NewzIntel.com

Category: Science

  • MIL-OSI USA: Low-level fixed-wing flights to image geology of Michigan and Wisconsin

    Source: US Geological Survey

    Most of the surveying is expected to be completed by the late autumn of 2025; however, surveying may continue in the spring and summer of 2026 to avoid adverse weather conditions.

    The Michigan and Wisconsin flights are part of a national effort to map critical mineral resources needed to drive the U.S. economy and national security, searching below ground and in tailings from old mines.  As directed by the Energy Act of 2020, the U.S. Geological Survey has identified 50 critical minerals essential to the U.S. economy and national security, with a supply chain vulnerable to disruption.  The USGS partners on this effort with the Michigan Geological Survey, the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey, and many other state geological surveys. 

    “The USGS Earth MRI program’s data for the Upper Peninsula is incredibly valuable. It will significantly enhance our understanding of the U.P.’s complex geology and is crucial for making informed decisions about sustainable land and resource management, and protecting public health in the region,” said Sara Pearson, director of the Michigan Geological Survey.

     Flights will cover areas within Alger, Baraga, Chippewa, Delta, Dickinson, Gogebic, Houghton, Iron, Keweenaw, Luce, Mackinac, Marquette, Ontonagon, and Schoolcraft Counties in Michigan, as well as Ashland, Florence, Forest, Iron, Marinette, Price, and Vilas Counties in Wisconsin.

    The flights will be based out of various Michigan and Wisconsin airports.  Flights and landing areas could shift with little warning to other parts of the survey area as necessary to minimize ferrying distances and avoid adverse flying conditions.

    The survey will acquire both magnetic and radiometric data across two non-overlapping blocks.  Fixed-wing survey aircraft will collect data along closely spaced flight lines at a nominal elevation of about 300 feet (100 meters). Flight lines will be spaced approximately 500 feet apart in the western survey block and 1,300 feet apart in the eastern survey block.  The magnetic component of the survey detects variations in the Earth’s magnetic field that reveal subsurface structures up to a few kilometers deep, or about 10,000 feet. Radiometric sensors measure natural low-level radiation to help map the distribution of potassium, thorium, and uranium near the surface.

    The survey will use aircraft equipped with an elongated “stinger” mounted to the tail extending backward off the aircraft. The scientific instruments on the aircraft are completely passive, with no emissions that pose a risk to humans, animals, or plant life. No photography or video data will be collected.  The data collected will be made freely available to the public on ScienceBase, typically within one year of flight completion. The aircraft will be flown by experienced pilots who are specially trained and approved for low-level flying. The company contracted to fly the survey works with the FAA to ensure flights are safe and in accordance with U.S. law. The surveys will be conducted during daylight hours only.

    The new geophysical data will be processed to develop high-resolution two- and three-dimensional representations of bedrock composition and structure to depths more of approximately 10,000 feet (almost 2 miles) below the surface.   The survey is funded by the USGS Earth Mapping Resources Initiative and is designed to meet needs related to mineral resource assessments, regional geologic framework and mapping studies, as well as water resource investigations and surficial mapping studies.  Additionally, the data and maps are important for improving our understanding of parameters for infrastructure and land-use planning, and potential risks of naturally occurring radon.  The MAG and RAD survey is focused on characterizing several major mineral systems, including critical minerals associated with mafic magmatic, volcanogenic seafloor, and porphyry systems.   Data from the survey will significantly improve our understanding of the region’s tectonic history.

    Figure 1:  Fixed-wing survey aircraft with tail stingers and sensors that collect scientific data on geology. (Credit: EON Geosciences Inc.)

    The USGS has contracted with Woolpert and EON Geosciences Inc. to collect data.

    Funding by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act has facilitated coverage of such a large area.

    The survey fits into a broader effort by the USGS, the Michigan Geological Survey, the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey, and other partners, including private companies, academics and state and federal agencies to modernize our understanding of the Nation’s fundamental geologic framework and knowledge of mineral resources. This effort is known as the Earth Mapping Resources Initiative, and it includes airborne geophysical surveys like this one, geochemical reconnaissance surveys, topographic mapping using LiDAR technology, hyperspectral surveys, and geologic mapping projects. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Marshall and Padilla Introduce Bipartisan Plant Biostimulant Act to Advance Agricultural Innovation

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Kansas Roger Marshall
    Washington – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas) joined U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-California) to introduce the Plant Biostimulant Act to establish a standardized process for approving the commercial use of plant biostimulants as alternatives to synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. Plant biostimulants have demonstrated potential in advancing sustainable practices, including carbon sequestration and water quality enhancement. The legislation would also support research into the benefits of these technologies for soil health.
    “Innovation is the cornerstone of American agriculture, and creating pathways for new agronomic tools like plant biostimulants to be approved for use allows our nation’s farmers to produce more food with fewer crop protection tools and fertilizers,” said Senator Marshall. “I am proud to lead this bipartisan legislation alongside Senator Padilla as we work together to improve soil health.”
    “California’s agriculture industry is essential to our national economy and puts food on the table for families across the country,” said Senator Padilla. “As we make our agriculture sector more sustainable, our evolving practices must be properly implemented to ensure their efficacy and safety.  Oversight and regulatory standards for plant biostimulants, which could replace or reduce the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, are critical to maintain California’s leadership at the forefront of this bio-based agricultural technology.”
    Representatives Jim Baird (R-Indiana-4) and Jimmy Panetta (D-California-20) introduced the House companion bill.
    “Our farmers and ranchers deserve a regulatory process that provides a clear path for their products to go to market, especially as new technologies become available for farmers and producers to improve the efficiency, productivity, and sustainability of our agriculture industry,” said Representative Baird. “Biostimulants have significant potential benefits for producers and their sustainability footprint. Defining these products and creating a consistent process is an important step in giving farmers better access to plant biostimulants and other new technologies to ensure our agriculture sector can thrive.”
    “The lack of a standard regulatory definition or pathway to market for plant biostimulants makes it harder for producers to access this sustainable and effective technology,” said Representative Panetta.” By reintroducing this bipartisan bill, we’re pushing for the clarity and federal coordination needed to encourage the adoption of biostimulants. Increasing access to these products helps our farmers improve crop yields, protect our environment, and maintain U.S. leadership in sustainable agriculture.”
    The Plant Biostimulant Act is endorsed by Agriculture Retailers Association (ARA), American Seed Trade Association (ASTA), Biological Products Industry Alliance (BPIA), Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), Council of Producers and Distributors of Agrotechnology (CPDA), CropLife America (CLA), The Fertilizer Institute Biostimulant Council, Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA), Humic Products Trade Association (HPTA), International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA), National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP), RISE (Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment), Southern Crop Production Association (SCPA), and Western Growers.
    “We thank Senators Marshall and Padilla for championing the Plant Biostimulant Act,” said Russell Taylor, President, Humic Products Trade Association. “This essential bill provides a clear regulatory path for innovative products, including humic substances, that build soil resilience and optimize nutrient use. It delivers the certainty needed to advance science-backed tools for a more sustainable American food supply.
    “I’d like to thank Senators Marshall and Padilla for reintroducing the Plant Biostimulant Act,” said Megan Provost, President of Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment. “Plant biostimulants help homeowners, landscape professionals, and golf course superintendents provide healthy greenspaces that benefit us all. This legislation will help to clarify how they are defined and ensure access to these valuable products. We are excited to see bipartisan, bicameral legislation now gaining traction and hope for its inclusion in the upcoming Farm Bill.”
    “I’d like to thank Senators Marshall and Padilla for reintroducing the Plant Biostimulant Act,” said Rhett Evans, CEO of the Golf Courses Superintendents Association of America. ”Plant biostimulants help golf course superintendents provide healthy green spaces that benefit everyone.  This legislation will help ensure golf’s access to this valuable product.”
    “The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) thanks Senators Marshall and Padilla for reintroducing this important legislation. This bill provides a critical definition for plant biostimulants, which will help states establish a clear path to market for these important products and technologies, critical to a variety of growers,” said Corey Rosenbusch, President and CEO of the Fertilizer Institute.
    “The reintroduction of the Plant Biostimulant Act in the Senate is a pivotal step forward, and we commend Senators Roger Marshall and Alex Padilla for their leadership,” said Keith Jones, Executive Director of the Biological Products Industry Alliance. “This bipartisan legislation provides much-needed regulatory clarity for plant biostimulants – ensuring a consistent federal definition and a predictable path to market for these innovative tools. By enabling greater investment in U.S. agricultural innovation, it strengthens our global competitiveness and supports long-term sustainability. BPIA stands ready to work with Congress, growers, and partners across the agricultural community to get this bill passed and deliver the solutions our farmers deserve.”
    The full text of the legislation can be found HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Deputy Secretary-General’s remarks at the Leaders’ Roundtable Session II: Making 2025 the ‘Tipping Point to Preserve Glaciers’ with 1.5C – Consistent NDCs at COP30 [as delivered]

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    Chairman of the Committee for Environmental Protection, Mr. Bahodur Sheralizoda,

    Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen,

    Good afternoon and welcome to this distinguished group of delegated. It is especially important to see so many Ministers of Environment around the table, to which I belonged when I was Minister of Environment in Nigeria. It is great to see all of you here.

    This morning, we heard the devastating impact of global warming on glaciers and related eco-systems. We all agree that 2025 must be the tipping point – not towards their collapse – but towards preservation.

    We enter the second half of this decisive decade with a sobering truth: the world is not on track to meet the SDGs nor limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

    I saw this first hand flying over the Fedchenko glaciers yesterday, and we also heard this play out with destructive force as a Glacier collapsed in the Swiss Alps last week.

    We are already seeing 1.2 degrees of warming—and with it, record-breaking heatwaves, rising seas, vanishing glaciers, and intensifying storms. The WMO last week projected a 70% chance that the average temperature across the next 5 years will be above 1.5 degrees Celcius.

    Glaciers, which sustain over two billion people with freshwater, are often among the first casualties of a heating planet. Their disappearance is not a distant threat – it is a lived reality for many today from around the world, as we heard this morning.

    And we know that every tenth of a degree matters. The difference between 1.5 and 2 degrees is the difference between preservation and irreversible loss of ecosystems, food systems, water security, and for some, national existence.

    Alarmingly, our mountain ecosystems are warming at twice the global average, triggering the fastest glacier retreat in recorded history.

    And yet, the global response remains deeply inadequate. Despite progress made under the landmark Paris Agreement – signed in hope and grounded in science – temperatures still continue to rise.

    The Paris Agreement still remains our North Star. It reflects a global consensus that we must limit global warming to well below 2 degrees—and we strive for 1.5.

    But whilst we must be honest about the current context – we must also see the opportunities.

    Around the world, we are seeing growing pushback against climate ambition:

    Calls to delay action in the name of economic growth.

    Fossil fuel interests distorting facts and sowing doubt.

    Political cycles undermining long-term commitments.

    In this environment, leadership is not the absence of resistance. It is the ability to act despite it.

    It is time to translate our climate promises into policy—and policy into progress.

    To preserve our glaciers and secure a livable future, I urge world leaders to prioritize three critical areas—each requiring not only technical solutions but sustained political will.

    First, the 2035 NDCs, as we just heard from the Chairman, are our most immediate lever to alter our trajectory. They must represent a radical upgrade in ambition and credibility.

    And so we are calling on all governments – particularly major emitters – to:

    Submit enhanced NDCs aligned with science-based pathways to 1.5 degrees.

    Integrate the guidance from the UAE consensus to triple renewable energy, double energy efficiency, and transition away from fossil fuels

    Include transition roadmaps with policies that support workers and communities.

    And we hope to being able to seize the benefits of the clean energy transition.

    There is no alternative. The cost of inaction is incalculable.

    Second, finance is the foundation of climate action. Without it, ambition will not be achieved.

    We urge governments and financial institutions to:

    Fulfil the New climate finance goal agreed in Baku.

    Mobilize private capital in clean energy and adaptation and de-risking investment for development countries, will be essential.

    Support climate-vulnerable countries—particularly glacier-dependent nations—with grants and concessional finance.

    We also call for a reform of international financial institutions to make access faster, fairer, and more inclusive.

