critical

    Source: Government of South Africa

    The G20 countries’ ability to respond collectively to mounting challenges facing the multilateral system will determine both the speed of global recovery and the future of sustainable development.

    This is according to National Treasury Director-General, Dr Duncan Pieterse, who delivered remarks at the opening session of the G20 Finance Track meetings being held in KwaZulu-Natal this week.

    “The multilateral system is being tested, and our collective ability to respond, will shape the pace of our recovery, but also the prospects for inclusive and sustainable development. 

    “As the G20, we have the responsibility to demonstrate leadership, and our Presidency places a very strong emphasis on strengthening the role of the G20 in delivering concrete solutions, fostering a more stable and effective and resilient international financial architecture, enhancing debt sustainability, addressing liquidity challenges, as well as strengthening multilateral development banks, and ensuring financing for development,” Pieterse said.

    He added that the meetings take place at a time of heightened global economic uncertainty.

    “While there are signs of resilience in some areas, various challenges remain: uneven growth trajectories, elevated debt levels, persistent inflationary pressures, and the complex implications of tightening financial conditions. 

    “At the same time, various long-term transitions including digitalisation, climate finance and demographic shifts are reshaping the foundations of our economies,” the DG noted.

    Finance track meetings

    Pieterse explained that this week, sessions have been dedicated in line with “our commitment to deepen policy dialogue at the Deputies level”.

    “These discussions are instrumental in shaping the outcomes of the Finance Track, and reaffirming our commitment as the Presidency to Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability,” he said.

    On Monday, the sessions kicked off with an update from the Council of Europe Development Bank on its monitoring and reporting framework.

    “[This framework] is a critical tool for tackling the implementation of the G20 MDB roadmap as it enables MDBs to assess how they are working better as a system, enhancing their effectiveness and maximising developmental impact.

    “This will be followed by a pandemic response financing simulation exercise that will be facilitated by the World Bank and the objective of this exercise is to simulate a coordinated pandemic response financing scenario, enabling participants to explore practical mechanisms for mobilising and deploying resources rapidly and effectively during a global health emergency,” he said.

    On Tuesday, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank will give updates on the global sovereign debt roundtable.

    “This discussion is geared towards promoting information exchange between the GSDR and the G20 to enhance the effectiveness of both platforms while respecting the distinct roles. 

    “Significant progress has been made on the GSDR work, including the publication of the GSDR playbook on sovereign debt restructurings during the Spring Meetings in April, and another important milestone that was achieved was the publication of a G20 note on the steps of debt restructuring under the common framework,” Pieterse explained.

    On the same day, the Chairperson of the Africa Expert Panel, led by former Minister of Finance for South Africa, Trevor Manuel, will give an update on the work of the panel. 

    “[This] section will provide Deputies with an overview of the work of the Panel, which…aims to advance Africa’s collective development interest within the G20 Finance Track. We will be getting an update from Minister Manuel on this so that we can ensure that we align African priorities with the global economic reform efforts that we are discussing in the G20,” he said.

    Over the next two days, the delegates will have sessions dedicated to the drafting of a communique.

    “We really want to thank the G20 members for very constructive inputs and engagements thus far, which started last week virtually, and we believe that those engagements have set a very strong foundation for our discussions over the next two days.

    “We are very pleased with the collaborative spirit shown during the virtual discussions, and we believe that we are able to achieve agreement in most of the areas which will enable us to provide the Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors with an opportunity to achieve the first Communique under South Africa’s Presidency,” Pieterse concluded. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa

  • MIL-OSI USA: FDA Approves Gardenia (Genipin) Blue Color Additive While Encouraging Faster Phase-Out of FD&C Red No. 3

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 3

    For Immediate Release:
    July 14, 2025

    Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced it had granted Gardenia Blue Interest Group’s (GBIG) color additive petition to use the color gardenia (genipin) blue in various foods, at levels consistent with good manufacturing practice. It is the fourth color derived from natural sources approved by the FDA for use in foods in the last two months.
    The FDA action is in line with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s priority to work with industry to phase out the use of all synthetic, petroleum-based dyes from the nation’s food supply as part of the administration’s broader Make America Healthy Again initiative.
    Since Secretary Kennedy announced a series of measures in April to work with industry to phase out petroleum-based synthetic dyes in food, about 40 percent of the food industry has committed to a voluntary phase-out of such dyes.
    “Every day, children are exposed to synthetic chemicals in food that serve no purpose and threaten their health,” Secretary Kennedy said. “The FDA’s approval of gardenia blue shows we’re finally putting kids first. Thanks to Dr. Marty Makary’s bold leadership, we’re cutting through industry influence and taking decisive action to Make America Healthy Again.”
    Gardenia (genipin) blue is derived from the fruit of the gardenia, a flowering evergreen. The FDA has approved the color additive for use in sports drinks, flavored or enhanced non-carbonated water, fruit drinks and ades, ready-to-drink teas, hard candy, and soft candy.
    “This expedited timeline underscored our serious intent to transition away from petroleum-based synthetic dyes in the food supply, said FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, M.D., M.P.H. “Now, by expanding the palette of available colors derived from natural sources, food manufacturers have a variety of options available that will make it easier to end their use of petroleum-based dyes.”
    The three colors derived from natural sources approved in May were: galdieria extract blue, a blue colorant derived from the unicellular red algae Galdieria sulphuraria; calcium phosphate, a white powder; and butterfly pea flower extract, a blue color that can be used to achieve a range of shades including bright blues, intense purple, and natural greens.
    Under section 721 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, color additives must be FDA-approved before they may be used in foods. The FDA determines whether a color additive is safe to use by considering the projected human dietary exposure to the color additive, the additive’s toxicological data, and other relevant information, such as published literature. Once the FDA approves a color additive, any manufacturer can use the coloring in accordance with the conditions of use.
    In addition to approving a new color additive, the FDA also announced today that it had sent a letter to manufacturers encouraging them to accelerate the phase-out of FD&C Red No. 3 in foods, including dietary supplements, sooner than the January 15, 2027, required deadline. This earlier phase-out was another of the series of measures introduced by Secretary Kennedy in April.
    “The FDA believes that accelerating the phase out of the use of FD&C Red No. 3 in foods will help further the goal of Making America Healthy Again,” the FDA said in the letter.
    On Friday, July 11, Consumer Brands—a national trade association for manufacturers of consumer packaged goods—announced their voluntary commitment to encourage the makers of America’s food and beverage products to remove certified Food, Drug & Cosmetic (FD&C) colors from products served in schools nationwide by the start of the 2026–2027 school year.
    Related Information

    Related Information

    ###

    Boilerplate

    The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, radiation-emitting electronic products, and for regulating tobacco products.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: FDA Approves Gardenia (Genipin) Blue Color Additive While Encouraging Faster Phase-Out of FD&C Red No. 3

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 3

    For Immediate Release:
    July 14, 2025

    Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced it had granted Gardenia Blue Interest Group’s (GBIG) color additive petition to use the color gardenia (genipin) blue in various foods, at levels consistent with good manufacturing practice. It is the fourth color derived from natural sources approved by the FDA for use in foods in the last two months.
    The FDA action is in line with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s priority to work with industry to phase out the use of all synthetic, petroleum-based dyes from the nation’s food supply as part of the administration’s broader Make America Healthy Again initiative.
    Since Secretary Kennedy announced a series of measures in April to work with industry to phase out petroleum-based synthetic dyes in food, about 40 percent of the food industry has committed to a voluntary phase-out of such dyes.
    “Every day, children are exposed to synthetic chemicals in food that serve no purpose and threaten their health,” Secretary Kennedy said. “The FDA’s approval of gardenia blue shows we’re finally putting kids first. Thanks to Dr. Marty Makary’s bold leadership, we’re cutting through industry influence and taking decisive action to Make America Healthy Again.”
    Gardenia (genipin) blue is derived from the fruit of the gardenia, a flowering evergreen. The FDA has approved the color additive for use in sports drinks, flavored or enhanced non-carbonated water, fruit drinks and ades, ready-to-drink teas, hard candy, and soft candy.
    “This expedited timeline underscored our serious intent to transition away from petroleum-based synthetic dyes in the food supply, said FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, M.D., M.P.H. “Now, by expanding the palette of available colors derived from natural sources, food manufacturers have a variety of options available that will make it easier to end their use of petroleum-based dyes.”
    The three colors derived from natural sources approved in May were: galdieria extract blue, a blue colorant derived from the unicellular red algae Galdieria sulphuraria; calcium phosphate, a white powder; and butterfly pea flower extract, a blue color that can be used to achieve a range of shades including bright blues, intense purple, and natural greens.
    Under section 721 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, color additives must be FDA-approved before they may be used in foods. The FDA determines whether a color additive is safe to use by considering the projected human dietary exposure to the color additive, the additive’s toxicological data, and other relevant information, such as published literature. Once the FDA approves a color additive, any manufacturer can use the coloring in accordance with the conditions of use.
    In addition to approving a new color additive, the FDA also announced today that it had sent a letter to manufacturers encouraging them to accelerate the phase-out of FD&C Red No. 3 in foods, including dietary supplements, sooner than the January 15, 2027, required deadline. This earlier phase-out was another of the series of measures introduced by Secretary Kennedy in April.
    “The FDA believes that accelerating the phase out of the use of FD&C Red No. 3 in foods will help further the goal of Making America Healthy Again,” the FDA said in the letter.
    On Friday, July 11, Consumer Brands—a national trade association for manufacturers of consumer packaged goods—announced their voluntary commitment to encourage the makers of America’s food and beverage products to remove certified Food, Drug & Cosmetic (FD&C) colors from products served in schools nationwide by the start of the 2026–2027 school year.
    Related Information

    Related Information

    ###

    Boilerplate

    The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, radiation-emitting electronic products, and for regulating tobacco products.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: FDA Approves Gardenia (Genipin) Blue Color Additive While Encouraging Faster Phase-Out of FD&C Red No. 3

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 3

    For Immediate Release:
    July 14, 2025

    Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced it had granted Gardenia Blue Interest Group’s (GBIG) color additive petition to use the color gardenia (genipin) blue in various foods, at levels consistent with good manufacturing practice. It is the fourth color derived from natural sources approved by the FDA for use in foods in the last two months.
    The FDA action is in line with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s priority to work with industry to phase out the use of all synthetic, petroleum-based dyes from the nation’s food supply as part of the administration’s broader Make America Healthy Again initiative.
    Since Secretary Kennedy announced a series of measures in April to work with industry to phase out petroleum-based synthetic dyes in food, about 40 percent of the food industry has committed to a voluntary phase-out of such dyes.
    “Every day, children are exposed to synthetic chemicals in food that serve no purpose and threaten their health,” Secretary Kennedy said. “The FDA’s approval of gardenia blue shows we’re finally putting kids first. Thanks to Dr. Marty Makary’s bold leadership, we’re cutting through industry influence and taking decisive action to Make America Healthy Again.”
    Gardenia (genipin) blue is derived from the fruit of the gardenia, a flowering evergreen. The FDA has approved the color additive for use in sports drinks, flavored or enhanced non-carbonated water, fruit drinks and ades, ready-to-drink teas, hard candy, and soft candy.
    “This expedited timeline underscored our serious intent to transition away from petroleum-based synthetic dyes in the food supply, said FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, M.D., M.P.H. “Now, by expanding the palette of available colors derived from natural sources, food manufacturers have a variety of options available that will make it easier to end their use of petroleum-based dyes.”
    The three colors derived from natural sources approved in May were: galdieria extract blue, a blue colorant derived from the unicellular red algae Galdieria sulphuraria; calcium phosphate, a white powder; and butterfly pea flower extract, a blue color that can be used to achieve a range of shades including bright blues, intense purple, and natural greens.
    Under section 721 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, color additives must be FDA-approved before they may be used in foods. The FDA determines whether a color additive is safe to use by considering the projected human dietary exposure to the color additive, the additive’s toxicological data, and other relevant information, such as published literature. Once the FDA approves a color additive, any manufacturer can use the coloring in accordance with the conditions of use.
    In addition to approving a new color additive, the FDA also announced today that it had sent a letter to manufacturers encouraging them to accelerate the phase-out of FD&C Red No. 3 in foods, including dietary supplements, sooner than the January 15, 2027, required deadline. This earlier phase-out was another of the series of measures introduced by Secretary Kennedy in April.
    “The FDA believes that accelerating the phase out of the use of FD&C Red No. 3 in foods will help further the goal of Making America Healthy Again,” the FDA said in the letter.
    On Friday, July 11, Consumer Brands—a national trade association for manufacturers of consumer packaged goods—announced their voluntary commitment to encourage the makers of America’s food and beverage products to remove certified Food, Drug & Cosmetic (FD&C) colors from products served in schools nationwide by the start of the 2026–2027 school year.
    Related Information

    Related Information

    ###

    Boilerplate

    The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, radiation-emitting electronic products, and for regulating tobacco products.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: FDA Approves Gardenia (Genipin) Blue Color Additive While Encouraging Faster Phase-Out of FD&C Red No. 3

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 3

    For Immediate Release:
    July 14, 2025

    Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced it had granted Gardenia Blue Interest Group’s (GBIG) color additive petition to use the color gardenia (genipin) blue in various foods, at levels consistent with good manufacturing practice. It is the fourth color derived from natural sources approved by the FDA for use in foods in the last two months.
    The FDA action is in line with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s priority to work with industry to phase out the use of all synthetic, petroleum-based dyes from the nation’s food supply as part of the administration’s broader Make America Healthy Again initiative.
    Since Secretary Kennedy announced a series of measures in April to work with industry to phase out petroleum-based synthetic dyes in food, about 40 percent of the food industry has committed to a voluntary phase-out of such dyes.
    “Every day, children are exposed to synthetic chemicals in food that serve no purpose and threaten their health,” Secretary Kennedy said. “The FDA’s approval of gardenia blue shows we’re finally putting kids first. Thanks to Dr. Marty Makary’s bold leadership, we’re cutting through industry influence and taking decisive action to Make America Healthy Again.”
    Gardenia (genipin) blue is derived from the fruit of the gardenia, a flowering evergreen. The FDA has approved the color additive for use in sports drinks, flavored or enhanced non-carbonated water, fruit drinks and ades, ready-to-drink teas, hard candy, and soft candy.
    “This expedited timeline underscored our serious intent to transition away from petroleum-based synthetic dyes in the food supply, said FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, M.D., M.P.H. “Now, by expanding the palette of available colors derived from natural sources, food manufacturers have a variety of options available that will make it easier to end their use of petroleum-based dyes.”
    The three colors derived from natural sources approved in May were: galdieria extract blue, a blue colorant derived from the unicellular red algae Galdieria sulphuraria; calcium phosphate, a white powder; and butterfly pea flower extract, a blue color that can be used to achieve a range of shades including bright blues, intense purple, and natural greens.
    Under section 721 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, color additives must be FDA-approved before they may be used in foods. The FDA determines whether a color additive is safe to use by considering the projected human dietary exposure to the color additive, the additive’s toxicological data, and other relevant information, such as published literature. Once the FDA approves a color additive, any manufacturer can use the coloring in accordance with the conditions of use.
    In addition to approving a new color additive, the FDA also announced today that it had sent a letter to manufacturers encouraging them to accelerate the phase-out of FD&C Red No. 3 in foods, including dietary supplements, sooner than the January 15, 2027, required deadline. This earlier phase-out was another of the series of measures introduced by Secretary Kennedy in April.
    “The FDA believes that accelerating the phase out of the use of FD&C Red No. 3 in foods will help further the goal of Making America Healthy Again,” the FDA said in the letter.
    On Friday, July 11, Consumer Brands—a national trade association for manufacturers of consumer packaged goods—announced their voluntary commitment to encourage the makers of America’s food and beverage products to remove certified Food, Drug & Cosmetic (FD&C) colors from products served in schools nationwide by the start of the 2026–2027 school year.
    Related Information

