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Category: Politics

  • MIL-OSI Global: Can learning cursive help kids read better? Some policymakers think it’s worth a try

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Shawn Datchuk, Associate Professor of Special Education, University of Iowa

    Pennsylvania is considering legislation that mandates cursive instruction in public schools. Angela Guthrie/iStock via Getty Images

    Recently, my 8-year-old son received a birthday card from his grandmother. He opened the card, looked at it and said, “I can’t read cursive yet.”

    Then he handed it to me to read.

    If you have a child in the Philadelphia School District, chances are they have not been taught how to read or write cursive either.

    But cursive handwriting is making a comeback of sorts for K-8 students in the United States. Several states in recent years passed legislation mandating instruction in cursive handwriting, including California, Iowa and Oklahoma.

    Pennsylvania and New Jersey are considering similar legislation, as are other states.

    I’m an associate professor of special education and the director of the Iowa Reading Research Center. At the center, we’re conducting a systematic review of prior research to improve cursive handwriting instruction.

    We also want to know how learning cursive affects the development of reading and writing skills.

    Cursive instruction sidelined

    In cursive handwriting, the individual letters of a word are joined with connecting strokes, such as in a person’s signature.

    Cursive fell out of favor in U.S. schools over a decade ago. In 2010, most states adopted Common Core academic standards which omitted cursive handwriting from expected academic skills to be learned by K-8 students. In fact, the standards only briefly mention print handwriting, a writing style in which the individual letters of a word are unconnected, as a skill to be taught in early elementary grades.

    Educators often have trouble finding enough time in the school day to teach all the expected writing skills, let alone something that’s not mandated such as cursive handwriting.

    In several national surveys, teachers have reported limited amounts of time for writing instruction and that they have found it difficult to address both the basic skills of writing, such as handwriting, and more advanced skills, such as essay composition.

    Benefits of handwriting

    The increased interest in cursive handwriting likely stems from effort by policymakers to improve the literacy performance of K-12 students across the country.

    On the National Assessment of Educational Progress reading assessment, a measure of nationwide reading progress, only 31% of fourth grade students scored proficient or above. Philadelphia’s numbers were worse, with just 19% of fourth grade students scoring proficient or above.

    Research suggests it may be possible to improve overall writing and reading through handwriting instruction.

    The benefits have been more closely studied with print handwriting, but preliminary evidence suggests cursive handwriting instruction may also be beneficial. Some studies have found cursive handwriting instruction can improve handwriting legibility, writing length and select reading skills. In a 2020 study, researchers found cursive handwriting instruction can also improve spelling accuracy and storytelling ability.

    Why might cursive make a difference? On the surface, it seems like a simple motor skill. But under the surface, cursive handwriting draws upon deep reading knowledge and requires the coordination of multiple cognitive and physical processes.

    To handwrite letters or spell words in print or cursive, students need to commit multiple aspects of each letter to memory. For example, if students handwrite the word “cat,” they need to know the overall shape of each letter, as well as its name and sound.

    After drawing upon this reading knowledge from memory, students use a combination of motor and vision systems to write each letter and the entire word. Gross motor movements are used to adjust the body and arm to the writing surface. Fine motor movements are used to manipulate the pencil with one’s fingers. And visual-motor coordination is used to write each letter and adjust movements as needed.

    Many U.S. historical documents, such as the Constitution, were written in cursive.
    Douglas Sacha/Moment Collection via Getty Images

    A skill with staying power?

    Besides potential benefits to overall writing and reading development, cursive handwriting continues to have social importance.

    It is often used to sign formal documents via a cursive signature, or to communicate with close friends or loved ones. Furthermore, understanding cursive is needed to read important historical documents, such as the Declaration of Independence.

    Even in the digital age, touch-screen tablets and other devices often come with the ability to handwrite text with an electronic pencil. I teach courses at the University of Iowa, and many of my students handwrite their notes on electronic tablets.

    For schools, low-tech options such as paper and pencils remain more cost-efficient than high-tech options. For example, it can be time-consuming and expensive to replace a broken laptop but relatively cheap to sharpen a broken pencil or get a new piece of paper.

    Although it may be difficult for educators to find sufficient time for writing instruction, students will likely benefit from developing the capacity to express their ideas in a variety of ways, including cursive handwriting.

    For anyone interested in learning about cursive handwriting and teaching it to their children or students, the Iowa Reading Research Center will release a free online course and curricula called CLIFTER on June 2, 2025.

    Read more of our stories about Philadelphia.

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

    – ref. Can learning cursive help kids read better? Some policymakers think it’s worth a try – https://theconversation.com/can-learning-cursive-help-kids-read-better-some-policymakers-think-its-worth-a-try-253610

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Predictive policing AI is on the rise − making it accountable to the public could curb its harmful effects

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Maria Lungu, Postdoctoral Researcher of Law and Public Administration, University of Virginia

    Data like this seven-day crime map from Oakland, Calif., feeds predictive policing AIs. City of Oakland via CrimeMapping.com

    The 2002 sci-fi thriller “Minority Report” depicted a dystopian future where a specialized police unit was tasked with arresting people for crimes they had not yet committed. Directed by Steven Spielberg and based on a short story by Philip K. Dick, the drama revolved around “PreCrime” − a system informed by a trio of psychics, or “precogs,” who anticipated future homicides, allowing police officers to intervene and prevent would-be assailants from claiming their targets’ lives.

    The film probes at hefty ethical questions: How can someone be guilty of a crime they haven’t yet committed? And what happens when the system gets it wrong?

    While there is no such thing as an all-seeing “precog,” key components of the future that “Minority Report” envisioned have become reality even faster than its creators imagined. For more than a decade, police departments across the globe have been using data-driven systems geared toward predicting when and where crimes might occur and who might commit them.

    Far from an abstract or futuristic conceit, predictive policing is a reality. And market analysts are predicting a boom for the technology.

    Given the challenges in using predictive machine learning effectively and fairly, predictive policing raises significant ethical concerns. Absent technological fixes on the horizon, there is an approach to addressing these concerns: Treat government use of the technology as a matter of democratic accountability.

    Troubling history

    Predictive policing relies on artificial intelligence and data analytics to anticipate potential criminal activity before it happens. It can involve analyzing large datasets drawn from crime reports, arrest records and social or geographic information to identify patterns and forecast where crimes might occur or who may be involved.

    Law enforcement agencies have used data analytics to track broad trends for many decades. Today’s powerful AI technologies, however, take in vast amounts of surveillance and crime report data to provide much finer-grained analysis.

    Police departments use these techniques to help determine where they should concentrate their resources. Place-based prediction focuses on identifying high-risk locations, also known as hot spots, where crimes are statistically more likely to happen. Person-based prediction, by contrast, attempts to flag individuals who are considered at high risk of committing or becoming victims of crime.

    These types of systems have been the subject of significant public concern. Under a so-called “intelligence-led policing” program in Pasco County, Florida, the sheriff’s department compiled a list of people considered likely to commit crimes and then repeatedly sent deputies to their homes. More than 1,000 Pasco residents, including minors, were subject to random visits from police officers and were cited for things such as missing mailbox numbers and overgrown grass.

    Lawsuits forced the Pasco County, Fla., Sheriff’s Office to end its troubled predictive policing program.

    Four residents sued the county in 2021, and last year they reached a settlement in which the sheriff’s office admitted that it had violated residents’ constitutional rights to privacy and equal treatment under the law. The program has since been discontinued.

    This is not just a Florida problem. In 2020, Chicago decommissioned its “Strategic Subject List,” a system where police used analytics to predict which prior offenders were likely to commit new crimes or become victims of future shootings. In 2021, the Los Angeles Police Department discontinued its use of PredPol, a software program designed to forecast crime hot spots but was criticized for low accuracy rates and reinforcing racial and socioeconomic biases.

    Necessary innovations or dangerous overreach?

    The failure of these high-profile programs highlights a critical tension: Even though law enforcement agencies often advocate for AI-driven tools for public safety, civil rights groups and scholars have raised concerns over privacy violations, accountability issues and the lack of transparency. And despite these high-profile retreats from predictive policing, many smaller police departments are using the technology.

    Most American police departments lack clear policies on algorithmic decision-making and provide little to no disclosure about how the predictive models they use are developed, trained or monitored for accuracy or bias. A Brookings Institution analysis found that in many cities, local governments had no public documentation on how predictive policing software functioned, what data was used, or how outcomes were evaluated.

    Predictive policing can perpetuate racial bias.

    This opacity is what’s known in the industry as a “black box.” It prevents independent oversight and raises serious questions about the structures surrounding AI-driven decision-making. If a citizen is flagged as high-risk by an algorithm, what recourse do they have? Who oversees the fairness of these systems? What independent oversight mechanisms are available?

    These questions are driving contentious debates in communities about whether predictive policing as a method should be reformed, more tightly regulated or abandoned altogether. Some people view these tools as necessary innovations, while others see them as dangerous overreach.

    A better way in San Jose

    But there is evidence that data-driven tools grounded in democratic values of due process, transparency and accountability may offer a stronger alternative to today’s predictive policing systems. What if the public could understand how these algorithms function, what data they rely on, and what safeguards exist to prevent discriminatory outcomes and misuse of the technology?

    The city of San Jose, California, has embarked on a process that is intended to increase transparency and accountability around its use of AI systems. San Jose maintains a set of AI principles requiring that any AI tools used by city government be effective, transparent to the public and equitable in their effects on people’s lives. City departments also are required to assess the risks of AI systems before integrating them into their operations.

    If taken correctly, these measures can effectively open the black box, dramatically reducing the degree to which AI companies can hide their code or their data behind things such as protections for trade secrets. Enabling public scrutiny of training data can reveal problems such as racial or economic bias, which can be mitigated but are extremely difficult if not impossible to eradicate.

    Research has shown that when citizens feel that government institutions act fairly and transparently, they are more likely to engage in civic life and support public policies. Law enforcement agencies are likely to have stronger outcomes if they treat technology as a tool – rather than a substitute – for justice.

    Maria Lungu receives funding from the University of Virginia, Digital Technology for Democracy Lab. She is affiliated with nonprofit Center for AI and Digital Policy (CAIDP).

    – ref. Predictive policing AI is on the rise − making it accountable to the public could curb its harmful effects – https://theconversation.com/predictive-policing-ai-is-on-the-rise-making-it-accountable-to-the-public-could-curb-its-harmful-effects-254185

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Peace Corps isn’t just about helping others − it’s a key part of US public diplomacy

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Thomas J Nisley, Professor of Government and International Affairs, Kennesaw State University

    Peace Corps volunteers pose with the U.S. flag after they are sworn in during a 2002 event in Burkina Faso. Issouf Sanogo/AFP via Getty Images

    Since President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January 2025, his administration has slashed the work of many U.S. government agencies, including those focused on foreign policy. Now, there is concern that the Peace Corps could join the other foreign aid programs the administration is trying to dismantle.

    The United States Agency for International Development largely shut down in February and March 2025, with its workforce reduced from more than 10,000 to 15 people on staff.

    In early April 2025, members of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency showed up at Peace Corps headquarters in Washington, D.C., signaling possible cuts.

    DOGE has also called for reducing the number of the Peace Corps’ 970 full-time staff who help recruit and oversee the work of volunteers.

    The Guardian reported on April 28 that the Peace Corps is offering staff a buyout, and that Peace Corps leadership expects “significant restructuring efforts.”

    The Peace Corps told The New York Times in an April 28 statement that “the agency will remain operational and continue to recruit, place, and train volunteers, while continuing to support their health, safety and security, and effective service.”

    As a scholar of international affairs, I think it is important to understand the subtle – but important – role that the Peace Corps plays in helping the U.S. maintain a positive international image.

    President John F. Kennedy greets Peace Corps volunteers at the White House in August 1962.
    Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images

    Understanding the Peace Corps

    In 1961, President John F. Kennedy created the Peace Corps, an independent agency in the federal government, alongside USAID as a way to reinvigorate American diplomacy.

    Kennedy viewed the State Department as an organization that lacked innovation, staffed by self-serving people without much practical experience.

    Since the 1960s, the Peace Corps has sent more than 240,000 U.S. citizens – many of them young people – to work as volunteers in more than 60 low- and middle-income countries on short-term projects, ranging from teaching students English to helping farmers increase their food production. This works out to about 3,500 to 4,000 volunteers abroad each year.

    As Kennedy hoped, many of these American volunteers returned home to eventually serve in the State Department, with some rising to the top ranks, such as Christopher Hill, a career diplomat who served in the Peace Corps in Cameroon in the 1970s.

    Peace Corps volunteers, sometimes known as PCVs, also go on to work in other types of public service, including in educational roles. It has also been common for former Peace Corps volunteers to work for USAID.

    Peace Corps’ role in US government

    The Peace Corps is not part of the day-to-day activities of U.S. foreign policy in the same way as the State Department, for example, which has diplomatic missions across the world.

    The Peace Corps, with a US$495 million annual budget, does contribute to U.S. foreign policy goals by enhancing U.S. soft power. Soft power, in this context, means getting others to want what you want.