    No country should be denied protection from climate chaos because of lack of liquidity or credit rating.

    And third, preserving glaciers must move from the periphery to the core of global climate strategy.

    I urge to strengthen coordination on sciences, funding, and policy action for glaciers’ preservation.

    Investing in early warning systems, glacial monitoring, and local adaptation strategies in mountainous regions.

    Recognize of indigenous and community-led knowledge in shaping responses.

    The melting of glaciers is not only a symptom – it is a signal and if we fail to act, these warning signs will become tipping points.

    Excellencies,

    We understand the pressures leaders face. The path to 1.5 degrees is narrow. The politics are hard. But the science and economics are unequivocal – and the consequences of delay are intolerable.

    We must be clear-eyed: preserving glaciers is not a niche issue. It is central to global water security, disaster resilience, and planetary stability. It is also about equity, it is about intergenerational justice, and about defending the rights of the most vulnerable.

    Let us reject false choices between economic development and environmental protection. The technologies, the solutions, and the resources do exist. What is needed is the political will to deploy them—urgently and at scale.

    Let 2025 be remembered as the year the world turned the tide.

    Not with declarations alone, but with real decisions.

    Not by defending the status quo, but by defining a new trajectory.

    I believe if we choose to act—with honesty, urgency, and solidarity—then even at this late hour, the story of glacier loss can still be a story of human resilience.

    The ice is melting. The window is closing.

    But the future is still ours to shape.

    Thank you.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Deputy Secretary-General’s remarks at the Opening Session of the International Conference for Glaciers’ Preservation [as delivered]

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    Your Excellency Mr. Emomali Rahmon, President of the Republic of Tajikistan,

    Your Excellency, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr.  Shehbaz Sharif,

    Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

    I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to the Government and the people of the Republic of Tajikistan for convening this High-Level International Conference and championing 2025 as the United Nations declared International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation.  

    Mr. President, I thank you for the opportunity to visit the Glaciers in the Pamir mountain range. This was a reality check to how fragile the ecosystem is and needs preservation.

    Your commitment to glaciers – the water towers of the world, holding nearly 70% of Earth’s freshwater – stands as a beacon of hope, towards keeping global momentum, securing our planet’s vital water sources, and raising urgent climate ambition.

    A decade has passed since the world embraced the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement, setting out a bold vision for a more just, resilient, and sustainable future.

    In spite of the recent geopolitical tensions and the pushback on multilateralism, this Conference convenes at a pivotal moment—with a decisive call to turn commitments into action, and shape the trajectory of our planet, economies, and the well-being of generations to come.

    The time for ambition is an imperative now, and the stakes have never been higher.

    Allow me to recognize the invaluable contributions of the World Meteorological Organization, UNESCO, the Asian Development Bank, and all other dedicated partners whose collaboration has made this conference – and this growing momentum – possible.

    Your steady dedication to glacier research and monitoring throughout the 2025-2034 Decade of Action on Cryosphere Sciences has been instrumental in raising awareness and advancing scientific knowledge to safeguard our planet’s equilibrium.

    Excellencies, Friends,

    Since 1975, over 9,000 billion tons of ice have disappeared – equivalent to a 25-meter-thick block covering all of Germany.

    In the past six years, glaciers have been retreating at an unprecedented pace, marking the fastest loss in recorded history.

    Between 2022 and 2024 alone, the world witnessed the largest three-year glacier mass loss ever observed – a staggering acceleration of ice melt.

    At current rates, many glaciers may not survive this century, reshaping landscapes, ecosystems, livelihoods and water security on a global scale.

    This is not just a mountain crisis – it is a slow-moving global catastrophe with far-reaching consequences for  planet and people.

    Glacier loss threatens water and food security, biodiversity loss, infrastructure, and the stability and health of communities worldwide.

    Billions of people depend on glaciers for drinking water, irrigation, livelihoods, and energy production, making their preservation essential for human survival and sustainable development.

    Yet those at the frontline of glacier loss – primarily in developing regions – face the greatest injustices.

    With shrinking water resources, vulnerable communities endure worsening poverty, forced migration, and harsh living conditions all while relying on glacier-fed supplies that are rapidly disappearing.

    Melting glaciers also drive sea-level rise, endangering coastal megacities and displacing millions downstream.

    Each millimeter of rising seas puts hundreds of thousands at risk of annual flooding and much more.

    In my own country Nigeria, I witness firsthand the impact of sea level rise in Lagos, which is threatened and in the Niger Delta which as seen unprecedented changes in its ecosystem. And we also see states once not affected by flooding are experiencing them at unprecedented levels.

    Beyond the physical impacts, glacier loss is also an erosion of culture, of history, and identity.

    Communities tied to mountain landscapes face the disappearance of ancestral lands, traditional knowledge, and linguistic heritage, severing connections that have existed for generations.

    Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

    With a third of mountain ice already lost due to climate change, these consequences will only intensify without immediate mitigation measures to keep global temperatures within the 1.5 degrees threshold.

    Let me note at this time 83% of these emissions for this mitigation agenda, are within the hands of 35 countries.

    Stepping up our ambition and scaling up action is imperative, before dwindling water resources destabilize ecosystems and economic disruptions become irreversible.

    Strategies for glacier preservation must enable integrated, inclusive, data-driven and locally grounded adaptation responses that meet the needs of those most vulnerable.

    Investing in adaptation should be recognized as a catalyst of sustainable growth and resilience.

    Yet, adaptation and risk reduction tools cannot succeed without sustained, predictable financing to support resilience-building at every level.

    The upcoming Financing for Development Conference in Seville is an opportunity to make the Clarion Call, for more investment in adaptation a reality.

    This year’s Global Assessment Report on disaster risk reduction informs us that “Resilience Pays”.

    Every dollar spent on resilience enhances early warning systems, safeguards infrastructure, and protects livelihoods from extreme climate events. It reinforces food and water security and strengthens economies against future shocks.

    But we must significantly scale up financing and investments – integrating risk reduction into core policy decisions.

    Failing to invest now, will result in exponentially higher costs – ranging from economic loss, development setbacks to humanitarian crisis.

    As we embark on the Decade for Glaciers’ Preservation, I have three messages:

    First, let us ensure that this conference signals an urgent call to action, uniting multilateral cooperation and strategic global partnerships.

    These partnerships should be engines for the design and delivery of ambitious, economy-wide Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) – as we go to Belem in Brazil later this year. These should not only as climate pledges, but as investment of roadmaps that drive SDG implementation.

    Second, ensure that your national climate plans set measurable adaptation targets across water, infrastructure, energy, and food systems to build resilience, secure financing, and protect livelihoods. These plans need to be linked to national budgets to optimize resource allocations, avert losses, and build institutional capacities to fill gaps in technical expertise but also to create an enabling environment for large scale and urgent investments.

    Third, identify pipelines of market-ready investments, backed by high-quality data and evidence-based tools that forecast returns, demonstrate co-benefits for job creation and economic growth, and unlock new financial services.

    Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

    Together, we can galvanize impactful solutions to safeguard the cryosphere, polar regions, and mountain ecosystems.

    Early warning systems could be strengthened with hydro-climatic experts to reinforce datasets that help anticipate water-related risks and ensuring a constant state of preparedness to enable early action.

    Data-driven predicative analytics and AI could also complement skills, while generating baselines that help identify and anticipate fault lines, aligning with the Secretary General’s Early Warnings for All initiative.

    This year’s Fourth Financing for Development Conference presents an opportunity to ensure that development funding is not just allocated, but strategically risk-informed – across all types of shocks-strengthening resilience and safeguarding development gains.

    Let us use other global milestones including – COP30 in Brazil, the Third UN Ocean Conference in Nice, the UN Food Systems Summit Stocktake in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and the Second World Summit on Sustainable Development in Doha, Qatar – to elevate political will and sharpen our focus on glaciers for people, planet and prosperity.

    In conclusion, as we look forward to the 2026 UN Water Conference, co-hosted by Senegal and the United Arab Emirates, I also wish to recognize the co-hosts of the 2023 UN Water Conference – Tajikistan and the Netherlands – for their continued political commitment to the International Decade for Action on Water for Sustainable Development 2018–2028.

    Let us act with the urgency that SDG 6 demands by protecting water-related ecosystems.

    The UN – as always – stands ready to ensure that we meet this target. For our communities, for our economies, for our children’s future and those yet born.

    Let our children not know thirst.

    Thank you.

    ***

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Press Release: FDIC Announces Retirement of Patrick Mitchell, Director of the Division of Insurance and Research

    Source: US Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation FDIC

    WASHINGTON — The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) today announced the retirement of Patrick (Pat) Mitchell, Director of the Division of Insurance and Research (DIR). 

    “Pat’s intellectual prowess, wide-ranging expertise, and deep understanding of economic, banking, and policy issues has been a tremendous resource for our agency,” said FDIC Acting Chairman Travis Hill. “Whether he was analyzing risks in the banking sector or managing the FDIC’s Deposit Insurance Fund (DIF), Pat always approached his work thoughtfully and proficiently.”

    Mr. Mitchell joined the FDIC in 2010 as a financial analyst and served in several other management roles before being named division director in May 2022. He oversaw the FDIC’s work monitoring existing and emerging risks to the DIF, and led DIR’s response to the 2023 regional bank failures.

    During his 15 years at the FDIC, Mr. Mitchell also served as Deputy Director for Risk Analysis and Pricing, Associate Director of Asset Management in the Division of Resolutions and Receiverships (DRR), and Chief of DIR’s Large Bank Pricing section.

    Mr. Mitchell is a Chartered Financial Analyst and earned a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Bachelor of Science degree in economics from the United States Military Academy.  He also attended the Senior Managers in Government program at the Harvard Kennedy School.

    # # #

    MEDIA CONTACT: 
    mediarequests@fdic.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: NZ and India cement progress as four-country tour ends

    Source: New Zealand Government

    New Zealand and India have discussed their enhanced relationship across a broad range of domains, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters says.  
    “New Zealand and India have agreed that we can and should be doing more together,” Mr Peters says.
    “Both countries have worked hard over the last 18 months to bring energy, focus and deeper practical cooperation to the relationship.”
    While in New Delhi, Mr Peters held official talks and had a working dinner with India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.
    “This has been an excellent opportunity to take stock of the progress we have made over the past year-and-a-half, while also discussing the pressing regional and global challenges our countries face,” Mr Peters says.
    “New Zealand and India have a shared interest in promoting a stable, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. My discussions with Minister Jaishankar and have been invaluable in understanding Indian perspectives on recent events and charting our course for enhanced bilateral cooperation.”
    Mr Peters noted that, over the past 18 months, New Zealand and India had made concrete steps towards closer engagement across a wide range of domains, including defence and security, trade and economic cooperation, science and technology and sport.  
    While in New Delhi, Mr Peters also had meetings with the President of the Bharatiya Janata Party, JP Nadda, and the Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi; and delivered a speech about New Zealand’s strengthening ties with South and South East Asia under the Foreign Policy Reset.  
    His visit to India concluded a four-country tour which also included trips to Australia, Sri Lanka and Nepal.  
    “New Zealand’s strategic and economic interests are inextricably tied to the Indo-Pacific, including South Asia. It is crucial that we continue to invest in and strengthen our relationships here,” Mr Peters says.  
    “This week has also highlighted the quality of our relationships in South Asia, characterised by rich people-to-people connections, a common desire to do more together, and shared perspectives on the challenges facing our region.”
    During the first half of this Parliamentary term (from December 2023 to May 2025), Mr Peters has visited 45 countries and spent 154 days overseas on official visits.
    Mr Peters returns to New Zealand later today (31 May). 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: House and Senate Democrats Send Letter Calling on GAO to Investigate Federal Worker Firings

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steny H Hoyer (MD-05)

    WASHINGTON, DC –  In response to the Trump Administration’s unprecedented purge of tens of thousands of federal workers without cause, Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on FSGG Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Acting Ranking Member on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Rep. Stephen F. Lynch (MA-08), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Government Operations Rep. Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), and Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Delivering On Government Efficiency (DOGE) Rep. Melanie Stansbury (NM-01) led more than 30 Democrats in sending a letter to Comptroller General of the United States Gene L. Dodaro calling on the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to provide Congress with regular updates on how the Trump Administration’s personnel actions are affecting the federal workforce.

    “Over the past several months, the civil service has undergone an unprecedented level of change as tens of thousands of federal employees have been terminated, resigned, or placed on administrative leave,” the Members wrote. “Americans are already feeling the consequences – longer wait times for Social Security assistance, delayed veterans’ benefits, and disrupted disaster response are just a few examples of how these personnel actions are impacting people across the country. We are deeply concerned about the impact these actions will have on our government’s capacity to design, develop and deliver efficient services that connect agencies with the people they serve and meet the needs of the public.”

    Signatories include: Senator Angela D. Alsobrooks; Rep. Yassamin Ansari; Rep. Wesley Bell; Rep. Donald Beyer; Rep. Sanford D. Bishop, Jr.; Senator Richard Blumenthal; Rep. Shontel Brown; Rep. Greg Casar; Rep. Jasmine Crockett; Rep. Sarah Elfreth; Rep. Maxwell Frost; Rep. Robert Garcia; Rep. Glenn Ivey; Senator Timothy Kaine; Rep. Ro Khanna; Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi; Rep. Summer Lee; Rep. April McClain Delaney; Rep. Jennifer McClellan; Rep. Dave Min; Senator Patty Murray; Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton; Senator Alex Padilla; Rep. Emily Randall; Rep. Jamie Raskin; Senator Bernard Sanders; Senator Brian Schatz; Rep. Lateefah Simon; Rep. Suhas Subramanyam; Rep. Rashida Tlaib; Rep. Eugene Vindman; and Senator Mark R. Warner.

    The full text of the letter is included below:
     

    May 29, 2025
     

    The Honorable Gene L. Dodaro
    Comptroller General of the United States
    Government Accountability Office
    441 G Street, N.W.
    Washington D.C. 20548

    Dear Comptroller General Dodaro:

    The 2 million federal employees who work across our country are the backbone of our federal government and are responsible for delivering vital services to the American people. These individuals dedicate their lives to public service and ensure our government fulfills its mission to make our country safer, healthier and more prosperous.

    Over the past several months, the civil service has undergone an unprecedented level of change as tens of thousands of federal employees have been terminated, resigned, or placed on administrative leave. Americans are already feeling the consequences – longer wait times for Social Security assistance, delayed veterans’ benefits, and disrupted disaster response are just a few examples of how these personnel actions are impacting people across the country. We are deeply concerned about the impact these actions will have on our government’s capacity to design, develop and deliver efficient services that connect agencies with the people they serve and meet the needs of the public.

    To assist our oversight of the federal government’s personnel actions, we request that the Government Accountability Office provide us with regular briefings to ensure Congress has timely data and information on the status of the federal workforce. Specifically, we request that GAO begin providing the information following each quarter through the end of fiscal year 2028 to be scheduled in coordination with applicable staff. Information on the total number of the following groups of federal employees in the 24 CFO agencies categorized by agency of employment, location, occupation and tenure by quarter –

    a. All terminated federal employees who are separated for any reason;

    b. Federal employees who took the deferred resignation program offer;

    c. Federal employees in their probationary period;

    d. Federal employees in their probationary period who were terminated;

    e. Federal employees on administrative leave.

    f. Federal employees hired.

    Any difficulties experienced by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) in its collection, analysis, and publication of human capital data.

    Thank you for your attention to this matter.

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sols 4554–4555: Let’s Try That One Again…

    Source: NASA

    Written by Abigail Fraeman, Planetary Geologist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory
    Earth planning date: Wednesday, May 28, 2025
    We came in early this morning and learned that part of Tuesday’s plan didn’t execute on Mars due to a temporary issue with the arm. We collected APXS data on the target “Palo Verde Mountains,” but were not able to take the corresponding MAHLI images or drive away. So it was a straightforward decision for the planning team today to pick up where we left off yesterday, giving ourselves a second chance to collect the MAHLI observation and then complete the same 29.5-meter drive to the west (about 97 feet) that we had planned on Tuesday.
     We love making lemonade from lemons when things don’t go exactly as expected in rover tactical planning, and today was no exception. Since we’re sticking around for a little bit longer, the science team decided to collect additional mosaics of impressive nearby features, including a 15×2 Mastcam mosaic of the “Mishe Mokwa” hill and an 11×2 Mastcam mosaic of fractures near “Lake Cachuma.” We’re also having another go at taking the epically long, long-distance RMI mosaic of a crater 91 kilometers away from Curiosity (almost 57 miles) that we planned yesterday, and we’re playing around with the focus settings to see if we can get a sharper image. 
    The team also had time for a second RMI mosaic of our very well-imaged “Texoli” butte, and a ChemCam LIBS observation on a target named “Santa Monica Bay,” which is just above the “Sisquoc River” target we observed yesterday on the bumpy rock in our workspace. As usual, we will also continue to monitor the environment around us with REMS, RAD, Navcam, and Mastcam observations.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Vice Premier of the State Council of China calls on leading scientists to achieve scientific and technological peaks and enhance China’s self-sufficiency

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, May 30 (Xinhua) — Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang on Friday called on members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) to pioneer key technologies and cultivate talent to build China into a self-sufficient science and technology power.

    Speaking at a symposium dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the founding of the ANC academic departments, Ding Xuexiang, who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee, emphasized the historical role of the academy in solving important strategic scientific and technical problems and training high-level scientific and technical personnel.

    Stressing the role of academic departments and academicians as the “backbone” of China’s scientific and technological progress, he called on them to accelerate breakthroughs in key technologies, take the lead in cultivating strategic scientific and technological personnel, play a leading role as advisers on major decisions of the CPC Central Committee related to science and technology, and conduct more forward-looking, strategic and basic research.

    Ding Xuexiang stressed the importance of establishing international scientific and technological cooperation, developing the scientific spirit, and encouraging young scientists to integrate their life ideals into the great cause of rejuvenating the Chinese nation.

    In addition, the Vice Premier also pointed out that the authorities should improve support mechanisms to create an environment conducive to innovation.

    The event was attended by the leadership of the ANC, academics and representatives of relevant departments. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: High School Teams from Across North Carolina Amaze in Ready, Set, App! Competition

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: High School Teams from Across North Carolina Amaze in Ready, Set, App! Competition

    High School Teams from Across North Carolina Amaze in Ready, Set, App! Competition
    lsaito

    Raleigh, NC

    Today Governor Josh Stein announced the three winning North Carolina high school teams of the sixth annual Ready, Set, App! competition. Nine student teams from across the state attended the final event to pitch their original mobile apps to a panel of business and tech-industry professionals along with a live audience of family members, teachers, and peers.

    “I am proud to recognize these competitors for their technical acumen and hard work to develop apps that will make a difference for their friends, family, and neighbors,” said Governor Josh Stein. “We must expand opportunity so that students can apply what they learn in the classroom to solve real problems. I look forward to seeing all that these students achieve in the future.”

    The following teams were selected as the winners for this year’s competition:

    • First place was ASLephant from Mallard Creek High School in Mecklenburg County, who created an app to teach users about the foundations of American Sign Language (ASL) through a gamified leveling system, which features unique quizzes and flashcards. Team members include Elizabeth Bui, Linh Thai, and Laylah Pegues. Watch ASLephant’s presentation here.
    • Second place went to Color Catch from the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics – Morganton in Burke County. Their app empowers individuals with color blindness by enabling them to easily identify the colors of everyday objects, enhancing their independence. Team members include Rohin Patel, Avika Gera, Peter Tenholder, Sai Yadavalli, and Ishaan Joshy. Watch Color Catch’s presentation here.
    • Third place was ApneaAid from Enloe High School in Wake County, who created an AI-powered app that detects sleep apnea risk using your phone’s microphone and provides unique recommendations and trends to improve sleep quality. Team members include Madhav Annachi, Sehajpreet Bajwa, Aarush Jain, Ahan Jaiswal, Abhinay Ruddarraju. Watch ApneaAid’s presentation here. 

    The Ready, Set, App competition is hosted by the North Carolina Business Committee for Education (NCBCE), a business-led, education non-profit within the Governor’s Office, and sponsored by Lenovo. The contest challenges student teams to design and develop an original android mobile application to solve a problem in their school or community. 

    This year, Ready, Set, App! teams are comprised of three to five students along with an advisor. The competition set participation records this year, engaging 425 students with 107 teams from across 30 counties. From the registered teams, 51 submitted completed projects, including a full app demonstration accompanied by a compelling video pitch. Projects were then judged by Lenovo professionals, educators, business leaders, and government officials to determine the nine finalists. Teams then pitched their apps on stage at the Lenovo headquarters in Morrisville for the chance to win brand new Lenovo tech. 

    “We are incredibly proud to recognize the outstanding talent and innovation showcased by all the participants in this year’s Ready, Set, App! competition,” said Libby Richards, community engagement manager at Lenovo. “These high school students have demonstrated not only technical skill, but also a forward-thinking problem solving using technology. We congratulate the winners on their impressive achievements and applaud every student who took part in this inspiring competition.”

    This year’s team was led by Kishan Rajeev Jagadeesh from Apex Friendship High and Wisdom Walker from Harper Middle College. New additions this year include Evan Kim from Weddington High School, Mariya Tinch from Nash-Rocky Mount Early College, Nachammai Annamalai from South Iredell High School, and Swayam Shah from Enloe Magnet High School.

    Ready, Set, App! is open to all North Carolina high school students and will be held again next school year with a kickoff planned for fall 2025. Intern applications will open in September and team registration will open shortly after. 

    Click here or more information about the Ready, Set, App! Competition. 

    May 30, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton Announces Selection Of White Plains Division Chiefs

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Jay Clayton, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today the selection of Jeff C. Coffman and Benjamin Klein as Chiefs of the Office’s White Plains Division, as well as the retirement of Perry Carbone, Chief of the Office’s Criminal Division, who previously served with distinction as Chief of the White Plains Division. 

    Mr. Coffman joined the Office as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Criminal Division in 2018, following five years as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Northern District of New York and one year as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney in the District of Columbia.  Prior to becoming a prosecutor, Mr. Coffman worked at the law firm of Trout Cacheris, PLLC and co-founded and managed a small law firm in Washington, D.C.  Mr. Coffman received Bachelor of Science degrees from Virginia Tech and his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center.  After graduating from law school, he clerked for the Hon. James C. Cacheris of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.

    Mr. Klein joined the Office as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Criminal Division in 2021.  Before becoming a prosecutor, Mr. Klein worked at the law firm of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz.  Mr. Klein received a Bachelor of Arts from Cornell University, and a J.D. from the Yale Law School, where he served as an editor of The Yale Law Journal.  After graduating, Mr. Klein clerked for the Honorable Thomas M. Hardiman of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. 

     “I am pleased to announce the selection of Jeff Coffman and Ben Klein as co-chiefs of the Office’s White Plains division,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton.  “Jeff and Ben will bring a wealth of prosecutorial talent and experience to lead the critically impactful work of the division.  Together with our agency partners, they will drive our commitment to safety and fairness for millions of New Yorkers.  On behalf of the hundreds of women and men of the Southern District who have benefited from working with Perry Carbone, I say thank you, Perry, for your commitment to justice and your devotion to the Office and your colleagues. Perry has been a consummate prosecutor for decades and has admirably spent his career as a selfless advocate for public safety.  We all thank Perry for doing so much good for so many.  I am also especially grateful to Margery Feinzig, Deputy Chief of our Criminal Division, who stepped in as Acting Chief of the White Plains Division during this transition.  Her steady leadership, professionalism, and tireless commitment ensured that the White Plains Division continued to function at the highest level.  We are fortunate to have had her at the helm.”

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: HSE scientists elected to membership in Russian Academy of Sciences

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    On May 30, the General Meeting of the Russian Academy of Sciences summed up the results of the elections for academicians and corresponding members of the RAS. About 1,800 people took part in them. Among those elected this year were scientists from the Higher School of Economics.

    Dean Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology Alexander Tonevitsky became an academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences in the specialty of “medical bioengineering and instrumentation”. Alexander Grigorievich is a professor Basic Department of the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry named after Academicians M.M. Shemyakin and Yu.A. Ovchinnikov of the Russian Academy of Sciences Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, HSE, Chief Research Fellow Laboratories for research into molecular mechanisms of longevity HSE, Honored Scientist of the Russian Federation, awarded the Order of Friendship of Peoples.

    Vladimir Pudalov was elected as an academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences in the specialty “Physics and Astronomy”. Vladimir Moiseevich is a professor Department of Electronic Engineering MIEM, Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, awarded the medal of the Order “For Merit to the Fatherland” 2nd degree.

    HSE scientists were also elected as Corresponding Members of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

    Alexander Pavlov, head Schools of Philosophy and Cultural Studies HSE, elected to the Russian Academy of Sciences in the specialty “philosophy”. Alexander Vladimirovich – Doctor of Philosophy, Professor Faculty of Humanities HSE.

    Igor Kolokolov, Head of Department the basic department of theoretical physics of the L.D. Landau Institute for Theoretical Physics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, elected to the Russian Academy of Sciences in the specialty “physics”.

    Konstantin Petrosyants was elected as a Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences in the specialty “Computing, Location, Telecommunication Systems and Element Base”. Konstantin Arestovich is a leading research fellow at the Department of Electronic Engineering at MIEM, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor, laureate of the Russian Federation Government Prize in Education, Science and Technology, and Honorary Worker of Higher Professional Education of the Russian Federation.

    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 Global: How seaweed is a powerful, yet surprising, climate solution

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Mike Allen, Associate Professor of Single Cell Genomics, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter

    Picture a place at the centre of a global seaweed revolution. I’ll bet the small English seaside town of Paignton in south Devon is not what comes to mind. A decade ago, I moved from the edge of Dartmoor to the coast. It was about a simple change in work-life balance, but what followed was more surprising.

    The kids were four and seven. I’d always tried to inspire them with my scientific research. Moving to Paignton and walking along Broadsands beach one day, I started noticing piles of seaweed.

    I’d spent my entire professional career researching microalgae (microscopic marine plants) but knew next-to-nothing about their bigger macroalgal cousins, the seaweeds. This felt like an opportunity to have some fun and for all of us to learn together.

    So I bought us a seaweed guidebook, some stickers and set the Allen family the task of finding ten different seaweeds on our local beach. We’d mark a page with a sticker when we found it – the ultimate scientific reward chart. A few weeks later, we’d found 30 and exhausted our sticker sheet.

    I was amazed at the diversity that I had never previously noticed. The colours, the textures, the structures – it was like I’d never really seen seaweed properly before. The professional scientist in me kicked in.

    My kids and I started taking samples home. I built the kids a lab in a lean-to on the back of the house. We dried them out and put them in little jam jars, akin to a seaweed spice rack. It got me thinking of useful or sustainable things I could do with them.

    One day, I posted a picture of these jars on Twitter, with the hashtag #SeaweedApothecary. It started something I could never have predicted.

    Seaweed has an astonishing number of uses. It can be used to produce biofuels and fertilisers, foods such as laverbread, nori sheets for sushi and crisps, cosmetics and toothpaste, pharmaceuticals and food supplements like omega-3. I’d also been incorporating seaweed in my day-to-day research at the University of Exeter, trying to convert it into a biofuel.

    Then, my colleagues in the broader academic and industrial science community started asking for samples. Like me, they’d been ignoring seaweed too – until they saw my social media posts and realised the potential.

    The kids (now both teenagers) are acknowledged on at least a dozen scientific research articles and have continued to help me unlock the potential of seaweed. We’ve done degradation experiments in the raised beds in our garden, tested different seaweeds as feeds for a friend’s chickens, trialled them as fertilisers for our tomatoes – even mixed dried seaweed powder in with cement, to see if it can be used as a structural material filler. All fun, simple science that anyone can do at home.


    Local science, global stories.

    This article is part of a series, Secrets of the Sea, exploring how marine scientists are developing climate solutions.

    In collaboration with the BBC, Anna Turns travels around the West Country coastline to meet ocean experts making exciting discoveries beneath the waves.

    Swamped by sargassum

    Then came a call from a Mexican friend, asking me to take a look at a seaweed problem. Every year, Caribbean islands and Mexican coasts are inundated with 30-40 million tonnes of floating sargassum seaweed washing ashore.

    Rotting sargassum causes ecological and economical devastation, destroying livelihoods and the environment. I started converting it into fuels and fertilisers, trying to turn a massive problem into a positive opportunity. Ten years on, I’d become a seaweed expert.

    Paddy Estridge and Mike Allen in Puerto Morelos, Mexico, surveying potential sites to monitor seaweed blooms.
    Mike Allen, CC BY-NC-ND

    I was asked to do a podcast on the subject. The presenter, Paddy Estridge, and I chatted about seaweed’s problems, opportunities and potential – and by the end of it, we were both pretty inspired. Together, we founded a company called SeaGen to harness the power of seaweed using autonomous robotics that can seed, cultivate, monitor and harvest it.

    Seaweed holds huge potential to create a more sustainable future. But at the moment, this industry lacks the ability to safely seed, grow, monitor, harvest and process seaweed at scale. Solving these challenges is what SeaGen is all about. We’re designing a suite of automated robotic solutions to make abundant, sustainable supply an economic reality.

    Our mission is a long way from those initial experiments with the kids, but the joy and pursuit of knowledge remains the same. The sticker chart perhaps holds less appeal to teenagers, but we’ve nearly hit 70 different species and I’m always on the look out for the next.

    Those initial seaweed samples paved the way for a whole new aspect to my research portfolio, led to millions of pounds in grant funding, and the creation of a company employing a dozen people. Now, I’m part of a global seaweed and robotics revolution.

    Not a bad outcome from a walk along the beach.

    Listen to episode two of Secrets of the Sea here on BBC Sounds, presented by Anna Turns for The Conversation.

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

    Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 40,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

    Mike Allen works for Exeter University and is Cofounder and Chief Scientific Officer for Seaweed Generation Ltd (SeaGen). He currently receives funding from Innovate UK, Natural Environment Research Council, Natural England, Natural Resources Wales, The Leverhulme Trust, Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.

    – ref. How seaweed is a powerful, yet surprising, climate solution – https://theconversation.com/how-seaweed-is-a-powerful-yet-surprising-climate-solution-251195

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Veterans’ protests planned for D-Day latest in nearly 250 years of fighting for their benefits

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Jamie Rowen, Associate Professor of Legal Studies and Political Science, UMass Amherst

    The Bonus Army demonstration at the U.S. Capitol on July 2, 1932. Underwood and Underwood, via Library of Congress

    Veterans across the United States will gather on June 6, 2025, to protest the Trump administration’s cuts to the Department of Veterans Affairs, as well as the slashing of staff and programs throughout the government. Veteran-led protests will be held at the National Mall, 16 state capitol buildings and over 100 other venues across 43 states.

    Veterans are disproportionately affected by federal cuts, in part because they make up only 6.1% of the U.S. population but, because of “veterans preference” in federal hiring, they compose 24% of the 3 million federal workers facing mass layoffs under the Trump administration.

    Veterans also depend on comprehensive, free, federally funded health care through VA clinics throughout the country. But that care is deteriorating due to cuts, rule changes and return-to-work policies that make it impossible for many VA workers to effectively provide care.

    Looming cuts to the VA may cause an irreversible blow if the VA stops providing comprehensive care to veterans and, instead, pushes veterans into seeing doctors in private practice.

    This is not the first time that veterans have engaged in mass mobilization. Veterans groups in the U.S. have successfully mobilized for centuries, crossing traditional political divisions such as race, class and gender. They are powerful messengers, and their actions in the past have helped secure back pay and pensions for veterans, a Social Security and welfare system for U.S. civilians, and foreign policy changes to end wars abroad.

    I’m a scholar of law, social movements and veterans benefits. Here’s a brief history of veterans’ campaigns that illustrates how veterans developed their political clout and effectively advocated to protect themselves, and many others, from harmful federal policies.

    Veterans are an important political constituency. On Nov. 7, 1932 – the day before Election Day – Franklin D. Roosevelt, the New York governor running for president, visited the veterans hospital at Castle Point, near Beacon, N.Y.
    Bettman/Getty Images

    Fighting for pensions

    Veterans were not always politically popular, nor were they treated well by the federal government.

    After the Revolutionary War ended in 1783, Gen. George Washington lobbied Congress to offer lifetime half-pay to officers who served until the end of the war. Given the federal government’s financial precariousness at the end of the war, this effort failed. Veterans were unable to successfully mobilize to advocate for the pensions, given their small numbers and internal divisions between more privileged officers and less privileged soldiers.

    During the Civil War, Congress passed numerous laws designed to support veterans. The 1862 pension law allocated payouts in proportion to a soldier’s permanent bodily injury or disability caused by their service. The benefits were generous in comparison with prior allocations, and more veterans began applying for them.

    Yet, by 1875 only 6.5% of veterans had signed up for pensions. Veterans began to organize to increase awareness about these benefits and to lobby for more.

    The Grand Army of the Republic became a leading veterans organization that demanded better pension and disability benefits. At the end of the 1800s, earning veterans’ votes became a priority for aspiring politicians. The Grand Army of the Republic directly lobbied Congress to pass bills expanding veterans pensions, one of which Democratic President Grover Cleveland vetoed in 1887.

    The organization then successfully mobilized its members to vote against Cleveland in the 1888 election, securing victory for presidential candidate William Henry Harrison and for Republicans in both houses of Congress. This secured the 1890 Arrears Act, which expanded veterans’ pensions and disability payments.

    By the turn of the 19th century, over 40% of federal expenditures went to veterans.

    Getting back pay

    As more veterans returned in 1898 from fighting in the Spanish-American War, and with a huge influx of veterans 20 years later from World War I, veterans mobilized to streamline and expand pension and disability benefits.

    In the 1920s, the two most prominent veterans organizations, the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars, or VFW, formed a national legislative committee dedicated to lobbying for improved benefits. Each group boasted thousands of members whom they could call on to “barrage”– a veterans term – congressmen with letters. By 1929, even as the federal budget ballooned, veterans benefits still represented 20% of the total federal budget.

    The 1924 “Bonus Act,” which Congress passed after overruling Calvin Coolidge’s presidential veto, offered WWI veterans a deferred “bonus” payment available in 1945. But veterans suffered immensely in the Great Depression, along with the rest of the country.

    Veterans tried a new campaign tactic in 1932, creating the “Bonus Expeditionary Forces,” or “Bonus Army,” march on Washington, D.C., to demand their promised pay be delivered sooner.

    Over the course of three months, from May through July 1932, 40,000 veterans set up encampments throughout the city. During their stay, they crowded congressional galleries and plazas during debates on the bill. When President Herbert Hoover called on the military to disband the encampments, he set himself up for electoral defeat later that year.

    It took another four years for Congress to pass a law offering an immediate payout, but the veterans got their bonuses in 1936, not 1945.

    Campaigning to prevent cuts

    Building from public support bolstered by the Bonus Army march, veterans fought publicly to protect their benefits in the Great Depression.

    In 1933, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt sought to cut veterans’ benefits to help finance other relief programs during the Depression, but veterans successfully lobbied Congress to rescind the cuts.

    A 1933 VFW encampment in Milwaukee attracted 10,000 veterans who openly decried Roosevelt’s economic policies. The event featured left-wing Louisiana populist Sen. Huey P. Long and former Marine turned anti-Wall Street populist Smedley Butler.

    The U.S. entered World War II in December 1941. To avoid another spectacle, FDR began developing a compensation program for World War II veterans even before the war’s end. During debates about these expenditures, veterans activism helped ensure the generous educational, housing and vocational benefits from the so-called GI Bill developed by FDR, and the soldier vote helped secure FDR’s fourth-term election in 1944.

    Scholars credit the GI Bill with creating a booming U.S. economy from the 1950s through the 1970s and creating the contemporary middle class, an economic and social group now shrinking and under threat.

    Beyond benefits

    Vietnam veterans hold a silent march down Pennsylvania Avenue past the White House on April 22, 1971, to protest the Vietnam War.
    Bettman/Getty Images

    After World War II, veterans’ mobilization expanded from a focus on benefits to foreign policy.

    Most famously, after its founding in 1967, Vietnam Veterans Against the War engaged in street theater and gathered testimonies about U.S. military abuses to condemn the U.S. government for violence against the Vietnamese.

    Vietnam Veterans Against the War helped organized a four-day protest in 1971 in Washington, D.C., including camping on the National Mall. The organization continued to mobilize in more traditional ways, drafting congressional legislation for benefits and promoting investment in psychological support for Vietnam veterans.

    Veterans have continued to protest wars, particularly the Iraq War, engaging in street protests and also through mainstream politics such as elections and television advertising.

    Given their experiences, veterans today know what they are standing up for on June 6: their own freedom and prosperity, as well as the country’s and the world’s.

    Jamie Rowen receives funding from National Science Foundation.

    – ref. Veterans’ protests planned for D-Day latest in nearly 250 years of fighting for their benefits – https://theconversation.com/veterans-protests-planned-for-d-day-latest-in-nearly-250-years-of-fighting-for-their-benefits-255346

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: One lawsuit just helped melt the fossil fuel industry’s defence against being held accountable for climate change

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Benjamin Franta, Associate Professor of Climate Litigation, University of Oxford

    There was a time when oil and gas companies happily linked themselves to the idea of planet-wide environmental changes. “Each day Humble supplies enough energy to melt 7 million tons of glacier!” boasts the headline from a 1962 double-page spread in Life magazine for Humble Oil, now part of ExxonMobil.

    Fast forward 60 years and that advert takes on a prophetic quality. Millions of people have experienced first-hand the tragic consequences of how burning fossil fuels is overheating our planet beyond recognition. Not just by melting glaciers but fuelling storms, fires and floods.

    The fossil fuel industry today would never dream of linking its activities to melting glaciers. Instead, it actively denies responsibility for the consequences of extracting and selling some of the most harmful products ever known to humanity.

    For the decades we have known about climate science, this narrative has been core to how the fossil fuel industry maintains its social legitimacy: that the industry is not responsible for climate change, but everyone else is through their individual actions.

    Yet a ten-year climate lawsuit brought by a Peruvian farmer and mountain guide has challenged this narrative. In March this year, Saúl Luciano Lliuya’s case against the European coal-giant RWE was heard in a regional court in Germany.

    And while the court has now dismissed Lliuya’s specific claim – finding the flood risk to Lliuya’s particular property is not yet sufficiently great – it did confirm that private companies can in principle be held liable for their share in causing climate damages. This finding has major ramifications for the wider legal battle to make fossil fuel companies accountable.

    Farmer vs coal giant

    Lliuya lives in Huaraz, a city in the foothills of the Peruvian Andes. He and the 120,000 residents of this city live in constant danger. The melting glaciers caused by climate change are causing the water levels in Lake Palcacocha above their home to rise. Peru’s disaster management agency warns that a flood could occur at any moment.

    Huaraz is one of many cities in the Andes at risk of flooding as temperatures rise and glaciers melt.
    Christian Vinces / shutterstock

    For Lliuya, it is not a matter of if but when – and how bad the flood will be.

    He therefore embarked on his lawsuit against RWE with this simple premise: as one of the world’s top greenhouse gas emitters, it should help pay for flood defences to protect Hauraz. The total cost of a new dam would have been US$4 million (£3 million), and Lliuya was demanding that RWE pay 0.47% of that total, which is US$20,000.

    This proportional amount was based on a calculation of RWE’s contribution to historical global greenhouse gas emissions – most of which have occurred since the 1990s, long after fossil fuel companies were aware their products would cause dangerous climate change.

    RWE’s revenues are measured in the tens of billions. It could have accepted Lliuya’s request and paid for not just its share of the cost, but the full cost of flood defences for Huaraz. Yet the company fought tooth and nail to prevent the case getting as far as it did.

    When asked by the court much earlier in the process if it would be willing to settle, the company’s lawyers declined, revealing exactly what was at stake: “This is a matter of precedent.”

    On May 28 2025, the court ruled that the flood risk to Lliuya’s home was not sufficiently high to uphold his specific claim. However, its confirmation of the principle that private companies can be held liable for climate damage shows that RWE was, in fact, correct to fear the precedent that Lliuya’s case has now helped set.

    Liability – across national borders

    Despite RWE’s attempts to argue otherwise, the case’s outcome has far-reaching implications that could shape similar cases in countries such as Switzerland and Belgium, and which may be relevant for other jurisdictions including the UK, Netherlands, US and Japan.

    Crucially, the case confirms that proportional liability for climate harm is legally possible, even across national borders. And this will still remain a possibility, even if a higher court overrules the German district court in favour of the fossil fuel companies.

    Why does this matter so much to RWE and other fossil fuel companies, who argue time and again in court that they should not be held responsible?

    For years, fossil fuel companies have operated as if they would not be held responsible for the emissions from their products. But as the world continues to warm, the harmful impacts of climate change and extreme weather will only intensify, resulting in mounting costs – both those we can calculate, such as damage to infrastructure, and those we cannot, like the loss of our loved ones.

    With the growing number and accuracy of climate science attribution studies, legal pressure on companies to contribute to climate costs is likely to keep growing.

    And when you consider that the legal basis for this “polluter pays” principle exists in a similar form in at least 50 nations around the world, then the scale of liability facing the industry becomes clear.

    More examples are already emerging. In 2024, a Belgian farmer filed a lawsuit against French fossil fuel major TotalEnergies, seeking compensation for damage to his farm as a result of extreme weather.

    In 2022, four residents of Pari island, Indonesia, started legal proceedings in Switzerland against the Swiss cement firm Holcim. The residents are seeking a 43% reduction in Holcim’s carbon emissions by 2030, and around US$4,000 in compensation each for damages caused by flooding.

    Since 2017, dozens of cities, counties and states across the US have sued fossil fuel producers for climate change-related damages and adaptation costs, potentially totalling trillions of dollars – pointing to the industry’s increasingly well-documented historical and ongoing deceptions about climate change.

    And policymakers across countries including the US, the Philippines and Pakistan are working to enact laws that would directly hold polluting companies financially responsible for climate damages.

    The new ruling in Germany provides a shot in the arm to all these cases, and the future suits yet to be filed. Perhaps most consequentially of all, public opinion is hardening: growing numbers of people understand that the fossil fuel industry is responsible for climate change, and lawsuits to compel big carbon to pay for climate damages enjoy widespread public support.

    When Lliuya launched his case nearly a decade ago, the idea of linking an individual corporation to the impacts of its emissions seemed implausible to some. Yet scientific research now makes it possible to link the emissions of individual companies to particular, quantifiable damages caused by climate change.

    This, coupled with the German court’s ruling, makes it increasingly clear that the fossil fuel industry’s longstanding deflection of responsibility for planetary warming is doomed to melt away.



    Read more:
    A Peruvian farmer is trying to hold energy giant RWE responsible for climate change – the inside story of his groundbreaking court case

    Benjamin Franta has served as a consulting expert for various climate-related lawsuits. His research has received funding from foundations in the environment and climate space.

    – ref. One lawsuit just helped melt the fossil fuel industry’s defence against being held accountable for climate change – https://theconversation.com/one-lawsuit-just-helped-melt-the-fossil-fuel-industrys-defence-against-being-held-accountable-for-climate-change-257840

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Canada signs statement of intent with CERN to strengthen scientific collaboration

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    Government of Canada partners with world’s leading physics research organization to advance scientific discovery

    May 30, 2025 – Ottawa, Ontario 

    Science and research have the power to solve the world’s greatest challenges, drive innovation and economic growth, and unravel fundamental questions about life itself. That is why the Government of Canada is supporting international scientific collaboration and investing in research that pushes the boundaries of human knowledge.

    Today, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Economic Development Canada for Quebec Regions, announced that Canada has signed a statement of intent with the European Organization for Nuclear Research, also known as CERN, to strengthen collaboration on future planning for large research infrastructure facilities, and on novel and advanced techniques and tools. The statement of intent was signed in April by Canada’s Deputy Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, Philip Jennings, and CERN’s Director-General, Fabiola Gianotti.

    CERN is a world-leading research facility in Geneva, Switzerland, focused on fundamental physics, with a mission to uncover what the universe is made of and how it works. Canada contributes to CERN’s work through advanced equipment, scientific expertise and top talent, with TRIUMF—Canada’s particle accelerator centre—serving as the primary bridge for these efforts. The statement of intent ensures Canada will continue to be a world leader in physics, contributing to and advancing research on fundamental questions about the mysteries of the universe.

    By signing the statement of intent, Canada and CERN signalled their intent to enhance collaboration in planning future projects to foster breakthrough scientific discoveries. This includes ongoing studies on the Future Circular Collider (FCC), CERN’s next flagship project. This proposed higher-performance particle collider would eventually replace CERN’s Large Hadron Collider, the world’s most powerful particle accelerator, which is helping scientists study the basic building blocks of the universe. Should the FCC be selected to move forward, Canada intends to collaborate on its construction and the physics experiments that will take place at the research facility, subject to appropriate domestic approvals.

    Canada and CERN also intend to promote joint efforts in developing advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence and quantum technologies, and their use in particle physics research and beyond. Through this partnership, Canada is advancing human understanding of our universe and ensuring Canadian researchers and scientists are leading the way.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Supporting young leaders across Alberta

    Source: Government of Canada regional news (2)

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China celebrates outstanding scientists with museum event on National Scientists’ Day

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, May 30 (Xinhua) — China celebrated National Scientists’ Day on May 30, with exhibits related to the achievements of outstanding scientists on display at a museum.

    The National Museum of Chinese Scholars in Beijing has displayed 10 significant items, including a group photo of scientists who participated in the development of the atomic bomb, ballistic missile and satellite, and a prestigious award given to engineering expert Qian Qihu.

    The event included speeches by the scientists themselves, their family members and students.

    Also present was Wan Gang, Chairman of the All-China Society for Science and Technology, who called on scientific and technical workers to contribute to the country’s development.

    He called on them to develop innovative elements of traditional Chinese culture and accelerate the achievement of a high level of national scientific and technological self-sufficiency.

    The event coincided with the first anniversary of the opening of the National Museum of Chinese Scholars. Over the past year, the cultural venue has welcomed more than 170,000 visitors and hosted 14 thematic exhibitions dedicated to the achievements and spirit of scientists. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: HSE students took all the prize places at the Russian Cup from the Federation of Sports Programming

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    The final of the Russian Cup in sports programming in the discipline “Algorithmic programming” took place. From Faculty of Computer Science Seven students and one teacher took part in the competition. The entire podium was occupied by students of the educational program “Applied Mathematics and Computer Science” National Research University Higher School of Economics.

    The competition took place in person in Moscow, where 30 of the strongest participants of the qualifying round from ten regions of Russia were invited: Voronezh Region, Moscow, Moscow Region, Krasnoyarsk Territory, Perm Territory, the Republic of Karelia, the Komi Republic, Rostov and Saratov Regions, as well as St. Petersburg.

    The finalists were given three hours to solve eight problems. The first, second and third places were taken by students of the educational program “Applied Mathematics and Informatics” of the Faculty of Computer Science of the National Research University Higher School of Economics.

    First place – Fedor Romashov, third year.

    Second place – Alexey Vasiliev, second year.

    Third place – Alexey Mikhnenko, third year.

    Full results can be found here by link.

    Alexey Vasiliev

    — I am glad that I managed to take second place. It was very difficult to jump higher because of the strong competitor in first place. The selection was held in the form of an online contest, and only 30 of its best participants were invited to the final. It was not difficult for me to pass thanks to my extensive experience in Olympiad programming.

    To win a prize in the final, it is important to be able to quickly come up with ideas for solving problems, as well as quickly and competently implement them. In the final, five people solved six problems each, so the winners among them were determined by the penalty, that is, by the speed of the solution. There were several strong opponents, whom I often encounter in other contests, so the competition was serious.

    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 USA: NSF advanced computing accelerates preeclampsia research and potential treatments

    Source: US Government research organizations

    Supported by NSF, UC San Diego researchers use supercomputers to identify biomarkers that offer insights into preeclampsia diagnostics and potential treatments

    Each year, preeclampsia—a life-threatening pregnancy complication—affects nearly 1 in 25 expectant mothers in the United States. Emerging suddenly after 20 weeks of pregnancy, it can lead to dangerously high blood pressure, premature birth, and long-term health issues for both mother and baby. Despite its severity, the root causes of preeclampsia remain poorly understood, and treatment options are limited.

    Currently, the only effective treatment for preeclampsia is early delivery of the placenta, which often leads to premature birth and associated health risks for the baby. While researchers know the placenta plays a central role in the disease, the exact causes of its dysfunction remain unclear. This lack of understanding makes preeclampsia difficult to predict, prevent, or treat effectively.

    Researchers at UC San Diego are tackling these challenges with help from NSF-supported computational resources. The team leveraged advanced computing systems like the San Diego Supercomputer Center’s Expanse to conduct large-scale RNA sequencing analysis to compare placental tissue from healthy and preeclamptic pregnancies—processing terabytes of next-generation sequencing data to identify genes that behave differently in the disease.

    Expanse also enabled the team to develop a model system of preeclampsia using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), which allows scientists to recreate the disease in the lab and observe how stress conditions like low oxygen affect placental development. By replicating these abnormal conditions, the team identified biological pathways—like inflammation and disrupted blood vessel growth—that play a critical role in the onset of preeclampsia.

    These breakthroughs are transforming how scientists think about the disease. By studying over 1,700 placentas (more than 300 from preeclampsia patients), researchers discovered that preeclampsia isn’t a single disorder, but a collection of subtypes with different underlying causes — some tied to maternal blood flow, others to fetal vessel development, or immune system dysfunction. The iPSC models are now being used to further dissect these subtypes, paving the way for personalized detection markers and targeted treatments. The research team is also preparing for future high-throughput drug screening to test therapies for each subtype using their lab-grown placental models.

    The broader impacts are profound: Early detection of preeclampsia could prevent complications, save lives, reduce costly preterm births, and improve health outcomes for mothers and babies alike. This research also creates a powerful new platform for studying other placenta-related pregnancy disorders.

    The research was enabled by supercomputer allocations from NSF Extreme Science and Engineering Discovery Environment project, which gave way to the NSF Advanced Cyberinfrastructure Coordination Ecosystem: Services & Support program, a national cyberinfrastructure coordinating and support system that connects the research community to advanced computing and data resources supported by the NSF Advanced Computing Systems and Services program.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Neurosymbolic AI is the answer to large language models’ inability to stop hallucinating

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Artur Garcez, Professor of Computer Science, City St George’s, University of London

    Down with endless data. Alexander Supertramp

    The main problem with big tech’s experiment with artificial intelligence (AI) is not that it could take over humanity. It’s that large language models (LLMs) like Open AI’s ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini and Meta’s Llama continue to get things wrong, and the problem is intractable.

    Known as hallucinations, the most prominent example was perhaps the case of US law professor Jonathan Turley, who was falsely accused of sexual harassment by ChatGPT in 2023.

    OpenAI’s solution seems to have been to basically “disappear” Turley by programming ChatGPT to say it can’t respond to questions about him, which is clearly not a fair or satisfactory solution. Trying to solve hallucinations after the event and case by case is clearly not the way to go.

    The same can be said of LLMs amplifying stereotypes or giving western-centric answers. There’s also a total lack of accountability in the face of this widespread misinformation, since it’s difficult to ascertain how the LLM reached this conclusion in the first place.

    We saw a fierce debate about these problems after the 2023 release of GPT-4, the most recent major paradigm in OpenAI’s LLM development. Arguably the debate has cooled since then, though without justification.

    The EU passed its AI Act in record time in 2024, for instance, in a bid to be world leader in overseeing this field. But the act relies heavily on AI companies to regulate themselves without really addressing the issues in question. It hasn’t stopped tech companies from releasing LLMs worldwide to hundreds of millions of users and collecting their data without proper scrutiny.

    Meanwhile, the latest tests indicate that even the most sophisticated LLMs remain unreliable. Despite this, the leading AI companies still resist taking responsibility for errors.

    Unfortunately LLMs’ tendencies to misinform and reproduce bias can’t be solved with gradual improvements over time. And with the advent of agentic AI, where users will soon be able to assign projects to an LLM such as, say, booking their holiday or optimising the payment of all their bills each month, the potential for trouble is set to multiply.

    The emerging field of neurosymbolic AI could solve these issues, while also reducing the enormous amounts of data required for training LLMs. So what is neurosymbolic AI and how does it work?

    The LLM problem

    LLMs work using a technique called deep learning, where they are given vast amounts of text data and use advanced statistics to infer patterns that determine what the next word or phrase in any given response should be. The models – along with all the patterns it has learned – are stored in arrays of powerful computers in large data centres known as neural networks.

    LLMs can appear to reason using a process called chain-of-thought, where they generate multi-step responses that mimic how humans might logically arrive at a conclusion, based on patterns seen in the training data.

    Undoubtedly, LLMs are a great engineering achievement. They are impressive at summarising text and translating, and may improve the productivity of those diligent and knowledgeable enough to spot their mistakes. Nevertheless they have great potential to mislead because their conclusions are always based on probabilities – not understanding.

    Misinformation in, misinformation out.
    Collagery

    A popular workaround is called “human-in-the-loop”: making sure that humans using AIs still make the final decisions. However, apportioning blame to humans does not solve the problem. They’ll still often be misled by misinformation.

    LLMs now need so much training data to advance that we’re now having to feed them synthetic data, meaning data created by LLMs. This data can copy and amplify existing errors from its own source data, such that new models inherit the weaknesses of old ones. As a result, the cost of programming AIs to be more accurate after their training – known as “post-hoc model alignment” – is skyrocketing.

    It also becomes increasingly difficult for programmers to see what’s going wrong because the number of steps in the model’s thought process become ever larger, making it harder and harder to correct for errors.

    Neurosymbolic AI combines the predictive learning of neural networks with teaching the AI a series of formal rules that humans learn to be able to deliberate more reliably. These include logic rules, like “if a then b”, such as “if it’s raining then everything outside is normally wet”; mathematical rules, like “if a = b and b = c then a = c”; and the agreed upon meanings of things like words, diagrams and symbols. Some of these will be inputted directly into the AI system, while it will deduce others itself by analysing its training data and doing “knowledge extraction”.

    This should create an AI that will never hallucinate and will learn faster and smarter by organising its knowledge into clear, reusable parts. For example if the AI has a rule about things being wet outside when it rains, there’s no need for it to retain every example of the things that might be wet outside – the rule can be applied to any new object, even one it has never seen before.

    During model development, neurosymbolic AI also integrates learning and formal reasoning using a process known as the “neurosymbolic cycle”. This involves a partially trained AI extracting rules from its training data then instilling this consolidated knowledge back into the network before further training with data.

    This is more energy efficient because the AI needn’t store as much data, while the AI is more accountable because it’s easier for a user to control how it reaches particular conclusions and improves over time. It’s also fairer because it can be made to follow pre-existing rules, such as: “For any decision made by the AI, the outcome must not depend on a person’s race or gender”.

    The third wave

    The first wave of AI in the 1980s, known as symbolic AI, was actually based on teaching computers formal rules that they could then apply to new information. Deep learning followed as the second wave in the 2010s, and many see neurosymbolic AI as the third.

    It’s easiest to apply neurosymbolic principles to AI in niche areas, because the rules can be clearly defined. So it’s no surprise that we’ve seen it first emerge in Google’s AlphaFold, which predicts protein structures to help with drug discovery; and AlphaGeometry, which solves complex geometry problems.

    For more broad-based AIs, China’s DeepSeek uses a learning technique called “distillation” which is a step in the same direction. But to make neurosymbolic AI fully feasible for general models, there still needs to be more research to refine their ability to discern general rules and perform knowledge extraction.

    It’s unclear to what extent LLM makers are working on this already. They certainly sound like they’re heading in the direction of trying to teach their models to think more cleverly, but they also seem wedded to the need to scale up with ever larger amounts of data.

    The reality is that if AI is going to keep advancing, we will need systems that adapt to novelty from only a few examples, that check their understanding, that can multitask and reuse knowledge to improve data efficiency and that can reason reliably in sophisticated ways.

    This way, well designed digital technology could potentially even offer an alternative to regulation, because the checks and balances would be built into the architecture and perhaps standardised across the industry. There’s a long way to go, but at least there’s a path ahead.

    Artur Garcez 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. Neurosymbolic AI is the answer to large language models’ inability to stop hallucinating – https://theconversation.com/neurosymbolic-ai-is-the-answer-to-large-language-models-inability-to-stop-hallucinating-257752

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI China: China honors outstanding scientists in museum on Sci-tech Workers’ Day

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

    BEIJING, May 30 — China commemorated its National Sci-tech Workers’ Day on Friday as artifacts related with outstanding scientists were displayed in a museum dedicated to their achievements.

    The China Scientists Museum in Beijing showcased 10 significant items, including a group photo of scientists involved in the development of atomic bomb, ballistic missile and satellite and a prestigious medal awarded to engineering expert Qian Qihu.

    The event featured narratives from the scientists themselves, their family members, and students.

    Wan Gang, president of the China Association for Science and Technology, addressed the event, calling on scientific and technological workers to contribute to national development.

    He urged them to carry forward the innovative elements within China’s fine traditional culture, and work for high-level self-reliance and strength in science and technology.

    The event coincided with the first anniversary of the China Scientists Museum. Over the past year, the museum attracted over 170,000 visitors and curated 14 thematic exhibitions to showcase scientists’ achievements and spirit.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: ‘Pride of place’ at ARU’s Graduate Showcase

    Source: Anglia Ruskin University

    Some of the work on display at the exhibition

    From intimate reflections on home and heritage to explorations of urban spaces, migration and belonging, this year’s Graduate Showcase exhibition at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) is celebrating the many ways that “place” informs identity and influences creative expression.

    The free exhibition, which features work by students graduating from a range of creative courses at ARU this year, is a fantastic opportunity for employers, fellow creatives or members of the public to engage with exciting, thought-provoking content, form valuable connections and gain new perspectives.

    The Graduate Showcase features projects by more than 300 students from 15 different undergraduate courses, as well as work in progress from ARU’s Masters courses, and will be on show at ARU’s Cambridge campus from 6-13 June.

    Echoes of Home, a Transatlantic Dialogue by BA (Hons) Photography student Betsy Richards-Kemp asks where our sense of belonging comes from as she attempts to understand the impact of the movement and migration of black people, drawing on the intimate story of two sisters separated by the Atlantic.

    Based in Suffolk, Betsy uses her camera to tell the untold stories of people’s lives and to understand “shared culture, shared history and shared connections”.

    The media used in the exhibition is as diverse as the subject matter – from Alice Hibbert’s handknitted jumper celebrating her Welsh roots and the cockle picking women of Penclawdd, South Wales, to Freyja Finnis’ graphic novel exploring a young person’s journey of self-belief and acceptance set in small rural community.

    Fine Art student Zineb Khadraoui’s handmade ceramic tiles map personal and collective histories. Zineb explained:

    “The tiles are made using clay from Morocco mixed with soil from my family’s land, and each one features photographic transfers from my travels or family archives.

    “The installation takes a circular form, inviting the viewer to walk through the space and reflect on the idea of returning to one’s roots – both physically and emotionally.”

    BA (Hons) Graphic Design student Issac Khera examines the ways we experience place through sound. Featuring the town of Hitchin, his auditory map explores the way the sound of rainfall interacts with the environment along a route. It uses a variable typeface to pinpoint the nuances of rainfall on different surfaces, such as trickling into a drain or falling onto cars.

    Film and TV Production students Lisa-Marie Soulier and Claudia Vogt have co-produced a documentary, Saturday Night Butch, highlighting the importance of lesbian nightclubs in the celebration of masculine presenting lesbians.

    Claudia said: “We travelled across the UK to find and understand the community, visiting venues from nightclubs to barbershops. Bringing Lesbians together has brought a new and long overdue appreciation for masculine presenting Lesbians and a unique perspective to Lesbian documentary.”

    “Place is not just a backdrop for these students’ work, it is an active force – something that provokes, inspires, and challenges. Whether it’s a response to local culture, ecological landscapes, or global dislocation, our students are engaging with the world around them in meaningful and original ways.”

    Professor Catherine Lee, Deputy Dean within the Faculty of Arts, Humanities, Education and Social Sciences at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU)

    ARU’s Graduate Showcase 2025 includes installations, moving image from games, film and animation, digital media, and traditional practices, with each piece offering a lens on how place shapes our experiences and futures. Many of the works also reflect a deep commitment to social and environmental issues.

    The free Graduate Showcase is open to the public from Friday, 6 June to Friday, 13 June – including during ARU’s Undergraduate Open Day on Saturday, 7 June – but is closed on Sunday. The exhibition is at ARU’s main East Road campus in Cambridge and further information is available at https://creativeshowcase.aru.ac.uk/showcase/graduate-showcase

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 30 May 2025 Departmental update Experts and officials show strong support for WHO’s Traditional Medicine Strategy

    Source: World Health Organisation

    The WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034 received a powerful endorsement at the Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly (WHA), with China and India hosting two influential side events that galvanized international momentum for integrating traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine (TCIM) into global health systems.

    On 20 May 2025, China’s National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (NATCM), joined by Malaysia, Nepal, Saudi Arabia and Seychelles, convened a high-level event titled “Improving Universal Health Coverage through the Implementation of the WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034”. Over 100 health leaders, ambassadors, WHO officials and experts gathered to explore the Strategy’s potential to enhance health systems worldwide.

    Photo credit: Team Reporters

    Dr Margaret Chan, former WHO Director-General, hailed the Strategy as “a further step to integrate traditional medicine into national health systems in ways that are evidence-based, people-centred, and respectful of cultural heritage.” WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific, Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala, praised China’s model of embedding TCIM at all levels of care and underscored the significance of the Beijing Declaration, while Dr Bruce Aylward, WHO Assistant Director-General of the Universal Health Coverage, Life Course Division, emphasized that WHO is committed to supporting Member States in their efforts to advance the safe, effective and evidence-based use of traditional, complementary and integrative medicine.

    Photo credit: Team Reporters

    Professor Yu Yanhong, Commissioner of NATCM, highlighted China’s legislative, educational and research efforts to strengthen traditional Chinese medicine, stressing its complementarity with modern medicine. Dr Rudi Eggers, WHO Director of Integrated Health Services, presented the Strategy’s vision and guiding principles, followed by a panel of global experts sharing country-level experiences and technical insights.

    Photo credit: Team Reporters

    Photo credit: Team Reporters

    On 23 May, India’s Permanent Mission in Geneva, in collaboration with 31 Member States of the Group of Friends of Traditional Medicine (GFTM), hosted a second official side event titled “WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034: From Traditional Heritage to Frontier Science – Health for All.” With over 250 delegates in attendance, the event showcased national experiences and reaffirmed global commitment to traditional medicine.

    Photo credit: Permanent Mission of India in Geneva

    India’s Permanent Representative, H.E. Arindam Bagchi, in his welcome address said, “Let’s work together to build strong regulatory frameworks that leverage the immense strengths of traditional medicine while ensuring protection of intellectual property and ensuring quality and safety – advancing Health for All in an equitable, affordable, and sustainable way.”

    Photo credit: Permanent Mission of India in Geneva

    In his opening remarks on behalf of the Member States, H.E. Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, Government of India, shared about India’s leadership in the field of traditional medicine and its integration into national health system. Mauritius’ Health Minister, H.E. Anil Kumar Bachoo, shared how Ayurveda is integrated into his country’s health system.

    Dr Yukiko Nakatani, WHO Assistant Director-General, Access to Medicines and Health Products & Assistant Director-General, Antimicrobial Resistance, urged Member States to build a strong evidence base for traditional medicine. Dr Eggers reiterated the Strategy’s inclusive framework, while Jaswinder Singh of India’s Ministry of Ayush presented the Ayush Grid – an AI-powered digital platform for integrating traditional medicine into health care.

    Country presentations included Bolivia’s emphasis on the cultural and medicinal value of coca leaves, Sri Lanka’s advancements in Ayurveda integration, and Malaysia’s national model for traditional medicine inclusion. Dr Shyama Kuruvilla, Director a.i. of the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre, concluded the session by announcing the 2nd Global Traditional Medicine Summit, to be held in New Delhi from 2–4 December 2025.

    Photo credit: Permanent Mission of India in Geneva

    The event concluded with a lively questions and answers session moderated by Dr Pradeep Dua, WHO Technical Officer. During the interaction, participants expressed great enthusiasm and optimism about the future of traditional medicine as a vital component of universal health coverage.

    Together, these events showcased a unified global vision to elevate traditional, complementary and integrative medicine, as a vital, evidence-based component of universal health coverage. The WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034 is poised to transform health systems by bridging traditional knowledge with modern science –ensuring health and well-being of one and all.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Brownley Announces Winner of the 2025 Congressional Art Competition

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Julia Brownley (D-CA)

    Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) announced Angela Liu from Westlake High School as the winner of the 2025 Congressional Art Competition for California’s 26th Congressional District. Liu’s piece, “Get on the Bus,” will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol complex for one year. 

    “Every year, I am in awe of the incredible talent of the young artists across our region who participate in the Congressional Art Competition — and this year was no exception. Liu’s artwork is an exceptional example of the creativity and talent that exists throughout our region, and I wholeheartedly extend my sincere congratulations to her and the winning piece that will represent our district in the Halls of Congress,” said Congresswoman Brownley. 

    “Art is a powerful form of expression that allows students to express their emotions, channel their creativity, and advocate for the causes they care about. Our community is richer for the imagination, insight, and passion these young artists bring to the table. Each student who participated in this competition has contributed something meaningful — a piece of who they are, and a vision of who we can become.”

    “I am deeply honored that my artwork has been selected as the first-place winner in the Congressional Art Competition. It’s especially meaningful considering the immense talents among the high school students in our region. I have participated in this competition for the past three years, and was recognized with an honorable mention last year,” said Angela Liu, the winner of the 2025 Congressional Art Competition. “Art has been an integral part of my life since childhood. What started as simple explorations has grown into a pursuit of techniques and the nuanced interplay of hues, values, and textures. During challenging times, drawing is my sanctuary, offering a way to calm my anxieties and nurture my spirit. Today, my artwork serves a purpose beyond personal fulfillment. I strive to use it as a medium to amplify my voice, connect with my community, and advocate for social justice.”

    “In recent years, I’ve been drawn to the artistic approaches of Rembrandt and Sargent. I find the portrayal of people in art incredibly captivating,” Liu continued. My artistic goal is centered around creating characters that feel alive with their own narratives and distinct personalities that shine through in my work. In my winning piece, “Get on the Bus,” my intention was to offer glimpses into the life of the woman I depicted. I hoped to convey her confidence, her experiences as a witness to history, and the wisdom that comes with age, all within a brief moment captured on a bus.”

    “It comes as no surprise to me that Angela has been selected as the winner of the 2025 Congressional Art Competition,” said Scott Holloway, physics teacher at Westlake High School. “As her AP physics teacher for the past two years, I have been lucky to see Angela combine art and science with a passion. Angela is always creating, whether it be a new drawing or redesigning a project for her science classes. I have encouraged my students to put the A (art) in STEM to make STEAM, and Angela has truly embraced that ideology. She creates both informative as well as creative pieces that increase engagement and elicit more emotion. Angela continues to impress me on a regular basis, from 3-D printing an interactive geared heart for Mother’s Day to designing the physics club T-shirt designs for the year. I know her creativity will not only continue to be a passion for her, but will also inspire others to better interact with the world.”

    “This year’s group of artists demonstrated their talents in a diverse array of media, exploring topics from observations of everyday life to deeply personal experiences,” said Jeffrey Bowen, Director of Library Programming and Public Affairs at Pepperdine University and judge of the 2025 Congressional Art Competition. “Kudos to all the students for experimenting with form and compositions, and even taking some risks in their artistic endeavors. I congratulate the winner and the runners-up for their especially keen artistic eyes and execution of their ideas.”

    “Seeing all of the amazing art pieces makes me realize the amount of talent that there is at the youth level and just how much potential they all have. This is a fantastic platform for students to showcase their art and, with it, share with the greater public a small piece of their life and perspectives, along with the expressiveness of their feelings and thought process about various themes through their amazing art,” said Jesus Delgadillo Galindo, judge of the 2025 Congressional Art Competition.

    “This has been a valuable experience for me, and it is meaningful to be part of this selection process to ensure our district is well represented,” said Chuy Salgado León, judge of the 2025 Congressional Art Competition. “It is also inspiring to see the subject matter that our youth take an interest in. The art I’ve seen through this competition reminds me that effort must match purpose in everything I do.”

    Two honorable mentions were also recognized, including “Peaceful Dayspring” by Riley Rohrer from Oak Park Independent School and “La Pescheria” by Sebastian Costuche from Westlake High School. Their artwork will be displayed in Congresswoman Brownley’s district offices in Thousand Oaks and Oxnard.

    Started in 1982, the nationwide Congressional Art Competition is sponsored by the Members of the U.S. House of Representatives and is an opportunity to recognize and encourage students’ artistic talent across the country. 

    Submissions from students in grades 9-12 across the 26th Congressional District were judged by a panel of local judges who work within the arts, academic, and social work fields. This year’s submissions were judged by Jeffrey Bowen, Director of Library Programming and Public Affairs at Pepperdine University; Jesus Delgadillo Galindo, a local artist and graphic designer from Oxnard; and Chuy Salgado Leon, a local graphic designer from Oxnard.

    ###

    Issues: 119th Congress, Local Issues

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: From Paper Posters to Metaverses: What Surprises Telling Stories Fest 2025

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    Career and development became one of the main blocks of the program. Participants discussed how to build media in our time, when the fashion for podcasts is flourishing, how to promote regions with the help of creativity and why to publish paper art publications in the digital era.

    Together with the SKOLKOVO School of Management and experts in the field of art, design and media, we talked about new professions in metaverses – who are builders, scripters and world designers, and how to monetize digital content. We also discussed how to create creative work that wins competitions without losing individuality in the context of the rapid development of AI.

    From experts in gastronomic branding (National Association of Chefs, Channel One (Good Morning), MOSCOW CAKE SHOW, WORLDFOOD, CHEFS TEAM FEST, COFFEE TEA CACAO EXPO, Lapochka, ANO “North in the Heart”, MØS (Michelin), Björn, Taste of Moscow, Twins Science, Food Service Forum, Novikov School, SFU, International Enogastronomic Center, etc.) the guests learned how to turn a local product into a brand.

    Professionals in the field of management and communications (Alena Kremer, Antonina Priezzheva, Natalia Lebedeva, Roman Bedretdinov) explained why emotional intelligence is becoming a key skill in creative industries and how AI is changing advertising and startups.

    In conclusion, there will be a discussion on how an artist can find support outside the system: from grants to private patronage and residencies. Curators and art managers from GES-2, the Winzavod Foundation, the online platform TEO by Cosmoscow and HSE ART GALLERY shared their experiences.

    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 Canada: Government of Canada to build new research facility to improve transportation safety

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    May 30, 2025 – Gatineau, Quebec

    The Government of Canada is investing in federal science to strengthen the safety of air, rail, marine and pipeline transportation systems that Canadians rely on every day. As part of the Laboratories Canada strategy, the government is developing the new Transportation Safety and Technology Science (TSTS) hub, which will transform how federal scientists and investigators work together by bringing them under one roof.

    Today, the Honourable Joël Lightbound, Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement, announced that the Government of Canada has awarded a contract to Bird Construction Group Ltd. for construction management services for the new TSTS hub, to be located at the main campus of the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) on Montréal Road in Ottawa, Ontario. The contract is expected to be valued at up to $410 million. The initial work package, covering advisory services and site preparation, has been issued at a value of $12.3 million.

    This marks a key step in the development of the new facility, which is being delivered through a collaborative approach under the Laboratories Canada strategy. The hub will serve as a shared space for the Transportation Safety Board of Canada and the NRC to conduct in-depth investigations and advance scientific research in transportation safety.

    Engineers and scientists at the facility will work with industry partners to develop cutting-edge safety technologies and reduce risks in the air, marine, rail and pipeline sectors. The facility will combine investigations with the design and testing of next-generation light materials for aerospace, creating new opportunities for collaboration and innovation.

    The contract was awarded following an open and transparent procurement process. The full contract could also include over $40 million in economic benefits for Indigenous businesses and communities through subcontracts, training opportunities and employment. These benefits reflect the Government of Canada’s commitment to economic reconciliation through meaningful Indigenous participation in federal infrastructure projects.

    This facility is a key component of the Laboratories Canada strategy, which is transforming science infrastructure nationwide through safe, sustainable and flexible spaces that meet the evolving needs of Canada’s federal scientific community, today and into the future. Construction preparation is set to begin in fall 2025, with completion anticipated in 2030.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Andrey Rudskoy elected Vice President of the Russian Academy of Sciences and awarded the Dmitry Chernov Medal

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    Rector of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, head of the St. Petersburg branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Academician Andrei Rudskoy has been elected Vice President of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The results of the vote were announced today, on the final day of the general meeting of the Academy members.

    During the meeting, the rector of the Polytechnic was solemnly presented with the Dmitry Chernov gold medal. The award is named after the Russian metallurgist and inventor Dmitry Konstantinovich Chernov. Chernov was one of the leading experts in steelmaking of his time. He is the author of a classic course of lectures on steelmaking that has been republished many times. Several generations of Russian artillerymen went through the school under the guidance of this famous metallurgist. D.K. Chernov’s contribution to the theory and practice of metallurgy was highly praised by domestic and foreign scientists.

    It is a great honor for me to receive the D.K. Chernov Gold Medal. This award has been given since 1995 by the Department of Physical Chemistry and Technology of Inorganic Materials of the Russian Academy of Sciences for outstanding work in the field of physical and chemical analysis, chemistry and technology. Of course, for metallurgists, this is the highest level of recognition of the results of research and work. I am confident that the developments in the field of new technologies for thermoplastic processing of materials that were awarded the medal will contribute to ensuring technological leadership and security of our country. I serve Russia and Russian science! – said Andrey Ivanovich.

    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 USA: Failure to Warn: How Federal Health Agencies Downplayed the Risk of Myocarditis

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Ron Johnson

    Corruption of Science & Federal Health Agencies 

    On May 21, I held my first hearing as chairman of the powerful U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI). The focus was on how federal health agencies downplayed the risk of myocarditis and other adverse events following COVID-19 vaccination. 

    The best definition of science is skepticism and that hasn’t been allowed. We haven’t been able to ask the questions, and those who do are vilified. I ran for a third term because no one was advocating for the vaccine injured. It’s well past time for them to be believed and helped.

    For four years, the Biden administration tried to undermine access to information. My interim report, Failure to Warn: How Federal Health Agencies Downplayed the Risk of Myocarditis and Other Adverse Events Following COVID-19 Vaccination,does not contain FOIA redactions and finally provides the public with a more complete understanding of the Biden administration’s awareness of the risks of myocarditis following COVID-19 injection.

    Here’s a brief timeline:

    • February 28, 2021: Israeli Ministry of Health notified officials at the CDC of “large reports of myocarditis, particularly in young people, following the Pfizer vaccine.”
    • April 12, 2021: DOD consultant presented to federal health officials that the vaccine safety surveillance system lacked the ability to detect reports of myocarditis. Consultant questioned colleagues: “If you do not ask, you will not see it, but does that mean it does not exist?”
    • End of April, 2021: Senator Johnson asks then NIH Director Francis Collins about VAERS reporting 2,926 deaths worldwide within 30 days of injection. Collins responds, “Senator, people die.”

    WATCH 5-minute clip: Senator Johnson reveals rest of the timeline in his opening statement or download and read his statement. 

    WATCH ENTIRE 3-HOUR HEARING: The Corruption of Science and Federal Health Agencies

    READ: Witness Testimony 

    The federal government was well aware of the myocarditis signal following COVID-19 vaccines, particularly in young men, as early as February 2021. Despite months of discussion and apparent acknowledgment of the safety concern, U.S. health officials decided not to issue a warning on the Health Alert Network. Watch this interview with Morning Wire.

    X Post (Ben Shapiro clip commenting on report findings calling it “insane and a massive scandal” )

    By downplaying and covering up what they knew about COVID-19 injection-induced myocarditis, federal health officials violated the inviolable principle of informed consent with their experimental jab.

    A few days later, I appeared on the Ben Shapiro Show and talked about this hearing. As you can watch in this interview, I told Ben this is the tip of the iceberg and there will be more bombshells to come. 

    Investigating Biden’s Cognitive Decline

    In other news from PSI, I announced that letters have been sent to former cabinet members of the Biden Administration requesting they appear before my Subcommittee for an interview about Biden’s cognitive capabilities during his presidency. Will these individuals finally tell the truth, or will they double down on their lies?

    The discrepancy between what Cabinet officials were telling the public about the former president’s health and what they were apparently witnessing and saying privately is astonishing, particularly considering that the former president was seeking reelection. After years of being lied to and kept in the dark, the public deserves full and complete transparency about what was known and when concerning President Biden’s health.

    READ —> Axios: GOP senator investigating White House handling of Biden’s health

    WATCH —> CNN or Fox News

    The Tucker Carlson Interview 

    I traveled to Maine for a wide-ranging interview with Tucker Carlson. The two-hour conversation covers my Senate investigations, why I cannot turn my back on the vaccine injuries, why I’m digging my heels in on the Big Beautiful Bill, and why I’m investigating 9/11. 

    You can watch the entire show on YouTube or where ever you get your podcasts. 

    One of the topics getting a lot of attention on social media from this podcast is when I revealed what cured my acid reflux.  

    In case anyone wants to know, this is what I take. 

    Around Wisconsin

    On May 28, I was invited to the Medical College of Wisconsin for their Public Policy Speaker Series. I appreciate the conversation facilitated by President/CEO Dr. John Raymond and the chance to hear the concerns of the health care and research community. 

    I always enjoy my visits to the Milwaukee Press Club for their Newsmaker Luncheon series. You can watch the entire event here. I encouraged the journalists to watch President Eisenhower’s Farewell Address to hear his four remarkable prescient warnings for America. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Birth control increases stroke risk – here’s what women need to know

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Laura Elin Pigott, Senior Lecturer in Neurosciences and Neurorehabilitation, Course Leader in the College of Health and Life Sciences, London South Bank University

    Cryptogenic strokes have no obvious cause, but is increasingly being linked to subtle, hidden risk factors – such as oestrogen. Krakenimages.com/ Shutterstock

    For millions of women, combined hormonal contraceptives are a part of their daily life – providing a convenient and effective option for preventing pregnancy and managing their menstrual cycle.

    But new findings are sounding the alarm on a serious, and often overlooked, risk: stroke.

    According to recent findings presented at the European Stroke Organisation Conference, combined oral hormonal contraceptives (which contains both oestrogen and progestogen) may significantly increase the chance of women experiencing a cryptogenic stroke. This is a sudden and serious type of stroke that occurs with no obvious cause.

    Surprisingly, in younger adults – particularly women – cryptogenic strokes make up approximately 40% of all strokes. This suggests there may be sex-specific factors which contribute to this risk – such as hormonal contraception use. These recently-presented findings lend themselves to this theory.

    At this year’s conference, researchers presented findings from the Secreto study. This is an international investigation that has been conducted into the causes of unexplained strokes in young people aged 18 to 49. The study enrolled 608 patients with cryptogenic ischaemic stroke from 13 different European countries.

    One of their most striking discoveries was that women who used combined oral contraceptives were three times more likely to experience a cryptogenic stroke compared to non-users. These results stood, even after researchers adjusted for other factors which may have contributed to stroke risk (such as obesity and history of migraines).

    It’s well-documented that hormonal contraceptives, which contain both oestrogen and progestin, come with a small, increased risk of experiencing serious health events, including stroke – particularly ischaemic stroke, which occurs when blood flow to part of the brain is blocked.

    But a study published earlier this year, which tracked over two million women, found that combined hormonal contraceptives – including the pill, intrauterine devices (IUD), patches and vaginal rings, which all contain both synthetic oestrogen and progestogen – were linked to higher risks of both stroke and heart attack. The vaginal ring increased stroke risk by 2.4 times and 3.8 times for heart attack. The contraceptive patch was found to increase stroke risk by nearly 3.5 times.

    Interestingly, they also looked at a progestin-only contraceptive (the IUD) and found there was no increased risk for either heart attacks or strokes.

    Both of these recent findings suggest oestrogen may be the main driver of stroke risk. While absolute risk is still low – meaning fewer than 40 in every 100,000 women using a combined hormonal contraceptive will experience a stroke – the population-level impact is significant considering the number of women worldwide that use a combined hormonal contraceptive.

    Oestrogen and stroke risk

    Combined hormonal contraceptives contain synthetic versions of the sex hormones oestrogen (usually ethinylestradiol) and a progestin (the synthetic version of progestogen).

    Natural oestrogen in the body plays a role in promoting blood clotting, which is important for helping wounds heal and prevents excessive bleeding.

    The oestrogen in contraceptives is more potent than natural oestrogen.
    Image Point Fr/ Shutterstock

    But the synthetic oestrogen in contraceptives is more potent and delivered in higher, steady doses. It stimulates the liver to produce extra clotting proteins and reduces natural anticoagulants — tipping the balance toward easier clot formation. This effect, while helpful in stopping bleeding, can raise the risk of abnormal blood clots that can lead to conditions such as stroke. This risk may be even greater for people who smoke, experience migraines or have a genetic tendency to clot.

    If a clot forms in an artery that supplies the brain or breaks off and travels through the bloodstream to the brain, this can block blood flow – causing what’s known as an ischaemic stroke. This is the most common type of stroke. Clots can also form in deep veins (such as those in the legs or around your organs).

    In addition to clotting, oestrogen may also slightly raise blood pressure and affect how blood vessels behave over time, which can further increase stroke risk.

    The effects of oestrogen on clotting may partly explain why the recent conference findings showed a link between combined contraceptive use and cryptogenic stroke risk. Cryptogenic stroke has no obvious cause, but is increasingly being linked to subtle, hidden risk factors – such as hormone-driven clotting.

    Understanding risk

    These numbers can sound alarming at first, but it’s important to keep them in perspective. The absolute risk – meaning the actual number of people affected – is still low.

    For instance, researchers estimate that there may be one additional stroke per year for every 4,700 women using the combined pill.

    That sounds rare, and for most users, it is. But when you consider that millions of women use these contraceptives globally, even a small increase in risk can translate into a significant number of strokes at the population level. Which is relative to what is seen with the high number of cryptogenic strokes in young women.

    Despite the risks associated with combined hormonal contraceptives, many women continue to use them – either because they aren’t fully informed of the risks or because the alternatives are either less effective, less accessible or come with their own burdens.

    Part of the reason this trade-off has become so normalised is the persistent under-funding and under-prioritisation of women’s health research. Historically, medical research has focused disproportionately on men – with women either excluded from studies or treated as an afterthought.

    This has led to a limited understanding of how hormonal contraceptives affect female physiology beyond fertility control. As a result, the side-effects remain poorly understood, under-communicated and under-addressed.

    Women have a right to make informed decisions about their health and body. This starts with having access to accurate information about the real risks and benefits of every contraceptive option. It means understanding, for example, that while combined hormonal contraceptives do carry a small risk of blood clots and stroke, pregnancy and the weeks following childbirth come with an even higher risk of those same complications. This context is vital for making truly informed choices.

    No method of contraception is perfect. But when women are given the full picture, they can choose the method that best suits them. We also need more research that reflects the diversity and complexity of women’s bodies – not just to improve safety, but to expand options and empower decisions.

    Laura Elin Pigott 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. Birth control increases stroke risk – here’s what women need to know – https://theconversation.com/birth-control-increases-stroke-risk-heres-what-women-need-to-know-257516

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –