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Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI: Nutanix Study Finds Adoption of GenAI and Containers in the Healthcare Sector Has Accelerated, But IT Infrastructure Modernization to Support it Lags Behind

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN JOSE, Calif., July 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Nutanix (NASDAQ: NTNX), a leader in hybrid multicloud computing, announced the findings of its seventh annual global Healthcare Enterprise Cloud Index (ECI) survey and research report, which measures enterprise progress with cloud adoption in the industry. The research showed that 99% of healthcare organizations surveyed are currently leveraging GenAI applications or workloads today, more than any other industry. This includes a mix of applications from AI-powered chatbots to code co-pilots and clinical development automation. However, the overwhelming majority (96%) share that their current data security and governance measures are insufficient to fully support GenAI at scale.

    “In healthcare, every decision we make has a direct impact on patient outcomes – including how we evolve our technology stack,” said Jon Edwards, Director IS Infrastructure Engineering at Legacy Health. “We took a close look at how to integrate GenAI responsibly, and that meant investing in infrastructure that supports long-term innovation without compromising on data privacy or security. We’re committed to modernizing our systems to deliver better care, drive efficiency, and uphold the trust that patients place in us.”

    This year’s report revealed that healthcare leaders are adopting GenAI at record rates while concerns remain. The number one issue flagged by healthcare leaders is the ability to integrate it with existing IT infrastructure (79%) followed closely by the fact that healthcare data silos still exist (65%), and development challenges with cloud native applications and containers (59%) are persistent.

    “While healthcare has typically been slower to adopt new technologies, we’ve seen a significant uptick in the adoption of GenAI, much of this likely due to the ease of access to GenAI applications and tools,” said Scott Ragsdale, Senior Director, Sales – Healthcare & SLED at Nutanix. “Even with such large adoption rates by organizations, there continue to be concerns given the importance of protecting healthcare data. Although all organizations surveyed are using GenAI in some capacity, we’ll likely see more widespread adoption within those organizations as concerns around privacy and security are resolved.”

    Healthcare survey respondents were asked about GenAI adoptions and trends, Kubernetes and containers, how they’re running business and mission critical applications today, and where they plan to run them in the future. Key findings from this year’s report include:

    • GenAI solution adoption and deployment across healthcare will necessitate a more comprehensive approach to data security. Healthcare respondents indicate a significant amount of work needs to be done to improve the foundational levels of data security/governance required to support GenAI solution implementation and success. The No. 1 challenge faced by healthcare organizations when it comes to leveraging or expanding utilization of GenAI is privacy and security concerns of using large language models (LLMs) with sensitive company data. Furthermore, 96% of healthcare respondents agree that their organization could be doing more to secure their GenAI models and applications. Improving data security and governance at the scale needed to support emerging GenAI workloads will be a long-term challenge and priority for many healthcare organizations.
    • Prioritize infrastructure modernization to support GenAI at scale across healthcare organizations. Running modern applications at enterprise scale requires infrastructure solutions that can support the necessary requirements for complex data security, data integrity and resilience. Unfortunately, 99% of healthcare respondents admit they face challenges when scaling GenAI workloads from development to production – with the No. 1 issue being integration with existing IT infrastructure. For this reason, we believe it is imperative that healthcare IT decision-makers prioritize infrastructure investments and modernization as a key enabling component of GenAI initiatives.
    • GenAI solution adoption in the healthcare sector continues at a rapid pace, but there are still challenges to overcome. When it comes to GenAI adoption, healthcare metrics are excellent, with 99% of industry respondents saying their organization is leveraging GenAI applications/workloads today. Most healthcare organizations believe GenAI solutions will help improve levels of productivity, automation, and efficiency.
    • Meanwhile, real-world GenAI use cases across healthcare segments gravitate towards GenAI-based customer support and experience solutions (e.g., chatbots), and code generation and code co-pilots. However, healthcare organizations also note a range of challenges and potential hindrances regarding GenAI solution development and deployment, including patient data security and privacy, scalability, and complexity.
    • Application containerization and Kubernetes® deployments are expanding across the healthcare industry. Container-based infrastructure and application development has the potential to allow organizations to deliver seamless, secure access to patient and business data across hybrid and multicloud environments. Application containerization is pervasive across industry sectors and is set to expand in adoption across healthcare as well, with 99% of industry respondents saying their organization is at least in the process of containerizing applications.This trend may be driven by the fact that 92% of healthcare respondents agree their organization benefits from adopting cloud native applications/containers. These findings suggest that the majority of IT decision-makers in healthcare will be considering how containerization fits into expansion strategies for new and existing workloads.

    For the seventh consecutive year, Nutanix commissioned a global research study to learn about the state of global enterprise cloud deployments, application containerization trends, and GenAI application adoption. In the Fall of 2024, U.K. researcher Vanson Bourne surveyed 1,500 IT and DevOps/Platform Engineering decision-makers around the world. The respondent base spanned multiple industries, business sizes, and geographies, including North and South America; Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA); and Asia-Pacific-Japan (APJ) region.

    To learn more about the report and findings, please download the full Healthcare Nutanix Enterprise Cloud Index, here and read the blog here.

    About Nutanix
    Nutanix is a global leader in cloud software, offering organizations a single platform for running applications and managing data, anywhere. With Nutanix, companies can reduce complexity and simplify operations, freeing them to focus on their business outcomes. Building on its legacy as the pioneer of hyperconverged infrastructure, Nutanix is trusted by companies worldwide to power hybrid multicloud environments consistently, simply, and cost-effectively. Learn more at www.nutanix.com or follow us on social media @nutanix.

    © 2025 Nutanix, Inc. All rights reserved. Nutanix, the Nutanix logo, and all Nutanix product and service names mentioned herein are registered trademarks or unregistered trademarks of Nutanix, Inc. (“Nutanix”) in the United States and other countries. Other brand names or marks mentioned herein are for identification purposes only and may be the trademarks of their respective holder(s). This press release is for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes a warranty or other binding commitment by Nutanix. This release may contain express and implied forward-looking statements, which are not historical facts and are instead based on Nutanix’s current expectations, estimates and beliefs. The accuracy of such statements involves risks and uncertainties and depends upon future events, including those that may be beyond Nutanix’s control, and actual results may differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied by such statements. Any forward-looking statements included herein speak only as of the date hereof and, except as required by law, Nutanix assumes no obligation to update or otherwise revise any of such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Paytronix Partners with Auphan Software to Expand Canadian Footprint; Drive Interoperability for SMB Operators

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEWTON, Mass. and VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Paytronix, an Access Group company and leader in guest engagement for restaurants and convenience stores, today announced a new partnership with Canadian POS provider, Auphan Software. Paytronix has a long-standing history of providing industry leading support and guest experiences for Canadian brands such as Foodtastic, A&W Canada and Marble Slab Creamery Canada – which recently launched with Paytronix last August.

    The integration aims to add another option for hospitality brands that are looking to customize their product suite with the tools they prefer. Whether they’re a customer of Auphan, or a customer of Paytronix, this integration will provide additional flexibility for customers, giving them the ability to get the best of both worlds.

    Additionally, in a growing market with new solutions for analytics, the partnership stands to provide both brands further recognition within the Canadian market.

    “Our partnership with Paytronix brings together two innovative platforms,” said Andy Ould, Director of Operations at Auphan. “This partnership will empower our customers with deeper integrations, smarter tools, and a seamless guest experience.”

    Auphan is a software provider for mid-sized restaurants, hospitality and retail brands primarily located in Canada, United States, Asia and Europe. They feature customers such as Old Spaghetti Factory, Quesada Burritos & Tacos, and Quiznos. In addition to their POS system, Auphan’s platform offers their customers a variety of enterprise management tools and integrated services similar to Paytronix such as Online Ordering and Loyalty, as well as kitchen display systems, real time analytics and performance tracking.

    “Just as consumers are looking for personalized, custom experiences – our customers are looking for much of the same. Paytronix provides the preferred methods to curate dynamic experiences that guests are looking for,” said Kalani Stephens, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Paytronix. “We’re always looking to partner with forward-thinking companies that share the Paytronix vision of enhancing guest experiences through technology. Auphan Software’s innovative POS and enterprise solutions align perfectly with our customer engagement platform. Together, we’re empowering businesses to build stronger relationships with their guests and drive long-term loyalty.”

    Paytronix has strategic partnerships with more than 100 brands across North America and Europe, and features integrations with more than 500 platforms, allowing customers to customize their stack as they want.

    About Paytronix
    Paytronix, an Access Group company, is a cloud-based digital guest engagement platform for the hospitality industry. Our innovative, unified platform provides loyalty programs, online ordering, gift cards, branded mobile applications, and strategic insights to more than 1,800 leading restaurant and convenience store brands. Our valued clients leverage the power of Paytronix across 50,000 sites globally to create seamless, personalized, and brand-authentic experiences that foster lasting relationships with their customers. For more than 20 years, Paytronix has been a trusted partner helping brands maximize the lifetime value of their guests and grow more profitable businesses. For more information, visit www.paytronix.com.

    About Auphan Software
    Auphan Software, headquartered in Vancouver, B.C., specializes in delivering enterprise-grade, point-of-sale and management solutions tailored for franchises, multi-location, and independent foodservice, retail, and hospitality operators. Trusted by businesses across Canada, United States, and Asia, Auphan supports complex operational needs with a unified hybrid POS system with built in online ordering, KDS, and loyalty rewards and more.

    Built with scalability and consistency in mind, Auphan Software empowers enterprise and franchise networks to centralize control while enabling individual locations to perform with efficiency and flexibility. From real-time performance insights to seamless menu and promotion updates across all sites, Auphan helps brands maintain quality, increase speed of service, and deliver a unified guest experience at scale.

    Our expert team partners with organizations to design and deploy customized solutions that align with brand standards and evolving technology goals—ensuring every location runs smarter, faster, and more connected. Auphan is the platform of choice for growing operations ready to lead with innovation. For more information visit www.auphansoftware.com.

    Media Contact:
    Calen McGee
    Paytronix Systems, Inc.
    Calen.McGee@theaccessgroup.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Paytronix Partners with Auphan Software to Expand Canadian Footprint; Drive Interoperability for SMB Operators

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEWTON, Mass. and VANCOUVER, British Columbia, July 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Paytronix, an Access Group company and leader in guest engagement for restaurants and convenience stores, today announced a new partnership with Canadian POS provider, Auphan Software. Paytronix has a long-standing history of providing industry leading support and guest experiences for Canadian brands such as Foodtastic, A&W Canada and Marble Slab Creamery Canada – which recently launched with Paytronix last August.

    The integration aims to add another option for hospitality brands that are looking to customize their product suite with the tools they prefer. Whether they’re a customer of Auphan, or a customer of Paytronix, this integration will provide additional flexibility for customers, giving them the ability to get the best of both worlds.

    Additionally, in a growing market with new solutions for analytics, the partnership stands to provide both brands further recognition within the Canadian market.

    “Our partnership with Paytronix brings together two innovative platforms,” said Andy Ould, Director of Operations at Auphan. “This partnership will empower our customers with deeper integrations, smarter tools, and a seamless guest experience.”

    Auphan is a software provider for mid-sized restaurants, hospitality and retail brands primarily located in Canada, United States, Asia and Europe. They feature customers such as Old Spaghetti Factory, Quesada Burritos & Tacos, and Quiznos. In addition to their POS system, Auphan’s platform offers their customers a variety of enterprise management tools and integrated services similar to Paytronix such as Online Ordering and Loyalty, as well as kitchen display systems, real time analytics and performance tracking.

    “Just as consumers are looking for personalized, custom experiences – our customers are looking for much of the same. Paytronix provides the preferred methods to curate dynamic experiences that guests are looking for,” said Kalani Stephens, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Paytronix. “We’re always looking to partner with forward-thinking companies that share the Paytronix vision of enhancing guest experiences through technology. Auphan Software’s innovative POS and enterprise solutions align perfectly with our customer engagement platform. Together, we’re empowering businesses to build stronger relationships with their guests and drive long-term loyalty.”

    Paytronix has strategic partnerships with more than 100 brands across North America and Europe, and features integrations with more than 500 platforms, allowing customers to customize their stack as they want.

    About Paytronix
    Paytronix, an Access Group company, is a cloud-based digital guest engagement platform for the hospitality industry. Our innovative, unified platform provides loyalty programs, online ordering, gift cards, branded mobile applications, and strategic insights to more than 1,800 leading restaurant and convenience store brands. Our valued clients leverage the power of Paytronix across 50,000 sites globally to create seamless, personalized, and brand-authentic experiences that foster lasting relationships with their customers. For more than 20 years, Paytronix has been a trusted partner helping brands maximize the lifetime value of their guests and grow more profitable businesses. For more information, visit www.paytronix.com.

    About Auphan Software
    Auphan Software, headquartered in Vancouver, B.C., specializes in delivering enterprise-grade, point-of-sale and management solutions tailored for franchises, multi-location, and independent foodservice, retail, and hospitality operators. Trusted by businesses across Canada, United States, and Asia, Auphan supports complex operational needs with a unified hybrid POS system with built in online ordering, KDS, and loyalty rewards and more.

    Built with scalability and consistency in mind, Auphan Software empowers enterprise and franchise networks to centralize control while enabling individual locations to perform with efficiency and flexibility. From real-time performance insights to seamless menu and promotion updates across all sites, Auphan helps brands maintain quality, increase speed of service, and deliver a unified guest experience at scale.

    Our expert team partners with organizations to design and deploy customized solutions that align with brand standards and evolving technology goals—ensuring every location runs smarter, faster, and more connected. Auphan is the platform of choice for growing operations ready to lead with innovation. For more information visit www.auphansoftware.com.

    Media Contact:
    Calen McGee
    Paytronix Systems, Inc.
    Calen.McGee@theaccessgroup.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: First American Bank Knows Growth Is Messy—That’s Why We’re Here to Help

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Alexis Pascual, Senior Vice President and Commercial Lending Group Head at First American Bank, explains how relationship-driven banking helps manufacturers access capital, navigate risk, and plan for sustainable growth.

    MIAMI, July 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In manufacturing, margins are tight, challenges are constant, and growth can be messy. That’s why the role of a banker today goes far beyond financial management. Our team of banking experts provides guidance, connects the dots, and helps clients think several steps ahead.

    At First American Bank, we’ve seen firsthand how manufacturers – especially small to midsize firms – benefit from a more strategic banking relationship. These businesses are often exceptional at what they do, but lack the time or expertise to build long-term financial plans or optimize their capital structures. That’s where we come in.

    A relationship, not a transaction

    Being a strategic banker starts with asking better questions. It’s not just, “What financing do you need today?” It’s, “Where are you trying to go, and what’s getting in your way?”

    Manufacturing clients often face complex operational challenges: cash flow gaps, equipment financing needs, overseas sourcing issues, and more. Many are growing fast but haven’t built out a formal finance function. Others are facing increasing pressure from trade policy shifts or interest rate volatility. As strategic bankers, our role is to take the time to understand these dynamics, then design the right roadmap forward.

    Sometimes that means structuring an SBA working capital solution to tackle financial vulnerabilities. Other times, it means connecting the client to a part-time CFO, helping them apply for a foreign trade zone designation, or walking them through IC-DISC tax advantages for exporters. We’re not CPAs or logistics experts, but we know the right people and we are always happy to make those introductions.

    Capital that grows with the business

    South Florida’s climate is good for manufacturing, too. The region is home to many thriving producers, most of them small and privately held. They often don’t fit the mold for conventional lending, especially if their financial reporting isn’t strong or their growth has outpaced their internal systems.

    In these cases, we use SBA lending programs as a bridge. These structures allow us to support manufacturers with solid fundamentals but temporary financial constraints. More importantly, we sit down with them to map out a clear path: “Here’s how we fund you now, and here’s what needs to happen to transition into conventional credit.”

    Advice beyond the balance sheet

    In today’s supply chain environment, risk comes from all angles. Rising costs, tariffs, and shifting trade agreements force manufacturers to rethink their operations. We help them do just that.

    That might mean connecting a client to a more cost-effective supplier in Latin America, encouraging a re-shoring strategy, or pointing them to a freight partner that can reduce landed costs. In one case, we helped a company shift from a Chinese vendor to a local supplier in South Florida, avoiding tariffs and cutting lead times.

    This kind of support may not fall under “banking” in the traditional sense, but it’s core to how we operate.

    Built for long-term relationships

    As a recently hired banker, what drew me to First American Bank was its privately held structure and relationship-first approach. We’re not driven by quarterly quotas or product pushes. We’re focused on doing what’s right for the client, often over the course of many years.

    Some of our manufacturing clients started with a small SBA loan and now have multimillion-dollar credit lines with us. We’ve grown alongside them, advising through each phase of their journey.

    That’s the real value of a strategic banker. Not someone who just shows up for the deal, but someone who’s invested in your success, challenge by challenge, year after year.

    Are you a manufacturer looking for more support from your financial partners? If so, chat with our team to learn more.

    Disclaimers: This information is for educational purposes only. It is not legal or tax advice. For legal or tax advice, you should consult your own legal, tax, and investment advisors.

    First American Bank is a Member FDIC.

    About First American Bank
    First American Bank is the largest privately held bank in Illinois, with over $7 billion in assets and 61 locations across Illinois, Wisconsin, and Florida. Family-owned and operated since the 1960s, the bank offers a full range of financial services, including personal banking, business lending, and trust and wealth management. Known for combining community bank service with large-scale capabilities, First American Bank is committed to long-term relationships, financial stability, and delivering tailored solutions that help customers thrive.

    Media Contact:
    Teresa Lee 
    305-631-6400 
    tlee@firstambank.com 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: First American Bank Knows Growth Is Messy—That’s Why We’re Here to Help

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Alexis Pascual, Senior Vice President and Commercial Lending Group Head at First American Bank, explains how relationship-driven banking helps manufacturers access capital, navigate risk, and plan for sustainable growth.

    MIAMI, July 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In manufacturing, margins are tight, challenges are constant, and growth can be messy. That’s why the role of a banker today goes far beyond financial management. Our team of banking experts provides guidance, connects the dots, and helps clients think several steps ahead.

    At First American Bank, we’ve seen firsthand how manufacturers – especially small to midsize firms – benefit from a more strategic banking relationship. These businesses are often exceptional at what they do, but lack the time or expertise to build long-term financial plans or optimize their capital structures. That’s where we come in.

    A relationship, not a transaction

    Being a strategic banker starts with asking better questions. It’s not just, “What financing do you need today?” It’s, “Where are you trying to go, and what’s getting in your way?”

    Manufacturing clients often face complex operational challenges: cash flow gaps, equipment financing needs, overseas sourcing issues, and more. Many are growing fast but haven’t built out a formal finance function. Others are facing increasing pressure from trade policy shifts or interest rate volatility. As strategic bankers, our role is to take the time to understand these dynamics, then design the right roadmap forward.

    Sometimes that means structuring an SBA working capital solution to tackle financial vulnerabilities. Other times, it means connecting the client to a part-time CFO, helping them apply for a foreign trade zone designation, or walking them through IC-DISC tax advantages for exporters. We’re not CPAs or logistics experts, but we know the right people and we are always happy to make those introductions.

    Capital that grows with the business

    South Florida’s climate is good for manufacturing, too. The region is home to many thriving producers, most of them small and privately held. They often don’t fit the mold for conventional lending, especially if their financial reporting isn’t strong or their growth has outpaced their internal systems.

    In these cases, we use SBA lending programs as a bridge. These structures allow us to support manufacturers with solid fundamentals but temporary financial constraints. More importantly, we sit down with them to map out a clear path: “Here’s how we fund you now, and here’s what needs to happen to transition into conventional credit.”

    Advice beyond the balance sheet

    In today’s supply chain environment, risk comes from all angles. Rising costs, tariffs, and shifting trade agreements force manufacturers to rethink their operations. We help them do just that.

    That might mean connecting a client to a more cost-effective supplier in Latin America, encouraging a re-shoring strategy, or pointing them to a freight partner that can reduce landed costs. In one case, we helped a company shift from a Chinese vendor to a local supplier in South Florida, avoiding tariffs and cutting lead times.

    This kind of support may not fall under “banking” in the traditional sense, but it’s core to how we operate.

    Built for long-term relationships

    As a recently hired banker, what drew me to First American Bank was its privately held structure and relationship-first approach. We’re not driven by quarterly quotas or product pushes. We’re focused on doing what’s right for the client, often over the course of many years.

    Some of our manufacturing clients started with a small SBA loan and now have multimillion-dollar credit lines with us. We’ve grown alongside them, advising through each phase of their journey.

    That’s the real value of a strategic banker. Not someone who just shows up for the deal, but someone who’s invested in your success, challenge by challenge, year after year.

    Are you a manufacturer looking for more support from your financial partners? If so, chat with our team to learn more.

    Disclaimers: This information is for educational purposes only. It is not legal or tax advice. For legal or tax advice, you should consult your own legal, tax, and investment advisors.

    First American Bank is a Member FDIC.

    About First American Bank
    First American Bank is the largest privately held bank in Illinois, with over $7 billion in assets and 61 locations across Illinois, Wisconsin, and Florida. Family-owned and operated since the 1960s, the bank offers a full range of financial services, including personal banking, business lending, and trust and wealth management. Known for combining community bank service with large-scale capabilities, First American Bank is committed to long-term relationships, financial stability, and delivering tailored solutions that help customers thrive.

    Media Contact:
    Teresa Lee 
    305-631-6400 
    tlee@firstambank.com 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: John Snow Labs Launches Martlet.ai, Setting New Standards for Risk Adjustment with Healthcare Large Language Models

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    The first of several new spinoff companies, Martlet.ai reimagines how payers and providers approach HCC coding with an on-premise, secure, AI-based solution

    LEWES, Del., July 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — John Snow Labs, the AI for healthcare company, today announced the launch of Martlet.ai, a healthcare AI company focused on redefining how payers and providers approach Hierarchical Condition Category (HCC) Coding. Founded by engineers and payment experts from John Snow Labs, this is the first of several planned spinoff companies that will address specific, high-impact, healthcare industry challenges with AI.

    HCC coding plays a vital role in patient risk adjustment, directly influencing reimbursement structures and ensuring the financial sustainability of value-based care models. This is becoming even more crucial in light of the CMS Medicare Advantage rate hikes announced for 2026, which will further tie reimbursement to precise documentation and coding.

    Martlet.ai’s state-of-the-art HCC engine is the answer to this challenge. Co-founded by CTO Hasham Ul Haq and CRO Ritwik Jain, this venture was born from years of hands-on success delivering AI solutions to leading healthcare enterprises. Run fully behind the customers’ firewalls, models are trained directly on patient charts to deliver unmatched accuracy, auditability, and speed. Unlike general-purpose AI tools, Martlet.ai was built for clinical documentation, making it highly effective for powering coding workflows.

    West Virginia University (WVU) Medicine is already realizing the value of Martlet.ai to uncover missed HCC codes, improve risk adjustment factor (RAF) scoring, and streamline physician workflows. The implementation includes seamless two-way integration into the electronic health record (EHR) system with full compliance. As shared in their NLP Summit session “Maximizing Patient Care through AI-Enhanced HCC Code Discovery,” WVU experienced a notable increase in HCC code accuracy and a significant reduction in manual review time.

    “Martlet.ai gives healthcare organizations the power to take HCC coding into their own hands with a level of customization and compliance that is unmatched,” said David Talby, CEO, John Snow Labs. “The combination of state-of-the-art, healthcare-specific, proprietary medical language models, an optimized human-in-the-loop workflow, and enterprise-grade validation layers, Martel.ai was engineered by industry leaders to be compliant, effective, and production-ready from day one.”

    To learn more or schedule a demo, visit Martlet.ai.

    About John Snow Labs
    John Snow Labs, the AI for healthcare company, provides state-of-the-art software, models, and data to help healthcare and life science organizations put AI to good use. Developer of Medical LLMs, Healthcare NLP, Spark NLP, the Generative AI Lab No-Code Platform, and the Medical Chatbot, John Snow Labs’ award-winning medical AI software powers the world’s leading pharmaceuticals, academic medical centers, and health technology companies. Creator and host of The NLP Summit, the company is committed to further educating and advancing the global AI community.

    About Martlet.ai
    Martlet.ai is an AI platform created to automate Hierarchical Condition Category (HCC) coding and streamline risk-adjustment workflows for high-compliance environments. Medicare Advantage and Medicaid MCOs, commercial insurers, ACOs, provider organizations, and revenue-cycle management (RCM) firms trust Martlet.ai for its secure, on-premise coding engine, ensuring accuracy, auditability, and transparency at every step. Made possible with domain-specific LLMs, Martlet.ai optimizes reimbursement while maintaining regulatory alignment.

    Contact
    Gina Devine
    Head of Communications
    John Snow Labs
    gina@johnsnowlabs.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: John Snow Labs Launches Martlet.ai, Setting New Standards for Risk Adjustment with Healthcare Large Language Models

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    The first of several new spinoff companies, Martlet.ai reimagines how payers and providers approach HCC coding with an on-premise, secure, AI-based solution

    LEWES, Del., July 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — John Snow Labs, the AI for healthcare company, today announced the launch of Martlet.ai, a healthcare AI company focused on redefining how payers and providers approach Hierarchical Condition Category (HCC) Coding. Founded by engineers and payment experts from John Snow Labs, this is the first of several planned spinoff companies that will address specific, high-impact, healthcare industry challenges with AI.

    HCC coding plays a vital role in patient risk adjustment, directly influencing reimbursement structures and ensuring the financial sustainability of value-based care models. This is becoming even more crucial in light of the CMS Medicare Advantage rate hikes announced for 2026, which will further tie reimbursement to precise documentation and coding.

    Martlet.ai’s state-of-the-art HCC engine is the answer to this challenge. Co-founded by CTO Hasham Ul Haq and CRO Ritwik Jain, this venture was born from years of hands-on success delivering AI solutions to leading healthcare enterprises. Run fully behind the customers’ firewalls, models are trained directly on patient charts to deliver unmatched accuracy, auditability, and speed. Unlike general-purpose AI tools, Martlet.ai was built for clinical documentation, making it highly effective for powering coding workflows.

    West Virginia University (WVU) Medicine is already realizing the value of Martlet.ai to uncover missed HCC codes, improve risk adjustment factor (RAF) scoring, and streamline physician workflows. The implementation includes seamless two-way integration into the electronic health record (EHR) system with full compliance. As shared in their NLP Summit session “Maximizing Patient Care through AI-Enhanced HCC Code Discovery,” WVU experienced a notable increase in HCC code accuracy and a significant reduction in manual review time.

    “Martlet.ai gives healthcare organizations the power to take HCC coding into their own hands with a level of customization and compliance that is unmatched,” said David Talby, CEO, John Snow Labs. “The combination of state-of-the-art, healthcare-specific, proprietary medical language models, an optimized human-in-the-loop workflow, and enterprise-grade validation layers, Martel.ai was engineered by industry leaders to be compliant, effective, and production-ready from day one.”

    To learn more or schedule a demo, visit Martlet.ai.

    About John Snow Labs
    John Snow Labs, the AI for healthcare company, provides state-of-the-art software, models, and data to help healthcare and life science organizations put AI to good use. Developer of Medical LLMs, Healthcare NLP, Spark NLP, the Generative AI Lab No-Code Platform, and the Medical Chatbot, John Snow Labs’ award-winning medical AI software powers the world’s leading pharmaceuticals, academic medical centers, and health technology companies. Creator and host of The NLP Summit, the company is committed to further educating and advancing the global AI community.

    About Martlet.ai
    Martlet.ai is an AI platform created to automate Hierarchical Condition Category (HCC) coding and streamline risk-adjustment workflows for high-compliance environments. Medicare Advantage and Medicaid MCOs, commercial insurers, ACOs, provider organizations, and revenue-cycle management (RCM) firms trust Martlet.ai for its secure, on-premise coding engine, ensuring accuracy, auditability, and transparency at every step. Made possible with domain-specific LLMs, Martlet.ai optimizes reimbursement while maintaining regulatory alignment.

    Contact
    Gina Devine
    Head of Communications
    John Snow Labs
    gina@johnsnowlabs.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Pekka Pykäri steps down from his role in Oma Savings Bank’s management team

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    OMA SAVINGS BANK PLC, STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE 1 JULY 2025 AT 4:00 PM CHANGES IN BOARD/MANAGEMENT/AUDITORS


    Pekka Pykäri steps down from his role in Oma Savings Bank’s management team

    Oma Savings Bank’s Chief Risk Officer (CRO) and member of the management team, Pekka Pykäri, will step down at his own request no later than August 31, 2025. Pekka Pykäri will continue working for the company in other risk control duties until December 31, 2025.

    “I would like to take this opportunity to thank Pekka for his highly commendable work in developing the bank’s culture and risk control processes over the past two years,” says says Karri Alameri, OmaSp CEO.

    OmaSp will announce Pekka’s successor at a later date.

    Oma Savings Bank Plc

    Additional information:

    Karri Alameri, CEO, tel. +358 45 656 5250, karri.alameri@omasp.fi


    Distribution:

    Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd
    Major media
    www.omasp.fi

    OmaSp is a solvent and profitable Finnish bank. About 600 professionals provide nationwide services through OmaSp’s 48 branch offices and digital service channels to over 200,000 private and corporate customers. OmaSp focuses primarily on retail banking operations and provides its clients with a broad range of banking services both through its own balance sheet as well as by acting as an intermediary for its partners’ products. The intermediated products include credit, investment and loan insurance products. OmaSp is also engaged in mortgage banking operations.

    OmaSp core idea is to provide personal service and to be local and close to its customers, both in digital and traditional channels. OmaSp strives to offer premium level customer experience through personal service and easy accessibility. In addition, the development of the operations and services is customer-oriented. The personnel is committed and OmaSp seeks to support their career development with versatile tasks and continuous development. A substantial part of the personnel also own shares in OmaSp.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Pekka Pykäri steps down from his role in Oma Savings Bank’s management team

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    OMA SAVINGS BANK PLC, STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE 1 JULY 2025 AT 4:00 PM CHANGES IN BOARD/MANAGEMENT/AUDITORS


    Pekka Pykäri steps down from his role in Oma Savings Bank’s management team

    Oma Savings Bank’s Chief Risk Officer (CRO) and member of the management team, Pekka Pykäri, will step down at his own request no later than August 31, 2025. Pekka Pykäri will continue working for the company in other risk control duties until December 31, 2025.

    “I would like to take this opportunity to thank Pekka for his highly commendable work in developing the bank’s culture and risk control processes over the past two years,” says says Karri Alameri, OmaSp CEO.

    OmaSp will announce Pekka’s successor at a later date.

    Oma Savings Bank Plc

    Additional information:

    Karri Alameri, CEO, tel. +358 45 656 5250, karri.alameri@omasp.fi


    Distribution:

    Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd
    Major media
    www.omasp.fi

    OmaSp is a solvent and profitable Finnish bank. About 600 professionals provide nationwide services through OmaSp’s 48 branch offices and digital service channels to over 200,000 private and corporate customers. OmaSp focuses primarily on retail banking operations and provides its clients with a broad range of banking services both through its own balance sheet as well as by acting as an intermediary for its partners’ products. The intermediated products include credit, investment and loan insurance products. OmaSp is also engaged in mortgage banking operations.

    OmaSp core idea is to provide personal service and to be local and close to its customers, both in digital and traditional channels. OmaSp strives to offer premium level customer experience through personal service and easy accessibility. In addition, the development of the operations and services is customer-oriented. The personnel is committed and OmaSp seeks to support their career development with versatile tasks and continuous development. A substantial part of the personnel also own shares in OmaSp.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Select Committee on Social Services Commends Provincial Departments for Progress on Implementation of Health Patient Registration System (HPRS)


    Download logo

    The Select Committee on Social Services received briefings last week from the Eastern Cape, Free State and Western Cape provincial departments of health on their implementation of the Health Patient Registration System (HPRS) and action plans to address the findings of the Auditor-General for the 2023/24 financial year.

    The Eastern Cape reported 98% progress in its implementation rate of the HPRS across its healthcare facilities in spite of the challenges the province faces particularly in rural areas where there is poor technological connectivity. The Eastern Cape MEC for Health who led the provincial health delegation, Ms Ntandokazi Capa said: “While we have made substantial progress, the reality is that our rural facilities struggle with connectivity, which affects service delivery.”

    The committee expressed concern over the impact of connectivity issues on data integrity, with members asking, the strategies that are in place to ensure that the collected data is accurate, especially when facilities are unable to connect to the system.

    The Free State provincial department of health reported a successful registration of 3.8 million patients on the provincial HPRS. The delegation highlighted areas in which there are challenges regarding the implementation of the HPRS. The areas included immovable asset register and financial governance.

    The Western Cape provincial health department told the committee about their IT capabilities and integration of the HPRS with existing systems. The province has been sending daily updates from its Patient Master Index to the national system since June 2020.

    The Acting Head of the Western Cape Provincial Department of Health, Dr Saadiq Karim told the committee that their IT infrastructure is among the most advanced in the country, allowing them to leverage data effectively for patient care. He highlighted the critical role of interoperability with national systems to ensure a seamless flow of information.

    The Chairperson of the committee, Ms Desery Fienies, said the engagement with the provinces highlighted encouraging achievements and challenges faced by the provinces. She called for more improvements in the work that the provincial departments of health reported. She said: “The implementation of HPRS is a significant step forward, but we must address the existing challenges to realise its full potential.”

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: First Arab scholarship launched to support students at Tsinghua University in China

    • The Hazem Ben-Gacem Arab Scholars Program will support up to 15 students every year for five years through Undergraduate and Postgraduate Programmes at Tsinghua University in China.
    • The Scholar’s Program is available to students from Arab League countries.
    • The scholarship strengthens ties between the Arab States and China, giving students access to one of the most prestigious universities in China.

    Distinguished ambassadors, dignitaries, and academic leaders gathered on Thursday, 26th June, at Tsinghua University in China (www.Tsinghua.edu.cn) to mark the official launch of the Hazem Ben-Gacem Arab Scholars Program, a landmark initiative to empower students from Arab League countries through world-class education while fostering academic excellence and cross-cultural collaboration.  

    This year, the Scholars Program will support six students from Arab League nations who are pursuing postgraduate courses at the historic university. This program is understood to be the first scholarship established at Tsinghua University specifically for students from Arab nations and aims to strengthen Sino-Arab relations.

    Tsinghua University is a top-ranked Chinese university with a strong reputation in technology and engineering, often compared to MIT. Established in 1911, Tsinghua University has 20 colleges and 90 undergraduate programs, enabling it to offer a wide array of academic disciplines. Tsinghua alumni have made significant contributions to the economic, cultural, and technological development of China and also represent many of the nation’s political elite.

    Hazem Ben-Gacem, Founder and Chief Executive of BlueFive Capital, said: “For more than a thousand years, the Arab region and China have been bound by a vibrant exchange of goods, knowledge, and cultural dialogue. By enabling exceptional Arab students to study at Tsinghua, China’s pinnacle of academic excellence, we aim to develop leaders who will carry forward this agelong spirit of curiosity and collaboration, ensuring that the Arab-China relationship evolves as a beacon of cooperation in an increasingly fragmented world.”

    Professor Yang Bin, Vice Chancellor of Tsinghua University Council, expressed the university’s sincere gratitude for Mr. Hazem Ben-Gacem’s generous donation. He noted that in recent years, Tsinghua has implemented a series of strategic initiatives to enhance its global impact, with particular emphasis on deepening engagement and cooperation with Arab League member states, which has significantly advanced cultural exchanges between both sides. The newly established Hazem Ben-Gacem Arab Scholars Program, funded by Mr. Hazem Ben-Gacem’s donation, will support six incoming full-time master’s students from Arab League countries. Professor Yang emphasized that this initiative will not only motivate recipients to pursue academic excellence but also serve as an important milestone in strengthening the friendship between Tsinghua and the Arab world. It vividly embodies the shared values of openness, inclusiveness, mutual respect, and the pursuit of common progress across cultures and borders.

    The Hazem Ben-Gacem Arab Scholars Program will begin this academic year (2025-2026).

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Tsinghua University Education Foundation (TUEF).

    Media contact:
    Leila Ben Hassen
    leila@Bluejaycommunication.com

    Hashtags:
    #Education #Scholarship #ArabScholarsProgram #Philantropy #TUEF

    About Hazem Ben-Gacem:
    Hazem Ben-Gacem is the Founder and Chief Executive of BlueFive Capital. Until September 2024, he was co-Chief Executive Officer at Investcorp, the Middle East’s largest non-sovereign private equity firm, chairing most of its private equity and infrastructure investment committees and overseeing all Investcorp’s activities in the Middle East, South East Asia, Japan, and China. Prior to that, Hazem led Investcorp’s European private equity and its global technology investment businesses. During his 30-year tenure, Hazem directly led over 40 private equity investments across most world regions. Hazem began his career in New York as a member of the M&A team at Credit Suisse First Boston.

    Hazem has previously been a donor for different scholarship programs with Harvard University, Harvard Medical School, Harvard Kennedy School, and Oxford University.

    Hazem serves on the Executive Boards of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and St Anthony’s College at Oxford University, and the Dean’s Council of the Harvard Medical School. In 2017, he founded the Harvard Office in Tunisia, the first formal presence for Harvard in the Arab world.

    For more information, please visit www.BlueFiveCapital.com

    About Tsinghua University Education Foundation (TUEF):
    Founded in 1994, it is the first university education foundation established in China following the reform and opening up of China. The objective of TUEF is to foster the development of education in China, improve educational quality and academic research, advocate the culture and vision of Tsinghua University, and strive for philanthropic support from domestic and international organizations and individuals.

    TUEF actively raises social resources, constantly optimizes project management, and steadily promotes the preservation and appreciation of value in efforts to help Tsinghua University move towards the goal of becoming a globally leading university. TUEF fully leverages the advantages of scientific and technological talents in Tsinghua University, supports public welfare services, and boosts social progress and human welfare through the development of education.

    For more information, please visit www.Tsinghua.edu.cn

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Antarctic summer sea ice is at record lows. Here’s how it will harm the planet – and us

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Edward Doddridge, Senior Research Associate in Physical Oceanography, University of Tasmania

    An icebreaker approaches Denman Glacier in March, when there was 70% less Antarctic sea ice than usual. Pete Harmsen AAD

    On her first dedicated scientific voyage to Antarctica in March, the Australian icebreaker RSV Nuyina found the area sea-ice free. Scientists were able to reach places never sampled before.

    Over the past four summers, Antarctic sea ice extent has hit new lows.

    I’m part of a large group of scientists who set out to explore the consequences of summer sea ice loss after the record lows of 2022 and 2023. Together we rounded up the latest publications, then gathered new evidence using satellites, computer modelling, and robotic ocean sampling devices. Today we can finally reveal what we found.

    It’s bad news on many levels, because Antarctic sea ice is vital for the world’s climate and ecosystems. But we need to get a grip on what’s happening – and use this concerning data to prompt faster action on climate change.

    Sea ice around Antarctica waxes and wanes with the seasons, growing in the cold months and melting in warm ones. But this rhythmic cycle is changing.

    What we did and what we found

    Our team used a huge range of approaches to study the consequences of sea ice loss.

    We used satellites to understand sea ice loss over summer, measuring everything from ice thickness and extent to the length of time each year when sea ice is absent.

    Satellite data was also used to calculate how much of the Antarctic coast was exposed to open ocean waves. We were then able to quantify the relationship between sea ice loss and iceberg calving.

    Data from free-drifting ocean robots was used to understand how sea ice loss affects the tiny plants that support the marine food web.

    Every other kind of available data was then harnessed to explore the full impact of sea ice changes on ecosystems.

    Voyage reports from international colleagues came in handy when studying how sea ice loss affected Antarctic resupply missions.

    We also used computer models to simulate the impact of dramatic summer sea ice loss on the ocean.

    In summary, our extensive research reveals four key consequences of summer sea ice loss in Antarctica.

    1. Ocean warming is compounding

    Bright white sea ice reflects about 90% of the incoming energy from sunlight, while the darker ocean absorbs about 90%. So if there’s less summer sea ice, the ocean absorbs much more heat.

    This means the ocean surface warms more in an extreme low sea ice year, such as 2016 – when everything changed.

    Until recently, the Southern Ocean would reset over winter. If there was a summer with low sea ice cover, the ocean would warm a bit. But over winter, the extra heat would shift into the atmosphere.

    That’s not working anymore. We know this from measuring sea surface temperatures, but we have also confirmed this relationship using computer models.

    What’s happening instead is when summer sea ice is very low, as in 2016, it triggers ocean warming that persists. It takes about three years for the system to fully recover. But recovery is becoming less and less likely, given warming is building from year to year.

    Comparing an average sea ice summer (a) to an extreme low sea ice summer (b) in which there is less sea ice for wildlife and more sunlight is absorbed by the ocean. The ice shelf is more exposed to ocean waves, calving more icebergs. The ocean is also less productive and tourist vessels can make a closer approach.
    Doddridge, E., W., et al. (2025) PNAS Nexus., CC BY-NC-ND

    2. More icebergs are forming

    Sea ice protects Antarctica’s coast from ocean waves.

    On average, about a third of the continent’s coastline is exposed over summer. But this is changing. In 2022 and 2023, more than half of the Antarctic coast was exposed.

    Our research shows more icebergs break away from Antarctic ice sheets in years with less sea ice. During an average summer, about 100 icebergs break away. Summers with low sea ice produce about twice as many icebergs.

    Antarctic ice sheets without sea ice are more exposed to waves.
    Pete Harmsen AAD

    3. Wildlife squeezed off the ice

    Many species of seals and penguins rely on sea ice, especially for breeding and moulting.

    Entire colonies of emperor penguins experienced “catastrophic breeding failure” in 2022, when sea ice melted before chicks were ready to go to sea.

    After giving birth, crabeater seals need large, stable sea ice platforms for 2–3 weeks until their pups are weaned. The ice provides shelter and protection from predators. Less summer sea-ice cover makes large platforms harder to find.

    Many seal and penguin species also take refuge on the sea ice when moulting. These species must avoid the icy water while their new feathers or fur grows, or risk dying of hypothermia.

    4. Logistical challenges at the end of the world

    Low summer sea ice makes it harder for people working in Antarctica. Shrinking summer sea ice will narrow the time window during which Antarctic bases can be resupplied over the ice. These bases may soon need to be resupplied from different locations, or using more difficult methods such as small boats.

    Supply ships typically unload their cargo directly onto the sea ice, but that may have to change.
    Jared McGhie, Australian Antarctic Division

    No longer safe

    Anarctic sea ice began to change rapidly in 2015 and 2016. Since then it has remained well below the long-term average.

    The dataset we use relies on measurements from US Department of Defense satellites. Late last month, the department announced it would no longer provide this data to the scientific community. While this has since been delayed to July 31, significant uncertainty remains.

    One of the biggest challenges in climate science is gathering and maintaining consistent long-term datasets. Without these, we don’t accurately know how much our climate is changing. Observing the entire Earth is hard enough when we all work together. It’s going to be almost impossible if we don’t share our data.

    Antarctic sea ice extent anomalies (the difference between the long-term average and the measurement) for the entire satellite record since the late 1970s.
    Edward Doddridge, using data from the US NSIDC Sea Ice Index, version 3., CC BY

    Recent low sea ice summers present a scientific challenge. The system is currently changing faster than our scientific community can study it.

    But vanishing sea ice also presents a challenge to society. The only way to prevent even more drastic changes in the future is to rapidly transition away from fossil fuels and reach net zero emissions.

    Edward Doddridge receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

    – ref. Antarctic summer sea ice is at record lows. Here’s how it will harm the planet – and us – https://theconversation.com/antarctic-summer-sea-ice-is-at-record-lows-heres-how-it-will-harm-the-planet-and-us-256104

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Antarctic summer sea ice is at record lows. Here’s how it will harm the planet – and us

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Edward Doddridge, Senior Research Associate in Physical Oceanography, University of Tasmania

    An icebreaker approaches Denman Glacier in March, when there was 70% less Antarctic sea ice than usual. Pete Harmsen AAD

    On her first dedicated scientific voyage to Antarctica in March, the Australian icebreaker RSV Nuyina found the area sea-ice free. Scientists were able to reach places never sampled before.

    Over the past four summers, Antarctic sea ice extent has hit new lows.

    I’m part of a large group of scientists who set out to explore the consequences of summer sea ice loss after the record lows of 2022 and 2023. Together we rounded up the latest publications, then gathered new evidence using satellites, computer modelling, and robotic ocean sampling devices. Today we can finally reveal what we found.

    It’s bad news on many levels, because Antarctic sea ice is vital for the world’s climate and ecosystems. But we need to get a grip on what’s happening – and use this concerning data to prompt faster action on climate change.

    Sea ice around Antarctica waxes and wanes with the seasons, growing in the cold months and melting in warm ones. But this rhythmic cycle is changing.

    What we did and what we found

    Our team used a huge range of approaches to study the consequences of sea ice loss.

    We used satellites to understand sea ice loss over summer, measuring everything from ice thickness and extent to the length of time each year when sea ice is absent.

    Satellite data was also used to calculate how much of the Antarctic coast was exposed to open ocean waves. We were then able to quantify the relationship between sea ice loss and iceberg calving.

    Data from free-drifting ocean robots was used to understand how sea ice loss affects the tiny plants that support the marine food web.

    Every other kind of available data was then harnessed to explore the full impact of sea ice changes on ecosystems.

    Voyage reports from international colleagues came in handy when studying how sea ice loss affected Antarctic resupply missions.

    We also used computer models to simulate the impact of dramatic summer sea ice loss on the ocean.

    In summary, our extensive research reveals four key consequences of summer sea ice loss in Antarctica.

    1. Ocean warming is compounding

    Bright white sea ice reflects about 90% of the incoming energy from sunlight, while the darker ocean absorbs about 90%. So if there’s less summer sea ice, the ocean absorbs much more heat.

    This means the ocean surface warms more in an extreme low sea ice year, such as 2016 – when everything changed.

    Until recently, the Southern Ocean would reset over winter. If there was a summer with low sea ice cover, the ocean would warm a bit. But over winter, the extra heat would shift into the atmosphere.

    That’s not working anymore. We know this from measuring sea surface temperatures, but we have also confirmed this relationship using computer models.

    What’s happening instead is when summer sea ice is very low, as in 2016, it triggers ocean warming that persists. It takes about three years for the system to fully recover. But recovery is becoming less and less likely, given warming is building from year to year.

    Comparing an average sea ice summer (a) to an extreme low sea ice summer (b) in which there is less sea ice for wildlife and more sunlight is absorbed by the ocean. The ice shelf is more exposed to ocean waves, calving more icebergs. The ocean is also less productive and tourist vessels can make a closer approach.
    Doddridge, E., W., et al. (2025) PNAS Nexus., CC BY-NC-ND

    2. More icebergs are forming

    Sea ice protects Antarctica’s coast from ocean waves.

    On average, about a third of the continent’s coastline is exposed over summer. But this is changing. In 2022 and 2023, more than half of the Antarctic coast was exposed.

    Our research shows more icebergs break away from Antarctic ice sheets in years with less sea ice. During an average summer, about 100 icebergs break away. Summers with low sea ice produce about twice as many icebergs.

    Antarctic ice sheets without sea ice are more exposed to waves.
    Pete Harmsen AAD

    3. Wildlife squeezed off the ice

    Many species of seals and penguins rely on sea ice, especially for breeding and moulting.

    Entire colonies of emperor penguins experienced “catastrophic breeding failure” in 2022, when sea ice melted before chicks were ready to go to sea.

    After giving birth, crabeater seals need large, stable sea ice platforms for 2–3 weeks until their pups are weaned. The ice provides shelter and protection from predators. Less summer sea-ice cover makes large platforms harder to find.

    Many seal and penguin species also take refuge on the sea ice when moulting. These species must avoid the icy water while their new feathers or fur grows, or risk dying of hypothermia.

    4. Logistical challenges at the end of the world

    Low summer sea ice makes it harder for people working in Antarctica. Shrinking summer sea ice will narrow the time window during which Antarctic bases can be resupplied over the ice. These bases may soon need to be resupplied from different locations, or using more difficult methods such as small boats.

    Supply ships typically unload their cargo directly onto the sea ice, but that may have to change.
    Jared McGhie, Australian Antarctic Division

    No longer safe

    Anarctic sea ice began to change rapidly in 2015 and 2016. Since then it has remained well below the long-term average.

    The dataset we use relies on measurements from US Department of Defense satellites. Late last month, the department announced it would no longer provide this data to the scientific community. While this has since been delayed to July 31, significant uncertainty remains.

    One of the biggest challenges in climate science is gathering and maintaining consistent long-term datasets. Without these, we don’t accurately know how much our climate is changing. Observing the entire Earth is hard enough when we all work together. It’s going to be almost impossible if we don’t share our data.

    Antarctic sea ice extent anomalies (the difference between the long-term average and the measurement) for the entire satellite record since the late 1970s.
    Edward Doddridge, using data from the US NSIDC Sea Ice Index, version 3., CC BY

    Recent low sea ice summers present a scientific challenge. The system is currently changing faster than our scientific community can study it.

    But vanishing sea ice also presents a challenge to society. The only way to prevent even more drastic changes in the future is to rapidly transition away from fossil fuels and reach net zero emissions.

    Edward Doddridge receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

    – ref. Antarctic summer sea ice is at record lows. Here’s how it will harm the planet – and us – https://theconversation.com/antarctic-summer-sea-ice-is-at-record-lows-heres-how-it-will-harm-the-planet-and-us-256104

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Peter Kyle’s speech at CityWeek 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Speech

    Peter Kyle’s speech at CityWeek 2025

    Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology, Peter Kyle, delivered a speech at the CityWeek 2025 on Tuesday 1 July 2025.

    Last week, I represented the British government on a trip to Singapore.

    I was there to celebrate 60 years of partnership between our 2 countries.

    And drum up investment into British technology.

    It was my first time in Singapore.

    And it struck me that it’s a place that has mastered the art of reinvention.

    From traditional fishing village to global financial centre.

    Small trading post to one of the most competitive economies in the world.

    An economy that, like ours, knows that the key to staying competitive is being squarely focussed on the future.

    It’s a similar idea that brings us together today.

    Because this is a sector that’s also defined by an ability to reinvent itself.

    Where centuries-old banks have had to rip up the playbook.

    To compete with nimble, digital-first firms.

    And where new technologies have made the way you work unrecognisable from how it once was.

    One of my first proper jobs was in a finance team.

    It was 1989, and I worked in the purchase ledger at The Body Shop – a hero of the British high street at the time.

    I matched goods that came in with invoices.

    And inputted all of that into an arcane mainframe computer.

    I’m sure quite a few of you will remember those days.

    And the change after change you’ve seen your institutions through since.

    Because before PIN codes, there was paper.

    Before blockchain, there were books of accounts that landed with a thud on the desk.

    Before cashless, there was ‘Cashier number 3 please’.

    These are changes that financial services firms have not just weathered, but pioneered.

    To keep this sector as the engine of economic growth it truly is.

    And to keep creating products that improve the lives of working people.

    Over the past few years, another change has rippled through the sector:

    AI has reshaped what’s possible.

    And there’s not a sector of our economy it will leave untouched.

    There’s a simple difference between this change and those that came before:

    Sheer speed.

    In past waves of transformation, industry and the state alike could afford to dip a toe in.

    To spend a few years seeing how the water feels.

    This time, we need to jump.

    Since joining government, I’ve been clear that the UK will not be swept along as others lead the AI revolution.

    We’ll shape that revolution here.

    6 months ago, we launched the AI Opportunities Action Plan.

    Setting out how the UK will seize the massive potential for economic growth that AI offers us.

    Growth that’s at the heart of our Plan for Change.

    Since that launch, we’ve opened up applications for areas in the UK to become AI Growth Zones – hotspots of AI infrastructure and investment.

    And had over 200 responses.

    The full weight of government is behind the plan.

    With the Chancellor announcing £2 billion to deliver it, as part of the Spending Review.

    And a Modern Industrial Strategy that doubles down on our commitment to AI…

    …as one of the 6 frontier technologies our digital and tech sector plan focusses on.

    Crucial to that plan is adoption.

    Because talking about the power of AI to grow the economy is all well and good.

    But unless companies use it, that growth only exists in theory.

    Not in practice.

    Financial services is at the front of the pack here.

    Around 3 quarters of firms surveyed by the Bank of England the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) already use AI.

    That’s the 3rd highest rate of adoption across the economy.

    That doesn’t surprise me in the slightest.

    The UK led the world in open banking.

    We led the world in near-instant digital payments.

    And our reputation in fintech is second-to-none.

    The most valuable private tech company in Europe is Revolut, a British fintech.

    Our fintech crown is one I’m infinitely proud of.

    If we’re to hold on to it, you need a government that continues to back you.

    That doesn’t just call for you to keep exploring new technologies.

    But actively enables you to do it.

    When I talk to firms about adoption, they tell me about 2 barriers more than any other.

    A lack of skills.

    And finding their way through a web of complex regulation.

    On skills, we’re partnering with 11 major tech companies to train 7.5 million workers in the UK with essential AI skills by the end of this decade.

    So that a lack of expertise will never put a ceiling on what you can do.

    Regulation shouldn’t be that ceiling, either.

    In her Mansion House speech last year, the Chancellor set out a vision:

    For a regulatory environment that cares about managing the burden we put on businesses.

    Since then, she’s launched a radical action plan on regulation to kickstart growth.

    My part in that is making sure we ease the burden on businesses when it comes to adopting emerging tech.

    About 9 months ago, I launched the Regulatory Innovation Office.

    A dedicated unit to curb red tape.

    And get game-changing tech into the public’s hands quickly and safely.

    It’s already delivered results.

    Apian, a British start-up founded by NHS doctors, is now freed up to use drones to take blood samples from Guy’s Hospital in London Bridge, over to a lab in St. Thomas’ for testing.

    Before the NHS had the okay to work with them, those samples were carted over in vans.

    The journey took around half an hour.

    More if they were snarled up in traffic.

    After support from Regulatory Innovation Office (RIO) and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), each delivery now takes just 2 minutes.

    Beds are freed up faster.

    NHS waiting lists go down.

    And a crucial difference is made for patients where every second counts.

    Thanks to RIO’s close work with regulators, companies have made advances like these in fields like space or engineering biology, too.

    But I want more sectors to benefit from the breath of fresh air it offers.

    Instead of being stifled by a blanket of bureaucracy.

    So, today, I can announce that RIO is joining forces with digital regulators.

    To consolidate a labyrinth of regulation, and make it easier for innovators to bring AI products to market quickly and easily.

    This marks a significant boost for fintechs.

    Right now, your efforts to use emerging tech can get mired in a lack of clarity.

    Because there’s no single port of call on what you can do with AI.

    You’re left going from regulator to regulator, picking your way through different sets of rules.

    For start-ups and scale-ups without big legal teams, that’s nigh-on impossible to navigate.

    And for bigger banks and firms, it’s days of productivity sunk.

    Now, RIO is teaming up to the Digital Regulation Cooperation Forum (DRCF).

    To bring all of that guidance together into a one-stop shop.

    A digital library that lets you quickly search for answers.

    These are changes that firms of all shapes and sizes can take advantage of.

    Up-and-coming fintechs to household-name banks will go from idea to impact faster:

    Using AI to spot credit card fraud hours before humans can alone.

    To get instant answers to your customers.

    To analyse stocks, so people can get more out of their investments.

    We’re clearing the path for you to harness AI to stay ahead of the game.

    And to make people’s lives fundamentally better.

    Because I know this is a sector that will keep reinventing itself.

    Just as I know that AI will continue to bring profound, positive change to the UK.

    With the right backing on adoption…

    Access to skills…

    And clarity on regulation…

    We’ll make sure that this isn’t just a change that fintechs and banks are part of.

    But a change that you lead.

    Updates to this page

    Published 1 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Jobs boost as UK and Kenya bolster economic and security partnership

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

    Press release

    Jobs boost as UK and Kenya bolster economic and security partnership

    The UK and Kenya have agreed new deals to bolster the economic and security partnership between the two countries.

    • Trade and investment deals agreed during the visit will contribute over £1bn to the UK economy and create UK jobs in engineering, defence industries, technical and advisory services, and financial services 
    • The UK and Kenya will also increase collaboration to tackle organised crime, human trafficking and illicit finance through the UK-Kenya Security Compact 
    • The UK and Kenya will commit to a new Strategic Partnership as Kenyan President Ruto visits London

    The UK and Kenya will commit to working together to drive economic growth, protect climate and nature, foster collaboration in science and technology and strengthen regional security. 

    During a visit to the UK by the President of Kenya, a pipeline of trade and investment deals worth over £1bn to the UK economy were agreed which will deliver on this government’s commitment to boost jobs and prosperity back in the UK, as part of the government’s Plan for Change. 

    This includes the launch of a tender for a major urban redevelopment project in Nairobi which has been inspired by the regeneration of London’s Kings Cross.

    The Nairobi Railway City project has already provided opportunities to UK businesses with British architecture firm Atkins UK chosen to design the central rail station and public square.

    The Government of Kenya is exploring funding the project through finance mobilised by the UK’s Export Credit Agency, UK Export Finance, which will create UK jobs in engineering, technical and legal services. 

    Both countries also agreed stronger cooperation to disrupt the air, land and sea routes used by organised crime groups to prevent illegal migrants transiting through Kenya in attempts to reach Libya and other countries before travelling on to Europe. Four of the top ten countries for Small Boat arrivals in the UK are near neighbours of Kenya (Eritrea, Sudan, Somalia and Ethiopia).

    Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, said:

    Through our shared history and values the UK and Kenya have always had a close connection.

    Now we are building a shared future; a modern, innovative and respectful partnership which is delivering real benefits – boosting growth and creating jobs for both Kenyans and the British people. We’re going far, together.

    The UK and Kenya have also committed to increased defence and counter terrorism collaboration, including joint training and the creation of a new counter insurgency, terrorism and stability operations centre.

    Defence sales worth over £70m were agreed during the visit supporting manufacturing jobs in County Durham, Northamptonshire and Surrey. Kenya hosts the UK’s most significant military footprint in Africa, including a facility that trains 3,000 UK troops a year. 

    The UK’s world leading financial services sector will also benefit; Lloyd’s of London will announce today that they will be joining the Nairobi International Finance Centre, which will deepen the partnership between two leading financial centres providing access to up to £500m of insurance market potential in Kenya and the East Africa region. 

    The two countries also committed to explore the potential of a bilateral digital trade agreement. Dubbed ‘Silicon Savannah’, the value of Kenya’s tech sector is projected to reach £11.5bn by 2032.

    A digital trade agreement will open up opportunities in the sector for UK Plc.

    Notes to Editors 

    • The projects quoted are examples of a pipeline of projects that both governments will be working towards.

    Media enquiries

    Email newsdesk@fcdo.gov.uk

    Telephone 020 7008 3100

    Email the FCDO Newsdesk (monitored 24 hours a day) in the first instance, and we will respond as soon as possible.

    Updates to this page

    Published 1 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Stein’s Task Force on Child Care and Early Education Release Report Proposing Initial Solutions to Child Care Crisis

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Governor Stein’s Task Force on Child Care and Early Education Release Report Proposing Initial Solutions to Child Care Crisis

    Governor Stein’s Task Force on Child Care and Early Education Release Report Proposing Initial Solutions to Child Care Crisis
    lsaito

    Raleigh, NC

    Today Governor Josh Stein announced that the North Carolina Task Force on Child Care and Early Education co-chaired by Lieutenant Governor Rachel Hunt and Senator Jim Burgin released its interim report outlining six recommendations to make high-quality child care more accessible, affordable, and sustainable in North Carolina.

    “Investing in child care benefits everyone. When children grow up in a supportive and nurturing environment, it sets them on the trajectory to thrive as adults,” said Governor Josh Stein. “We must come together to make child care more accessible and affordable so that we can secure a brighter future for North Carolina’s children.” 

    “North Carolina families are struggling to find quality child care while centers are closing their doors, making it harder for children to get the education they need and for parents to go to work without worry,” said Lieutenant Governor Rachel Hunt. “This Task Force has brought together industry leaders and community partners to find real solutions. While our work will continue, I believe this report lays out a path forward to make child care more accessible and affordable.”

    “Child care is a business issue, a talent issue, and a health issue that must be addressed to maintain our competitiveness and to increase statewide prosperity,” said Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley. “Public-private solutions, like Commerce’s Child Care Business Liaison position, supported by the NC Department of Health and Human Services and Invest Early NC, are a critical piece of this puzzle and increase capacity for identifying collaborative solutions to addressing the multifaceted child care challenges in North Carolina.”

    “Child care is the most important issue facing young families. In reality, many families start tackling this issue before conception,” said Senator Jim Burgin. “This task force has looked at all aspects of child care and early education and explored many possible solutions. I am grateful for Lt. Gov. Hunt and the task force as they work to support the well-being of the children of North Carolina. I would also like to thank Gov. Stein for placing importance on this topic.”

    North Carolina’s child care system faces significant challenges associated with recruitment and retention of early childhood education professionals, and in turn availability and affordability of care. The average cost of infant care in North Carolina is more expensive than the cost of in-state college tuition. As such, many parents with young children are making difficult decisions to leave the workforce due to lack of care, costing the state over $5.65 billion in additional economic output in 2023.

    The interim report outlines findings and six recommendations developed by Task Force members to explore the key factors impacting North Carolina’s child care landscape. 

    TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS

    1. Set a statewide child care subsidy reimbursement rate floor
    2. Develop approaches to offer non-salary benefits for child care professionals
    3. Explore partnerships with the UNC system, community colleges, and K-12 schools to increase access to child care for public employees and students at public institutions
    4. Explore subsidized or free child care for child care teachers
    5. Link existing workforce compensation and support programs for early childhood professionals
    6. Explore the creation of a child care endowment

    A brief summary of each recommendation can be found below. 

    Set a Statewide Child Care Subsidy Reimbursement Rate Floor

    Child care subsidies reimburse child care providers for services they deliver to low-income families, helping low-income parents stay in the workforce, and strengthening our economy. A statewide floor for child care subsidy reimbursement rates would set a minimum subsidy rate in North Carolina, ensuring child care programs across all 100 counties receive a minimum child care subsidy reimbursement to help sustain child care programs that are currently struggling to break even. 

    Develop Approaches to Offer Non-Salary Benefits for Child Care Professionals 

    Many child care providers are unable to offer non-salary benefits, such as health insurance or retirement, which makes it challenging to recruit and retain early childhood education professionals. The Task Force will explore whether early childhood professionals could be made eligible for non-salary benefits, such as the North Carolina State Health Plan, or offered other non-salary benefits like paid leave, loan forgiveness, and mental health support.  

    Explore Partnerships with UNC System, Community Colleges and K-12 School Systems to Increase Access to Child Care for Public Employees and Students 

    The Task Force will explore options for increasing access to child care for public employees, including supporting subsidized child care for public sector employees. These partnerships could increase access to child care and support training for prospective child care employees by setting up child care centers on school and community college campuses. 

    Explore Subsidized or Free Child Care for Early Childhood Educators 

    Child care as an employer benefit is a significant talent recruitment and retention tool across industries and could be particularly valuable to help grow and sustain the child care workforce. The Task Force will explore how child care workers could be made eligible for child care subsidies.

    Link Existing Workforce Compensation and Support Programs for Early Childhood Professionals 

    The Task Force will explore how current workforce training and compensation support programs for early childhood education professionals could be improved by expanding them statewide and linking programs sequentially along a career pathway. North Carolina currently has several programs aimed at improving recruitment and retention, including the Child Care WAGE$ Program, the Teach North Carolina Early Childhood Scholarship Program, the Building Bright Futures program, Child Care Academies, and the Family Child Care Home Pilot Program. 

    Explore the Creation of a Child Care Endowment 

    A child care endowment leverages public and/or private dollars to set up an investment fund, the annual interest of which can be used for state child care needs. The Task Force will explore how a child care endowment could help address the current child care crisis in North Carolina by providing an ongoing source of supplemental child care funding for the state and maximizing child care funding through investment from private companies, philanthropy, and communities in partnership with the state.

    In coming months, the Task Force will dive deeper into the recommendations outlined in this report, and work groups will examine additional challenges, opportunities, and innovations affecting our state’s child care and early education landscape. The Task Force will also produce an additional report and set of recommendations to submit to Governor Stein by the end of December 2025. 

    Members of the North Carolina Task Force on Child Care and Early Education include:

    • Lieutenant Governor Rachel Hunt, State of North Carolina, Co-Chair
    • Senator Jim Burgin, NC General Assembly, Co-Chair
    • Senator Jay Chaudhuri, NC General Assembly
    • Ashton Clemmons, Associate Vice President of P12 Strategy & Policy, University of North Carolina System
    • Representative Sarah Crawford, NC General Assembly
    • Amy Cubbage, President, NC Partnership for Children
    • Senator Ralph Hise, NC General Assembly
    • Lori Jones-Ruff, Regional Programs Manager, Southwestern Child Development Commission, Inc.
    • Michelle Logan, Vice President & General Manager of Drug Product, North America, Thermo Fisher
    • Amar Majmundar, Policy Director, NC Office of State Human Resources
    • Beth Messersmith, NC Senior Director, Moms Rising
    • Dr. Mary Olvera, State Director of Teacher Education, Public Services, and Perkins Special Populations, NC Community College System
    • Ellen Pancoast, Vice President of People Operations, Cone Health
    • Susan Gale Perry, Chief Executive Officer, Child Care Aware of America
    • Rhonda Rivers, Chair, NC Child Care Commission
    • Dan Rockaway, President, NC Licensed Child Care Association
    • Gary Salamido, President & CEO, NC Chamber
    • Meka Sales, Director of Special Initiatives, The Duke Endowment
    • Erica Palmer Smith, Executive Director, NC Child
    • Theresa Stacker, Executive Director, NC Early Childhood Foundation
    • Noelle Talley, Deputy Secretary for Advocacy, NC Department of Administration
    • Dan Tetreault, Assistant Director of Early Learning, NC Department of Public Instruction
    • Representative David Willis, NC General Assembly
    • Mary Elizabeth Wilson, Chief of Staff & General Counsel, NC Department of Commerce
    • Candace Witherspoon, Director, Division of Child Development and Early Education, NC Department of Health and Human Services

    Read Governor Stein’s executive order establishing the Task Force on Child Care and Early Education here.

    Read the Task Force’s full report here.

    Learn more about the Task Force here.

    Jul 1, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Odysight.AI (Nasdaq: ODYS) Added to the Russell Microcap® Index

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Omer, Israel, July 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Odysight.AI Inc. (Nasdaq: ODYS), a pioneering developer of AI systems for Predictive Maintenance (PdM) and Condition-Based Monitoring (CBM), was added to the Russell Microcap® Index, effective after the U.S. market opened on June 30 as part of the 2025 Russell indexes reconstitution.

    The annual Russell U.S. Indexes reconstitution captures the 4,000 largest US stocks as of Wednesday, April 30th, ranking them by total market capitalization. Membership in the Russell Microcap® Index, which remains in place for one year, means automatic inclusion in the appropriate growth and value style indexes. FTSE Russell determines membership for its Russell indexes primarily by objective, market-capitalization rankings and style attributes.

    “Inclusion in the Russell Microcap Index highlights the momentum we have built since our Nasdaq listing in February” commented Einav Brenner, CFO. “We believe this recognition enhances our visibility with institutional investors and underscores confidence in our long-term growth strategy. As we scale, we remain focused on delivering innovation, value, and sustained performance for our stakeholders.”

    Russell indexes are widely used by investment managers for index funds and as benchmarks for active investment strategies. Russell’s U.S. indexes serve as the benchmark for about $10.6 trillion in assets as of the close of June 2024. Russell indexes are part of FTSE Russell, the global index provider.

    About Odysight.AI

    Odysight.AI is pioneering the Predictive Maintenance (PdM) and Condition Based Monitoring (CBM) markets with its visualization and AI platform. Providing video sensor-based solutions for critical systems in the aviation, transportation, and energy industries, Odysight.AI leverages proven visual technologies and products from the medical industry. Odysight.AI’s unique video-based sensors, embedded software, and AI algorithms are being deployed in hard-to-reach locations and harsh environments across a variety of PdM and CBM use cases. Odysight.AI’s platform allows maintenance and operations teams visibility into areas which are inaccessible under normal operation, or where the operating ambience is not suitable for continuous real-time monitoring.

    For more information, please visit: https://www.Odysight.AI or follow us on X (Formerly Twitter), LinkedIn and YouTube.

    About FTSE Russell, an LSEG Business

    FTSE Russell is a global index leader that provides innovative benchmarking, analytics and data solutions for investors worldwide. FTSE Russell calculates thousands of indexes that measure and benchmark markets and asset classes in more than 70 countries, covering 98% of the investable market globally. FTSE Russell index expertise and products are used extensively by institutional and retail investors globally. Approximately $18.1 trillion is benchmarked to FTSE Russell indexes. Leading asset owners, asset managers, ETF providers and investment banks choose FTSE Russell indexes to benchmark their investment performance and create ETFs, structured products and index-based derivatives.

    FTSE Russell is wholly owned by London Stock Exchange Group. 

    For more information on the Russell Microcap® Index and the Russell indexes reconstitution, go to the “Russell Reconstitution” section on the FTSE Russell website.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 relating to future events or our future performance. All statements contained in this press release that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Those statements are based on information we have when those statements are made or our management’s current expectation and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward- looking statements. Factors that may affect our results, performance, circumstances or achievements include, but are not limited to the following: (i) market acceptance of our existing and new products, including those that utilize our micro Odysight.AI technology or offer Predictive Maintenance and Condition Based Monitoring applications, (ii) lengthy product delays in key markets, (iii) an inability to secure regulatory approvals for the sale of our products, (iv) intense competition in the medical device and related industries from much larger, multinational companies, (v) product liability claims, product malfunctions and the functionality of Odysight.AI’s solutions under all environmental conditions, (vi) our limited manufacturing capabilities and reliance on third-parties for assistance, (vii) an inability to establish sales, marketing and distribution capabilities to commercialize our products, (viii) an inability to attract and retain qualified personnel, (ix) our efforts obtain and maintain intellectual property protection covering our products, which may not be successful, (x) our reliance on a single customer that accounts for a substantial portion of our revenues, (xi) our reliance on single suppliers for certain product components, including for miniature video sensors which are suitable for our Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor technology products, (xii) the fact that we will need to raise additional capital to meet our business requirements in the future and that such capital raising may be costly, dilutive or difficult to obtain, (xiii) the impact of computer system failures, cyberattacks or deficiencies in our cybersecurity, (xiv) the fact that we conduct business in multiple foreign jurisdictions, exposing us to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, logistical, global supply chain and communications challenges, burdens and costs of compliance with foreign laws and political and economic instability in each jurisdiction and (xv) political, economic and military instability in Israel, including the impact of Israel’s war against Hamas and Hezbollah. These and other important factors discussed in Odysight.AI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 26, 2025 and our other reports filed with the SEC could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements made in this press release. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, Odysight.AI undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.

    Company Contact:
    Einav Brenner, CFO
    info@odysight.ai

    Investor Relations Contact:
    Miri Segal
    MS-IR LLC
    msegal@ms-ir.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: eXp Realty Names Lofty Preferred Solution Provider in New CRM of Choice Program 

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PHOENIX, July 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Award-winning real estate technology innovator Lofty today announced the company has been selected as a preferred solution provider in eXP Realty’s new CRM of Choice program. The initiative provides agents day one access to the leading tech platforms in the industry, designed to automate time consuming processes, boost agent productivity and accelerate business growth. A recognized tech innovator, Lofty was chosen for its powerful AI capabilities and proven success in helping other fast-growing brokerages support the entire real estate process — from search to settlement. To learn more about how Lofty can help your brokerage accelerate business growth, visit HERE. 

    • Lofty Wins Company of the Year in Real Estate in 2025 American Business Awards. Read more HERE. 
    • Lofty Named to HousingWire 100 for Sixth Consecutive Year. Read more HERE.

    As the most agent-centric brokerage on the planet, eXp Realty is committed to empowering their global community of agents with the cutting-edge tools they need to succeed. Meanwhile, today’s career-oriented, tech savvy agents have come to expect seamless access to an innovative platform, knowing the indisputable value of technology to augment their own hard work. eXp’s bold new CRM of Choice program, unveiled today, makes it even easier to deliver on this expectation and put the power of freedom, flexibility and control directly into the hands of agents. Designed for solo agents or teams, CRM of Choice empowers real estate professionals to select the system that best aligns with their unique workflow, business structure and goals, underpinned by customized onboarding and training and included within the existing monthly tech package.

    eXp selected Lofty as a preferred solution provider based on the platform’s robust AI capabilities and forward-thinking approach to product development, confident in the company’s ability to consistently deliver the tools agents need to compete in a modern world. Interested agents can join a deep-dive session on Lofty every Monday and Wednesday at 1 p.m. ET. Learn more HERE.

    “We are thrilled to be named a preferred solution provider in eXP Realty’s new CRM of Choice program,” said Brian Hoialmen, Chief Strategy Officer, Lofty. “Built for the way agents work, our AI-powered platform has consistently proven to not only save time and increase efficiencies but serve as a true assistant to agents in their day-to-day work. We look forward to the opportunity to support even more hard-working real estate professionals through this innovative new program.” 

    Lofty’s Enterprise platform was custom built to support the unique and complex needs of all brokerages and is a lynchpin to recruiting and retaining powerhouse agents. An easy to use and intuitive platform, Lofty boasts a 60%+ agent adoption rate, more than double the industry average, and has proven to convert 48% more leads on average than competitors. Featuring a wide range of AI capabilities to help agents quickly and effectively navigate the platform, build strategic marketing and social media content, promote listings, manage leads and more, Lofty empowers agents to instead focus their valued time on building customer relationships. An award-winning tech innovator, Lofty also delivers new features monthly, ensuring agents feel confident they have access to all the modern tools they need to win.

    “Choosing the right CRM is essential to building a scalable real estate business,” said Kendall Bonner, Vice President, Industry Relations and Strategic Partnerships, eXp Realty. “Lofty’s sleek interface and smart automation tools help agents streamline their marketing and manage their pipeline with confidence and clarity.”

    To learn more about how Lofty’s unmatched AI capabilities can help your business grow, visit lofty.com/ai/overview.  

    About Lofty Inc.
    Lofty Inc. (formerly Chime Technologies) provides an AI-powered platform that helps real estate professionals increase their productivity and accelerate business growth. Featuring award-winning technology, the Lofty platform is designed to optimize every step of the real estate journey, from search to settlement. By leveraging one unified hub, customers can automate marketing programs, streamline the sales process, and maximize collaboration between agents, empowering them to spend more time building relationships and their business. Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, Lofty provides proven solutions for brokers, teams, and the enterprise. For more information, visit lofty.com.

    Media Contact:
    Sarah Murray
    Attune Communications
    sarah@attunecommunications.com

    About eXp World Holdings, Inc.
    eXp World Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: EXPI) (the “Company”) is the holding company for eXp Realty® and SUCCESS® Enterprises. eXp Realty is the largest independent real estate brokerage in the world, with nearly 81,000 agents across 27 countries. As a cloud-based, agent-centric brokerage, eXp Realty provides real estate agents industry-leading commission splits, revenue share, equity ownership opportunities, and a global network that empowers agents to build thriving businesses. For more information about eXp World Holdings, Inc., visit: expworldholdings.com. 

    SUCCESS® Enterprises, anchored by SUCCESS® magazine, has been a trusted name in personal and professional development since 1897. As part of the eXp ecosystem, it offers agents access to valuable resources to enhance their skills, grow their businesses, and achieve long-term success. For more information about SUCCESS, visit success.com.

    Media Relations Contact:
    eXp World Holdings, Inc.
    mediarelations@expworldholdings.com

    Investor Relations
    Denise Garcia
    investors@expworldholdings.com

    Safe Harbor Statement
    The statements contained herein may include statements of future expectations and other forward-looking statements that are based on eXp World Holdings, Inc.’s (the “Company”) management’s current views and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. These statements include, but are not limited to, expectations regarding the Company’s technology offerings and their availability and value to agents and brokers. Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof, and the Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update them. Such statements are not guarantees of future performance. Important factors that may cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those expressed in forward-looking statements include changes in technology platform offerings and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including but not limited to the most recently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and Annual Report on Form 10-K.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/eee9cd8c-6d59-40de-8539-347dbe3cd1d6

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Beeline Strengthens Balance Sheet in June with $6.5M Capital Raise and Major Debt Reduction

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PROVIDENCE, R.I., July 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — via IBN — Beeline Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: BLNE), the fast-growing digital mortgage platform redefining the path to homeownership, today announced it has raised $6.5 million in fresh capital the last week of June through a combination of its At-The-Market (ATM) and equity line of credit (ELOC) programs during the final week of June.

    In parallel, the company aggressively reduced its debt by a total of $5.3 million during the first half of 2025—$1.3 million in Q1 and $4.0 million in Q2—bringing total debt owed to third parties down to just $2.3 million (not including its subsidiary’s mortgage warehousing line).  The company ended the quarter with over $6 million in cash.

    “These moves mark a defining moment for Beeline,” said Nick Liuzza, CEO of Beeline. “We’ve faced a tough macro environment over the last few years, but we stayed disciplined, focused, and innovative. Now, with interest rates expected to trend lower, we’re in our strongest financial position ever—bolstered by new equity offerings and the momentum building within our SaaS arm, Beeline Labs.”

    As of March 31, 2025, the company reported approximately $40 million in shareholders’ equity.

    “We’re currently trading at just 30% of book value,” added Chris Moe, CFO of Beeline. “At some point, the market will reflect the fundamentals. But for now, our priority remains executing on the business—becoming debt-free and achieving positive cash flow.”

    With inflation cooling and the Federal Reserve signaling potential rate cuts as early as Q3—fueled by political pressure and economic indicators—Beeline sees significant upside in both its mortgage origination engine and scalable SaaS infrastructure.

    About Beeline Financial Holdings, Inc.

    Beeline Financial Holdings, Inc. is a trailblazing mortgage fintech transforming the way people access property financing. Through its fully digital, AI-powered platform, Beeline delivers a faster, smarter path to home loans—whether for primary residences or investment properties. Headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, Beeline is reshaping mortgage origination with speed, simplicity, and transparency at its core. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Beeline Holdings and also operates Beeline Labs, its innovation arm focused on next-generation lending solutions.

    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 the lowering of interest rates, the potential for both of  the company’s real estate business lines, and the market reflecting the company’s fundamentals . Forward-looking statements are prefaced by words such as “anticipate,” “expect,” “plan,” “could,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “intend,” “seem,” “potential,” “appear,” “continue,” “future,” believe,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “project,” and similar words. Forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and assumptions regarding our business, the economy and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. We caution you, therefore, against relying on any of these forward-looking statements. Our actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements for a variety of reasons, including, without limitation, the possibility that estimates, projections and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based prove to be incorrect, including the continued strength of the U.S. economy, reduced inflation rates, the future of U.S. tariff policy, and the success of the company’s home equity program.  See also the Risk Factors contained in our Form 10-K filed April 15, 2025 and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statement made by us in this presentation speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

    Investor Relations – Contact

    investors@makeabeeline.com

    Media – Contact

    press@makeabeeline.com

    Wire Service Contact:
    IBN
    Austin, Texas
    www.InvestorBrandNetwork.com
    512.354.7000 Office
    Editor@InvestorBrandNetwork.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Snail Games Expands Indie Portfolio with the Launch of Robots at Midnight and Zombie Rollerz: The Last Ship

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CULVER CITY, Calif., July 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Snail, Inc. (Nasdaq: SNAL) (“Snail Games” or the “Company”), a leading global independent developer and publisher of interactive digital entertainment, announced the launch of two new indie titles, Robots at Midnight and Zombie Rollerz: The Last Ship, in the month of June. These releases mark a strategic expansion into distinct game and player demographics, showcasing Snail’s ongoing commitment to fostering creativity and innovation across its global portfolio.

    Robots at Midnight, developed by Toronto based studio Finish Line Games, represents Snail Games’ strategic entry into a younger segment of the gaming market. Designed as an accessible, entry-level Souls-like game, it introduces the genre’s core mechanics in a more user-friendly format, lowering the barrier to entry for wider appeal. The game specifically targets the younger Gen Z and Gen Alpha players who are just beginning to engage with more complex gameplay experiences. Backed in part by Canada Media Fund, the game is led by studio co-founder Daniel Posner, whose background in education and interactive media bridges entertainment and learning. To celebrate the launch of Robots at Midnight and the 2.1M+ viewer minutes watched on Twitch, the team is hosting a community event where players can win DIY robot kits encouraging real world creativity inspired by in-game exploration. For Snail Games, its investment in games like Robots at Midnight is a long-term strategy to captivate the next generation of gamers and creators. With Gen Alpha projected to become the most digitally fluent and commercially influential generation to date, early engagement aims to build brand loyalty and position the Company to meet the future demands of an evolving global market.

    Zombie Rollerz: The Last Ship, developed by Zing Games, comes from a seasoned studio with a track record of success; its previous titles, including the predecessor Zombie Rollerz: Pinball Heroes, have collectively surpassed 10 million downloads. The latest installment in the Zombie Rollerz franchise blends fast-paced roguelite mechanics with tower defense survival strategy to deliver a highly replayable, content-rich experience. With a positive Steam rating at launch and a distinctive visual style that appeals to casual and core gamers alike, Zombie Rollerz: The Last Ship demonstrates the strength of Zing Games’ IP and Snail’s ability to identify and scale high-performing indie titles.

    Together, Robots at Midnight and Zombie Rollerz: The Last Ship exemplifies Snail Games’ strategic focus on widening its portfolio and deepening market penetration across multiple player segments. By introducing accessible gameplay in an underserved genre to engage Gen Alpha players and scaling emerging IPs, Snail is actively expanding its presence across diverse markets. These launches reflect a deliberate approach to portfolio diversification – one that balances genre innovation, long-term revenue opportunities, and global audience growth as Snail continues to evolve and embrace the next-generation of interactive entertainment.

    For creators interested in covering Zombie Rollerz: The Last Ship or Robots at Midnight please reach out to creatordirect@noiz.gg.

    About Snail, Inc.
    Snail, Inc. (Nasdaq: SNAL) is a leading, global independent developer and publisher of interactive digital entertainment for consumers around the world, with a premier portfolio of premium games designed for use on a variety of platforms, including consoles, PCs, and mobile devices. For more information, please visit: https://snail.com/.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    This press release contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements. Many of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “expect,” “should,” “plan,” “intend,” “may,” “predict,” “continue,” “estimate” and “potential,” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements appear in a number of places in this press release and include, but are not limited to, statements regarding (i) Snail showcasing its ongoing commitment to fostering creativity and innovation across its global portfolio, (ii) Snail’s long-term investment in the next generation of gamers and creators, (iii) Gen Alpha projected to become the most digitally fluent and commercially influential generation to date and (iv) Gen Alpha projected to become the most digitally fluent and commercially influential generation to date. You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, which was filed by the Company with the SEC on March 26, 2025 and other documents filed by the Company from time to time with the SEC, including the Company’s Forms 10-Q filed with the SEC. The Company does not undertake or accept any obligation to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

    Investor Contact:
    John Yi and Steven Shinmachi
    Gateway Group, Inc.
    949-574-3860
    SNAL@gateway-grp.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: OSS Announces New $5 Million Order from the U.S. Navy

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ESCONDIDO, Calif., July 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — One Stop Systems, Inc. (OSS or the Company) (Nasdaq: OSS), a leader in rugged Enterprise Class compute for artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) and sensor processing at the edge, today announced a new $5 million contract from the U.S. Navy to support the P-8A Poseidon Reconnaissance Aircraft. OSS expects the order to contribute to its revenue throughout 2025.

    Under the terms of the contract, OSS will deliver 61 military-spec data storage units to the U.S. Navy. These units are designed and manufactured by OSS and incorporate hot-swappable canisters of high-capacity NVMe flash storage. The design enables rapid removal and replacement for secure data offload and analysis in demanding airborne environments.

    “We are excited to announce OSS’s latest award from the U.S. Navy to support the P-8A Poseidon platform,” stated OSS President and CEO, Mike Knowles. “Our success on the P-8A program reinforces the value of our growth strategy as we pursue additional multiyear platform opportunities across defense and commercial markets. To date, OSS has received over $45 million in total contracted revenue to support this mission-critical aircraft. This continued investment is a testament to our rugged, enterprise-class capabilities and the vital role OSS plays in enabling C5ISR operations on advanced airborne platforms. The $5 million contract also strengthens our confidence in our ability to achieve our 2025 annual guidance.”

    The P-8A Poseidon is a long-range, multi-mission maritime patrol aircraft used for anti-submarine warfare, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations. OSS’s storage solutions play a key role in enabling secure, high-speed data capture and transfer necessary for the aircraft’s advanced sensor suite.

    About One Stop Systems
    One Stop Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: OSS) is a leader in AI enabled solutions for the demanding ‘edge’. OSS designs and manufactures Enterprise Class compute and storage products that enable rugged AI, sensor fusion and autonomous capabilities without compromise. These hardware and software platforms bring the latest data center performance to harsh and challenging applications, whether they are on land, sea or in the air.

    OSS products include ruggedized servers, compute accelerators, flash storage arrays, and storage acceleration software. These specialized compact products are used across multiple industries and applications, including autonomous trucking and farming, as well as aircraft, drones, ships and vehicles within the defense industry.

    OSS solutions address the entire AI workflow, from high-speed data acquisition to deep learning, training and large-scale inference, and have delivered many industry firsts for industrial OEM and government customers.

    As the fastest growing segment of the multi-billion-dollar edge computing market, AI enabled solutions require-and OSS delivers-the highest level of performance in the most challenging environments without compromise.

    OSS products are available directly or through global distributors. For more information, go to www.onestopsystems.com. You can also follow OSS on X, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    One Stop Systems cautions you that statements in this press release that are not a description of historical facts are forward-looking statements. Words such as, but not limited to, “anticipate,” “aim,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “design,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “suggest,” “strategy,” “target,” “will,” “would,” and similar expressions or phrases, or the negative of those expressions or phrases, are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. These statements are based on the Company’s current beliefs and expectations. The inclusion of forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation by One Stop Systems or its partners that any of our plans or expectations will be achieved. Factors that may contribute to our plans or expectations not being achieved include but are not limited to the potential and/or the results of program awards and renewals with the U.S. Department of Defense and defense contractors, any actual revenue derived from the U.S. Navy order, the future adoption of technologies or applications that may compete with One Stop Systems’, and the expansion of the Company’s offerings and/or relationship with different branches of the U.S. Armed Forces and/or other geopolitical or economic instabilities. Actual results may differ from those set forth in this press release due to the risk and uncertainties inherent in our business, including risks described in our prior press releases and in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including under the heading “Risk Factors” in our latest Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent filings with the SEC. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof, and the company undertakes no obligation to revise or update this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement, which is made under the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

    Media Contacts:
    Robert Kalebaugh
    One Stop Systems, Inc.
    Tel (858) 518-6154
    Email contact

    Investor Relations:
    Andrew Berger
    Managing Director
    SM Berger & Company, Inc.
    Tel (216) 464-6400
    Email contact

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Sagtec Global (NASDAQ: SAGT) Accelerates Middle East Expansion with US$10 Million Smart Hospitality Tech Deal in UAE

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, July 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Sagtec Global Limited (NASDAQ: SAGT) (“Sagtec” or the “Company”), a leading provider of customizable enterprise software solutions, today announced the signing of a US$10 million smart hospitality technology agreement with SMD Tech – FZCO, a UAE-based digital infrastructure firm. This major win represents a pivotal step in Sagtec’s expansion strategy across the Middle East and its entry into the high-growth hotel automation segment.

    Under the terms of the deal, Sagtec will develop and manage a next-generation Hotel Self Check-In/Out System across premium hospitality properties in the UAE. The project includes software licensing, systems integration, data analytics, and long-term service and maintenance, delivering an end-to-end solution that supports the region’s push toward smart tourism and contactless guest experiences.

    Contract Breakdown:

    • US$4 million – Licensing and custom software development
    • US$3 million – Five-year service and maintenance agreement
    • US$3 million – Five-year data hosting and analytics contract

    Over 60% of The Contract Value Represents Multi-Year Recurring Revenue Streams

    This latest development builds upon Sagtec’s May 2025 announcement of a US$30 million revenue pipeline stemming from the exclusive distribution of its Speed+ Smart Ordering System. The UAE partnership diversifies Sagtec’s SaaS verticals beyond Food & Beverage into the rapidly growing hospitality tech domain.

    “This strategic collaboration with SMD Tech not only affirms confidence in Sagtec’s innovation capabilities but also unlocks new market opportunities in one of the fastest-growing tourism economies in the world,” said Kevin Ng, Chairman, Executive Director, and Chief Executive Officer of Sagtec. “As the hospitality industry undergoes digital transformation, our tailored solutions are set to redefine how hotels operate and engage guests.”

    Sagtec’s comprehensive solution suite will include:

    • Integrated hotel check-in/out automation
    • Unified integration platform for backend operations
    • Automated room key card dispensing systems
    • CRM and POS modules optimized for hotel environments
    • Custom-built self check-in kiosks
    • Self Check-In Machine Operational Readiness Platform (ORP)

    Capitalizing on UAE’s Smart Hospitality Growth

    The UAE’s hospitality sector is undergoing a major digital transformation, fueled by government smart city initiatives, a post-pandemic travel rebound, and growing demand for seamless guest experiences. According to IMARC Group, the UAE hospitality market is expected to reach US$37.7 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 5.2% from 2025 onwards.

    Sagtec’s latest offering is well-positioned to capitalize on this growth, addressing operational efficiency and customer experience simultaneously—key priorities for premium hospitality operators in the region.

    About Sagtec Global Limited

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

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

    About SMD Tech – FZCO

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

    Contact Information:

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

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Pop, soda or coke? The fizzy history behind America’s favorite linguistic debate

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Valerie M. Fridland, Professor of Linguistics, University of Nevada, Reno

    ‘I’ll have a coke – no, not Coca-Cola, Sprite.’ Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

    With burgers sizzling and classic rock thumping, many Americans revel in summer cookouts – at least until that wayward cousin asks for a “pop” in soda country, or even worse, a “coke” when they actually want a Sprite.

    Few American linguistic debates have bubbled quite as long and effervescently as the one over whether a generic soft drink should be called a soda, pop or coke.

    The word you use generally boils down to where you’re from: Midwesterners enjoy a good pop, while soda is tops in the North and far West. Southerners, long the cultural mavericks, don’t bat an eyelash asking for coke – lowercase – before homing in on exactly the type they want: Perhaps a root beer or a Coke, uppercase.

    As a linguist who studies American dialects, I’m less interested in this regional divide and far more fascinated by the unexpected history behind how a fizzy “health” drink from the early 1800s spawned the modern soft drink’s many names and iterations.

    Bubbles, anyone?

    Foods and drinks with wellness benefits might seem like a modern phenomenon, but the urge to create drinks with medicinal properties inspired what might be called a soda revolution in the 1800s.

    An 1878 engraving of a soda fountain.
    Smith Collection/Gado via Getty Images

    The process of carbonating water was first discovered in the late 1700s. By the early 1800s, this carbonated water had become popular as a health drink and was often referred to as “soda water.” The word “soda” likely came from “sodium,” since these drinks often contained salts, which were then believed to have healing properties.

    Given its alleged curative effects for health issues such as indigestion, pharmacists sold soda water at soda fountains, innovative devices that created carbonated water to be sold by the glass. A chemistry professor, Benjamin Stillman, set up the first such device in a drugstore in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1806. Its eventual success inspired a boom of soda fountains in drugstores and health spas.

    By the mid-1800s, pharmacists were creating unique root-, fruit- and herb-infused concoctions, such as sassafras-based root beer, at their soda fountains, often marketing them as cures for everything from fatigue to foul moods.

    These flavored, sweetened versions gave rise to the linking of the word “soda” with a sweetened carbonated beverage, as opposed to simple, carbonated water.

    Seltzer – today’s popular term for such sparkling water – was around, too. But it was used only for the naturally carbonated mineral water from the German town Nieder-Selters. Unlike Perrier, sourced similarly from a specific spring in France, seltzer made the leap to becoming a generic term for fizzy water.

    Many late-19th-century and early 20th-century drugstores contained soda fountains – a nod to the original belief that the sugary, bubbly drink possessed medicinal qualities.
    Hall of Electrical History Foundation/Corbis via Getty Images

    Regional naming patterns

    So how did “soda” come to be called so many different things in different places?

    It all stems from a mix of economic enterprise and linguistic ingenuity.

    The popularity of “soda” in the Northeast likely reflects the soda fountain’s longer history in the region. Since a lot of Americans living in the Northeast migrated to California in the mid-to-late 1800s, the name likely traveled west with them.

    As for the Midwestern preference for “pop” – well, the earliest American use of the term to refer to a sparkling beverage appeared in the 1840s in the name of a flavored version called “ginger pop.” Such ginger-flavored pop, though, was around in Britain by 1816, since a Newcastle songbook is where you can first see it used in text. The “pop” seems to be onomatopoeic for the noise made when the cork was released from the bottle before drinking.

    A jingle for Faygo touts the company’s ‘red pop.’

    Linguists don’t fully know why “pop” became so popular in the Midwest. But one theory links it to a Michigan bottling company, Feigenson Brothers Bottling Works – today known as Faygo Beverages – that used “pop” in the name of the sodas they marketed and sold. Another theory suggests that because bottles were more common in the region, soda drinkers were more likely to hear the “pop” sound than in the Northeast, where soda fountains reigned.

    As for using coke generically, the first Coca-Cola was served in 1886 by Dr. John Pemberton, a pharmacist at Jacobs’ Pharmacy in Atlanta and the founder of the company. In the 1900s, the Coca-Cola company tried to stamp out the use of “Coke” for “Coca-Cola.” But that ship had already sailed. Since Coca-Cola originated and was overwhelmingly popular in the South, its generic use grew out of the fact that people almost always asked for “Coke.”

    No alcohol means not ‘hard’ but ‘soft.’
    Nostalgic Collections/eBay

    As with Jell-O, Kleenex, Band-Aids and seltzer, it became a generic term.

    What’s soft about it?

    Speaking of soft drinks, what’s up with that term?

    It was originally used to distinguish all nonalcoholic drinks from “hard drinks,” or beverages containing spirits.

    Interestingly, the original Coca-Cola formula included wine – resembling a type of alcoholic “health” drink popular overseas, Vin Mariani. But Pemberton went on to develop a “soft” version a few years later to be sold as a medicinal drink.

    Due to the growing popularity of soda water concoctions, eventually “soft drink” came to mean only such sweetened carbonated beverages, a linguistic testament to America’s enduring love affair with sugar and bubbles.

    With the average American guzzling almost 40 gallons per year, you can call it whatever you what. Just don’t call it healthy.

    Valerie M. Fridland 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. Pop, soda or coke? The fizzy history behind America’s favorite linguistic debate – https://theconversation.com/pop-soda-or-coke-the-fizzy-history-behind-americas-favorite-linguistic-debate-259114

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: In LGBTQ+ storybook case, Supreme Court handed a win to parental rights, raising tough questions for educators

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Charles J. Russo, Joseph Panzer Chair in Education and Research Professor of Law, University of Dayton

    The parents who brought the case had requested that their children be excused when books with LGBTQ+ characters were used in class. SDI Productions/E+ via Getty Images

    The Supreme Court tends to save its blockbuster orders for the last day of the term – and 2025 was no exception.

    Among the important decisions handed down June 27, 2025, was Mahmoud v. Taylor – a case of particular interest to me, because I teach education law. Mahmoud, I believe, may become one of the court’s most consequential rulings on parental rights.

    An interfaith coalition of Muslim, Orthodox Christian and Catholic parents in Montgomery County, Maryland – including Tamer Mahmoud, for whom the case is named – questioned the school board’s refusal to allow them to opt their young children out of lessons using picture books with LGBTQ+ characters. Ruling in favor of the parents, the court found that the board violated their First Amendment right to the free exercise of religion by requiring their children to sit through lessons with materials inconsistent with their faiths.

    Case history

    The parents in Mahmoud challenged the use of certain storybooks that the board had approved for use in preschool and elementary school. “Pride Puppy!” for example – a book the schools later removed – portrays a family whose pet gets lost at a LGBTQ+ Pride parade, with each page devoted to a letter of the alphabet. The book’s “search and find” list of words directs readers to look for terms in the pictures, including “(drag) queen” and “king,” “leather” and “lip ring.” Other materials included stories about same-sex marriage, a transgender child, and nonbinary bathroom signs.

    Initially, school administrators agreed to allow opt-outs for students whose parents objected to the materials. A day later, however, educators changed their minds. School officials cited concerns about absenteeism, the feasibility of accommodating opt-out requests, and a desire to avoid stigmatizing LGBTQ+ students or families.

    In August 2023, a federal trial court rejected the parents’ claim that officials had violated their fundamental due process right to direct the care, custody and education of their children. The following year, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit affirmed in favor of the board, finding that officials did not violate the parents’ rights to the free exercise of their religious beliefs, as protected by the First Amendment.

    A group of parents in Montgomery County, Maryland, protest the lack of opt-outs on July 20, 2023.
    Celal Gunes/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

    On appeal, a 6-3 Supreme Court reversed in favor of the parents. Justice Samuel Alito, who authored the court’s opinion, was joined by Chief Justice John Roberts, plus Justices Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett.

    Supreme Court

    In brief, the court held that by denying the parental requests to opt their children out of instruction inconsistent with their beliefs, school officials violated their First Amendment right to the free exercise of religion.

    Alito largely grounded the court’s rationale in a dispute from 1925, Pierce v. Society of Sisters of the Holy Name of Jesus and Mary, and even more heavily on 1972’s Wisconsin v. Yoder. Both cases recognize the primacy of parental rights to direct the education of their children. According to Pierce’s famous dictum, “the child is not the mere creature of the state; those who nurture him and direct his destiny have the right, coupled with the high duty, to recognize and prepare him for additional obligations.”

    In Yoder, Amish parents – an Anabaptist Christian community that avoids using many modern technologies – objected to sending their children to school after eighth grade because this would have violated their religious beliefs. The justices unanimously agreed with the parents that their children received all of the education they needed in their communities. The justices added that requiring the children to attend high school would have violated the parents’ rights to direct their children’s religious upbringing.

    Accordingly, the court acknowledged that the parental right “to guide the religious future and education of their children” was “established beyond debate.”

    Similarly, in Mahmoud the court declared that “the Board’s introduction of the ‘LGBTQ+-inclusive’ storybooks, along with its decision to withhold opt-outs, places an unconstitutional burden on the parents’ rights to the free exercise of their religion.”

    Thomas agreed fully with the court, yet wrote a separate concurrence, which emphasized “an important implication of this decision for schools across the country.” Citing Yoder, Thomas contended that rather than support inclusion, the board’s policy “imposes conformity with a view that undermines parents’ religious beliefs, and thus interferes with the parents’ right to ‘direct the religious upbringing of their children.’”

    Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s dissent, joined by Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson, feared “the result will be chaos for this Nation’s public schools. Requiring schools to provide advance notice and the chance to opt out of every lesson plan or story time that might implicate a parent’s religious beliefs will impose impossible administrative burdens on schools.”

    Supporters of LGBTQ+ rights demonstrate outside the U.S. Supreme Court during oral arguments in Mahmoud v. Taylor on April 22, 2025.
    Oliver Contreras/AFP via Getty Images

    She maintained that “simply being exposed to beliefs contrary to your own” does not violate a person’s free exercise rights. Insulating children from different ideas, she wrote, denies them of an experience that is crucial for democracy: “practice living in our multicultural society.”

    Implications

    After the decision was handed down, Montgomery County’s Board of Education issued a statement promising to “analyze the Supreme Court decision and develop next steps in alignment with today’s decision, and as importantly, our values.”

    Mahmoud raises challenging questions about the scope or reach of how far parents can question curricular content.

    On the one hand, parents should not be able to micromanage curricular content via the “heckler’s veto,” because this can lead to larger issues. Moreover, while Mahmoud concerns religious rights, what happens if parents question teachings based on another type of sincerely held belief – discussing war if they are pacifist, for example, or capitalism if they are socialists? While Mahmoud dealt with free-exercise rights, it may open the door to other types of First Amendment challenges from parents wishing to exempt their children from lessons.

    On the other hand, Mahmoud highlights the need to take legitimate parental concerns into consideration. While educators typically control instruction, how can they be respectful of parents’ rights as primary caregivers of their children when conflicts arise?

    Mahmoud may go a long way in defining parents’ free-exercise rights in public schools. Still, such disputes are likely far from over in America’s increasingly diverse religious culture.

    Charles J. Russo 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. In LGBTQ+ storybook case, Supreme Court handed a win to parental rights, raising tough questions for educators – https://theconversation.com/in-lgbtq-storybook-case-supreme-court-handed-a-win-to-parental-rights-raising-tough-questions-for-educators-260064

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Invasive carp threaten the Great Lakes − and reveal a surprising twist in national politics

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Mike Shriberg, Professor of Practice & Engagement, School for Environment & Sustainability, University of Michigan

    Invasive Asian carp are spreading up the Mississippi River system and already clog the Illinois River. AP Photo/John Flesher

    In his second term, President Donald Trump has not taken many actions that draw near-universal praise from across the political spectrum. But there is at least one of these political anomalies, and it illustrates the broad appeal of environmental protection and conservation projects – particularly when it concerns an ecosystem of vital importance to millions of Americans.

    In May 2025, Trump issued a presidential memorandum supporting the construction of a physical barrier that is key to keeping invasive carp out of the Great Lakes. These fish have made their way up the Mississippi River system and could have dire ecological consequences if they enter the Great Lakes.

    It was not a given that Trump would back this project, which had long been supported by environmental and conservation organizations. But two very different strategies from two Democratic governors – both potential presidential candidates in 2028 – reflected the importance of the Great Lakes to America.

    As a water policy and politics scholar focused on the Great Lakes, I see this development not only as an environmental and conservation milestone, but also a potential pathway for more political unity in the U.S.

    A feared invasion

    Perhaps nothing alarms Great Lakes ecologists more than the potential for invasive carp from Asia to establish a breeding population in the Great Lakes. These fish were intentionally introduced in the U.S. Southeast by private fish farm and wastewater treatment operators as a means to control algae in aquaculture and sewage treatment ponds. Sometime in the 1990s, the fish escaped from those ponds and moved rapidly up the Mississippi River system, including into the Illinois River, which connects to the Great Lakes.

    Sometimes said to “breed like mosquitoes and eat like hogs,” these fish can consume up to 40% of their body weight each day, outcompeting many native species and literally sucking up other species and food sources.

    Studies of Lake Erie, for example, predict that if the carp enter and thrive, they could make up approximately one-third of the fish biomass of the entire lake within 20 years, replacing popular sportfishing species such as walleye and other ecologically and economically important species.

    Invasive carp are generally not eaten in the U.S. and are not desirable for sportfishing. In fact, silver carp have a propensity to jump up to 10 feet out of the water when startled by a boat motor. That can make parts of the Illinois River, which is packed with the invasive fish, almost impossible to fish or even maneuver a boat.

    Look out! Silver carp fly out of the water, obstructing boats and hitting people trying to enjoy a river in Indiana.

    The Brandon Road Lock and Dam solution

    Originally, the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River were not connected to each other. But in 1900, the city of Chicago connected them to avoid sending its sewage into Lake Michigan, from which the city draws its drinking water.

    The most complete way to block the carp from invading the Great Lakes would be to undo that connection – but that would recreate sewage and flooding issues for Chicago, or require other expensive infrastructure upgrades. The more practical, short-term alternative is to modify the historic Brandon Road Lock and Dam in Joliet, Illinois, by adding several obstacles that together would block the carp from swimming farther upriver toward the Great Lakes.

    The barrier, estimated to cost US$1.15 billion, was authorized by Congress in 2020 and 2022 after many years of intense planning and negotiations. For the first phase of construction, the project received $226 million in federal money from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to complement $114 million in state funding – $64 million from Michigan and $50 million from Illinois.

    On the first day of Trump’s second term, however, he paused a wide swath of federal funding, including funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. And that’s when two different political strategies emerged.

    A brief documentary explains the construction of a connection between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River basin.

    Pritzker vs. Whitmer vs. Trump

    Illinois, a state that has voted for the Democratic candidate in every presidential election since 1992, has the most financially at stake in the Brandon Road project because the project requires the state to acquire land and operate the barrier. When Trump issued his order, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, a Democrat, postponed the purchase of a key piece of land, blaming the “Trump Administration’s lack of clarity and commitment” to the project. Pritzker essentially dared Trump to be the reason for the collapse of the Great Lakes ecosystem and fisheries.

    Another Democrat, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, a swing state with the most at stake economically and ecologically if these carp species enter the Great Lakes, took a very different approach. She went to the White House to talk with Trump about invasive carp and other issues. She defended her nonconfrontational approach to critics, though she also hid her face from cameras when Trump surprised her with an Oval Office press conference. When Trump visited Michigan, she stood beside him as they praised each other.

    When Trump released the federal funding in early May, Pritzker kept up his adversarial language, saying he was “glad that the Trump administration heard our calls … and decided to finally meet their obligation.” Whitmer stayed more conciliatory, calling the funding decision a “huge win that will protect our Great Lakes and secure our economy.” She said she was “grateful to the president for his commitment.”

    Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer greets President Donald Trump as he arrives in her state in late April 2025.
    AP Photo/Alex Brandon

    Why unity on carp?

    Whether coordinated or not, the net result of Pritzker’s and Whitmer’s actions drew praise from both sides of the aisle but was little noticed nationally.

    Trump’s support for the project was a rare moment of political unity and an extremely unusual example of leading Democrats being on the same page as Trump. I attribute this surprising outcome to two key factors.

    First, the Great Lakes region holds disproportionate power in presidential elections. Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania have backed the eventual winner in every presidential race for the past 20 years. This swing state power has been used by advocates and state political leaders to drive funding for Great Lakes protection for many years.

    Second, Great Lakes are the uniting force in the region. According to polling from the International Joint Commission, the binational body charged with overseeing waterways that cross the U.S.-Canada border, there is “nearly unanimous support (96%) for the importance of government investment in Great Lakes protections” from residents of the region.

    There aren’t any other issues with such high voter resonance, so politicians want to be sure Great Lakes voters are happy. For example, Vice President JD Vance has been particularly vocal about the Great Lakes. And Great Lakes restoration funding was one of the few things in the presidential budget that Democrats and Republicans agreed on.

    Both Pritzker and Whitmer likely had state-based and national motivations in mind and big aspirations at stake.

    Their combined effort has put the project back on track: As of May 12, 2025, Pritzker authorized Illinois to sign the land-purchase agreement he had paused back in February.

    And perhaps the governors have identified a new area for unity in a divided United States: Conservation and environmental issues have broad public support, particularly when they involve iconic natural resources, shared values and popular outdoor pursuits such as fishing and boating. Even when political strategies diverge, the results can bring bipartisan satisfaction.

    Mike Shriberg was previously the Great Lakes Regional Executive Director of the National Wildlife Federation, which entailed being a co-chair (and, for part of the time, Director) of the Healing Our Waters – Great Lakes Coalition.

    – ref. Invasive carp threaten the Great Lakes − and reveal a surprising twist in national politics – https://theconversation.com/invasive-carp-threaten-the-great-lakes-and-reveal-a-surprising-twist-in-national-politics-257707

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: 1 in 4 Americans reject evolution, a century after the Scopes monkey trial spotlighted the clash between science and religion

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By William Trollinger, Professor of History, University of Dayton

    The 1925 Scopes trial, in which a Dayton, Tennessee, teacher was charged with violating state law by teaching biological evolution, was one of the earliest and most iconic conflicts in America’s ongoing culture war.

    Charles Darwin’s “Origin of Species,” published in 1859, and subsequent scientific research made the case that humans and other animals evolved from earlier species over millions of years. Many late-19th-century American Protestants had little problem accommodating Darwin’s ideas – which became mainstream biology – with their religious commitments.

    But that was not the case with all Christians, especially conservative evangelicals, who held that the Bible is inerrant – without error – and factually accurate in all that it has to say, including when it speaks on history and science.

    The Scopes trial occurred July 10-21, 1925. Between 150 and 200 reporters swooped into the small town. Broadcast on Chicago’s WGN, it was the first trial to be aired live over radio in the United States.

    One hundred years after the trial, and as we have documented in our scholarly work, the culture war over evolution and creationism remains strong – and yet, when it comes to creationism, much has also changed.

    The trial

    In May 1919, over 6,000 conservative Protestants gathered in Philadelphia to create, under the leadership of Baptist firebrand William Bell Riley, the World’s Christian Fundamentals Association, or WCFA.

    Holding to biblical inerrancy, these “fundamentalists” believed in the creation account detailed in chapter 1 of Genesis, in which God brought all life into being in six days. But most of these fundamentalists also accepted mainstream geology, which held that the Earth was millions of years old. Squaring a literal understanding of Genesis with an old Earth, they embraced either the “day-age theory” – that each Genesis day was actually a long period of time – or the “gap theory,” in which there was a huge gap of time before the six 24-hour days of creation.

    This nascent fundamentalist movement initiated a campaign to pressure state legislatures to prohibit public schools from teaching evolution. One of these states was Tennessee, which in 1925 passed the Butler Act. This law made it illegal for public schoolteachers “to teach any theory that denies the story of divine creation of man as taught in the Bible, and to teach instead that man has descended from a lower order of animals.”

    The American Civil Liberties Union persuaded John Thomas Scopes, a young science teacher in Dayton, Tennessee, to challenge the law in court. The WCFA sprang into action, successfully persuading William Jennings Bryan – populist politician and outspoken fundamentalist – to assist the prosecution. In response, the ACLU hired famous attorney Clarence Darrow to serve on the defense team.

    A huge crowd attending the Scopes trial.
    Bettmann/Contributor via Getty Images

    When the trial started, Dayton civic leaders were thrilled with the opportunity to boost their town. Outside the courtroom there was a carnivalesque atmosphere, with musicians, preachers, concession stands and even monkeys.

    Inside the courtroom, the trial became a verbal duel between Bryan and Darrow regarding science and religion. But as the judge narrowed the proceedings to whether or not Scopes violated the law – a point that the defense readily admitted – it seemed clear that Scopes would be found guilty. Many of the reporters thus went home.

    But the trial’s most memorable episode was yet to come. On July 20, Darrow successfully provoked Bryan to take the witness stand as a Bible expert. Due to the huge crowd and suffocating heat, the judge moved the trial outdoors.

    The 3,000 or so spectators witnessed Darrow’s interrogation of Bryan, which was primarily intended to make Bryan and fundamentalism appear foolish and ignorant. Most significant, Darrow’s questions revealed that, despite Bryan’s’ assertion that he read the Bible literally, Bryan actually understood the six days of Genesis not as 24-hour days, but as six long and indeterminate periods of time.

    American lawyer and politician William Jennings Bryan during the Scopes trial in Dayton, Tenn.
    Hulton Archive/Getty Image

    The very next day, the jury found Scopes guilty and fined him US$100. Riley and the fundamentalists cheered the verdict as a triumph for the Bible and morality.

    The fundamentalists and ‘The Genesis Flood’

    But very soon that sense of triumph faded, partly because of news stories that portrayed fundamentalists as ignorant rural bigots. In one such example, a prominent journalist, H. L. Mencken, wrote in a Baltimore Sun column that the Scopes trial “serves notice on the country that Neanderthal man is organizing in these forlorn backwaters of the land.”

    The media ridicule encouraged many scholars and journalists to conclude that creationism and fundamentalism would soon disappear from American culture. But that prediction did not come to pass.

    Instead, fundamentalists, including WCFA leader Riley, seemed all the more determined to redouble their efforts at the grassroots level.

    But as Darrow’s interrogation of Bryan made obvious, it was not easy to square a literal reading of the Bible – including the six-day creation outlined in Genesis – with a scientific belief in an old Earth. What fundamentalists needed was a science that supported the idea of a young Earth.

    In their 1961 book, “The Genesis Flood: The Biblical Record and its Scientific Implications, fundamentalists John Whitcomb, a theologian, and Henry Morris, a hydraulic engineer, provided just such a scientific explanation. Making use, without attribution, of the writings of Seventh-day Adventist geologist George McCready Price, Whitcomb and Morris made the case that Noah’s global flood lasted one year and created the geological strata and mountain ranges that made the Earth seem ancient.

    “The Genesis Flood” and its version of flood geology remains ubiquitous among fundamentalists and other conservative Protestants.

    Young Earth creationism

    Today, opinion polls reveal that roughly one-quarter of all Americans are adherents of this newer strand of creationism, which rejects both mainstream geology as well as mainstream biology.

    Replica of Noah’s Ark at the Ark Encounter, near Williamstown, Ky.
    Ron Buskirk/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

    This popular embrace of young Earth creationism also explains the success of Answers in Genesis – AiG – which is the world’s largest creationist organization, with a website that attracts millions of visitors every year.

    AiG’s tourist sites – the Creation Museum in Petersburg, Kentucky, and the Ark Encounter in Williamstown, Kentucky – have attracted millions of visitors since their opening in 2007 and 2016. Additional AiG sites are planned for Branson, Missouri, and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

    Presented as a replica of Noah’s Ark, the Ark Encounter is a gigantic structure – 510 feet long, 85 feet wide, 51 feet high. It includes representations of animal cages as well as plush living quarters for the eight human beings who, according to Genesis chapters 6-8, survived the global flood. Hundreds of placards in the Ark make the case for a young Earth and a global flood that created the geological strata and formations we see today.

    Ark Encounter has been the beneficiary of millions of dollars from state and local governments.

    Besides AiG tourist sites, there is also an ever-expanding network of fundamentalist schools and homeschools that present young Earth creationism as true science. These schools use textbooks from publishers such as Abeka Books, Accelerated Christian Education and Bob Jones University Press.

    The Scopes trial involved what could and could not be taught in public schools regarding creation and evolution. Today, this discussion also involves private schools, given that there are now at least 15 states that have universal private school choice programs, in which families can use taxpayer-funded education money to pay for private schooling and homeschooling.

    In 1921, William Bell Riley admonished his opponents that they should “cease from shoveling in dirt on living men,” for the fundamentalists “refuse to be buried.” A century later, the funeral for fundamentalism and creationism seems a long way off.

    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. 1 in 4 Americans reject evolution, a century after the Scopes monkey trial spotlighted the clash between science and religion – https://theconversation.com/1-in-4-americans-reject-evolution-a-century-after-the-scopes-monkey-trial-spotlighted-the-clash-between-science-and-religion-258163

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Bill Moyers’ journalism strengthened democracy by connecting Americans to ideas and each other, in a long and extraordinary career

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Julie Leininger Pycior, Professor of History Emeritus, Manhattan University

    “Bill Moyers? He’s spectacular!” George Clooney said – and no wonder.

    I mentioned this legendary television journalist to the actor and filmmaker after Clooney emerged from the Broadway theater where he just had been portraying another news icon: Edward R. Murrow. Or as the Museum of Broadcast Communications put it in a tribute to Moyers, he was “one of the few broadcast journalists who might be said to approach the stature of Edward R. Murrow. If Murrow founded broadcast journalism, Moyers significantly extended its traditions.”

    Moyers, who died at 91 on June 26, 2025, was among the most acclaimed broadcast journalists of the 20th century. He’s known for TV news shows that exposed the role of big money in politics and episodes that drew attention to unsung defenders of democracy, such as community organizer Ernesto Cortés Jr..

    Earlier in his life, Moyers served in significant roles in the Kennedy and Johnson administrations, but his fame comes from his journalism.

    Making a connection

    Despite his prominence, Moyers was the same down-to-earth guy in person as he seemed to be on the screen. In 1986, he was commanding a television audience of millions, and I was a historian at home with a preschooler, teaching the occasional college course in a dismal job market. Seeing that Moyers would be speaking at the conference on President Lyndon B. Johnson where I would be giving a paper, I wrote to him.

    To my utter amazement, he replied and then showed up to hear my paper, on Johnson’s experiences as a young principal of the “Mexican” school in Cotulla, Texas, where he championed his students but also forged links to segregationists. Cotulla was “seminal” to LBJ’s development, Moyers said. In 1993, he recommended me for a grant that helped me finish a book: “LBJ and Mexican Americans: The Paradox of Power.

    A few years later, he asked me to head up a project researching the documents related to his time in Johnson’s administration. His memoir of the Johnson years never materialized. Instead, I edited the bestselling ”Moyers on America: A Journalist and His Times.“

    Part of what always impressed me about Moyers was his belief that what matters is not how close you are to power, but how close you are to reality.

    ‘Amazing Grace’

    Moyers didn’t just dwell on politics and policy as a journalist. He also delved into the meaning of creativity and the life of the mind. Many of his most moving interviews spotlighted scientists, novelists and other exceptional people.

    He was also arguably among the best reporters on the religion beat. Even if it wasn’t always the main focus of his work or what comes to mind for those familiar with his legacy, still, he was a lifelong spiritual seeker.

    This is hardly surprising: Moyers had degrees in both divinity and journalism. As a young man, he briefly served as a Baptist minister.

    He once told me that his favorite of the many programs that he produced was the PBS documentary ”Amazing Grace.“ It featured inspiring renditions of this popular Christian hymn as performed by country legend Johnny Cash, folk icon Judy Collins, opera diva Jessye Norman and other musical geniuses. As they share with Moyers their personal connections to this song of redemption, he draws viewers into the stirring saga of its creator, John Newton: a slave trader who became an abolitionist through “amazing grace.”

    Bill Moyers interviews Judy Collins about singing ‘Amazing Grace,’ following the production of his PBS special about the hymn.

    Life’s ultimate questions

    This appreciation of the ineffable clearly informed Moyers’ blockbuster TV series exploring life’s ultimate questions, “Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth.”

    His interviews with Campbell, a comparative mythologist, evoked moments that made time stand still, and this reminded me of Thomas Merton, the American monk and poet, writing, “Everything is emptiness and everything is compassion” on beholding the immense Polonnaruwa Buddhas of Sri Lanka.

    To my surprise, Moyers knew about this Trappist monk, telling me, “I always wished that I could have interviewed Merton,” who died in 1968.

    It turned out that Moyers had been introduced to Merton by Sargent Shriver, founding director of the Peace Corps, where Moyers was a founding organizer and the deputy director.

    Mentored by LBJ

    Moyers characterized his Peace Corps years as the most rewarding of his life. When Johnson, his mentor, became president, he asked Moyers to join the White House staff. Moyers turned down the offer, so Johnson made it a presidential command.

    The wunderkind – Moyers was 29 years old in 1963, when Johnson was sworn in after President John F. Kennedy’s assassination – coordinated the White House task forces that created the largest number of legislative proposals in American history. Among the programs and landmark reforms established and passed during the Johnson administration were Medicare and Medicaid, a landmark immigration law, the Freedom of Information Act, the Public Broadcasting Act and two historic civil rights laws.

    Johnson’s war on poverty, in addition, introduced several path-breaking programs, such as Head Start.

    Moyers served as one of Johnson’s speechwriters and was a top official in Johnson’s 1964 presidential campaign. The following year, the Johnson administration began escalating U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War and Johnson named a new press secretary: Bill Moyers. Again, the young man tried to decline, but the president prevailed.

    As Moyers had feared, he could not serve two masters – journalists and his boss – especially as the administration’s Vietnam War policies became increasingly unpopular.

    President Lyndon B. Johnson confers with Bill Moyers, his press secretary, in 1965.
    Corbis Historical via Getty Images

    Appreciating the world around you

    Moyers left the Johnson administration in 1967, turning to journalism. He became the publisher of Newsday, a Long Island, New York, newspaper, before becoming a producer and commentator at CBS News. His commentaries reached tens of millions of viewers, but the network refused to provide a regular time slot for his documentaries. He had previously worked at PBS. In 1987, he decamped there for good.

    Moyers’ programs won many journalism awards, including over 30 Emmys, along with the Lifetime Emmy for news and documentary productions.

    He helped millions of Americans appreciate the world around them. As he reflected in 2023, in one of the last interviews he gave, to PBS journalist Judy Woodruff at the Library of Congress: “Everything is linked, and if you can find that nerve that connects us to other things and other places and other ideas – and television should be doing it all the time – we’d be a better democracy.”

    Judy Woodruff interviews Bill Moyers about his life’s work in government and the media, including his contributions to the launch of PBS, at the Library of Congress.

    Today, with disinformation metastasizing, professional journalists losing their jobs by the thousands and some newspaper owners muzzling their editorial staff, thoughtful explanations can lose out. That means Americans can lose out.

    “It takes time, commitment” to dig below the surface and discover the deeper meaning of people’s lives, Moyers noted. He sought to understand, for example, why so many folks in his own hometown of Marshall, Texas, have become much more suspicious – resentful, even – of outsiders than when he gave these folks voice in his poignant, prize-winning 1984 program Marshall, Texas; Marshall, Texas.

    In this era of growing threats to democracy, what can a young person do who aspires to follow in Bill Moyers’ footsteps – whether in journalism or public life?

    Woodruff asked Moyers that question, to which he responded: “You can’t quit. You can’t get out of the boat! Find a place that gives you a sense of being, gives you a sense of mission, gives you a sense of participation.”

    Today, with the future of journalism – and of democracy itself – at stake, I think it would help everyone to take to heart the insights of this late, great American journalist.

    Julie Leininger Pycior edited the book “Moyers on America: A Journalist and His Times.” She also was hired by Moyers to direct the 18-month “LBJ Years” research project.

    In addtion, she served as an unpaid, informal historical adviser for some of his public television programs.

    – ref. Bill Moyers’ journalism strengthened democracy by connecting Americans to ideas and each other, in a long and extraordinary career – https://theconversation.com/bill-moyers-journalism-strengthened-democracy-by-connecting-americans-to-ideas-and-each-other-in-a-long-and-extraordinary-career-260047

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Keeping brain-dead pregnant women on life support raises ethical issues that go beyond abortion politics

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Lindsey Breitwieser, Assistant Professor of Gender & Women’s Studies, Hollins University

    Laws such as Georgia’s LIFE Act can complicate ethical and legal decision-making in postmortem pregnancy.
     Darya Komarova/Moment via Getty Images

    Adriana Smith, a 30-year-old woman from Georgia who had been declared brain-dead in February 2025, spent 16 weeks on life support while doctors worked to keep her body functioning well enough to support her developing fetus. On June 13, 2025, her premature baby, named Chance, was born via cesarean section at 25 weeks.

    Smith was nine weeks pregnant when she suffered multiple blood clots in her brain. Her story gained public attention when her mother criticized doctors’ decision to keep her on a ventilator without the family’s consent. Smith’s mother has said that doctors told the family the decision was made to align with Georgia’s LIFE Act, which bans abortion after six weeks of pregnancy and bolsters the legal standing of fetal personhood. A statement released by the hospital also cites Georgia’s abortion law.

    “I’m not saying we would have chosen to terminate her pregnancy,” Smith’s mother told a local television station. “But I’m saying we should have had a choice.”

    The LIFE Act is one of several state laws that have passed across the U.S. since the 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson decision invalidated constitutional protections for abortion. Although Georgia’s attorney general denied that the LIFE Act applied to Smith, there’s little doubt that it invites ethical and legal uncertainty when a woman dies while pregnant.

    Smith’s case has swiftly become the focus of a reproductive rights political firestorm characterized by two opposing viewpoints. For some, it reflects demeaning governmental overreach that quashes women’s bodily autonomy. For others it illustrates the righteous sacrifice of motherhood.

    In my work as a gender and technology studies scholar, I have cataloged and studied postmortem pregnancies like Smith’s since 2016. In my view, Smith’s story doesn’t fit straightforwardly into abortion politics. Instead, it points to the need for a more nuanced ethical approach that does not frame a mother and child as adversaries in a medical, legal or political context.

    Birth after death

    For centuries, Catholic dogma and Western legal precedent have mandated immediate cesarean section when a pregnant woman died after quickening, the point when fetal movement becomes discernible. But technological advances now make it possible sometimes for a fetus to continue gestating in place when the mother is brain-dead, or “dead by neurological criteria”– a widely accepted definition of death that first emerged in the 1950s.

    The first brain death during pregnancy in which the fetus was delivered after time on life support, more accurately called organ support, occurred in 1981. The process is extraordinarily intensive and invasive, because the loss of brain function impedes many physiological processes. Health teams, sometimes numbering in the hundreds, must stabilize the bodies of “functionally decapitated” pregnant women to buy more time for fetal development. This requires vital organ support, ventilation, nutritional supplements, antibiotics and constant monitoring. Outcomes are highly uncertain.

    Adriana Smith’s baby was delivered by cesarian section on June 13, 2025.

    Smith’s 112-day stint on organ support ranks third in length for a postmortem pregnancy, with the longest being 123 days. Hers is also the earliest ever gestational age from which the procedure has been attempted. Because time on organ support can vary widely, and because there is no established minimum fetal age considered too early to intervene, a fetus could theoretically be deemed viable at any point in pregnancy.

    Postmortem pregnancy as gender-based violence

    Over the past 50 years, critics of postmortem pregnancy have argued that it constitutes gender-based violence and violates bodily integrity in ways that organ donation does not. Some have compared it with Nazi pronatalist policies. Others have attributed the practice to systemic sexism and racism in medicine. Postmortem pregnancy can also compound intimate partner violence by giving brain-dead women’s murderers decision-making authority when they are the fetus’s next of kin.

    Fetal personhood laws complicate end-of-life decision-making in ways that many consider violent too. As I have seen in my own research, when the fetus is considered a legal person, women’s wishes may be assumed, debated in court or committee, or set aside entirely, nearly always in favor of the fetus.

    From the perspective of reproductive rights advocates, postmortem pregnancy is the bottom of a slippery slope down which anti-abortion sentiment has led America. It obliterates women’s autonomy, pitting living and dead women against doctors, legislators and sometimes their own families, and weaponizing their own fetuses against them.

    A medical perspective on rights

    Viewed through a medical lens, however, postmortem pregnancy is not violent or violating, but an act of repair. Although care teams have responsibilities to both mother and fetus, a pregnant woman’s brain death means she cannot be physically harmed and her rights cannot be violated to the same degree as a fetus with the potential for life.

    Medical practitioners are conditioned to prioritize life over death, motivating a commitment to salvage something from a tragedy and try to partially restore a family. The high-stakes world of emergency medicine makes protecting life reflexive and medical interventions automatic. Once fetal life is detected, as one hospital spokesperson put it in a 1976 news article in The Boston Globe, “What else could you do?”

    This response does not necessarily stem from conscious sexism or anti-abortion sentiment, but from reverence for vulnerable patients. If physicians declare a pregnant woman brain-dead, patienthood often automatically transfers to the fetus needing rescue. No matter its age and despite its survival being dependent on machines, just like its mother, the fetus is entirely animate. Who or what counts as a legal person with privileges and protections might be a political or philosophical determination, but life is a matter of biological fact and within the doctors’ purview.

    The first baby born from a postmortem pregnancy was delivered in 1981.
    Emmanuel Faure/The Image Bank via Getty Images

    An ethics of anti-opposition

    Both of the above perspectives have validity, but neither accounts for postmortem pregnancy’s ethical and biological complexity.

    First, setting mother against fetus, with the rights of one endangering the rights of the other, does not match pregnancy’s lived reality of “two bodies, sutured,” as the cultural scholar Lauren Berlant put it.

    Even the Supreme Court recognized this entangled duality in their 1973 ruling on Roe v. Wade, which established both constitutional protections for abortion and a governmental obligation to protect fetal life. Whether a fetus is considered a legal person or not, they wrote, pregnant women and fetuses “cannot be isolated in their privacy” – meaning that reproductive rights issues must strike a balance, however tenuous, between maternal and fetal interests. To declare postmortem pregnancy unequivocally violent or a loss of the “right to choose” fails to recognize the complexity of choice in a highly politicized medical landscape.

    Second, maternal-fetal competition muddles the right course of action. In the U.S., competent patients are not compelled to engage in medical care they would rather avoid, even if it kills them, or to stay on life support to preserve organs for donation. But when a fetus is treated as an independent patient, exceptions could be made to those medical standards if the fetus’s interests override the mother’s.

    For example, pregnancy disrupts standard determination of death. To protect the fetus, care teams increasingly skip a necessary diagnostic for brain death called apnea testing, which involves momentarily removing the ventilator to test the respiratory centers of the brain stem. In these cases, maternal brain death cannot be confirmed until after delivery. Multiple instances of vaginal deliveries after brain death also remain unexplained, given that the brain coordinates mechanisms of vaginal labor. All in all, it’s not always clear women in these cases are entirely dead.

    Ultimately, women like Adriana Smith and their fetuses are inseparable and persist in a technologically defined state of in-betweenness. I’d argue that postmortem pregnancies, therefore, need new bioethical standards that center women’s beliefs about their bodies and a dignified death. This might involve recognizing pregnancy’s unique ambiguities in advance directives, questioning default treatment pathways that may require harm be done to one in order to save another, or considering multiple definitions of clinical and legal death.

    In my view, it is possible to adapt our ethical standards in a way that honors all beings in these exceptional circumstances, without privileging either “choice” or “life,” mother or fetus.

    This research was supported by a grant from The Institute for Citizens and Scholars.

    – ref. Keeping brain-dead pregnant women on life support raises ethical issues that go beyond abortion politics – https://theconversation.com/keeping-brain-dead-pregnant-women-on-life-support-raises-ethical-issues-that-go-beyond-abortion-politics-258457

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Mexican flags flown during immigration protests bother white people a lot more than other Americans

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Edward D. Vargas, Associate Professor, School of Transborder Studies, Arizona State University

    Protesters wave the Mexican flag in Los Angeles on June 9, 2025. Luke Johnson/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

    Agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted a series of raids throughout Los Angeles and Southern California in early June 2025, sparking protests in downtown Los Angeles and other cities, including New York, Chicago and Austin, Texas.

    Some demonstrators expressed growing frustration with ICE by showcasing the Mexican flag, which has become the defining symbol of the protests in Los Angeles.

    The use of the flag has also become the subject of intense debate in the media.

    Some outlets have depicted the flag as symbolizing ethnic pride, solidarity with immigrants and opposition to the Trump administration.

    Others have called it the “perfect propaganda” tool for Republicans and conservatives, some of whom have referred to the Mexican flag as the “confederate banner of the L.A. riots.” They point to its use as evidence of anarchy and a city taken over by immigrants.

    But what do Americans think about protesters waving the Mexican flag, and why?

    Much of our knowledge surrounding this question is based on the 2006 immigrant rights protests across the United States, which occurred in a much less politically polarized era. Additionally, a vast majority of protesters then brought U.S. flags compared with other national flags, including the Mexican flag.

    Research published in 2010 found that even though the public was more likely to be bothered by protesters waving the Mexican flag than the U.S. flag, that difference was largely absent once you divided the public into subgroups, including white people, Latinos and immigrants.

    To reexamine public attitudes toward protesters waving the Mexican flag, we conducted an online survey experiment among 10,145 U.S. adults in 2016.

    As political scientists who specialize in Latino politics and immigration-related issues, we tested how exposure to the Mexican flag versus the American flag shaped opinion about protests during Trump’s first presidential campaign in 2016.

    We found that even though much of the public continued to be less bothered by the American flag than the Mexican flag, there were also important and perhaps surprising differences in protest attitudes between white Americans and other racial and ethnic groups.

    A demonstrator holds a Mexican flag in front of law enforcement during a protest on June 13, 2025, in Los Angeles.
    AP Photo/Wally Skalij

    More or less bothered

    In the study, we randomly divided respondents into two groups: a treatment group and a control group. Respondents in the treatment group were shown an image of protesters waving a Mexican flag. Respondents in the control group were shown an image of protesters waving the U.S. flag. After viewing the image, respondents were then asked about the extent to which they supported or were bothered by the protests.

    Overall, 41% of the respondents said they were bothered by protesters waving the Mexican flag, and 28% said protesters waving the U.S. flag bothered them.

    Our results show important differences in opinion between racial and ethnic groups.

    White respondents were more likely than any other racial and ethnic group to say they were bothered by protesters waving Mexican flags. Sixty-nine percent of white respondents said they were bothered, 31 percentage points more than the average of nonwhite respondents.

    However, 51% of white respondents were also bothered by the image of protesters waving U.S. flags. By contrast, just 20% of Latinos, 33% of Black Americans and 34% of Asian Americans said they were bothered by protesters waving U.S. flags.

    Put differently, large majorities of nonwhite respondents were supportive of showing U.S. flags at protests despite their more positive views toward Mexican flags.

    What explains racial differences?

    When taking a deeper look at what causes Americans to feel bothered about protesters waving Mexican flags, some clear patterns emerge.

    On average, older Americans were more likely to be bothered relative to younger Americans. This was particularly true for Americans over 40 years of age compared with millennials, born between 1981 and 1996, and Gen Z respondents, born between 1997 and 2012.

    However, there are some nuances when examining age groups and whether they had attended a protest, march or rally in the previous year.

    Our findings suggest that older Americans who had not engaged in protests were most likely to be bothered when they saw images of protesters waving Mexican flags. Millennials and Gen Z respondents who participated in a protest were least likely to be bothered.

    Given that this issue intersects nationality, race, ethnicity, gender and citizenship status, it’s logical that these factors explained why Americans supported or opposed the use of Mexican flags at immigration protests.

    A woman carrying a flag with details of the United States and Mexican flags walks past members of the United States Marine Corps on June 14, 2025, in Los Angeles.
    Cristopher Rogel Blanquet/Getty Images

    For example, racial minorities who have a stronger sense of ethnic or racial identity were more likely to be supportive of protesters waving Mexican and U.S. flags. In other words, group identity is a strong predictor of support for protests in general, regardless of what flag is being flown.

    However, minorities who lack a sense of ethnic pride and identity were most likely to be upset when they saw others expressing their First Amendment right to peaceably assemble.

    The reality is that recent immigration protests across the country are the first time many of the Latino youth who are citizens have participated in these types of protests. Anyone under age 22 would not have memory of, or been alive during, the last large pro-immigrant protests in 2006.

    The Mexican flag represents more than nationalistic pride. It represents their parents’ heritage, hard work and their binational experience as Americans engaged in politics.

    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. Mexican flags flown during immigration protests bother white people a lot more than other Americans – https://theconversation.com/mexican-flags-flown-during-immigration-protests-bother-white-people-a-lot-more-than-other-americans-259004

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why the US bombed a bunch of metal tubes − a nuclear engineer explains the importance of centrifuges to Iranian efforts to build nuclear weapons

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Anna Erickson, Professor of Nuclear and Radiological Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology

    An image from Iranian television shows centrifuges lining a hall at Iran’s Natanz uranium enrichment facility in 2021. IRIB via APPEAR

    When U.S. forces attacked Iran’s nuclear facilities on June 21, 2025, the main target was metal tubes in laboratories deep underground. The tubes are centrifuges that produce highly enriched uranium needed to build nuclear weapons.

    Inside of a centrifuge, a rotor spins in the range of 50,000 to 100,000 revolutions per minute, 10 times faster than a Corvette engine’s crankshaft. High speeds are needed to separate lighter uranium-235 from heavier uranium-238 for further collection and processing. Producing this level of force means the rotor itself must be well balanced and strong and rely on high-speed magnetic bearings to reduce friction.

    Over the years, Iran has produced thousands of centrifuges. They work together to enrich uranium to dangerous levels – close to weapons-grade uranium. Most of them are deployed in three enrichment sites: Natanz, the country’s main enrichment facility, Fordow and Isfahan. Inside of these facilities, the centrifuges are arranged into cascades – series of machines connected to each other. This way, each machine yields slightly more enriched uranium, feeding the gas produced into its neighbor to maximize production efficiency.

    As a nuclear engineer who works on nuclear nonproliferation, I track centrifuge technology, including the Iranian enrichment facilities targeted by the U.S. and Israel. A typical cascade deployed in Iran is composed of 164 centrifuges, working in series to produce enriched uranium. The Natanz facility was designed to hold over 50,000 centrifuges.

    Iran’s early intentions to field centrifuges on a very large scale were clear. At the peak of the program in the early 2010s it deployed over 19,000 units. Iran later scaled down the number of its centrifuges in part due to international agreements such as the since scrapped Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action signed in 2015.

    Legacy of enrichment

    Iran has a long history of enriching uranium.

    In the late 1990s, it acquired a Pakistani centrifuge design known as P-1. The blueprints and some components were supplied via the A.Q. Khan black market network – the mastermind of the Pakistani program and a serious source of nuclear proliferation globally. Today, the P-1 design is known as IR-1. IR-1 centrifuges use aluminum and a high-strength alloy, known as maraging steel.

    About one-third of the centrifuges that were deployed at the sites of the recent strike on June 21 are IR-1. Each one produces on the order of 0.8 separative work units, which is the unit for measuring the amount of energy and effort needed to separate uranium-235 molecules from the rest of the uranium gas. To put this in perspective, one centrifuge would yield about 0.2 ounces (6 grams) of 60%-enriched uranium-235 per year.

    A typical uranium-based weapon requires 55 pounds (25 kilograms) of 90%-enriched uranium. To get to weapons-grade level, a single centrifuge would produce only 0.14 ounces (4 grams) per year. It requires more work to go higher in enrichment. While capable of doing the job, the IR-1 is quite inefficient.

    The author explains the uranium enrichment process to CBS News.

    More and better centrifuges

    Small yields mean that over 6,000 centrifuges would need to work together for a year to get enough material for one weapon such as a nuclear warhead. Or the efficiency of the centrifuges would have to be improved. Iran did both.

    Before the strike by U.S. forces, Iran was operating close to 7,000 IR-1 centrifuges. In addition, Iran designed, built and operated more efficient centrifuges such as the IR-2m, IR-4 and IR-6 designs. Comparing the IR-1 with the latest designs is like comparing a golf cart with the latest electric vehicles in terms of range and payload.

    Iran’s latest centrifuge designs contain carbon fiber composites with exceptional strength and durability and low weight. This is a recipe for producing light and compact centrifuges that are easier to conceal from inspections. According to the international nuclear watchdog International Atomic Energy Agency, before the strike Iran was operating 6,500 IR-2m centrifuges, close to 4,000 IR-4 centrifuges and over 3,000 IR-6 centrifuges.

    With each new generation, the separative work unit efficiency increased significantly. IR-6 centrifuges, with their carbon fiber rotors, can achieve up to 10 separative work units per year. That’s about 2.8 ounces (80 grams) of 60%-enriched uranium-235 per year. The International Atomic Energy Agency verified that the IR-6 cascades have been actively used to ramp up production of 60%-enriched uranium.

    The most recent and advanced centrifuges developed by Iran, known as IR-9, can achieve 50 separative work units per year. This cuts down the time needed to produce highly enriched uranium for weapon purposes from months to weeks. The other aspect of IR-9 advanced centrifuges is their compactness. They are easier to conceal from inspections or move underground, and they require less energy to operate.

    Advanced centrifuges such as the IR-9 drive up the risk of nuclear weapons proliferation significantly. Fortunately, the International Atomic Energy Agency reports that only one exists in testing laboratories, and there is no evidence Iran has deployed them widely. However, it’s possible more are concealed.

    Bombs or talks?

    Uranium enrichment of 60% is far beyond the needs of any civilian use. The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed that Iran stockpiled about 880 pounds (400 kilograms) of highly enriched uranium before the attack, and it might have escaped intact. That’s enough to make 10 weapons. The newer centrifuges – IR-2m, IR-4 and IR-6 – would need a bit over eight months to produce that much.

    It’s not clear what the U.S. attack has accomplished, but destroying the facilities targeted in the attack and hindering Iran’s ability to continue enriching uranium might be a way to slow Iran’s move toward producing nuclear weapons. However, based on my work and research on preventing nuclear proliferation, I believe a more reliable means of preventing Iran from achieving its nuclear aims would be for diplomacy and cooperation to prevail.

    Anna Erickson receives funding from Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) related to nuclear nonproliferation technologies. She has previously served on the Board of Directors of the American Nuclear Society.

    – ref. Why the US bombed a bunch of metal tubes − a nuclear engineer explains the importance of centrifuges to Iranian efforts to build nuclear weapons – https://theconversation.com/why-the-us-bombed-a-bunch-of-metal-tubes-a-nuclear-engineer-explains-the-importance-of-centrifuges-to-iranian-efforts-to-build-nuclear-weapons-259883

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