    The political scientist Joseph Nye introduced the academic concept of soft power to the mainstream in the early 1990s. It is often misunderstood. Some mistakenly refer to the military as hard power, and economic and diplomatic tools as soft power.

    But soft power – and the allure of a project like the Peace Corps – is founded in the power of attraction. The Peace Corps, simply put, helps improve the U.S.’s image worldwide.

    My research on Latin American countries has shown that the presence of a Peace Corps program improves the popular perception of the U.S. among communities there. A good reputation fosters goodwill and helps the U.S. achieve its concrete foreign policy goals, be it making a trade deal or helping to end a conflict.

    The political scientist Stephen Magu has found similar results across Africa, including a connection between the number of Peace Corps volunteers in a country and support for the U.S. in its work at the United Nations.

    The Peace Corps’ experience

    The Peace Corps uses a very selective application process to recruit Americans of all ages to volunteer for two years in a foreign country, doing different kinds of service work ranging from agriculture and education to health and the environment.

    Most are younger people with college degrees, but there is no upper age limit to qualify and no requirement of a college degree to serve.

    There is no single Peace Corps experience.

    But all volunteers live and work in a community that has requested a volunteer to help with different types of activities. This could include helping local women set up their own small businesses in Panama or offering health workshops on reducing the risk of contracting and spreading HIV in Eswatini, formerly knwon as Swaziland. These volunteers are usually *the only Americans for miles around.

    Volunteers are expected to live modestly and are paid a monthly living allowance that covers their bare necessities.

    Volunteers’ work is not easy and not without risk. Since 1961, 311 people have died while serving. Most of the deaths are due to accidents, usually related to transportation. Some have died from diseases and illness, and a few have been victims of murder.

    Peace Corps’ approach to volunteer work

    The Peace Corps emphasizes what is known as grassroots development in foreign aid circles. This means that a Peace Corps volunteer tries to use local money and expertise to achieve goals jointly identified by the community and the volunteer.

    Critics of the Peace Corps have argued, among other things, that it has not made widespread changes that reliably last beyond the two-year term of each volunteer.

    But the Peace Corps is not intended to change the trajectory of a country’s economic development and suddenly make a poor country a rich one. Volunteers do help the people in the community they serve in small but meaningful ways.

    In my own service as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Dominican Republic from 1989 to 1991, for example, I had a demonstration vegetable garden where I grew nutritious vegetables such as spinach and mustard greens. Dominicans did not traditionally eat these vegetables, but I got my neighbors and friends to try them. Some learned to really like them and began to grow them on their own.

    A Peace Corps volunteer teaches English to students in Bucharest, Romania, in 1985.
    Paul Conklin/Getty Images

    Another kind of public diplomacy

    When asked in 1962 how he saw the relationship of the Peace Corps to U.S. foreign policy, Kennedy responded that he saw the Peace Corps as “an opportunity to emphasize a different part of our American character,” instead of the idea that the U.S. is a “harsh, narrow-minded militaristic, materialistic society.”

    The Trump administration tends to view foreign assistance programs as open-ended charity programs that need to be eliminated.

    I believe that foreign assistance programs are not charity – they are public diplomacy tools that contribute to the U.S.’s global power. If the Peace Corps is eliminated, the U.S. will lose another important tool of foreign policy.

    I served as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Dominican Republic from 1989 to 1991

    – ref. Peace Corps isn’t just about helping others − it’s a key part of US public diplomacy – https://theconversation.com/peace-corps-isnt-just-about-helping-others-its-a-key-part-of-us-public-diplomacy-255571

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Even judges appointed by Trump are ruling against him

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Paul M. Collins Jr., Professor of Legal Studies and Political Science, UMass Amherst

    Judges appointed by Donald Trump are ruling against him during his second presidential term. Zolnierek – iStock/Getty Images Plus

    During his first term in office, President Donald Trump appointed 226 federal court judges, including three U.S. Supreme Court justices. Trump successfully installed judges who promoted his political agenda, including overturning the landmark ruling from 1973 that declared the Constitution guaranteed the right to abortion, Roe v. Wade.

    But something different seems to be happening in his second term.

    Instead of upholding Trump administration policies, federal judges − including those appointed by Trump – are blocking the implementation of much of the president’s second-term agenda.

    So, what’s going on?

    I’m a scholar of judicial decision-making and presidential interactions with the courts. Although it may seem strange that judges Trump appointed are ruling against him, it’s actually not that weird.

    Instead, it’s an example of what happens when a president overreaches his authority, and takes legal positions that even his own judicial appointees cannot support.

    The presidential proclamation invoking the Alien Enemies Act, which a federal judge ruled violates the law.
    The White House

    How judicial decision-making works

    In 2018, Trump and Chief Justice John Roberts got into a very public spat over the nature of judicial decision-making.

    This began when Trump attacked U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar, appointed by President Barack Obama, for putting a hold on Trump’s asylum policy. In his criticism, Trump referred to Tigar as an “Obama judge.”

    In an unusual retort, Roberts defended the integrity of the federal bench by writing, “We do not have Obama judges or Trump judges, Bush judges or Clinton judges. What we have is an extraordinary group of dedicated judges doing their level best to do equal right to those appearing before them.”

    Trump responded, “Sorry Chief Justice John Roberts, but you do indeed have ‘Obama judges,’ and they have a much different point of view than the people who are charged with the safety of our country.”

    Both Trump and Roberts had a point.

    Trump is correct that judges have different points of view, and those perspectives influence their decision-making. Indeed, more than a half-century of research clearly demonstrates that judges’ ideologies heavily shape how they rule.

    Put simply, judges appointed by Democratic presidents tend to rule liberally, and judges appointed by Republican presidents tend to rule conservatively. This includes a strong inclination to support the positions of the president who appointed them.

    But Roberts is also correct that judges try to do their best to resolve disputes fairly. That is to say, the law also shapes the choices judges make.

    The law in this context refers to the Constitution, legislation passed by Congress and precedents created by the federal courts. These various forms of law operate as a constraint on judges, limiting their ability to reach decisions solely on the basis of their political preferences. Judges must choose from a limited range of choices that are within the bounds of the Constitution, existing law and judicial precedent.

    In a nutshell, judges have discretion, but they don’t have totally free choice.

    President Donald Trump greets Chief Justice John Roberts before he addresses a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol on March 4, 2025.
    AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson

    Even ‘Trump judges’ believe the president is overreaching

    This understanding of judicial decision-making is central for grasping why Trump’s judicial appointees – and other judges – are a significant obstacle to Trump’s ability to enact his second-term agenda.

    To illustrate, let’s assume that judges appointed by Trump share his political agenda and want to support it. For them to do this, the actions of the Trump administration have to fall within a limited range of activities that judges can plausibly uphold under the Constitution, existing laws and federal court precedent.

    The problem is that the Trump administration is taking actions that exceed its legal authority. As a result, even judges appointed by Trump cannot support such actions, because there is no reasonable interpretation of the law that would allow them to do so.

    This is precisely what happened on May 1, 2025, when a Trump-appointed judge blocked the administration’s efforts to use the Alien Enemies Act to deport people it suspected of being members of the Tren de Aragua transnational criminal organization. This act allows the president to deport natives of an enemy nation during a “declared war” or “invasion” or “predatory incursion” by a foreign government.

    Trump argues that he can use this act because the Tren de Aragua gang is engaged in “irregular warfare” against the United States that amounts to an “invasion or predatory incursion against the territory of the United States.”

    But Trump-appointed Judge Fernando Rodriguez didn’t accept this argument.

    Instead, Rodriguez wrote that “the President’s invocation of the AEA through the Proclamation exceeds the scope of the statute and, as a result, is unlawful.” Rodriguez reasoned that Tren de Aragua’s actions in the United States do not amount to an “invasion” or “predatory incursion” and therefore the act does not apply.

    In short, Rodriguez said that Trump overreached and tried to claim powers beyond those granted to him by the Alien Enemies Act.

    Trump’s losing now, but that may change

    Although federal court judges, both those appointed by Democrats and those appointed by Republicans, continue to block much of the Trump administration’s policy agenda, this may change for two reasons.

    First, the Trump administration could take a more measured approach to pursue its goals by working within the scope of existing law.

    Judges have vented their frustration with what one judge called “shoddy” legal work by administration lawyers and another said were weak arguments that don’t reflect “the diligence the Court expects from any litigant … let alone the United States Department of Justice.” The administration’s lawyers can learn from these losses and develop new legal strategies.

    Second, different judges may view the Trump administration’s actions differently. Indeed, Trump successfully appointed many judges who have an expansive understanding of executive authority. If Trump can get cases before those judges – something his administration is trying to do – these cases could have very different outcomes.

    Like it or not, the results of highly significant cases are often determined by the perspective of a single judge.

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

    – ref. Even judges appointed by Trump are ruling against him – https://theconversation.com/even-judges-appointed-by-trump-are-ruling-against-him-255835

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Jostling for the papacy: A look back on the conclave’s history

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Colin Rose, Associate Professor of European and Digital History, Brock University

    Pope Francis’s successor will be elected in the coming days in a millennium-old ceremony known as the papal conclave. During the conclave, the 135 eligible Cardinal Electors of the Catholic Church will sequester themselves and elect a new pope in isolation.

    During that time, they will have no contact with the outside world and they will vote repeatedly, in written ballots and verbal declaration, until one of them achieves a two-thirds majority.

    Every failure brings sighs from the crowds in St. Peter’s Square as the votes, burned with a chemical admixture, send up a plume of inky black smoke from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel. White smoke, signalling a new pope has been elected, provokes cheers and celebrations and the beginning of a new papal era.



    Read more:
    How the next pope will be elected – what goes on at the conclave

    The history of the conclave, especially during the Italian Renaissance that I teach and research, tells us a lot about how the papacy is both a religious and a political office.

    The Pope is at once the supreme pontiff of the Catholic Church as well as the absolute monarch of Vatican City. He is both bishop of Rome and prince of the smallest sovereign state in the world.

    Politics of the papacy

    In the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries, the Vatican was the capital of a much-larger Papal State. This territorial buffer around Rome at its height bordered the territories of Florence, Naples, Milan and Venice, and covered much of northern Italy.

    Popes wielded great influence in the dramatic politics of famous Italian families like the Medici: it was a Medici pope, Clement VII, who helped negotiate the installation of the first Medici duke in Florence.

    Apocryphal accounts persist of Julius II, the so-called “Warrior Pope,” leading a charge over the walls of Bologna in 1506.

    At the same time popes, and Catholic policy, had profound consequences for European and global politics: Clement’s successor Paul III excommunicated England’s King Henry VIII, cementing the English break with Rome in 1538.

    A portrait of Pope Alexander VI Borgia circa 1495.
    (Vatican Museums)

    Alexander VI was more audaciously imperial: he sponsored the treaty that arbitrarily divided the entire world outside of Europe between Spain (his home country) and Portugal in 1494.

    Alexander VI’s historical infamy is perhaps outdone only by his son, Cesare Borgia, made famous by his mention is Niccolo Machiavelli’s book The Prince.

    Becoming pope was a big deal for a cardinal and his family. Leading candidates known as papabili (pope-ables) began strategizing and negotiating even before popes died.

    When a pontiff died, those cardinals abroad began their travels to Rome, construction began on the temporary cells that would house them all during the sequestration and the real work of electing a pope began.

    Enea Silvio Piccolomini left a detailed memoir of his election as Pius II in 1458. In it he describes a process of negotiating, threatening, cajoling and strategizing that make the scheming in the recent movie Conclave look unsophisticated.

    Renaissance Italy wrestled with and ultimately reconciled itself to the political nature of the papacy.

    Many, including popes such as Pius II, expressed discomfort with the political power of the papacy. While it was a clear factor in the schism of European Christendom that led to the emergence of the Protestant churches in the 16th century, in early modern Italy the political power of the papacy was a reality of the diplomatic milieu.

    The empty throne

    The conclave marks a special place in early modern history as a time when ordinary political order was overturned for a brief period known as the sede vacante (the Vacant See).

    The Vacant See was a time when identities were swappable and when, as one Paolo di Grassi told a judge in 1559, “in Vacant See [Romans] are the masters. The People are the Masters.” Di Grassi had, during the Vacant See of November 1559, pursued his own longstanding grudges against his enemies and been involved in at least one armed brawl.

    While they waited for a new pope, Romans and everyone else might have passed the time with another favourite vice: gambling on the conclave’s outcome.



    Read more:
    Who will the next pope be? Here are some top contenders

    European princes and other potentates of the church paid close attention to conclaves, tried to smuggle information in and out and steer the conclave in favour of their preferred candidate.

    In 1730, for instance, Cardinal Lambertini smuggled a letter out of his conclave thanking a benefactor for their donations to his future ordination as Pope Benedict XIV.

    The election held everyone’s attention as a rare and unusually impactful event in the Roman calendar.

    While Rome’s streets thrummed with tension during the chaotic days of a Vacant See, the conclave proceeded serenely and secretly within the Vatican’s walls.

    The use of white smoke to mark the election of a pope only began in the 20th century. During the Renaissance, the sound of bells would be a more effective way to spread the news through Rome, before the new pope was announced to the city and the world.