    Related Information

    ###

    Boilerplate

    The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, radiation-emitting electronic products, and for regulating tobacco products.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: FDA Approves Gardenia (Genipin) Blue Color Additive While Encouraging Faster Phase-Out of FD&C Red No. 3

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 3

    For Immediate Release:
    July 14, 2025

    Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced it had granted Gardenia Blue Interest Group’s (GBIG) color additive petition to use the color gardenia (genipin) blue in various foods, at levels consistent with good manufacturing practice. It is the fourth color derived from natural sources approved by the FDA for use in foods in the last two months.
    The FDA action is in line with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s priority to work with industry to phase out the use of all synthetic, petroleum-based dyes from the nation’s food supply as part of the administration’s broader Make America Healthy Again initiative.
    Since Secretary Kennedy announced a series of measures in April to work with industry to phase out petroleum-based synthetic dyes in food, about 40 percent of the food industry has committed to a voluntary phase-out of such dyes.
    “Every day, children are exposed to synthetic chemicals in food that serve no purpose and threaten their health,” Secretary Kennedy said. “The FDA’s approval of gardenia blue shows we’re finally putting kids first. Thanks to Dr. Marty Makary’s bold leadership, we’re cutting through industry influence and taking decisive action to Make America Healthy Again.”
    Gardenia (genipin) blue is derived from the fruit of the gardenia, a flowering evergreen. The FDA has approved the color additive for use in sports drinks, flavored or enhanced non-carbonated water, fruit drinks and ades, ready-to-drink teas, hard candy, and soft candy.
    “This expedited timeline underscored our serious intent to transition away from petroleum-based synthetic dyes in the food supply, said FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, M.D., M.P.H. “Now, by expanding the palette of available colors derived from natural sources, food manufacturers have a variety of options available that will make it easier to end their use of petroleum-based dyes.”
    The three colors derived from natural sources approved in May were: galdieria extract blue, a blue colorant derived from the unicellular red algae Galdieria sulphuraria; calcium phosphate, a white powder; and butterfly pea flower extract, a blue color that can be used to achieve a range of shades including bright blues, intense purple, and natural greens.
    Under section 721 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, color additives must be FDA-approved before they may be used in foods. The FDA determines whether a color additive is safe to use by considering the projected human dietary exposure to the color additive, the additive’s toxicological data, and other relevant information, such as published literature. Once the FDA approves a color additive, any manufacturer can use the coloring in accordance with the conditions of use.
    In addition to approving a new color additive, the FDA also announced today that it had sent a letter to manufacturers encouraging them to accelerate the phase-out of FD&C Red No. 3 in foods, including dietary supplements, sooner than the January 15, 2027, required deadline. This earlier phase-out was another of the series of measures introduced by Secretary Kennedy in April.
    “The FDA believes that accelerating the phase out of the use of FD&C Red No. 3 in foods will help further the goal of Making America Healthy Again,” the FDA said in the letter.
    On Friday, July 11, Consumer Brands—a national trade association for manufacturers of consumer packaged goods—announced their voluntary commitment to encourage the makers of America’s food and beverage products to remove certified Food, Drug & Cosmetic (FD&C) colors from products served in schools nationwide by the start of the 2026–2027 school year.
    Related Information

    Related Information

    ###

    Boilerplate

    The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, radiation-emitting electronic products, and for regulating tobacco products.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: Most of the planned coal capacity retirements are in the Midwest or Mid-Atlantic regions

    Source: US Energy Information Administration

    In-brief analysis

    July 14, 2025


    Based on what power plant owners and operators have reported to EIA, the total operating capacity of U.S. coal-fired power plants is scheduled to fall from 172 gigawatts (GW) in May 2025 to 145 GW by the end of 2028, according to our Preliminary Monthly Electric Generator Inventory. On a regional basis, 58% of the planned coal capacity retirements are in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions.

    Coal consumption in the U.S. electric power sector has fallen since its peak in the late 2000s because of increased competition from other electricity sources, especially from natural gas and renewables. Furthermore, coal-fired power plants have been subject to regulations regarding emissions that require plants to add equipment, modify processes, or stop operation.

    Our inventory of operating capacity and planned retirements reflects power plant operators’ responses to our monthly survey as of May 2025. These plans may change as operators respond to changing environmental and other policies and power market dynamics.

    For example, Talen Energy, in collaboration with the PJM Interconnection and other entities, recently agreed to delay retirement of its Brandon Shores coal-fired power plant in Maryland until 2029. Talen Energy had previously planned to retire Brandon Shores in June 2025. Similarly, in May 2025, the U.S. Department of Energy ordered a 90-day delay of the planned retirement of Consumers Energy’s J.H. Campbell plant in Michigan.

    Potential changes to regulations add uncertainty to power plant operation and retirement decisions. In particular, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is reconsidering several regulations that would affect coal plants. For example, in April 2024, EPA released new steam electric effluent limitations guidelines (ELG) that limit the discharge of toxic metals and other pollutants in wastewater coming from coal-fired power plants. These more stringent limitations are currently set to take effect in 2028 but are among the regulations EPA is reconsidering.

    In addition, an April 8 executive order provided 47 companies with a two-year exemption from more stringent Mercury and Air Toxic Standards (MATS) issued by EPA last year. The exemption runs from July 8, 2027, to July 8, 2029. Many coal-fired plants added pollution-control systems in the previous decade to comply with MATS regulations.

    Principal contributor: Jonathan Church

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn Magazine: All Together Now

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Each time the Huskies win another championship, it is not just the team’s performance that galvanizes UConn Nation; it is the collective experience of fans chanting in unison in Gampel or at Rentschler, celebrating together in the streets, and proudly displaying their UConn gear that forges a strong sense of community. By synchronizing our appearances, our actions, and — as my research team’s studies reveal — our emotions, fandom compels us to act as one, look as one, and feel as one.

    Growing up in Greece, I witnessed this deep emotional investment firsthand. Entire cities would come to a standstill before a football derby, with those not in the stadium glued to their televisions. I met couples who left their own wedding receptions early to attend a match, showing up at the stadium still dressed in their wedding attire. Scientific research shows that sports fans can identify so strongly with their team that they experience the game’s emotional highs and lows as though they were playing the game themselves. One study shows testosterone levels rising among fans of the winning team and falling among those of the losing team. Those reactions can even be observed in the brain.

    When a team of researchers placed Red Sox and Yankees fans in a brain scanner and showed them real games, they found that fans watching a negative performance by their team activated the regions of the brain typically associated with the experience of pain. Correspondingly, their team’s success triggered activity in an area related to the brain’s reward system. Intriguingly, similar feelings of pleasure were elicited by watching their opponents fail.

    And while the game itself provides excitement and fosters engagement, recent research suggests that the strongest connections among fans are often forged in the stands, through ritualized interactions that shape and reinforce collective identities.

    My research team has been exploring these effects at UConn and beyond. In a real-life experiment, we used wearable technology to track the emotional responses of Husky fans over an entire basketball season. As they watched the men’s and women’s games live, either in the stadium or on television, we found that those in the stadium reported more meaningful experiences and felt a stronger sense of connection with other fans ­compared to those watching together on TV. These shared experiences even left measurable traces in their bodies: Fans in the stadium exhibited greater emotional synchrony, their hearts beating in unison. In fact, physical co-presence was the most important predictor of emotional synchrony overall, more so than any element of the game itself, such as its pace, outcome, or score difference.

    Read on for more.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn Magazine: All Together Now

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Each time the Huskies win another championship, it is not just the team’s performance that galvanizes UConn Nation; it is the collective experience of fans chanting in unison in Gampel or at Rentschler, celebrating together in the streets, and proudly displaying their UConn gear that forges a strong sense of community. By synchronizing our appearances, our actions, and — as my research team’s studies reveal — our emotions, fandom compels us to act as one, look as one, and feel as one.

    Growing up in Greece, I witnessed this deep emotional investment firsthand. Entire cities would come to a standstill before a football derby, with those not in the stadium glued to their televisions. I met couples who left their own wedding receptions early to attend a match, showing up at the stadium still dressed in their wedding attire. Scientific research shows that sports fans can identify so strongly with their team that they experience the game’s emotional highs and lows as though they were playing the game themselves. One study shows testosterone levels rising among fans of the winning team and falling among those of the losing team. Those reactions can even be observed in the brain.

    When a team of researchers placed Red Sox and Yankees fans in a brain scanner and showed them real games, they found that fans watching a negative performance by their team activated the regions of the brain typically associated with the experience of pain. Correspondingly, their team’s success triggered activity in an area related to the brain’s reward system. Intriguingly, similar feelings of pleasure were elicited by watching their opponents fail.

    And while the game itself provides excitement and fosters engagement, recent research suggests that the strongest connections among fans are often forged in the stands, through ritualized interactions that shape and reinforce collective identities.

    My research team has been exploring these effects at UConn and beyond. In a real-life experiment, we used wearable technology to track the emotional responses of Husky fans over an entire basketball season. As they watched the men’s and women’s games live, either in the stadium or on television, we found that those in the stadium reported more meaningful experiences and felt a stronger sense of connection with other fans ­compared to those watching together on TV. These shared experiences even left measurable traces in their bodies: Fans in the stadium exhibited greater emotional synchrony, their hearts beating in unison. In fact, physical co-presence was the most important predictor of emotional synchrony overall, more so than any element of the game itself, such as its pace, outcome, or score difference.

    Read on for more.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn Magazine: All Together Now

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Each time the Huskies win another championship, it is not just the team’s performance that galvanizes UConn Nation; it is the collective experience of fans chanting in unison in Gampel or at Rentschler, celebrating together in the streets, and proudly displaying their UConn gear that forges a strong sense of community. By synchronizing our appearances, our actions, and — as my research team’s studies reveal — our emotions, fandom compels us to act as one, look as one, and feel as one.

    Growing up in Greece, I witnessed this deep emotional investment firsthand. Entire cities would come to a standstill before a football derby, with those not in the stadium glued to their televisions. I met couples who left their own wedding receptions early to attend a match, showing up at the stadium still dressed in their wedding attire. Scientific research shows that sports fans can identify so strongly with their team that they experience the game’s emotional highs and lows as though they were playing the game themselves. One study shows testosterone levels rising among fans of the winning team and falling among those of the losing team. Those reactions can even be observed in the brain.

    When a team of researchers placed Red Sox and Yankees fans in a brain scanner and showed them real games, they found that fans watching a negative performance by their team activated the regions of the brain typically associated with the experience of pain. Correspondingly, their team’s success triggered activity in an area related to the brain’s reward system. Intriguingly, similar feelings of pleasure were elicited by watching their opponents fail.

    And while the game itself provides excitement and fosters engagement, recent research suggests that the strongest connections among fans are often forged in the stands, through ritualized interactions that shape and reinforce collective identities.

    My research team has been exploring these effects at UConn and beyond. In a real-life experiment, we used wearable technology to track the emotional responses of Husky fans over an entire basketball season. As they watched the men’s and women’s games live, either in the stadium or on television, we found that those in the stadium reported more meaningful experiences and felt a stronger sense of connection with other fans ­compared to those watching together on TV. These shared experiences even left measurable traces in their bodies: Fans in the stadium exhibited greater emotional synchrony, their hearts beating in unison. In fact, physical co-presence was the most important predictor of emotional synchrony overall, more so than any element of the game itself, such as its pace, outcome, or score difference.

    Read on for more.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn Magazine: All Together Now

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Each time the Huskies win another championship, it is not just the team’s performance that galvanizes UConn Nation; it is the collective experience of fans chanting in unison in Gampel or at Rentschler, celebrating together in the streets, and proudly displaying their UConn gear that forges a strong sense of community. By synchronizing our appearances, our actions, and — as my research team’s studies reveal — our emotions, fandom compels us to act as one, look as one, and feel as one.

    Growing up in Greece, I witnessed this deep emotional investment firsthand. Entire cities would come to a standstill before a football derby, with those not in the stadium glued to their televisions. I met couples who left their own wedding receptions early to attend a match, showing up at the stadium still dressed in their wedding attire. Scientific research shows that sports fans can identify so strongly with their team that they experience the game’s emotional highs and lows as though they were playing the game themselves. One study shows testosterone levels rising among fans of the winning team and falling among those of the losing team. Those reactions can even be observed in the brain.

    When a team of researchers placed Red Sox and Yankees fans in a brain scanner and showed them real games, they found that fans watching a negative performance by their team activated the regions of the brain typically associated with the experience of pain. Correspondingly, their team’s success triggered activity in an area related to the brain’s reward system. Intriguingly, similar feelings of pleasure were elicited by watching their opponents fail.

    And while the game itself provides excitement and fosters engagement, recent research suggests that the strongest connections among fans are often forged in the stands, through ritualized interactions that shape and reinforce collective identities.

    My research team has been exploring these effects at UConn and beyond. In a real-life experiment, we used wearable technology to track the emotional responses of Husky fans over an entire basketball season. As they watched the men’s and women’s games live, either in the stadium or on television, we found that those in the stadium reported more meaningful experiences and felt a stronger sense of connection with other fans ­compared to those watching together on TV. These shared experiences even left measurable traces in their bodies: Fans in the stadium exhibited greater emotional synchrony, their hearts beating in unison. In fact, physical co-presence was the most important predictor of emotional synchrony overall, more so than any element of the game itself, such as its pace, outcome, or score difference.

    Read on for more.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn Magazine: All Together Now

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Each time the Huskies win another championship, it is not just the team’s performance that galvanizes UConn Nation; it is the collective experience of fans chanting in unison in Gampel or at Rentschler, celebrating together in the streets, and proudly displaying their UConn gear that forges a strong sense of community. By synchronizing our appearances, our actions, and — as my research team’s studies reveal — our emotions, fandom compels us to act as one, look as one, and feel as one.

    Growing up in Greece, I witnessed this deep emotional investment firsthand. Entire cities would come to a standstill before a football derby, with those not in the stadium glued to their televisions. I met couples who left their own wedding receptions early to attend a match, showing up at the stadium still dressed in their wedding attire. Scientific research shows that sports fans can identify so strongly with their team that they experience the game’s emotional highs and lows as though they were playing the game themselves. One study shows testosterone levels rising among fans of the winning team and falling among those of the losing team. Those reactions can even be observed in the brain.

    When a team of researchers placed Red Sox and Yankees fans in a brain scanner and showed them real games, they found that fans watching a negative performance by their team activated the regions of the brain typically associated with the experience of pain. Correspondingly, their team’s success triggered activity in an area related to the brain’s reward system. Intriguingly, similar feelings of pleasure were elicited by watching their opponents fail.

    And while the game itself provides excitement and fosters engagement, recent research suggests that the strongest connections among fans are often forged in the stands, through ritualized interactions that shape and reinforce collective identities.

    My research team has been exploring these effects at UConn and beyond. In a real-life experiment, we used wearable technology to track the emotional responses of Husky fans over an entire basketball season. As they watched the men’s and women’s games live, either in the stadium or on television, we found that those in the stadium reported more meaningful experiences and felt a stronger sense of connection with other fans ­compared to those watching together on TV. These shared experiences even left measurable traces in their bodies: Fans in the stadium exhibited greater emotional synchrony, their hearts beating in unison. In fact, physical co-presence was the most important predictor of emotional synchrony overall, more so than any element of the game itself, such as its pace, outcome, or score difference.

    Read on for more.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: AI in K-12 Education: Partners in Progress, Not Replacements

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    As artificial intelligence continues to transform industries worldwide, educators and researchers with the Neag School of Education are exploring how it might reshape teaching and learning. The Neag School’s annual Teaching and Learning with Technology Conference in May offered insights into AI’s promise and challenges in the classroom, including how AI can enhance creativity, personalize learning, and support teachers, while preserving the deeply human heart of education.

    Timothy “TJ” Neville ’04 MA, ’18 MA, an instructional technology specialist with Farmington Public Schools who has over two decades of experience in education and technology and presented at the conference, emphasized that education remains fundamentally human. While AI is powerful, he insists it should be viewed as a partner, not a replacement, for teachers.

    “Education has always been, and will remain, a deeply human endeavor,” Neville says. “AI offers an opportunity to elevate our practice — not to replace our expertise.”

    “While AI is powerful, it should be viewed as a partner, not a replacement, for teachers,” Timothy “TJ” Neville ’04 MA, ’18 MA says.

    He encourages educators to see AI as a collaborative tool that can generate resources, manage routine tasks, and give teachers time to focus on what humans do best: building relationships and fostering deeper learning.

    One of AI’s biggest strengths is helping teachers tailor learning to students’ diverse needs. For example, simple tools like student interest surveys combined with AI allow teachers to craft lessons that engage learners more personally. Neville’s district trains educators to use AI to create leveled readings, contextual vocabulary lists, and visual representations of complex texts.

    “AI can help teachers address students’ readiness levels, interests, and learning profiles,” Neville says. “Teachers can quickly generate differentiated resources that remove barriers and make learning more accessible to all.”

    Neville recalls a successful example from his district, where teachers used AI to support multilingual learners struggling with reading comprehension. By generating differentiated resources and visual aids, teachers could offer immediate, personalized help. This approach soon expanded to benefit all students, as well as led to further training for staff, showing how AI’s impact can ripple through an entire district..

    “Teachers could respond in the moment,” Neville says. “If a student struggled with a text, a teacher could create a visualization instantly, helping them understand.”

    Education has always been, and will remain, a deeply human endeavor. AI offers an opportunity to elevate our practice — not to replace our expertise. &#8212 Timothy ‘TJ’ Neville ’04 MA, ’18 MA

    Shuyu Wang, a Neag School of Education doctoral student who presented at the conference, agrees. Drawing on her experience with an educational technology company in China, Wang describes how AI-powered platforms let students interact through tablets while software tracks engagement data. This helps teachers analyze learning behaviors and tailor support in real time. She believes personalized learning is one of AI’s most promising contributions, helping teachers spot learning gaps and save time.

    “Teachers spend so much time creating materials for different students,” she says. “AI can automate parts of that, freeing teachers to connect emotionally and socially with students.”

    Despite its benefits, AI in education comes with significant challenges. Neville highlights the need for clear guidance on transparency, privacy, and equity: “It’s crucial that students know if AI is being used to provide feedback. Transparency is essential.”

    He warns against “cognitive offloading,” where students become too dependent on AI and fail to develop critical thinking skills. Wang shares similar concerns, particularly about how AI might increase pressure on students to chase perfection or its lack of emotional intelligence.

    “AI can’t read emotions like teachers can,” she says. “If a student is upset, a teacher can see that and respond with care.”

    Another challenge is bias. Both Neville and Wang stress that AI models are trained on human-created data — which means bias inevitably seeps in, regardless of which country the AI or its training data originated from. Wang believes educators and students must learn to think critically about AI outputs.

    “We should read classic literature, news from different countries, and diverse perspectives,” she says. “Only then can we judge whether AI’s answers are trustworthy.”

    AI’s ability to produce polished work quickly raises questions about traditional assessments. Neville believes educators should shift focus from final products to the learning process itself.

    Teachers spend so much time creating materials for different students. AI can automate parts of that, freeing teachers to connect emotionally and socially with students. &#8212 Shuyu Wang, Neag School doctoral student

    “We want assessments that capture how students think, problem-solve, and apply tools,” he says. “The goal is to help students become more self-aware and reflective.”

    Wang echoes this sentiment. She believes AI can improve the efficiency of assessments but worries that it often overlooks the emotional effort students pour into their work.

    “It’s unfair if we only look at outputs,” she says. “AI can’t measure the feelings and creativity people invest in what they create.”

    Beyond helping students, Neville sees AI reshaping professional development for teachers. Tools like Edthena let teachers upload lesson videos for AI-driven analysis and feedback. Other platforms, like Swivl’s Mirror Talk, provide live feedback during instruction.

    “AI can make professional development more personalized and practical,” Neville says. “It can tailor support to each educator’s needs.”

    He envisions AI simulations where teachers get feedback from AI personas acting as students or supervisors, helping them practice real-world teaching scenarios. Wang believes the same strategies used to personalize student learning can enhance teacher training.

    “In our training programs, the learning needs are the same,” she says. “AI can help teachers build portfolios, gather feedback, and get support tailored to them.”

    Del Siegle, the Neag School’s Lynn and Ray Neag Chair for Gifted Education and Talent Development and organizer of the Teaching and Learning with Technology Conference, has explored how AI can help overcome creative roadblocks. For many, the biggest challenge in creative work is the fear of the blank page. Siegle believes AI offers a way past that paralysis.

    “AI isn’t here to replace our imaginations but to partner with them,” Siegle wrote in Gifted Child Today.

    AI isn’t here to replace our imaginations but to partner with them. &#8212 Del Siegle

    Creativity, he notes, is vital for problem-solving and well-being. Students who engage creatively understand their learning more deeply and gain confidence. While AI can generate poems, images, and ideas, Siegle argues it’s not truly creative in the human sense — it lacks emotion, experience, and personal meaning. But it can still be a powerful tool to help us get started.

    “Just make it exist first. You can make it good later,” Siegle says about the importance of overcoming perfectionism.

    AI tools like Goblin.tools and MagicSchool.ai help students break big tasks into smaller steps. They can produce rough drafts that students later refine, easing anxiety about starting.

    “AI can be the friendly assistant nudging us to take that first step,” Siegle says.

    Some fear AI will stifle creativity, leaving students reliant on algorithms instead of thinking for themselves, but Siegle argues that AI often sparks more original ideas. One study he cites found that students using ChatGPT generated more unique ideas than those using traditional brainstorming. He envisions students defining creative problems — like designing science experiments or writing stories — while AI suggests new angles, helps organize ideas, and offers fresh perspectives. This collaboration, he believes, creates results neither humans nor AI could achieve alone.

    As AI grows more capable, Siegle predicts it will transform the skills schools emphasize. Instead of memorizing facts, students will focus on creative thinking, connecting ideas across disciplines, and evaluating information critically. AI can help students at every level of creativity, Siegle says, from small personal projects to professional innovations. For everyday creators, AI offers a safe, judgment-free space to experiment without fear of failure. Wang agrees, stressing that AI should remain an assistant, not a replacement.

    “Teachers bring empathy, flexibility, and human understanding that technology can’t replicate,” she says.

    Neville echoes the same optimism, with caution: “AI can be an incredible tool. But it must always serve to enhance — not replace — the deeply human work at the heart of education.”

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: AI in K-12 Education: Partners in Progress, Not Replacements

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    As artificial intelligence continues to transform industries worldwide, educators and researchers with the Neag School of Education are exploring how it might reshape teaching and learning. The Neag School’s annual Teaching and Learning with Technology Conference in May offered insights into AI’s promise and challenges in the classroom, including how AI can enhance creativity, personalize learning, and support teachers, while preserving the deeply human heart of education.

    Timothy “TJ” Neville ’04 MA, ’18 MA, an instructional technology specialist with Farmington Public Schools who has over two decades of experience in education and technology and presented at the conference, emphasized that education remains fundamentally human. While AI is powerful, he insists it should be viewed as a partner, not a replacement, for teachers.

    “Education has always been, and will remain, a deeply human endeavor,” Neville says. “AI offers an opportunity to elevate our practice — not to replace our expertise.”

    “While AI is powerful, it should be viewed as a partner, not a replacement, for teachers,” Timothy “TJ” Neville ’04 MA, ’18 MA says.

    He encourages educators to see AI as a collaborative tool that can generate resources, manage routine tasks, and give teachers time to focus on what humans do best: building relationships and fostering deeper learning.

    One of AI’s biggest strengths is helping teachers tailor learning to students’ diverse needs. For example, simple tools like student interest surveys combined with AI allow teachers to craft lessons that engage learners more personally. Neville’s district trains educators to use AI to create leveled readings, contextual vocabulary lists, and visual representations of complex texts.

    “AI can help teachers address students’ readiness levels, interests, and learning profiles,” Neville says. “Teachers can quickly generate differentiated resources that remove barriers and make learning more accessible to all.”

    Neville recalls a successful example from his district, where teachers used AI to support multilingual learners struggling with reading comprehension. By generating differentiated resources and visual aids, teachers could offer immediate, personalized help. This approach soon expanded to benefit all students, as well as led to further training for staff, showing how AI’s impact can ripple through an entire district..

    “Teachers could respond in the moment,” Neville says. “If a student struggled with a text, a teacher could create a visualization instantly, helping them understand.”

    Education has always been, and will remain, a deeply human endeavor. AI offers an opportunity to elevate our practice — not to replace our expertise. &#8212 Timothy ‘TJ’ Neville ’04 MA, ’18 MA

    Shuyu Wang, a Neag School of Education doctoral student who presented at the conference, agrees. Drawing on her experience with an educational technology company in China, Wang describes how AI-powered platforms let students interact through tablets while software tracks engagement data. This helps teachers analyze learning behaviors and tailor support in real time. She believes personalized learning is one of AI’s most promising contributions, helping teachers spot learning gaps and save time.

    “Teachers spend so much time creating materials for different students,” she says. “AI can automate parts of that, freeing teachers to connect emotionally and socially with students.”

    Despite its benefits, AI in education comes with significant challenges. Neville highlights the need for clear guidance on transparency, privacy, and equity: “It’s crucial that students know if AI is being used to provide feedback. Transparency is essential.”

    He warns against “cognitive offloading,” where students become too dependent on AI and fail to develop critical thinking skills. Wang shares similar concerns, particularly about how AI might increase pressure on students to chase perfection or its lack of emotional intelligence.

    “AI can’t read emotions like teachers can,” she says. “If a student is upset, a teacher can see that and respond with care.”

    Another challenge is bias. Both Neville and Wang stress that AI models are trained on human-created data — which means bias inevitably seeps in, regardless of which country the AI or its training data originated from. Wang believes educators and students must learn to think critically about AI outputs.

    “We should read classic literature, news from different countries, and diverse perspectives,” she says. “Only then can we judge whether AI’s answers are trustworthy.”

    AI’s ability to produce polished work quickly raises questions about traditional assessments. Neville believes educators should shift focus from final products to the learning process itself.

    Teachers spend so much time creating materials for different students. AI can automate parts of that, freeing teachers to connect emotionally and socially with students. &#8212 Shuyu Wang, Neag School doctoral student

    “We want assessments that capture how students think, problem-solve, and apply tools,” he says. “The goal is to help students become more self-aware and reflective.”

    Wang echoes this sentiment. She believes AI can improve the efficiency of assessments but worries that it often overlooks the emotional effort students pour into their work.

    “It’s unfair if we only look at outputs,” she says. “AI can’t measure the feelings and creativity people invest in what they create.”

    Beyond helping students, Neville sees AI reshaping professional development for teachers. Tools like Edthena let teachers upload lesson videos for AI-driven analysis and feedback. Other platforms, like Swivl’s Mirror Talk, provide live feedback during instruction.

    “AI can make professional development more personalized and practical,” Neville says. “It can tailor support to each educator’s needs.”

    He envisions AI simulations where teachers get feedback from AI personas acting as students or supervisors, helping them practice real-world teaching scenarios. Wang believes the same strategies used to personalize student learning can enhance teacher training.

    “In our training programs, the learning needs are the same,” she says. “AI can help teachers build portfolios, gather feedback, and get support tailored to them.”

    Del Siegle, the Neag School’s Lynn and Ray Neag Chair for Gifted Education and Talent Development and organizer of the Teaching and Learning with Technology Conference, has explored how AI can help overcome creative roadblocks. For many, the biggest challenge in creative work is the fear of the blank page. Siegle believes AI offers a way past that paralysis.

    “AI isn’t here to replace our imaginations but to partner with them,” Siegle wrote in Gifted Child Today.

    AI isn’t here to replace our imaginations but to partner with them. &#8212 Del Siegle

    Creativity, he notes, is vital for problem-solving and well-being. Students who engage creatively understand their learning more deeply and gain confidence. While AI can generate poems, images, and ideas, Siegle argues it’s not truly creative in the human sense — it lacks emotion, experience, and personal meaning. But it can still be a powerful tool to help us get started.

    “Just make it exist first. You can make it good later,” Siegle says about the importance of overcoming perfectionism.

    AI tools like Goblin.tools and MagicSchool.ai help students break big tasks into smaller steps. They can produce rough drafts that students later refine, easing anxiety about starting.

    “AI can be the friendly assistant nudging us to take that first step,” Siegle says.

    Some fear AI will stifle creativity, leaving students reliant on algorithms instead of thinking for themselves, but Siegle argues that AI often sparks more original ideas. One study he cites found that students using ChatGPT generated more unique ideas than those using traditional brainstorming. He envisions students defining creative problems — like designing science experiments or writing stories — while AI suggests new angles, helps organize ideas, and offers fresh perspectives. This collaboration, he believes, creates results neither humans nor AI could achieve alone.

    As AI grows more capable, Siegle predicts it will transform the skills schools emphasize. Instead of memorizing facts, students will focus on creative thinking, connecting ideas across disciplines, and evaluating information critically. AI can help students at every level of creativity, Siegle says, from small personal projects to professional innovations. For everyday creators, AI offers a safe, judgment-free space to experiment without fear of failure. Wang agrees, stressing that AI should remain an assistant, not a replacement.

    “Teachers bring empathy, flexibility, and human understanding that technology can’t replicate,” she says.

    Neville echoes the same optimism, with caution: “AI can be an incredible tool. But it must always serve to enhance — not replace — the deeply human work at the heart of education.”

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Antisocial tenant evicted as part of tackling County Lines

    Source: City of York

    Following a ruling by a District Judge, a council tenant was evicted yesterday (Thursday 10 July 2025), after criminal activities and anti-social behaviour caused misery for their neighbours.

    This follows reports from local residents to the Council and North Yorkshire Police about substance misuse and dealing, and anti-social behaviour at a home in the west of the city.

    The anti-social behaviour in the home and local area included loud noise and arguments at the house, which disrupted and worried local people about its impact on their families.

    Following ongoing work with residents and North Yorkshire Police, City of York Council served the tenant a number of legal warnings of eviction. The tenant then unsuccessfully appealed against the warnings and also breached them.

    The Council then applied to York County Court for an eviction warrant. After considering the evidence, the District Judge granted it and evicted the tenant on Thursday 10 July.

    Councillor Michael Pavlovic, Executive Member for Housing and Safer Communities at City of York Council, said:

    Working with the police and neighbours, as this case shows, we take action against tenancy breaches to stop anti-social behaviour. We also fully support work to tackle illegal activity such as County Lines and the misery it heaps on communities.

    “This home will now be prepared to be sensitively re-let to another tenant as quickly as possible.”

    Sergeant Charlotte Gregory, from the York Community Safety Hub, said:

    Alongside City of York Council, we have worked tirelessly to robustly address the deeply concerning behaviour of the tenant, resulting in the County Court granting full possession of the property back to the Council.

    “This positive outcome, which falls under Operation Titan, North Yorkshire Police’s dedicated effort to combat County Lines drug dealing, shows we will use all available powers to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour. The multi-agency approach involves more than criminal convictions, as this successful eviction clearly demonstrates.

    “The detrimental impact this behaviour has on residents, and the community as a whole, will not be tolerated.

    “We encourage residents to keep feeding information to the Council, to the police, or anonymously to Crimestoppers.

    “You can be assured that we will use it effectively against those suspected of being involved in drug dealing and related anti-social behaviour in our area.”

    The tenant was advised where they could get information about their options for new accommodation.

    To report anti-social behaviour:

    To report drug-related crime:

    • Anyone with any information about suspected drug-related crime are urged to make a report via the North Yorkshire Police website or by calling 101 and speaking to the Force Control Room.
    • Always dial 999 if an emergency response is required.
    • If you would prefer to remain anonymous, please call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or make a report online.

    The signs of drug-dealing can include:

    • Increased callers at a home at all times of the day or night
    • Increase in cars pulling up for short periods of time
    • Different accents at a home
    • Anti-social behaviour at a home
    • Not seeing the resident for long periods of time
    • Drug-related waste such as small plastic bags and syringes
    • Windows covered or curtains closed for long periods.

    For professional support for substance-related issues, visit:

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn’s Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy Recognizes Faculty Research Excellence

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    UConn’s Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy (InCHIP) is recognizing the recipients of its 2025 Faculty Excellence Awards.

    These awards celebrate UConn and UConn Health faculty and students who are making important contributions to their field, providing impactful mentorship, furthering our understanding of racial and ethnic health disparities, and engaging with the community through research to improve health.

    “InCHIP’s Excellence Awards honor the innovative work that principal investigators, faculty affiliates, and students are conducting to advance social and behavioral health sciences, provide students with transformative educational experiences, and enhance community well-being. Congratulations to our 2025 Excellence Award recipients,” says Tricia Leahey, director of InCHIP and professor in the Department of Allied Health Sciences.

    The awardees will be recognized during InCHIP’s Fall 2025 annual meeting and in its annual report. They will also receive funds to support their program of research.

    The 2025 Excellence Award recipients include:

    Excellence Award for Junior Faculty Research

    Sudha Srinivasan, assistant professor
    of kinesiology in the College of
    Agriculture, Health, and Natural
    Resources (contributed photo)

    Sudha Srinivasan

    Sudha Srinivasan is an assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology in the College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources (CAHNR). Her research focuses on the development of child- and family-friendly movement-based interventions and technologies that empower children with developmental disabilities. She has recently worked with children diagnosed with autism and cerebral palsy to create engaging therapies leveraging music, dance, yoga, and modified ride-on toys to improve movement and function. Srinivasan is mindful of parents’ needs and seeks to develop interventions that fit in the context of family and school life, ensuring treatments are affordable, accessible, and fun for children to perform.

    Since arriving at UConn in 2019, Srinivasan has had 31 peer-reviewed journal articles published, many of which are published in high-impact journals in her field. Her work requires access to specialized equipment, such as the ride-on intervention like the Wild Thing. To support this work, she has sought research funding, securing an R21 from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and a research award from the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy.

    Na Zhang, assistant professor of human development and family sciences in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (contributed photo)

    Na Zhang

    Na Zhang is an assistant professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS). Her research program underscores the importance of improving mental health and well-being outcomes in children and adolescents, parents, and couples. She directs the Family Resilience and Mindfulness Empowerment (FRAME) Lab, which develops, evaluates, and implements mindfulness-informed family-based interventions to promote mental health and well-being in high-risk families. She has published 35 peer-reviewed journal articles including 14 as first-author. Her research on mindfulness in the context of families has advanced the field by providing strong evidence for the use of mindfulness-based interventions to prevent mental health challenges in highly stressful circumstances.

    Zhang is currently working on a National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)-funded K-01 to develop a fully web-based mindfulness parenting intervention for high-risk divorced families. The project aims to reduce mental health challenges, addressing key gaps in the research literature. Currently, there are no fully self-administered online parenting interventions to reduce parents’ mental stress. Additionally, her previous research has demonstrated that behavioral parent training programs are less effective for parents who are experiencing psychological distress.

    Excellence for Research on Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities and Health Outcomes of Racism

    Debarchana Ghosh, professor of geography, sustainability, community, and urban studies in CLAS (contributed photo)

    Debarchana Ghosh

    Debarchana (Debs) Ghosh is a professor in the Department of Geography, Sustainability, Community, and Urban Studies whose research focuses on the reciprocal relationship between place and health. Ghosh employs a variety of research methods including spatial analysis, public health theory, and community-engaged research to explore the complex interconnection between health disparities and social-environmental factors. She prioritizes the inclusion of underrepresented populations and communities in her work. Ghosh also developed the innovative structural racism and discrimination index (SRD Index) to illustrate how residential segregation, housing, healthcare, income, and crime and incarceration impact health.

    Ghosh is currently working on a five-year NIH R01 to quantify the impact of structural racism on cancer-control behaviors among African Americans. This project addresses a critical knowledge gap in how cancer disparities are understood and how structural racism is embedded in individuals’ lives as they navigate cancer prevention, treatment, and survival. Her commitment to understanding how racial disparities affect health move past the idea of race as a variable, underscoring the role that racism, not race, has in influencing health outcomes. Her work has reframed how health disparities are studied and interpreted.

    Community-Engaged Health Research Excellence Award

    Beth Russell, professor of human development and family sciences in CLAS (contributed photo)

    Beth Russell

    Beth Russell is a professor and associate department head for graduate studies in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences. Her research focuses on how people manage emotional distress and the development of interventions that improve emotional well-being. Her research exemplifies the power of community-engaged research in solving pressing societal challenges. Community engagement is a vital component of her work for its role in improving health and well-being for individuals and families. She is working on projects related to mindfulness interventions for youth and young adults; substance use and recovery; and stress, coping, and resilience.

    Russell directs the Center for Applied Research in Human Development (CARHD) and is co-director of the Collaboratory on School and Child Health (CSCH), both at UConn. CARHD facilitates community-engaged scholarship by connecting researchers and community partners to develop and evaluate human service programs that benefit communities. Russell and CARHD have worked with the Capitol Region Education Council (CREC) for more than 15 years evaluating its federally-funded 21st Century Community Learning Centers After School Grant Program. She has also partnered with local state and nonprofit partners including the Connecticut Departments of Children and Families and Education, United Way, EASTCONN, The Village for Children and Families, and Family Life Education. She has been praised for her intentionality, improving programming and services without burdening staff and by considering a community partner’s needs and resources.

    Excellence in Faculty Mentoring Award

    Golda S. Ginsburg, professor of psychiatry, at her office in West Hartford on Aug. 13, 2014. (Sean Flynn/UConn Photo)

    Golda Ginsburg

    Golda Ginsburg is a professor in the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry at the UConn School of Medicine. A leader in pediatric anxiety treatment, she has developed and evaluated interventions for children who have psychiatric disorders, and her research focuses on preventing anxiety disorders, one of the most pervasive psychiatric disorders impacting youth. Ginsburg directs the Child and Adolescent Anxiety and Depression Program (CAMP) Lab at UConn Health. This lab provides students and trainees with significant academic and training experiences.

    Ginsburg has been praised for being a patient, dedicated, and supportive mentor who sees mentees as individuals and works with them to ensure they get the experiences necessary to achieve their goals and advance their careers. Since joining UConn, she has mentored more than 50 trainees at various levels of education from high schoolers to post-doctoral fellows. Many of Ginsburg’s student mentees have secured external funding, most notably from the U.S. Department of Education, published peer-reviewed journal articles, or presented at conferences. Ginsburg has also guided junior faculty in successfully applying for external research funding. She serves as a reviewer for the Department of Psychiatry’s mock grant reviews. Ginsburg has received a K24 Mentoring grant from the NIMH. This is a testament to her exceptional mentorship.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn’s Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy Recognizes Faculty Research Excellence

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    UConn’s Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy (InCHIP) is recognizing the recipients of its 2025 Faculty Excellence Awards.

    These awards celebrate UConn and UConn Health faculty and students who are making important contributions to their field, providing impactful mentorship, furthering our understanding of racial and ethnic health disparities, and engaging with the community through research to improve health.

    “InCHIP’s Excellence Awards honor the innovative work that principal investigators, faculty affiliates, and students are conducting to advance social and behavioral health sciences, provide students with transformative educational experiences, and enhance community well-being. Congratulations to our 2025 Excellence Award recipients,” says Tricia Leahey, director of InCHIP and professor in the Department of Allied Health Sciences.

    The awardees will be recognized during InCHIP’s Fall 2025 annual meeting and in its annual report. They will also receive funds to support their program of research.

    The 2025 Excellence Award recipients include:

    Excellence Award for Junior Faculty Research

    Sudha Srinivasan, assistant professor
    of kinesiology in the College of
    Agriculture, Health, and Natural
    Resources (contributed photo)

    Sudha Srinivasan

    Sudha Srinivasan is an assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology in the College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources (CAHNR). Her research focuses on the development of child- and family-friendly movement-based interventions and technologies that empower children with developmental disabilities. She has recently worked with children diagnosed with autism and cerebral palsy to create engaging therapies leveraging music, dance, yoga, and modified ride-on toys to improve movement and function. Srinivasan is mindful of parents’ needs and seeks to develop interventions that fit in the context of family and school life, ensuring treatments are affordable, accessible, and fun for children to perform.

    Since arriving at UConn in 2019, Srinivasan has had 31 peer-reviewed journal articles published, many of which are published in high-impact journals in her field. Her work requires access to specialized equipment, such as the ride-on intervention like the Wild Thing. To support this work, she has sought research funding, securing an R21 from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and a research award from the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy.

    Na Zhang, assistant professor of human development and family sciences in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (contributed photo)

    Na Zhang

    Na Zhang is an assistant professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS). Her research program underscores the importance of improving mental health and well-being outcomes in children and adolescents, parents, and couples. She directs the Family Resilience and Mindfulness Empowerment (FRAME) Lab, which develops, evaluates, and implements mindfulness-informed family-based interventions to promote mental health and well-being in high-risk families. She has published 35 peer-reviewed journal articles including 14 as first-author. Her research on mindfulness in the context of families has advanced the field by providing strong evidence for the use of mindfulness-based interventions to prevent mental health challenges in highly stressful circumstances.

    Zhang is currently working on a National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)-funded K-01 to develop a fully web-based mindfulness parenting intervention for high-risk divorced families. The project aims to reduce mental health challenges, addressing key gaps in the research literature. Currently, there are no fully self-administered online parenting interventions to reduce parents’ mental stress. Additionally, her previous research has demonstrated that behavioral parent training programs are less effective for parents who are experiencing psychological distress.

    Excellence for Research on Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities and Health Outcomes of Racism

    Debarchana Ghosh, professor of geography, sustainability, community, and urban studies in CLAS (contributed photo)

    Debarchana Ghosh

    Debarchana (Debs) Ghosh is a professor in the Department of Geography, Sustainability, Community, and Urban Studies whose research focuses on the reciprocal relationship between place and health. Ghosh employs a variety of research methods including spatial analysis, public health theory, and community-engaged research to explore the complex interconnection between health disparities and social-environmental factors. She prioritizes the inclusion of underrepresented populations and communities in her work. Ghosh also developed the innovative structural racism and discrimination index (SRD Index) to illustrate how residential segregation, housing, healthcare, income, and crime and incarceration impact health.

    Ghosh is currently working on a five-year NIH R01 to quantify the impact of structural racism on cancer-control behaviors among African Americans. This project addresses a critical knowledge gap in how cancer disparities are understood and how structural racism is embedded in individuals’ lives as they navigate cancer prevention, treatment, and survival. Her commitment to understanding how racial disparities affect health move past the idea of race as a variable, underscoring the role that racism, not race, has in influencing health outcomes. Her work has reframed how health disparities are studied and interpreted.

    Community-Engaged Health Research Excellence Award

    Beth Russell, professor of human development and family sciences in CLAS (contributed photo)

    Beth Russell

    Beth Russell is a professor and associate department head for graduate studies in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences. Her research focuses on how people manage emotional distress and the development of interventions that improve emotional well-being. Her research exemplifies the power of community-engaged research in solving pressing societal challenges. Community engagement is a vital component of her work for its role in improving health and well-being for individuals and families. She is working on projects related to mindfulness interventions for youth and young adults; substance use and recovery; and stress, coping, and resilience.

    Russell directs the Center for Applied Research in Human Development (CARHD) and is co-director of the Collaboratory on School and Child Health (CSCH), both at UConn. CARHD facilitates community-engaged scholarship by connecting researchers and community partners to develop and evaluate human service programs that benefit communities. Russell and CARHD have worked with the Capitol Region Education Council (CREC) for more than 15 years evaluating its federally-funded 21st Century Community Learning Centers After School Grant Program. She has also partnered with local state and nonprofit partners including the Connecticut Departments of Children and Families and Education, United Way, EASTCONN, The Village for Children and Families, and Family Life Education. She has been praised for her intentionality, improving programming and services without burdening staff and by considering a community partner’s needs and resources.

    Excellence in Faculty Mentoring Award

    Golda S. Ginsburg, professor of psychiatry, at her office in West Hartford on Aug. 13, 2014. (Sean Flynn/UConn Photo)

    Golda Ginsburg

    Golda Ginsburg is a professor in the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry at the UConn School of Medicine. A leader in pediatric anxiety treatment, she has developed and evaluated interventions for children who have psychiatric disorders, and her research focuses on preventing anxiety disorders, one of the most pervasive psychiatric disorders impacting youth. Ginsburg directs the Child and Adolescent Anxiety and Depression Program (CAMP) Lab at UConn Health. This lab provides students and trainees with significant academic and training experiences.

    Ginsburg has been praised for being a patient, dedicated, and supportive mentor who sees mentees as individuals and works with them to ensure they get the experiences necessary to achieve their goals and advance their careers. Since joining UConn, she has mentored more than 50 trainees at various levels of education from high schoolers to post-doctoral fellows. Many of Ginsburg’s student mentees have secured external funding, most notably from the U.S. Department of Education, published peer-reviewed journal articles, or presented at conferences. Ginsburg has also guided junior faculty in successfully applying for external research funding. She serves as a reviewer for the Department of Psychiatry’s mock grant reviews. Ginsburg has received a K24 Mentoring grant from the NIMH. This is a testament to her exceptional mentorship.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn’s Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy Recognizes Faculty Research Excellence

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    UConn’s Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy (InCHIP) is recognizing the recipients of its 2025 Faculty Excellence Awards.

    These awards celebrate UConn and UConn Health faculty and students who are making important contributions to their field, providing impactful mentorship, furthering our understanding of racial and ethnic health disparities, and engaging with the community through research to improve health.

    “InCHIP’s Excellence Awards honor the innovative work that principal investigators, faculty affiliates, and students are conducting to advance social and behavioral health sciences, provide students with transformative educational experiences, and enhance community well-being. Congratulations to our 2025 Excellence Award recipients,” says Tricia Leahey, director of InCHIP and professor in the Department of Allied Health Sciences.

    The awardees will be recognized during InCHIP’s Fall 2025 annual meeting and in its annual report. They will also receive funds to support their program of research.

    The 2025 Excellence Award recipients include:

    Excellence Award for Junior Faculty Research

    Sudha Srinivasan, assistant professor
    of kinesiology in the College of
    Agriculture, Health, and Natural
    Resources (contributed photo)

    Sudha Srinivasan

    Sudha Srinivasan is an assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology in the College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources (CAHNR). Her research focuses on the development of child- and family-friendly movement-based interventions and technologies that empower children with developmental disabilities. She has recently worked with children diagnosed with autism and cerebral palsy to create engaging therapies leveraging music, dance, yoga, and modified ride-on toys to improve movement and function. Srinivasan is mindful of parents’ needs and seeks to develop interventions that fit in the context of family and school life, ensuring treatments are affordable, accessible, and fun for children to perform.

    Since arriving at UConn in 2019, Srinivasan has had 31 peer-reviewed journal articles published, many of which are published in high-impact journals in her field. Her work requires access to specialized equipment, such as the ride-on intervention like the Wild Thing. To support this work, she has sought research funding, securing an R21 from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and a research award from the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy.

    Na Zhang, assistant professor of human development and family sciences in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (contributed photo)

    Na Zhang

    Na Zhang is an assistant professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS). Her research program underscores the importance of improving mental health and well-being outcomes in children and adolescents, parents, and couples. She directs the Family Resilience and Mindfulness Empowerment (FRAME) Lab, which develops, evaluates, and implements mindfulness-informed family-based interventions to promote mental health and well-being in high-risk families. She has published 35 peer-reviewed journal articles including 14 as first-author. Her research on mindfulness in the context of families has advanced the field by providing strong evidence for the use of mindfulness-based interventions to prevent mental health challenges in highly stressful circumstances.

    Zhang is currently working on a National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)-funded K-01 to develop a fully web-based mindfulness parenting intervention for high-risk divorced families. The project aims to reduce mental health challenges, addressing key gaps in the research literature. Currently, there are no fully self-administered online parenting interventions to reduce parents’ mental stress. Additionally, her previous research has demonstrated that behavioral parent training programs are less effective for parents who are experiencing psychological distress.

    Excellence for Research on Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities and Health Outcomes of Racism

    Debarchana Ghosh, professor of geography, sustainability, community, and urban studies in CLAS (contributed photo)

    Debarchana Ghosh

    Debarchana (Debs) Ghosh is a professor in the Department of Geography, Sustainability, Community, and Urban Studies whose research focuses on the reciprocal relationship between place and health. Ghosh employs a variety of research methods including spatial analysis, public health theory, and community-engaged research to explore the complex interconnection between health disparities and social-environmental factors. She prioritizes the inclusion of underrepresented populations and communities in her work. Ghosh also developed the innovative structural racism and discrimination index (SRD Index) to illustrate how residential segregation, housing, healthcare, income, and crime and incarceration impact health.

    Ghosh is currently working on a five-year NIH R01 to quantify the impact of structural racism on cancer-control behaviors among African Americans. This project addresses a critical knowledge gap in how cancer disparities are understood and how structural racism is embedded in individuals’ lives as they navigate cancer prevention, treatment, and survival. Her commitment to understanding how racial disparities affect health move past the idea of race as a variable, underscoring the role that racism, not race, has in influencing health outcomes. Her work has reframed how health disparities are studied and interpreted.

    Community-Engaged Health Research Excellence Award

    Beth Russell, professor of human development and family sciences in CLAS (contributed photo)

    Beth Russell

    Beth Russell is a professor and associate department head for graduate studies in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences. Her research focuses on how people manage emotional distress and the development of interventions that improve emotional well-being. Her research exemplifies the power of community-engaged research in solving pressing societal challenges. Community engagement is a vital component of her work for its role in improving health and well-being for individuals and families. She is working on projects related to mindfulness interventions for youth and young adults; substance use and recovery; and stress, coping, and resilience.

    Russell directs the Center for Applied Research in Human Development (CARHD) and is co-director of the Collaboratory on School and Child Health (CSCH), both at UConn. CARHD facilitates community-engaged scholarship by connecting researchers and community partners to develop and evaluate human service programs that benefit communities. Russell and CARHD have worked with the Capitol Region Education Council (CREC) for more than 15 years evaluating its federally-funded 21st Century Community Learning Centers After School Grant Program. She has also partnered with local state and nonprofit partners including the Connecticut Departments of Children and Families and Education, United Way, EASTCONN, The Village for Children and Families, and Family Life Education. She has been praised for her intentionality, improving programming and services without burdening staff and by considering a community partner’s needs and resources.

    Excellence in Faculty Mentoring Award

    Golda S. Ginsburg, professor of psychiatry, at her office in West Hartford on Aug. 13, 2014. (Sean Flynn/UConn Photo)

    Golda Ginsburg

    Golda Ginsburg is a professor in the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry at the UConn School of Medicine. A leader in pediatric anxiety treatment, she has developed and evaluated interventions for children who have psychiatric disorders, and her research focuses on preventing anxiety disorders, one of the most pervasive psychiatric disorders impacting youth. Ginsburg directs the Child and Adolescent Anxiety and Depression Program (CAMP) Lab at UConn Health. This lab provides students and trainees with significant academic and training experiences.

    Ginsburg has been praised for being a patient, dedicated, and supportive mentor who sees mentees as individuals and works with them to ensure they get the experiences necessary to achieve their goals and advance their careers. Since joining UConn, she has mentored more than 50 trainees at various levels of education from high schoolers to post-doctoral fellows. Many of Ginsburg’s student mentees have secured external funding, most notably from the U.S. Department of Education, published peer-reviewed journal articles, or presented at conferences. Ginsburg has also guided junior faculty in successfully applying for external research funding. She serves as a reviewer for the Department of Psychiatry’s mock grant reviews. Ginsburg has received a K24 Mentoring grant from the NIMH. This is a testament to her exceptional mentorship.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn’s Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy Recognizes Faculty Research Excellence

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    UConn’s Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy (InCHIP) is recognizing the recipients of its 2025 Faculty Excellence Awards.

    These awards celebrate UConn and UConn Health faculty and students who are making important contributions to their field, providing impactful mentorship, furthering our understanding of racial and ethnic health disparities, and engaging with the community through research to improve health.

    “InCHIP’s Excellence Awards honor the innovative work that principal investigators, faculty affiliates, and students are conducting to advance social and behavioral health sciences, provide students with transformative educational experiences, and enhance community well-being. Congratulations to our 2025 Excellence Award recipients,” says Tricia Leahey, director of InCHIP and professor in the Department of Allied Health Sciences.

    The awardees will be recognized during InCHIP’s Fall 2025 annual meeting and in its annual report. They will also receive funds to support their program of research.

    The 2025 Excellence Award recipients include:

    Excellence Award for Junior Faculty Research

    Sudha Srinivasan, assistant professor
    of kinesiology in the College of
    Agriculture, Health, and Natural
    Resources (contributed photo)

    Sudha Srinivasan

    Sudha Srinivasan is an assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology in the College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources (CAHNR). Her research focuses on the development of child- and family-friendly movement-based interventions and technologies that empower children with developmental disabilities. She has recently worked with children diagnosed with autism and cerebral palsy to create engaging therapies leveraging music, dance, yoga, and modified ride-on toys to improve movement and function. Srinivasan is mindful of parents’ needs and seeks to develop interventions that fit in the context of family and school life, ensuring treatments are affordable, accessible, and fun for children to perform.

    Since arriving at UConn in 2019, Srinivasan has had 31 peer-reviewed journal articles published, many of which are published in high-impact journals in her field. Her work requires access to specialized equipment, such as the ride-on intervention like the Wild Thing. To support this work, she has sought research funding, securing an R21 from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and a research award from the American Academy of Cerebral Palsy.

    Na Zhang, assistant professor of human development and family sciences in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (contributed photo)

    Na Zhang

    Na Zhang is an assistant professor in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS). Her research program underscores the importance of improving mental health and well-being outcomes in children and adolescents, parents, and couples. She directs the Family Resilience and Mindfulness Empowerment (FRAME) Lab, which develops, evaluates, and implements mindfulness-informed family-based interventions to promote mental health and well-being in high-risk families. She has published 35 peer-reviewed journal articles including 14 as first-author. Her research on mindfulness in the context of families has advanced the field by providing strong evidence for the use of mindfulness-based interventions to prevent mental health challenges in highly stressful circumstances.

    Zhang is currently working on a National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)-funded K-01 to develop a fully web-based mindfulness parenting intervention for high-risk divorced families. The project aims to reduce mental health challenges, addressing key gaps in the research literature. Currently, there are no fully self-administered online parenting interventions to reduce parents’ mental stress. Additionally, her previous research has demonstrated that behavioral parent training programs are less effective for parents who are experiencing psychological distress.

    Excellence for Research on Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities and Health Outcomes of Racism

    Debarchana Ghosh, professor of geography, sustainability, community, and urban studies in CLAS (contributed photo)

    Debarchana Ghosh

    Debarchana (Debs) Ghosh is a professor in the Department of Geography, Sustainability, Community, and Urban Studies whose research focuses on the reciprocal relationship between place and health. Ghosh employs a variety of research methods including spatial analysis, public health theory, and community-engaged research to explore the complex interconnection between health disparities and social-environmental factors. She prioritizes the inclusion of underrepresented populations and communities in her work. Ghosh also developed the innovative structural racism and discrimination index (SRD Index) to illustrate how residential segregation, housing, healthcare, income, and crime and incarceration impact health.

    Ghosh is currently working on a five-year NIH R01 to quantify the impact of structural racism on cancer-control behaviors among African Americans. This project addresses a critical knowledge gap in how cancer disparities are understood and how structural racism is embedded in individuals’ lives as they navigate cancer prevention, treatment, and survival. Her commitment to understanding how racial disparities affect health move past the idea of race as a variable, underscoring the role that racism, not race, has in influencing health outcomes. Her work has reframed how health disparities are studied and interpreted.

    Community-Engaged Health Research Excellence Award

    Beth Russell, professor of human development and family sciences in CLAS (contributed photo)

    Beth Russell

    Beth Russell is a professor and associate department head for graduate studies in the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences. Her research focuses on how people manage emotional distress and the development of interventions that improve emotional well-being. Her research exemplifies the power of community-engaged research in solving pressing societal challenges. Community engagement is a vital component of her work for its role in improving health and well-being for individuals and families. She is working on projects related to mindfulness interventions for youth and young adults; substance use and recovery; and stress, coping, and resilience.

    Russell directs the Center for Applied Research in Human Development (CARHD) and is co-director of the Collaboratory on School and Child Health (CSCH), both at UConn. CARHD facilitates community-engaged scholarship by connecting researchers and community partners to develop and evaluate human service programs that benefit communities. Russell and CARHD have worked with the Capitol Region Education Council (CREC) for more than 15 years evaluating its federally-funded 21st Century Community Learning Centers After School Grant Program. She has also partnered with local state and nonprofit partners including the Connecticut Departments of Children and Families and Education, United Way, EASTCONN, The Village for Children and Families, and Family Life Education. She has been praised for her intentionality, improving programming and services without burdening staff and by considering a community partner’s needs and resources.

    Excellence in Faculty Mentoring Award

    Golda S. Ginsburg, professor of psychiatry, at her office in West Hartford on Aug. 13, 2014. (Sean Flynn/UConn Photo)

    Golda Ginsburg

    Golda Ginsburg is a professor in the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry at the UConn School of Medicine. A leader in pediatric anxiety treatment, she has developed and evaluated interventions for children who have psychiatric disorders, and her research focuses on preventing anxiety disorders, one of the most pervasive psychiatric disorders impacting youth. Ginsburg directs the Child and Adolescent Anxiety and Depression Program (CAMP) Lab at UConn Health. This lab provides students and trainees with significant academic and training experiences.

    Ginsburg has been praised for being a patient, dedicated, and supportive mentor who sees mentees as individuals and works with them to ensure they get the experiences necessary to achieve their goals and advance their careers. Since joining UConn, she has mentored more than 50 trainees at various levels of education from high schoolers to post-doctoral fellows. Many of Ginsburg’s student mentees have secured external funding, most notably from the U.S. Department of Education, published peer-reviewed journal articles, or presented at conferences. Ginsburg has also guided junior faculty in successfully applying for external research funding. She serves as a reviewer for the Department of Psychiatry’s mock grant reviews. Ginsburg has received a K24 Mentoring grant from the NIMH. This is a testament to her exceptional mentorship.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA: State Agencies Directed to Report on Tariff Impacts

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today announced actions to assess cost increases and supply chain disruptions caused by the Trump Administration’s destructive tariff policies. At the Governor’s direction, Director of State Operations Kathryn Garcia sent a memo to State agencies, requiring them to compile key data and information regarding tariff impacts. By September 30, State agencies will provide data on the specific impacts of Trump’s tariffs on New York consumers, small businesses, farmers, construction, tourism and other sectors of the state’s economy. New York State Empire State Development (ESD) and the Office of General Services (OGS) will then use the data provided by each agency to develop a statewide tariff economic impact report by October 31. Additionally, Governor Hochul launched a tariff resource guide to help New Yorkers navigate the chaos caused by Trump’s tariffs and provide resources on programs available to mitigate the impacts of tariffs.

    “Trump’s tariffs are already inflicting pain and uncertainty on New York families and businesses — and that same economic chaos is being felt by millions more nationwide,” Governor Hochul said. “That’s why we’re taking action to closely monitor and report on the impacts of these disastrous tariffs — and it’s why I’ll never stop fighting to put more money back in the pockets of everyday New Yorkers.”

    Over the past six months, the Trump Administration has announced and imposed significant tariffs on imports of goods to the United States. These tariffs, including major trading partners, have been announced, implemented, paused and resumed haphazardly, creating uncertainty for families and business owners across the state.

    The tariffs have increased prices for household goods, automobiles and housing, with the costs passed on to consumers. Such tariffs have also led to supply chain disruptions with increased costs for manufacturing industries, raising the price of supplies for small and large businesses across the state.

    The Trump Administration’s tariff policy has increased costs for New York’s agriculture sector, including for our more than 30,000 family farms, while simultaneously reducing access to international markets for New York-grown and manufactured food products. Trump’s tariff policies have also caused a negative impact on U.S. to Canada trade and tourism, including a 25 percent decline in vehicular border crossings between Canada and New York State in May 2025, compared to the prior year.

    To take action, the State will collect and report on key economic and social indicators to New York caused by Trump’s tariff policies. State agencies are encouraged to assess and submit information regarding tariff impacts on an ongoing basis. Additionally, Governor Hochul announced a tariff resource guide to keep New Yorkers up-to-date on programs available for small businesses that have been impacted by the tariffs.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI: Youtech Survey Reveals Traditional Search Still Dominates Local Discovery, AI Adoption Growing with Key Challenges Ahead

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • The report revealed consumers trust Google for local business search (93.2%), while AI seeks to improve accuracy and address human touch concerns.
    • Youtech’s data highlights opportunities for businesses to optimize across both traditional and AI search surfaces.

    LISLE, Ill., July 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Youtech, a leading global full-service digital marketing agency, today announced the findings of its latest consumer survey, shedding light on how people search for local businesses online. The research indicates that while AI assistants are gaining traction, traditional search engines like Google remain the primary tool for local business discovery, highlighting specific areas where AI needs to improve to gain wider adoption.

    “Our data clearly shows that consumers value reliability and comprehensiveness when searching for local businesses,” said Wilbur You, CEO of Youtech. “While the buzz around AI is undeniable, the numbers revealed a critical need for AI assistants to enhance their accuracy, real-time information, and integration with familiar tools to truly compete with traditional search for local businesses.”

    Key Survey Findings:

    Consumers continue to predominantly rely on traditional search engines for discovering local businesses. A significant majority, 93.2% of respondents, indicated they trust Google over AI for this purpose. Looking ahead, this preference seems likely to persist, as the report notes that AI is not yet replacing traditional search, though consumer interest is growing fast.

    The survey highlights that Restaurants & Food (88%), Home & Home Improvement (55.3%), and Automotive (42%) are the most frequently searched local business categories. Despite the growing presence of AI, its adoption for local business searches is still relatively low, with 56.7% of consumers having never utilized an AI assistant for this specific purpose. For those who have, usage is infrequent, with 27.3% having done so in the last week.

    The most critical factors identified for AI to compete with traditional search for local business discovery were more accurate, up-to-date info (39.1%) and better integration with maps (15%). This emphasizes a foundational trust deficit, as 93.2% of respondents would trust traditional Google Search more to find or evaluate a local business. Consumers prioritize the accuracy of information and trust when choosing between AI and traditional search tools.

    A key concern about using AI for local business searches is missing the human touch (31.7%), followed by outdated or incorrect information (28.3%). Consumers value reviews, hours, photos, and service details most for local business searches. Furthermore, real-time information, such as real-time booking, is considered extremely important and a deal-breaker, if missing, by 9% of respondents.

    “Local search is pivoting, and our findings emphasize that while AI is a powerful emerging force, the bedrock of consumer trust remains firmly rooted in accuracy and relevance,” said Michael Norris, CMO of Youtech. “Businesses that proactively refine their presence across both traditional search engines and emerging AI platforms will be best positioned to capture the attention and loyalty of today’s consumers.”

    The survey was conducted independently by Youtech with 150 consumers from June 26–28, 2025. Full results can be found here: https://www.youtechagency.com/2025-ai-local-search-consumer-report/

    To learn how Youtech can help navigate changes in search, please visit https://www.youtechagency.com/yourank-generative-engine-optimization-geo/.

    About Youtech
    Youtech & Associates Inc. (“Youtech”) is a leading, full-service digital marketing agency providing solutions to brands of all sizes. Bootstrapped in 2012 with an investment of just $600, the agency has since become an award-winning powerhouse serving over 2,000 clients, completing over 10,000 projects, and generating over $1 billion in client sales worldwide. With a strong and expanding presence in Scottsdale, alongside offices in Chicago and Dallas, Youtech is one of the fastest-growing digital marketing firms in the country. Learn more about Youtech at https://www.youtechagency.com/.

    Company Contact
    Michael Norris
    mnorris@youtechagency.com

    Media Contact
    Jessica Starman
    media@elev8newmedia.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Little Pepe Crosses $6.3M as Stage 5 Presale Nears Sellout

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, July 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Little Pepe has surged over the $6.3 million mark in presale, signaling strong investor confidence as Stage 5 nears completion.

    Priced at $0.0014, $LILPEPE continues to attract attention for its powerful mix of meme-fueled community buzz and real blockchain infrastructure. Built on a custom Ethereum Layer 2 network optimized for speed and ultra-low fees, Little Pepe is rapidly emerging as one of 2025’s most promising meme coin projects—driven by both solid technology and accelerating demand as Stage 5 nears completion.

    A Rising Star in the Meme Coin Market

    With over $6.3 million raised in presale, Little Pepe is now in Stage 5, where tokens are priced at $0.0014—but this stage is quickly nearing completion. This significant milestone is more than just a number—it reflects rising investor confidence in a project that’s redefining what it means to be a meme coin in today’s evolving crypto market.

    Rather than relying totally on hype, Little Pepe is bringing genuine blockchain cost to the table. Built on a custom Ethereum-like minded Layer 2 network, it offers real scalability, lightning-rapid transactions, and near-zero fees. These are the functions that separate Little Pepe from typical meme coins that regularly fizzle after an initial pump.

    The Power of EVM Layer 2 Technology

    At its core, Little Pepe leverages an EVM-well matched Layer 2 blockchain, which means that it’s designed to work seamlessly with Ethereum while solving its biggest pain points—namely, congestion and gas fees.

    Layer 2 technology isn’t new, but applying it to a meme coin ecosystem is still relatively rare. That’s why $LILPEPE stands out. It not only entertains and engages through meme culture but also solves real performance problems in the crypto world. Investors are increasingly looking for projects that blend fun and functionality—and Little Pepe delivers both.

    Community Momentum and Cultural Relevance

    Little Pepe’s growth isn’t just driven by technology—it’s also powered by an enthusiastic and growing community. Across platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Telegram, and social platforms, the $LILPEPE army is expanding rapidly. Meme creators, influencers, and crypto enthusiasts alike are fueling engagement by sharing content, participating in community discussions, and supporting the presale.

    This grassroots energy is one of the project’s biggest strengths. Memes have proven time and again to be a powerful vehicle for spreading awareness, and with a strong technical foundation underneath, Little Pepe has all the ingredients to go viral—and stay relevant.

    Stage 5 Nears Its End: Last Chance to Get In Early

    With Stage 5 currently going on, crypto enthusiasts still have a limited-time to buy $LILPEPE at the presale price of $0.0014 before the next price jump. Backed by strong momentum and impressive presale, the project is drawing comparisons to past meme coin giants like PEPE and SHIB—yet stands out with its real-world utility, powered by a custom-built Ethereum Layer 2 network designed for speed, scalability, and low fees.

    The presale structure has helped create excitement at every segment, and with every funding purpose met, Little Pepe becomes greater seen within the larger crypto conversation. As more traders take notice, demand is expected to rise—making it a strategic access factor for the ones looking to get ahead of the curve.

    Little Pepe is more than just another meme coin—it’s a scalable blockchain platform, a vibrant community, and a cultural movement rolled into one. With over $6.3 million raised, a EVM Layer 2 network, and Stage 5 nearing completion, $LILPEPE is well on its way to becoming one of 2025’s standout crypto stories.

    About Little Pepe

    Little Pepe is a next-gen Layer 2 blockchain designed to merge meme culture with high-speed, low-cost decentralized infrastructure. Built for scalability, security, and accessibility, Little Pepe supports EVM-compatible applications and is powered by means of the $LILPEPE token. The project’s mission is to create a meme coin environment wherein utility meets virality, empowering users through cutting-edge technology and lightning-fast transactions.

    For more information:
    Website: https://littlepepe.com/
    Telegram: https://t.me/littlepepetoken
    Twitter: https://x.com/littlepepetoken

    Contact Details: COO- James Stephen Email: media@littlepepe.com

    Disclaimer: This content is provided by Little Pepe. 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. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. 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. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. 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. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility.Globenewswire does not endorse any content on this page.

    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 assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. 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/8531d895-869a-402c-947f-8e3898b95f55

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Little Pepe Crosses $6.3M as Stage 5 Presale Nears Sellout

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, July 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Little Pepe has surged over the $6.3 million mark in presale, signaling strong investor confidence as Stage 5 nears completion.

    Priced at $0.0014, $LILPEPE continues to attract attention for its powerful mix of meme-fueled community buzz and real blockchain infrastructure. Built on a custom Ethereum Layer 2 network optimized for speed and ultra-low fees, Little Pepe is rapidly emerging as one of 2025’s most promising meme coin projects—driven by both solid technology and accelerating demand as Stage 5 nears completion.

    A Rising Star in the Meme Coin Market

    With over $6.3 million raised in presale, Little Pepe is now in Stage 5, where tokens are priced at $0.0014—but this stage is quickly nearing completion. This significant milestone is more than just a number—it reflects rising investor confidence in a project that’s redefining what it means to be a meme coin in today’s evolving crypto market.

    Rather than relying totally on hype, Little Pepe is bringing genuine blockchain cost to the table. Built on a custom Ethereum-like minded Layer 2 network, it offers real scalability, lightning-rapid transactions, and near-zero fees. These are the functions that separate Little Pepe from typical meme coins that regularly fizzle after an initial pump.

    The Power of EVM Layer 2 Technology

    At its core, Little Pepe leverages an EVM-well matched Layer 2 blockchain, which means that it’s designed to work seamlessly with Ethereum while solving its biggest pain points—namely, congestion and gas fees.

    Layer 2 technology isn’t new, but applying it to a meme coin ecosystem is still relatively rare. That’s why $LILPEPE stands out. It not only entertains and engages through meme culture but also solves real performance problems in the crypto world. Investors are increasingly looking for projects that blend fun and functionality—and Little Pepe delivers both.

    Community Momentum and Cultural Relevance

    Little Pepe’s growth isn’t just driven by technology—it’s also powered by an enthusiastic and growing community. Across platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Telegram, and social platforms, the $LILPEPE army is expanding rapidly. Meme creators, influencers, and crypto enthusiasts alike are fueling engagement by sharing content, participating in community discussions, and supporting the presale.

    This grassroots energy is one of the project’s biggest strengths. Memes have proven time and again to be a powerful vehicle for spreading awareness, and with a strong technical foundation underneath, Little Pepe has all the ingredients to go viral—and stay relevant.

    Stage 5 Nears Its End: Last Chance to Get In Early

    With Stage 5 currently going on, crypto enthusiasts still have a limited-time to buy $LILPEPE at the presale price of $0.0014 before the next price jump. Backed by strong momentum and impressive presale, the project is drawing comparisons to past meme coin giants like PEPE and SHIB—yet stands out with its real-world utility, powered by a custom-built Ethereum Layer 2 network designed for speed, scalability, and low fees.

    The presale structure has helped create excitement at every segment, and with every funding purpose met, Little Pepe becomes greater seen within the larger crypto conversation. As more traders take notice, demand is expected to rise—making it a strategic access factor for the ones looking to get ahead of the curve.

    Little Pepe is more than just another meme coin—it’s a scalable blockchain platform, a vibrant community, and a cultural movement rolled into one. With over $6.3 million raised, a EVM Layer 2 network, and Stage 5 nearing completion, $LILPEPE is well on its way to becoming one of 2025’s standout crypto stories.

    About Little Pepe

    Little Pepe is a next-gen Layer 2 blockchain designed to merge meme culture with high-speed, low-cost decentralized infrastructure. Built for scalability, security, and accessibility, Little Pepe supports EVM-compatible applications and is powered by means of the $LILPEPE token. The project’s mission is to create a meme coin environment wherein utility meets virality, empowering users through cutting-edge technology and lightning-fast transactions.

    For more information:
    Website: https://littlepepe.com/
    Telegram: https://t.me/littlepepetoken
    Twitter: https://x.com/littlepepetoken

    Contact Details: COO- James Stephen Email: media@littlepepe.com

    Disclaimer: This content is provided by Little Pepe. 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. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. 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. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. 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. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility.Globenewswire does not endorse any content on this page.

    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 assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. 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/8531d895-869a-402c-947f-8e3898b95f55

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Plantro Calls on Dye & Durham Board to Respond to Undisclosed Whistleblower Complaints of Serious Director Misconduct

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Chair Arnaud Adjler and Audit Chair Tracey Keates Alleged to Have Ordered Former CFO to Misrepresent Financial Statements to Show Stronger Performance

    CFO Refused the Order and Was Subject to Retaliatory and Arbitrary Termination After the Release of Accurate Results

    Plantro Calls on the Two Implicated Directors to Resign Immediately to Protect the Integrity, Reputation, and the Remaining Shareholder Value of Dye & Durham

    ST. HELIER, Jersey, July 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Plantro Ltd. (“Plantro” or the “Concerned Shareholder”) one of the largest shareholders of Dye & Durham Limited (“Dye & Durham” or the “Company”) (DND: TSX) which owns approximately 11% of the Company, today called on Dye & Durham’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) to respond to serious allegations of director misconduct at the Company.

    Plantro has learned in recent days that the Board of Dye & Durham has received multiple whistleblower complaints. The most recent complaint includes serious allegations of misconduct by Arnaud Adjler, Chair of the Board, and Tracey Keates, Chair of the Audit Committee.

    Plantro understands the material elements of the most recent whistleblower complaint to be as follows:

    1. In February 2025, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) at that time, submitted a confidential letter to the Audit Committee regarding failures in the Company’s internal controls and governance practices. In the letter, he raised concerns about the disclosure of material, non-public and confidential Company information by Board members to third parties whom with they were conspiring with in the creation of “short seller-style” reports. These reports included numerous false and defamatory statements about the Company.
    2. In April 2025, the above-mentioned Board members attempted to force the former CFO to misrepresent the Company’s Q3 FY2025 financial statements by adopting aggressive accounting practices. The implicated Board members’ direction would serve to artificially inflate the results, was not compliant with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”), and would result in the CFO being unable to certify the Company’s financial statements under National Instrument 52-109 – Certification of Disclosure in Issuers’ Annual and Interim Financials.
    3. The former CFO refused the Board’s directive, and after the Company’s Q3 FY2025 financial statements were released, he was removed from his role in retaliation.

    Given the seriousness of these allegations, Mr. Adjler and Ms. Keates should do the right thing and immediately resign from the Board to protect the integrity, reputation, and the remaining shareholder value of Dye & Durham. The Board should also reinstate its recently deposed independent chairman Hans T. Gieskes, to provide stable and independent Board leadership.

    Should the allegations be found to be unsubstantiated, and should the Board deem it appropriate, the implicated directors may be renominated for election at the next Annual General Meeting.

    The fact that the Company has received multiple whistleblower allegations only serves to reinforce Plantro’s concerns about Dye & Durham’s suitability to continue operating as a public company. Likeminded shareholders who value good governance and who want action to restore value at Dye & Durham should contact the Board to express their concerns today.

    Please visit www.SellDnd.com to view Plantro’s presentation to fellow shareholders and other important materials.

    Information Concerning the Plantro Nominees

    To the knowledge of Plantro, no Plantro nominee is, at the date hereof, or has been, within ten (10) years before the date hereof: (a) a director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer of any company that (i) was subject to a cease trade order, an order similar to a cease trade order or an order that denied the relevant company access to any exemption under securities legislation that was in effect for a period of more than thirty (30) consecutive days (each, an “order”), in each case that was issued while the Plantro nominee was acting in the capacity as director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer, or (ii) was subject to an order that was issued after the Plantro nominee ceased to be a director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer and which resulted from an event that occurred while that person was acting in the capacity as director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer; (b) a director or executive officer of any company that, while such Plantro nominee was acting in that capacity, or within one (1) year of such Plantro nominee ceasing to act in that capacity, became bankrupt, made a proposal under any legislation relating to bankruptcy or insolvency or was subject to or instituted any proceedings, arrangement or compromise with creditors or had a receiver, receiver manager or trustee appointed to hold its assets; or (c) someone who became bankrupt, made a proposal under any legislation relating to bankruptcy or insolvency, or became subject to or instituted any proceedings, arrangement or compromise with creditors, or had a receiver, receiver manager or trustee appointed to hold the assets of such Plantro nominee.

    To the knowledge of Plantro, as at the date hereof, no Plantro nominee has been subject to: (a) any penalties or sanctions imposed by a court relating to securities legislation, or by a securities regulatory authority, or has entered into a settlement agreement with a securities regulatory authority; or (b) any other penalties or sanctions imposed by a court or regulatory body that would likely be considered important to a reasonable securityholder in deciding whether to vote for a Plantro nominee.

    To the knowledge of Plantro, none of the directors or officers of Plantro, or any associates or affiliates of the foregoing, or any of the Plantro nominees or their respective associates or affiliates, has: (a) any material interest, direct or indirect, in any transaction since the commencement of the Company’s most recently completed financial year or in any proposed transaction which has materially affected or will materially affect the Company or any of its subsidiaries; or (b) any material interest, direct or indirect, by way of beneficial ownership of securities or otherwise, in any matter proposed to be acted on at the Special Meeting, other than the re-constitution of the Board.

    Plantro beneficially owns and controls 7,374,510 common shares representing approximately 11% of the outstanding shares of the Company. Martha Vallance beneficially owns and controls 38,600 common shares, representing approximately 0.06% of the outstanding shares of the Company. She also holds options to acquire an additional 425,433 common shares. Assuming full exercise of these options, she would beneficially own and control 464,033 common shares, representing approximately 0.69% of the then-outstanding shares of the Company, on a partially diluted basis. While the other Concerned Shareholder Nominees may purchase shares in the future, not of the other Concerned Shareholder Nominees currently hold any units of the Company.

    Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information

    Certain information in this news release may constitute “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements and information generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “should,” “plans,” “continue,” or similar expressions suggesting future outcomes or events. Forward-looking information in this news release may include, but is not limited to, statements of Plantro regarding (i) how Plantro intends to exercise its legal rights as a shareholder of the Company, and (ii) its plans to make changes at the Board of the Company.

    Although Plantro believes that the expectations reflected in any such forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements including, without limitation, the risks that (i) the Company may use tactics to thwart the rights of Plantro as a shareholder and (ii) the actions being proposed and the changes being demanded by Plantro, may not take place for any reason whatsoever. Except as required by law, Plantro does not intend to update these forward-looking statements.

    About Plantro

    Plantro is a privately held company, with an established track record of making successful investments in undervalued and high quality legal, financial, and information services businesses.

    Media Contact

    Gagnier Communications
    Riyaz Lalani / Dan Gagnier
    Plantro@gagnierfc.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Plantro Calls on Dye & Durham Board to Respond to Undisclosed Whistleblower Complaints of Serious Director Misconduct

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Chair Arnaud Adjler and Audit Chair Tracey Keates Alleged to Have Ordered Former CFO to Misrepresent Financial Statements to Show Stronger Performance

    CFO Refused the Order and Was Subject to Retaliatory and Arbitrary Termination After the Release of Accurate Results

    Plantro Calls on the Two Implicated Directors to Resign Immediately to Protect the Integrity, Reputation, and the Remaining Shareholder Value of Dye & Durham

    ST. HELIER, Jersey, July 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Plantro Ltd. (“Plantro” or the “Concerned Shareholder”) one of the largest shareholders of Dye & Durham Limited (“Dye & Durham” or the “Company”) (DND: TSX) which owns approximately 11% of the Company, today called on Dye & Durham’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) to respond to serious allegations of director misconduct at the Company.

    Plantro has learned in recent days that the Board of Dye & Durham has received multiple whistleblower complaints. The most recent complaint includes serious allegations of misconduct by Arnaud Adjler, Chair of the Board, and Tracey Keates, Chair of the Audit Committee.

    Plantro understands the material elements of the most recent whistleblower complaint to be as follows:

    1. In February 2025, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) at that time, submitted a confidential letter to the Audit Committee regarding failures in the Company’s internal controls and governance practices. In the letter, he raised concerns about the disclosure of material, non-public and confidential Company information by Board members to third parties whom with they were conspiring with in the creation of “short seller-style” reports. These reports included numerous false and defamatory statements about the Company.
    2. In April 2025, the above-mentioned Board members attempted to force the former CFO to misrepresent the Company’s Q3 FY2025 financial statements by adopting aggressive accounting practices. The implicated Board members’ direction would serve to artificially inflate the results, was not compliant with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”), and would result in the CFO being unable to certify the Company’s financial statements under National Instrument 52-109 – Certification of Disclosure in Issuers’ Annual and Interim Financials.
    3. The former CFO refused the Board’s directive, and after the Company’s Q3 FY2025 financial statements were released, he was removed from his role in retaliation.

    Given the seriousness of these allegations, Mr. Adjler and Ms. Keates should do the right thing and immediately resign from the Board to protect the integrity, reputation, and the remaining shareholder value of Dye & Durham. The Board should also reinstate its recently deposed independent chairman Hans T. Gieskes, to provide stable and independent Board leadership.

    Should the allegations be found to be unsubstantiated, and should the Board deem it appropriate, the implicated directors may be renominated for election at the next Annual General Meeting.

    The fact that the Company has received multiple whistleblower allegations only serves to reinforce Plantro’s concerns about Dye & Durham’s suitability to continue operating as a public company. Likeminded shareholders who value good governance and who want action to restore value at Dye & Durham should contact the Board to express their concerns today.

    Please visit www.SellDnd.com to view Plantro’s presentation to fellow shareholders and other important materials.

    Information Concerning the Plantro Nominees

    To the knowledge of Plantro, no Plantro nominee is, at the date hereof, or has been, within ten (10) years before the date hereof: (a) a director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer of any company that (i) was subject to a cease trade order, an order similar to a cease trade order or an order that denied the relevant company access to any exemption under securities legislation that was in effect for a period of more than thirty (30) consecutive days (each, an “order”), in each case that was issued while the Plantro nominee was acting in the capacity as director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer, or (ii) was subject to an order that was issued after the Plantro nominee ceased to be a director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer and which resulted from an event that occurred while that person was acting in the capacity as director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer; (b) a director or executive officer of any company that, while such Plantro nominee was acting in that capacity, or within one (1) year of such Plantro nominee ceasing to act in that capacity, became bankrupt, made a proposal under any legislation relating to bankruptcy or insolvency or was subject to or instituted any proceedings, arrangement or compromise with creditors or had a receiver, receiver manager or trustee appointed to hold its assets; or (c) someone who became bankrupt, made a proposal under any legislation relating to bankruptcy or insolvency, or became subject to or instituted any proceedings, arrangement or compromise with creditors, or had a receiver, receiver manager or trustee appointed to hold the assets of such Plantro nominee.

    To the knowledge of Plantro, as at the date hereof, no Plantro nominee has been subject to: (a) any penalties or sanctions imposed by a court relating to securities legislation, or by a securities regulatory authority, or has entered into a settlement agreement with a securities regulatory authority; or (b) any other penalties or sanctions imposed by a court or regulatory body that would likely be considered important to a reasonable securityholder in deciding whether to vote for a Plantro nominee.

    To the knowledge of Plantro, none of the directors or officers of Plantro, or any associates or affiliates of the foregoing, or any of the Plantro nominees or their respective associates or affiliates, has: (a) any material interest, direct or indirect, in any transaction since the commencement of the Company’s most recently completed financial year or in any proposed transaction which has materially affected or will materially affect the Company or any of its subsidiaries; or (b) any material interest, direct or indirect, by way of beneficial ownership of securities or otherwise, in any matter proposed to be acted on at the Special Meeting, other than the re-constitution of the Board.

    Plantro beneficially owns and controls 7,374,510 common shares representing approximately 11% of the outstanding shares of the Company. Martha Vallance beneficially owns and controls 38,600 common shares, representing approximately 0.06% of the outstanding shares of the Company. She also holds options to acquire an additional 425,433 common shares. Assuming full exercise of these options, she would beneficially own and control 464,033 common shares, representing approximately 0.69% of the then-outstanding shares of the Company, on a partially diluted basis. While the other Concerned Shareholder Nominees may purchase shares in the future, not of the other Concerned Shareholder Nominees currently hold any units of the Company.

    Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information

    Certain information in this news release may constitute “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements and information generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “should,” “plans,” “continue,” or similar expressions suggesting future outcomes or events. Forward-looking information in this news release may include, but is not limited to, statements of Plantro regarding (i) how Plantro intends to exercise its legal rights as a shareholder of the Company, and (ii) its plans to make changes at the Board of the Company.

    Although Plantro believes that the expectations reflected in any such forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements including, without limitation, the risks that (i) the Company may use tactics to thwart the rights of Plantro as a shareholder and (ii) the actions being proposed and the changes being demanded by Plantro, may not take place for any reason whatsoever. Except as required by law, Plantro does not intend to update these forward-looking statements.

    About Plantro

    Plantro is a privately held company, with an established track record of making successful investments in undervalued and high quality legal, financial, and information services businesses.

    Media Contact

    Gagnier Communications
    Riyaz Lalani / Dan Gagnier
    Plantro@gagnierfc.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Plantro Calls on Dye & Durham Board to Respond to Undisclosed Whistleblower Complaints of Serious Director Misconduct

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Chair Arnaud Adjler and Audit Chair Tracey Keates Alleged to Have Ordered Former CFO to Misrepresent Financial Statements to Show Stronger Performance

    CFO Refused the Order and Was Subject to Retaliatory and Arbitrary Termination After the Release of Accurate Results

    Plantro Calls on the Two Implicated Directors to Resign Immediately to Protect the Integrity, Reputation, and the Remaining Shareholder Value of Dye & Durham

    ST. HELIER, Jersey, July 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Plantro Ltd. (“Plantro” or the “Concerned Shareholder”) one of the largest shareholders of Dye & Durham Limited (“Dye & Durham” or the “Company”) (DND: TSX) which owns approximately 11% of the Company, today called on Dye & Durham’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) to respond to serious allegations of director misconduct at the Company.

    Plantro has learned in recent days that the Board of Dye & Durham has received multiple whistleblower complaints. The most recent complaint includes serious allegations of misconduct by Arnaud Adjler, Chair of the Board, and Tracey Keates, Chair of the Audit Committee.

    Plantro understands the material elements of the most recent whistleblower complaint to be as follows:

    1. In February 2025, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) at that time, submitted a confidential letter to the Audit Committee regarding failures in the Company’s internal controls and governance practices. In the letter, he raised concerns about the disclosure of material, non-public and confidential Company information by Board members to third parties whom with they were conspiring with in the creation of “short seller-style” reports. These reports included numerous false and defamatory statements about the Company.
    2. In April 2025, the above-mentioned Board members attempted to force the former CFO to misrepresent the Company’s Q3 FY2025 financial statements by adopting aggressive accounting practices. The implicated Board members’ direction would serve to artificially inflate the results, was not compliant with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”), and would result in the CFO being unable to certify the Company’s financial statements under National Instrument 52-109 – Certification of Disclosure in Issuers’ Annual and Interim Financials.
    3. The former CFO refused the Board’s directive, and after the Company’s Q3 FY2025 financial statements were released, he was removed from his role in retaliation.

    Given the seriousness of these allegations, Mr. Adjler and Ms. Keates should do the right thing and immediately resign from the Board to protect the integrity, reputation, and the remaining shareholder value of Dye & Durham. The Board should also reinstate its recently deposed independent chairman Hans T. Gieskes, to provide stable and independent Board leadership.

    Should the allegations be found to be unsubstantiated, and should the Board deem it appropriate, the implicated directors may be renominated for election at the next Annual General Meeting.

    The fact that the Company has received multiple whistleblower allegations only serves to reinforce Plantro’s concerns about Dye & Durham’s suitability to continue operating as a public company. Likeminded shareholders who value good governance and who want action to restore value at Dye & Durham should contact the Board to express their concerns today.

    Please visit www.SellDnd.com to view Plantro’s presentation to fellow shareholders and other important materials.

    Information Concerning the Plantro Nominees

    To the knowledge of Plantro, no Plantro nominee is, at the date hereof, or has been, within ten (10) years before the date hereof: (a) a director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer of any company that (i) was subject to a cease trade order, an order similar to a cease trade order or an order that denied the relevant company access to any exemption under securities legislation that was in effect for a period of more than thirty (30) consecutive days (each, an “order”), in each case that was issued while the Plantro nominee was acting in the capacity as director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer, or (ii) was subject to an order that was issued after the Plantro nominee ceased to be a director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer and which resulted from an event that occurred while that person was acting in the capacity as director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer; (b) a director or executive officer of any company that, while such Plantro nominee was acting in that capacity, or within one (1) year of such Plantro nominee ceasing to act in that capacity, became bankrupt, made a proposal under any legislation relating to bankruptcy or insolvency or was subject to or instituted any proceedings, arrangement or compromise with creditors or had a receiver, receiver manager or trustee appointed to hold its assets; or (c) someone who became bankrupt, made a proposal under any legislation relating to bankruptcy or insolvency, or became subject to or instituted any proceedings, arrangement or compromise with creditors, or had a receiver, receiver manager or trustee appointed to hold the assets of such Plantro nominee.

    To the knowledge of Plantro, as at the date hereof, no Plantro nominee has been subject to: (a) any penalties or sanctions imposed by a court relating to securities legislation, or by a securities regulatory authority, or has entered into a settlement agreement with a securities regulatory authority; or (b) any other penalties or sanctions imposed by a court or regulatory body that would likely be considered important to a reasonable securityholder in deciding whether to vote for a Plantro nominee.

    To the knowledge of Plantro, none of the directors or officers of Plantro, or any associates or affiliates of the foregoing, or any of the Plantro nominees or their respective associates or affiliates, has: (a) any material interest, direct or indirect, in any transaction since the commencement of the Company’s most recently completed financial year or in any proposed transaction which has materially affected or will materially affect the Company or any of its subsidiaries; or (b) any material interest, direct or indirect, by way of beneficial ownership of securities or otherwise, in any matter proposed to be acted on at the Special Meeting, other than the re-constitution of the Board.

    Plantro beneficially owns and controls 7,374,510 common shares representing approximately 11% of the outstanding shares of the Company. Martha Vallance beneficially owns and controls 38,600 common shares, representing approximately 0.06% of the outstanding shares of the Company. She also holds options to acquire an additional 425,433 common shares. Assuming full exercise of these options, she would beneficially own and control 464,033 common shares, representing approximately 0.69% of the then-outstanding shares of the Company, on a partially diluted basis. While the other Concerned Shareholder Nominees may purchase shares in the future, not of the other Concerned Shareholder Nominees currently hold any units of the Company.

    Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information

    Certain information in this news release may constitute “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements and information generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “should,” “plans,” “continue,” or similar expressions suggesting future outcomes or events. Forward-looking information in this news release may include, but is not limited to, statements of Plantro regarding (i) how Plantro intends to exercise its legal rights as a shareholder of the Company, and (ii) its plans to make changes at the Board of the Company.

    Although Plantro believes that the expectations reflected in any such forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements including, without limitation, the risks that (i) the Company may use tactics to thwart the rights of Plantro as a shareholder and (ii) the actions being proposed and the changes being demanded by Plantro, may not take place for any reason whatsoever. Except as required by law, Plantro does not intend to update these forward-looking statements.

    About Plantro

    Plantro is a privately held company, with an established track record of making successful investments in undervalued and high quality legal, financial, and information services businesses.

    Media Contact

    Gagnier Communications
    Riyaz Lalani / Dan Gagnier
    Plantro@gagnierfc.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Plantro Calls on Dye & Durham Board to Respond to Undisclosed Whistleblower Complaints of Serious Director Misconduct

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Chair Arnaud Adjler and Audit Chair Tracey Keates Alleged to Have Ordered Former CFO to Misrepresent Financial Statements to Show Stronger Performance

    CFO Refused the Order and Was Subject to Retaliatory and Arbitrary Termination After the Release of Accurate Results

    Plantro Calls on the Two Implicated Directors to Resign Immediately to Protect the Integrity, Reputation, and the Remaining Shareholder Value of Dye & Durham

    ST. HELIER, Jersey, July 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Plantro Ltd. (“Plantro” or the “Concerned Shareholder”) one of the largest shareholders of Dye & Durham Limited (“Dye & Durham” or the “Company”) (DND: TSX) which owns approximately 11% of the Company, today called on Dye & Durham’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) to respond to serious allegations of director misconduct at the Company.

    Plantro has learned in recent days that the Board of Dye & Durham has received multiple whistleblower complaints. The most recent complaint includes serious allegations of misconduct by Arnaud Adjler, Chair of the Board, and Tracey Keates, Chair of the Audit Committee.

    Plantro understands the material elements of the most recent whistleblower complaint to be as follows:

    1. In February 2025, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) at that time, submitted a confidential letter to the Audit Committee regarding failures in the Company’s internal controls and governance practices. In the letter, he raised concerns about the disclosure of material, non-public and confidential Company information by Board members to third parties whom with they were conspiring with in the creation of “short seller-style” reports. These reports included numerous false and defamatory statements about the Company.
    2. In April 2025, the above-mentioned Board members attempted to force the former CFO to misrepresent the Company’s Q3 FY2025 financial statements by adopting aggressive accounting practices. The implicated Board members’ direction would serve to artificially inflate the results, was not compliant with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”), and would result in the CFO being unable to certify the Company’s financial statements under National Instrument 52-109 – Certification of Disclosure in Issuers’ Annual and Interim Financials.
    3. The former CFO refused the Board’s directive, and after the Company’s Q3 FY2025 financial statements were released, he was removed from his role in retaliation.

    Given the seriousness of these allegations, Mr. Adjler and Ms. Keates should do the right thing and immediately resign from the Board to protect the integrity, reputation, and the remaining shareholder value of Dye & Durham. The Board should also reinstate its recently deposed independent chairman Hans T. Gieskes, to provide stable and independent Board leadership.

    Should the allegations be found to be unsubstantiated, and should the Board deem it appropriate, the implicated directors may be renominated for election at the next Annual General Meeting.

    The fact that the Company has received multiple whistleblower allegations only serves to reinforce Plantro’s concerns about Dye & Durham’s suitability to continue operating as a public company. Likeminded shareholders who value good governance and who want action to restore value at Dye & Durham should contact the Board to express their concerns today.

    Please visit www.SellDnd.com to view Plantro’s presentation to fellow shareholders and other important materials.

    Information Concerning the Plantro Nominees

    To the knowledge of Plantro, no Plantro nominee is, at the date hereof, or has been, within ten (10) years before the date hereof: (a) a director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer of any company that (i) was subject to a cease trade order, an order similar to a cease trade order or an order that denied the relevant company access to any exemption under securities legislation that was in effect for a period of more than thirty (30) consecutive days (each, an “order”), in each case that was issued while the Plantro nominee was acting in the capacity as director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer, or (ii) was subject to an order that was issued after the Plantro nominee ceased to be a director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer and which resulted from an event that occurred while that person was acting in the capacity as director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer; (b) a director or executive officer of any company that, while such Plantro nominee was acting in that capacity, or within one (1) year of such Plantro nominee ceasing to act in that capacity, became bankrupt, made a proposal under any legislation relating to bankruptcy or insolvency or was subject to or instituted any proceedings, arrangement or compromise with creditors or had a receiver, receiver manager or trustee appointed to hold its assets; or (c) someone who became bankrupt, made a proposal under any legislation relating to bankruptcy or insolvency, or became subject to or instituted any proceedings, arrangement or compromise with creditors, or had a receiver, receiver manager or trustee appointed to hold the assets of such Plantro nominee.

    To the knowledge of Plantro, as at the date hereof, no Plantro nominee has been subject to: (a) any penalties or sanctions imposed by a court relating to securities legislation, or by a securities regulatory authority, or has entered into a settlement agreement with a securities regulatory authority; or (b) any other penalties or sanctions imposed by a court or regulatory body that would likely be considered important to a reasonable securityholder in deciding whether to vote for a Plantro nominee.

    To the knowledge of Plantro, none of the directors or officers of Plantro, or any associates or affiliates of the foregoing, or any of the Plantro nominees or their respective associates or affiliates, has: (a) any material interest, direct or indirect, in any transaction since the commencement of the Company’s most recently completed financial year or in any proposed transaction which has materially affected or will materially affect the Company or any of its subsidiaries; or (b) any material interest, direct or indirect, by way of beneficial ownership of securities or otherwise, in any matter proposed to be acted on at the Special Meeting, other than the re-constitution of the Board.

    Plantro beneficially owns and controls 7,374,510 common shares representing approximately 11% of the outstanding shares of the Company. Martha Vallance beneficially owns and controls 38,600 common shares, representing approximately 0.06% of the outstanding shares of the Company. She also holds options to acquire an additional 425,433 common shares. Assuming full exercise of these options, she would beneficially own and control 464,033 common shares, representing approximately 0.69% of the then-outstanding shares of the Company, on a partially diluted basis. While the other Concerned Shareholder Nominees may purchase shares in the future, not of the other Concerned Shareholder Nominees currently hold any units of the Company.

    Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information

    Certain information in this news release may constitute “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements and information generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “should,” “plans,” “continue,” or similar expressions suggesting future outcomes or events. Forward-looking information in this news release may include, but is not limited to, statements of Plantro regarding (i) how Plantro intends to exercise its legal rights as a shareholder of the Company, and (ii) its plans to make changes at the Board of the Company.

    Although Plantro believes that the expectations reflected in any such forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements including, without limitation, the risks that (i) the Company may use tactics to thwart the rights of Plantro as a shareholder and (ii) the actions being proposed and the changes being demanded by Plantro, may not take place for any reason whatsoever. Except as required by law, Plantro does not intend to update these forward-looking statements.

    About Plantro

    Plantro is a privately held company, with an established track record of making successful investments in undervalued and high quality legal, financial, and information services businesses.

    Media Contact

    Gagnier Communications
    Riyaz Lalani / Dan Gagnier
    Plantro@gagnierfc.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Plantro Calls on Dye & Durham Board to Respond to Undisclosed Whistleblower Complaints of Serious Director Misconduct

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Chair Arnaud Adjler and Audit Chair Tracey Keates Alleged to Have Ordered Former CFO to Misrepresent Financial Statements to Show Stronger Performance

    CFO Refused the Order and Was Subject to Retaliatory and Arbitrary Termination After the Release of Accurate Results

    Plantro Calls on the Two Implicated Directors to Resign Immediately to Protect the Integrity, Reputation, and the Remaining Shareholder Value of Dye & Durham

    ST. HELIER, Jersey, July 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Plantro Ltd. (“Plantro” or the “Concerned Shareholder”) one of the largest shareholders of Dye & Durham Limited (“Dye & Durham” or the “Company”) (DND: TSX) which owns approximately 11% of the Company, today called on Dye & Durham’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) to respond to serious allegations of director misconduct at the Company.

    Plantro has learned in recent days that the Board of Dye & Durham has received multiple whistleblower complaints. The most recent complaint includes serious allegations of misconduct by Arnaud Adjler, Chair of the Board, and Tracey Keates, Chair of the Audit Committee.

    Plantro understands the material elements of the most recent whistleblower complaint to be as follows:

    1. In February 2025, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) at that time, submitted a confidential letter to the Audit Committee regarding failures in the Company’s internal controls and governance practices. In the letter, he raised concerns about the disclosure of material, non-public and confidential Company information by Board members to third parties whom with they were conspiring with in the creation of “short seller-style” reports. These reports included numerous false and defamatory statements about the Company.
    2. In April 2025, the above-mentioned Board members attempted to force the former CFO to misrepresent the Company’s Q3 FY2025 financial statements by adopting aggressive accounting practices. The implicated Board members’ direction would serve to artificially inflate the results, was not compliant with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”), and would result in the CFO being unable to certify the Company’s financial statements under National Instrument 52-109 – Certification of Disclosure in Issuers’ Annual and Interim Financials.
    3. The former CFO refused the Board’s directive, and after the Company’s Q3 FY2025 financial statements were released, he was removed from his role in retaliation.

    Given the seriousness of these allegations, Mr. Adjler and Ms. Keates should do the right thing and immediately resign from the Board to protect the integrity, reputation, and the remaining shareholder value of Dye & Durham. The Board should also reinstate its recently deposed independent chairman Hans T. Gieskes, to provide stable and independent Board leadership.

    Should the allegations be found to be unsubstantiated, and should the Board deem it appropriate, the implicated directors may be renominated for election at the next Annual General Meeting.

    The fact that the Company has received multiple whistleblower allegations only serves to reinforce Plantro’s concerns about Dye & Durham’s suitability to continue operating as a public company. Likeminded shareholders who value good governance and who want action to restore value at Dye & Durham should contact the Board to express their concerns today.

    Please visit www.SellDnd.com to view Plantro’s presentation to fellow shareholders and other important materials.

    Information Concerning the Plantro Nominees

    To the knowledge of Plantro, no Plantro nominee is, at the date hereof, or has been, within ten (10) years before the date hereof: (a) a director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer of any company that (i) was subject to a cease trade order, an order similar to a cease trade order or an order that denied the relevant company access to any exemption under securities legislation that was in effect for a period of more than thirty (30) consecutive days (each, an “order”), in each case that was issued while the Plantro nominee was acting in the capacity as director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer, or (ii) was subject to an order that was issued after the Plantro nominee ceased to be a director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer and which resulted from an event that occurred while that person was acting in the capacity as director, chief executive officer or chief financial officer; (b) a director or executive officer of any company that, while such Plantro nominee was acting in that capacity, or within one (1) year of such Plantro nominee ceasing to act in that capacity, became bankrupt, made a proposal under any legislation relating to bankruptcy or insolvency or was subject to or instituted any proceedings, arrangement or compromise with creditors or had a receiver, receiver manager or trustee appointed to hold its assets; or (c) someone who became bankrupt, made a proposal under any legislation relating to bankruptcy or insolvency, or became subject to or instituted any proceedings, arrangement or compromise with creditors, or had a receiver, receiver manager or trustee appointed to hold the assets of such Plantro nominee.

    To the knowledge of Plantro, as at the date hereof, no Plantro nominee has been subject to: (a) any penalties or sanctions imposed by a court relating to securities legislation, or by a securities regulatory authority, or has entered into a settlement agreement with a securities regulatory authority; or (b) any other penalties or sanctions imposed by a court or regulatory body that would likely be considered important to a reasonable securityholder in deciding whether to vote for a Plantro nominee.

    To the knowledge of Plantro, none of the directors or officers of Plantro, or any associates or affiliates of the foregoing, or any of the Plantro nominees or their respective associates or affiliates, has: (a) any material interest, direct or indirect, in any transaction since the commencement of the Company’s most recently completed financial year or in any proposed transaction which has materially affected or will materially affect the Company or any of its subsidiaries; or (b) any material interest, direct or indirect, by way of beneficial ownership of securities or otherwise, in any matter proposed to be acted on at the Special Meeting, other than the re-constitution of the Board.

    Plantro beneficially owns and controls 7,374,510 common shares representing approximately 11% of the outstanding shares of the Company. Martha Vallance beneficially owns and controls 38,600 common shares, representing approximately 0.06% of the outstanding shares of the Company. She also holds options to acquire an additional 425,433 common shares. Assuming full exercise of these options, she would beneficially own and control 464,033 common shares, representing approximately 0.69% of the then-outstanding shares of the Company, on a partially diluted basis. While the other Concerned Shareholder Nominees may purchase shares in the future, not of the other Concerned Shareholder Nominees currently hold any units of the Company.

    Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information

    Certain information in this news release may constitute “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements and information generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “should,” “plans,” “continue,” or similar expressions suggesting future outcomes or events. Forward-looking information in this news release may include, but is not limited to, statements of Plantro regarding (i) how Plantro intends to exercise its legal rights as a shareholder of the Company, and (ii) its plans to make changes at the Board of the Company.

    Although Plantro believes that the expectations reflected in any such forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements including, without limitation, the risks that (i) the Company may use tactics to thwart the rights of Plantro as a shareholder and (ii) the actions being proposed and the changes being demanded by Plantro, may not take place for any reason whatsoever. Except as required by law, Plantro does not intend to update these forward-looking statements.

    About Plantro

    Plantro is a privately held company, with an established track record of making successful investments in undervalued and high quality legal, financial, and information services businesses.

    Media Contact

    Gagnier Communications
    Riyaz Lalani / Dan Gagnier
    Plantro@gagnierfc.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: IROSH Launches AI-Powered Profit-Sharing Ecosystem, Ushering in the Future of Decentralized Wealth Creation

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ISTANBUL, July 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The future of DeFi is here. IROSH, an AI-powered crypto trading and profit-sharing platform, has officially launched its ecosystem with all core products live—and the much-anticipated presale now underway. This is a unique opportunity for early supporters to join a real, working system designed to transform market volatility into real, shareable rewards.

    At its core, IROSH leverages advanced AI trading bots to execute high-frequency trades in the crypto futures market. What sets it apart is its profit-sharing model—where 50% of all trading profits are distributed directly to IROSH holders, offering true passive income backed by real performance.

    Presale Now Live — Be Early, Earn Early

    The IROSH presale is officially live, giving early adopters a chance to purchase tokens at an exclusive rate before public launch. With all DApps already live and generating results, presale participants enter a fully functioning ecosystem—not just a promise.

    Join the presale now at irosh.io

    Irosh Swap
    Skip third-party DEX platforms—buy IROSH directly and securely through the built-in Irosh Swap, simplifying user access and reducing transaction friction.

    Irosh Staking
    Holders can put their IROSH tokens to work through staking, earning passive yield and strengthening their position in the ecosystem simply by holding and participating.

    AI Trading (Lending Model)
    This is where IROSH redefines DeFi. Users can lend their IROSH tokens as collateral to activate access to the platform’s live AI crypto futures trading. Here’s the game-changer: profits are paid out in USDT, offering stable, dependable income—unlike most utility tokens that rely on fluctuating native token rewards.

    Irosh Vesting
    Transparency is key. Almost 50% of the total token supply is already in vesting, with the team allocation locked over a 2-year period. Investors and the community can monitor all vesting schedules through the live vesting dashboard: irosh.io/vesting

    Coming Soon: Governance for the People

    Looking ahead, IROSH plans to introduce decentralized governance, allowing token holders to vote on key ecosystem decisions. This will turn every IROSH holder into an active participant in shaping the platform’s future—from development priorities to community incentives.

    Why IROSH Stands Out

    • Real Rewards: Unlike speculative assets, IROSH delivers real returns based on actual trading performance.
    • Community-Driven: The platform rewards holders, not just traders—making everyone in the ecosystem a stakeholder.
    • Transparent & Scalable: With live performance data, open vesting, and a sustainable business model, IROSH builds confidence and paves the way for long-term adoption.

    “With the presale live and our ecosystem already delivering, IROSH isn’t just an idea—it’s an income engine ready to scale,” said a spokesperson for IROSH. “We’re building a future where every holder earns, decides, and grows with us.”
    Read the Whitepaper | Audit & KYC Completed

    For more information on Irosh
    Website: https://irosh.io
    Telegram: https://t.me/irosh_ai
    Twitter: https://x.com/irosh_ai

    Contact:
    Sertunc Tuncer
    info@irosh.io

    Disclaimer: This content is provided by Irosh. 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. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. 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. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. 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. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility. Globenewswire does not endorse any content on this page.

    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 assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. 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/66bc5c43-5b0f-4008-a96e-c1e475d96ca3

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: IROSH Launches AI-Powered Profit-Sharing Ecosystem, Ushering in the Future of Decentralized Wealth Creation

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ISTANBUL, July 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The future of DeFi is here. IROSH, an AI-powered crypto trading and profit-sharing platform, has officially launched its ecosystem with all core products live—and the much-anticipated presale now underway. This is a unique opportunity for early supporters to join a real, working system designed to transform market volatility into real, shareable rewards.

    At its core, IROSH leverages advanced AI trading bots to execute high-frequency trades in the crypto futures market. What sets it apart is its profit-sharing model—where 50% of all trading profits are distributed directly to IROSH holders, offering true passive income backed by real performance.

    Presale Now Live — Be Early, Earn Early

    The IROSH presale is officially live, giving early adopters a chance to purchase tokens at an exclusive rate before public launch. With all DApps already live and generating results, presale participants enter a fully functioning ecosystem—not just a promise.

    Join the presale now at irosh.io

    Irosh Swap
    Skip third-party DEX platforms—buy IROSH directly and securely through the built-in Irosh Swap, simplifying user access and reducing transaction friction.

    Irosh Staking
    Holders can put their IROSH tokens to work through staking, earning passive yield and strengthening their position in the ecosystem simply by holding and participating.

    AI Trading (Lending Model)
    This is where IROSH redefines DeFi. Users can lend their IROSH tokens as collateral to activate access to the platform’s live AI crypto futures trading. Here’s the game-changer: profits are paid out in USDT, offering stable, dependable income—unlike most utility tokens that rely on fluctuating native token rewards.

    Irosh Vesting
    Transparency is key. Almost 50% of the total token supply is already in vesting, with the team allocation locked over a 2-year period. Investors and the community can monitor all vesting schedules through the live vesting dashboard: irosh.io/vesting

    Coming Soon: Governance for the People

    Looking ahead, IROSH plans to introduce decentralized governance, allowing token holders to vote on key ecosystem decisions. This will turn every IROSH holder into an active participant in shaping the platform’s future—from development priorities to community incentives.

    Why IROSH Stands Out

    • Real Rewards: Unlike speculative assets, IROSH delivers real returns based on actual trading performance.
    • Community-Driven: The platform rewards holders, not just traders—making everyone in the ecosystem a stakeholder.
    • Transparent & Scalable: With live performance data, open vesting, and a sustainable business model, IROSH builds confidence and paves the way for long-term adoption.

    “With the presale live and our ecosystem already delivering, IROSH isn’t just an idea—it’s an income engine ready to scale,” said a spokesperson for IROSH. “We’re building a future where every holder earns, decides, and grows with us.”
    Read the Whitepaper | Audit & KYC Completed

    For more information on Irosh
    Website: https://irosh.io
    Telegram: https://t.me/irosh_ai
    Twitter: https://x.com/irosh_ai

    Contact:
    Sertunc Tuncer
    info@irosh.io

    Disclaimer: This content is provided by Irosh. 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. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. 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. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. 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. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility. Globenewswire does not endorse any content on this page.

    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 assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. 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/66bc5c43-5b0f-4008-a96e-c1e475d96ca3

    The MIL Network