NewzIntel.com

Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Hertfordshire waste boss to pay £79,000 gained from illegal sites

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Hertfordshire waste boss to pay £79,000 gained from illegal sites

    Quarry director let waste mountains pile up way beyond legal amount. Enough waste at one site to nearly fill the Royal Albert Hall 3 times

    Codicote Quarry, near Stevenage, was one of three locations at the centre of this illegal waste operation

    A former teacher who filled 2 quarries in Hertfordshire with illegal waste has been ordered to pay thousands of pounds following an investigation into proceeds of crime.

    Liam Winters presided over the illegal disposal of assorted rubbish at Codicote Quarry, near Stevenage.

    An investigation by the Environment Agency found approximately 200,000 cubic metres of household, commercial and industrial waste, as well as electrical items, car parts, furniture, food packaging, wood and metal. It could have filled the Royal Albert Hall nearly 3 times over.

    An Environment Agency investigator inspects waste hidden in a futile attempt to avoid it being found

    Winters, of Warwickshire, also ignored the Environment Agency’s instructions to stop filling Anstey Quarry, at Buntingford, near Royston, with banned waste such as plastic, wood, metal and packaging, all broken into tiny pieces.

    The waste piled up at Anstey Quarry scaled the height of 5 double-decker buses

    He was given 17 months in prison in October 2023 for dumping the illegal waste at the 2 sites and a nearby shooting ground.

    The piles of waste at Anstey reached 20 metres into the sky, the height of 5 double-decker buses. 

    The Anstey Quarry Company Ltd, of which Winters was a director, leased the quarry, with a permit from the Environment Agency to treat and dispose of up to 10,000 cubic metres of clean soil waste a year.

    Investigators estimated as much as 250,000 cubic metres of harmful biodegradable materials was buried there.

    Soil was used at all 3 sites to cover some of the waste in an attempt to avoid detection.

    Judge Caroline Wigin, sitting at Luton crown court on 8 May, ordered Winters, to pay £78,835. This followed an proceeds of crime investigation by the Environment Agency’s national economic crime unit.

    The money will be split between His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service and the Environment Agency. Winters faces 2 more years in prison if he doesn’t pay within 3 months. The 48-year-old, of High Street, Hillmorton, Rugby, also has to pay a victim surcharge of £120.

    Barry Russell, environment manager for the Environment Agency in Hertfordshire, said:

    “We are determined that waste operators who break the law don’t benefit from their crimes

    “It was clear every time we visited the sites, there was no substantial change to the illegal way they were being run.

    “Operations like Anstey and Codicote are damaging in many ways, including the potential or actual harm caused to the environment by inappropriate and illegal storage of waste materials, and the financial impact on businesses who follow the rules, pay their way and protect the environment.

    “Despite warnings from the Environment Agency to stop, Winters and the other men carried on bringing in more illegal waste.”

    The Environment Agency served an enforcement notice, ordering the business to stop taking in material at Anstey that could do damage to the ground if left in landfill.

    Codicote Quarry had a permit to treat and store a small amount of soil waste, but not hold it in huge quantities. The quarry went far beyond what was authorised by the Environment Agency.   

    Nicholas Bramwell, now 45, of Shepherds Close, Royston, was fined £1,450 and told to pay £8,000 in costs and a £120 victim surcharge after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing to burying large quantities of potentially harmful waste at Anstey Quarry and a shooting ground at Nuthampstead.

    The Environment Agency found more plastic, wood and metal in sizable quantities at the firing range, where it was used to build a 10-metre high embankment.

    Both men admitted to 5 counts of breaching regulation 38 (2) of the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010 in relation to Anstey Quarry and Nuthampstead shooting ground.

    Winters faced four more charges under the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 and the Environmental Protection Act 1990 in relation to Codicote Quarry.

    Judge Wigin said no costs would be awarded against Winters because he had served a custodial prison sentence.

    Winters’ brother, Mark Winters, 50, of Bangor Erris, in County Mayo, received 12 months in prison in 2023, suspended for 2 years, and told to carry out 200 hours unpaid work over the waste at Codicote.

    The brothers were also banned from being company directors for 8 years.

    Luton crown court will sit on 9 July to decide on proceeds of crime payments and costs against Mark Winters and to sentence Codicote Quarry Ltd, of which the brothers were also directors.

    There is no suggestion the owners of the 3 locations played any part in the criminal activity.

    Contact us:

    Journalists only: 0800 141 2743 or communications_se@environment-agency.gov.uk.

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: In the Chinese city of Wuhan, the great feats of Soviet pilots were and are valued

    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

    WUHAN, May 9 (Xinhua) — “The Soviet volunteer pilots not only fought for China’s liberation, but also for peace and justice for all mankind,” Xu Ziyue, a graduate student at Jianghan University, said at a commemorative event for fallen Soviet volunteer pilots held in Jiefang Park (Liberation Park) in Wuhan, central China’s Hubei Province, in early April.

    According to park administration employee Wang Bin, during the three-day weekend of the traditional Chinese holiday Qingming (All Souls’ Day), which lasted from April 4 to 6 this year, about 40,000 people came to the park to honor the memory of fallen Soviet volunteer pilots.

    “People regularly and voluntarily come to the monument to Soviet martyrs in our park. Many of them lay flowers there,” he noted.

    In Jiefang Park stands an 8-meter-tall marble obelisk with ten gilded Chinese characters carved into the front of its base: “Tomb of the Fallen Soviet Volunteer Pilots.” The inscription, engraved in Chinese and Russian on the back of the monument, reads: “Eternal glory to the Soviet volunteer pilots who died in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression.” The front of the granite monument lists the names of the fallen heroes, the oldest of whom was 33 years old at the time of his death, and the youngest only 24.

    In 1938-1939, major air battles broke out over the city of Wuhan, during which Chinese and Soviet pilots fought shoulder to shoulder against the Japanese invaders. Many Soviet pilots died during these battles. Some of the fallen were buried in the local park “Wanguo” /”Ten Thousand States”/. In 1956, their remains were reburied in a new cemetery for fallen Soviet heroes, which was built according to the Soviet model. A marble slab with the names of 15 fallen Soviet aces was erected there.

    In 2015, 14 more Soviet volunteer pilots were confirmed to have lost their lives in the air battles over Wuhan. Their names also appeared on the tombstone, bringing the total number of fallen Soviet volunteer pilots buried there to 29.

    Wang Bin said the park administration is constantly working on the protection and restoration of the monument and organizing educational services for group visitors.

    Next to the obelisk there is also a permanent exhibition dedicated to Soviet volunteer pilots. Local military fan Yan Heng actively participated in the formation of the exhibit.

    According to him, as a child he often went to Jiefang Park, where he learned about the heroism of Soviet volunteer pilots in the fight against the Japanese invaders. “I was told that heroes from the USSR who died defending our city are buried here. Their lives were cut short at a very young age. This touched me very much,” he emphasized.

    He noted that in 2017, the local newspaper Changjiang Ribao published an article about collecting items from around the world for the exhibition collection. He decided to come to the rescue so that more people could learn about the stories of Soviet volunteer pilots.

    In 2018, Yang Heng visited Moscow and received a huge amount of information and historical materials. After returning to Wuhan, he began organizing the exhibition.

    To make the exhibition more rich, Yang Heng’s team decided to recreate the real life of Soviet volunteer pilots during those war years using a multimedia installation and decorations.

    “I hope that more people today will learn about this history and cherish peace,” Yang Heng explained.

    In addition to the efforts of ordinary people to preserve the memory of Soviet volunteer pilots, work in this direction in China is also being carried out at the legislative and governmental levels.

    In 2013, China issued the Regulations on the Protection and Management of War Memorial Sites. The document states that war memorial sites of national importance may include monuments to famous foreign citizens who died in the name of China’s revolutionary struggle. The document stipulates the need to protect and manage historical monuments within the war memorial sites.

    One such site is the grave of the commander of a squadron of Soviet bombers, Grigory Kulishenko, which is located in the Wanzhou district of the city of central subordination of Chongqing /Southwest China/. Grigory Kulishenko died on October 14, 1939, in a battle over Wuhan at the age of 36.

    According to the administration of the Wanzhou Martyrs’ Memorial Park, more than 100 memorial events are held here every year, and the grave of the fallen Soviet hero is visited by an average of 300,000 people a year.

    Chen Anmin, associate professor at the Institute of History and Culture at Southwest University, stressed that the Chinese people and government always appreciate the Soviet Union’s just assistance in resisting the Japanese invaders and remember the great deeds of Soviet heroes.

    “The restoration and careful protection of memorial structures to Soviet fallen heroes testify to the fact that the Chinese people correctly and soberly assess history and value justice and friendship. Such actions help educate people and cultivate in them a love for peace and respect for true history,” he concluded. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Science Committee Members Demand Answers from NSF on Award Terminations and Reckless Policy Actions

    Source: US Congressman Gabe Amo (Rhode Island 1st District)

    Washington, DC – Today, Members of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology sent a letter to Brian Stone, Acting Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF). In the letter, the Members detail the turmoil that has taken place at NSF since the Trump administration began, including the termination of awards that total over one billion dollars. The Members demand answers on how decisions are being made at NSF and call into question the legality of the actions the Trump administration has taken at the agency. 

    “Within 24 hours, from May 1 to May 2, 2025, NSF crossed the billion-dollar mark of terminated awards, froze all funding actions with no indication of duration, and announced the implementation of a 15% cap on indirect costs for new awards,” theMembers wrote in the letter. “Mere months ago, each of these individual decisions would have been an unprecedented shock. Today, President Trump has made this chaos and destruction commonplace. However, we refuse to accept this as our new reality, and we demand answers on how these decisions are being made at NSF.”

    The Members continued, “The accusation that these terminated awards lack merit is a lie, as most, if not all these awards, carry a statement from the agency declaring that ‘This award reflects NSF’s statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation’s intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.’ The cancelation of these awards suggests instead that NSF is willing to apply political censorship of awards under direction from President Trump and the DOGE teenagers, which is a clear violation of the statutory mission of the agency. Taking inspiration from Senator Ted Cruz’s approach to merit-review is nothing to crow about.”

    As the Members closed the letter, they wrote, “So, who is in charge here? How far does DOGE’s influence reach? How much is OMB dictating based on hard-right political ideology and not scientific or research expertise? The Science Committee has repeatedly requested transparency and accountability from NSF. This has rarely been provided. Yet again, we seek answers about actions NSF has taken that potentially break the law and certainly break the trust of the research community. Yet again, we implore NSF to stand up for its mission as it is under siege by anti-science politicians and uninformed DOGE hackers.”

    The letter can be found here.

    The letter was signed by Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI), Rep. Deborah Ross (D-NC), Rep. Andrea Salinas (D-OR), Rep. Valerie Foushee (D-NC), Rep. Gabe Amo (D-RI), Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA), Rep. Luz Rivas (D-CA), Rep. Sarah McBride (DE At Large), Rep. George Whitesides (D-CA), Rep. Laura Friedman (D-CA), and Rep. April McClain Delaney (D-MD).   

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China-CEEC cooperation sees steady development, important opportunities: commerce ministry

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

    China-CEEC cooperation sees steady development, important opportunities: commerce ministry

    BEIJING, May 9 — Economic and trade relations between China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) have developed healthily and stably, presenting great opportunities for future cooperation, China’s commerce ministry said on Friday.

    China’s trade with CEEC has grown at an average annual rate of 8.8 percent since 2012, while its import from the countries has grown at an average annual rate of 7.4 percent, both outpacing the growth rate of China’s foreign trade during the same period, Yan Dong, deputy head of the ministry told a press conference.

    In 2024, China’s trade with CEEC increased by 6.3 percent year on year, reaching a record high of 142.3 billion U.S. dollars, data from the ministry shows.

    Meanwhile, the two sides also saw more and more robust investment activities, Yan said, adding that China’s investment in the countries has exceeded 24 billion dollars so far.

    A new highlight of China-CEEC investment cooperation has emerged in recent years as Chinese enterprises from the industrial chains of electric vehicles and power batteries intensified their efforts in investigation and investment in the CEEC, he noted.

    In the future, there will be important opportunities for China-CEEC cooperation, with China’s efforts to comprehensively deepen high-level opening-up, as well as the establishment of various economic and trade platforms safeguarding bilateral cooperation, according to Yan.

    The complementarity between China and CEEC in the sectors of industry, trade of goods and services trade also provides new space for cooperation, Yan added.

    The 4th China-CEEC Expo & International Consumer Goods Fair will be held in Ningbo, east China’s Zhejiang Province from May 22 to May 25 this year. The event is expected to be one of the main platforms for showcasing the characteristic products of CEEC, expanding imports from CEEC, and promoting mutual investment between China and the countries, according to the ministry.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Speech by FS at Europe Day 2025 reception (English only) (with photos/video)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Following is the speech by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, at Europe Day 2025 reception today (May 9):

    Ambassador Harvey Rouse (Head of the European Union Office to Hong Kong and Macao), Deputy Commissioner Li Yongsheng (Deputy Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region), Consuls-General, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

    Good evening.

    It is a great pleasure to join you this evening to celebrate Europe Day — a day that honours the enduring commitment to unity and shared prosperity on the European continent.

    On this very day 75 years ago, French Foreign Minister Robert Schuman delivered a visionary declaration, proposing the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community. It laid the foundation for the European Union (EU).

    From the ruins of post-war Europe, nations once divided by conflict came together to build mechanisms of co-operation that would avert future wars and ensure long-term peace. As Schuman memorably said, and I quote: “World peace cannot be safeguarded without the making of creative efforts proportionate to the dangers which threaten it.” Those words remain as relevant today as they were in 1950.

    Today, we are once again confronted by rising geopolitical tensions and economic fragmentation, now exacerbated by unilateral tariffs unseen for generations.

    History teaches us that protectionism and unilateralism were among the factors that led to some of the 20th century’s most devastating conflicts. We must never forget those lessons. Collaboration among nations is essential to ensuring lasting peace and prosperity.

    As the Confucian saying goes, “和而ä¸�å�Œ”, harmony in diversity. We may differ in our histories, cultures and systems, but we can still work together in pursuit of common goals.

    Ladies and gentlemen, the challenges we face today, from protracted conflicts and climate change to widening development gaps, are complex and inter-connected. They cannot be resolved by a divided world. That is why the global community must stand by its commitment to multilateralism, and support the institutions and efforts to address these and many other issues.

    These are values that China, our country, firmly embraces. We advocate for an equitable multipolar world and inclusive globalisation, striving to build a community with a shared future for mankind.

    At a time of uncertainties in the global economy stemming from escalating tariff measures, our country’s message and actions are clear and consistent: China welcomes global business, remains committed to high-level opening-up, and will continue to be a source of stability and growth in the international system.

    Hong Kong, under the “one country, two systems” principle, has long served as a “super connector” between China and the rest of the world. This role demands that we remain what we have always been: an open, diverse and vibrant international city, a free port and a staunch supporter of free trade. No less important, we are committed to the rule of law backed by a judiciary exercising powers independently, firmly protecting the rights of our residents and businesses.

    I’m pleased to say that the international business community recognises our commitment, as reflected in numerous surveys and the growing number of companies choosing Hong Kong to establish their base.

    Allow me to highlight a few key areas where Hong Kong and Europe can work together to seize opportunities in today’s evolving global trade and financial landscape.

    First, as the Mainland continues to open its economy, Hong Kong serves as a strategic gateway for European companies to access the immense opportunities offered by the Greater Bay Area and the broader Chinese Mainland market. And with supply chains undergoing significant realignment, our deep ties with ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) make Hong Kong an ideal connector to those markets as well.

    In the financial sector, there’s an increasing demand from global investors to diversify their asset allocation. Hong Kong’s capital market provides unparalleled access to investment opportunities in one of the world’s fastest-growing regions. Hong Kong is also a global leader in asset and wealth management, providing huge opportunities for European firms in the industry.

    Climate action is another area of promising collaboration. Hong Kong is firmly committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. But more than that, we are keen to work with the EU to contribute to global decarbonisation, in such areas as technology partnership, green finance, climate risk disclosures and green taxonomies.

    As Ambassador Rouse noted just now, the annual Green Way conference on sustainability, organised by the EU Office in Hong Kong, advances dialogue and co-operation. And we are happy to explore more partnerships with you in this connection.

    Beyond business and finance, we continue to treasure and welcome cultural co-operation. This includes longstanding partnerships in cultural exchange, like the annual French May Arts Festival, which is now on. Italy, let me add, is this year’s country partner for Business of Design Week.

    And, I’m glad to hear more good news: the first Europe Day Festival in Hong Kong will take place this Saturday at PMQ. The family-focused event will feature live performances. Plus plenty of fine food and drinks, dance workshops and all the cultural richness and diversity that the EU’s 27 member states offer. For that, and so much more, my thanks to the EU Office and all the EU member state Consulates General.

    Ladies and gentlemen, the opportunities for deeper co-operation between Hong Kong and the EU are long-term and far-reaching. Let us work together to seize that promise for our economies and our peoples.

    May our longstanding ties continue to flourish. Thank you very much.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: DHSC appoints business leaders to manage strategic suppliers

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    News story

    DHSC appoints business leaders to manage strategic suppliers

    Four experienced executive business leaders have been appointed to strengthen partnerships with strategic suppliers to health.

    Four experienced executive business leaders have been appointed to strengthen partnerships with strategic suppliers to health.

    The four Health Crown Representatives will support the implementation of a new National Strategic Supplier Relationship Management (SSRM) programme, with 15 strategic suppliers.

    The National SSRM programme is a joint undertaking between DHSC, NHS England and Cabinet Office and aims to use the NHS’s significant scale and influence to strengthen partnerships with the most strategic suppliers to deliver additional value and unlock opportunities.

    This programme represents a shift in the collaboration with suppliers across health organisations and supports the government’s mission objectives in healthcare and economic growth.

    Health Minister Karin Smyth said:

    “Our healthcare system can’t function without its suppliers. They play critical role in driving innovation, ensuring better value for taxpayers and putting more money in people’s pockets through long-term growth. The new Health Crown Representatives bring a wealth of experience from the private sector to the table, and they will help us work with our strategic suppliers in the best way.

    “As we bring forward our 10-year health plan, aligning the government’s objectives with our suppliers’ capabilities and innovations will be crucial to deliver the NHS fit for the future that we all want to see.”

    Building on the success of Crown Representatives across government, four part-time dedicated Health Crown Representatives have been recruited to work directly with the health strategic suppliers. Crown Representatives act as a conduit between government and the most strategic suppliers, supporting with challenges, opportunities and risks.

    The four new Health Crown Representatives are:

    Deb Steane

    Deb is an accomplished executive with 27 years of leadership experience in the MedTech sector at Johnson & Johnson, where she held a range of executive, statutory director, and board-level roles. She has led a global drug-device business, driving commercial growth across international markets while spearheading global supply chain strategies to support business expansion and ensure operational resilience. Deb has also worked closely with healthcare systems and suppliers to foster innovation, developing new services and solutions that add value across the healthcare ecosystem.

    A passionate advocate for the UK Life Sciences sector, Deb has led government-backed initiatives focused on skills development and apprenticeships and played a key role in securing investments in UK manufacturing and R&D. She also served for seven years as a trustee director of a major UK pension fund. Before her corporate career, Deb spent 10 years in the NHS as a medical microbiologist, working as part of the Pathology team at Bradford Royal Infirmary.

    Keith Nurcombe

    Keith has had a 30-year executive career in healthcare. He has played a key role in supporting and delivering NHS services, including founding Doctorlink in 2016 to enhance primary care. Specialising in digital transformation, Keith has led initiatives such as the roll-out of Shared Care Record systems and, more recently, Electronic Patient Record (EPR) programs within the NHS.

    He serves as a non-executive director for Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Trust, Humber Teaching Hospital NHS, and WM5G, part of the Combined Authority in the West Midlands. He is also the chair of The Avalon Group, which supports individuals with learning disabilities across Yorkshire and the North. More recently, he was appointed chair of Derbyshire Health United, a Community Interest Company (CIC) that delivers 111 and urgent and emergency care (UEC) services across the Midlands and Home Counties on behalf of the NHS.

    Oliver Cofler

    With an engineering background, Oliver began his career in manufacturing before moving into consultancy with PwC, where he worked across manufacturing, IT, and supply chain. In 2003, he joined Cadbury Schweppes, taking on various supply chain leadership roles across Europe before becoming Supply Chain Director for the UK, Ireland, and Nordics.

    He later held senior operational leadership positions at Alliance Healthcare and Millbrook Healthcare and has served in non-executive roles, including at the British Healthcare Trade Association and as Chair of the Bath and Wells Multi Academy Schools Trust. Oliver is currently a non-executive director at South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust.

    Paul Richards

    Paul has built a successful career in international healthcare, bringing extensive experience in global board leadership, strategic partnerships, and commercial initiatives with both suppliers and customers. He has led businesses across healthcare, life sciences, health technology, and digital transformation, driving innovation and sustainable growth. Skilled in product and service development, Paul has played a key role in fostering international adoption and forging long term partnerships across industries, sectors, and geographies.

    He serves as a non-executive director and senior independent director at Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, providing strategic guidance to improve outcomes. He also chairs the One Devon NHS EPR Implementation Board, leading collaboration across three NHS Trusts to advance digital transformation. Beyond healthcare, Paul is the Chair of the Board of Trustees for a charity dedicated to supporting victims of domestic abuse.

    15 strategic suppliers

    Following a comprehensive process to identify the most strategic suppliers to health, the NHS, DHSC and wider Health Family will work collaboratively with the 15 strategic suppliers to develop joint strategies that will deliver additional value, unlock opportunities and manage risks.

    The 15 strategic suppliers included in the programme are:

    • Abbott
    • AstraZeneca
    • Circle Health Group
    • GSK
    • ISS*
    • Johnson & Johnson
    • Olympus Keymed
    • Optum (formerly EMIS)
    • Medtronic
    • Pfizer
    • Roche
    • Sandoz
    • Sodexo*
    • Spire Healthcare
    • Teva

    *ISS and Sodexo will retain their Cabinet Office Crown Representatives but are also strategic to health

    Background on Cabinet Office Crown Representatives programme 

    The Cabinet Office introduced the ‘Crown Representative’ network to act as a focal point for particular groups of providers looking to supply to the public sector.

    Crown Representatives help the government to act as a single customer. They work across departments to:

    · ensure a single and strategic view of the government’s needs is communicated to the market.

    · identify areas for cost savings.

    · act as a point of focus for cross-cutting supplier-related issues.

    Find more information about Crown Representatives and the strategic suppliers they work with.

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Deer Lake — Two suspended drivers stopped by RCMP in Cormack and Deer Lake, vehicles seized

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Two suspended drivers, one located in Cormack and the other in Deer Lake, were stopped by RCMP on May 8, 2025. Both vehicles were seized and impounded.

    At approximately 1:15 p.m. on Thursday, while on patrol in Cormack, RCMP Traffic Services West observed a known suspended driver operating a vehicle on the Main Road. The driver attempted to evade police, turning off onto a dirt road. A traffic stop was conducted and the driver, a 35-year-old man, was ticketed for driving while suspended.

    Later in the afternoon, shortly before 3:00 p.m., Deer Lake RCMP stopped a vehicle on Nicholsville Road in Deer Lake. The driver, a 63-year-old man, held a suspended licence. He was ticketed for driving while suspended.

    Driving while suspended is an offence under the Highway Traffic Act. In addition to a minimum fine of $130.00 and the accumulation of two demerit points, the vehicle is seized and impounded for 30 days.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI China: Tensions remain as Pakistan-India flare-ups enter 3rd day

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

    Tensions have remained as flare-ups between Pakistan and India have entered the third day.

    Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry has firmly rejected Indian media reports alleging cross-border attacks originating from Pakistani territory, calling them “baseless, fabricated, and aimed at creating a false pretext for escalation.”

    “The repeated pattern of leveling accusations against Pakistan without any credible investigation reflects a deliberate strategy to manufacture a pretext for aggression and to further destabilize the region,” the ministry said in a statement late on Thursday.

    Separately, Pakistani security sources dismissed claims carried by Indian media alleging drone or missile attacks in the Indian-controlled Kashmir and the downing of a Pakistani F-16 fighter jet.

    “No drone or missile has been launched from Pakistan,” the sources told Xinhua. “These reports are outright fake, politically motivated, and part of a broader campaign of disinformation.”

    In India, the Indian army on Friday released a short video showing a strike hitting a target in Pakistan.

    In the short, low-resolution video, a projectile (apparently a missile) can be seen moving and hitting a structure.

    The army described it as a “befitting reply” to Pakistan’s shelling, but the exact location of the destroyed structure has not been disclosed.

    Meanwhile, authorities in the Indian capital region Delhi on Friday installed and tested air raid sirens.

    According to social media giant X, formerly known as Twitter, the Indian government has asked it to block 8,000 accounts on the social media platform, including those belonging to international news organizations and prominent X users.

    On Wednesday, India launched airstrikes on Pakistani targets to avenge last month’s killing of 26 people by gunmen in Pahalgam town, about 89 km east of Srinagar, the summer capital of the Indian-controlled Kashmir.

    The situation along the Line of Control, dividing Kashmir, has been tense as troops of India and Pakistan deployed on both sides of the ceasefire line were engaged in an exchange of fire and artillery.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Can Trump strip Harvard of its charitable status? Scholars of nonprofit law and accounting describe the obstacles in his way

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Philip Hackney, Professor of Law, University of Pittsburgh

    Getting into Harvard University is hard, and so is getting rid of its charitable status. Scott Eisen/Getty Images

    President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to revoke Harvard University’s tax-exempt status, and some media outlets have reported that the Internal Revenue Service is taking steps in that direction.

    Harvard President Alan Garber says this would be “highly illegal.” Several U.S. senators, all Democrats, have urged the IRS inspector general to see whether the IRS has begun auditing Harvard or any nonprofits in response to his administration’s requests or whether Trump has violated any laws with his pressure campaign.

    The Conversation U.S. asked Philip Hackney, a nonprofit law professor who previously worked in the office of the chief counsel of the IRS, and Brian Mittendorf, an expert on nonprofit accounting, to explain what it would take for the federal government to revoke a university’s tax-exempt status.

    Can Trump order the IRS to strip Harvard of its tax-exempt status?

    No.

    First, the IRS rarely revokes an organization’s charitable tax-exempt status for failure to operate for a charitable purpose.

    Before the IRS can do that, tax law requires that it first audit that charity. And it’s illegal for U.S. presidents or other officials to force the IRS to conduct an audit or stop one that’s already begun. Even doing either of those things indirectly is a crime. The punishment can include fines and imprisonment.

    Congress strengthened constraints on presidential power after Richard Nixon resigned in the midst of the Watergate investigations. At the time, evidence indicated that he had used the IRS as a weapon to punish his perceived political enemies.

    Worried that future presidents or officials might abuse the IRS, a Republican-led Congress later passed Section 7217 of the IRS Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998.

    That provision prohibits presidents and vice presidents, as well as other officials and their staff, from instructing, “directly or indirectly, any officer or employee of the Internal Revenue Service to conduct or terminate an audit or other investigation of any particular taxpayer with respect to the tax liability of such taxpayer.”

    President Richard M. Nixon holds a tax bill he signed into law in 1970, four years before he resigned. Part of his legacy is that it’s now more clearly illegal for presidents to use the IRS as a political weapon.
    Bettmann/Getty Images

    What does it take for a nonprofit’s tax-exempt status to be revoked?

    This can’t happen on a whim. The IRS first has to audit the nonprofit. If it obtains evidence of wrongdoing – and a court upholds that finding – the IRS can proceed.

    The government has to find that the nonprofit’s operations have a “substantial nonexempt purpose.” That’s because these tax exemptions are provided only to organizations that are organized and operated primarily for charitable purposes, such as education, religion or scientific research.

    Any audit of Harvard would involve a large team of IRS agents familiar with higher education, which would work on this probe for months. The process could take years.

    If, after completing that audit, that team were to determine that Harvard violated the rules, the IRS would have to send Harvard a proposed revocation letter. Harvard then would have 30 days to file an appeal with the IRS. Were the IRS to propose such a revocation, we would be shocked if Harvard didn’t take that step.

    If the IRS Office of Appeals were to uphold the revocation, the IRS would send a revocation letter to Harvard. But Harvard would have the right to challenge that official revocation in court under Section 7428 of the tax code.

    How often does this happen?

    Very rarely. Almost never for private schools. The only legal precedent the Trump administration could perhaps invoke is Bob Jones University v. United States.

    That litigation got underway in the 1970s after the IRS had, following years of civil rights litigation, stopped allowing private schools to have charitable status if they discriminated on the basis of race.

    That policy put the small Christian university on the spot because it barred the admission of Black students until 1971. At that point, it began to accept Black students but only if they were married to another Black person. The school justified this restriction by voicing its belief that the Bible forbids interracial marriage and dating. In 1970, the IRS had notified the university that it intended to cancel Bob Jones’ tax-exempt status.

    The IRS issued a final revocation in 1976 after determining that Bob Jones University continued to discriminate with the ban on interracial dating and marriage. And in 1983, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the IRS’ action in an 8-1 decision.

    The court’s majority wrote that an institution should be denied charitable status “only where there can be no doubt that the activity involved is contrary to a fundamental public policy.”

    Harvard President Alan Garber responds to Trump’s threats in an interview with The Wall Street Journal.

    What’s the Trump administration’s rationale?

    Many signs indicate the Trump administration would try to use the fundamental policy limitation to revoke Harvard’s status. We’re unaware, though, of what alleged violation of a “fundamental public policy” the IRS might invoke if it were to carry through on Trump’s threat to strip Harvard of its charitable status. The Trump administration has signaled that it might rest its case on Harvard’s diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

    In a related case, a majority found in a 2023 ruling that affirmative action admissions programs violated the Constitution. The case, known as Students for Fair Admissions v. President and Fellows of Harvard College, also considered the University of North Carolina’s policies.

    Harvard subsequently enrolled fewer new Black students, indicating that it had changed its admissions policies. Regardless, there are many precedents finding elements of diversity, equity and inclusion to be activities that do further a charitable purpose.

    We believe the Trump administration would be unlikely to prevail in the courts with an anti-DEI argument should it try to use one to justify stripping Harvard of its tax-exempt status.

    What happens if a big nonprofit loses its charity status?

    Losing nonprofit status can do a lot of damage.

    An organization that loses its status, whether it’s a university like Harvard, a food bank, a homeless shelter or any other kind of charity, is suddenly subject to federal income tax. It also loses the ability to receive tax-deductible gifts from donors who are eligible to make them.

    Because many state and municipal tax breaks are tied to federal tax status, losing tax-exempt status can also lead to local tax penalties. One compelling local tax break afforded to many charities is an exemption from property tax. Universities with large amounts of buildings and land – as Harvard has – would especially feel the pain.

    Without charity status, organizations that rely on grants from local, state and federal government sources, as well as private sources such as other charities, will find many of those sources of funding largely cut off. This is because many grant providers require all recipients to have tax-exempt status.

    The Internal Revenue Manual, which guides IRS agents in carrying out their work, indicates a number of other problems that would arise after revocation. For instance, an agent is required to consider the impact on the organization’s deferred compensation plans and tax-exempt bonds.

    Does the government appear to have a strong case against Harvard?

    There’s been little concrete information about the basis for Harvard losing its status. Most of what we know comes from social media posts and media interviews.

    The Trump administration has attacked Harvard for its efforts to increase its diversity and its response to antisemitism on its campus. In response to concerns about these issues, Harvard has retooled its DEI office and begun to roll out reforms to combat both antisemitism and anti-Muslim bias.

    But it is hard to argue that these issues would be central to Harvard and its educational mission, let alone warrant it losing its tax-exempt status.

    What’s the impact then?

    Given the steep climb it would be to prove that the organization has strayed from its educational mission, and not just taken some actions the White House dislikes, we find it hard to imagine a viable path toward the IRS revoking Harvard’s charitable status.

    That doesn’t mean there will not be any consequences from the administration’s campaign against Harvard.

    The daily onslaught of public attacks coupled with the ongoing legal battles are a drain on Harvard officials’ time and energy.

    The administration has put Harvard and other universities on the defensive in many other ways too. It has cut federal funding for scientific research, sought to revoke international student visas, expressed an interest in reducing federally funded student loans and grants, and floated proposals to increase what is today a small tax on the income some higher education endowments earn.

    If there’s a silver lining for Harvard, we think it’s that Trump’s attacks could spur giving to the nation’s wealthiest university, at least in the short run. Harvard’s supporters stepped up their donations after the administration’s initial efforts to punish Harvard. And giving-as-activism has been a frequent theme in both of Trump’s terms.

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

    – ref. Can Trump strip Harvard of its charitable status? Scholars of nonprofit law and accounting describe the obstacles in his way – https://theconversation.com/can-trump-strip-harvard-of-its-charitable-status-scholars-of-nonprofit-law-and-accounting-describe-the-obstacles-in-his-way-255072

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: I’m a business professor who asked dozens of former students how they define success. Here are their lessons for today’s grads

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Patrick Abouchalache, Lecturer in Strategy and Innovation, Boston University

    As the Class of 2025 graduates into an uncertain and fast-changing working world, they face a crucial question: What does it mean to be successful?

    Is it better to take a job that pays more, or one that’s more prestigious? Should you prioritize advancement, relationship building, community impact or even the opportunity to live somewhere new? Sorting through these questions can feel overwhelming.

    I am a business school professor who spends a lot of time mentoring students and alumni in Generation Z – those born between 1997 and 2012. As part of this effort, I’ve surveyed about 300 former undergraduate students and spoken at length with about 50 of them.

    Through these conversations, I’ve watched them wrestle with the classic conflicts of young adulthood – such as having to balance external rewards like money against internal motivations like wanting to be of service.

    I recently revisited their stories and reflections, and I compiled the most enduring insights to offer to the next generation of graduates.

    Here’s their collective advice to the Class of 2025:

    1. Define what matters most to you

    Success starts with self-reflection. It means setting aside society’s noise and defining your own values.

    When people are driven by internal rewards like curiosity, purpose or pleasure in an activity itself – rather than outside benefits such as money – psychologists say they have “intrinsic motivation.”

    Research shows that people driven by intrinsic motivation tend to display higher levels of performance, persistence and satisfaction. Harvard Business School professor Teresa Amabile’s componential theory further suggests that creativity flourishes when people’s skills align with their strongest intrinsic interests.

    The alternative is to “get caught up in society’s expectations of success,” as one consulting alum put it. She described struggling to choose between a job offer at a Fortune 500 company or one at a lesser-known independent firm. In the end, she chose to go with the smaller business. It was, she stressed, “the right choice for me.” This is crucial advice: Make yourself proud, not others.

    One related principle I share with students is the “Tell your story” rule. If a job doesn’t allow you to tell your story – in other words, if it doesn’t mirror your vision, values, talents and goals – keep looking for a new role.

    2. Strive for balance, not burnout

    A fulfilling life includes time for relationships, health and rest. While many young professionals feel endless pressure to hustle, the most fulfilled alumni I spoke with learned to take steps to protect their personal well-being.

    For example, a banking alum told me that business once dominated his thoughts “24/7.” He continued, “I’m happier now that I make more time for a social life and paying attention to all my relationships – professional, personal, community, and let’s not forget myself.”

    And remember that balance and motivations can change throughout your life. As one alum explained: “Your goals change and therefore your definition of success changes. I think some of the most successful people are always adapting what success means to them – chasing success even if they are already successful.”

    3. Be kind, serve others and maximize your ‘happy circle’

    “Some people believe to have a positive change in the world you must be a CEO or have a ton of money,” another alum told me. “But spreading happiness or joy can happen at any moment, has no cost, and the results are priceless.”

    Many alumni told me that success isn’t just a matter of personal achievement – it’s about giving back to society. That could be through acts of kindness, creativity, innovation, or other ways of improving people’s lives. A retail alum shared advice from her father: “When your circle is happy, you are going to be happy,” she said. “It’s sort of an upward spiral.”

    Your “happy circle” doesn’t need to consist of people you know. An alum who went into the pharmaceutical industry said his work’s true reward was measured in “tens of thousands if not millions of people” in better health thanks to his efforts.

    In fact, your happy circle doesn’t even need to be exclusively human. An alum who works in ranching said he valued the well-being of animals – and their riders – more than money or praise.

    4. Be a good long-term steward of your values

    Success isn’t just about today – it’s what you stand for.

    Several alumni spoke passionately about stewardship: the act of preserving and passing on values, relationships and traditions. This mindset extended beyond family to employees, customers and communities. As one alum who majored in economics put it, success is “leaving a mark on the world and creating a legacy that extends beyond one’s quest for monetary gain.”

    One alum defined success as creating happiness and stability not just for herself, but for her loved ones. Another, who works in hospitality, said he had a duty to further his employees’ ambitions and help them grow and develop – creating a legacy that will outlast any title or paycheck.

    In an analysis by the organizational consulting firm Korn Ferry, Gen Z employees were found to be more prone to burnout when their employers lacked clear values. These findings reinforce what my students already know: Alignment between your values and your work is key to success.

    Final words for the Class of 2025

    To the latest crop of grads, I offer this advice: Wherever life takes you next — a family business or corporate office, Wall Street or Silicon Valley, or somewhere you can’t even imagine now — remember that your career will be long and full of ups and downs.

    You’ll make tough choices. You’ll face pressures. But if you stay grounded, invest in your well-being, celebrate your happy circle and honor your values, you’ll look back one day and see not just a job well done, but a life well lived.

    Bon voyage!

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

    – ref. I’m a business professor who asked dozens of former students how they define success. Here are their lessons for today’s grads – https://theconversation.com/im-a-business-professor-who-asked-dozens-of-former-students-how-they-define-success-here-are-their-lessons-for-todays-grads-256189

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Nitrous oxide recreational use is linked to brain damage and sudden death − but ‘laughing gas’ is still sold all over the US

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Andrew Yockey, Assistant Professor of Public Health, University of Mississippi

    Nitrous oxide is often inhaled with a balloon. Matt Cardy/Getty Images News

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning Americans about the ever-increasing and potentially deadly recreational use of nitrous oxide products, particularly among young people.

    Marketed with names like “Galaxy Gas” and “Miami Magic,” and often sold in steel cartridges known as “whippets,” these products are cheap and readily available at gas stations, convenience stores, smoke shops and major retail outlets, including Walmart. They’re also sold online.

    As an assistant professor of public health who studies these products, I’m aware of how dangerous they can be.

    Recreational and continued use of nitrous oxide can cause a wide range of serious health problems, and in some cases, death.

    A long list of potential harms

    The list of serious side effects from frequent use is long. It includes: cognitive impairment, memory problems, hallucinations, headaches, lightheadedness, mood disturbances, blood clots, limb weakness, trouble walking, peripheral neuropathy, impaired bowel or bladder function, spinal cord degeneration and irreversible brain damage. Vitamin B-12 deficiency is common and can lead to nerve and brain damage.

    Deaths in the U.S. attributed to abuse of nitrous oxide jumped more than 100% between 2019 and 2023; over a five-year period, emergency department visits rose 32%.

    All told, more than 13 million Americans have misused nitrous oxide at least once during their lifetimes. This includes children: In 2024, just over 4% of eighth graders and about 2% of 12th graders said they’ve tried inhalants. Nitrous oxide is among the most abused of these inhalants due to its low cost, easy availability and commercial appeal – one flavor of the gas is named “pink bubble gum.”

    Pure nitrous, inhaled for a quick high, can be lethal.

    Laughing gas parties

    Because of legal loopholes in the Food and Drug Administration Act, nitrous oxide remains unregulated. What’s more, U.S. scientists have done relatively little research on its abuse, partly because the public still perceives the substance as benign, particularly when compared with alcohol.

    The few studies on the use of nitrous oxide are limited mainly to case reports – that is, a report on a single patient. Although limited in scope, they’re alarming.

    More thorough studies are available in the United Kingdom and Europe, where there’s even more demand for the product. One example: Over a 20-year period, 56 people died in England and Wales after recreational use. Typically, deaths occur from hypoxia, which is the lack of oxygen to the brain, or accidents occurring while intoxicated by the gas, such as car wrecks or falls.

    Americans have known about the effects of nitrous oxide for centuries. Before becoming a medicinal aid, nitrous oxide was popular at “laughing gas” parties during the late 1700s.

    Physicians began using it in the U.S. around the mid-19th century after Horace Wells, a dentist, attended a stage show – called “Laughing Gas Entertainment” – and saw the numbing effect that nitrous oxide had on audience volunteers. By coincidence, Wells was having a wisdom tooth removed the next day, so he tried the gas during his procedure. The nitrous oxide worked; Wells said he felt no pain. Thereafter, medicinal use of the gas was gradually accepted.

    Today, nitrous oxide is often used in dentist offices. It’s safe under a doctor’s supervision as a mild sedative that serves as a pain reliever and numbing agent.
    Nitrous oxide also benefits some patients with severe psychiatric disorders, including treatment-resistant depression and bipolar depression. It may also help with anxiety and pain management.

    Bans and restrictions

    No federal age restrictions exist for purchasing nitrous oxide products, although a few states have passed age limits.

    As of May 2025, four U.S. states – Louisiana, Michigan, Alabama and California – have banned the recreational use of nitrous oxide, and more than 30 states are working on legislation to ban or at least restrict sale of the products. In addition, numerous lawsuits filed against the manufacturers are in court.

    Research shows school prevention programs help keep kids from using these products. So does early screening of patients by primary care and mental health physicians. The sooner they can intervene, the more likely that ongoing therapy will work.

    Through appropriate legislation, regulation, education and intervention, nitrous oxide abuse can be slowed or stopped. Otherwise, these products – with their sleek packaging and attractive social media campaigns that obscure their dangers – remain a growing threat to our children.

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

    – ref. Nitrous oxide recreational use is linked to brain damage and sudden death − but ‘laughing gas’ is still sold all over the US – https://theconversation.com/nitrous-oxide-recreational-use-is-linked-to-brain-damage-and-sudden-death-but-laughing-gas-is-still-sold-all-over-the-us-254983

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How William Howard Taft’s approach to government efficiency differed from Elon Musk’s slash-and-burn tactics

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Laura Ellyn Smith, Assistant Teaching Professor of History, Arizona State University

    Elon Musk and his son board Air Force One in West Palm Beach, Fla., on April 13, 2025. Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images

    For four months, the world’s richest man has played an unprecedented role in U.S. government. At the start of his 2025 term, President Donald Trump asked Elon Musk to cut government “waste and fraud.” That translated into the Musk-driven firing of 121,000 federal workers, essentially closing entire government programs and departments.

    Many Americans protested Musk’s work. His unsupervised access to sensitive government materials and unchecked influence over the firing of federal employees represents an unprecedented moment in the United States. An unelected billionaire sought to overhaul the federal government, empowered and legitimized not by Congress but only by the president.

    There are two individuals intrinsic to any presidential effort to restructure government: the president himself and the person he entrusts with the task.

    In 2025, Musk has been the person designated to carry out the president’s aims.

    In 1910, it was Frederick Cleveland, an academic, who was President William H. Taft’s designated head of his effort to streamline government.

    Both presidents, Taft and Trump, have said they wanted to improve how government functioned.

    But while Taft worked with Congress to launch his effort, Trump hasn’t followed that route. And the men each president asked to lead their efforts were vastly different in the responsibility given to them, and different in values as well as temperament.

    Power on Pennsylvania Avenue

    Among the many historic attempts by presidents to streamline federal government, Taft’s administration provides a distinct parallel to an administration attempting to make government more efficient.

    The Taft administration’s early 20th-century equivalent to the Musk-run Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, was called the Commission on Economy and Efficiency.

    Unlike DOGE, created by presidential fiat via an executive order, Taft’s efficiency commission was funded by Congress.

    Taft also delegated the work of this reorganization to trusted Cabinet subordinates, rather than an outsider who was not confirmed by Congress. Other presidents of Taft’s generation would have found it unthinkable to delegate such consequential work to someone outside of the bureaucracy to the extent that Trump has empowered Musk.

    The work of Taft’s commission took place during a time of turmoil for the role and power of the president, as the country itself became more powerful and its governance more complex, calling for increased efficiency through streamlining.

    Studying and streamlining government

    Taft organized his commission in 1910, a year into his presidency. It lasted until his divided party led to his election defeat in 1912.

    The commission’s aims were tied to economy and efficiency – as the commission itself was named. Indeed, Secretary of the Navy George von Lengerke Meyer, one of Taft’s trusted Cabinet members, concisely explained how the “main object was the establishment of a system which would enable the Secretary to administer his office efficiently and economically, with the advice of responsible expert advisers, ensuring continuity of policy for the future.”

    Taft came to the presidency in 1909 with clear concepts of how the nation’s top office needed to become more powerful to meet the growing country’s burgeoning needs.

    The presidency, he believed, also needed to expand its power to meet the modernizing demands of the Progressive Era in early 20th-century America. This era put new demands on government to be responsive to the country’s expanding needs, from grassroots demands by voters for greater government activism to professionals seeking more efficient support for their businesses from the government.

    Taft was critically aware of existing inefficiency, with bureaucratic work overlapping at expense to the government, without any clear mandate, job description or hierarchy. The vision of the commission is clear in a diagram for the War Department that sought to streamline the bureaucracy, conglomerating the existing 18 divisions into eight.

    A chart of the Taft commission’s proposed streamlining of what was then called the ‘War Department.’
    archive.org

    The Commission on Economy and Efficiency focused on providing solutions for this clearly defined problem of government inefficiency. At the time of Taft’s final message to Congress in 1913, the commission had submitted 85 reports to Taft encouraging the reorganization of executive departments, including new and specifically defined roles for government employees.

    One of the reports from Taft’s commission, which he delivered to Congress.
    Google Books

    Long-term, targeted changes

    Unlike the radical unilateral actions taken by DOGE, the Taft commission recommended action to Congress for the long term, while making more targeted changes to the executive bureaucracy behind the scenes.

    Despite Taft’s pleas stressing the need to sustain these changes beyond his tenure, Congress was tired of the empowerment of the executive by Republican presidents Theodore Roosevelt, followed by Taft, and had no incentive to support reorganization.

    This is in direct contrast to Trump and Musk’s less substantiated concerns over “fraud and abuse” or ongoing vague concerns over the size and cost of the federal government. That phrasing may inspire more consensus over the problem, but not necessarily the solution.

    President William Howard Taft at a desk in the Oval Office in 1909.
    Corbis Historical/Getty Images

    Empowering the executive

    Taft’s choice to head his commission, Frederick Cleveland, was a kindred spirit who believed in a strengthened presidency. Cleveland was an academic with past affiliations with the University of Pennsylvania and New York University. Congress accepted Cleveland’s nomination, seeing him as a pioneer in the realm of public administration.

    Cleveland fit the Progressive Era’s mantra of employing experts. As a professional but not a member of the wealthy elite, and having been considered by Congress, Cleveland represents a clear distinction from Musk, who appears to have little understanding of what an average American may need from an operative federal bureaucracy.

    Cleveland reflected the Taft administration’s approach of wanting to remold the government without animosity toward federal workers specifically or the government more broadly. He embraced the Progressive Era ethos in seeking to rectify inefficiency.

    Streamlining did not equate to big cuts. The priority remained ensuring the American government could meet the increased demands of the new century.

    Similar to DOGE, the White House was the command center for the Commission on Economy and Efficiency. That enabled Taft to manage reorganization of the executive branch from the Oval Office.

    Not all of the modernizing and streamlining of the federal government would come at the behest of Taft’s commission.

    Impatient to implement change while awaiting the commission’s reports, and with the commission hampered by a decrease in congressional funding in 1912, Taft had immediately sought improvement within his own administration.

    But when the commission’s reports were finally available, Taft was in the unfortunate position of being a lame duck and could do little besides emphasize the need for further action.

    While limited in the short term, the commission’s reports were later credited for major changes: “Although the report fell on deaf ears in Congress, it would become an essential roadmap for the budget reforms of 1921. The Budget and Accounting Act of 1921 addressed and mirrored the concerns and proposals of the Commission’s Report,” as described by the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation.

    Unlike DOGE, the approach of Taft and his commission focused on streamlining rather than gutting federal bureaucracy.

    That approach was reflective of an era when experts were revered and sought after rather than maligned. As an experienced bureaucrat, Taft characteristically directed that the problem of government inefficiency be studied. This secured his legacy, as his agenda was eventually put into practice and embraced, proving his reflective approach to be ahead of its time.

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

    – ref. How William Howard Taft’s approach to government efficiency differed from Elon Musk’s slash-and-burn tactics – https://theconversation.com/how-william-howard-tafts-approach-to-government-efficiency-differed-from-elon-musks-slash-and-burn-tactics-249891

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Science requires ethical oversight – without federal dollars, society’s health and safety are at risk

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Christine Coughlin, Professor of Law, Wake Forest University

    Brain organoids, pictured here, raise both many medical possibilities and ethical questions. NIAID/Flickr, CC BY-SA

    As the Trump administration continues to make significant cuts to NIH budgets and personnel and to freeze billions of dollars of funding to major research universities – citing ideological concerns – there’s more being threatened than just progress in science and medicine. Something valuable but often overlooked is also being hit hard: preventing research abuse.

    The National Institutes of Health has been the world’s largest public funder of biomedical research. Its support helps translate basic science into biomedical therapies and technologies, providing funding for nearly all treatments approved by the Food and Drug Administration from 2010 to 2019. This enables the U.S. to lead global research while maintaining transparency and preventing research misconduct.

    While the legality of directives to shrink the NIH is unclear, the Trump administration’s actions have already led to suspended clinical trials, institutional hiring freezes and layoffs, rescinded graduate student admissions, and canceled federal grant review meetings. Researchers at affected universities say that funding will delay or possibly eliminate ongoing studies on critical conditions like cancer and Alzheimer’s.

    The Trump administration has deeply culled U.S. science across agencies and institutions.

    It is clear to us, as legal and bioethics scholars whose research often focuses on the ethical, legal and social implications of emerging biotechnologies, that these directives will have profoundly negative consequences for medical research and human health, with ripple effects that will last decades. Our scholarship demonstrates that in order to contribute to knowledge and, ultimately, to biomedical treatments, medical research at every stage depends on significant infrastructure support and ethical oversight.

    Our recent focus on brain organoid research – 3D lab models grown from human stem cells that simulate brain structure and function – shows how federal support for research is key to not only promote innovation, but to protect participants and future patients.

    History of NIH and research ethics

    The National Institutes of Health began as a one-room laboratory within the Marine Hospital Service in 1887. After World War I, chemists involved in the war effort sought to apply their knowledge to medicine. They partnered with Louisiana Sen. Joseph E. Ransdell who, motivated by the devastation of malaria, yellow fever and the 1928 influenza pandemic, introduced federal legislation to support basic research and fund fellowships focusing on solving medical problems.

    By World War II, biomedical advances like surgical techniques and antibiotics had proved vital on the battlefield. Survival rates increased from 4% during World War I to 50% in World War II. Congress passed the 1944 Public Health Services Act to expand NIH’s authority to fund biomedical research at public and private institutions. President Franklin D. Roosevelt called it “as sound an investment as any Government can make; the dividends are payable in human life and health.”

    As science advanced, so did the need for guardrails. After World War II, among the top Nazi leaders prosecuted for war crimes were physicians who conducted experiments on people without consent, such as exposure to hypothermia and infectious disease. The verdicts of these Doctors’ Trials included 10 points about ethical human research that became the Nuremberg Code, emphasizing voluntary consent to participation, societal benefit as the goal of human research, and significant limitations on permissible risks of harm. The World Medical Association established complementary international guidelines for physician-researchers in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki.

    At least 100 participants died in the Tuskegee Untreated Syphilis Study.
    National Archives

    In the 1970s, information about the Tuskegee study – a deceptive and unethical 40-year study of untreated syphilis in Black men – came to light. The researchers told study participants they would be given treatment but did not give them medication. They also prevented participants from accessing a cure when it became available in order to study the disease as it progressed. The men enrolled in the study experienced significant health problems, including blindness, mental impairment and death.

    The public outrage that followed starkly demonstrated that the U.S. couldn’t simply rely on international guidelines but needed federal standards on research ethics. As a result, the National Research Act of 1974 led to the Belmont Report, which identified ethical principles essential to human research: respect for persons, beneficence and justice.

    Federal regulations reinforced these principles by requiring all federally funded research to comply with rigorous ethical standards for human research. By prohibiting financial conflicts of interest and by implementing an independent ethics review process, new policies helped ensure that federally supported research has scientific and social value, is scientifically valid, fairly selects and adequately protects participants.

    These standards and recommendations guide both federally and nonfederally funded research today. The breadth of NIH’s mandate and budget has provided not only the essential structure for research oversight, but also key resources for ethics consultation and advice.

    Brain organoids and the need for ethical inquiry

    Biomedical research on cell and animal models requires extensive ethics oversight systems that complement those for human research. Our research on the ethical and policy issues of human brain organoid research provides a good example of the complexities of biomedical research and the infrastructure and oversight mechanisms necessary to support it.

    Organoid research is increasing in importance, as the FDA wants to expand its use as an alternative to using animals to test new drugs before administering them to humans. Because these models can simulate brain structure and function, brain organoid research is integral to developing and testing potential treatments for brain diseases and conditions like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and cancer. Brain organoids are also useful for personalized and regenerative medicine, artificial intelligence, brain-computer interfaces and other biotechnologies.

    Brain organoids are built on knowledge about the fundamentals of biology that was developed primarily in universities receiving federal funding. Organoid technology began in 1907 with research on sponge cells, and continued in the 1980s with advances in stem cell research. Since researchers generated the first human organoid in 2009, the field has rapidly expanded.

    Brain organoids have come a long way since their beginnings over a century ago.
    Madeline Andrews, Arnold Kriegstein’s lab, UCSF, CC BY-ND

    These advances were only possible through federally supported research infrastructure, which helps ensure the quality of all biomedical research. Indirect costs cover operational expenses necessary to maintain research safety and ethics, including utilities, administrative support, biohazard handling and regulatory compliance. In these ways, federally supported research infrastructure protects and promotes the scientific and ethical value of biotechnologies like brain organoids.

    Brain organoid research requires significant scientific and ethical inquiry to safely reach its future potential. It raises potential moral and legal questions about donor consent, the extent to which organoids should be grown and how they should be disposed, and consciousness and personhood. As science progresses, infrastructure for oversight can help ensure these ethical and societal issues are addressed.

    New frontiers in scientific research

    Since World War II, there has been bipartisan support for scientific innovation, in part because it is an economic and national security imperative. As Harvard University President Alan Garber recently wrote, “[n]ew frontiers beckon us with the prospect of life-changing advances. … For the government to retreat from these partnerships now risks not only the health and well-being of millions of individuals but also the economic security and vitality of our nation.”

    Cuts to research overhead may seem like easy savings, but it fails to account for the infrastructure that provides essential support for scientific innovation. The investment the NIH has put into academic research is significantly paid forward, adding nearly US$95 billion to local economies in fiscal year 2024, or $2.46 for every $1 of grant funding. NIH funding had also supported over 407,700 jobs that year.

    President Donald Trump pledged to “unleash the power of American innovation” to battle brain-based diseases when he accepted his second Republican nomination for president. Around 6.7 million Americans live with Alzheimer’s, and over a million more suffer from Parkinson’s. Hundreds of thousands of Americans are diagnosed with aggressive brain cancers each year, and 20% of the population experiences varying forms of mental illness at any one time. These numbers are expected to grow considerably, possibly doubling by 2050.

    Organoid research is just one of the essential components in the process of learning about the brain and using that knowledge to find better treatment for diseases affecting the brain.

    Science benefits society only if it is rigorous, ethically conducted and fairly funded. Current NIH policy directives and steep cuts to the agency’s size and budget, along with attacks on universities, undermine globally shared goals of increasing understanding and improving human health.

    The federal system of overseeing and funding biomedical science may need a scalpel, but to defund efforts based on “efficiency” is to wield a chainsaw.

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

    – ref. Science requires ethical oversight – without federal dollars, society’s health and safety are at risk – https://theconversation.com/science-requires-ethical-oversight-without-federal-dollars-societys-health-and-safety-are-at-risk-252794

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Security: MEMBERS OF A LOCAL DRUG TRAFFICKING CONSPIRACY SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Acting United States Attorney April M. Leon announced the sentencing of five individuals by U.S. Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick in connection with an extensive federal, state, and local investigation by the Middle District Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) aimed at a large-scale cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine trafficking network based in Iberville Parish.

    Barold Raven, age 47, of St. Gabriel, Louisiana, was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment in federal prison following his conviction for conspiracy to distribute heroin and cocaine, possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and cocaine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The Court further sentenced Raven to serve five years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.

    Dedrick Ambeau, age 44, of St. Gabriel, Louisiana, was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment in federal prison following his conviction for conspiracy to distribute heroin and cocaine, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and distribution of heroin. The Court further sentenced Ambeau to serve three years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.

    Jake Henry Gordon III, age 46, of Greenwell Springs, Louisiana, was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment in federal prison following his conviction for conspiracy to distribute heroin, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The Court further sentenced Gordon to serve three years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.

    Leo Sternfels, age 65, of Gonzales, Louisiana, was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day imprisonment in federal prison following his conviction for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine. The Court further sentenced Sternfels to serve three years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.

    In a separate, but related case, Charles J. Alexander, Jr., age 40, of St. Gabriel, Louisiana, was sentenced to 180 months imprisonment in federal prison following his conviction for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession of firearms by a convicted felon. The Court further sentenced Alexander to serve 3 years of supervised release following his term of imprisonment.

    Through their pleas, the defendants admitted involvement in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine between February 2019 and October 2019.  During that time, the defendants worked in concert with each other to distribute drugs throughout Iberville, Ascension, East Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana parishes.

    This investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Iberville Parish Sheriff’s Office, Gonzales Police Department, East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office, Baton Rouge Police Department, and Louisiana State Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William K. Morris.

    This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation.  OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.  Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Inuvo Posts Record Q1 2025 Revenue of $26.7M, up 57% Year-Over-Year

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LITTLE ROCK, Ark., May 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Inuvo, Inc. (NYSE American: INUV), a leading provider of artificial intelligence AdTech solutions, today provided a business update and announced its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025.

    First Quarter 2025 Financial Highlights:

    • Revenue was a record $26.7 million; a 57% increase compared to $17.0 million in Q1. 2024; highest revenue in the Company’s history.
    • Gross profit increased 41% to $21.1 million, compared to $14.9 million in Q1 2024.
    • Net loss per share was $0.01 compared to $0.02 in the prior year.  
    • Adjusted EBITDA loss was $22 thousand, compared to a loss of $1.0 million for Q1 2024.

    First Quarter 2025 Operational Highlights:

    • The company launched the enhanced IntentKey Self-Serve Platform, an advanced AI agent for audience discovery and targeting.
    • The company added 20 new IntentKey clients and now has 15 self-service clients. 
    • The company introduced IntentKey zip code-level audience insights and targeting.
    • The company materially grew both Platform and the Agencies & Brands product lines. 

    Richard Howe, CEO of Inuvo, stated, “I’m thrilled to announce another record quarter, our second consecutive, with 57% year-over-year growth driven by both product lines. As Q1 is typically our weakest quarter, this strong performance sets a positive tone for the year ahead.” Mr. Howe added, “Our Platform product is benefiting from technology and service enhancements initiated in late 2023, while Agencies & Brands are thriving with enhanced capabilities that enable marketers to quickly identify and target virtually any audience they can conceive, in minutes.”

    Financial Results for the First Quarter Ended March 31,2025

    Net revenue for the first quarter of 2025 totaled $26.7 million, compared to $17.0 million for the same period last year. The increase in revenue for the three-month period ended March 31, 2025, compared to the same period in the prior year came from a 61% increase within Platforms and a 31% increase within Agencies & Brands.

    Cost of revenue for the first quarter of 2025 totaled $5.6 million, compared to $2.1 million for the same period last year. The increase in the cost of revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2025, as compared to the same period last year, was related to higher Platform revenue and the introduction of a new product.

    Gross profit for the three months ended March 31, 2025, totaled $21.1 million as compared to $14.9 million for the same period last year. Gross profit margin for the three months ended March 31, 2025, was 79% as compared to 87.7% for the same period last year. The lower gross margin was due to changes in product mix.

    Operating expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2025, totaled $22.9 million compared to $17 million for the same period last year. Operating expenses are composed of marketing costs, compensation and general & administrative expenses. For the three-months ended March 31, 2025, all three categories of operating expense increased year-over-year.

    Marketing costs increased due to the higher expenses associated with Platform revenue growth. Compensation expense was higher due primarily to a one-time accrual of an employee benefit of $335,000 and to higher incentive accrual. General and administrative expense was $1.1 million higher year-over-year primarily due to a reduction of the allowance for expected credit losses last year.

    Finance expense, net of interest income, for the three months ended March 31, 2025, was $28 thousand compared to $20 thousand in the same quarter last year. Finance expense this year included $77 thousand of interest income from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for a delayed employee retention credit.

    Other income was approximately $541 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2025 in comparison with $0 for the same quarter in 2024. In March 2025, the Company received a payment from the IRS totaling $610 thousand in connection with an employee retention credit filed in 2023. Of the total payment, $533 thousand was recognized in other Income.

    Net loss for the first quarter of 2025 was $1.3 million, or $0.01 per basic and diluted share, as compared to net loss of $2.1 million, or $0.02 per basic and diluted share, for the same period last year.

    Adjusted EBITDA [see reconciliation table below] was near break-even at a loss of approximately $22 thousand in the first quarter of 2025 compared to a loss of approximately $1.0 million for the same period last year.

    Liquidity and Capital Resources:

    On March 31, 2025, Inuvo had $2.6 million in cash and cash equivalents, an unused working capital facility of $10.0 million and no debt.

    As of May 2, 2025, Inuvo had 144,253,434 common shares issued and outstanding.

    Conference Call Details: 

    Date: Friday, May 9, 2025
    Time: 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time
    Toll-free Dial-in Number: 1-800-717-1738
    International Dial-in Number: 1- 646-307-1865
    Conference ID: 11109974
    Webcast Link: HERE

    A telephone replay will be available through Friday, May 23, 2025. To access the replay, please dial 1- 844-512-2921 (domestic) or 1- 412-317-6671 (international). At the system prompt, please enter the code 11109974 followed by the # sign. You will then be prompted for your name, company, and phone number. Playback will then automatically begin.

    About Inuvo
    Inuvo®, Inc. (NYSE American: INUV) is a market leader in Artificial Intelligence built for advertising. Its IntentKey® AI solution is a first-of-its-kind proprietary and patented technology capable of identifying and actioning to the reasons why consumers are interested in products, services, or brands, not who those consumers are. To learn more, visit www.inuvo.com.

    Safe Harbor / Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding Inuvo’s quarter-end financial close process and preparation of financial statements for the quarter that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause results to be materially different than expectations. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including, without limitation risks detailed from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), and represent our views only as of the date they are made and should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any subsequent date. You are urged to carefully review and consider any cautionary statements and other disclosures, including the statements made under the heading “Risk Factors” in Inuvo, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 as filed on February 27, 2025, and our other filings with the SEC.  Additionally, forward looking statements are subject to certain risks, trends, and uncertainties including the continued impact of Covid-19 on Inuvo’s business and operations. Inuvo cannot provide assurances that the assumptions upon which these forward-looking statements are based will prove to have been correct. Should one of these risks materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements, and investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are current only as of this date. Inuvo does not intend to update or revise any forward-looking statements made herein or any other forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Inuvo further expressly disclaims any written or oral statements made by a third party regarding the subject matter of this press release. The information which appears on our websites and our social media platforms is not part of this press release.

    Inuvo Company Contact:
    Wally Ruiz
    Chief Financial Officer
    Tel (501) 205-8397
    wallace.ruiz@inuvo.com 

    (Tables follow)

    INUVO, INC.
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
        Three Months Ended
        March 31   March 31
          2025       2024  
    Net revenue   $ 26,708,032     $ 17,023,777  
    Cost of revenue     5,620,941       2,099,042  
    Gross profit     21,087,091       14,924,735  
    Operating expenses:        
    Marketing costs     17,512,994       13,102,644  
    Compensation     3,599,321       3,224,859  
    General and administrative     1,744,563       688,510  
    Total operating expenses     22,856,878       17,016,013  
    Operating loss     (1,769,787 )     (2,091,278 )
    Interest expense, net     27,929       20,380  
    Other income     (540,571 )     –  
    Income tax expense     2,676       –  
    Net loss   $                (1,259,821 )   $                (2,111,658 )
    Other comprehensive income:        
    Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities     –       –  
    Comprehensive income (loss)   $                (1,259,821 )   $                (2,111,658 )
                 
    Net loss per share, basic and diluted   ($ 0.01 )   ($ 0.02 )
    Weighted average shares outstanding:        
    Basic     142,719,274       138,789,669  
    Diluted     142,719,274       138,789,669  
                     
    INUVO, INC.  
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS  
               
               
        March 31   December 31  
          2025     2024  
    Assets          
               
    Cash and cash equivalent   $ 2,561,993   $ 2,459,245  
    Accounts receivable, net     12,022,440     12,545,771  
    Prepaid expenses and other current assets     738,995     639,805  
    Total current assets     15,323,428     15,644,821  
               
    Property and equipment, net     1,793,966     1,792,903  
               
    Goodwill     9,853,342     9,853,342  
    Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization     3,777,499     3,897,875  
    Other assets     943,956     1,006,990  
               
    Total assets   $ 31,692,191   $ 32,195,931  
               
    Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity          
               
    Current liabilities          
    Accounts payable   $ 7,257,005   $ 8,422,351  
    Accrued expenses and other current liabilities     10,221,581     9,463,537  
    Total current liabilities     17,478,586     17,885,888  
               
    Long-term liabilities     766,891     835,271  
               
    Total stockholders’ equity     13,446,714     13,474,772  
    Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity   $ 31,692,191   $ 32,195,931  
    RECONCILIATION OF NET LOSS TO ADJUSTED EBITDA
    (unaudited)
             
        Three Months Ended
        March 31   March 31
          2025       2024  
    Net loss   $                              (1,259,821 )   $                              (2,111,658 )
    Interest expense, net     27,929       20,380  
    Income tax expense     2,676       –  
    Depreciation and amortization                                        568,042                                          673,203  
    EBITDA     (661,174 )     (1,418,075 )
    Stock-based compensation     304,284       396,312  
    Non recurring items:        
    Employee Benefit     335,000       –  
    Adjusted EBITDA   $                                    (21,890 )   $                              (1,021,763 )
                     

    Reconciliation of Net Loss to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA 

    We present EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA as a supplemental measure of our performance. We defined EBITDA as Net loss plus (i) interest expense, (ii) depreciation, and (iii) amortization. We further define Adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA plus (iv) stock-based compensation and (v) certain identified expenses that are not expected to recur or be representative of future ongoing operation of the business. These adjustments are itemized above. You are encouraged to evaluate these adjustments and the reasons we consider them appropriate for supplemental analysis. In evaluating EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, you should be aware that in the future we may incur expenses that are the same or similar to some of the adjustments in the presentation. Our presentation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as an inference that our future results will be unaffected by unusual or non-recurring items.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Best Sugar Baby Websites [2025] Top Sugar Daddy Sites for Sugar Babies And Sugar Daddies to Meet!

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Las Vegas, Nevada, May 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Find the best sugar baby websites and top-rated sugar daddy sites trusted by millions of attractive sugar babies and affluent sugar daddies to connect safely, chat instantly, and meet on your terms.

    Las Vegas, Nevada, May 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) – Sugar dating is becoming more mainstream and sophisticated than ever before. More young women and ambitious individuals are turning to sugar baby websites to build meaningful, mutually beneficial relationships with generous benefactors. These platforms, ranging from full-featured websites to mobile-friendly sugar baby apps, make it easier to find compatibility, luxury, and opportunity all in one.

    ⇒ Why Wait? Trusted, safe, and elegant – the best sugar baby site awaits!

    Whether you’re new to the scene or looking for better options, knowing which sugar baby websites are trustworthy and effective can make all the difference. In this guide, we explore how to identify the best platforms, what features to look for, and why even free sugar baby sites can sometimes offer surprising value.

    Among all the platforms available, SugarDaddy.com stands out as the best sugar daddy website with free access, offering unmatched features, verified profiles, and a safe space for sugar babies and sugar daddies alike.

    ⇒ Don’t miss your chance to meet real sugar daddies and babies – join free now!

    What Are Sugar Baby Websites?

    Sugar baby websites are online platforms where younger individuals, often college students, entrepreneurs, or lifestyle seekers, connect with financially successful and often older partners, commonly referred to as sugar daddies or sugar mommies.

    These relationships are built on open communication and mutual benefit, which may include financial support, mentorship, travel, and luxury experiences in exchange for companionship, attention, or emotional connection.

    Unlike typical dating platforms, sugar baby sites are designed with these unique expectations in mind, offering more structured and transparent arrangements.

    ⇒ Get VIP access to the best free sugar baby site – sign up now!

    Why Sugar Baby Sites Are More Popular Than Ever

    Sugar dating isn’t new, but in 2025 it’s more normalized than ever. Here’s why more sugar babies and benefactors are turning to sugar baby websites:

    • Economic Pressures: With rising tuition and living costs, many young adults are turning to sugar dating to support their goals.
    • Empowerment: Sugar babies have more control over the kind of relationships they want, setting their terms from the start.
    • Convenience: Modern sugar baby sites offer safe, fast, and discreet ways to meet high-quality matches online.

    ⇒ Your sugar daddy is waiting – join the best sugar baby site today!

    What Makes the Best Sugar Baby Websites?

    With dozens of platforms out there, it’s crucial to distinguish between reputable sugar baby websites and low-quality or scammy ones. Here are the most important features to look for:

    1. User Verification

    The best sugar baby sites require ID or photo verification to ensure all users are real. This reduces fake profiles and improves trust.

    2. Safety & Privacy Tools

    Reliable sugar baby websites offer profile visibility settings, anonymous browsing, and tools to block or report users.

    ⇒ Start dating successful partners on the best free sugar baby website today!

    3. Advanced Matching Algorithms

    Modern platforms use intelligent match-making based on preferences, arrangement types, age, income, and lifestyle compatibility.

    4. Free Signup Options

    Some of the top free sugar baby websites and sugar daddy websites offer valuable features even without a paid membership. Look for platforms that allow browsing, messaging, or profile visibility for free users.

    5. Mobile Accessibility

    With mobile-first dating on the rise, the best sugar baby websites are responsive or offer dedicated apps for both iOS and Android.

    ⇒ Join the hottest sugar baby website of 2025 – it’s free and easy!

    The Role of Free Sugar Baby Websites and Apps

    A growing number of platforms now offer free sugar baby websites, which allow users to create accounts, browse profiles, and sometimes even message potential matches without paying.

    However, not all free sugar baby sites deliver quality. The best platforms offer a freemium model—free access to essential features with optional upgrades for premium tools.

    SugarDaddy.com offers one of the best free options on the market, giving new sugar babies an excellent opportunity to get started without financial commitment.

    ⇒ Discover premium sugar dating without premium costs – join free now!

    SugarDaddy.com: The Best Sugar Baby Website in 2025

    Among all sugar baby sites in 2025, SugarDaddy.com takes the crown. With a loyal user base, top-tier features, and a reputation for excellence, it’s no surprise that this site continues to lead the industry.

    What Makes SugarDaddy.com the Best Sugar Baby Site?

    Verified Profiles Only

    All users go through a verification process, ensuring sugar babies and daddies are who they say they are.

    Real Connections, Not Scams

    SugarDaddy.com has powerful anti-fraud systems in place to detect suspicious behavior and fake profiles.

    ⇒ Free to join, easy to connect – Try sugardaddy.com today!

    Elite User Base

    The platform attracts serious benefactors and high-quality sugar babies. Many members are professionals, entrepreneurs, and influencers looking for real, respectful relationships.

    Powerful Search and Match Tools

    You can filter by income, age, appearance, location, lifestyle goals, and more to find the perfect match.

    Free Sugar Baby Website Access

    While premium features are available, SugarDaddy.com gives new users free access to create a profile, explore members, and begin connecting.

    Excellent Mobile Experience

    The mobile version of SugarDaddy.com functions like a smooth sugar baby app, ideal for users on the go.

    ⇒ Trusted by millions, sugardaddy.com is the #1 sugar baby site!

    Safety Tips for Sugar Baby Sites and Apps

    Even on trustworthy sugar baby websites like SugarDaddy.com, it’s essential to prioritize your safety:

    • Don’t Share Personal Info Too Soon
    • Always Meet in Public for the First Time
    • Use the Site’s Messaging System
    • Report Suspicious Users
    • Block Users Who Make You Uncomfortable

    SugarDaddy.com makes it easy to report or block anyone, giving you full control over your interactions.

    ⇒ Want the best sugar dating experience? Try sugardaddy.com today!

    How to Succeed on Sugar Baby Sites

    If you want to stand out and make the most of your sugar dating experience, follow these tips when using sugar baby websites:

    Optimize Your Profile

    Use high-quality photos and write a compelling, honest bio. Show off your personality and clearly state your expectations.

    Be Upfront About Your Goals

    Transparency helps both parties determine if the relationship is a fit. Be confident in what you’re looking for—whether it’s mentorship, support, companionship, or lifestyle upgrades.

    Stay Active

    Frequent activity increases your profile’s visibility on most sugar baby sites. Respond to messages promptly and keep your profile fresh.

    ⇒ Find your perfect arrangement today on the best free sugar baby site!

    Practice Online Safety

    Even on the best platforms, it’s important to:

    • Use in-platform messaging
    • Avoid sharing personal contact info early on
    • Verify profiles before meeting
    • Meet in public spaces first

    ⇒ Connect now with real sugar babies and daddies – it’s free to start!

    Top Benefits of Using Sugar Baby Websites in 2025

    Still wondering if sugar baby websites are right for you? Here are the benefits that keep users coming back:

    1. Financial Empowerment – Sugar babies can receive financial support for education, lifestyle, or goals.
    2. Emotional Fulfillment – Many sugar babies enjoy attention, support, and even romantic partnerships.
    3. Luxury Opportunities – Travel, fine dining, and upscale experiences are common in sugar dating.
    4. Mentorship & Guidance – Benefactors often provide life and career mentorship.

    Keep reading to learn how sugar baby websites work, how to find a sugar baby, and what makes these sites so effective when done right.

    ⇒ Elite sugar dating starts here – click to join the best sugar baby site!

    What Is a Sugar Baby?

    The sugar baby is normally younger and engages in a relationship with an older, more financially successful partner. Such relationships are founded on respect, clarity, and reciprocal terms. It is mostly the case that the sugar baby gets money, mentorship, or lifestyle benefits and, in turn, provides time, emotional connection, or companionship.

    Then, what is a sugar baby now? Not the kind who would ask for money. A modern sugar baby would be self-conscious, self-assured, and particular about company. It is about finding something where both parties know that they’re both contributing to and expecting something out of it.

    It is a matter of understanding the real definition of sugar baby beyond worn-out clichés. These are not unequal relationships. They are grounded in real connections established on honesty and equity.

    ⇒ Real people, real connections – join the best sugar baby website today!

    Why People Choose the Sugar Baby Lifestyle

    There are many reasons someone might choose to become a sugar baby. Some are students dealing with rising tuition costs. Others are entrepreneurs, creatives, or single parents who want more financial flexibility. A few are just tired of the stress that comes with traditional dating.

    One key motivation is mentorship. A sugar baby might be drawn to someone who has real-world experience and wisdom to share. On the flip side, sugar daddies and mommies often enjoy the energy, perspective, and companionship that younger partners bring to the relationship.

    Whether financial support or lifestyle upgrades, sugar baby dating arrangements are built on direct communication and shared goals.

    ⇒ Find elite sugar daddies on the best sugar baby site!

    Who Can Be a Sugar Baby?

    There’s no official mold for who qualifies as a sugar baby. While many are in their 20s or 30s, age isn’t the main factor. Confidence, emotional maturity, and strong communication matter far more. People from all backgrounds become sugar babies—artists, professionals, students, and even travelers looking to expand their horizons.

    How Sugar Baby Websites Help Foster Genuine Interactions

    These types of arrangements were harder to find in the past. These sugar baby websites and apps make it all easy and secure. These websites are designed for people searching for this type of arrangement and feature filters, privacy settings, and upfront profile elements where you can indicate exactly what you are looking for.

    Unlike casual dating sites, sugar baby sites attract people yearning for transparency. You’ll notice members dedicated to mutual respect and gain on a good sugar baby site—no games or confusion.

    One of the top sugar baby websites even has safety advice, verification processes, and built-in messaging systems to keep everything safe.

    ⇒ Meet your match, upgrade your life – all on the best sugar baby site!

    How to Become a Sugar Baby

    If you’re wondering how to become a sugar baby, it’s not as hard as you think. It starts by finding a good sugar baby website and making a genuine, appealing profile. Post some nice pictures, state your expectations, and be honest about what you have to offer and what you’re looking for.

    A proper sugar baby dating site allows you to connect with like-minded people. And once settled, the experience can be empowering. You dictate the boundaries, pace, and expectations.

    So, if you’re interested or even half-serious about a sugar lifestyle, here’s the thing: there’s nothing wrong with knowing your worth and choosing a relationship that fits into your life.

    ⇒ Meet generous singles on the best free sugar baby website!

    Understanding Sugar Baby Websites

    If you’ve wondered about sugar dating, you’ve probably heard of sugar baby websites. These sites aim to match sugar babies—people searching for lifestyle assistance, mentorship, or true companionship—with successful individuals open to offering money, experience, and something honest in exchange.

    Unlike conventional dating sites, sugar baby websites are based on open communication and honest intentions. There is no beating around the bush. Both parties are open about their intentions from the beginning, which leads to more solid, respectful relationships.

    ⇒ Want results? Use the best sugar baby websites trusted by millions!

    What Are Sugar Baby Sites All About?

    A sugar baby site is not your average dating site. The sites are designed to cater to mutually beneficial arrangements. Sugar babies usually provide companionship, emotional support, or even good conversation. Their partners, in return, might provide financial support, gifts, career guidance, or access to a better lifestyle.

    What is so refreshing about these sites is that they are so open about the transaction. There’s no expectation of fitting into old dating norms or games of guessing. Individuals join these communities because they want adult discussions regarding what they need and can give.

    The best sugar baby websites provide a more streamlined opportunity to meet like-minded individuals willing to accept this arrangement. There’s a huge range of users, from students and entrepreneurs to established professionals, but everyone is looking for a real partnership with clear objectives.

    ⇒ No fake profiles – just real matches on the best sugar baby site!

    The Core Principles: Privacy, Consent, and Clarity

    One of the greatest advantages of sugar baby dating websites is how they emphasize privacy and respect. Users control how much information about themselves is made available, who can reach out to them, and how they want to be contacted.

    These platforms take consent seriously. Every step in the relationship-building process is based on mutual agreement. No assumptions. No blurred lines. Just clear communication from start to finish.

    Individuals who are interested in this kind of relationship enjoy the boundaries and individual autonomy that sugar baby websites enable. You establish the parameters, set your requirements, and connect with individuals who accept your lifestyle. This method contributes to safer, more comfortable experiences for all parties involved.

    ⇒ sugardaddy.com is the #1 sugar baby site – try it for free today!

    How Sugar Baby Sites Differ From Traditional Dating Apps

    The difference between sugar baby sites and other dating sites is honesty and format. Traditional dating is always a guessing game. What are they looking for? Serious or casual? Will they be honest about what they want?

    All of those questions have been answered on a sugar baby website. Every person on the site knows they’re there and why and what type of arrangement they’re seeking. That mutual understanding eliminates the guesswork that too often accompanies conventional dating apps.

    The second main difference is in user intent. Most users of sugar baby sites aren’t here to fool around. They’re direct, normally successful, and anticipatory. That applies to sugar babies as well—they’re confident, educated, and clear about the type of life they’d wish to live.

    Thanks to this framework, sugar baby websites are respectful and safe environments. As moderation and privacy are integrated, members can communicate without worrying about harassment or misinterpretation.

    ⇒ Don’t miss your chance to meet real sugar daddies – join free now!

    Why More Individuals Are Relying on Sugar Baby Sites in 2025

    As attitudes toward relationships and dating evolve, increasing numbers of individuals look for relationships that are clear-cut and rewarding. The growth of sugar baby websites is indicative of a trend for what individuals desire—greater openness, choice, and less judgment.

    As public perception shifts, so does the popularity of the sugar lifestyle. People embrace the idea that there’s more than one method of forming meaningful connections. Sugar baby websites provide the venue for people looking for more customized, upfront relationships, with often long-lasting impact.

    Looking to experiment with something different or prepared to fully embrace the sugar lifestyle, the correct website can help open the door.

    ⇒ Try the sugar baby site that actually works – sugardaddy.com is live!

    How to Find a Sugar Baby

    Finding the ideal sugar baby is not about appearance or luxury but compatibility, integrity, and shared expectations. Most sugar mommies and daddies these days begin browsing through sugar baby websites, but offline encounters are still part of the package. Let’s break down finding a sugar baby online and offline.

    ⇒ Find serious sugar daddies on the best sugar baby sites online now!

    Steps to Find a Sugar Baby Online

    Finding a sugar baby online is easier than ever before, with numerous websites popping up that connect like-minded adults. But blind diving can lead to missed opportunities or miscommunications. Here’s how to do it the right way—step by step.

    1. Select a Reputable Sugar Baby Website

    Start by selecting a credible platform. The best sugar baby websites are designed with transparency, privacy, and user safety in mind. A good sugar baby site will offer you active profiles, filters to narrow down your options, and communication tools.

    Avoid general dating sites that aren’t meant for sugar dating. Look for sites specifically created for that kind of arrangement instead. Sites created for the sugar lifestyle attract more serious and respectful people.

    ⇒ Why settle? Join the best free sugar baby website for real rewards!

    2. Create an Honest and Appealing Profile

    Once you have chosen the right sugar baby website, take the time to develop your profile. It is your first impression. Upload a recent, good-quality photo and include a short but honest description of yourself and what you are looking for.

    Be clear about expectations. Sugar babies like someone who knows their boundaries and speaks up sooner rather than later. Being upfront also attracts people whose goals are aligned with yours.

    3. Apply Filters and Read Profiles Carefully

    Most sugar baby sites offer search functions to filter your options. Set preferences based on age, location, lifestyle, and interests. Read each profile carefully. Look for consistency in photographs, grammar, and tone—it is most likely an indication of a person serious about their profile on the site.

    4. Start Conversations with Respect and Sincerity

    When reaching out, skip the generic greetings. Be polite and personalized. Ask questions that show you have read their profile and be inquisitive. Be professional and never rush the conversation.

    A good start leads to more matches. Most people on sugar baby dating sites are looking for more than small talk—they desire connection, respect, and understanding.

    ⇒ Don’t pay to connect – the best sugar baby site lets you chat for free!

    5. Set Expectations Early

    Before anything progresses, discuss what you’re both looking for. This is the key to any successful sugar baby dating arrangement. Defining roles, boundaries, and desires upfront helps avoid confusion later.

    Be specific about your boundaries and what you’re providing. The most successful connections are made through openness and respect for one another—two cornerstones that characterize contemporary sugar dating. When both parties understand what they can expect, things usually go more smoothly and last longer.

    ⇒ The best sugar baby site is trending – don’t get left behind!

    How to Build the Perfect Sugar Baby Profile

    Creating a great profile on sugar baby sites like SugarDaddy.com can make or break your success. Here’s how to do it right:

    • Use Real, High-Quality Photos: Avoid heavy filters. Authenticity attracts more genuine offers.
    • Describe What You Want: Be upfront about your ideal arrangement and lifestyle expectations.
    • Highlight Personality and Interests: Talk about your hobbies, career goals, and values.
    • Stay Active: Update your profile regularly and log in often to show you’re engaged.

    A good sugar baby website facilitates finding matches that are present for the sake of everything, not just money. Be realistic in your expectations, and find someone who brings you true value, not merely a person searching for a free ride.

    ⇒ Click here to find real success on the best sugar baby website!

    Benefits of Sugar Baby Sites

    Sugar baby sites are designed to enable actual relationships between people who have common goals, and they do this with convenience and discretion in mind.

    Let us take a closer glance at why using sugar baby sites is typically the most secure and smartest choice.

    1. Clearly Defined Format for Meaningful Dating

    Unlike traditional apps where a lot is left to assumption, sugar baby websites offer a platform where people are open about what they require. There is no speculation or concealed agendas. Profiles typically contain open statements of expectations, lifestyle, and what the person wants to gain in the relationship. This arrangement spares both sugar daddies and sugar babies from time-wasting relationships.

    Some sites even permit people to select their preferred arrangement type—mentorship, companionship, travel, or financial support. This openness is especially useful for those wondering how to be a sugar baby or how to locate someone who truly understands the lifestyle.

    ⇒ Find what you’re looking for on the best sugar baby websites – join free!

    2. Enhanced Safety and Privacy

    Privacy is a big concern for most in the sugar baby dating scene. The best websites take this seriously. Top sugar baby websites use encryption, discreet billing, and internal messaging systems so that users are not required to divulge personal information right away.

    Some even provide reporting tools, profile verification, and photo screening to reduce scams or fake profiles. That kind of online protection is hard to come by outside the niche world of sugar baby dating sites.

    3. Better Screening and Matchmaking

    Not every match will be a connection—and that’s okay. But filtering options on most sugar baby websites get you one step closer to what you’re looking for. You can filter based on age, location, lifestyle habits, and more.

    This is a big reason why most consider these to be the best sugar baby websites—they eliminate the guessing and make it easier.

    ⇒ The best free sugar baby website is just one step away – join free!

    4. Tools of Working Communication

    Most sugar baby sites have instant messaging features, icebreakers, and filters for chat. These allow you to build more respectful, meaningful conversations from the start. They also allow you to control the pace, especially when you’re exploring the possibility of a sugar relationship.

    5. Lifestyle Compatibility

    These websites appeal to a broad audience: young professionals, students, entrepreneurs, travelers, and retirees. Regardless of where you are in life, you can locate someone whose pace and ambitions match yours.

    Some of those sites let you connect to social profiles and interests or share your ideal date with us, making it more enjoyable and intimate to find a match.

    ⇒ Join the sugar baby site everyone’s talking about – it’s 100% free!

    Sugar Baby Etiquette and Best Practices

    Navigating the space comes with its own set of social expectations. Those who understand and respect the etiquette involved in sugar dating tend to build longer-lasting, drama-free arrangements. Whether you’re new to the scene or looking to refine your approach, a few best practices go a long way when using sugar baby sites or meeting someone in person.

    Start With Respect and Honesty

    The foundation of any successful sugar baby dating connection is mutual respect. This begins with being honest about your intentions. If you’re looking for companionship, mentorship, or a financial arrangement, state it clearly—but respectfully.

    People on sugar baby websites are quite open about what they desire, so there is no use beating around the bush. Respect for the other person’s time and boundaries is a simple yet often overlooked sign of class and seriousness.

    ⇒ This is where sugar babies and daddies connect – join now!

    Communicate Clearly and Consistently

    Open communication sets expectations and keeps misunderstandings at bay. Once you’ve connected on a sugar baby site, make the first move to discuss what you want and listen to what they want. Clearly define boundaries from the start: how often you will meet, what relationship is convenient for both of you, and how you will communicate.

    If something does, tell them. This sort of honesty is what will differentiate a considerate partner from someone who just wants to exploit the arrangement.

    Be Considerate With Gifts and Compensation

    Gift-giving is generally a component of sugar dating, but it should never be coerced or come off as a transaction. It isn’t about showing off—it’s about appreciation. Give thoughtful gifts that apply to your sugar baby’s aspirations or hobbies. Some will enjoy designer gifts, while others will appreciate tuition help or the ability to travel.

    Sugar baby websites can help set the tone for those expectations because most websites allow users to specify what they are willing to accept. That openness saves confusion or embarrassment later.

    ⇒ Want luxury and love? Start with the best sugar baby websites here!

    Always Prioritize Consent

    Consent is not just physical boundaries. It’s emotional and financial boundaries, too. If you’re offering support or expecting certain things in return, those terms must be discussed and mutually agreed upon—never assumed. Healthy sugar baby dating starts and ends with enthusiastic, ongoing consent.

    Stay Wary of and Avoid Scams

    As with all online interactions, it’s best to stay cautious on sugar baby dating sites. Be cautious of members who ask for money first, avoid video chat, or refuse to meet in public. A reputable sugar baby website will have reporting features for suspicious behavior—don’t be afraid to use them if something doesn’t feel quite right.

    Go with your gut and do not be hasty. Scammers oftentimes rely on urgency and emotional manipulation, and ongoing open communication keeps you secure.

    ⇒ Find elite sugar daddies on the best sugar baby site!

    Final Thought

    Choosing the right platform can make all the difference in your sugar dating experience. With so many sugar baby websites and sugar baby sites online, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But the best outcomes come from using a verified, secure, and transparent sugar baby website—one that values consent, communication, and connection.

    A quality sugar baby site goes beyond flashy designs and bold promises. It provides safety features, identity verification, privacy options, and filtering tools to help users find real compatibility. These aren’t just platforms—they’re spaces where clear expectations, respectful conversations, and mature arrangements can thrive.

    The best sugar baby websites attract people who are serious about the lifestyle. This includes both experienced sugar babies and those still learning how to become a sugar baby. From profile design to personalized matches, a trusted site supports your goals without compromising safety or authenticity.

    For anyone exploring this lifestyle seriously, choosing the right sugar babies website isn’t just smart—it’s essential.

    FAQs

    This FAQ section addresses the most common questions about sugar baby sites, including details on free sugar baby websites, safety, and what makes a site the best.

    What are sugar baby websites?

    Sugar baby websites are platforms where individuals can find mutually beneficial relationships involving companionship and lifestyle support.

    What’s the best sugar baby site in 2025?

    SugarDaddy.com is considered the best sugar baby site in 2025 due to its safety features, verified profiles, and high-quality user base.

    Are sugar baby sites legal?

    Yes, sugar baby sites are fully legal and function within the bounds of consensual adult relationships.

    Can I join sugar baby sites for free?

    Yes, free sugar baby websites like SugarDaddy.com allow users to sign up and use basic features without cost.

    Is SugarDaddy.com a real sugar baby website?

    Absolutely. SugarDaddy.com is one of the most reputable sugar baby sites in the world.

    Are there legit free sugar baby websites?

    While many claim to be free, SugarDaddy.com is one of the few legitimate platforms offering functional free access.

    How do sugar baby apps work?

    Sugar baby apps are mobile-optimized versions of dating platforms that let users message, browse, and match on their phones.

    How do I stay safe on sugar baby websites?

    Use the platform’s messaging system, don’t share financial info, and always meet in public places.

    What should I write in my sugar baby profile?

    Include your lifestyle preferences, relationship expectations, and a few personal interests to stand out.

    Is SugarDaddy.com good for beginners?

    Yes, SugarDaddy.com is beginner-friendly and provides tools and guidance for new users.

    Can I use SugarDaddy.com without paying?

    Yes, the site offers a free tier that includes essential features like profile browsing and messaging.

    Are sugar baby relationships real relationships?

    Yes, many sugar relationships lead to lasting emotional connections and long-term arrangements.

    How old do you have to be to join sugar baby sites?

    You must be 18 years or older to use sugar baby websites like SugarDaddy.com.

    Do sugar baby apps offer real matches?

    Yes, especially on vetted platforms like SugarDaddy.com, where verified users are active and engaged.

    What is the difference between sugar dating and traditional dating?

    Sugar dating is based on clear, upfront expectations involving support and companionship, unlike traditional romance-based dating.

    Are sugar baby websites safe for women?

    Yes, when using trusted platforms like SugarDaddy.com that provide safety features and verification tools.

    Can I find international sugar daddies on sugar baby websites?

    Yes, SugarDaddy.com allows international connections across various countries and cities.

    What is expected from sugar babies?

    Clear communication, companionship, and respect are the most commonly expected attributes in sugar relationships.

    Is SugarDaddy.com a sugar baby app?

    While not a standalone app, SugarDaddy.com offers full mobile functionality that works like an app.

    Can I remain anonymous on sugar baby websites?

    Yes, SugarDaddy.com provides privacy settings to control what others see on your profile.

    Media Contact

    Company: Sugar Daddy

    Contact Person: Christopher A. Waldo

    Email: support@sugardaddy.com

    Address: 29 Roseburn Place, Highland Park, Manukau 2010, New Zealand

    URL: https://www.sugardaddy.com/

    Phone: +64-29-4659-632

    Content Accuracy Disclaimer
    Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information presented in this article. However, due to the dynamic nature of product formulations, promotions, and availability, details may change without notice. The publisher makes no warranties or representations as to the current completeness or accuracy of any content, including product claims, pricing, or ingredient lists.
    It is the responsibility of the reader to verify product information directly through the official website or manufacturer prior to making a purchasing decision. Any reliance placed on the information in this article is done strictly at your own risk.
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    All product reviews and descriptions reflect the author’s honest opinion based on available public data, user feedback, and scientific references at the time of writing. The inclusion of affiliate links does not influence the objectivity or integrity of the content. However, readers are encouraged to independently verify product information and consult with healthcare professionals prior to purchase or use.
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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New mayor takes the oath of office Councillor Margaret Pattison has officially been sworn in as the new Mayor of Lancaster, proudly donning the mayoral robes in a centuries-old civic tradition.

    Source: City of Lancaster

    Councillor Margaret Pattison has officially been sworn in as the new Mayor of Lancaster, proudly donning the mayoral robes in a centuries-old civic tradition.

    New mayor Councillor Margaret Pattison with her deputy, Councillor John Hanson

    Born in Morecambe, her journey into public service began during her early career as a hairdressing apprentice where she found inspiration from her employer, a local councillor and school governor.

    This sparked an interest in community involvement that would later define her career. Her first direct step into politics came when her son Ian volunteered in the office of former MP Geraldine Smith.

    After he left for university, Margaret was invited to take over the role – an experience that cemented her commitment to public service. She soon stood for election driven by a strong desire to support local residents with casework and community issues.

    Over the years, she has served as a “triple hat” councillor on Morecambe Town Council, Lancaster City Council, and Lancashire County Council. She has championed grassroots initiatives including the local Alley Champions group, and continued to support local education as a school governor.

    Now, as she takes up the ceremonial role of Mayor of Lancaster, Councillor Pattison is keen to continue her hands-on approach to community leadership.

    As her mayoral charities she has chosen St John’s Hospice in memory of her twin sister’s partner, Paul Bolton, who sadly passed away from cancer last November, and ‘Making Space’, which supports those with mental health conditions or a learning disability.

    Councillor John Hanson will act as deputy mayor, with daughter Charlotte performing the role of mayor’s consort.

    Speaking on her appointment, Councillor Pattison said: “I am honoured to serve as Mayor of Lancaster. “I’m deeply committed to our community and will carry out this role with the same dedication and compassion I’ve shown throughout my years of service.

    “Supporting St John’s Hospice is particularly close to my heart and I look forward to raising awareness and vital funds for the incredible work they do.”

    Last updated: 09 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Neag School Class of 2025 Student Profile: Sara Rosenthal

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Editor’s Note: As Commencement approaches, we are featuring some of our Neag School Class of 2025 graduating students over the coming days.

    Major: BS, Chemistry Education
    Hometown:     Colchester, Connecticut

    Q: Why did you choose UConn?

    A: I chose UConn because there are so many opportunities here. When I applied, I was unsure about what my goals were in my life and my career. I knew that UConn had so many different groups of people, and I was positive that I would eventually find the place where I belonged within the community.

    Q: What’s your major or field of study, and what drew you to it?

    A: My major is chemistry education. I didn’t start out immediately knowing that I would end up in education. I entered UConn as a biomedical engineering major, but it never felt like the perfect fit. Through the School (now College) of Engineering, I was able to get a job as a STEM summer program director for middle schoolers. Working with students and creating a project-based curriculum for them was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. I realized how much I enjoyed sharing my science knowledge with the kids and acting as a mentor for them while they were in the program. Halfway through my sophomore year, I decided to make the switch to education. It has been incredible, and I have never looked back.

    Q: Did you have a favorite professor or class?

    A: My favorite professor would have to be Dr. Todd Campbell. He was my professor for the senior science teaching methods course. His enthusiasm for education is infectious, and I felt like I was constantly expanding my view of what it meant to be an effective science teacher when I was in class with him. I view him as someone whom I can go to for advice and who I know will always be rooting for my success.

    Q: What activities were you involved in as a student?

    A: The main non-academic activity that I have been involved in during my time at UConn is the UConn Tap Team. I have been a member of the team for all four years. We compete with tap dance routines that we practice over the course of the school year. The connections that I have made with people on the team are a part of what has made my time at UConn so meaningful. Now, I am the team president and get to give back to the organization, which is responsible for many amazing memories.

    Q: What’s one thing that surprised you about UConn?

    A: I was surprised by how small UConn can feel at times, in a good way. Once you start making connections with people on campus, you will never feel like you’re going through life alone. It is nice to see familiar faces wherever you are and to have a sense of belonging.

    Q: What are your plans after graduation/receiving your degree?

    A: My immediate plan is to be a chemistry instructor for UConn’s BRIDGE program run by the Vergnano Institute for Inclusion. I will also be enjoying the warm weather and making sure I take time to enjoy this season of life. My long-term goal is to move to Boston and begin my education career. I want to continue growing and learning as an educator and make an impact on students’ lives.

    Q: How has UConn prepared you for the next chapter in life?

    A: The Neag School of Education at UConn has been wonderful. I feel like my courses and student teaching experience have made me a more confident and capable teacher. The best way to learn is through practice, and my time with the Neag School of Education has given me so many opportunities to try new tools and techniques in a supportive environment. UConn has also made me more passionate. My four years here allowed me to explore different sides of my identity and find the things that make me feel energized and fulfilled. Education was an unexpected path for me, and I wouldn’t have found my love for teaching if UConn didn’t value a well-rounded student experience.

    Education was an unexpected path for me, and I wouldn’t have found my love for teaching if UConn didn’t value a well-rounded student experience. &#8212 Sara Rosenthal

    Q: Any advice for incoming students?

    A: Just trust the process and trust yourself. If you’re not feeling a little lost in your direction in life at least once, you’re probably doing it all wrong. Enjoy it while it’s happening. Sometimes I feel like I worried so much about what was coming next that I forgot to take in the details. Don’t forget that you’re probably living the life you were thinking about a few years ago and how awesome that is.

    Q: What’s one thing everyone should do during their time at UConn?

    A: Explore. There are so many unique and interesting little pockets of campus that I would have never found if I didn’t wander. It is easy to stay in your routine out of convenience, but I think everyone should try to see parts of campus they would never normally encounter.

    Q: What will always make you think of UConn?

    A: Gentry will always make me think of UConn. I have sat outside on the sundial more times than I can remember and stared up at the building. I will always remember the first time I walked through Gentry after getting accepted into the Neag School. I will never forget how right it felt. I will always think of the Gentry vending machine when I think of UConn and how my cohort mates would sneak down to grab a snack during lecture breaks. Gentry will always make me think of the wonderful people I met there and how I wouldn’t be the same without them.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Neag School Class of 2025 Student Profile: Michael Santos

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Editor’s Note: As Commencement approaches, we are featuring some of our Neag School Class of 2025 graduating students over the coming days.


    Major:     BS, Sport Management and minor in Digital Marketing and Analytics
    Hometown:     East Granby, Connecticut

    Q: Why did you choose UConn?

    A: As a Connecticut native, I grew up admiring UConn’s athletic programs. Choosing UConn felt natural — not only because of that connection but also because of the wide range of academic and experiential opportunities available to students here.

    Q: What’s your major or field of study, and what drew you to it?

    A: I’m majoring in sport management with a minor in digital marketing and analytics. I’ve always known I wanted to work in sports, and UConn allowed me to shape my academic path around that passion, especially within sport marketing.

    Q: Did you have a favorite professor or class?

    A: My favorite class was EDLR 3091, the Sport Internship course taught by Dr. Danielle DeRosa. While most of the learning happened outside the classroom, it gave me the most hands-on insight into how an athletic department operates and what it’s really like to work in sports.

    Q: What activities were you involved in as a student?

    A: I was a member of the UConn club baseball team, interned with UConn Sport Properties and the UConn Athletics marketing department, and was actively involved in the UConn Sport Business Association and the UConn Sport Business Conference.

    Q: What’s one thing that surprised you about UConn?

    A: By the end of my four years, I was surprised at how many familiar faces I had come to recognize — students, professors, and coworkers. UConn started to feel smaller in the best way, and I really appreciated that sense of community.

    Q: What are your plans after graduation/receiving your degree?

    A: I plan to pursue a career in the sports industry, ideally within partnerships or sponsorships.

    Q: How has UConn prepared you for the next chapter in life?

    A: UConn taught me not only technical skills but also how to be adaptable. It helped me grow more independent, become comfortable with uncertainty, and learn through experience — lessons that I know will carry into my career.

    UConn taught me not only technical skills but also how to be adaptable. &#8212 Michael Santos

    Q: Any advice for incoming students?

    A: Don’t stay in your dorm all day! Put yourself out there — join clubs, meet new people, try new things. Whether you love it or realize it’s not for you, it’s all part of figuring out what you really enjoy.

    Q: What’s one thing everyone should do during their time at UConn?

    A: Attend the UConn Sport Business Conference — it’s a great opportunity to connect, learn, and get inspired by professionals in the industry.

    Q: What will always make you think of UConn?

    A: Winning championships — UConn is the Basketball Capital of the World!

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Sharc Energy Featured in Ottawa’s LeBreton Flats Redevelopment District Energy Project

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — SHARC International Systems Inc. (CSE: SHRC) (FSE: IWIA) (OTCQB: INTWF) (“SHARC Energy” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that two SHARC 880 Wastewater Energy Transfer (“WET”) systems will be used to power a district energy system (also referred to as thermal energy network), in the Canadian capital of Ottawa, Ontario, serving the LeBreton Flats redevelopment.

    A new era of sustainable energy is dawning in Ottawa with the formation of the LeBreton Community Utility Partnership, a joint venture between Envari Holding Inc. (a subsidiary of Hydro Ottawa Holding Inc.) and Theia Partners. Together with the City of Ottawa, the partners have formalized a landmark agreement to implement an advanced WET system.

    “The formation of the LeBreton Community Utility partnership marks a significant step in realizing a truly sustainable energy model for urban development. Our WET technology, powered by SHARC Energy’s Canadian innovation, will provide reliable, efficient, and environmentally responsible thermal energy to the LeBreton community, starting with DREAM’s Odenak development,“ stated Scott Demark, Partner at Theia Partners.

    “This is more than just a project; it’s a testament to Ottawa’s dedication to leading the way in sustainable energy solutions. Hydro Ottawa is proud to be at the forefront of this innovation, demonstrating the power of collaboration and forward-thinking technology, including the highly efficient and Canadian-made SHARC Energy WET System, in building a sustainable future for the community we serve. We are especially pleased that this project supports vital affordable housing and aligns with our commitment to ensuring all customers can participate in a smart and equitable energy future,” says Bryce Conrad, President and CEO of Hydro Ottawa Holding Inc.

    This groundbreaking energy project will harness the untapped thermal potential of wastewater to provide 9 Megawatts (MW) of sustainable and efficient building heating and cooling to the LeBreton Flats redevelopment including DREAM’s Odenak development at 665 Albert Street, the inaugural customer for LeBreton Community Utility’s WET system. Odenak is a 600-unit, two-tower project adjacent to the Pimisi light rail transit (LRT) station. It features a mix of market-rate and affordable residential units as well as retail spaces. The WET system utilizes highly efficient heat pumps and operates entirely without fossil fuel, marking a significant step towards a cleaner energy future for the city.

    “HTS is incredibly proud to be involved in this monumental project, which sets a new standard in sustainability. We are honored to contribute to such an innovative solution that not only pushes the boundaries of technology but also fosters a more sustainable future. This project reflects our commitment to advancing environmentally responsible practices and delivering the most advanced HVAC solutions,” said Wael Khalaf, P.Eng. HTS, SHARC Energy’s Ontario representative.

    By utilizing SHARC Energy’s WET system, the LeBreton Community Utility estimates a reduction of approximately 5,066 tonnes of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions annually compared to traditional buildings relying on boilers and chillers. To visualize 5,066 tonnes, it is the equivalent of the electricity used by 3,387 homes for a full year (as calculated by the Natural Resources Canada’s Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator).

    “Almost 95 per cent of Ottawa’s greenhouse gases emissions are not within the City’s direct control. Instead, they require community action and commitment to achieve our reduction targets. In partnering on this innovative sewage energy project at LeBreton Flats, the City is supporting other local businesses and organizations to help us achieve a clean energy future for all of Ottawa,” said Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, City of Ottawa

    Construction to connect to the City’s sewer infrastructure is slated to begin later this year, following a collaborative design phase between the City of Ottawa and the LeBreton Community Utility partners. SHARC Energy anticipates commencing submittals for the SHARC WET systems in 2025 with equipment build and delivery expected during 2026.

    The LeBreton Community Utility Partnership is also engaged in discussions with the National Capital Commission (NCC) to explore the potential for the WET network to serve additional land parcels at the LeBreton Flats redevelopment, to take advantage of economies of scale. This forward-thinking approach positions the site as a model for sustainable community energy infrastructure in Canada. Moreover, this presents additional opportunities for the implementation of SHARC WET equipment.

    About SHARC Energy

    SHARC International Systems Inc. is a world leader in energy transfer with the wastewater we send down the drain every day. SHARC Energy’s systems exchange thermal energy with wastewater, generating one of the most energy-efficient and economical systems for heating, cooling & hot water production for commercial, residential and industrial buildings along with thermal energy networks, commonly referred to as “District Energy”.

    SHARC Energy is publicly traded in Canada (CSE: SHRC), the United States (OTCQB: INTWF) and Germany (Frankfurt: IWIA) and you can find out more on our SEDAR profile.

    Learn more about SHARC Energy: Website | Investor Page | LinkedIn | YouTube | PIRANHA | SHARC

    About HTS

    HTS is North America’s largest independent distributor of built-to-order, full-service commercial and industrial HVAC solutions. HTS is dedicated to driving shared success by collaborating with all those involved in the design, selection, installation, and maintenance of the ideal HVAC solution for each project.

    ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

    Freid Andriano
    Chairman

    The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

    Forward-Looking Statements 

    Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified using words such as “anticipate”, “plan”, “estimate”, “expect”, “may”, “will”, “intend”, “should”, and similar expressions. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. SHARC Energy’s actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in this forward-looking information as a result of regulatory decisions, competitive factors in the industries in which the Company operates, prevailing economic conditions, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. SHARC Energy believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking information should not be unduly relied upon. Any forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the Company’s expectations as of the date hereof and is subject to change after such date. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information whether because of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities legislation. 

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a8dbc469-7d83-4929-8402-906d4e192f12

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to the debate on hormone-treated beef and chlorinated chicken

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Scientists comment on hormone-treated beef and chlorinated chicken, following the announcement of a UK-US trade deal.

    Beef

    Prof Chris Elliott, Chair of Food Safety, Queen’s University Belfast (QUB), said:

    “There are a number of hormones, mainly anabolic steroids that are classified as growth promoters. They were banned in the EU back in the 1980’s on the grounds they were a food safety risk. This has been hotly disputed by the US and other countries that use the hormones in livestock production.

    “The bulk of the scientific evidence suggests they are safe if used correctly. However incorrect use (as can happen accidently or deliberately) could pose health issues.  

    “The big issue is that use of such hormones is not ‘natural’ – but again this is widely disputed as livestock have many things added to their diets to enhance growth rates.

    “Testing for the presence of the hormones can be done but it’s extremely difficult and requires very expensive equipment and the cost per test would runs into many hundreds of pounds. There has previously been evidence that meat claimed as ‘hormone free’ was in fact treated with anabolic steroids.”

     

    Chicken

    Prof Paul Wigley, Professor in Animal Microbial Ecosystems, University of Bristol, said:

    “The use of high-concentration chlorine washes applied in the USA and other countries is adopted as a relatively simple and low-cost method to reduce foodborne bacterial pathogens such as Salmonella from chicken carcasses. Its efficacy is questionable. Rates of human Salmonella infection in the USA are around double the European average and around five times greater than in the UK.

    “The UK approach is to control on the farm with the use of vaccines, good biosecurity and hygiene together with regular testing for Salmonella, accompanied by far greater levels of animal welfare that were set down by EU legislation and still adopted in the UK.  Salmonella is in effect eradicated in UK Lion Mark eggs and is uncommon in UK-produced poultry meat.

    “An analogy is going out for a walk as seeing a pile of dog muck. The UK/EU approach is to avoid getting it on your shoes. The American approach is wiping it off when you get home but we all know that some will remain trapped in the tread.

    “The ban on US produced chicken on public health grounds is justified when simply looking at the figures of public health impact. Human Salmonella infection often leads to hospitalisation and most recent figures indicate there were 33 deaths resulting from Salmonella in the UK in 2013. We cannot ban on welfare grounds but there is a clear public health reason to do so.”

     

    Beef and chicken

    Prof Guy Poppy, PVC Research and Innovation, University of Bristol, said:

    On chlorine-washed chicken:

    “The use of chlorine washes to ensure chickens are safe to eat is a difference between how the USA and the EU/UK regulate food.  The USA uses product-based approach while the EU and UK use a process-based one – i.e. consideration of the process we use to ensure safety rather than the end outcome. If done correctly the end product, chicken, is equally safe, but the system we currently use involves several steps in how chickens are produced throughout the rearing and preparation of the chicken for sale – as opposed to the USA system which uses chlorine to ‘disinfect’ the chicken prior to retail.  Both systems are used to reduce/eliminate the number of microorganisms in the chicken which can make us ill.

    “Many of the biosecurity processes used in the UK can also enhance welfare, such as practices to reduce the levels of pathogens in chickens – as opposed to being reliant on a system of using chlorine to reduce the pathogens after slaughter.”

     

    On hormone-treated beef:

    “There are significant disagreements between the EU and the US on the health issues of hormone treated beef. Whilst the EU claim that one of the regularly used hormones is carcinogenic,  the US and Canada claim to the WTO that the EU risk assessment is flawed. And several of the hormones used do not have any health claims against them. However, the rearing practice which is involved in accelerating growth can be seen as an animal welfare issue as weight gain and the feedlots and other practices to reduce feed requirements and accelerate growth result in much lower animal welfare than rearing systems not involving hormones or feedlots.

    “Both of these types of animal food production illustrate different rearing systems and methods to control risk. If done correctly and with checks in place, they both result in a safe product but there are differences in the animal welfare outcomes of the production systems used in the US compared to the UK/EU. The US style production systems can lead to reduced costs and increased profits and thus I can see why UK farmers are concerned about the effects this may have on the current UK meat system. It is clear that the current UK food system needs transforming to improve human and environmental health, but I am not sure this is a direction of travel which will help that.”

     

     

     

    Declared interests

    Paul Wigley: I have and continue to receive funding from UKRI around this area but no current or recent work with industry in these areas

    Chris Elliott: No interests to declare

    Guy Poppy: CSA at the FSA 2014-2020, Exec Chair at BBSRC 2023-2024

    For all other experts, no reply to our request for DOIs was received.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: ARU illustrators discuss the art of the picture book

    Source: Anglia Ruskin University

    Kate Winter in her studio

    A group of prize-winning illustrators from Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) will be sharing their expertise during a special event in Cambridge on Monday, 19 May.

    The event is being held to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the prestigious Klaus Flugge Prize, which is awarded annually to the most promising and exciting newcomer to children’s book illustration.

    The panel will feature three recent winners of this national award – Flavia Drago, Mariajo Ilustrajo and Kate Winter – all alumni of ARU’s world-leading Children’s Book Illustration MA course in Cambridge.

    Taking place at Waterstones bookshop on Sidney Street, the event is aimed at anyone interested in illustration and the art of visual storytelling. The talented trio will discuss the elements of a successful picture book and provide valuable tips for aspiring illustrators.

    Flavia Drago, originally from Mexico City, won the Klaus Flugge Prize in 2021 for her book Gustavo the Shy Ghost, which also topped The New York Times’ best sellers list. Flavia is currently studying a PhD at ARU, focusing on horror in children’s picture books.

    Originally from Madrid, Mariajo Ilustrajo is now based in the UK and won the award in 2023 for Flooded, which she started on the MA course at ARU. The story, which features animals teaming up to tackle the impacts of climate change, also earned her the Best New Talent prize at the World Illustration Awards.

    Kate Winter received the award last year for The Fossil Hunter, marking the first time a non-fiction book has won the £5,000 prize. After completing her MA in Children’s Book Illustration, Kate now lectures on ARU’s BA (Hons) Illustration course, balancing her teaching with her work as a professional illustrator and writer.

    “I feel very fortunate to be able to bring ideas and stories alive for children through the universal language of illustration. I am really looking forward to talking to Mariajo and Flavia about our different approaches to making picture books, how we develop ideas and what role the images play in our storytelling.”

    Kate Winter

    The event will be chaired by Dr Elys Dolan, a Senior Lecturer in Children’s Books Illustration at ARU. Elys, an award-winning author and illustrator of books such as Weasels and Steven Seagull Action Hero, also studied on the MA Children’s Book Illustration course at ARU’s Cambridge School of Art.

    The event on Monday, 19 May at Waterstones in Cambridge runs from 6pm-7.30pm and tickets are priced at £8. For further information and to purchase tickets, visit Celebrating the Klaus Flugge Prize with Kate Winter, Mariajo Ilustrajo and Flavia Drago | Events at Waterstones Bookshops

    Meanwhile Polly Noakes, who graduated from the MA in Children’s Book Illustration at ARU in 2015, has just been announced as the winner of the 2025 Oscar’s Book Prize. Polly received the £10,000 award for her picture book Just The Two Of Us.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Another boost for British car industry as £1 billion secured for new Sunderland gigafactory

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Another boost for British car industry as £1 billion secured for new Sunderland gigafactory

    New state-of-the-art gigafactory ignites growth in industrial heartlands, supporting 1,000 jobs and powering up 100,000 electric vehicles a year

    • Chancellor visited Sunderland today following landmark economic deal with the US that saved thousands of auto jobs and slashed tariffs on car exports
    • Latest action in the Government’s Plan for Change to strengthen our industrial heartlands, make Britain a clean energy superpower and put more money in people’s pockets through good jobs

    Working people will benefit from 1,000 jobs at a new state-of-the-art gigafactory in Sunderland in a £1 billion auto deal to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles and boost growth.

    This investment is another boost for the British car industry after yesterday’s landmark economic deal with the United States saved thousands of jobs by slashing tariffs on British exports.

    The new AESC gigafactory will manufacture batteries for electric vehicles, powering up to 100,000 EVs each year – a six-fold increase on the country’s current capacity – making the UK globally competitive selling more British EVs at home and abroad and helping to achieve our net zero target.

    In the landmark transaction, the National Wealth Fund and UK Export Finance will provide financial guarantees which unlock £680 million in financing from banks including Standard Chartered, HSBC, SMBC Group, Societe Generale and BBVA. This will cover construction and operation of the new plant. The remaining £320 million has been secured through private financing in addition to new equity provided by AESC.

    In addition to this £1 billion investment, the Government’s Automotive Transformation Fund is also investing £150 million in grant funding.

    This is the Government’s Plan for Change in action, making us more competitive on the world stage, helping Britain on its way to becoming a clean energy superpower through innovation in the automotive sector, and delivering economic growth that puts more money in people’s pockets through high skilled jobs.

    Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, said:

    We are going further and faster to boost our industries’ resilience and encourage their growth as part of our Plan for Change, and this investment follows hot on the heels of yesterday’s landmark economic deal with the US which will save thousands of jobs in the industry.

    This investment in Sunderland will not only further innovation and accelerate our move to more sustainable transport, but it will also deliver much-needed high quality, well-paid jobs to the North East, putting more money in people’s pockets.

    Business and Trade Secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, said:

    We’re backing our world-class car industry, and this investment is yet another vote of confidence in the North East’s thriving auto manufacturing hub which will secure a thousand well-paid jobs and boost prosperity across the region.

    Our modern Industrial Strategy will drive this growth even further, powering our high-potential sectors like advanced manufacturing so we can deliver jobs and investment in every corner of the UK and make our Plan for Change a reality.

    The Chancellor visited AESC in Sunderland today (Friday 9 May) where she met staff and local leaders to discuss how the investment will bring jobs and prosperity to the North East, and how the landmark economic deal secured with the US will secure the industry for years to come.

    The deal slashes car export tariffs from 27.5% to 10% and will apply to a quota of 100,000 UK cars – almost the total exported last year.

    This will save some car companies hundreds of millions of pounds, making high skilled jobs in industrial heartlands like Sunderland more secure.

    Shoichi Matsumoto, CEO of Japanese headquartered AESC, said:

    This investment marks a key milestone in AESC’s ongoing efforts to support the UK’s path towards decarbonisation and the expansion of its EV market.

    Through close collaboration with strategic partners, we strive to accelerate this transition while creating high-quality local jobs and building resilient, sustainable supply chain.

    We are honoured to contribute to the development of low-carbon economy with our advanced battery technologies.

    John Flint, National Wealth Fund CEO, said:

    AESC’s gigafactory will not only help to retool our car industry for net zero it will also support jobs, growth, and prosperity in the Northeast.

    This investment further demonstrates the significant role NWF is playing to crowd private capital into the industries and regions where its most needed, boosting government’s growth and clean energy missions.

    UKEF CEO, Tim Reid, said:

    This hugely exciting project is a prime example of how export financing is a powerful tool for unlocking growth opportunities for British exporters and strengthening local economies.

    We’re proud to join forces with partners to back this pioneering gigafactory that will help cement the UK’s prowess as an EV battery-making force for years to come.

    More information

    • The government continues to unlock private investment in UK automotive design, development, and manufacturing as the sector transitions to zero emission technology.
    • To date, the Automotive Transformation Fund and Advanced Propulsion Centre funding programmes have leveraged over £6 billion of investment from the private sector.
    • Last year’s Autumn Budget also confirmed over £2 billion for capital and research and development funding over five years for zero emission vehicle manufacturing and their supply chains – a vote of confidence in the UK’s automotive industry, supporting investment and productivity growth.

    Additional quotes

    Ian Stuart, UK CEO for HSBC who were joint ECA Coordinator & Structuring Bank (alongside SCB) as well as Underwriting Bank and Mandated Lead Arranger, said:

    We’re extremely proud to have played a leading role in this complex and significant deal, including as underwriter, structuring bank and joint ECA co-ordinator.

    Once operational, the gigafactory will unlock a huge increase in the UK’s EV battery production, supporting the electrification of vehicles and the wider green transition. The inward investment involved in the project will also deliver highly-skilled jobs and economic growth to North East England.

    Hideo Kawafune, CEO, Head of EMEA, SMBC Banking International plc said:

    SMBC Group is delighted to participate in the successful financing of this landmark Gigafactory project. As a lending partner we’re proud to work alongside partners such as National Wealth Fund, UK Export Finance and Sinosure, as well as existing client AESC, in order to support projects which power the energy transition.” 

    Saif Malik, CEO, UK and Head, Client Coverage, UK, Standard Chartered said:

    We are proud to support this transformative UK project. The development of AESC’s new gigafactory will deliver significant economic benefits locally while supporting the development of zero-emission technology. This is more than an investment in infrastructure, it’s a commitment to innovation, UK economic growth and sustainability. Supporting the transition to net zero is deeply embedded in how we operate as a Bank, and this project reflects how we bring that to life by supporting clients on their own sustainability journeys.

    Lenaig Trenaux, Societe Generale’s Global Head of Batteries, Mining and Industries, said:

    We are proud to have worked with AESC to deliver the first gigafactory project financing in the UK, which has benefitted from strong support from the National Wealth Fund and UK Export Finance.

    Societe Generale’s deep understanding of the EV value chain, coupled with our experience working with AESC, were instrumental in delivering the project financing.

    This is another demonstration of SG’s commitment to the green mobility and another step towards the energy transition.

    Beatriz Roa, Global Sectoral Head of Industrials at BBVA, states:

    BBVA is proudly supporting AESC in this landmark project in the UK. This gigafactory will help foster the transition to electric vehicles while supporting the buildup of an entire ecosystem around battery manufacturing in Sunderland. These are key objectives in BBVA’s efforts to support the transition to a more sustainable economy and to the auto and energy industries in particular.

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Dmitry Chernyshenko recalled the important role of teachers, scientists and athletes during the Great Patriotic War

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko congratulated Russians on Victory Day and recalled the important role of Soviet teachers, lecturers, scientists and athletes during the Great Patriotic War.

    “In the year of the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War and in the Year of the Defender of the Fatherland, declared by President Vladimir Putin, it is especially important to treat the memory of the exploits of our heroes with care. Soviet teachers during the war, despite all the difficulties, remained true to their high mission. They taught in the most difficult conditions, shared knowledge and warmth, and created new methods. All this testifies to the resilience of the Soviet education system and the heroism of teachers,” the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized.

    He added that modern teachers also remain true to their work: they continue to pass on knowledge to students and form a strong value foundation in them. And the national project “Youth and Children” contributes to the development of the education sector.

    On Victory Day, a new project about the exploits of teachers during the war is launched in Russia – “The Feat of a Teacher”, created by the Mashuk Knowledge Center together with participants of the All-Russian historical and educational program of the Victory Museum “School Museum of Victory”. Within the framework of it, everyone will be able to learn the real stories of heroic teachers who fought at the front. The project’s videos will tell about teachers who built bridges under fire, were on the battlefields near Stalingrad, repeated the feat of Alexander Matrosov, saved hundreds of pupils of an orphanage for the disabled, and ensured the crossing of children and teenagers on foot to the Soviet rear across the front line.

    In addition, Dmitry Chernyshenko recalled the achievements of Soviet scientists, inventors, university professors and students during the Great Patriotic War. They created applied developments, conducted fundamental research, and trained personnel needed by the country. For example, Leningrad scientists ensured the creation and operation of the Road of Life across Lake Ladoga. The most important developments were carried out in the field of military affairs and defense, medicine. Universities and scientific organizations continued to defend candidate and doctoral dissertations, new specialties were opened and laboratories appeared to conduct priority research.

    “Our President Vladimir Putin called the Victory in the Great Patriotic War a triumph of the Soviet and Russian people. The achievements of scientists and athletes also confirm these words. And the example of modern heroes of the SVO shows that even now in our country there are selfless people – true patriots,” the Deputy Prime Minister added.

    Students of physical education institutes enlisted in the army in whole courses. For example, in 1941, combat units and subdivisions were formed at the Moscow Institute of Physical Education, which later heroically fought near Moscow and contributed to the salvation of the capital. Seven students and teachers of the institute were awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union.

    Almost all of the students of the Leningrad Institute of Physical Education named after P.F. Lesgaft, led by the rector, stood up to defend their city, and later fought behind enemy lines and on other fronts. In 1942, this university was the only civilian university in the country to be awarded the military Order of the Red Banner.

    In addition, in the first months of the war, a unique unit was created – the Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade for Special Purposes. It included more than 800 athletes, including honored masters of sports, champions and record holders of the country. Among them were track and field athletes brothers Seraphim and Georgy Znamensky, speed skater Anatoly Kapchinsky, boxer Nikolay Korolev and others.

    Sport also played an important humanitarian role, reminding people that peacetime would definitely come. Since 1941, Moscow hosted the Football Championship and Cup. In 1942, Feodosiy Vanin set a world record for the 20,000 m distance at the Dynamo stadium, and over 8,000 people took part in the cross-country race in Sokolniki. The track and field relay race along the Garden Ring was held in 1942, 1943 and 1944. In 1943, Gorky hosted the USSR Track and Field Championship. In 1944, cross-country races became a symbol of the liberation of the territories.

    To mark the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War, a series of books entitled “Memory” was published by order of the Ministry of Sports and the Russian Olympic Committee – a four-volume work dedicated to the heroic contribution of Russian athletes to the Victory.

    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 Security: Evolving threat of chemical weapons calls for united front

    Source: Interpol (news and events)

    AMMAN, Jordan – The Fifth Plenary Meeting of the Global Congress on Chemical Security and Emerging Threats has concluded with recommendations to boost global action against chemical security threats. These include strengthening regional networks, developing a centralized chemical database, and addressing challenges posed by emerging technologies and artificial intelligence (AI).

     

    Chemical weapon threats continue to undermine the security landscape, with technological advancements increasing accessibility to chemicals of concern and advanced chemical dispersal mechanisms.

    Emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, pose significant concerns. Non-state actors are already using AI to create propaganda and plan attacks. Chemical synthesis and cyberattacks against chemical facilities are potential AI-facilitated threats.

    The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, with non-state actors exploiting vulnerabilities and trafficking hazardous materials, poses a significant threat. Fragmented regulatory controls exacerbate the illegitimate diversion of chemical precursors, and new technologies, including uncrewed systems such as drones, increase their range and threat potential.

    Major General Al-Maaytah of Jordan’s Public Security Directorate emphasized the global nature of chemical security:

    “Chemical security is no longer only a national or regional responsibility, but rather a global priority requiring significant cooperation between governments and institutions.”

    Gathering 300 delegates from over 100 countries and six international organizations to forge a united front against these evolving threats, the four-day meeting (5 – 8 May) underscored the need for enhanced cooperation, public-private partnerships, and information sharing through a unified global platform coordinated by INTERPOL.

    INTERPOL President Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi highlighted the importance of collective strength and partnerships:

    “Chemical security is a global responsibility that demands our collective attention and action. We must commit to fostering a culture of shared responsibility and strengthen partnerships across borders, sectors, and disciplines to create a safer, more secure future for all.”

    The Global Congress, co-implemented by INTERPOL, Global Affairs Canada, the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the US Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), and the FBI, aims to cultivate a global and multi-sectoral culture of chemical security. Launched in 2018, it brings together international stakeholders to share expertise, develop innovative strategies, and promote cooperation and information sharing against chemical security threats.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: illumin Reports First Quarter 2025 Financial Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    First Quarter Revenue of $29.1 Million up 17% YoY
    Exchange Service Revenue up 148% YoY

    (All monetary figures are expressed in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated)

    TORONTO, May 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — illumin Holdings Inc. (TSX: ILLM and OTCQB: ILLMF) (“illumin” or the “Company”), the advertising technology platform that enables you to win your next customer, today announced its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025.

    First Quarter 2025 Highlights

    • First quarter 2025 revenue rose 17% year-over-year to $29.1 million, driven by higher Exchange service revenue, partially offset by lower Managed service revenue.
    • Self-service revenue was $8.4 million, up slightly compared with the year ago period and represented 29% of total revenue.
    • The Company on-boarded 18 net new Self-service clients during the quarter, reflecting sales initiatives targeting higher-spend clients and positioning the Company for continued long-term Self service revenue growth.
    • Managed service revenue was $8.7 million compared to $11.8 million in the prior year, primarily reflecting more cautious marketing spend related to geo-political and macro-economic uncertainty.
    • Exchange service revenue increased by 148% from the prior year to $12.0 million, resulting from increased demand from new customers, an enhanced supplier network, and platform improvements.
    • Gross margin was 45% compared to 47% for the same period in 2024, reflecting the change in mix to service lines with lower margins, such as Exchange service.
    • Net revenue, or gross profit (revenue less media-related costs), was $13.1 million, up 13% compared with $11.6 million in the prior year period.
    • Adjusted EBITDA loss was $0.4 million, compared to $0.0 million in the prior year period, primarily attributable to higher operating costs due to higher sales, sales support functions, and marketing costs, partly offset by higher revenue.
    • Net loss was $(1.9) million, compared to $(1.1) million in Q1 2024. The increase in the net loss was primarily a result of higher operating costs due to increased sales and marketing costs and a lower net foreign exchange gain compared to the prior year period, partially offset by higher revenue.
    • On December 23, 2024, the Company commenced a new normal course issuer bid (“2024 NCIB”) for its common shares that will remain open until December 22, 2025, or such earlier time as the 2024 NCIB is completed or terminated at the option of the Company. Under the 2024 NCIB, the Company may purchase for cancellation up to 3,914,167 common shares, representing approximately 10% of the Company’s public float as of December 10, 2024. Daily purchases are limited to 12,518 common shares. For the three months ended March 31, 2025, the company purchased nil common shares pursuant to the 2024 NCIB.

    Simon Cairns, illumin’s Chief Executive Officer, commented, “Our first quarter revenue rose 17% even after a slower start to the period than we anticipated. We responded by adjusting our marketing tests week to week and made several advances in our selling process and sales team, which enabled us to exit the quarter with solid growth, led by a 148% rise in our Exchange service revenue and supported by solid performance in Self-service.”

    “In Exchange service, we continue to create and capture both new and recurring demand at surprising levels, as a result of product and selling investments that have given us some differentiation in a very crowded market. As for Self-service, we successfully added 18 new customers in the quarter, which is in line with our key goal of adding targeted, higher-spend clients in this growth area. Self-service revenue, while up slightly year-over-year, exhibited several solid underlying trends, such as increased customer adoption, spend performance and conversion.”

    “We continue to employ the more customer-centric portfolio platform approach that we launched in the second half of 2024, where customers can pick and choose how they want to be supported. Our efforts to market and sell more effectively continue to yield initial positive results, assisted by our ability to offer our clients a broad range of solutions that fit their needs. We continue to invest in our Self-service platform and Exchange service offering, while balancing this with a focus on maintaining liquidity and cost management across our organization.”

    “We remain focused on our plan – being aggressive in generating better marketing and sales performance, removing friction from our selling processes and furthering our product stickiness as a Self-first platform supported by complimentary Managed and Exchange services,” concluded Mr. Cairns.

    Elliot Muchnik, illumin’s Chief Financial Officer, commented, “For what is typically a seasonally slower quarter, our strong year-over-year increase in total revenue reflects exceptional growth in Exchange service due to our initiatives to drive increased demand in this area. Adjusted EBITDA declined slightly despite higher revenues as we continued to make strategic investments in sales and marketing to bolster our long-term growth. As we look ahead, operational discipline continues to be a priority as we aim to grow our Adjusted EBITDA while preserving our substantial net cash position.”

    The following table presents a reconciliation of Net loss to Adjusted EBITDA for the periods ended:

          Three months ended
          March 31, March 31,
            2025     2024  
    Net loss for the period     $ (1,854 ) $ (1,138 )
    Adjustments:        
    Finance income, net       (337 )   (506 )
    Foreign exchange gain       (311 )   (1,386 )
    Depreciation and amortization       1,382     1,365  
    Income tax expense (benefit)       (63 )   378  
    Share-based compensation       737     699  
    Severance expenses       34     90  
    Nasdaq-related costs1       –     423  
    Other non-recurring expenses       1     89  
    Total adjustments       1,443     1,152  
    Adjusted EBITDA     $ (411 ) $ 14  

    (1) Nasdaq-related costs are listing fees and directors’ and officers’ insurance specific to the Company’s Nasdaq listing and have been reclassed below Adjusted EBITDA as they are not recurring.

    Conference Call Details:

    Date: Friday, May 9, 2025
    Time: 8:30AM Eastern Time

    To register for the conference call webcast and presentation, please visit:

    https://events.illumin.com/q1-2025-earnings-call

    Please connect 15 minutes prior to the conference call to ensure time for any software download that may be needed to hear the webcast.

    A recording of the conference call webcast will be available after the call by visiting the Company’s website at https://illumin.com/investor-information/.

    Non-IFRS Measures

    This press release makes reference to certain non-IFRS Accounting Standard measures (“non-IFRS measures”). These measures are not recognized measures under IFRS Accounting Standards (“IFRS”), do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS, and are therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Rather, these measures are provided as additional information to complement those IFRS measures by providing further understanding of our results of operations from management’s perspective. Accordingly, these measures should not be considered in isolation nor as a substitute for analysis of our financial information reported under IFRS. We use non-IFRS measures including “revenue less media-related costs”, “Gross margin”, and “Adjusted EBITDA” (as well as other measures discussed elsewhere in this press release).

    The term “Gross margin” refers to the amount that “revenue less media-related costs” represents as a percentage of total revenue for a given period. Gross margin is used for internal management purposes as an indicator of the performance of the Company’s solution in balancing the goals of delivering excellent results to advertisers while meeting the Company’s margin objectives and, accordingly, the Company believes it is useful supplemental information.

    “Adjusted EBITDA” refers to net income (loss) after adjusting for finance costs (income), impairment loss, fair value gain, income taxes, foreign exchange loss (gain), depreciation and amortization, share-based compensation, acquisition and related integration costs, severance expenses and adjustments to the carrying value of investment tax credits receivable. The Company believes that Adjusted EBITDA is useful supplemental information as it provides an indication of the results generated by the Company’s main business activities before taking into consideration how those activities are financed and taxed and prior to taking into consideration depreciation of property and equipment and certain other items listed above. It is a key measure used by the Company’s management and board of directors to understand and evaluate the Company’s operating performance, to prepare annual budgets and to help develop operating plans.

    These non-IFRS measures are used to provide investors with supplemental measures of our operating performance and thus highlight trends in our business that may not otherwise be apparent when relying solely on IFRS measures. We believe that securities analysts, investors, and other interested parties frequently use non-IFRS measures in the evaluation of issuers, and that these non-IFRS measures are relevant to their analysis of the Company.

    About illumin:

    illumin is evolving the digital advertising landscape by empowering marketers to achieve transformative results through its customer-centric approach. Featuring a unified canvas built around the open web, illumin lets brands and agencies seamlessly plan, build, and execute campaigns across the entire marketing funnel—connecting programmatic channels, email, and social media within a single platform. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, illumin serves clients across North America, Latin America, and Europe. For more information, visit illumin.com.

    Disclaimer with regard to forward looking statements

    Certain statements included herein constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management at this time, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, the Company does not intend, and undertakes no obligation, to update any forward-looking statements to reflect, in particular, new information or future events.

    For further information, please contact:

    Steve Hosein
    Investor Relations
    illumin Holdings Inc.
    416-218-9888 ext. 5313
    investors@illumin.com    		   David Hanover
    Investor Relations – U.S.
    KCSA Strategic Communications
    212-896-1220
    dhanover@kcsa.com


    Please note that the following financial information is an extract from the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024 (the “Financial Statements”) provided for readers’ convenience and should be viewed in conjunction with the Notes to the Financial Statements, which are an integral part of the statements. The full Financial Statements and MD&A for the period may be found by accessing SEDAR+ at     www.sedarplus.com.

    illumin Holdings Inc.
    Consolidated Statements of Financial Position
    (Expressed in thousands of Canadian dollars)
    For the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024

        March 31,
    2025    		   December 31,
    2024
    Assets        
             
    Current assets        
    Cash and cash equivalents   $ 54,013   $ 55,952
    Accounts receivable     27,663     44,650
    Income tax receivable     417     613
    Prepaid expenses and other     3,439     2,864
             
          85,532     104,079
    Non-current assets        
    Other assets     117     115
    Property and equipment     7,102     7,406
    Intangible assets     11,099     9,352
    Goodwill     4,870     4,870
             
          108,720     125,822
             
    Liabilities        
             
    Current liabilities        
    Accounts payable and accrued liabilities     24,534     39,148
    Income tax payable     80     137
    Borrowings     15     48
    Lease obligations     1,212     1,513
             
          25,841     40,846
    Non-current liabilities        
    Deferred tax liability     661     1,241
    Lease obligations     4,553     4,702
             
          31,055     46,789
             
    Shareholders’ equity     77,283     79,033
             
          108,720     125,822
             

    illumin Holdings Inc.
    Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss
    (Expressed in thousands of Canadian dollars, except share amounts)
    For the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024

            2025     2024  
             
    Revenue     $ 29,081   $ 24,952  
             
    Media-related costs       15,935     13,327  
             
    Gross profit       13,146     11,625  
             
    Operating expenses        
    Sales and marketing       7,348     5,753  
    Technology       4,338     4,086  
    General and administrative       1,906     2,374  
    Share-based compensation       737     699  
    Depreciation and amortization       1,382     1,365  
             
            15,711     14,277  
             
    Loss from operations       (2,565 )   (2,652 )
             
    Finance income, net       (337 )   (506 )
    Foreign exchange gain       (311 )   (1,386 )
             
            (648 )   (1,892 )
             
    Net loss before income taxes       (1,917 )   (760 )
             
    Income tax expense (benefit)       (63 )   378  
             
    Net loss for the period       (1,854 )   (1,138 )
             
             
    Basic and diluted net loss per share       (0.04 )   (0.02 )
             
    Other Comprehensive Loss        
             
    Items that may be subsequently reclassified to net loss:        
    Exchange loss on translating foreign operations       (389 )   (164 )
             
    Comprehensive loss for the period       (2,243 )   (1,302 )

    illumin Holdings Inc.
    Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
    (Expressed in thousands of Canadian dollars)
    For the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024

          2025       2024  
    Cash provided by (used in)        
             
    Operating activities        
    Net loss for the period   $ (1,854 )   $ (1,138 )
    Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash flows        
    Depreciation and amortization     1,382       1,365  
    Finance income, net     (337 )     (506 )
    Share-based compensation     737       699  
    Foreign exchange gain     (311 )     (1,386 )
    Severance expense     34       90  
    Income tax expense (benefit)     (63 )     378  
    Change in non-cash operating working capital        
    Accounts receivable     16,769       10,447  
    Prepaid expenses and other     (522 )     427  
    Other assets     –       (1 )
    Accounts payable and accrued liabilities     (14,759 )     (6,151 )
    Income taxes paid, net     (349 )     (52 )
    Interest received     363       495  
             
          1,090       4,667  
             
    Investing activities        
    Additions to property and equipment     (47 )     (775 )
    Additions to intangible assets     (2,465 )     (1,761 )
             
          (2,512 )     (2,536 )
             
    Financing activities        
    Repayment of international loans     (33 )     (33 )
    Payment of leases     (533 )     (510 )
    Repurchase of common shares for cancellation     –       (1,912 )
    Proceeds from the exercise of stock options     138       4  
             
          (428 )     (2,451 )
             
    Decrease in cash and cash equivalents     (1,850 )     (320 )
             
    Impact of foreign exchange on cash and cash equivalents     (89 )     405  
             
    Cash and cash equivalents – beginning of period     55,952       55,455  
             
    Cash and cash equivalents – end of period     54,013       55,540  
             
    Supplemental disclosure of non-cash transactions        
    Unpaid additions (reversals) to property and equipment, net     313       (734 )
             

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Free Speech and Scrutiny Vindicated: Gaston Welcomes Standards Commissioner Ruling

    Source: Traditional Unionist Voice – Northern Ireland

    Statement by TUV MLA Timothy Gaston:

    “I welcome the decision of the Northern Ireland Assembly’s Commissioner for Standards to dismiss the complaint lodged against me in relation to questions I asked during a committee session last October.

    “The complaint, submitted by Dr Paschal McKeown of Age NI, concerned my questioning of her colleague, Dr Kelly Turtle. I asked whether Age NI would regard it as transphobic if an elderly person in a care home requested to be assisted by someone of the same biological sex. This is a legitimate and relevant concern, especially in the context of public policy and safeguarding.

    “Rather than receiving an answer, I was subjected to a formal investigation — simply for raising the question and referring to Dr Turtle’s publicly available statements on social media. That investigation has now concluded, and the findings are clear.

    “The Commissioner found that:

    • My questions were consistent with the TUV manifesto, which clearly sets out our stance on transgenderism (Paragraph 42);

    • Restricting MLAs from raising such questions in committee would constitute “an obvious interference with political expression” (Paragraph 45);

    • There was no improper interference with the work of the Assembly (Paragraph 29) and

    • It was not unreasonable for me to have read and referenced Dr Turtle’s public posts (Paragraph 40).

    “This ruling is a welcome affirmation of the essential role that MLAs play in scrutinising public policy—particularly on sensitive and contested matters. As the Commissioner noted:

    “It is Mr Gaston’s role, as a member of that committee, to ask questions of witnesses that appear before it.” (Paragraph 29)

    “That is a basic democratic principle, and I trust the Chair of the Committee, Paula Bradshaw, will reflect carefully on the report’s findings.

    “It is also important to note that the transcript of Ms Bradshaw’s interview with the Commissioner raises troubling suggestions:

    • She claims that witnesses “weren’t there for scrutiny” (page 43) —a fundamental misunderstanding of committee proceedings as illustrated by the Commissioner’s findings;

    • She attempts, without evidence, to suggest that I have acted in a sectarian manner (page 43) – something she couldn’t defend when challenged (see here );

    • She complains that I come “prepared” each week with a list of questions and argues that this goes “against the convention of committees” where, by her own admission in the same interview, MLAs sometimes appear without having even read the papers or even understanding the role of the department (page 45);

    • She even accuses me of “persistent foul play,” citing my appearances on the Nolan Show or articles published in the News Letter (page 46).

    “Scrutiny is not only permitted in the Assembly —it is essential. Attempting to silence MLAs for raising legitimate concerns undermines the integrity of our democracy. All who value freedom of speech and proper scrutiny should welcome this report.

    “I will continue to represent the people who elected me with honesty, conviction, and a determination to speak plainly on issues that matter – including transgender madness.

    “I welcome the fact that since the meeting took place in October the Supreme Court has ruled that single sex spaces should be respected and that elderly people in care homes have a legal right to demand that they receive intimate care from those of the same biological sex. I trust that all charities – including Age NI – have taken note of this and will not have difficulty answering such simple questions going forward.”

    You can read the full report vindicating Mr Gaston and clearing him of all alleged wrongdoing here .

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Transport – The Moscow Metro turns 90 and has expanded significantly since 2010

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    The Moscow Metro is turning 90 years old and has expanded significantly since 2010.

    On May 15, the Moscow Metro turns 90, reflecting its remarkable growth and development over nearly a century. The first metro line, launched in 1935, ran for 11.2 kilometers and included 13 stations, serving 177,000 passengers daily. Today, the Moscow Metro has over 550 kilometers of lines and 302 stations, including the Moscow Central Circle (MCC), and daily passenger traffic exceeds 8.2 million trips.

    New lines at Moscow Metro.

    Under the leadership of Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, the metro has experienced unprecedented development over the past 15 years: – More than half of the existing lines have been extended.

    Five completely new lines have been added:

    – Moscow Central Circle (MCC) – Line 8A – Line 15 – Big Circle Line – Line 16.

    Since 2010, the number of stations has increased more than 1.6 times – from 182 to 302 metro and MCC stations. Thanks to this, the share of Muscovites living within walking distance of metro stations has grown from about 70% in 2010 to more than 90% in 2025. We are always happy to welcome new passengers. All new stations and lines are designed with a reserve to meet demand for decades to come, said Maxim Liksutov, Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Transport.

    Celebrating its 90th anniversary, the Moscow Metro is a world leader in urban transport, continually improving accessibility, convenience and infrastructure for millions of city residents and visitors.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: 21 persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operations (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    21 persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operations  
         The spokesman reiterated that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. Under the Immigration Ordinance, the maximum penalty for an employer employing a person who is not lawfully employable, i.e. an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land, has been significantly increased from a fine of $350,000 and three years’ imprisonment to a fine of $500,000 and 10 years’ imprisonment to reflect the gravity of such offences. The director, manager, secretary, partner, etc, of the company concerned may also bear criminal liability. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence. 
         Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct an initial screening of vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers, who are arrested during any operation with a view to ascertaining whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) victims. When any TIP indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the ImmD officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP elements, such as threats and coercion in the recruitment phase and the nature of exploitation. Identified TIP victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent intervention, medical services, counselling, shelter or temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP victims to report crimes to the relevant departments immediately.
    Issued at HKT 19:12

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: VATICAN – The first homily of Pope Leo XIV: “Move aside so that Christ may remain, to make oneself small so that he may be known and glorified”

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Friday, 9 May 2025

    Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – Below is the full text of Pope Leo XIV’s first homily during his first Mass as Pope. The celebration took place in the Sistine Chapel, the day after his election. The Cardinals who participated in the Conclave and the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, concelebrated with the newly elected Bishop of Rome.I begin with a word in English, the rest is in Italian, but I want to repeat the words from the Responsorial Psalm: “I will sing a new song to the Lord, because he has done marvels”, not just with me but with all of us. My brother Cardinals, as we celebrate mass this morning, I invite you to recognize the marvels that the Lord has done, the blessings that the Lord continues to pour out upon all of us. To the Ministry of Peter you have called me to carry the cross and to be blessed with that mission and I know I can rely on each and everyone of you to walk with me as we continue as a church, as a community of friends of Jesus, as believers to announce the Good News, to announce the Gospel to say: [beginning of the homily in Italian…]”You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Mt 16:16). In these words, Peter, asked by the Master, together with the other disciples, about his faith in him, expressed the patrimony that the Church, through the apostolic succession, has preserved, deepened and handed on for two thousand years. Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God: the one Saviour, who alone reveals the face of the Father.In him, God, in order to make himself close and accessible to men and women, revealed himself to us in the trusting eyes of a child, in the lively mind of a young person and in the mature features of a man (cf. Gaudium et Spes, 22), finally appearing to his disciples after the resurrection with his glorious body. He thus showed us a model of human holiness that we can all imitate, together with the promise of an eternal destiny that transcends all our limits and abilities.Peter, in his response, understands both of these things: the gift of God and the path to follow in order to allow himself to be changed by that gift. They are two inseparable aspects of salvation entrusted to the Church to be proclaimed for the good of the human race. Indeed, they are entrusted to us, who were chosen by him before we were formed in our mothers’ wombs (cf. Jer 1:5), reborn in the waters of Baptism and, surpassing our limitations and with no merit of our own, brought here and sent forth from here, so that the Gospel might be proclaimed to every creature (cf. Mk 16:15).In a particular way, God has called me by your election to succeed the Prince of the Apostles, and has entrusted this treasure to me so that, with his help, I may be its faithful administrator (cf. 1 Cor 4:2) for the sake of the entire mystical Body of the Church. He has done so in order that she may be ever more fully a city set on a hill (cf. Rev 21:10), an ark of salvation sailing through the waters of history and a beacon that illumines the dark nights of this world. And this, not so much through the magnificence of her structures or the grandeur of her buildings – like the monuments among which we find ourselves – but rather through the holiness of her members. For we are the people whom God has chosen as his own, so that we may declare the wonderful deeds of him who called us out of darkness into his marvellous light (cf. 1 Pet 2:9).Peter, however, makes his profession of faith in reply to a specific question: “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” (Mt 16:13). The question is not insignificant. It concerns an essential aspect of our ministry, namely, the world in which we live, with its limitations and its potential, its questions and its convictions.“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” If we reflect on the scene we are considering, we might find two possible answers, which characterize two different attitudes. First, there is the world’s response. Matthew tells us that this conversation between Jesus and his disciples takes place in the beautiful town of Caesarea Philippi, filled with luxurious palaces, set in a magnificent natural landscape at the foot of Mount Hermon, but also a place of cruel power plays and the scene of betrayals and infidelity.This setting speaks to us of a world that considers Jesus a completely insignificant person, at best someone with an unusual and striking way of speaking and acting. And so, once his presence becomes irksome because of his demands for honesty and his stern moral requirements, this “world” will not hesitate to reject and eliminate him.Then there is the other possible response to Jesus’ question: that of ordinary people. For them, the Nazarene is not a charlatan, but an upright man, one who has courage, who speaks well and says the right things, like other great prophets in the history of Israel. That is why they follow him, at least for as long as they can do so without too much risk or inconvenience. Yet to them he is only a man, and therefore, in times of danger, during his passion, they too abandon him and depart disappointed.What is striking about these two attitudes is their relevance today. They embody notions that we could easily find on the lips of many men and women in our own time, even if, while essentially identical, they are expressed in different language.Even today, there are many settings in which the Christian faith is considered absurd, meant for the weak and unintelligent. Settings where other securities are preferred, like technology, money, success, power, or pleasure.These are contexts where it is not easy to preach the Gospel and bear witness to its truth, where believers are mocked, opposed, despised or at best tolerated and pitied. Yet, precisely for this reason, they are the places where our missionary outreach is desperately needed. A lack of faith is often tragically accompanied by the loss of meaning in life, the neglect of mercy, appalling violations of human dignity, the crisis of the family and so many other wounds that afflict our society.Today, too, there are many settings in which Jesus, although appreciated as a man, is reduced to a kind of charismatic leader or superman. This is true not only among non-believers but also among many baptized Christians, who thus end up living, at this level, in a state of practical atheism.This is the world that has been entrusted to us, a world in which, as Pope Francis taught us so many times, we are called to bear witness to our joyful faith in Jesus the Saviour. Therefore, it is essential that we too repeat, with Peter: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Mt 16:16).It is essential to do this, first of all, in our personal relationship with the Lord, in our commitment to a daily journey of conversion. Then, to do so as a Church, experiencing together our fidelity to the Lord and bringing the Good News to all (cf. Lumen Gentium, 1).I say this first of all to myself, as the Successor of Peter, as I begin my mission as Bishop of Rome and, according to the well-known expression of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, am called to preside in charity over the universal Church (cf. Letter to the Romans, Prologue). Saint Ignatius, who was led in chains to this city, the place of his impending sacrifice, wrote to the Christians there: “Then I will truly be a disciple of Jesus Christ, when the world no longer sees my body” (Letter to the Romans, IV, 1).Ignatius was speaking about being devoured by wild beasts in the arena – and so it happened – but his words apply more generally to an indispensable commitment for all those in the Church who exercise a ministry of authority. It is to move aside so that Christ may remain, to make oneself small so that he may be known and glorified (cf. Jn 3:30), to spend oneself to the utmost so that all may have the opportunity to know and love him.May God grant me this grace, today and always, through the loving intercession of Mary, Mother of the Church. (Agenzia Fides, 9/5/2025)
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    MIL OSI Europe News –