    Much turns on that announcement now, as much did in previous centuries. The conclave elects both a pope and a head of state. While Vatican City is magnitudes smaller than the Papal State of the past, it remains a sovereign state.

    Papal pronouncements shape not just religious thought but political action, through voting, advocacy and more. Today’s crowds might be less raucous than Renaissance Romans, but they are nonetheless invested in the results.

    Colin Rose receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

    – ref. Jostling for the papacy: A look back on the conclave’s history – https://theconversation.com/jostling-for-the-papacy-a-look-back-on-the-conclaves-history-255492

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK signs trade deal with India

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    UK signs trade deal with India

    Multi-billion-pound boost to UK economy with landmark India trade deal to make working people better off

    • Huge economic win for UK as trade deal with India agreed which will deliver for working people and British businesses 

    • Deal will slash Indian tariffs on key products such as whisky, cosmetics and medical devices, locking in reductions on 90% of tariff lines for UK exports to unleash opportunities for businesses across regions and nations of UK 

    • Delivers on Plan for Change as £4.8 billion added to UK economy and £2.2 billion in wages every year in the long run under deal 

    The UK and India have today agreed a landmark trade deal which delivers on this government’s core mission of growing the economy, raising living standards, and putting money in people’s pockets. 

    Indian tariffs will be slashed, locking in reductions on 90% of tariff lines, with 85% of these becoming fully tariff-free within a decade. 

    Whisky and gin tariffs will be halved from 150% to 75% before reducing to 40% by year ten of the deal, while automotive tariffs will go from over 100% to 10% under a quota. 

    Other goods with reduced tariffs, which can open markets and make trade cheaper for businesses and Indian consumers, include cosmetics, aerospace, lamb, medical devices, salmon, electrical machinery, soft drinks, chocolate and biscuits.  

    British shoppers could see cheaper prices and more choice on products including clothes, footwear, and food products including frozen prawns as UK liberalises tariffs. 

    The deal is expected to increase bilateral trade by £25.5 billion, UK GDP by £4.8 billion and wages by £2.2 billion each year in the long run. 

    UK businesses gain a competitive edge over international competitors when entering India’s enormous market as it gets even bigger, forecasted to become the 3rd largest global economy within three years. 

    Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds and Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal held final talks in London last week after relaunching negotiations only two months ago. Negotiators across both sides have worked around the clock since February to get this deal done, which is the biggest and most economically significant bilateral trade deal the UK has done since leaving the EU, and the best deal India has ever agreed. 

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: 

    We are now in a new era for trade and the economy. That means going further and faster to strengthen the UK’s economy, putting more money in working people’s pockets.  

    Through this government’s stable and pragmatic leadership, the UK has become an attractive place to do business. Today we have agreed a landmark deal with India – one of the fastest growing economies in the world, which will grow the economy and deliver for British people and business.  

    Strengthening our alliances and reducing trade barriers with economies around the world is part of our Plan for Change to deliver a stronger and more secure economy here at home.   

    Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: 

    This government’s number one mission is growing the economy as part of our Plan for Change so we can put more money in people’s pockets.  

    By striking a new trade deal with the fastest-growing economy in the world, we are delivering billions for the UK economy and wages every year and unlocking growth in every corner of the country, from advanced manufacturing in the North East to whisky distilleries in Scotland. 

    In times of global uncertainty, a pragmatic approach to global trade that provides businesses and consumers with stability is more important than ever.

    At least 1.9 million people with Indian heritage call the UK their home and striking this deal will strengthen the vital partnership between our two democracies. 

    The benefits for UK businesses and consumers under this deal are massive, with wins across an array of sectors.  

    Notes to editors 

    Benefits for businesses of all sizes 

    Barriers to trading will be dropped, with India agreeing to reduce tariffs on a whole host of products including whisky, medical devices, advanced machinery, and lamb, making UK exports more competitive. Based on 2022 trade alone, this amounts to India cutting tariffs worth over £400 million when the deal comes into force, which will more than double to around £900 million after 10 years.  

    Exporting to this huge market will be easier than ever before thanks to India agreeing to release goods as quickly as possible after arrival at customs, work with the UK on one streamlined portal for trade and publish customs procedures and laws online in English. In addition, new digital commitments will support electronic contracts and transactions. These changes could particularly support small and medium-sized businesses, making it easier for them to enter the Indian market. 

    Delivering for high-growth sectors 

    High-growth sectors identified in the Industrial Strategy are supported through this deal, including: 

    • Tariffs cut on the UK’s large and varied advanced manufacturing sectors from aerospace and automotive, electrical circuits and conductors, and high-end optical products. 

    • The clean energy industry will have brand new, unprecedented access to India’s vast procurement market as the country makes the switch to renewable energy and continues to see growing energy demand. 

    • Reduced tariffs on medical devices that take the UK’s complex supply chains into consideration will unleash new opportunities for the UK life sciences sector. 

    • Enhanced copyright protections for the creative sector will give exporters confidence thanks to a commitment that their work will continue to be protected for at least 60 years. 

    • World-class UK services sectors – who export just over £500 billion worldwide will now benefit from market certainty when trading into the growing Indian market. 

    More choice and protections for consumers 

    As bilateral trade grows under this deal, the UK will benefit from the best India has to offer with British shoppers enjoying access to a greater variety of clothes and shoes.  New commitments will also help protect consumers from spam texts from India, which could include requiring opt-out or prior consent. 

    Mark Kent, Chief Executive of the Scotch Whisky Association, welcomed the “transformational” deal: 

    The UK-India free trade agreement is a once in a generation deal and a landmark moment for Scotch Whisky exports to the world’s largest whisky market. It shows that the UK government is making significant progress towards achieving its growth mission, and the Scotch Whisky industry looks forward to working with the UK and Indian governments in the months ahead to implement the deal, which would be a big boost to two major global economies during turbulent times. 

    The reduction of the current 150% tariff on Scotch Whisky will be transformational for the industry, and has the potential to increase Scotch Whisky exports to India by £1bn over the next 5 years, creating 1,200 jobs across the UK. It will also give discerning consumers in India far greater choice of brands, as more SME Scotch Whisky producers have the opportunity to enter the market.” 

    Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters said:  

    India continues to be incredibly important to the Premier League and its clubs. It is a vibrant country that presents exciting opportunities and significant potential. The Premier League’s recent announcement of an office opening in Mumbai demonstrates our commitment to build on longstanding work to engage local fans, develop grassroots and elite football and further promote the game in India. 

    The continued growth of the Premier League and UK businesses in India will have a positive impact on our domestic economy and we welcome the news of this new trade deal secured by Government, which will support UK businesses operating in India.” 

    Bill Winters CBE, Group CEO of Standard Chartered and Co-Chair of the UK-India Financial Partnership, said:

    The UK-India Free Trade Agreement is a significant achievement. It will create new opportunities for UK and Indian businesses, enable greater access to one of the world’s largest and most dynamic markets, and drive growth and innovation across the UK-India corridor. We welcome this strong commitment to partnership and prosperity.   

    Markus Kessler, Managing Director, UPS UK, Ireland and Nordics said: 

    We welcome the announcement of this important agreement between two countries that are both vital markets in our global network. We look forward to continuing to help businesses of all sizes across the UK reach new customers in one of the world’s most populous and dynamic countries.

    Richard Heald, OBE, UK-India Business Council Chair said: 

    The UK India Business Council (UKIBC) welcomes the agreement of the new Free Trade Agreement between the United Kingdom and India. This marks a significant milestone in the deepening of economic and strategic ties between our two nations.  

    It matters when the fifth and sixth largest economies in the world reach a trade agreement. Such an agreement is illustrative of the positive momentum in the UK-India relationship, the commitment and ambition of both Governments, and the opportunities for greater trade, investment and collaboration between our countries.

    Notes to editors 

    • We have championed our values – securing India’s first ever chapters on anti-corruption, consumer protections, labour rights, gender, and development. We have protected the NHS, ensured the points-based immigration system is not affected, upheld our high food standards, and maintained our animal welfare commitments throughout. 

    Data sources for this release include: 

    • FTA economic impacts: [DBT Technical Note(https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-india-free-trade-agreement-technical-note)]: The preliminary economic impacts of the UK-India Free Trade Agreement 

    • India forecast to become the 3rd largest global economy within three years: IMF World Economic Outlook April 2025

    • India is the fastest growing economy in the world: IMF World Economic Outlook April 2025

    • India and the UK are the fifth and sixth largest economies: IMF World Economic Outlook April 2025 

    • 1.9 million people with Indian heritage live in the UK: ONS 2021 Census

    • UK services exports are worth over £500 billion: ONS UK trade February 2025

    Updates to this page

    Published 6 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressmen Wilson, Cohen, Hudson, Veasey Welcome House Passage of MEGOBARI Act

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Joe Wilson (2nd District of South Carolina)

    Washington, DC – U.S. Helsinki Co-Chairman Congressman Joe Wilson (R-SC), Helsinki Commission Ranking Member Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN), Congressman Richard Hudson (R-NC) and Congressman Marc Veasey (D-TX) welcome the House passage of the bipartisan Mobilizing and Enhancing Georgia’s Options for Building Accountability, Resilience, and Independence (MEGOBARI) Act. This vital legislation will bolster democratic practices, human rights, and the rule of law in the Republic of Georgia, reaffirming the United States’ commitment to supporting Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic integration and countering the influence of authoritarian regimes, particularly Russia.

         “The passage of the MEGOBARI Act demonstrates American support for the freedom-loving Georgian people and rejection of the illegitimate, America-hating Georgian Dream regime. This tyrannical mafia cabal is selling out Georgia to U.S. adversaries, banning the opposition and cracking down on freedom while making absurd demands of America. The Georgian Dream regime has regularly insulted President Trump and other cherished U.S. officials. The only way forward is free and fair elections and the release of all political prisoners,” said Congressman Wilson.

         “The passage of the MEGOBARI Act sends a strong message to the Georgian people that the U.S. supports them as they fight for their democracy. Corrupt Ivanishvili and his Georgian Nightmare party are cracking down and imprisoning protestors who demand free and fair elections as independent observers call the late October elections fundamentally flawed. The MEGOBARI Act provides help, mandating sanctions on Putin’s pawns and promising a deepened relationship should Georgian democracy and sovereignty be restored,” said Congressman Cohen. 

         “The MEGOBARI Act reinforces our nation’s support for the Georgian people and democratic efforts throughout the Caucasus,” said Congressman Hudson. “This bill is an important counter to Putin and his cronies as they attempt to reassert influence in the region.”

         “I am proud to vote for our bill, the MEGOBARI Act, as it is more crucial now than ever—a lifeline to ensure our allies in Georgia are not crushed by the Ivanishvili regime, as well as their authoritarian allies- Russian, Chinese, and Iranian, etc.  This act will continue to enable the Georgian people to be able to fight for democracy,” said Congressman Veasey. 

    The MEGOBARI Act:

    • Mandates a comprehensive sanctions review of all Georgian Dream officials. Those found to have engaged in corruption or undermining Georgian sovereignty will be sanctioned.
    • Provides for a certification mechanism that mandates a deeper relationship between the United States and Georgia once Georgia’s democracy and sovereignty have been restored.
    • Requires a full report of Russian and CCP intelligence assets in Georgia and Russian-CCP cooperation to undermine Georgian democracy and sovereignty.

         The Mobilizing and Enhancing Georgia’s Options for Building Accountability, Resilience, and Independence (MEGOBARI) Act is the premier U.S. initiative to counter the Ivanishvili Regime’s attempt to drag Georgia toward the Iranian regime, the Chinese Communist Party, and Russia. The bill is fully negotiated between House and Senate, Democrat and Republican leaders and is expected to move quickly. MEGOBARI means “friend” in Georgian.

         The October elections that led to a shocking victory for Ivanishvili’s Georgian Dream party have been declared by international observers as fundamentally flawed. This illegitimate parliament installed an illegitimate puppet president. The legitimate President of Georgia, Salome Zourabichvili, is leading and supporting mass protests calling for free and fair elections. 

         This bill ensures the United States stands strongly with the Georgian people in their decades-long drive for freedom and sovereignty.

         See the bill here.

    # # #                                

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Promises Made, Promises Kept: President Trump Brings Americans Home

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    Since taking office, President Donald J. Trump and his administration have secured the release of 47 detained Americans abroad — and that’s just the beginning as countries around the world respond to our renewed display of American strength and President Trump’s commitment to leaving no American behind.
    The released American citizens include:
    Ksenia Karelina — an American ballet dancer who was wrongfully detained in a Russian penal colony for 14 months — returned home in April.
    “Mr. Trump, I’m so, so grateful for you to bring me home and for [the] American government. And I never felt more blessed to be American — and I’m so, so happy to get home. Thank you,” Karelina said.
    President Trump greets Ksenia Karelina in the Oval Office on May 5, 2025Marc Fogel — an American teacher who was wrongfully detained in a Russian prison for years — returned home in February, making good on a promise President Trump made to Fogel’s 95-year-old mother, Malphine.
    “President Trump is a hero … I will forever be indebted to President Trump, to Steve [Witkoff] over there — what a dynamic man this guy is. When I met him, the energy, the can-do attitude just exudes from his body,” Fogel said.
    President Trump welcomes Marc Fogel to the White House on February 11, 2025Keith Siegel — an American held hostage by Hamas for 484 days — was freed in February.
    “I am here and I am alive. President Trump, you saved my life. You saved the life of 33 hostages because of your efforts,” Siegel said.
    George Glezmann — an American held by the Taliban in Afghanistan for 836 days — was freed in March, joining Americans Ryan Corbett and William McKenty, who were released on the night of President Trump’s inauguration.
    “President Trump — amazing. Thank God he’s in the White House where he’s at and thank God he got me out … I’m in debt with everybody that was involved in this equation because they got me home. A free American individual, free from the hands of these people that abducted because of my U.S. passport, basically — and I’m just thankful. I got no words to express my gratitude for my liberty, my freedom,” Glezmann said.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Vintage music and bell-ringing will mark VE Day in Leicester

    Source: City of Leicester

    VINTAGE music, bunting and bell-ringing will mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day in Leicester later this week.

    On Thursday 8 May, Town Hall Square will be a focal point for commemorations, with bunting, flags and floral tributes in the square. A commemorative book will be available from 10am until 5pm at the Town Hall, where people can record their personal thanks to the men and women who served in the war. Vera Lynn’s wartime classic ‘We’ll Meet Again’ and other well-known tunes from the 1940s will fill the square – and in the evening, the Town Hall will be lit up to mark the occasion.

    Leicester Cathedral will mark the anniversary with a commemorative evening service from 5.30pm, which will be open to the public and attended by the Lord Mayor, the Lord-Lieutenant of Leicestershire, and other civic dignitaries. Bell-ringing will follow the service.

    Leicester’s libraries and museums are also getting involved by showcasing resources, memories and objects relating to the 1940s wartime era and celebrations of peace. The Story of Leicester website has a new webpage for the 80th anniversary, full of pictures, personal memories and voices from the University of Leicester’s oral history archive. There is also a new digital walking tour which showcases Leicester’s heritage panels and memorials relating to the Second World War.

    At the Central Library in Bishop Street, the Media Archive for Central England (MACE) is bringing some rare archive footage to the library that captures life in Leicester and Leicestershire during the Second World War. The screening of Leicester on Film: 1939-45 starts at 7pm on Thursday. Admission is free, but places must be reserved in advance by contacting the library.

    Assistant city mayor for leisure and culture, Cllr Vi Dempster, said: “The last significant anniversaries for VE Day and VJ Day – 75 years, in 2020 – occurred when the country was in the grip of the covid pandemic. As a result, commemorations had to take place virtually and online.

    “That’s why it’s even more special that this year, we are able to commemorate this important milestone by bringing the spirit of VE Day into the city centre.”

    Memories of VE Day on the Story of Leicester website can be found at

    https://www.storyofleicester.info/city-stories/ve80-victory-in-europe-day-80th-anniversary/

    ENDS

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: PM call with Prime Minister Modi of India: 6 May 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    PM call with Prime Minister Modi of India: 6 May 2025

    The Prime Minister spoke to the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi today.

    The Prime Minister spoke to the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi today. 

    The leaders began by celebrating the landmark UK-India Free Trade Agreement announced today – a deal which will add billions to the UK economy, boost wages and deliver on this government’s Plan for Change. 

    In a huge economic win for the UK, delivering for working people and British businesses, the Prime Minister underscored the need to go further and faster to get things done, to secure and renew our country.

    Through pragmatism and purpose, the leaders noted that this historic deal is the biggest the UK has done since leaving the EU, and the most ambitious India has ever done. Prime Minister Modi also thanked the Prime Minister for his decisive leadership in getting the deal over the line. 

    Turning to the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir last month, the Prime Minister reiterated his deep condolences at the tragic and senseless loss of life. 

    Finally, Prime Minister Modi extended an invitation to India, which the Prime Minister was pleased to accept and said he looked forward to visiting India at the earliest opportunity.

    They looked forward to speaking soon.

    Updates to this page

    Published 6 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI China: Xi, EU leaders exchange congratulations on 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties 2025-05-06 20:09:51 Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday exchanged congratulations with European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen over the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and the European Union (EU).

    Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense

    BEIJING, May 6 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday exchanged congratulations with European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen over the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and the European Union (EU).

    In his message, Xi said China and the EU are comprehensive strategic partners, two major forces promoting multi-polarization, two major markets supporting globalization and two major civilizations advocating diversity.

    Xi noted that since the establishment of their diplomatic ties 50 years ago, China and the EU have maintained close exchanges across various levels and sectors, saying that the accomplishments of their dialogue and cooperation are fruitful, cultural and people-to-people exchanges vibrant, and multilateral coordination productive.

    He added that China-EU relations have become one of the most influential bilateral relations in the world, contributing greatly to enhancing the well-being of their people, and promoting world peace and development.

    Noting that the world is undergoing accelerated changes unseen in a century and human society is once again at a critical crossroads, Xi said a healthy and stable China-EU relationship not only promotes mutual achievements, but also illuminates the world.

    Xi said he highly regards the development of China-EU relations, and is ready to work with Costa and von der Leyen to take the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations as an opportunity to review the experience drawn from the development of ties, deepen strategic communication, enhance mutual understanding and trust, strengthen partnership, expand mutual openness, properly handle frictions and differences, and work toward an even brighter future for China-EU relations.

    He also called on both sides to remain committed to multilateralism, uphold fairness and justice, oppose unilateralism and bullying, join forces in addressing global challenges, and jointly build an equitable and orderly multipolar world and an inclusive economic globalization, so as to make greater contributions to world peace, stability, development and prosperity.

    For their part, EU leaders said over the past 50 years, China has achieved the most rapid and sustained economic growth in history, noting that the EU and China have forged extensive ties, become each other’s most important trading partners and contributed to the well-being of their people and the prosperity of their economies.

    Against the backdrop of global uncertainty and geopolitical shifts, the EU, they said, stands ready to deepen its partnership with China, strengthen exchanges and cooperation, uphold the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, work hand in hand to address common challenges, and promote global peace, security, prosperity and sustainable development. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China rolls out measures to optimize public employment services system

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

    BEIJING, May 6 — China on Tuesday rolled out 20 measures to optimize its public employment services system, aiming to improve the availability, equality and professional quality of such services.

    A set of guidelines issued by five government authorities, including the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, call for the provision of local or easily accessible public employment services for urban and rural workers and employers.

    The guidelines underscore the importance of releasing comprehensive employment information and providing precise career introduction and guidance services, while improving the management of both employment and unemployment.

    They state that the types and degrees of difficulties that people face in seeking employment should be identified accurately so that targeted services can be provided.

    They also call for cities and counties to enhance their comprehensive capability to provide full-chain public employment services.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Person struck by train on the Gartell Light Railway

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Person struck by train on the Gartell Light Railway

    Person struck by a train on the Gartell Light Railway, Somerset, 17 April 2025.

    The wagon involved

    At 09:35 on Thursday 17 April 2025, a volunteer member of staff was struck by a wagon and seriously injured near to Common Lane level crossing on the Gartell Light Railway. The railway was not open to the public when the accident occurred.

    The wagon involved was part of a train which was transporting staff, equipment and materials to a site of work. The member of staff was attempting to get off the wagon, which was regularly used to carry staff, when they were struck by it. The train was moving at a slow speed when the accident occurred.

    We have undertaken a preliminary examination into the circumstances surrounding this accident. Having assessed the evidence which has been gathered to date, we have decided to publish a safety digest.

    Updates to this page

    Published 6 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: The Cambridge Growth Company has appointed Buro Happold, Prior + Partners and other technical experts to develop a growth strategy for Greater Cambridge

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    News story

    The Cambridge Growth Company has appointed Buro Happold, Prior + Partners and other technical experts to develop a growth strategy for Greater Cambridge

    The Cambridge Growth Company (CGC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Buro Happold, Prior + Partners and others to prepare a vision, supported by a robust evidence base that will underpin a long-term growth strategy for Greater Cambridge.

    Published on behalf of the Cambridge Growth Company

    CGC will work collaboratively with locally elected leaders and the Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. It will also access support from a number of government departments where required, to pursue infrastructure-led growth.

    This appointment marks a significant step towards shaping a sustainable and strategic future for the Greater Cambridge region working in parallel with but extending over a longer period than the emerging Local Plan. The Local Plan is being developed by the Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Service representing Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council.

    The development of the evidence base has commenced as a first step in defining a vision for the future of Greater Cambridge that is sustainable, inclusive and innovative. By drawing on insights into the knowledge economy, infrastructure, housing, employment, transport, and the natural environment, the evidence base will act as a foundation for identifying challenges and opportunities, policy development and a future spatial strategy. Key areas of focus will be overcoming transport congestion and water scarcity.

    CGC is based in the city and has already commenced recruitment for a number of additional executive roles within the company to build its capacity and expertise over the coming months. These roles will be advertised locally in coming weeks.

    Buro Happold – Integrated consulting engineers and advisors is a globally recognised consultancy specialising in strategic planning, economics, infrastructure, design, engineering, environment and sustainability and strategic advisory services. With a strong track record in delivering large-scale city strategies, new communities and urban transformation projects.

    Buro Happold leads the team to shape the evidence base, strategy and implementation plan. Their contributions will ensure that the evidence base is grounded in data-driven insights, technical analysis and best practices for sustainable growth.

    Roger Savage, Project Director said:

    We look forward to working with local partners on addressing the challenges of the area. In developing the evidence base for the Growth Company we will consider ways which planning for growth can deliver a quality of life dividend for existing and future communities through investment in the environment and infrastructure.

    Prior + Partners is an acclaimed urban planning, masterplanning and economic consultancy known for its role in shaping major urban regeneration and expansion projects. Their experience in spatial planning, placemaking, data analytics and policy advisory will be instrumental in aligning the evidence base with Greater Cambridge’s unique needs, ensuring that growth is managed effectively and equitably.

    They will be supported by a multidisciplinary team with technical expertise and local knowledge, including BNP Paribas Real Estate, CBA, LUC, Peter Studdert, Turner and Townsend and Womble, and Bond Dickinson.

    By partnering with these leading experts in urban strategy and infrastructure planning, the Cambridge Growth Company is laying the groundwork to help Greater Cambridge realise its full potential.

    For further information please refer to CGC’s new website.

    Note to editors

    Cambridge Growth Company

    The Minister of State for Housing and Planning, Matthew Pennycook MP appointed Peter Freeman to chair the Cambridge Growth Company in October 2024. The government then committed £10 million to the CGC at the 2024 Autumn Statement.

    The CGC’s mission is to support Greater Cambridge in the creation of a delivery programme to bring forward an ambitious vision for long term growth. This vision will maximise the potential for the benefit of the city and the UK through enabling further growth of Cambridge’s knowledge and innovation industries.

    The CGC, which is supported by an Advisory Council consisting of elected local leaders and a range of local experts, will work with local government to establish the best long-term business model to fund infrastructural improvements — water supplies, the transport network, education, health, and the natural environment, ensuring that as much as possible is delivered from the increase in the land value of the sites to be developed.

    The intention is that the CGC in its current form transitions into a growth and delivery vehicle that has the capacity and capability to take a long-term approach to delivery.

    Updates to this page

    Published 6 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Trump targets NPR and PBS as public and nonprofit media account for a growing share of local news coverage

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Matthew Powers, Professor of Communication, University of Washington

    The Seattle Times currently funds 30 reporter positions through philanthropy and government aid. AP Photo/Ted S. Warren

    Republicans in Washington have their sights – once again – on defunding public media.

    On May 1, 2025, President Donald Trump issued an executive order calling for the termination of taxpayer support for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the nonprofit that helps fund American public media stations of all sizes, from NPR and PBS, to smaller outlets like WBHM in Birmingham, Alabama, and KGOU in Norman, Oklahoma.

    Many Republicans have denounced public media programming as biased, outdated or simply unnecessary.

    Beneath those familiar talking points lies a long-standing assumption: that the market already provides “abundant, diverse and innovative news options,” as the president’s executive order put it.

    That assumption is wrong. And the story of media in Washington state reveals why.

    Public media’s expanding footprint

    As a communication scholar at the University of Washington, I’ve studied journalism in Seattle and across Washington state for the past decade.

    During that time, I’ve watched for-profit journalism struggle to meet the needs of the region. For this reason, local news outlets have increasingly turned to other sources of revenue.

    The shift has been striking. Just 10 years ago, about 10% of all full-time journalists in Seattle worked for local, nonprofit affiliates of NPR and PBS. Today, that figure is closer to 30%.

    That growing share reflects investments by NPR affiliates like KUOW and KNKX and public television station Cascade PBS, which have expanded their coverage of critical topics like homelessness and immigration. Federal support plays a small but significant role, making up between 5% and 10% of their budgets. The rest of their funding comes from a combination of donations, sponsorship and philanthropic grants.

    However, public media’s expanding footprint is also a symptom of collapse elsewhere: corporate cutbacks at commercial broadcast media networks and stations, the shuttering of community newspapers and the disappearance of alt-weeklies, which sometimes challenged mainstream political or cultural narratives.

    To be sure, public media has not and cannot replace everything that has been lost. But it has helped fill the void left after once-iconic outlets like the Seattle Post-Intelligencer underwent huge layoffs.

    Donors, tax dollars plug holes

    Public media outlets are only one prong of an increasingly noncommercial local news system. In the past, local media were dominated by commercial players that garnered the lion’s share of their revenues through advertising.

    Now, more and more journalism jobs in the state of Washington, including those at commercial outlets, are sustained by philanthropy and government spending. The Seattle Times – which is still, by far, the largest newsroom in the city – pays 30 of its reporters through philanthropic funding. That’s roughly 20% of its entire newsroom. The national nonprofit Report for America has, since its inception in 2018, placed 13 reporters in towns and cities across Washington to cover underserved topics like rural health and veterans issues.

    Meanwhile, the Murrow News Fellowship, launched in 2023 and funded by Washington’s state Legislature, has enabled 16 full-time journalists to be hired for two-year stints in commercial, nonprofit and public media newsrooms around the state.

    Universities are also playing a role. Long a pipeline into the profession, undergraduate and graduate journalism programs have increasingly become a piece of the local news infrastructure. Roughly 10% of all state Legislature coverage in Washington, for example, is now produced by undergraduate student journalists. Many report for newsrooms that no longer have a dedicated journalist in Olympia, the state’s capital.

    Then-state Sen. Pramila Jayapal speaks to reporters in Olympia, Wash., about a proposal to make community and technical college free for state residents without a bachelor’s degree.
    AP Photo/Ted S. Warren

    News isn’t always profitable

    All of these examples – public media, philanthropic support for nonprofit outlets and jobs at for-profit media enterprises, and student journalism – meet needs that for-profit journalism can no longer address on its own.

    Of course, no funding model is perfect. Last year, KUOW laid off three newsroom staffers due to a budget shortfall. Cascade PBS journalists are threatening to strike over low pay. Some critics worry that philanthropic funding can subtly shape news organizations’ coverage priorities.

    But to pretend the market can fix these problems is to ignore that it played a key part in creating them. When a newsroom job disappears, it’s not because watchdog journalism has lost its civic value. It’s because it became hard to monetize.

    Professional reporting takes time and doesn’t inherently deliver high traffic or quick profits. But it does inform citizens, promote government accountability and strengthen communities.

    The push to defund NPR and PBS stems in large part from long-standing Republican antipathy toward public media. But it also rests on a belief that journalism should only survive if it can compete in the marketplace.

    In Washington state, we’ve already seen what happens when we rely on markets alone: fewer reporters, less oversight and a growing amount of AI-generated news that provides no original reporting.

    If these defunding efforts succeed, they will likely do real harm to local news. KNKX has warned that it would lead to “difficult decisions and sacrifices at the expense of access to local journalism.” KUOW has signaled that it would “immediately need to raise 1 million dollars” to offset the loss in federal funding.

    Translation: It could lead to fewer reporters and less reporting at a time when more of both is needed.

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

    – ref. Trump targets NPR and PBS as public and nonprofit media account for a growing share of local news coverage – https://theconversation.com/trump-targets-npr-and-pbs-as-public-and-nonprofit-media-account-for-a-growing-share-of-local-news-coverage-255740

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How the US can mine its own critical minerals − without digging new holes

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Yuanzhi Tang, Professor of Biogeochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology

    Piles of rare earth oxides praseodymium, cerium, lanthanum, neodymium, samarium and gadolinium. Peggy Greb/USDA-ARS

    Every time you use your phone, open your computer or listen to your favorite music on AirPods, you are relying on critical minerals.

    These materials are the tiny building blocks powering modern life. From lithium, cobalt, nickel and graphite in batteries to gallium in telecommunication systems that enable constant connectivity, critical minerals act as the essential vitamins of modern technology: small in volume but vital to function.

    Yet the U.S. depends heavily on imports for most critical materials. In 2024 the U.S. imported 80% of rare earth elements it used, 100% of gallium and natural graphite, and 48% to 76% of lithium, nickel and cobalt, to name a few.

    Rising global demand, high import dependency and growing geopolitical tensions have made critical mineral supply an increasing national security concern − and one of the most urgent supply chain challenges of our time.

    That raises a question: Could the U.S. mine and process more critical minerals at home?

    As a geochemist who leads Georgia Tech’s Center for Critical Mineral Solutions and an engineer focused on energy innovation, we have been exploring the options and barriers for U.S. critical mineral production.

    What’s stopping critical minerals from being produced domestically?

    Let’s take a look at rare earth elements.

    These elements are essential to modern technology, electric vehicles, energy systems and military applications. For example, neodymium is critical for making the strong magnets used in computer hard discs, lasers and wind turbines. Gadolinium is vital for MRI machines, while samarium and cerium play key roles in nuclear reactors and energy systems such as solar and wind power.

    Despite their name, rare earth elements are actually not rare. Their concentrations in the Earth’s crust are comparable to more commonly mined metals such as zinc and copper.

    However, rare earth elements do not often occur in easily accessible, economically viable mineral forms or high-grade deposits. As a result, identifying resources with sufficiently high concentration and large volume is crucial for enabling their economic production.

    MP Materials’ Mountain Pass Rare Earth Mine and Processing Facility is in California near the Nevada border.
    Tmy350/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA

    The U.S. currently has only two domestic rare earth mining locations: Georgia and California.

    In southeast Georgia, rare earths are being produced as a byproduct of heavy mineral sand mining, but the produced rare earth concentrates are shipped out of state and then abroad for refining into the materials used in renewable energy technologies and permanent magnets.

    The other location is in Mountain Pass, California, where hard rock mining extracts a rare earth carbonate mineral called bastnaesite. Yet again, much of the material is sent abroad for refining. As a result, the entire supply chain − from mining to final use in products − stretches across continents.


    U.S. Geological Survey

    Meeting the U.S. demand for rare earth elements and other critical minerals from operations within the United States will require more than just opening new mines. It will require developing and scaling up new technologies, as well as building processing operations.

    Historically, processing has largely taken place overseas because of the environmental impacts, energy demand and regulatory constraints.

    The potential, but long road, to new mines

    Investment in exploration activity for critical minerals is rapidly increasing across the U.S.

    In 2017 the U.S. Geological Survey launched the Earth Mapping Resources Initiative − known as Earth MRI − to identify potential sources of critical minerals within the country.

    Some areas that appear promising for rare earth elements have lots of chemical weathering, in which rocks containing rare earth elements are broken down by reacting with water and air. Exploration is underway at several of these sites, including in locations in Wyoming and Montana.

    A map shows focus areas for 23 mineral systems that could have critical mineral resources.
    USGS

    Identifying a resource, however, is not the same as producing it.

    Traditional mining can take a decade or two from exploration to production and up to 29 years in the U.S., the second-longest timeline in the world. Although this timeline could be changing under the current administration, companies might still face major uncertainties related to permitting, infrastructure development and, in some places, community opposition. Managing environmental impacts, such as air and water pollution and high water consumption and energy use, can further increase cost and extend project timelines.

    Given that the exploration projects mentioned above are still in early stage, the U.S. needs additional, parallel efforts that can bring resources to the market at an accelerated pace.

    Mining the materials we have already mined

    One of the fastest ways to increase U.S. rare earth production may not require digging new holes in the ground − but rather returning to old ones.

    The Atlantic coast region stands out on the Earth MRI map as a particularly promising area. What’s even better is that this region has already established extensive mining activities and mature infrastructure, which allows for much faster speed to market.

    Georgia has mineral sand deposits that are rich in titanium, zirconium, and rare earth elements. Titanium and zirconium − both used in aerospace, energy and medical applications − are already mined in Florida and Georgia. In southeast Georgia, rare earth elements found with these heavy mineral sands are already being recovered as rare earth concentrates.

    Kaolin mining near Macon, Ga.

    Kaolin, a white clay used in paper, paint and porcelain, has been mined in Georgia for over a century, and it can also contain rare earth elements. Georgia generates more than 8 million tons of kaolin annually, making it the leading U.S. producer and a large exporter. This also comes with millions of tons of mining and processing residues, or what’s known as tailings.

    Recent research studies suggest that there is significant potential for extracting rare earth elements in the tailings.

    The tailings are already mined and sitting on the surface. There is no need to drill or blast. That means existing infrastructure, faster timelines and lower costs and than new mining operations.

    Technological innovations, such as bioleaching, ligand-based extraction and separation and electrochemical separation, are now making mining these legacy wastes possible. New processing facilities could be built near existing kaolin or heavy mineral sand operations or former mine sites, bringing materials to market in a few years rather than decades.

    The future of waste mining

    This approach is part of a broader strategy known as “waste mining,” “urban mining” or “mining the anthropogenic cycle.”

    It involves the recovery of critical minerals from existing waste streams such as mine tailings, coal ash and industrial byproducts. It is also part of building a circular economy, where materials are reused and recycled rather than discarded.

    The U.S. has the potential to catalyze new domestic supply chains for materials essential to national security and technology. Waste mining and recycling are critical pieces to ensure the long-term sustainability of these supply chains.

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

    – ref. How the US can mine its own critical minerals − without digging new holes – https://theconversation.com/how-the-us-can-mine-its-own-critical-minerals-without-digging-new-holes-252609

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. LaMalfa and Sen. Schiff Announce New High-Tech Air Force Mission at Beale AFB

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Doug LaMalfa 1st District of California

    Washington, D.C.—Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) announced that Beale Air Force Base has been selected as the preferred location for the Air Force’s new Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) Aircraft Readiness Unit, a major step forward in securing the base’s future role in next-generation defense technology.

    “This is a major win for Beale AFB and a vote of confidence in the capabilities of our region,” said Rep. LaMalfa. “These aircraft represent the future of the Air Force—autonomous, highly capable, and ready to deploy at a moment’s notice. I worked closely with my colleagues in Congress, state and local leaders, and the Department of Defense to make the case for Beale. I want to thank President Trump, DOD leadership, and the Air Force for recognizing Beale’s strategic importance and moving quickly to make it happen. This new mission not only solidifies Beale’s role in our national defense, but also brings new technology and investment to our region.”

    “When we visited Beale Air Force Base just a couple weeks ago, I met committed California servicemembers working to protect our nation and apply new technologies to the adapting threats we face,” said Senator Schiff. “The Air Force’s selection of Beale for testing of the Collaborative Combat Aircraft puts those same servicemembers at the center of the Air Force’s modernization efforts for our nation’s 21st century defense. As the West Coast remains on the front line for deterring adversaries in the Pacific and the home of the nation’s technological innovation, I’m proud to see Yuba County at the tip of the spear for promoting America’s national security.”

    Congressman LaMalfa led the effort alongside Senator Schiff (D-CA) to bring this new mission with newly developed technology to Beale AFB, winning out over competing sites in Nevada and North Dakota. Collaborative Combat Aircraft are part of the next generation of autonomous and fully integrated aircraft that will have broad multi-use capability from intelligence gathering to weapons deployment and much more. This new technology and airframes are part of a fast-evolving modernization of the USAF, and we thank President Trump, DOD, and the Air Force for expediting their placement at Beale.

    The Air Force is currently conducting ground tests of the aircraft, with flight testing expected later this year.

    Congressman Doug LaMalfa is Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus and a lifelong farmer representing California’s First Congressional District, including Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama and Yuba Counties.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. LaMalfa Celebrates Passage of Resolution to Repeal Longfin Smelt Listing in the ESA

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Doug LaMalfa 1st District of California

    Washington, D.C.—Today, Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) announced the House passage of his Congressional Review Act resolution to repeal the Biden Administration’s listing of the longfin smelt as endangered under the Federal Endangered Species Act. Once enacted into law, this resolution will halt the proposed designation of critical habitat for this fish species, as well as ensure California’s water remains available for those who need it most, families and farmers.

    “The Biden Administration and activist judges have used this listing as a political tool to block progress on California water policy,” said Rep. LaMalfa. “This listing is based on cherry picked scientific anecdotes and even Stanford’s Center for Water California Recourses Policy and Management questioned the science of the listing. It adds yet another layer of conflicting regulations that dump tens of millions of acre feet of water out to the Pacific Ocean, with farmers receiving only 40% to 50% of their promised federal and state water. Congress isn’t going to stand by while bureaucrats and environmental lawsuits continue to wreck the water system that feeds our farms, our families, and our economy. I’m glad to see the House take a stand and push back with real solutions that help us grow food, provide water, and keep our economy strong.”

    This designation, driven by litigation from an environmental group, by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service during the Biden Administration threatens California’s water supply by imposing new restrictions on the Central Valley Project (CVP) and State Water Project (SWP). This listing resulted in subsequent burdensome requirements imposed on the CVP that will divert even more water to the Pacific Ocean instead of supplying farms and families across the state. Under the Congressional Review Act, Congress can review and potentially block such regulations within a specific timeframe, and it drops the usual 60-vote requirement in the Senate for these resolutions.

    Congressman Doug LaMalfa is Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus and a lifelong farmer representing California’s First Congressional District, including Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama and Yuba Counties.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Commission funding to environmental NGOs to condition the views of Members of the European Parliament – E-000357/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    Operating grants, as those under the EU LIFE Programme[1], support the functioning of civil society organisations involved in the development and implementation of EU legislation.

    These grants are part of the LIFE Regulation[2], adopted by the co-legislators, and their management complies with the Financial Regulation[3].

    Operating grants are awarded competitively. Applicants submit proposals that include the description of their work programmes of activities in areas indicated in the LIFE Regulation.

    This work programme is annexed to the grant agreement. The work programme may mention, among other applicant’s activities, advocacy activities. The Commission does not prescribe the specific activities in the applicant’s work programmes.

    The Commission has not identified irregularities in operating grants under the LIFE programme. Nonetheless, agreements involving activities directed at EU institutions, even if they do not breach the legal framework, may entail a reputational risk for the EU.

    To mitigate these risks, the Commission has issued guidance[4] addressed to all Commission services, covering all spending programmes, clarifying which activities should not be mandated as a condition for EU financing.

    The Commission adheres to its transparency obligations. Article 38 of the Financial Regulation requires publishing information about EU fund recipients.

    Information about non-governmental organisations and amounts received under LIFE is published annually in the Financial Transparency System[5] and on the LIFE programme website[6].

    For funding in the field of migration, the Commission awards action grants, which are limited in scope and correspond to the eligible activities of the call document, which do not foresee lobbying activities. These grants are published on the Funding and Tenders Portal[7].

    • [1] https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/programmes/life_en ( EU’s funding instrument for the environment and climate action).
    • [2] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32021R0783
    • [3] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=OJ:L_202402509
    • [4] https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/common/guidance/guidance-funding-dev-impl-monit-enforce-of-eu-law_en.pdf
    • [5] https://ec.europa.eu/budget/financial-transparency-system/analysis.html ( The annual publications are based on Article 38 of the Financial Regulation whereby data on recipients is not disclosed for very low value contracts below EUR 15 000 and where disclosure risks threatening the rights and freedoms of the persons or entities).
    • [6] https://cinea.ec.europa.eu/programmes/life/life-operating-grants_en
    • [7] https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/home

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Greece’s role in the EU’s next Multiannual Financial Framework – E-000883/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    In line with the political guidelines of the President of the Commission[1], the recent Commission’s communication on ‘The road to the next multiannual financial framework’ (MFF)[2] underscores the need for a policy-based budget that is more focused, more impactful, and simpler to deliver on EU priorities.

    The next EU budget will include a strengthened cohesion and growth policy with regions at the centre and build on the commitment to defend a fair and sufficient income for farmers, with a common agricultural policy that finds the right balance between incentives, investments and regulation.

    This new approach for a modern EU budget should include a plan for each country with key reforms and investments, designed and implemented in partnership with national, regional, and local authorities.

    The next MFF should also continue to help address challenges related to managing migration, including effective protection of the EU external borders and comprehensive partnerships with countries of origin and transit.

    It should thus continue to support Member States to ensure they have the expertise, operational and financial capacity they need for the implementation of the Pact on Migration and Asylum[3].

    In addition to the simplification measures proposed by the Commission to simplify EU rules for businesses, the recently adopted Clean Industrial Deal[4] will contribute to bringing climate and competitiveness under an overarching growth strategy.

    As regards the next MFF, a European Competitiveness Fund[5] should establish an investment capacity that will support strategic sectors and technologies critical to the EU competitiveness.

    It will ensure better use of EU’s budget to leverage further national, private and institutional financing, to the benefit of the entire single market, including small and medium-sized enterprises.

    • [1] https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/e6cd4328-673c-4e7a-8683-f63ffb2cf648_en?filename=Political%20Guidelines%202024-2029_EN.pdf
    • [2] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52025DC0046
    • [3] https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/migration-and-asylum/pact-migration-and-asylum_en
    • [4] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52025DC0085
    • [5] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:52025DC0030

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Non-transparent allocation of funds to certain media outlets ahead of the 2024 European Parliament election – E-000724/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The Commission did not run corporate communication campaigns in 2024 before the European elections. The communication efforts around the European elections were led by the European Parliament.

    In general, when running corporate communication campaigns about common European projects, such as REPowerEU or NextGenerationEU, the Commission may procure communication services, such as advertising space, through contracts and framework contracts awarded to agencies in line with the Financial Regulation[1].

    Such procurement of services is always done in full respect of the Financial Regulation and of applicable national rules for advertising.

    • [1] Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 September 2024 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union.
    Last updated: 6 May 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: The Cambridge Growth Company have appointed Buro Happold, Prior + Partners and other technical experts to develop a growth strategy for Greater Cambridge

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    The Cambridge Growth Company have appointed Buro Happold, Prior + Partners and other technical experts to develop a growth strategy for Greater Cambridge

    The Cambridge Growth Company (CGC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Buro Happold, Prior + Partners and others to prepare a vision, supported by a robust evidence base that will underpin a long-term growth strategy for Greater Cambridge.

    Published on behalf of the Cambridge Growth Company

    CGC will work collaboratively with locally elected leaders and the Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. It will also access support from a number of government departments where required, to pursue infrastructure-led growth.

    This appointment marks a significant step towards shaping a sustainable and strategic future for the Greater Cambridge region working in parallel with but extending over a longer period than the emerging Local Plan. The Local Plan is being developed by the Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Service representing Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council.

    The development of the evidence base has commenced as a first step in defining a vision for the future of Greater Cambridge that is sustainable, inclusive and innovative. By drawing on insights into the knowledge economy, infrastructure, housing, employment, transport, and the natural environment, the evidence base will act as a foundation for identifying challenges and opportunities, policy development and a future spatial strategy. Key areas of focus will be overcoming transport congestion and water scarcity.

    CGC is based in the city and has already commenced recruitment for a number of additional executive roles within the company to build its capacity and expertise over the coming months. These roles will be advertised locally in coming weeks.

    Buro Happold – Integrated consulting engineers and advisors is a globally recognised consultancy specialising in strategic planning, economics, infrastructure, design, engineering, environment and sustainability and strategic advisory services. With a strong track record in delivering large-scale city strategies, new communities and urban transformation projects.

    Buro Happold leads the team to shape the evidence base, strategy and implementation plan. Their contributions will ensure that the evidence base is grounded in data-driven insights, technical analysis and best practices for sustainable growth.

    Roger Savage, Project Director said:

    We look forward to working with local partners on addressing the challenges of the area. In developing the evidence base for the Growth Company we will consider ways which planning for growth can deliver a quality of life dividend for existing and future communities through investment in the environment and infrastructure.

    Prior + Partners is an acclaimed urban planning, masterplanning and economic consultancy known for its role in shaping major urban regeneration and expansion projects. Their experience in spatial planning, placemaking, data analytics and policy advisory will be instrumental in aligning the evidence base with Greater Cambridge’s unique needs, ensuring that growth is managed effectively and equitably.

    They will be supported by a multidisciplinary team with technical expertise and local knowledge, including BNP Paribas Real Estate, CBA, LUC, Peter Studdert, Turner and Townsend and Womble, and Bond Dickinson.

    By partnering with these leading experts in urban strategy and infrastructure planning, the Cambridge Growth Company is laying the groundwork to help Greater Cambridge realise its full potential.

    For further information please refer to CGC’s new website – www.thecgc.org.uk.

    Note to editors

    Cambridge Growth Company

    The Minister of State for Housing and Planning, Matthew Pennycook MP appointed Peter Freeman to chair the Cambridge Growth Company in October 2024. The government then committed £10 million to the CGC at the 2024 Autumn Statement.

    The CGC’s mission is to support Greater Cambridge in the creation of a delivery programme to bring forward an ambitious vision for long term growth. This vision will maximise the potential for the benefit of the city and the UK through enabling further growth of Cambridge’s knowledge and innovation industries.

    The CGC, which is supported by an Advisory Council consisting of elected local leaders and a range of local experts, will work with local government to establish the best long-term business model to fund infrastructural improvements — water supplies, the transport network, education, health, and the natural environment, ensuring that as much as possible is delivered from the increase in the land value of the sites to be developed.

    The intention is that the CGC in its current form transitions into a growth and delivery vehicle that has the capacity and capability to take a long-term approach to delivery.

    Updates to this page

    Published 6 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Dmitry Chernyshenko: The architecture of the business program of the V International Tourism Forum “Travel!” has been published

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    The architecture of the fifth, anniversary International Tourism Forum “Travel!” has been published. It will be held from June 10 to 15 in Moscow at VDNKh. The three-day business program is aimed at leading experts, representatives of government bodies, international delegations and business communities seeking to exchange experience and create new opportunities for the development of the industry. The organizer of the International Tourism Forum “Travel!” is the Roscongress Foundation together with the Ministry of Economic Development with the support of the Government.

    “The Travel! Forum is a unique opportunity for citizens and guests of our country to discover the beauty and tourism potential of Russia, and get acquainted with new routes and destinations. The event will help bring together industry leaders who are ready to find innovative solutions and build long-term partnerships. As part of the business program, they will discuss the effectiveness of government support measures, the development of tourism infrastructure and the implementation of the large-scale Five Seas and Lake Baikal project of the Tourism and Hospitality national project. In order to achieve the goals set by President Vladimir Putin, special attention will be paid to the personnel issue. At the forum, representatives of business and educational institutions will discuss current educational programs for the tourism industry,” emphasized Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Travel! International Tourism Forum Dmitry Chernyshenko.

    One of the key focuses of the forum is international tourism. Discussions will touch upon the most important issues related to the restoration and expansion of global tourist flows. The focus of the discussions will be on current trends, innovative technologies and strategies aimed at attracting foreign tourists, as well as the issue of strengthening the positions of Russian tourist destinations on the world stage.

    No less important will be the topics of investment in the tourism industry: attracting financing for infrastructure, creating new tourist facilities and modernizing existing ones. The forum will provide a unique platform for establishing contacts between investors, businessmen and authorities interested in supporting the development of tourism in Russia.

    “The business program, based on three pillars, namely international cooperation, investment and HR strategy, will become the point of intersection of ideas and innovations, creating space for real changes in the industry. “Travel!” has set itself an ambitious goal – not only to return and expand tourist flows, but also to turn around approaches to investment, infrastructure and professional training,” commented Anton Kobyakov, Advisor to the President of Russia, Executive Secretary of the Organizing Committee of the International Tourism Forum “Travel!”

    A significant part of the business program tracks of the International Tourism Forum “Travel!” in 2025 will be devoted to professional education and training of qualified specialists for the hotel and tourism business. The forum partners will discuss key issues of personnel policy, as well as exchange best practices in creating educational programs for training in-demand specialists.

    “Today, the Russian hospitality industry is changing rapidly. And the task of government bodies at all levels is to support these changes by responding to industry demands. Therefore, the Ministry of Economic Development has focused its work on the following areas that support the transformation of tourism. A new hotel classification system is being formed, instructors-guides, tour guides and guides have begun to work according to the new rules. Tools have been created to attract large investors, and dozens of large projects are already being implemented that will ensure the reception of guests in the medium term and significantly increase the market capacity. There are many issues that we need to resolve together with businesses, regions and the expert community. Among such issues are the training of qualified personnel, infrastructure development, areas of digitalization of the industry, and the creation of products for the international market. And the main platform for this dialogue is the fields of the “Travel!” forum. We have included all the current issues on the agenda in the program and will discuss them at the sessions of the business program,” said Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Meeting on the development of airfield and airport infrastructure

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    The airfield is equipped with one of the best runways in Russia, which was put into operation in July 2011.

    The airport complex consists of two passenger terminals: for domestic and international flights, and separate terminals for domestic and international flights.

    Passenger traffic in 2024 amounted to more than 5 million passengers. The airport is developing dynamically, paying great attention to the modernization of the airport infrastructure. The capacity of the airport of JSC Mineralnye Vody International Airport today is 240 flights per day, on domestic flights – 1,650 people per hour, on international flights – 240 people per hour.

    The geography of flights from Mineralnye Vody includes about 70 destinations, of which more than 20 are foreign.

    The construction, reconstruction and technical re-equipment of the Mineralnye Vody International Airport have been ongoing since 2019. The deadlines are 2019–2028, and the work is carried out in three stages (Stage I – 2019, Stage II – 2023–2025, Stage III – 2026–2028).

    In 2019, the Mineralnye Vody International Airport underwent reconstruction of the airport complex, including the expansion of the arrival pavilions for domestic and international airlines with a built-in pavilion for those meeting them, including the technical re-equipment of the air checkpoint across the state border of Russia.

    As part of the reconstruction, two two-story buildings of the arrival pavilions for domestic and international airlines were combined; their total area was 8,577.7 sq. m. Two elevators for passengers with limited mobility, high-tech baggage systems, and two additional border passport control booths were installed.

    During the second stage in 2023–2025, a new domestic terminal with an area of 28,506 sq. m. will be built. The new terminal will increase the capacity to 3,120 passengers per hour (currently 1,050 passengers per hour), and the total annual volume will be over 5.2 million passengers (international and domestic airlines). The terminal will be equipped with modern high-tech passenger and baggage handling systems, including 28 check-in counters, 6 passport control points, 11 boarding gates, including 5 air bridges. It is planned to expand the station square with a parking lot, the first access line to the terminal and landscaping.

    At the moment, work on the installation of the roof, facade, engineering systems, and external engineering networks is in the final stages.

    Work is being carried out on finishing the premises, installing engineering and technological equipment, and improving the adjacent territory.

    Earthworks, work on the installation of reinforced concrete and metal structures, vertical transport, and external engineering infrastructure structures have been fully completed.

    Mikhail Mishustin held a meeting on the development of airfield and airport infrastructure

    From the transcript:

    M. Mishustin: Good afternoon, dear colleagues!

    The President set the task of modernizing the infrastructure of at least 75 airports across Russia by 2030. Today, as we open this terminal, we will discuss in detail how this task is being accomplished.

    Well-equipped, convenient air harbors are necessary to strengthen the connectivity of the territories of our large country, increase the availability of flights for citizens and, of course, develop the economy of the subjects of the Federation. Last year, the reconstruction of runways in Kemerovo and Tomsk was completed, seven airport complexes were opened, and since the beginning of this year, three new terminals have been put into operation in Novokuznetsk, Tyumen, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.

    The government pays special attention to such issues. During previous working trips, I personally saw how the construction of the airport in Magadan was proceeding, and I familiarized myself with the plans in Khabarovsk, Novosibirsk, and Gorno-Altaisk.

    We have just inspected the new terminal of the international airport here in Mineralnye Vody. It will soon begin to welcome guests and will provide a modern level of comfort for both residents and guests of the region, which is very important given that in recent years the passenger flow of this air harbor has almost tripled. After all, domestic tourism is growing, people are increasingly choosing the North Caucasus for vacation. Both Mineralnye Vody and nearby cities such as Pyatigorsk, Yessentuki, Kislovodsk have historically been very popular destinations. And we need to make trips to such centers of attraction more convenient for tourists.

    Work is also continuing in other Russian regions, primarily within the framework of the new national project “Efficient Transport System”. It includes a separate federal project – “Development of the Support Network of Airfields”…

    To be continued…

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: HSE Becomes Best Universities at X5 Tech Sprint Programming Championship

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    X5 Tech Sprint is a championship in algorithmic programming. A total of 808 schoolchildren and students from more than 200 educational institutions in Moscow took part in it. HSE took first place among universities in the overall rating of participants, and a student Faculty of Computer Science (FKN) showed the best result.

    From April 7 to 19, the first championship in programming for speed among schoolchildren and students was held in Moscow X5 Tech SprintThe venue chosen was unusual – five Perekrestok supermarkets.

    The championship participants — 808 schoolchildren and students from more than 200 educational institutions in Moscow, including 124 HSE students — competed in solving problems at speed in C and Python. In total, they spent more than 3.5 thousand minutes on coding.

    “In the battle format, you need to solve one simple problem in a very limited time – about five minutes,” says Mikhail Gustokashin, director Center for Student Olympiads HSE University. — This is the most spectacular format of competitions in algorithmic programming, and it is also accessible to all students familiar with programming: here it is not necessary to know complex algorithms and data structures that are required in other, longer competitions.”

    The maximum score was achieved by 96 participants, and the best result (53 seconds to solve one problem) was shown by a second-year undergraduate student “Applied Mathematics and Computer Science» Dmitry Rovnyago.

    Five winners received awards of 50 thousand rubles, including three students of the Faculty of Computer Science. The top 25 participants will undergo accelerated selection for an internship at X5 Tech. The top 25 also included 16 students of the Faculty of Computer Science.

    HSE took first place among universities in the overall rating of participants and received a special prize – an upgrade of one of the classrooms from X5 Group.

    Mikhail Gustokashin

    “Our students solve many problems during their studies, including during tests with a strict time limit, so they are all ready to participate in battles. The competition format is gaining popularity, and I hope that new victories await us. We congratulate the guys on their excellent results and wish them further success!”

    Text: Alexandra Sytnik

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: Smackover Lithium Submits Royalty Application to Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission for South West Arkansas Project

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LEWISVILLE, Ark., May 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Smackover Lithium, a Joint Venture (“JV”) between Standard Lithium Ltd. (“Standard Lithium” or the “Company”) (TSXV:SLI) (NYSE:A:SLI) and Equinor, announced that SWA Lithium LLC has submitted an application to the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission (“AOGC”) to establish a fair and equitable lithium royalty for the Reynolds Unit for Phase I of its South West Arkansas (“SWA”) Project in Lafayette and Columbia Counties, Arkansas. The hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, May 28th, 2025, at 9:00 am CDT and is to be held at the Donald W. Reynolds Community Center Grand Hall at South Arkansas University (100 East University) in Magnolia, Arkansas.

    The application proposes a quarterly gross royalty of 2.5% that will be based on the total amount of lithium produced and the average FastMarkets North American Index Price for technical grade lithium carbonate, which is higher than comparable projects globally on a lithium carbonate equivalent (“LCE”) basis. The lithium royalty will be paid to brine owners in addition to the brine fee, also referred to as the “in lieu bromine royalty,” of $65.05 per acre per year, making the total proposed royalty compensation approximately 3% based on current lithium prices.

    “Working with landowners and the AOGC to establish a fair and equitable royalty is key to the SWA Project’s success,” said Standard Lithium’s CEO, David Park, “The proposed royalty generously compensates brine owners, is fair for industry, and encourages development of the Smackover resource. The royalty is only the beginning of the economic impact this project will have for South Arkansas and the rest of the state.”

    “Establishing a royalty for the SWA Project allows us to continue the path towards a final investment decision,” said Allison Kennedy Thurmond, VP for US Lithium at Equinor. “The proposed royalty rate enables capital investment, infrastructure improvements, jobs, tax revenue and brings tremendous benefits to the Smackover region.”

    For more information about the SWA Project and Smackover Lithium, please visit www.smackoverlithium.com

    About Standard Lithium Ltd.

    Standard Lithium is a leading near-commercial lithium development company focused on the sustainable development of a portfolio of large, high-grade lithium-brine properties in the United States. The Company prioritizes projects characterized by high-grade resources, robust infrastructure, skilled labor, and streamlined permitting. Standard Lithium aims to achieve sustainable, commercial-scale lithium production via the application of a scalable and fully integrated Direct Lithium Extraction (“DLE”) and purification process. The Company’s flagship projects are located in the Smackover Formation, a world-class lithium brine asset, focused in Arkansas and Texas. In partnership with global energy leader Equinor, Standard Lithium is advancing the South West Arkansas project, a greenfield project located in southern Arkansas, and actively exploring promising lithium brine prospects in East Texas. Standard Lithium also holds an interest in certain mineral leases in the Mojave Desert in San Bernardino County, California.

    Standard Lithium trades on both the TSX Venture Exchange and the NYSE American under the symbol “SLI”. Please visit the Company’s website at www.standardlithium.com.

    About Equinor

    Equinor is an international energy company committed to long-term value creation in a low-carbon future. Equinor’s portfolio of projects encompasses oil and gas, renewables and low-carbon solutions, with an ambition of becoming a net-zero energy company by 2050. Headquartered in Norway, Equinor is the leading operator on the Norwegian continental shelf and is present in around 30 countries worldwide. Equinor’s partnership with Standard Lithium to mature DLE projects builds on its broad US energy portfolio of oil and gas, offshore wind, low carbon solutions and battery storage projects.

    For more information on Equinor in the US, please visit: Equinor in the US – Equinor

    Investor and Media Inquiries

    Chris Lang
    Standard Lithium Ltd.
    +1 604 409 8154
    investors@standardlithium.com

    Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”, “target”, “plan”, “forecast”, “may”, “schedule” and other similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information may relate to intended development timelines, future prices of commodities, accuracy of mineral or resource exploration activity, reserves or resources, regulatory or government requirements or approvals, including approval of the royalty application submitted to the AOGC, the reliability of third party information, continued access to mineral properties or infrastructure, fluctuations in the market for lithium and its derivatives, changes in exploration costs and government regulation in Canada and the United States, and other factors or information. Such forward-looking statements represent the Company’s current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Banzai Secures Expanded Agreement with RBC Capital Markets for OpenReel Enterprise License

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SEATTLE, May 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Banzai International, Inc. (NASDAQ: BNZI) (“Banzai” or the “Company”), a leading marketing technology company that provides essential marketing and sales solutions, today announced it has expanded its agreement with RBC Capital Markets.

    As part of the expanded agreement, RBC Capital Markets’ Wealth Marketing Division will have an enterprise license for usage of OpenReel, Banzai’s leading digital video creation platform.

    “This agreement reinforces our strategy of expansion in the enterprise,” said Joe Davy, Founder and CEO of Banzai. “Having already been working with RBC Global Asset Management, this deal shows movement throughout the enterprise into the wealth marketing division, doubling our current engagement and validating our growth in the enterprise space. We are seeing solid traction in the financial sector, where the OpenReel Creator tool gives global financial firms the ability to offer standardized branded video with personalization at scale for their wealth managers, partners, and other stakeholders.”

    OpenReel empowers organizations to efficiently produce high-quality, branded video content at scale. Its platform enables users to remotely direct, record, edit, and collaborate on professional-grade video projects, significantly streamlining the production process and ensuring brand consistency. OpenReel serves a global enterprise client base, including industry leaders like Bristol Myers Squibb, Ingram Micro, DXC Technology, Insider Inc., and US Steel.

    About RBC Capital Markets

    The most significant corporations, institutional investors, asset managers, private equity firms, and governments around the globe recognize RBC Capital Markets as an innovative, trusted partner with an in-depth expertise in capital markets, banking, and finance. We are well-established in the largest, most mature capital markets across North America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific region, which collectively encompasses 80% of the global investment banking fee pool.

    RBC Capital Markets is part of a leading provider of financial services, Royal Bank of Canada (RBC). Founded in 1864, RBC is one of the largest banks in the world and the fifth largest in North America, as measured by market capitalization. With a strong capital base and consistent financial performance, RBC is among a small group of highly rated global banks. Learn more at rbccm.com.

    We are proud to support a broad range of community initiatives through donations, community investments and employee volunteer activities. See how at rbc.com/community-social-impact.

    About Banzai

    Banzai is a marketing technology company that provides AI-enabled marketing and sales solutions for businesses of all sizes. On a mission to help their customers grow, Banzai enables companies of all sizes to target, engage, and measure both new and existing customers more effectively. Customers who use Banzai’s product suite include Autodesk, Dell Technologies, New York Life, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Thinkific, and ActiveCampaign, among thousands of others. Learn more at www.banzai.io. For investors, please visit https://ir.banzai.io.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements often use words such as “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “target,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “should,” “would,” “propose,” “plan,” “project,” “forecast,” “predict,” “potential,” “seek,” “future,” “outlook,” and similar variations and expressions. Forward-looking statements are those that do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. Examples of forward-looking statements may include, among others, statements regarding Banzai International, Inc.’s (the “Company’s”): future financial, business and operating performance and goals; annualized recurring revenue and customer retention; ongoing, future or ability to maintain or improve its financial position, cash flows, and liquidity and its expected financial needs; potential financing and ability to obtain financing; acquisition strategy and proposed acquisitions and, if completed, their potential success and financial contributions; strategy and strategic goals, including being able to capitalize on opportunities; expectations relating to the Company’s industry, outlook and market trends; total addressable market and serviceable addressable market and related projections; plans, strategies and expectations for retaining existing or acquiring new customers, increasing revenue and executing growth initiatives; and product areas of focus and additional products that may be sold in the future. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and our actual results of operations, financial condition and liquidity and development of the industry in which the Company operates may differ materially from those made in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. Therefore, investors should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially include changes in the markets in which the Company operates, customer demand, the financial markets, economic, business and regulatory and other factors, such as the Company’s ability to execute on its strategy. More detailed information about risk factors can be found in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q under the heading “Risk Factors,” and in other reports filed by the Company, including reports on Form 8-K. The Company does not undertake any duty to update forward-looking statements after the date of this press release.

    Investor Relations
    Chris Tyson
    Executive Vice President
    MZ Group – MZ North America
    949-491-8235
    BNZI@mzgroup.us
    www.mzgroup.us

    Media
    Nancy Norton
    Chief Legal Officer, Banzai
    media@banzai.io

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Sagtec Global Secures US$30 Million Revenue Pipeline Through Exclusive UAE Partnership, Accelerating Global Expansion

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, May 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Sagtec Global Limited (NASDAQ: SAGT) (“Sagtec” or the “Company”), a leading provider of customizable software solutions, today announced its international growth strategy through the signing of a Master Dealership Agreement with SMD Tech – FZCO (“SMD Tech”), a premier technology distributor based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

    Under the terms of the agreement, SMD Tech is appointed as Sagtec’s exclusive master dealer for its flagship Speed+ Cloud-Based Smart Ordering System (“Speed+”) across Dubai with a firm commitment to purchase a minimum of 10,000 software licenses over the next five years. This translates into an expected revenue pipeline of no less than US$30 million, substantially enhancing Sagtec’s long-term recurring revenue visibility and global market penetration.

    Speed+, Sagtec’s cloud-native ordering platform, is purpose-built to transform operations in the retail and food & beverage (F&B) sectors – delivering seamless order processing, real-time analytics, and automated customer engagement. The platform’s relevance is further underscored by regional digital momentum. According to PwC Middle East, the UAE’s digital economy is projected to contribute over US$140 billion to gross domestic product (GDP) by 2031, driven by government-led innovation and enterprise digitalization. Dubai, in particularly, has emerged as a key innovation hub, fueled by substantial investments in cloud infrastructure, artificial intelligence, and smart city technologies.

    Supporting this backdrop, Statista forecasts the UAE’s F&B market will surpass US$37 billion by 2030, propelled by rising consumer expectations for digital convenience and operational efficiency. In parallel, Grand View Research projects the Middle East’s cloud-based point of sale (POS) market will grow at a 19% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) through 2030, reaching approximately US$1 billion. These converging treads points to an urgent demand for integrated platforms like Speed+, which empower businesses to streamline ordering, enhance customer engagement, and scale operations efficiently, making this the ideal time for Sagtec’s market entry.

    “This agreement unlocks a predictable multi-year revenue stream and positions Sagtec as a key digital enabler in the Middle East’s F&B transformation. With Speed+ backed by SMD Tech’s local market expertise, we are not only capturing market share but laying the groundwork for long-term Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) dominance in the region,” said Kevin Ng, Chairman, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Sagtec.

    About Sagtec Global Limited

    Sagtec is a leading provider of customizable software solutions, primarily serving the Food & Beverage (F&B) sector. The Company also offers software development, data management, and social media management to enhance operational efficiency across various industries. Additionally, Sagtec operates power-bank charging stations at 300 locations across Malaysia through its subsidiary, CL Technology (International) Sdn Bhd.

    For more information on the Company, please log on to https://www.sagtec-global.com/.

    About SMD Tech – FZCO

    SMD Tech – FZCO is a technology-focused enterprise based in the United Arab Emirates, specializing in digital infrastructure, IoT solutions, and enterprise transformation. With a mission to empower businesses through innovative software and hardware integration, SMD Tech delivers cutting-edge solutions tailored to the region’s fast-evolving digital ecosystem. The company is committed to driving operational excellence and future-ready growth for its clients.

    Contact Information:

    Sagtec Global Limited Contact:
    Ng Chen Lok
    Chairman, Executive Director & Chief Executive Officer
    Phone: +6011-6217 3661
    Email: info@sagtec-global.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Mark Carney in Washington: His visit with Trump kicks off high-wire politics in Canada

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Thomas Klassen, Professor, School of Public Policy and Administration, York University, Canada

    Prime Minister Mark Carney is headed to Washington, D.C., for a high-stakes meeting with Donald Trump as the American president continues his trade war and annexation threats against Canada.

    “We are meeting as heads of our government,” Carney said at a news conference late last week. “I am not pretending those discussions will be easy.”

    The White House visit comes just a week after Carney led the Liberals to their fourth consecutive election victory.

    It was a result that, at first blush, allowed each party to claim that it won, or at least that it did not totally lose. That sets up a Parliamentary session that will feature several interesting dynamics.

    The Conservatives under Pierre Poilievre won several more seats than in 2021 and their highest share of the national vote in decades, though Poilievre himself lost his seat.



    Read more:
    Canada’s Conservatives, with an assist from Donald Trump, are down — but they’re far from out

    The NDP under an outgoing Jagmeet Singh managed to hold onto the balance of power in the upcoming minority Parliament for a third consecutive time. Elizabeth May continues to represent the Green Party in the House of Commons. Yves-François Blanchet kept the Bloc Québécois relevant for voters in Québec.

    Even Justin Trudeau, no longer in politics, won — his legacy is not in the gutter due to a predicted Conservative majority win that never materialized once Carney replaced him.

    But in the coming weeks and months, the leaders and their parties face difficult circumstances that could turn them into losers — most importantly, how Carney manages the relationship with Trump.

    The role of Trump

    Carney and the Liberals capitalized on exceptional
    circumstances     driven by Donald Trump’s trade war and threats to make Canada the 51st state. Winning four consecutive elections is a rare feat for any political party in Canada.
    But Carney cannot count on fortune continuing to smile upon him. He must now manage a party within which he has little history and few favours to call in — a party that he has dragged from centre-left under Trudeau to centre-right.

    The new prime minister will have to rely on aides and advisers to a much greater extent than all former office-holders who had years or decades of experience in the political area, including the House of Commons. At the same time, he will have to demonstrate to Canadians that he is in charge and makes the final decisions.

    Invariably, there will be Liberal missteps in the weeks ahead: ethical lapses for some MPs, ministerial appointments that go awry and disappointment among those not appointed to cabinet. Because Carney has been prime minister for less than two months, the upcoming Speech from the Throne on May 27 — to be delivered by King Charles — that sets the government’s goals is shrouded in mystery.

    Beyond Ottawa, premiers from several different political parties — each with their own agenda — await Carney. South of the border, the unpredictable Trump, with his infuriating rhetoric and disruptive actions, is in office for another three-and-half-years.

    As a newcomer to politics elected on his first attempt to the country’s highest political office, Carney could have at least have one topic of conversation in common with Trump when they meet on Tuesday. Trump too was a political outsider who catapulted into office on his first attempt. The two may find some bond in their shared experience.

    The greatest danger for Carney is not from Trump’s rhetoric but from broader economic conditions. He ran for office on the promise of being able to manage economic turmoil. But politicians of any stripe have little control in a global economic slump or an all-out tariff war. If unemployment, inflation or the cost-of-living tick upward, Carney will quickly lose his lustre among many Canadians.

    The new Parliament

    For the Conservatives, Poilievre’s leadership will continue to weigh on the party in the weeks and months ahead. Losing his Ottawa seat weakens his claim to stay on as leader. He now needs to win a byelection in Alberta triggered by the resignation of Conservative MP Damien Kurek.

    The worst outcome for the party is years of infighting between those who support giving Poilievre one more chance and those who believe that 2025 is the best the party can do under his leadership.

    The best outcome is for Poilievre to become a bridge-builder within the party and to Conservatives across Canada, and to rebrand himself to be more palatable to Canadian voters. This will not be easy and he hasn’t shown much inclination to do so.

    The NDP’s Singh has already announced his resignation and accepted responsibility for the party electing only seven MPs. A period of soul-searching leading to a leadership contest has already started. The loss of seats, and returning to Ottawa with an interim leader, lessens the voice of the party in political discourse. If a new leader is elected who is not an MP, the party will be further hampered.

    The Greens remain in the House of Commons, but as a party of one. The jury continues is out on whether the party can exist without its leader, Elizabeth May, who has said she wouldn’t rule out joining Carney’s cabinet.

    Blanchet returns to Ottawa with fewer Bloc MPs and a murky mission. He had hoped that the Bloc would hold the balance of power once the votes were counted, but was foiled by the NDP. He has already faced criticism from his own supporters when he promised to collaborate with other parties in Ottawa to secure Canada’s economic future.

    Beginning with Carney’s handling of Trump this week, how skilfully each party, and leader, performs its distinct high-wire act in the next few months will determine the ultimate winners and losers. The show is about to begin.

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

    – ref. Mark Carney in Washington: His visit with Trump kicks off high-wire politics in Canada – https://theconversation.com/mark-carney-in-washington-his-visit-with-trump-kicks-off-high-wire-politics-in-canada-255675

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The timeless appeal of We’ll Meet Again underscores people’s need for sentimentality

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Clare V. Church, Fellow of the Institute of Historical Research, School of Advanced Study, University of London

    It begins with just a few gentle flourishes from the orchestra before the honey-voiced singer launches into the chorus. Her words are instantly familiar to listeners, who sing along without having to search for the lyrics on their smartphones or strain their voices to remain in key. The song’s simplicity is its boon and its enduring message of softness and sentimentality its raison d’être.

    More than 85 years after its release, We’ll Meet Again – made famous by singer Vera Lynn – continues to resonate with listeners, whether they experienced the second world war or not. In fact, as we head into the 80th anniversary of the war’s end, it is one song that is sure to be at the top of all British commemorative playlists.

    While embarking on this next year of remembrance, it is important to question why this song echoes so resoundingly across time and space. Why is it that, after all these years, we continue to meet We’ll Meet Again again, and again and again?

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

    Written by Ross Parker and Hughie Charles, We’ll Meet Again was first recoded by Lynn in 1939. Its chorus is as follows:

    We’ll meet again, don’t know where, don’t know when, but I’ll know we’ll meet again some sunny day.

    Keep smiling through, just like you, always do, ‘til the blue skies chase those dark clouds far away.

    In the early war, Lynn performed the song – as well as other wistful tunes – at palladiums across the country and over the radio. She gained a reputation as a “sweet singer of sweet songs” and was soon after bestowed the moniker “the Forces’ sweetheart”.

    By 1941, Lynn hosted her own BBC radio show named Sincerely Yours, described by Radio Times as a “letter in words and music” to fighting men. After reading messages from munitions girls to their husbands and congratulations to new fathers in the military, Lynn signed off the show crooning We’ll Meet Again, authenticating the song as her signature.

    Throughout the remainder of the war, she performed the song over the radio and in film (including in the fittingly titled We’ll Meet Again in 1943) as well as in concerts as far afield as Myanmar.

    Vera Lynn performing We’ll Meet Again in 1943.

    However, the song was not met with universal acceptance. Some, including parliamentarian Earl Winterton, believed that Lynn’s song harmed soldier morale, arguing that its emotional message deflated appetite for the war. Diarists for Mass Observation – a social research project launched in 1937 that collected journal entries from volunteer citizens – repeated this idea. One diarist claimed that Lynn’s songs were “too intimate for broadcasting” and another called her catalogue “carefully written sob stuff”.

    But just as some criticised, others came to her defence. Gunner A. E. Buckeridge, for example, scorned Winterton in Union Jack magazine for taking it “upon himself to decide what the men should like”. Frank Owen of the South East Asia Command similarly wrote that Lynn’s crooning “really hits the heart” and thanked her for ameliorating “the abiding home sickness” of soldiers.

    The debate did not centre on whether We’ll Meet Again was sentimental. Rather, it questioned if such sentimentality helped or hindered fighting men.

    By 1945, many listeners sat in the former camp, contending that We’ll Meet Again eased war’s hardships by reminding listeners of their home and humanity. In fact, it would be the song’s ability to do this that would propel its popularity to new heights in the following decades.

    Post-war resonance

    Following the end of hostilities, the ballad proliferated across media, genres and audiences. It was referenced in a wide range of films and television series, including Dr Strangelove (1964), Muppets Go to the Movies (1981) and even Stranger Things (2016).

    Other musicians covered the song too, including Frank Sinatra and Johnny Cash. Pink Floyd’s song Vera (1979) even contained the lyrics: “Does anybody here remember Vera Lynn? / Remember how she said that we would meet again some sunny day?”

    The song was also used in war-related commemorative events and political addresses. This includes Queen Elizabeth II’s April 2020 broadcast that discussed the burgeoning COVID crisis and asserted: “We will be with our friends again; we will be with our families again; we will meet again.”

    So, what is it about this song that has maintained such longevity in the national consciousness?

    In many post-war recollections, veterans especially praised the song’s emotionality. In a 1996 oral history interview, for instance, veteran George William Ledger remembered how grown men were brought to tears after listening to Lynn. He recalled that “when Vera Lynn got up and sang on that stage … it was quiet, you could hear a pin drop”. He added that her songs were especially powerful because they “dwelt on the emotions of people”.

    In select accounts within the BBC’s WW2 People’s War Project, this theme was reiterated. One contributor wrote that Lynn was so popular because she “entertained us … with her very emotional songs”. Another writer claimed that We’ll Meet Again raised the morale of the troops “who knew how near was a terrifying death”.

    Even comments made on the song’s YouTube page reference its emotional resonance, with one user writing: “Played this song for my dad over skype (81) years old with Alzheimer’s. He knew word for word with tears streaming. Bless him.”

    These recollections serve as a poignant reminder of the power of sentimentality and giving people the permission to emote during times of struggle. The song – both during the war and after – provided safely contained moments to embrace softness.

    Typically, when you think of a “war song”, you might be tempted to think of a military march, full of brazen boasts of strength and stoicism – both of which are characteristics commonly tied to narratives of war and heroism.

    But the enduring resonance of We’ll Meet Again underlines the timeless testament of another set of heroic virtues: softness and sentimentality. The song demonstrates that in times of incredible hardship and trauma, all people require spaces to ache, mourn and feel.

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

    – ref. The timeless appeal of We’ll Meet Again underscores people’s need for sentimentality – https://theconversation.com/the-timeless-appeal-of-well-meet-again-underscores-peoples-need-for-sentimentality-253505

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –