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  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Five ways professional athletes are redefining the limits of age in sport

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Paul Hough, Lecturer Sport & Exercise Physiology , University of Westminster

    Maciej Rogowski Photo/Shutterstock

    In elite sport, the phrase “past your prime” is rapidly being redefined.

    At 38, Jess Fishlock just became the oldest goalscorer in UEFA Women’s Euro history. At Euro 2024, Portuguese defender Pepe made headlines not for a red card or faking injury — but for simply stepping onto the pitch at age 41, becoming the oldest player to feature in a European Championship. Fellow veterans Cristiano Ronaldo (39), Luka Modrić (38), and Keylor Navas (38) also made appearances.

    And it’s not just football. Serena Williams won the Australian Open at 35 (while pregnant). Roger Federer won a Grand Slam at 36. Rafael Nadal became the oldest French Open champion at 36. Novak Djokovic, now 38, won Olympic gold in 2024 and reached the semi-finals of all three Grand Slams this 2025.

    In American sports, Tom Brady retired at 45 after 23 physically punishing NFL seasons. LeBron James, at 39, is still dominating in the NBA, having won the inaugural NBA Cup with the LA Lakers in 2023.

    These aren’t just feel-good stories; they reflect a growing trend. Athletes are staying competitive for longer and pushing the boundaries of peak performance. But how?

    Research backs the shift. A study on Olympic athletes found that between 1992 and 2021, the average age of male Olympians rose from 25 to 27, and female athletes from 24 to 26. In football, a study of UEFA Champions League players found the average player age rose by nearly two years between 1992 and 2018.

    So how are older athletes continuing to thrive in elite sport? Here are some of the key factors.

    1. Smarter training

    Modern athletes benefit from personalised training programmes informed by cutting-edge sports science. Tools like GPS tracking, heart rate variability (HRV), and biomarker analysis help coaches monitor performance, recovery and injury risk.

    Metrics such as HRV, for example, can indicate when an athlete might need more rest, which is crucial for older athletes who take longer to recover after intense competition.

    Athletes are no longer reliant on a single coach. Today, they work with integrated teams – sports scientists, strength and conditioning coaches, and performance analysts – all dedicated to improving their fitness and performance.

    2. Better injury prevention and medical support

    Athletes now undergo regular fitness testing and musculoskeletal screening to identify potential weaknesses before they lead to injury. And when injuries do occur, recovery methods have vastly improved.

    Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries were once considered career-ending for older athletes. But thanks to advanced surgical techniques and biological therapies, recovery is now faster, and athletes return to play much sooner.

    Zlatan Ibrahimović, at age 35, returned to top-level football just seven months after an ACL tear – a feat nearly unthinkable a decade earlier.

    3. Optimised recovery and nutrition

    Ageing athletes have different recovery needs — and sports science has stepped up. Cryotherapy, compression therapy, and advanced sleep protocols all help reduce muscle soreness and accelerate repair.

    Nutrition plays a key role too. Ageing bodies experience more inflammation and slower repair, so diets rich in polyphenols (found in berries, leafy greens, and dark chocolate) are used to support vascular health and recovery. Athletes may also take approved supplements such as glucosamine and chondroitin to support joint health and slow degeneration.

    The result? Older athletes can train more consistently and recover faster between games.

    4. Experience and tactical intelligence

    Speed and strength decline with age, but tactical intelligence often improves. Older athletes can compensate for age-related declines in physical capacity with their advanced game-reading skills and spatial awareness. For instance, footballers like Paul Scholes and Andrés Iniesta adapted their playing styles with age, relying more on positioning and passing intelligence than physical capacity.

    5. Financial and legacy incentives

    Today’s stars aren’t just competing for medals – they’re building brands. With massive financial rewards on offer, there’s a clear incentive to prolong careers.

    Cristiano Ronaldo, for example, recently signed a two-year contract extension with Al-Nassr that will see him play until age 42 — reportedly earning an estimated £492 million. For many athletes, the chance to leave a lasting legacy and secure generational wealth keeps them in the game.

    While we can’t stop the biological effects of ageing, today’s athletes are proving we can delay their impact – and even thrive later in life.

    With smarter training, better recovery strategies and cutting-edge medicine, the upper age limit for peak performance continues to stretch. These advances may allow more veteran athletes to defy expectations and continue competing at the highest level.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

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

    – ref. Five ways professional athletes are redefining the limits of age in sport – https://theconversation.com/five-ways-professional-athletes-are-redefining-the-limits-of-age-in-sport-261028

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  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Trump’s budget cuts could shut down local news outlets and reduce reporting on emergencies

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Colleen Murrell, Chair of the Editorial Board, and Full Professor in Journalism, Dublin City University

    Donald Trump’s campaign against the “fake news” media continues largely unchecked, with a decision that is expected to reduce reporting and close down some local news stations around the US.

    This follows a House of Representatives decision on July 18 to agree with the Senate and slash US$1.1 billion (£813 million) funding to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which manages the money for National Public Radio (NPR), the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and their member stations. These cuts will affect the next two years of their operations.

    There are fears that some local and rural stations will be forced to lay off staff and may even have to close, if they haven’t amassed significant cash reserves or receive other funding. Don Dunlap, the president of KEDT-TV/FM in Texas, said in an interview: “There are ten public TV stations in Texas, and we’re thinking probably six of them will close down within a year.”

    Experts are warning that in national emergencies such as wild fires and floods, local news media are “absolutely essential services” – and that they may not be able to help keep citizens well informed in future. “Nearly three-in-four Americans say they rely on their public radio stations for alerts and news for their public safety,” NPR’s CEO Katherine Maher said .

    Trump has had these media outlets in his sights for a while, claiming they are a waste of taxpayers’ money and are ideologically biased against Republicans – a claim denied by NPR and PBS.



    Read more:
    PBS and NPR are generally unbiased, independent of government propaganda and provide key benefits to US democracy

    Public broadcasting regularly sends out alerts related to extreme weather and emergency news. This appears particularly pertinent after the recent Texas floods which killed 135 people. Kate Riley, CEO of America’s Public Television Stations, said local news outlets provide “essential lifesaving public safety services, proven educational services and community connections to their communities every day for free”.

    Republican senator from Alaska Lisa Murkowski said she recently received a tsunami warning from her local radio station after an earthquake. Murkowski has tried to introduce an amendment to reduce the cuts to local stations.

    The more-than-1,000 NPR stations around the US are vulnerable precisely because significant funding comes from federal sources. According to figures from news organisation Politico: “Approximately 19% of NPR member stations count on CPB funding for at least 30% of their revenue.”

    Ed Ulman, president and CEO of Alaska Public Media, told Politico that over a third of public media stations in his state will shut down “within three-to-six months”. He has begun a renewed public funding campaign on social media.

    Small rural US radio stations are facing tough budget cuts.

    Even at well-funded TV stations such as Arizona PBS, owned by Arizona State University and run by its Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications, some curtailing of plans is afoot. The station provides daily programming to the region, and has trained generations of journalism students to enter careers in TV and radio. Following the announcement of these federal cuts, I spoke to Scott Woelfel, the station’s general manager, who said:

    Arizona PBS will lose about US$2.3 million per year over the next two years. That represents around 13% of our total budget. While that is a significant percentage, its loss will not prevent us from operating. In fact, we prepared a reduced budget in the likely event that the rescission would occur, and have been operating under it since July 1 … It contains cuts across the board in an equal amount to the lost revenue.

    Following these federal cuts, 60% of the station’s funding will derive from charitable giving, 16% from corporate support and a further 24% from state grants for education services. Woelfel doesn’t plan on making any staff cuts, but said some unstaffed positions will remain open indefinitely – and that the station will be “delaying major new initiatives until new funding is found”.

    What happens next?

    Overall, these cuts are likely to create additional “news deserts” – regions of the US which don’t have access to important local news and information.

    After President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967 into law to give funds to public broadcasting, he said: “While we work every day to produce new goods and to create new wealth, we want most of all to enrich man’s spirit. That is the purpose of this act.” But such touching sentiments now seem old-school in this era of Trump’s loud media wars.

    In the past week, the US president has also announced he would sue “the ass off” Rupert Murdoch, founder of News Corp, and the Wall Street Journal, which News Corp owns. This follows the WSJ’s publication of a story concerning a 2003 birthday letter framed around the outline of a naked woman that Trump allegedly sent to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Trump said the letter was fake. His US$10 billion lawsuit also takes in the WSJ’s owner, Dow Jones, and two of its reporters.

    As Trump pushes forward with significant changes to the media landscape, he is no doubt hoping that friendly television stations such as Fox News – also a part of Murdoch’s empire – as well as his influencer following will stay loyal to his brand.

    His Maga followers will undoubtedly be supportive of budget cuts and his anti-PBS and NPR statements. But when it comes to reporting from a flood or fire, influencers tend not to be on the ground supplying local residents with up-to-date information. Voters may find those important, and sometimes life-saving, services hard to replace.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    Colleen Murrell received funding from Irish regulator Coimisiún na Meán (2021-4) for research for the annual Reuters Digital News Report Ireland.

    – ref. Trump’s budget cuts could shut down local news outlets and reduce reporting on emergencies – https://theconversation.com/trumps-budget-cuts-could-shut-down-local-news-outlets-and-reduce-reporting-on-emergencies-261493

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  • MIL-OSI Submissions: How the UK’s immigration system splits families apart – by design

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Nando Sigona, Professor of International Migration and Forced Displacement and Director of the Institute for Research into International Migration and Superdiversity, University of Birmingham

    arda savasciogullari/Shutterstock

    The letter that arrived for eleven-year-old Guilherme in June 2025 was addressed personally to him. The UK Home Office was informing him that he and his eight-year-old brother Luca must return to Brazil. Their parents, an academic and a senior NHS nurse, both long-term UK residents with valid visas were not included in the order.

    “Whilst this may involve a degree of disruption in family life,” the letter stated, “this is considered to be proportionate to the legitimate aim of maintaining effective immigration control.”

    The family’s difficulties with the Home Office began after the parents divorced a few years after arriving in the UK. Mother and children arrived in the UK as dependants on the father’s visa. After the divorce, the mother secured her own skilled worker visa, while the father was granted indefinite leave to remain in 2024.

    Under current rules, skilled workers must wait five years before applying for settlement. For the children to qualify for settlement, both parents must be settled or one must have sole responsibility – neither condition applies here. Only after media attention did the Home Office reconsider the decision.

    This case is just the latest example of how barriers to migrants’ family life are embedded in the UK’s immigration system – something I have been studying for years. The Labour government’s recently announced immigration plans extend and bolster these barriers.

    Current rules require migrants to earn at least £29,000 to sponsor a spouse or child – a figure set to rise to £38,700 in early 2026 after changes introduced by the last government. The newest immigration plans propose doubling the path to settlement from five to ten years. And they restrict the rights to family reunion to only “nuclear” families: divorced parents, adult children and extended kin are left out.

    These changes are aimed at reducing migration and restoring “public trust”. But in practice, they make family unity a luxury — harder to achieve for low-paid migrant workers and even for working-class British citizens with foreign partners.



    Read more:
    ‘Just the rich can do it’: our research shows how immigration income requirements devastate families

    The price of family life

    Recent research my colleagues and I conducted — based on over 50 interviews with migrant domestic and food delivery workers and other experts — shows how the immigration system fractures families and puts children at risk.

    Faith, a Zimbabwean domestic worker, explained how she was unable to bring her eldest daughter to the UK due to age restrictions on dependant visas. Her daughter was later trafficked into the UK and, though she eventually rejoined her mother, hasn’t recovered from the trauma of separation: “She’s struggling to sleep, can’t eat … always emotional, saying she feels dizzy, scared to be around people.”

    Faith had been trapped in an abusive relationship for a long time because her visa was tied to her partner. When she eventually left her partner, her visa was withdrawn – leaving her in breach of immigration rules. Her younger child was placed in care while Faith was detained for breaching the terms of her visa.

    Jamal, a food delivery rider from Eritrea, had a similar experience of legal dependency. He came to the UK on a dependant visa linked to his British wife. After their relationship deteriorated, his ability to remain in the country was threatened: “If we have problems, she can cancel my visa. This was her weapon.”

    Susan, a Zimbabwean woman working in the care and cleaning sector, moved to the UK to look after her adult daughter who had cancer. When her six month visitor visa expired, she applied for asylum, but her application was refused and eventually she was detained for almost a month.

    She faced deportation but was released after a legal aid lawyer helped her submit strong evidence of her daughter’s condition. Reflecting on her experience, she explained: “When it benefits them, they say I’ve had no contact [with my family in the UK]. When they want to deport me, they say I have family to return to [in Zimbabwe].”

    Immigration status doesn’t just define one’s own legal position, it can determine who gets the right to have a family in the UK and who does not. While some of our interviewees secured status through a partner’s EU citizenship and reunited with family members already in the UK, others who rely on temporary visas are excluded.

    Changes to the immigration in recent years have placed a higher value on how migrants can contribute or provide “value” – seeing them as workers (or students) first, not members of families. Many are allowed in the UK for a limited time and without the right to bring with them even the closest family members. The effect is particularly harsh on women in domestic work, whose visas are short-term and not renewable.

    Many interviewees reported that immigration barriers delayed or obstructed their children’s education or healthcare. Samantha’s daughter waited over two months for a school placement because their legal status was still pending. Adriana was charged £8,000 for NHS maternity services because of her undocumented status, which restricts access to free healthcare to GP and emergency care.

    Even in less extreme cases, legal insecurity takes a toll. Children grow up hearing their parents talk about “papers”, “Home Office letters” or the risk of being “sent back”.

    That the Home Office sent a removal letter to an eleven-year-old is not a clerical error. It is the system working as designed. And even when public outrage forces a reversal — as in Guilherme’s case — the wider machinery of enforcement continues.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    Nando Sigona is Scientific Coordinator of “Improving the Living and Working Conditions of Irregularised Migrant Households in Europe” (www.i-claim.eu), a three-year six-country research project, funded by the European Commission’s Horizon Europe and UKRI.

    – ref. How the UK’s immigration system splits families apart – by design – https://theconversation.com/how-the-uks-immigration-system-splits-families-apart-by-design-261134

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  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Trump takes lead role in Cold War Steve’s reimagining of Hogarth’s 18th-century satire, The Rake’s Progess

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Rebecca Anne Barr, Associate Professor in English Literature, University of Cambridge

    A reimagining of the sixth cartoon in William Hogarth’s A Rake’s Progress depicting Trump pleading for divine assistance at a gambling den. Cold War Steve

    British satirist Cold War Steve has published a series of images based on the British painter William Hogarth’s The Rake’s Progress (1733-35). Hogarth’s 18th-century original charts the catastrophic decline of an affluent young man, Tom Rakewell. Cold War Steve’s 2025 reimagining substitutes the foolish rake with the US president, Donald Trump.

    Hogarth’s eight densely packed images are a forerunner of the modern comic script, a kind of condensed graphic novel. The works swarm with life and hidden meanings for viewers to decode.

    Tom starts out in high life, flashing his cash and enjoying himself. But he is rapidly drawn into a vortex of late-night drinking, gambling and prostitution. Desperate to save himself from extreme poverty, he sells himself in marriage to an older woman (no cougar, alas, but a rather decrepit heiress).

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    But he still cannot control his behaviour. Tom is eventually imprisoned for debt, loses his mind – either to syphilis or sorrow – and dies in Bedlam, the notorious 18th-century madhouse.

    Hugely popular and culturally influential, A Rake’s Progress is a modern morality tale. It’s a warning against the perils of self-indulgence, and a devastating critique of those too wealthy and foolish to care about the damage they do.

    The Gaming House, the sixth engraving in The Rake’s Progress, depicts the protagonist back to his profligate ways after marrying an older wealthy woman.
    Wikimedia

    Political satire as tragicomedy

    Keeping close to the original narrative, Cold War Steve uses the 18th-century paintings as backdrops, while altering the object of the satire by making Trump the main target. Renamed Trump’s Progress, this is a pointed political satire, directed at those in power.

    Steve’s is a 21st-century reimagining, not a pious homage. Instead, Trump’s Progress has an irreverent punk aesthetic: a horde of Trump-supporting celebrities (such as Don King, Hulk Hogan and Liberace) are photoshopped into his digital canvases, cavorting crazily alongside Trump as he moves from his immense wealth to political pre-eminence.

    Cold War Steve’s reimagining of A Rake’s Progress with Trump as its protagonist.
    Cold War Steve

    Both funny and dark, this is political satire as tragicomedy. The contemporary satirist takes Hogarth as precedent, suggesting a bad end lies in store for the president.

    Just as the 18th-century rake ends up in the madhouse, Cold War Steve ends his sequence with an aged Trump lying in a prison cell. Trump is tended to by Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and his daughter Ivanka, while his other erstwhile friends look less than pleased to be incarcerated along with him.

    Hogarth was a key figure in 18th-century culture. His images of late-night drunkenness , sleazy politicians, and the cheek-by-jowl of luxury living and extreme poverty encapsulated the irrepressible messiness of modern life.

    Hogarth reflected Britain’s aspirations to liberty and progress, but also its ongoing struggles with consumerism, luxury, corruption, and greed. These are issues that dominate our present day too, and give Hogarth’s satires an urgent and unsettling relevance.

    This is not the first time Cold War Steve has used historical images from the 18th century to indict the present. In a recent article, I explored how Hogarth became a powerful visual source for the satirist during the COVID-19 crisis.

    Hogarth’s Beer Street and Gin Lane.
    Wikimedia

    In May 2020, Steve published an update of Hogarth’s famous print, Gin Lane. The original shows London as a drunken dystopia, as the poor turned to cheap imported gin to ease their daily grind.

    But Cold War Steve’s version dramatically altered the image’s moral message. By populating the city street with members of the Tory party and Britain’s business elite, he accused the government of gross moral negligence in treating the pandemic as an opportunity to make money.

    The choice of Hogarth is not accidental. Not merely familiar to students of art history, Hogarth has a cultural legibility that makes his work an influential satirical template for artists who want to comment on the social malaise of their times.

    Being in conversation with Hogarth gives contemporary works added gravitas. The veteran cartoonist Steve Bell created numerous parodies of Hogarth throughout his time at the Guardian and other publications.

    The penultimate scene in A Rake’s Progress, The Prison Scene, shows the vices of the protagonist having caught up with him.
    Wikimedia

    In 2016, English artist Thomas Moore created a version in which the 18th-century gin craze has been replaced by the obesity epidemic. Hogarth’s impoverished city street is now full of fast food shops, pubs and pawnbrokers. The manic energy and cultural anxiety of Hogarth’s satires resonates with our own accelerated culture and widespread sense of moral and social decline.

    In his study of the cultural afterlives of the 18th century, scholar James Ward has shown that postmodern popular culture often invokes Hogarth to question the assumption that our distance from the past is the same as progress.

    By splicing together images of the past with the present, Cold War Steve’s visual satires make the serious political point that society has failed to progress since the enlightenment. In his eyes, the vices that Hogarth showed ravaging his society are still part of a culture of political shamelessness, personified by Trump.

    Steve’s energetically subversive reworking of 18th-century material shows how Hogarth’s satires continue to be understood and appreciated by diverse audiences.

    Former prime minister Boris Johnson portrayed Hogarth as a patriotic British product. But by successfully translating Hogarth’s satires for a transatlantic audience, Cold War Steve shows that his appeal transcends both national and political divides. Current politics might be almost beyond parody on both sides of the pond, but Steve’s bleak humour shows us that satire is thriving.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

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

    – ref. Trump takes lead role in Cold War Steve’s reimagining of Hogarth’s 18th-century satire, The Rake’s Progess – https://theconversation.com/trump-takes-lead-role-in-cold-war-steves-reimagining-of-hogarths-18th-century-satire-the-rakes-progess-261701

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  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Mysterious fossil may rewrite story of skin and feather evolution in reptiles

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Valentina Rossi, Postdoctoral researcher, Palaeontology, University College Cork

    A delicate, innocuous little fossil reptile known as Mirasaura grauvogeli – “Grauvogel’s wonder reptile” – is forcing a rethink about the evolution of skin and its appendages such as feathers and hair.

    These newly discovered fossils, from the Middle Triassic (247 million years old)
    Grès à Voltzia site in northeast France, preserve evidence of some of the most astonishing soft-tissue features described to date in ancient reptiles. We are two of the authors of a new paper on these finds, published in Nature.

    These fossils show that the tree dwelling Mirasaura had a large and startling crest along its back. The crest is formed by elongated appendages that are neither scales, feathers nor hair.

    Until now, complex skin outgrowths such as feathers were thought to have evolved only much later – in birds, dinosaurs and pterosaurs. This probably occurred through a single origin in the common ancestor of these animals. In all other types of reptile, the only skin outgrowths present are scales.

    Mirasaura has overthrown this paradigm in sensational fashion. Compared with the size of its body, the long blades of its tall dorsal crest are enormous. Closer inspection reveals this crest comprised individual, overlapping appendages, each with a narrow central ridge and a lobed outline, similar to the shaft and form of feathers.

    However, the fossil structures seem to lack the fine branching architecture that characterises most feathers in modern birds. What’s more, Mirasaura is not related to birds, dinosaurs or pterosaurs, but instead belongs to a very ancient group of reptiles, the drepanosauromorphs, that are known only from the Triassic.

    The holotype of Mirasaura (State Museum of Natural History Stuttgart, Germany) showing its bird-like skull and crest along its back.
    Copyright: Stephan Spiekman, CC BY-NC-ND

    The soft tissues of Mirasaura are preserved as a thin brown film, rich in fossil melanosomes – cell structures that contain the pigment melanin during life. Research by our team at University College Cork and others has revealed widespread preservation of fossilised melanosomes in ancient vertebrates. These pigment granules can actually be used to reconstruct melanin-based colour patterns in extinct animals.

    Our team’s research has shown that fossil melanosomes can also help reconstruct the soft tissue anatomy of fossil animals, because melanosomes from different body tissues have different shapes and sizes. Our comprehensive examination of the fossilised soft tissues in Mirasaura, coupled with rigorous statistical analysis of the preserved melanosomes, reveals that their geometry is consistent with melanosomes in feathers, but not with melanosomes found in hair and in reptilian skin. This strongly suggests the Mirasaura skin appendages share common developmental features with feathers.

    Were the Mirasaura structures feathers, then? The solid, continuous blade of soft tissues either side of the central shaft shows no evidence for branching, which is a defining characteristic of most feathers in birds, dinosaurs and pterosaurs. The water is muddied, however, by the simple unbranched structure of some peculiar feathers in birds – such as the bristles of the turkey’s “beard”. Similar unbranched filaments are known in many dinosaurs and pterosaurs, and are widely considered to represent simple feathers.

    Certain dinosaur fossils even have flattened, strip-like feathers that lack branching but possess a central shaft, considered by some experts to be an unusual – extinct – feather type. Whether the resemblance between these fossil structures and the Mirasaura skin outgrowths is superficial or belies closer evolutionary ties remains to be seen.

    Fossil specimen of a large crest of Mirasaura, hosted by the State Museum of Natural History Stuttgart.
    Copyright: Stephan Spiekman, CC BY-NC-ND

    Intriguingly, research on the developing chick embryo shows that feathers can lose their branched structure when certain genes are manipulated. We are currently examining in greater detail the morphology and composition of the Mirasaura structures to help us interpret their anatomy more definitively.

    Irrespective of what type of skin outgrowth they represent, our analyses of the anatomy of Mirasaura consistently position it, as well as other drepanosauromorph reptiles, at the base of the reptile tree. This supports data from developmental biology indicating that the genetic basis for the growth of complex skin appendages probably originated in the Carboniferous period, over 300 million years ago.

    Mirasaura therefore provides the first direct evidence that complex skin appendages did appear early during reptile evolution, and are not unique to pterosaurs, birds and other dinosaurs.

    We owe these new insights to painstaking conservation efforts, which serve as a reminder of the critical importance of natural history collections in conserving our natural heritage.

    The earliest discoveries of Mirasaura remains were unearthed in the 1930s by fossil collector Louis Grauvogel. After decades in the Grauvogel family, these specimens were donated to the State Museum of Natural History Stuttgart in 2019, where careful preparation revealed their true significance.

    Now, the Mirasaura specimens force us to accept that even before the age of dinosaurs, reptiles were evolving striking anatomical traits normally associated with much younger fossils. This adds an intriguing dimension to future research into the origins of feathers, prompting palaeontologists to consider fossils from more diverse reptile groups – and from time periods before the appearance of dinosaurs and their direct ancestors.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    Valentina Rossi research is funded by the European Research Council. She is affiliated with University College Cork (UCC)

    Maria McNamara receives funding from the European Research Council and Research Ireland.

    – ref. Mysterious fossil may rewrite story of skin and feather evolution in reptiles – https://theconversation.com/mysterious-fossil-may-rewrite-story-of-skin-and-feather-evolution-in-reptiles-261695

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  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Orlando Bloom tried to ‘clean’ his blood to get rid of microplastics – here’s what the science says

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Rosa Busquets, Associate Professor, School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry, Kingston University

    Tinseltown/Shutterstock

    When actor Orlando Bloom revealed recently that he’d undergone a procedure to have his blood “cleaned”, many people raised eyebrows. The Pirates of the Caribbean star had turned to a treatment known as apheresis – a medical process in which blood is removed from the body, centrifuged or filtered to extract certain components, then returned in an attempt to flush out microplastics and other toxins.

    Apheresis is typically used to treat conditions such as autoimmune diseases or abnormally high levels of blood cells or proteins. Its use as a detox for microplastics, however, is scientifically unproven.

    Still, Bloom said he suspected his body had absorbed plastic through daily exposure, and wanted it out of his system.

    He’s probably right about the exposure. Scientists have found microplastics – tiny plastic fragments less than 5mm in size – in our air, water, soil, food and even inside human tissue. But when it comes to removing them from the bloodstream, that’s where the science gets murky.

    As researchers studying microplastic contamination, we’ve examined this issue in the context of dialysis – a life-saving treatment for patients with kidney failure. Dialysis filters waste products like urea and creatinine from the blood, regulates electrolytes, removes excess fluid and helps maintain blood pressure.

    But our study found that while dialysis is a medical marvel, it can also have an ironic downside: it could be introducing microplastics into the bloodstream. In some cases, we found that patients undergoing dialysis were being exposed to microplastics during treatment due to the breakdown of plastic components in the equipment – a troubling contradiction for a procedure designed to cleanse the blood.

    Apheresis is closely related to dialysis: both involve drawing blood from the body, circulating it through plastic tubing and filters, then returning it – so both procedures carry a similar risk of introducing microplastics from the equipment into the bloodstream.

    What are microplastics?

    Microplastics are plastic particles that range in size from about 5mm (roughly the length of a grain of rice) down to 0.1 microns – smaller than a red blood cell.

    Some microplastics are manufactured deliberately, like the plastic microbeads once common in facial scrubs. Others form when larger plastic objects degrade over time due to sunlight, friction, or physical stress.

    They’re everywhere: in the food we eat, air we breathe and water we drink. Plastic packaging, synthetic clothing such as polyester, and even artificial lawns contribute to the spread. Car tyres shed plastic particles as they wear down, and food heated or stored in plastic containers may leach microplastics.

    One estimate suggests the average adult may ingest around 883 microplastic particles – over half a microgramme – per day.

    So far, large-scale epidemiological studies have not established an association between microplastic exposure and specific diseases. Such studies are needed, but yet to be completed.

    However, early research suggests that microplastics may be associated with inflammation, cardiovascular conditions, and DNA damage – a potential pathway to cancer.

    What remains unclear is how microplastics behave inside the body: whether they accumulate, how they interact with tissues, and how (or if) the body clears them.

    The irony of filtration

    It’s tempting to believe, as Bloom seems to, that we can simply “clean” the blood, like draining pasta or purifying drinking water. Just as a sieve filters water from pasta, dialysis machines do filter blood – but using far more complex and delicate systems.

    These machines rely on plastic components, including tubes, membranes and filters, which are exposed to sustained pressure and repeated use. Unlike stainless steel, these materials can degrade over time, potentially shedding microplastics directly into the bloodstream.

    Currently, there is no published scientific evidence that microplastics can be effectively filtered from human blood. So, claims that dialysis or other treatments can remove them should be viewed with scepticism, especially when the filtration systems themselves are made of plastic.

    While it’s tempting to chase quick fixes or celebrity-endorsed cleanses, we are still in the early stages of understanding what microplastics are doing to our bodies – and how to get rid of them. Rather than focusing solely on ways to flush plastics from the bloodstream, the more effective long-term strategy may be reducing our exposure in the first place.

    Bloom’s story taps into a growing public unease: we all know we’re carrying the burden of plastic. But addressing it requires more than wellness trends: it calls for rigorous science, tougher regulation, and a shift away from our reliance on plastic in daily life.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    Rosa Busquets receives funding from UKRI, in a UKRI/ Horizons Staff exchanges Clean Water project (101131182). She is honorary Associate Professor at UCL and Honorary Professor at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. She is panel member of the UNEP EEAP, where is work group lead in a field that includes microplastics. She is also funded by DASA.

    Luiza C Campos is a Professor of Environmental Engineering at University College London.

    – ref. Orlando Bloom tried to ‘clean’ his blood to get rid of microplastics – here’s what the science says – https://theconversation.com/orlando-bloom-tried-to-clean-his-blood-to-get-rid-of-microplastics-heres-what-the-science-says-261203

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner, Kaine, and Colleagues Press FAA on Federal Workforce Cuts and Use of AI on Aviation Safety

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Commonwealth of Virginia Mark R Warner

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) joined Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and nine of their Senate colleagues in sending a letter to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Bryan Bedford requesting answers on the impact of FAA workforce reductions on aviation safety, including among analytical staff who proactively identify safety risks. The senators also inquired about comments by FAA officials suggesting the agency is using artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze safety data to identify risks.

    “The tragic crash of American Airlines flight 5342 highlighted serious gaps in our aviation safety system and demonstrated the need for a robust and experienced analytical workforce at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Unfortunately, over the past six months, your agency has significantly reduced its workforce. We are deeply concerned about these reductions’ impact on aviation safety,” the lawmakers wrote.

    “The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation into the crash of American Airlines flight 5342 has demonstrated the need for a robust FAA workforce, beyond the air traffic controllers and other FAA personnel on the front lines of our aviation system. According to the NTSB investigation, more than 15,000 ‘close proximity events’ occurred at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport over the last five years—reflecting a shockingly high trend that the FAA should have identified…It’s critical that this Administration ensures the FAA has the workforce capacity to proactively and properly analyze aviation safety data to prevent another crash like the American Airlines flight 5342 tragedy,” the senators continued.  

    “In the aftermath of the crash, the FAA should be analyzing the near miss data from events at Reagan National Airport and reviewing the sufficiency of FAA staffing. Instead, the agency has moved ahead with workforce reductions. In particular, FAA fired hundreds of probationary employees in critical support roles key to assisting air traffic controllers in doing their jobs,” the lawmakers wrote. 

    The lawmakers requested the following information by August 11, 2025:

    1. For each FAA line of business and its relevant suboffices, please provide the (a) number of employees employed as of January 1, 2025, (b) number of employees employed as of July 1, 2025, and (c) the current number of job openings. 
    2. For each FAA line of business and its relevant suboffices, please indicate whether any of its job positions are currently subject to a hiring freeze as of January 20, 2025.
    3. Please provide the analysis conducted by the Office of Airports related to the impact of workforce cuts on its safety mission.
    4. Besides the Office of Airports, please explain if any other FAA line of business has conducted an analysis of the impact of workforce cuts on its ability to deliver its mission. If so, please provide those analyses. 
    5. Please explain all relevant FAA lines of business and relevant suboffices charged with identifying aviation safety trends and possible safety risks affecting airport operations in congested airspace. 
    6. What specific AI tools is the FAA using to analyze aviation safety impacts and flight data and how is this improving FAA’s analysis? Does the FAA have adequate staff, familiar with these tools, to manage this analysis and ensure the security of the data used and generated by AI?

    In addition to Warner, Kaine, and Markey, the letter was cosigned by Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Peter Welch (D-VT). 

    Warner and Kaine have long championed aviation safety and spoken out against federal workforce reductions at the FAA and other agencies. Following the January 29, 2025 collision between an Army Black Hawk helicopter and American Airlines flight 5342 near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), Warner and Kaine demanded answers from the FAA on additional safety measures to protect the public and expressed concerns about the impact of the “Department of Government Efficiency” in addressing issues that led to the mid-air collision. The senators also introduced legislation to strengthen aviation safety. Kaine, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, successfully got a provision included in the committee-passed Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act to require that all Department of Defense aircraft that operate near commercial airports be equipped with broadcast positioning technology. Earlier this year, Kaine invited Jason King, a veteran from Fairfax who was fired from his position in the FAA’s safety division, as his guest to the State of the Union address. King was rehired after the State of the Union. 

    Full text of the letter is available here and below: 

    Dear Administrator Bedford,

    The tragic crash of American Airlines flight 5342 highlighted serious gaps in our aviation safety system and demonstrated the need for a robust and experienced analytical workforce at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Unfortunately, over the past six months, your agency has significantly reduced its workforce. We are deeply concerned about these reductions’ impact on aviation safety. We therefore write to request information on changes in the FAA workforce and their impact on aviation safety, including any analyses that the FAA has conducted on the effects of workforce reductions on the agency’s safety mission. 

    The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation into the crash of American Airlines flight 5342 has demonstrated the need for a robust FAA workforce, beyond the air traffic controllers and other FAA personnel on the front lines of our aviation system. According to the NTSB investigation, more than 15,000 “close proximity events” occurred at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport over the last five years — reflecting a shockingly high trend that the FAA should have identified. At a Senate Commerce Committee hearing in March, the then-Acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau acknowledged that the agency missed this warning sign, in part because of the sheer volume of data that FAA personnel must analyze. The Acting Administrator’s testimony illustrated the need for an FAA workforce robust and experienced enough to analyze all relevant data and identify safety risks. It’s critical that this Administration ensures the FAA has the workforce capacity to proactively and properly analyze aviation safety data to prevent another crash like the American Airlines flight 5342 tragedy.

    Despite this clear need for enhanced analytical capacity, the FAA has instead moved to reduce its workforce during this critical period. In the aftermath of the crash, the FAA should be analyzing the near miss data from events at Reagan National Airport and reviewing the sufficiency of FAA staffing. Instead, the agency has moved ahead with workforce reductions. In particular, FAA fired hundreds of probationary employees in critical support roles key to assisting air traffic controllers in doing their jobs. With the Department of Transportation (DOT) pushing personnel to leave via two rounds of the Deferred Resignation Program — under which employees could elect to resign and receive pay until September 2025 — coupled with the federal hiring freeze, federal officials are leaving their jobs and it may be difficult for the FAA to attract new, qualified employees. Although the DOT assured Senators that key FAA safety staff were exempt from firings and the Deferred Resignation Program, the FAA has still not clarified whether it has the staff it needs to ensure the safety of the American public. Estimates from the DOT suggest that between 1,000 and 3,000 employees may leave the agency once the Deferred Resignation Program offers are finalized. According to an internal presentation to FAA management: “Employees are departing the agency in mass quantities across all skill levels.” Most recently, the Department of Transportation may now be able to move ahead with a large Reduction in Force after the Supreme Court’s recent ruling allowing federal agencies to move forward with staffing cuts consistent with existing federal law. This moment — after a tragic crash highlighted critical gaps in aviation safety — seems like precisely the wrong time for the FAA to aggressively shrink its workforce.

    Moreover, the FAA’s recent announcement that it is using artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze its data — without explaining whether such AI tools are reliable or effective — provides little reassurance to the public. While we support the use of technology to improve how aviation safety data is used, the decision to rely on technological fixes while simultaneously moving ahead with staffing reductions is deeply worrisome. The FAA has not been transparent with Congress about the types of technology it is now using, whether those technologies are replacing, augmenting, or otherwise impacting the FAA workforce, or whether it requires human review of AI analyses before using any analysis in a safety-related decision. This reliance on technological fixes — without a transparent analysis of the FAA’s workforce levels and capacity— raises questions about the FAA’s commitment to prioritizing safety.

    If the FAA lacks the staff to identify safety risks before future incidents occur, Congress must be informed of this as soon as possible. At a recent Senate Commerce Committee hearing, Senators questioned FAA officials from the Office of Airports, the Office of Aviation Safety, and the Air Traffic Organization about the personnel reductions at their respective offices and whether their offices had conducted any analysis on the impact of these workforce cuts on aviation safety. Only the head of the FAA Office of Airports — which is charged with planning and developing a safe and efficient national airport system — responded that his Office had conducted such an analysis. Senators urged the FAA to turn over that analysis to the Committee, along with data on any workforce reductions, but to date it has not. It is essential that Congress have sufficient information to understand the impact of recent FAA personnel changes on aviation safety.

    To better understand the impact of FAA workforce reductions on aviation safety, please provide written responses to the following questions and requests for information by August 11, 2025:

    1. For each FAA line of business and its relevant suboffices, please provide the (a) number of employees employed as of January 1, 2025, (b) number of employees employed as of July 1, 2025, and (c) the current number of job openings.
    2. For each FAA line of business and its relevant suboffices, please indicate whether any of its job positions are currently subject to a hiring freeze as of January 20, 2025.
    3. Please provide the analysis conducted by the Office of Airports related to the impact of workforce cuts on its safety mission.
    4. Besides the Office of Airports, please explain if any other FAA line of business has conducted an analysis of the impact of workforce cuts on its ability to deliver its mission. If so, please provide those analyses.
    5. Please explain all relevant FAA lines of business and relevant suboffices charged with identifying aviation safety trends and possible safety risks affecting airport operations in congested airspace.
    6. What specific AI tools is the FAA using to analyze aviation safety impacts and flight data and how is this improving FAA’s analysis?
      1. Does the FAA have adequate staff, familiar with these tools, to manage this analysis and ensure the security of the data used and generated by AI?
      2. How were these AI tools selected? Please describe the specific testing or evaluation conducted in advance of the implementation of the tools and provide a copy of any reports or conclusions produced. If no testing or evaluation occurred, please explain why not.

    Thank you in advance for your attention to this matter. 

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • Centre steps up measures to improve health and well-being of women

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Centre has undertaken a series of initiatives aimed at improving women’s health, hygiene, and overall well-being, with a particular focus on reducing hardship, ensuring access to essential services, and promoting safety and dignity for women across the country.

    In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Women and Child Development Savitri Thakur outlined several schemes that have played a crucial role in this regard, including Ujjwala Yojana, Jal Jeevan Mission and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. These programmes, she said, have significantly reduced the drudgery and time poverty faced by women, while also improving health outcomes.

    As part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, over 11.8 crore individual household latrines have been constructed nationwide. The Jal Jeevan Mission, meanwhile, has facilitated the provision of tap water connections to approximately 15.6 crore rural households.

    To enhance access to affordable healthcare products for women, the Department of Pharmaceuticals under the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers is implementing the Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP). Over 16,000 Janaushadhi Kendras have been established under this initiative, offering essential medicines and oxo-biodegradable sanitary napkins branded as Suvidha, priced at ₹1 per pad.

    The government has also introduced the ‘Scheme for Promotion of Menstrual Hygiene’ for adolescent girls aged 10-19, under the National Health Mission. The scheme provides subsidised sanitary napkin packs through Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) and includes training for field workers as well as awareness drives. National guidelines on Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM), developed under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, further aim to address behavioural change related to sanitation and hygiene, particularly in rural areas.

    Addressing the needs of working women and girl students, the Ministry of Women and Child Development has been implementing the Sakhi Niwas scheme-also known as the Working Women Hostel scheme-under the broader Mission Shakti initiative. The scheme is designed to provide safe and accessible accommodation for working women, as well as those pursuing higher education or training, across urban, semi-urban, and rural areas. It also includes provision for day-care facilities for the children of residents.

    In a push to expand infrastructure for women’s accommodation, the Ministry of Finance has allocated ₹5,000 crore under the Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) scheme for construction of new working women hostels. So far, approval has been granted for the construction of 254 hostels across 28 States, with a total capacity of 52,991 beds at an estimated cost of ₹4,826.31 crore. Of this, ₹3,147.66 crore has already been disbursed to the States for the financial year 2024-25.

  • MIL-OSI Canada: New Board Appointments Made to Saskatchewan’s Commercial Crown Corporations

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on July 23, 2025

    Today, new board of director appointments were announced in the Crown sector. 

    “Our government sincerely appreciates the leadership and service that each Crown board provides to their respective corporation,” Crown Investments Corporation Minister Jeremy Harrison said. “Many of the outgoing board members have served for multiple terms in their current role and have helped to lead initiatives that have truly benefited Saskatchewan people.”

    Out of a current total of 66 board members, there are:

    • five individuals who are changing responsibilities by being appointed to a new Crown; 
    • 15 individuals who are new to the Crown sector; and 
    • 24 individuals who are reappointed in their current Crown Board. 

    These changes are a result of both board renewal and current expiration of terms. 

    Board renewal is rooted in sound governance practice, and any outgoing board members’ skills, expertise and knowledge are evaluated for potential reappointments or redeployments to other government boards.

    “The oversight role of Saskatchewan’s commercial Crowns directly contributes to the province’s strong economy and a bright future for the people of Saskatchewan,” Harrison siad. “The individuals appointed today have the skills, knowledge and abilities to perform these duties as effectively as past board members have.” 

    All board members are being asked to serve to carry out the Crown Sector Strategic Priorities, which provide high-level shareholder direction that aligns the Crown sector with the government’s goals and priorities and are as follows:

    • affordability;  
    • reliability;
    • economic growth; and 
    • strong financial management. 

    As part of its oversight role, Crown Investments Corporation is committed to maintaining the highest standards of governance in the activities of its subsidiaries. All board members are subject to Criminal Record Checks and are supported with board training and orientation.

    All the new appointments are Saskatchewan residents. A full list of Crown board membership is attached. 

    -30-

    For more information, contact: 

    Media Relations
    Crown Investments Corporation
    Regina
    Phone: 306-787-7732
    Email: Communications@cicorp.sk.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Sanctuary City NYC Sees a More Than 400% Spike in ICE Detainers as DHS Prioritizes American People Over Criminal Illegal Aliens

    Source: US Department of Homeland Security

    Sanctuary politicians forbid local law enforcement from any assistance on immigration matters, even to the point of refusing to assist with criminal arrest warrants 

    WASHINGTON—The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced today U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has issued 6,025 arrest requests to transfer custody, or detainers, in sanctuary New York City (NYC), since January 20, 2025. To put this into perspective, during the entire Biden Administration, ICE only issued 9,472 detainers in NYC. Under President Trump and Secretary Noem, there has been a more than 400 percent increase in the number of detainers lodged in NYC. 

    Despite the 6,025 arrest detainers lodged, NYC has honored just a handful. In non-sanctuary cities, law enforcement would honor these requests and transfer these criminal illegal aliens to ICE law enforcement to detain and deport them. 

    “In just six months ICE has issued over 6,000 detainers in NYC alone—that’s a more than 400 percent increase in the number of detainers lodged under Biden,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “When sanctuary politicians like Mayor Eric Adams ignore ICE detainers, they are protecting criminal illegal aliens at the expense of American citizens. These are barbaric criminals with prior convictions for rape, murder, drug trafficking, and instead of holding them for ICE, sanctuary politicians release them back into your communities. These reckless policies have deadly consequences. Just this week, two illegal aliens who entered our country and were released under President Biden shot and nearly killed a brave off-duty CBP officer. Both criminal illegal aliens had been arrested previously for violent crimes and released by the NYPD.”  

    ICE detainers are legal requests to state or local law enforcement to hold illegal aliens in custody and turn them over to immigration authorities. These individuals often have prior deportation orders, criminal convictions, or pose as national security threats.  

    As ICE officers are arresting and removing the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens, they are facing a record number of assaults against them. Assaults on ICE law enforcement have increased by 830 percent since Trump took office. This increase in violence is largely driven by anti-ICE rhetoric and further fueled by these sanctuary politicians and their reckless policies.  

    DHS reaffirms our commitment to the American people—it will not be deterred by partisan attacks or activist pressure. ICE will continue placing detainers, enforcing immigration law, and defending public safety—because every American deserves to feel safe in their own neighborhood.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: New Presentation Connects Starlink to America’s Digital Future—Altucher Flags August 13 as Possible Key Moment

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Austin, TX, July 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — A newly released presentation by author and tech entrepreneur James Altucher is raising alarms about a potential digital turning point centered around Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite network. The presentation focuses on a trail of public comments, behind-the-scenes meetings, and a critical upcoming date—August 13, 2025.

    According to Altucher, that date could signify the moment Starlink steps out of the shadows and into the spotlight—transforming not just how the world connects, but who controls that connection.

    An Off-Grid Network With On-Grid Power

    Altucher argues that Starlink isn’t simply a tool for high-speed internet access. It’s a sovereign, space-based grid designed to bypass traditional infrastructure—and with it, traditional oversight.

    He believes this kind of system—if made public on a mass scale—could permanently shift the balance of digital power in the U.S. and abroad.

    A Quiet Meeting, a Loud Signal

    The kick-off point for Altucher’s prediction is a meeting between Elon Musk and industry insiders. Altucher says the meeting may have triggered the acceleration of a long-planned shift in how Starlink is positioned globally.

    Altucher says that while most Americans were focused on other headlines, this high-level discussion could be the real story.

    The Countdown Is Already Underway

    Throughout the presentation, Altucher repeats one date: August 13, 2025.

    He believes this moment could mark the beginning of a public rollout—possibly a structural transformation of Starlink itself. “After this date, the window could slam shut—and you may never have this same chance again,” he says.

    He adds, “This is about timing. Not timing the market—but recognizing the moments when everything changes”

    About James Altucher

    James Altucher is a tech entrepreneur, bestselling author, and longtime observer of disruptive innovation. He has founded or co-founded more than 20 companies, authored 25+ books including Choose Yourself and Skip the Line, and contributed to top outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, TechCrunch, and Forbes. He’s also a frequent guest on CNBC, Fox Business, and other major media platforms. Altucher’s work focuses on identifying turning points in technology and economics—before they go mainstream.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Canadian wetlands are treasures that deserve protection

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Maria Strack, Professor, Department of Geography and Environmental Management, University of Waterloo

    The Grande Plée Bleue bog, near Québec City in June 2023. This peatland with pools is one of the largest wetlands in eastern Québec. (Maria Strack)

    Though Canada is often known as a land of lakes, it is also a country of wetlands. Stretching like a necklace of emeralds, sapphires and rubies across the Canadian landscape, wetlands cover 14 per cent of the Canadian land mass, accounting for almost twice as much area as lakes.

    Canada is home to a quarter of the world’s remaining wetlands, yet they remain like hidden treasures that most Canadians rarely pay a second thought.

    The importance of wetlands to a sustainable future has been recognized internationally. Signed in 1971 in the Iranian city of Ramsar, the Convention on Wetlands — often called the Ramsar Convention — supports international collaboration and national action for the conservation of wetlands.

    This week, delegations from contracting parties to the convention, including Canada, have come together in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, for the 15th Conference of the Parties.

    Despite decades of efforts, wetlands continue to be under threat around the world. Delegates will work this week to chart a path forward that further elevates wetlands in the global consciousness, highlighting the need to protect these ecosystems and meet international goals to safeguard biodiversity and slow climate warming.

    Canada currently has 37 Wetlands of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention, covering more than 13 million hectares. Yet many of Canada’s wetlands remain unprotected.

    Canada’s wetlands

    The term “wetland” usually conjures an image of a shallow pond bordered by cattails. In fact, Canadian wetlands come in a range of shapes and sizes, all of which provide valuable services. Those reedy marshes provide critically important habitat and water storage, particularly in the Prairies, southern Ontario and Québec.

    The vast majority of Canada’s wetlands are made up of swamps, fens and bogs, most of which also hold deep deposits of organic soils called peat. Bogs and fens can resemble vast mossy carpets. But they can also look a lot like forests, hiding their soggy soils beneath a canopy of trees.

    This wetland diversity contributes to their value. At the interface of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, wetlands are often biodiversity hotspots.

    They are home to weird and wonderful species, including carnivorous plants like sundews, pitcher plants and bladderworts. And if you’re hungry, peatlands are a great place for berry picking.

    Interwoven in our boreal landscape, wetlands also support iconic Canadian species like beavers, moose and woodland caribou and are key habitats for waterfowl and other migratory birds.

    Preserving wetlands is also a key flood mitigation strategy. Storm water can fill up pore spaces in mossy peat soils, or spread out across the flat expanse of swamps and marshes, reducing peak flows and helping to protect downstream infrastructure. As the water slows, water quality can also be improved. Sediments have time to settle, while plants and microbes can remove excess nutrients.

    Carbon storage

    In recent decades, wetlands have gained international attention for their role in carbon storage. Waterlogged sediment and soil lead to slow rates of decomposition. When plant litter falls in a wetland, it builds up over time, creating a bank of carbon that can be stored for millennia.

    Peatlands are particularly good at accumulating carbon, as they are home to plants that inherently decompose slowly. Because of this, peatlands store twice the carbon of the world’s forests. Keeping this carbon stored in wetland soils, and out of the atmosphere, is important to climate change mitigation.

    Yet, the buildup of carbon in wetlands is slow. Many of these ecosystems have been adding to this carbon bank since the last ice age; digging through metres of peat is like travelling back through time, with the deposits at the bottom often thousands of years old.

    This means that the carbon stored in wetlands is irrecoverable within human lifetimes. Once lost, it will be many generations before the full value of this treasure can be returned.

    The economic value of the water-filtering and carbon storage that Canadian wetlands provide has been estimated at $225 billion per year. It’s clear: healthy wetlands contribute to our society’s well-being.

    But just as important, they are an integral component of the Canadian landscape. Wetlands are interwoven with our forests, fields, lakes and now even our cities. They link us to the land and water. They are places of wonder and spiritual connection.

    Impact of climate change

    Despite their value, wetlands in Canada face many threats. In southern regions of Canada, most wetlands have already been lost to drainage for agriculture and urban development. Further north, up to 98 per cent of Canadian peatlands remain intact.

    However, climate change and resource development are already exacerbating wetland disturbance and loss. Warming temperatures have contributed to larger and more severe wildfire that also impact peatlands and lead to large carbon emissions.

    Thawing permafrost is further changing wetland landscapes and how they function. Warming also allows for northward expansion of agriculture with the potential for loss of even more wetland area to drainage.

    Natural resource extraction further contributes to wetland disturbance, often with unexpected consequences. Geologic exploration used to map oil and gas reserves has left a network of over one million kilometres of linear forest clearing across the boreal forest, much of which crosses peatlands.



    Read more:
    How climate change is impacting the Hudson Bay Lowlands — Canada’s largest wetland

    This has contributed to declines in woodland caribou populations and led to increases in methane emissions from these ecosystems.

    Mining often involves regional drainage or excavation of peatlands, resulting in the loss of their services. The recent push to fast-track production of critical minerals in Canada is putting vast areas of our wetlands at risk.

    Wetland restoration research is ongoing, with some promising results. However, given the long time-scale of wetland development, avoiding disturbances in the first place is the best way to safeguard wetlands.

    As stewards of a quarter of world’s wetland treasures, policymakers and everyday Canadians need to ensure wetlands are safeguarded and preserved for a prosperous future.

    Maria Strack receives funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, the Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss Association, Ducks Unlimited Canada, Imperial Oil Ltd., Alberta Pacific Forest Industries Inc., Cenovus Energy, Canadian Natural Resources Limited, ConocoPhillips Canada, Natural Resources Canada, and the Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute.

    – ref. Canadian wetlands are treasures that deserve protection – https://theconversation.com/canadian-wetlands-are-treasures-that-deserve-protection-261433

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner, Kaine, & Colleagues Press FAA on Federal Workforce Cuts and Use of AI on Aviation Safety

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Virginia Tim Kaine
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) joined Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and nine of their Senate colleagues in sending a letter to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Bryan Bedford requesting answers on the impact of FAA workforce reductions on aviation safety, including among analytical staff who proactively identify safety risks. The senators also inquired about comments by FAA officials suggesting the agency is using artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze safety data to identify risks.
    “The tragic crash of American Airlines flight 5342 highlighted serious gaps in our aviation safety system and demonstrated the need for a robust and experienced analytical workforce at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Unfortunately, over the past six months, your agency has significantly reduced its workforce. We are deeply concerned about these reductions’ impact on aviation safety,” the lawmakers wrote.
    “The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation into the crash of American Airlines flight 5342 has demonstrated the need for a robust FAA workforce, beyond the air traffic controllers and other FAA personnel on the front lines of our aviation system. According to the NTSB investigation, more than 15,000 ‘close proximity events’ occurred at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport over the last five years—reflecting a shockingly high trend that the FAA should have identified…It’s critical that this Administration ensures the FAA has the workforce capacity to proactively and properly analyze aviation safety data to prevent another crash like the American Airlines flight 5342 tragedy,” the senators continued.
    “In the aftermath of the crash, the FAA should be analyzing the near miss data from events at Reagan National Airport and reviewing the sufficiency of FAA staffing. Instead, the agency has moved ahead with workforce reductions. In particular, FAA fired hundreds of probationary employees in critical support roles key to assisting air traffic controllers in doing their jobs,” the lawmakers wrote.
    The lawmakers requested the following information by August 11, 2025:
    For each FAA line of business and its relevant suboffices, please provide the (a) number of employees employed as of January 1, 2025, (b) number of employees employed as of July 1, 2025, and (c) the current number of job openings.
    For each FAA line of business and its relevant suboffices, please indicate whether any of its job positions are currently subject to a hiring freeze as of January 20, 2025.
    Please provide the analysis conducted by the Office of Airports related to the impact of workforce cuts on its safety mission.
    Besides the Office of Airports, please explain if any other FAA line of business has conducted an analysis of the impact of workforce cuts on its ability to deliver its mission. If so, please provide those analyses.
    Please explain all relevant FAA lines of business and relevant suboffices charged with identifying aviation safety trends and possible safety risks affecting airport operations in congested airspace.
    What specific AI tools is the FAA using to analyze aviation safety impacts and flight data and how is this improving FAA’s analysis? Does the FAA have adequate staff, familiar with these tools, to manage this analysis and ensure the security of the data used and generated by AI?
    In addition to Warner, Kaine, and Markey, the letter was cosigned by Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Peter Welch (D-VT).
    Warner and Kaine have long championed aviation safety and spoken out against federal workforce reductions at the FAA and other agencies. Following the January 29, 2025 collision between an Army Black Hawk helicopter and American Airlines flight 5342 near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), Warner and Kaine demanded answers from the FAA on additional safety measures to protect the public and expressed concerns about the impact of the “Department of Government Efficiency” in addressing issues that led to the mid-air collision. The senators also introduced legislation to strengthen aviation safety. Kaine, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, successfully got a provision included in the committee-passed Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act to require that all Department of Defense aircraft that operate near commercial airports be equipped with broadcast positioning technology. Earlier this year, Kaine invited Jason King, a veteran from Fairfax who was fired from his position in the FAA’s safety division, as his guest to the State of the Union address. King was rehired after the State of the Union.
    Full text of the letter is available here and below:
    Dear Administrator Bedford,
    The tragic crash of American Airlines flight 5342 highlighted serious gaps in our aviation safety system and demonstrated the need for a robust and experienced analytical workforce at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Unfortunately, over the past six months, your agency has significantly reduced its workforce. We are deeply concerned about these reductions’ impact on aviation safety. We therefore write to request information on changes in the FAA workforce and their impact on aviation safety, including any analyses that the FAA has conducted on the effects of workforce reductions on the agency’s safety mission.
    The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation into the crash of American Airlines flight 5342 has demonstrated the need for a robust FAA workforce, beyond the air traffic controllers and other FAA personnel on the front lines of our aviation system. According to the NTSB investigation, more than 15,000 “close proximity events” occurred at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport over the last five years — reflecting a shockingly high trend that the FAA should have identified. At a Senate Commerce Committee hearing in March, the then-Acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau acknowledged that the agency missed this warning sign, in part because of the sheer volume of data that FAA personnel must analyze. The Acting Administrator’s testimony illustrated the need for an FAA workforce robust and experienced enough to analyze all relevant data and identify safety risks. It’s critical that this Administration ensures the FAA has the workforce capacity to proactively and properly analyze aviation safety data to prevent another crash like the American Airlines flight 5342 tragedy.
    Despite this clear need for enhanced analytical capacity, the FAA has instead moved to reduce its workforce during this critical period. In the aftermath of the crash, the FAA should be analyzing the near miss data from events at Reagan National Airport and reviewing the sufficiency of FAA staffing. Instead, the agency has moved ahead with workforce reductions. In particular, FAA fired hundreds of probationary employees in critical support roles key to assisting air traffic controllers in doing their jobs. With the Department of Transportation (DOT) pushing personnel to leave via two rounds of the Deferred Resignation Program — under which employees could elect to resign and receive pay until September 2025 — coupled with the federal hiring freeze, federal officials are leaving their jobs and it may be difficult for the FAA to attract new, qualified employees. Although the DOT assured Senators that key FAA safety staff were exempt from firings and the Deferred Resignation Program, the FAA has still not clarified whether it has the staff it needs to ensure the safety of the American public. Estimates from the DOT suggest that between 1,000 and 3,000 employees may leave the agency once the Deferred Resignation Program offers are finalized. According to an internal presentation to FAA management: “Employees are departing the agency in mass quantities across all skill levels.” Most recently, the Department of Transportation may now be able to move ahead with a large Reduction in Force after the Supreme Court’s recent ruling allowing federal agencies to move forward with staffing cuts consistent with existing federal law. This moment — after a tragic crash highlighted critical gaps in aviation safety — seems like precisely the wrong time for the FAA to aggressively shrink its workforce.
    Moreover, the FAA’s recent announcement that it is using artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze its data — without explaining whether such AI tools are reliable or effective — provides little reassurance to the public. While we support the use of technology to improve how aviation safety data is used, the decision to rely on technological fixes while simultaneously moving ahead with staffing reductions is deeply worrisome. The FAA has not been transparent with Congress about the types of technology it is now using, whether those technologies are replacing, augmenting, or otherwise impacting the FAA workforce, or whether it requires human review of AI analyses before using any analysis in a safety-related decision. This reliance on technological fixes — without a transparent analysis of the FAA’s workforce levels and capacity— raises questions about the FAA’s commitment to prioritizing safety.
    If the FAA lacks the staff to identify safety risks before future incidents occur, Congress must be informed of this as soon as possible. At a recent Senate Commerce Committee hearing, Senators questioned FAA officials from the Office of Airports, the Office of Aviation Safety, and the Air Traffic Organization about the personnel reductions at their respective offices and whether their offices had conducted any analysis on the impact of these workforce cuts on aviation safety. Only the head of the FAA Office of Airports — which is charged with planning and developing a safe and efficient national airport system — responded that his Office had conducted such an analysis. Senators urged the FAA to turn over that analysis to the Committee, along with data on any workforce reductions, but to date it has not. It is essential that Congress have sufficient information to understand the impact of recent FAA personnel changes on aviation safety.
    To better understand the impact of FAA workforce reductions on aviation safety, please provide written responses to the following questions and requests for information by August 11, 2025:
    For each FAA line of business and its relevant suboffices, please provide the (a) number of employees employed as of January 1, 2025, (b) number of employees employed as of July 1, 2025, and (c) the current number of job openings.
    For each FAA line of business and its relevant suboffices, please indicate whether any of its job positions are currently subject to a hiring freeze as of January 20, 2025.
    Please provide the analysis conducted by the Office of Airports related to the impact of workforce cuts on its safety mission.
    Besides the Office of Airports, please explain if any other FAA line of business has conducted an analysis of the impact of workforce cuts on its ability to deliver its mission. If so, please provide those analyses.
    Please explain all relevant FAA lines of business and relevant suboffices charged with identifying aviation safety trends and possible safety risks affecting airport operations in congested airspace.
    What specific AI tools is the FAA using to analyze aviation safety impacts and flight data and how is this improving FAA’s analysis?
    Does the FAA have adequate staff, familiar with these tools, to manage this analysis and ensure the security of the data used and generated by AI?
    How were these AI tools selected? Please describe the specific testing or evaluation conducted in advance of the implementation of the tools and provide a copy of any reports or conclusions produced. If no testing or evaluation occurred, please explain why not.

    Thank you in advance for your attention to this matter.
    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: ICJ ruling leaves UK with duty to speed up green transition

    Source: Green Party of England and Wales

    by Green Party

    Reacting to the International Criminal Court’s first-ever ruling on climate change, co-leader of the Green Party, Carla Denyer MP, said:

    “In a landmark ruling today the ICJ has made clear that failure to take decisive action to protect the climate, through continued fossil fuel production and consumption and granting fossil fuel exploration licences, can be considered as acting ‘wrongfully’. This means the UK has a legal duty to speed up the transition towards a cleaner, greener economy and block any new licences for the extraction of fossil fuels. 

    “The ruling also made clear that human rights must be at the heart of climate action because climate breakdown affects our rights to health, homes, and livelihoods.

    “The court has recognised that rich countries like the UK, responsible for ongoing and historic pollution, have a special responsibility to act, and to offer compensation to countries and communities already suffering from floods, droughts, and rising sea levels.

    “Today’s ruling should be the moment we draw a line. Governments that fail to act and polluters that refuse to clean up their act must no longer be allowed to harm communities either at home or across the globe with impunity.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Imports of new cars to Russia in January-June 2025 decreased by 63%.

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    Moscow, July 23 (Xinhua) — In the first six months of 2025, 63 percent fewer new passenger cars were imported into Russia than in the same period a year earlier, the analytical agency Avtostat reported on Tuesday.

    In January-June 2025, 149.3 thousand new passenger cars were imported to Russia, 77% of which were imported from China. The leaders in terms of import volume among brands were Changan, Geely and Haval, and the most popular models in the structure of Russian imports of new passenger cars were Changan UNI-S/CS55 Plus, Geely Monjaro, Changan CS35 Plus.

    According to the results of 2024, 924.6 thousand new passenger cars were imported to Russia, which is 31 percent more year-on-year. In the first six months of 2024, 408.5 thousand new cars were imported. –0–

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Bonta Asks Court to Place Los Angeles County Juvenile Halls in Receivership

    Source: US State of California Department of Justice

    Seeks compensation fund for youth harmed in the County’s care during its noncompliance with the judgment secured by the Attorney General 

    OAKLAND – California Attorney General Rob Bonta today announced that he is asking the Los Angeles County Superior Court to place Los Angeles County’s juvenile halls into a receivership amid the County’s persistent failure to comply with a stipulated judgment, enforcement order, and two stipulated amendments secured by the Attorney General’s Office since 2021. In the filing, the Attorney General argues that while it is a measure of last resort, receivership — or total control by an appointed officer of the court over the management and operations of the juvenile halls, including the setting of budgets; procurement of goods; hiring and firing of staff; and all other necessary decisions to bring the juvenile halls into compliance — is necessary to address the ongoing and immediate harm to youth at the facilities resulting from chronic illegal and unsafe conditions. In recent years, youth at these facilities have suffered severe harms, including overdoses on narcotics allowed to enter the facility, youth-on-youth violence facilitated by staff, and significant unmet medical needs — and will continue to do so if the juvenile halls remain under the County’s authority. Attorney General Bonta’s proposed receivership, if approved, would give a court-appointed receiver all the powers vested with the County, and additional powers as approved by the court necessary to bring about compliance, providing the receiver with the tools necessary to shepherd the juvenile halls toward long-overdue compliance with the judgment.

    “Today, for the first time in my office’s history, we are asking a court to place the subject of a pattern-and-practice investigation into receivership. This drastic step to divest Los Angeles County of control over its juvenile halls is a last resort — and the only option left to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the youth currently in its care,” said Attorney General Bonta. “For four-and-a-half years, we’ve moved aggressively to bring the County into compliance with our judgment — and we’ve been met with glacial progress that has too often looked like one step forward and two steps back. Enough is enough. These young people deserve better, and my office will not stop until they get it. A receivership is the best and only option to turn Los Angeles County juvenile halls around, and we believe the court will agree.”

    In January 2021, after an extensive investigation by the California Department of Justice into conditions at the County of Los Angeles’s juvenile halls, the Attorney General secured a comprehensive stipulated judgment aimed at remedying the unsafe and illegal conditions revealed by the investigation. Over the following years, the California Department of Justice has aggressively enforced compliance with this judgment, including (1) multiple motions approved by the court to enforce and strengthen the judgment; (2) an expansion of the monitoring team; (3) training from the monitoring team to the County; (4) numerous offers by the monitoring team to provide additional technical assistance to the County; (5) multiples directives from the Monitor that were not followed; and (6) the Attorney General’s extensive engagement with the County regarding areas of noncompliance, including noncompliance observed during site visits to the juvenile halls. 

    Despite continuous enforcement and monitoring, conditions at Los Angeles County juvenile halls have deteriorated and the County remains out of compliance with 75% of the provisions of the judgment. Persistent failures include adequate staffing of the juvenile halls; stemming the flow of drugs; preventing staff from instigating or encouraging youth-on-youth assaults; delivering youth to medical appointments; preventing retaliation against youth who file grievances; and ensuring cameras are installed in all areas and that video footage is reviewed, among other concerns.  

    Several particularly egregious incidents highlight the untenable and unsafe conditions at these facilities: First, in March 2025, Attorney General Bonta secured a grand jury indictment of 30 probation staff for child endangerment and abuse, battery, and conspiracy for permitting, facilitating, and encouraging 69 fights involving 143 different victims between July 1, 2023, to December 31, 2023. Second, a number of overdoses have occurred at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall in 2025, despite a court order mandating the County improve its contraband-screening protocols. At the same time, the Board of State and Community Corrections has issued findings of unsuitably for both Los Padrinos and Barry J. Nidorf Secure Youth Treatment Facility, and the juvenile division of the Los Angeles County Superior Court has ordered the County to depopulate Los Padrinos. 

    For all of these reasons, and the many more outlined in a filing today with the court, Attorney General Bonta is asking the court to place Los Angeles County juvenile halls in a receivership and in doing so, to transfer all authority and powers currently vested with the County to a court-appointed receiver. The filing explains that less-intensive interventions have repeatedly failed to bear fruit and that nothing about the County’s record to date suggest that giving the County more time to achieve compliance will result in anything but prolonging the unsuitability of conditions endured by youth in their care. 

    The Attorney General also asks that the court order the County to establish a compensation fund for youth to redress and repair the injuries suffered in the County’s custody due to its noncompliance with the judgment, including medical and education expenses.

    A copy of the filing, which is subject to approval by the court, is available here. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Nigeria to Showcase Executive Order Reforms, Investment Opportunities at African Energy Week (AEW) 2025

    Source: APO

    Nigeria is undertaking sweeping reforms across its oil and gas industry, driven by a landmark Executive Order signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu aimed at catalyzing investment and eliminating regulatory inefficiencies. At the “Invest in Nigeria” Roundtable during African Energy Week (AEW) 2025: Invest in African Energies – sponsored by NCDMB and taking place in Cape Town on September 29-October 3 – senior policymakers and industry leaders will unpack the scope of these reforms, explore how they are reshaping the investment landscape, and present new opportunities across upstream, midstream and downstream value chains. 

    Set to speak are Olu Verheijen, Special Advisor to the President of Nigeria on Energy; Arthur Ename, Vice President of Business Development, Africa, at NOV; Nosa Omorodion, Country Director at SLB Nigeria; Alex Irune, Executive Director of Oando and Managing Director of Oando Energy Resources; a senior representative from ExxonMobil; and Philip Mshelbila, Managing Director and CEO of Nigeria LNG (NLNG). The roundtable will offer high-level insight into the regulatory reset now underway and what it means for investors looking to expand or enter the Nigerian market. 

    The Executive Order, signed in April 2025, targets cost efficiency and fiscal competitiveness in upstream operations and introduces performance-based tax credits for oil and gas companies that deliver verifiable reductions in project costs. Under the framework, operators that meet annual cost-reduction benchmarks set by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission are eligible to retain 50% of the incremental government revenue generated by their efficiency gains, with total credits capped at 20% of their annual tax liability. 

    This move directly addresses long-standing concerns over high operating costs in Nigeria’s upstream sector, which have historically deterred investment and delayed project execution. By linking tax relief to measurable cost savings, the Order is expected to unlock stalled developments, attract new capital and create a more transparent, performance-driven investment climate. 

    At the AEW 2025 roundtable, speakers will examine how this reform is already reshaping Nigeria’s energy landscape – enabling more competitive bidding for contracts, accelerating international oil company divestments and positioning indigenous players to scale up their operations within a more commercially attractive and operationally efficient environment. 

    Nigeria is also doubling down on natural gas as the cornerstone of its long-term energy strategy. With over 200 trillion cubic feet of proven reserves, the country is accelerating infrastructure development to support both domestic utilization and regional exports. A flagship project, the NLNG Train 7 expansion, is nearing completion and set to boost production capacity by 35%, underscoring the critical role of LNG in Nigeria’s economic growth and energy transition plans. At the same time, upstream and midstream gas investments are being enabled through policy instruments that promote modular processing, flexible pricing frameworks and improved market access for domestic suppliers. 

    The private sector is poised to play a central role in this next phase. Companies like SLB and NOV are aligning their strategies with the government’s push for localization, efficiency and innovation, while firms such as Oando are expanding their portfolios to reflect new realities in the post-Petroleum Industry Act landscape. With enhanced policy stability and a deliberate focus on sector transformation, Nigeria is reasserting its status as one of Africa’s most strategic hydrocarbon hubs. 

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

    About AEW:
    AEW: Invest in African Energies is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government, and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy. Visit www.AECWeek.com for more information about this exciting event. 

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    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Merck Foundation Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Meets Mauritius Minister of Gender Equality & Family Welfare to Launch “Educating Linda” Program, Supporting Education of 20 Deserving yet Underprivileged Mauritian Schoolgirls Girls Until Graduation

    Source: APO

    • During the visit to the country, Merck Foundation CEO also met the Mauritius President to share the impact of their 100 Scholarships for Mauritian Doctors in partnership with Ministry of Health.
    • Dr. Rasha Kelej during her meeting with the Mauritius President, strengthened partnership to improve access to innovative and equitable healthcare and Empower Women in STEM.
    • Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej also met the Mauritius Minister of Gender Equality & Family Welfare to share the impact of their programs to address critical social issues like supporting girl education and Ending Gender Based Violence in the country.

    Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation (www.Merck-Foundation.com), the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany met Hon’ble Ms. Marie Arianne Navarre-Marie, Minister of Gender Equality and Family Welfare during a high-level meeting, to share the impact of their programs and underscore their long-term commitment to address critical social issues in Mauritius.

    During her visit, she also met H.E. MR. DHARAMBEER GOKHOOL, The President of Republic of Mauritius, to share the impact of their 100 Scholarships for Mauritian Doctors in partnership with Ministry of Health and underscore their long-term commitment to transform public healthcare in Mauritius.

    Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and President of “More Than a Mother” Campaign emphasized, “It was a great honor to meet Hon’ble Ms. Marie Arianne Navarre-Marie, Minister of Gender Equality and Family Welfare and share with her the impact of our partnership and programs since 2017 that aim to transform patient care, build healthcare and media capacity, to empower women in STEM, support girl education and raise awareness about social and health issues in Mauritius and the rest of Africa.

    I am very happy to share that together with the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Welfare, we are launching our Educating Linda Program in the country, as a part of which we will be supporting the education of 20 high performing yet underprivileged Mauritian schoolgirls, till they graduate. Through this, we will be empowering them to complete their studies and reach their full potential.”

    Merck Foundation has provided 100 scholarships for Mauritian doctors in 44 critical and under-served specialties.

    “During my meeting with H.E. MR. DHARAMBEER GOKHOOL, The President of Republic of Mauritius, we also discussed the possibility of providing specialized training for Mauritian doctors in innovative and emerging fields such as Stem Cell Therapy in pathology, CAR T-cell treatment, AI in Radiology, Radiotherapy and Medical Oncology, Robotic Surgical Oncology, Neurology, Nephrology, Urology, and Neurosurgery. We are strongly committed to work closely with Ministry of Health to improve access to innovative and equitable healthcare solutions”, added Dr. Kelej. 

    The 100 scholarships for local Mauritian Doctors have been provided for One-Year PG Diploma and Two-year Master Degrees in many critical specialties including Fertility, Embryology, Sexual & Reproductive Care, Oncology, Preventative Cardiovascular, Diabetes, Endocrinology, Acute Medicine, Respiratory, Gastroenterology, Dermatology, Neuroimaging for Research, Sexual & Reproductive Care, Clinical Microbiology and infectious diseases, Internal Medicine, Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Ophthalmology, Laparoscopic Surgical Skills, Critical Care, Neonatal Medicine, Psychiatry, Family Medicine, Advanced Cytopathology and many more.

    Merck Foundation has so far provided more than 2280 scholarships for young doctors from 52 countries in 44 critical and underserved specialties, with many of them becoming the first specialists in their countries.

    During her visit, Merck Foundation CEO also met the Senior Officials from the Office of Hon’ble Minister of Health, Mauritius.

    Merck Foundation also conducted the 4th Edition of their Health Media Training for the Mauritian Media Representatives in partnership with Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Welfare, Mauritius. The training session was conducted to emphasize on the important role that media plays to influence society to create a cultural shift with the aim to address wide range of social and health issues such as: Breaking Infertility Stigma, Supporting Girl Education, Women Empowerment, Ending Child Marriage, Ending FGM, Stopping GBV, Diabetes and Hypertension awareness. It was co-chaired by Merck Foundation CEO and Minister of Gender Equality and Family Welfare, Mauritius.

    During the training session, the Call for Application for 8 important Merck Foundation Awards were announced for Media, Musicians, Fashion Designers, Filmmakers, students, and new potential talents in these fields.

    The award announced are:

    1. Merck Foundation Africa Media Recognition Awards “More Than a Mother” 2025, in partnership with Media Trust Board, Mauritius: Media representatives and media students are invited to showcase their work to raise awareness about one or more of the following social issues such as: Breaking Infertility Stigma, Supporting Girl Education, Women Empowerment, Ending Child Marriage, Ending FGM, and/ or Stopping GBV at all levels.

    Submission deadline: 30th September 2025.

    1.  Merck Foundation Fashion Awards “More Than a Mother” 2025, in partnership with Academy of Design and Innovation, Mauritius: All African Fashion Students and Designers are invited to create and share designs to deliver strong and influential messages to raise awareness about one or more of the following social issues such as: Breaking Infertility Stigma, Supporting Girl Education, Women Empowerment, Ending Child Marriage, Ending FGM, and/ or Stopping GBV at all levels.

    Submission deadline: 30th September 2025.

    1. Merck Foundation Film Awards “More Than a Mother” 2025: All African Filmmakers, Students of Film Making Training Institutions, or Young Talents of Africa are invited to create and share a long or short FILMS, either drama, documentary, or docudrama to deliver strong and influential messages to address one or more of the following social issues such as: Breaking Infertility Stigma, Supporting Girl Education, Women Empowerment, Ending Child Marriage, Ending FGM, and/ or Stopping GBV at all levels.

    Submission deadline: 30th September 2025.

    1. Merck Foundation Song Awards “More Than a Mother” 2025: All African Singers and Musical Artists are invited to create and share a SONG with the aim to address one or more of the following social issues such as: Breaking Infertility Stigma, Supporting Girl Education, Women Empowerment, Ending Child Marriage, Ending FGM, and/ or Stopping GBV at all levels.

    Submission deadline: 30th September 2025.

    1. Merck Foundation Media Recognition Awards 2025 “Diabetes & Hypertension”, in partnership with Media Trust Board, Mauritius: Media representatives are invited to showcase their work through strong and influential messages to promote a healthy lifestyle and raise awareness about the prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension.

    Submission deadline: 30th October 2025.

    1. Merck Foundation Fashion Awards 2025 “Diabetes & Hypertension”, in partnership with Academy of Design and Innovation, Mauritius: All African Fashion Students and Designers are invited to create and share designs to deliver strong and influential messages to promote a healthy lifestyle and raise awareness about the prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension.

    Submission deadline: 30th October 2025.

    1. Merck Foundation Film Awards 2025 “Diabetes & Hypertension: All African Filmmakers, Students of Film Making Training Institutions, or Young Talents of Africa are invited to create and share a long or short FILMS, either drama, documentary, or docudrama to deliver strong and influential messages to promote a healthy lifestyle raise awareness about prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension.

    Submission deadline: 30th October 2025.

    1. Merck Foundation Song Awards 2025 “Diabetes & Hypertension”: All African Singers and Musical Artists are invited to create and share a SONG with the aim to promote a healthy lifestyle and raise awareness about the prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension.

    Submission deadline: 30th October 2025.

    Entries for the above awards can be submitted to us at:

    submit@merck-foundation.com

    For information on the above awards, please visit our website:

    www.Merck-Foundation.com

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Merck Foundation.

    Contact:
    Mehak Handa
    Community Awareness Program Manager 
    Phone: +91 9310087613/ +91 9319606669
    Email: mehak.handa@external.merckgroup.com

    Join the conversation on our social media platforms below and let your voice be heard!
    Facebook: https://apo-opa.co/3GZAB8c
    X: https://apo-opa.co/46Yc51M
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    Website: www.Merck-Foundation.com
    Download Merck Foundation App: https://apo-opa.co/4nYOCDX

    About Merck Foundation:
    The Merck Foundation, established in 2017, is the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, aims to improve the health and wellbeing of people and advance their lives through science and technology. Our efforts are primarily focused on improving access to quality & equitable healthcare solutions in underserved communities, building healthcare & scientific research capacity, empowering girls in education and empowering people in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) with a special focus on women and youth. All Merck Foundation press releases are distributed by e-mail at the same time they become available on the Merck Foundation Website.  Please visit www.Merck-Foundation.com to read more. Follow the social media of Merck Foundation: Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/3GZAB8c), X (https://apo-opa.co/46Yc51M), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/41aw4Xg), YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/450kdfL), Threads (https://apo-opa.co/4m1Sj9O) and Flickr (https://apo-opa.co/4o4qNdO).

    The Merck Foundation is dedicated to improving social and health outcomes for communities in need. While it collaborates with various partners, including governments to achieve its humanitarian goals, the foundation remains strictly neutral in political matters. It does not engage in or support any political activities, elections, or regimes, focusing solely on its mission to elevate humanity and enhance well-being while maintaining a strict non-political stance in all of its endeavors.

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    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: CORRECTION: Affluenz Magazine Unveils Commemorative Issue Spotlighting United Arab Emirates (UAE) Founding Father Sheikh Zayed, Noura Al Kaabi, and African Visionary Elvis Abuyere

    Source: APO

    Affluenz Magazine (www.Affluenz.com), International’s leading global luxury, leadership, and impact publication, has officially released its much-anticipated July/August 2025 issue — a special edition commemorating the 20th anniversary of the passing of His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Founding Father of the United Arab Emirates.

    This commemorative edition features a powerful trio of cover stories — spotlighting the enduring legacy of Sheikh Zayed, the cultural diplomacy of UAE’s Minister of State, Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, and the entrepreneurial excellence of Elvis Abuyere, CEO of Skywise Group, one of Africa’s most innovative investment firms.

    This historic issue celebrates Sheikh Zayed’s vision of unity, progress, and inclusion — a legacy that continues to define the modern UAE. Affluenz Magazine delves into his leadership, values, and role in positioning the Emirates as a hub of diplomacy, innovation, and tolerance.

    Also on the cover is Noura Al Kaabi, a global advocate for cultural dialogue and creative economies. In her exclusive interview, she discusses the UAE’s mission to foster global cultural exchange and its investment in youth empowerment across the Arab world and Africa.

    Rounding out the trio is Elvis Abuyere, the young African magnate who has risen to prominence through Skywise Group’s diversified holdings in key industries such as automobiles, finance, travel, real estate, and philanthropy. His story of resilience, reinvention, and corporate leadership offers inspiration for a new generation of African entrepreneurs.

    Beyond the covers, the issue features in-depth profiles on several influential leaders and institutions across Africa and the Middle East — from oil and gas executives and royalty to social innovators and philanthropists — all of whom are making measurable impact in their sectors and communities.

    Beyond its striking covers, the July/August 2025 edition of Affluenz Magazine delivers an enriching array of exclusive features and compelling interviews that spotlight transformative figures shaping Africa and the global stage.

    Among the celebrated personalities is Ameera Abraham, the trailblazing founder of The Nail Bar, who shares her journey in redefining luxury wellness and empowering a new wave of African beautypreneurs. Equally inspiring is Tonya Lawani, the formidable force behind SEAL Group, whose strategic leadership continues to drive innovation and empowerment across industries.

    Linda Turner, founder of Linda Hope Initiatives and CEO of Jat Holdings, exemplifies the powerful blend of business acumen and humanitarian spirit. With ventures spanning real estate, fashion, interior design, and hospitality, she personifies resilience and compassion, balancing her roles as a mother, wife, entrepreneur, and advocate—all grounded in her unwavering commitment to uplifting lives.

    Adunni Rinwa emerges as a beacon of integrity and innovation in Nigeria’s real estate sector. As founder and CEO of Rinwa Realty, she has revolutionized property investment and homeownership, raising the bar for transparency and delivery in the industry.

    The issue also features Hassan Imam, Managing Director of Keystone Bank, recognized for his strategic role in redefining digital banking and financial inclusion in Nigeria. From the UAE, Hussain Abdulrahman Khansaheb is profiled for his contributions to sustainable urban development and visionary leadership in construction and infrastructure.

    Adding to the intellectual gravitas of the edition is Peace Hyde, celebrated media entrepreneur, educator, and founder of Aim Higher Africa. Her voice continues to inspire a generation to dream big and build boldly.

    Together, these stories reflect the essence of Affluenz Magazine: a publication committed to elevating Africa’s voices, capturing legacies in the making, and connecting excellence across continents.

    Founded in 2011 as Pleasures Magazine and rebranded as Affluenz Magazine in 2024, the publication has evolved into a world-class platform that highlights African and Middle Eastern excellence, entrepreneurship, and culture. With editorial offices in Abuja, Dubai,Riyadh Accra, Washington DC and London, the magazine reaches readers in over 103 countries and maintains syndication through platforms like Yahoo Finance, Business Insider, and Washington Times.

    Speaking about the new edition, Executive Publisher Adedotun Olaoluwa remarked:
    “This special issue is not just a tribute to Sheikh Zayed, but a celebration of global visionaries — individuals building bridges across continents. Affluenz continues to be a vessel for celebrating our shared humanity and transformative leadership from Africa to the Middle East.”

    The July/August 2025 issue is now available in digital and print formats across select global outlets, including Barnes & Noble (US), WHSmith (UK), and Virgin Megastore (UAE), as well as through Affluenz’s official website: www.Affluenz.com and Selar (https://apo-opa.co/45fvREG).

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Affluenz (formerly Pleasures Magazine).

    Contact:
    Dotmount Communications
    Email: info@affluenz.com
    Instagram: @ affluenzmag
    Phone: +234 816 090 6918
    https://apo-opa.co/45fvREG

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    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ricketts, King Introduce the CARING for Our Veterans Health Act of 2025

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Pete Ricketts (Nebraska)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Pete Ricketts (R-NE) and Angus King (I-ME) introduced the Coordinating and Aligning Records to Improve and Normalize Governance (CARING) for Our Veterans Health Act of 2025.  The CARING for Our Veterans Health Act of 2025 would require the Under Secretary for Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs to implement guidelines to ensure tracking of medical documentation after a veteran receives care from a community provider, while measuring the performance of obtaining community care records.  This would enable the Office of Integrated Veteran Care to provide veterans with the standard of care they need and deserve.
    “Our veterans deserve our utmost respect and gratitude,” said Ricketts.  “In order to ensure our veterans receive the best standard of care, it is important that their medical history is shared and available for VA medical centers following care in the community. This bill will help establish guidelines and procedures for VA medical facilities to obtain medical documentation from community care providers.”
    “Veterans in Maine and across the country have sacrificed greatly in service to the nation and it is our job to now return the favor,” said Senator King. “The CARING for Our Veterans Health Act of 2025would ensure that veterans have access to the best care by improving information-sharing between community care providers and VA medical centers to reduce the chances of important details falling through the cracks. I am grateful to my colleague, Senator Ricketts, for working with me on this important legislation putting veterans first.”
    The CARING for Our Veterans Health Act of 2025 would require that the Office of Integrated Veteran Care supervised by the Under Secretary for Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs:
    Develops guidance for the efforts of medical centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs in obtaining final medical documentation after a veteran receives services from a community care provider pursuant to a referral from that medical center;
    Establishes goals and related performance measures for medical centers of the Department in obtaining initial and final medical documentation from community care providers;
    Establishes and monitors goals and related performance measures for the completion by such providers of core trainings and ensures that such providers complete the required training course; and
    Takes steps to ensure that the Office of Integrated Veteran Care and any contractor for that Office communicate clear and accurate information to such providers regarding the core trainings recommended or required by that Office, including whether such training is recommended or required.
    This legislation is supported by the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA).
    BACKGROUND:
    Nearly 75% of veterans return to medical centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for continued care after receiving services from community providers, making the exchange of medical documentation between providers essential to ensuring continuity of care.  The Office of Integrated Veteran Care of the Veterans Health Administration currently lacks systemwide visibility into whether medical documentation from community providers is being received, jeopardizing oversight and clinical coordination.
    As reliance on community care for veterans continues to grow, establishing clear expectations for tracking final documentation and creating monitoring goals and performance measures will enable the Office of Integrated Veteran Care to identify gaps and strengthen the systemwide exchange of information.
    Bill text can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tonko, Fitzpatrick, Smith Introduce Bill to Expand Access to Mental Health Services

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Paul Tonko (Capital Region New York)

    WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Representatives Paul D. Tonko (D-NY-20) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-1), and U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) today reintroduced the Medicaid Bump Act, legislation that would increase the federal reimbursement rate for mental and behavioral health care services under Medicaid.

    “As the largest payer for mental health and substance use treatment, Medicaid is essential to behavioral health care,” Congressman Tonko said. “The massive cuts to Medicaid made in President Trump’s Big Ugly Law will leave countless Americans without access to the lifesaving, affordable care, but we must do all we can as legislators to stem the harm caused by this cruel legislation and work to deliver meaningful federal resources for mental health services. That’s why we’re introducing this bipartisan, commonsense legislation. I hope my colleagues will join me in helping remove these barriers in behavioral health treatment and ensure our communities are delivered affordable, quality care.”

    “As Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Task Force, I’m working directly with community providers, health systems, and local leaders to identify the structural barriers limiting access to care. This initiative is a direct result of those conversations—delivering targeted federal support to expand state investment, raise provider reimbursement, and build capacity in the areas that need it most. It’s a data-driven response to a national crisis, and Congress must act,” said Congressman Fitzpatrick.

    “The best way to combat the mental health crisis in America is by offering comprehensive, affordable mental health services for those who need it,” said Senator Tina Smith. “The Medicaid Bump Act helps more Americans access this life-changing care by expanding state-level coverage and ensuring providers are appropriately compensated. This way, we can start addressing the stigma around mental health and the gross inequities in our medical system.”

    Traditionally, states receive federal reimbursement rates between 50 and 75 percent. Under the Medicaid Bump Act, Medicaid would reimburse states for 90 percent of the cost of providing new mental and behavioral health services. Further, the bill would:

    • Direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to define which services qualify as eligible behavioral health services for the enhanced FMAP.
    • Require HHS to provide annual reports on the impact of increased federal Medicaid reimbursement on the utilization of behavioral health services in each state.

    The Medicaid Bump Act is supported by 34 organizations, including: Alliance for Rights and Recovery, American Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, American Mental Health Counselor Association, American Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Association Services, American Society of Addiction Medicine, Anxiety & Depression Association of America, Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Community Catalyst, Faces and Voices of Recovery, Friends of Recovery- New York, Global Alliance for Behavioral Health & Social Justice, Huntington’s Disease Society of America, Inseparable, International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses, Legal Action Center, Mental Health America, National Alliance on Mental Illness, National Association for Behavioral Healthcare, National Association for Rural Mental Health, National Association of County Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Directors, National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, National Association of School Psychologists, National Association of Social Workers, National Board for Certified Counselors & Affiliates, National Council for Mental Wellbeing, National Federation of Families, National League for Nursing, The National Register of Health Service Psychologists, Overdose Prevention Initiative, Treatment Communities of America, and Youth Villages

    Text of the bill can be found HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: LEADER JEFFRIES: “THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND HOUSE REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN A COMPLETE AND TOTAL FAILURE”

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)

    Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries held a press conference with Whip Katherine Clark and Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar ahead of the August District Work Period where they highlighted the commitment of House Democrats to delivering for the American people, while Donald Trump and Rubber Stamp Republicans celebrate their devastating cuts to healthcare and food assistance.

    LEADER JEFFRIES: Good morning, everyone. Honored to be joined today by Whip Katherine Clark and Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar as we prepare to depart for the August District Work Period. The Trump administration and House Republicans have been a complete and total failure. These MAGA extremists promised they were going to lower costs in the United States of America. In fact, they promised the American people that costs would go down on day one. But costs haven’t gone down. They are on the way up. Inflation is up. It’s the quality of life of everyday Americans that is deteriorating. And Donald Trump and House Republicans are making things worse.

    The One Big Ugly Bill will rip away healthcare from millions of Americans. Hospitals will close. Nursing homes will shut down. Community-based health clinics will be unable to operate. And as a result of the inability of everyday Americans to get the medical care that they need, people will die. This is a direct result of action taken by Donald Trump and House Republicans connected to the One Big Ugly Bill. It’s extraordinary that as we prepare to leave for the August District Work Period, what House Republicans can point to is a toxic and extreme Republican budget that will cause millions of Americans to be broke, sick and hungry. That’s the legislative accomplishment of House Republicans. And all of this was done to reward billionaires with massive tax breaks.

    The One Big Ugly Bill is deeply unpopular. Donald Trump is deeply unpopular. And House Republicans haven’t done a damn thing to make life more affordable for the American people. During the August District Work Period, House Democrats will hold events all across the country talking about our efforts to build an affordable economy that lowers the high cost of living in the United States of America, to protect the healthcare of the American people and to combat the cultural corruption that exists in this town that undermines the ability to have a government of the people, by the people and for the people. We’re looking forward to holding town hall meetings across the country, at the same time that Republicans will continue to run away from town hall meetings. But we will fill the void that they are leaving and engage aggressively with the American people, all in service of building a country where everyone can experience the American dream.

    Full press conference can be watched here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Nadler and Rep. Bacon Reintroduce Legislation to Protect Organ Donors

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jerrold Nadler (10th District of New York)

    Today, Representatives Jerrold Nadler (NY-12) and Don Bacon (NE-02) reintroduced the Living Donor Protection Act bill package to protect the rights of living organ donors. The Living Donor Protection Act is introduced as a two-bill package in the House, H.R. 4583, the Living Donor Protection Act and H.R.4582, the Living Donor FMLA Protection Act. The bills, taken together, are identical to last session’s Living Donor Protection Act and S.1552 introduced in the Senate this session.

    “Every year, thousands of Americans die while waiting on an organ transplant, yet potential organ donors still face barriers that punish them for trying to selflessly save a life. Insurance discrimination and the threat of job loss can make it economically impossible for potential donors to move forward with donation and these roadblocks are costing lives,” said Representative Nadler. “Congress must do everything in its power to remove deterrents to organ donation, which is why Congress must pass the Living Donor Protection Act bill package.”

    “Our state is fortunate to have Nebraska Medicine, which has a robust living donor kidney exchange program, performing more kidney chains which involves anonymous donors donating to someone without a compatible living donor, than almost any hospital nationwide. However, some living donors are discriminated against when it comes to rates and provision of life insurance and disability insurance,” said Representative Bacon. “This legislation will help open the doors to more living donors so we can save more lives.”

    Organ donation saves thousands of lives every year, but burdensome roadblocks often stop individuals from becoming living donors. The Living Donor Protection Act bill package would protect living organ donors and promote organ donation in three easy, low-cost ways: 

    1. Prohibits life, disability, and long-term care insurance companies from denying or limiting coverage and from charging higher premiums based only on donor status;
    2. Amends the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 to specifically allow private and civil service employees to use FMLA leave to recover from donation surgery; and
    3. Directs HHS to update their materials on live organ donation to reflect these new protections and encourage more individuals to consider donating an organ.

    Currently, there are over 103,000 people on the national transplant waiting list, with almost 90,000 people on the kidney transplant list. The average wait time for a kidney transplant is about three to five years, and during that time, many patients become too sick to receive a transplant or die—13 people die each year waiting for an organ transplant. Receiving an organ from a living donor can shorten this wait time and ultimately allow the best chance for long-term success. Unfortunately, studies have found that up to one in four living donors report discrimination in the rates and provision of life insurance and disability insurance, and they can struggle to receive time off from work to complete their donation and recovery. Reducing barriers to living organ donation and educating potential donors on the protections provided to them under law will help to promote living organ donation and save the lives of those waiting for a transplant.

    The Living Donor Protection Act is endorsed by Alport Syndrome Foundation, American Association of Kidney Patients, American Council of Life Insurers, American Heart Association, American Kidney Fund, American Liver Foundation, American Nephrology Nurses Association, American Society of Nephrology, American Society of Pediatric Nephrology, American Society of Transplant Surgeons, American Society of Transplantation, Dialysis Patient Citizens, Global Liver Institute, IGA Nephropathy Foundation, International Society of Glomerular Disease, Kidney Transplant Collaborative, National Kidney Foundation, NephCure, the Nonprofit Kidney Care Alliance (NKCA), North American Transplant Coordinators Organization, Northwest Kidney Centers, the PKD Foundation, the Rogosin Institute, Sanofi, the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), Transplant Recipients International Organization (TRIO), and Renal Physicians Association.

    “On behalf of all kidney patients, organ donors and American taxpayers, the American Association of Kidney Patients salutes U.S. Senators Tom Cotton and Kristen Gillibrand and U.S. Representatives Don Bacon and Jerrold Nadler for introducing the bipartisan Living Donor Protection Act so that living organ donors will no longer face the Hobbesian choice of saving an innocent human life at the risk of losing insurance coverages that provide economic security and peace of mind to their families and loved ones. The time is now for America to transcend high-cost, high-mortality dialysis care as the default solution for people living with kidney failure and to encourage greater living organ donation and greater transplant opportunities for all Americans in need of a life-saving organ,” said Edward V. Hickey, III, President, American Association of Kidney Patients.

    “Life insurers are committed to helping people access the financial protection they want and need for themselves and their families. The Living Donor Protection Act will help ensure that organ donors can continue to access life, disability income, or long-term care coverage, while upholding fair underwriting standards. Most importantly, it will safeguard those who selflessly give the gift of life through organ donation,” said David Chavern, President and CEO, American Council of Life Insurers.

    “The selfless individuals who give the gift of life by donating a kidney should not face discrimination by life, long-term care, or disability insurers. This legislation would be a significant step in efforts to encourage more living donors and reduce the kidney transplant waiting list by providing the protections that living donors should receive for their lifesaving actions,” said LaVarne Burton, President and CEO, American Kidney Fund. 

    “No child or adult should die waiting for a liver transplant. We must work together to increase living organ donation, and the Living Donor Protection Act provides a tangible path forward by removing key barriers for those willing to give the gift of life. We are so grateful to Representatives Bacon and Nadler for their extraordinary leadership and commitment to advancing living donor transplantation, which will help thousands of liver patients throughout the country,” said Lorraine Stiehl, CEO, American Liver Foundation and caregiver to a transplant patient. 

    “ASN commends the re-introduction of the Living Donor Protection Act and accompanying Living Donor FMLA Protection Act, critical legislation which will remove barriers that discourage living donors from providing the life-saving gift of a kidney transplant. Americans who are considering becoming living donors deserve more support than the current system provides for them, and ASN believes the Living Donor Protection Act and accompanying Living Donor FMLA Protection Act are critical to achieve this goal,” said Prabir Roy-Chaudhury, MD, PhD, FASN, President, American Society of Nephrology President.

    “On behalf of the American Society of Transplantation (AST), representing a majority of the nation’s transplant medical professionals, our Society strongly applauds and endorses the re-introduction of the Living Donor Protection Act (LDPA). AST is grateful for the ongoing and steadfast leadership of Representatives Bacon, Nadler and Senators Cotton and Gillibrand to protect transplant patients and strengthen living donation. The LDPA is a patient-focused bill seeking to remove policy barriers that might otherwise prevent an individual from providing a lifesaving donor organ. AST greatly appreciates this bipartisan, bicameral, and patient centric legislation. We look forward to working with you to advance the LDPA in this 119th Congress,” said Dr. Jon Kobashigawa, MD, President, American Society of Transplantation. 

    “On behalf of more than 2,000 transplant surgeons and professionals, the American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS) enthusiastically commends the champions of the Living Donor Protection Act (LDPA) for their unwavering commitment to saving lives. As a tireless advocate for this legislation since its inception—and a proud partner in shaping its recent progress—ASTS is thrilled to see the momentum continue following the bill’s strong bipartisan support in the 118th Congress. With a preliminary CBO score of zero, there is no better time for Congress to act. Passing the LDPA will provide vital, commonsense protections for living donors and remove unnecessary employment and insurance barriers to giving the ultimate gift: the gift of life,” said Ginny L. Bumgardner, MD, PhD, American Society of Transplant Surgeons.  

    “Global Liver Institute strongly supports the Living Donor Protection Act as an essential step to save lives by making the donation process affordable for living donors and protecting their employment. This bipartisan legislation was a collaborative effort, reflecting the policies determined most important to support living donors as determined by organ donors, liver and kidney patients, the insurance industry, transplant professionals, nephrologists, advocacy organizations and disease professionals. We look forward to its final passage in the 119th Congress,” said Larry Holden, President and CEO, Global Liver Institute.  

    “Living donors are heroes demonstrating compassion and generosity, and they are also rigorously screened individuals at the peak of health. Our family, friends and neighbors who choose to give the gift of a kidney enable thousands of Americans per year to resume a life where they can fully contribute to society, the economy, and their families rather than being limited by the life-support stopgap of dialysis. The ISGD enthusiastically endorses the Living Donor Protection Act,” said Laurel Damashek, Executive Director, International Society of Glomerular Disease and living donor kidney transplant recipient. 

    “We applaud Representatives Bacon and Nadler for their continued leadership on the Living Donor Protection Act. Taking this new approach of splitting the bill to ensure a smoother passage is an appropriate and needed step. These bills are a bipartisan approach to address the national organ shortage crisis, remove barriers to transplantation and recognize the courage and generosity of those who choose to save lives through donation. We urge Congress to pass this legislation quickly,” said Kevin Longino, CEO, National Kidney Foundation and a kidney transplant recipient.

    “As nonprofit dialysis providers, kidney transplant is an ideal outcome for many of our patients and legislation to protect and support living donors is critical to our patient-centered mission,” said Monica Massaro, Executive Director, Nonprofit Kidney Care Alliance.

    “Polycystic kidney disease currently has no cure, and for many of the 600,000 patients living in the US, organ transplantation becomes their best path forward when kidney function declines. Living donors don’t just extend lives—they reduce strain on our health care system and save taxpayer money by helping patients avoid dialysis. Yet needless barriers disincentivize many from stepping up to help. The Living Donor Protection Act is a commonsense, bipartisan solution that will ensure living donors are protected, not penalized, for their generosity,” said Susan Bushnell, President and CEO, Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) Foundation.

    “As a pioneer in transplantation since performing New York State’s first living donor kidney transplant in 1963, The Rogosin Institute believes that kidney transplantation is the ideal treatment for patients with end-stage kidney disease. We are proud to wholeheartedly endorse all components of the Living Donor Protection Act.  Importantly, the Act will remove barriers to donation such as insurance uncertainty and financial insecurity. Rogosin extends our thanks to the bipartisan members of Congress supporting this critical legislation. We thank Congressmen Bacon and Nadler for championing the Living Donor Protection Act,” said The Rogosin Institute.

    “Living organ donors save people’s lives and should be able to give the gift of life without fear of insurance discrimination or financial retribution, especially as they recover from surgery. The Living Donor Protection Act rightfully protects these selfless individuals from this. Thank you, Sens. Cotton and Gillibrand and Reps. Bacon and Nadler for your bipartisan leadership and for standing up for living organ donors,” said Maureen McBride, Ph.D., CEO, United Network for Organ Sharing.

    The text of the bills can be found here and here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: From Epping to Powrunna – fourth translocation successful

    Source: Tasmania Police

    Issued: 23 Jul 2025

    Open larger image

    Eleven wombats were taken from Epping Forest National Park (Scientific) to Powrunna State Forest.

    An additional 11 northern hairy-nosed wombats have been transported from Epping Forest National Park (Scientific) in Queensland’s central west to Powrunna State Forest in the state’s southwest.

    This translocation project is an integral component of the Queensland Government’s northern hairy-nosed wombat recovery program which aims to establish a third population of the endangered marsupial.

    The project began in May 2024 after extensive preparation of the site at Powrunna and 37 wombats have already successfully been translocated.

    In June 2025, rangers from across Queensland gathered at Epping Forest National Park (Scientific) to carefully trap six females and five males for relocation to their new home.

    Principal Conservation Officer Samantha Ryan said there were now 21 females and 16 males at Powrunna, which had been specifically chosen for the third population of wombats.

    “Monitoring by the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation shows the wombats have embraced their new home with plenty of new burrows,” Ms Ryan said.

    “We have already seen some young-at-foot on trail cameras, and our ultimate goal is to create another self-sustaining population of northern hairy-nosed wombats.

    “Transportation takes around ten hours during the day when the wombats are usually sleeping, and they’re released early in the evening into artificial burrows.

    “Our goal is to translocate up to sixty wombats to Powrunna by 2026, and there is much hope that the population there will grow as it has at Epping.”

    Senior Program Officer David Field had never seen a northern hairy-nosed wombat prior to the translocation, and said it was wonderful to be involved.

    “It was great to be involved in the planning, trapping, relocation and release of this endangered species and it’s an experience I’ll never forget,” Mr Field said.

    “I’ve learnt so much by working alongside experts, and the wombats were in excellent condition and were bigger and softer than you’d expect.”

    Rangers from the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service have used radio trackers and remote cameras to monitor wombats at Powrunna, and site inspections show they have moved on from starter burrows and have dug multiple burrows of their own.

    Northern hairy-nosed wombats previously ranged from New South Wales and into Queensland. In the eighties, the population of wombats at Epping Forest National Park was estimated to be around 35 and is now estimated to be at least 400.

    Richard Underwood Nature Refuge near Wycombe is managed by the Australian Wildlife Conservancy and is home to a small population of northern hairy-nosed wombats.

    The Gunggari Native Title Aboriginal Corporation (GNTAC) and Gunggari Native Title Holders, Glencore, The Wombat Foundation and Australian Wildlife Conservancy have provided ongoing support for this project.

    In Queensland, some national parks are designated as “scientific” and are either fully or partially closed to the public to protect their natural values.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI: Cegedim: Half-year liquidity contract statement

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Half-year liquidity contract statement for CEGEDIM

    Boulogne-Billancourt, July 23, 2025

    Under the liquidity contract entered into between Cegedim and Rothschild Martin Maurel, the following resources appeared on the liquidity account on June 30th 2025:

    • 9,386 shares
    • € 194,884

    Over the period from 1 January 2025 to 30 June 2025, a total of:

      Number of executions Traded volume Amount in €

    of transactions
    Buy 1 168 65,186 774,172.08
    Sell 1 108 74,746 898,359.54

    As a reminder, the following resources appeared on the last half year statement on 31 December 2024 on the liquidity account

    • 18,946 shares
    • € 70,518
      Number of executions Traded volume Amount in €

    of transactions
    Buy 517 25,699 314,682.89
    Sell 493 27,904 346,211.99

    As a reminder, Cegedim terminated the previous liquidity contract with Kepler Cheuvreux on February 28, 2025.

    As of that date, the following resources appeared on the liquidity account :

    • 19,478 shares
    • € 64,287

    As a reminder, Cegedim entrusted Rothschild Martin Maurel with the implementation of a liquidity and market surveillance contract for its ordinary shares, with effect from March 3, 2025. As of that date, the following resources appeared on the liquidity account:

    • 19,478 shares
    • € 64,287

    The implementation of this report is carried out in accordance with AMF Decision N°2021-01 of June 22nd 2021 renewing the implementation of liquidity contracts for shares as an accepted market practice

    CLIENT DATE NB_BUY NB_SELL TRADED_BUY TRADED_SELL AMOUNT_BUY AMOUNT_SELL
    CEGEDIM 02/01/2025 2 7 121 301 1 536.70 3 919.02
    CEGEDIM 03/01/2025 1 2 120 150 1 560.00 1 995.00
    CEGEDIM 07/01/2025 3 2 540 120 6 976.80 1 584.00
    CEGEDIM 08/01/2025 12 – 850 – 10 642.00 –
    CEGEDIM 09/01/2025 3 3 240 241 2 928.00 3 024.55
    CEGEDIM 10/01/2025 1 16 1 960 12.70 12 700.80
    CEGEDIM 13/01/2025 3 – 360 – 4 842.00 –
    CEGEDIM 14/01/2025 17 – 480 – 6 384.00 –
    CEGEDIM 15/01/2025 1 – 120 – 1 560.00 –
    CEGEDIM 16/01/2025 9 – 361 – 4 584.70 –
    CEGEDIM 17/01/2025 5 – 399 – 4 923.66 –
    CEGEDIM 20/01/2025 5 1 499 1 5 973.03 12.30
    CEGEDIM 22/01/2025 9 – 500 – 5 800.00 –
    CEGEDIM 23/01/2025 1 4 1 112 11.55 1 310.40
    CEGEDIM 24/01/2025 3 6 300 224 3 420.00 2 629.76
    CEGEDIM 27/01/2025 2 4 101 201 1 131.20 2 291.40
    CEGEDIM 28/01/2025 – 8 – 400 – 4 600.00
    CEGEDIM 29/01/2025 5 1 200 1 2 300.00 11.70
    CEGEDIM 30/01/2025 2 – 200 – 2 286.00 –
    CEGEDIM 31/01/2025 – 13 – 1 303 – 15 727.21
    SOUS TOTAL CEGEDIM 01/2025 84 67 5 393 4 014 66 872 49 806
    CEGEDIM 03/02/2025 4 – 325 – 3 981.25 –
    CEGEDIM 04/02/2025 8 1 476 1 5 731.04 12.35
    CEGEDIM 05/02/2025 1 3 8 200 94.40 2 440.00
    CEGEDIM 06/02/2025 2 6 101 456 1 212.00 5 586.00
    CEGEDIM 07/02/2025 1 4 1 466 12.05 5 717.82
    CEGEDIM 10/02/2025 2 1 200 85 2 420.00 1 054.00
    CEGEDIM 11/02/2025 3 1 241 1 2 904.05 12.10
    CEGEDIM 12/02/2025 4 2 101 22 1 201.90 264.00
    CEGEDIM 13/02/2025 – 9 – 1 739 – 21 824.45
    CEGEDIM 14/02/2025 3 4 200 240 2 560.00 3 180.00
    CEGEDIM 17/02/2025 – 3 – 360 – 4 849.20
    CEGEDIM 18/02/2025 7 – 480 – 6 384.00 –
    CEGEDIM 19/02/2025 1 6 1 341 13.25 4 586.45
    CEGEDIM 20/02/2025 – 3 – 54 – 731.70
    CEGEDIM 21/02/2025 – 6 – 206 – 2 801.60
    CEGEDIM 24/02/2025 9 – 250 – 3 387.50 –
    CEGEDIM 25/02/2025 1 3 50 150 672.50 2 040.00
    CEGEDIM 26/02/2025 9 – 570 – 7 586.70 –
    CEGEDIM 27/02/2025 3 3 191 121 2 549.85 1 627.45
    CEGEDIM 28/02/2025 8 1 401 1 5 373.40 13.45
    SOUS TOTAL CEGEDIM 02/2025 66 56 3 596 4 443 46 084 56 741
    CEGEDIM 03/03/2025 10 10 76 170 1 016.88 2 269.50
    CEGEDIM 04/03/2025 42 18 1 040 665 13 873.60 8 857.80
    CEGEDIM 05/03/2025 28 28 850 1 792 11 296.50 23 976.96
    CEGEDIM 06/03/2025 15 33 993 2 015 13 296.27 26 940.55
    CEGEDIM 07/03/2025 13 17 496 791 6 636.48 10 559.85
    CEGEDIM 10/03/2025 4 8 50 71 671.00 954.24
    CEGEDIM 11/03/2025 2 12 56 387 749.28 5 189.67
    CEGEDIM 12/03/2025 2 28 7 2 911 94.15 39 007.40
    CEGEDIM 13/03/2025 9 32 907 3 151 12 117.52 42 223.40
    CEGEDIM 14/03/2025 19 3 1 227 158 16 355.91 2 093.50
    CEGEDIM 17/03/2025 22 7 958 1 050 12 607.28 13 765.50
    CEGEDIM 18/03/2025 21 7 741 524 9 788.61 6 817.24
    CEGEDIM 19/03/2025 11 21 616 1 360 7 940.24 17 598.40
    CEGEDIM 20/03/2025 3 12 55 305 706.75 3 946.70
    CEGEDIM 21/03/2025 5 6 46 126 598.00 1 632.96
    CEGEDIM 24/03/2025 13 5 618 1 088 7 891.86 14 035.20
    CEGEDIM 25/03/2025 4 10 111 261 1 431.90 3 379.95
    CEGEDIM 26/03/2025 3 25 107 1 563 1 420.96 20 631.60
    CEGEDIM 27/03/2025 6 10 100 724 1 327.00 9 607.48
    CEGEDIM 28/03/2025 31 4 1 900 155 24 928.00 2 022.75
    CEGEDIM 31/03/2025 21 3 1 710 1 055 20 708.10 12 565.05
    SOUS TOTAL CEGEDIM 03/2025 284 299 12 664 20 322 165 456.29 268 075.70
    CEGEDIM 01/04/2025 14 15 325 1 645 3 984.50 19 740.00
    CEGEDIM 02/04/2025 16 1 550 50 6 759.50 617.50
    CEGEDIM 03/04/2025 18 3 1 125 295 13 331.25 3 472.15
    CEGEDIM 04/04/2025 18 22 1 743 721 19 556.46 7 894.95
    CEGEDIM 07/04/2025 14 9 1 161 513 12 318.21 5 381.37
    CEGEDIM 08/04/2025 9 5 131 325 1 429.21 3 539.25
    CEGEDIM 09/04/2025 9 8 228 265 2 419.08 2 851.40
    CEGEDIM 10/04/2025 4 15 331 800 3 614.52 8 808.00
    CEGEDIM 11/04/2025 15 26 1 007 942 11 278.40 10 625.76
    CEGEDIM 14/04/2025 0 43 0 1 690 0 19 249.10
    CEGEDIM 15/04/2025 5 12 162 704 1 888.92 8 272.00
    CEGEDIM 16/04/2025 15 7 541 224 6 243.14 2 602.88
    CEGEDIM 17/04/2025 16 9 1 400 1 100 15 736.00 12 375.00
    CEGEDIM 22/04/2025 9 3 241 150 2 718.48 1 696.50
    CEGEDIM 23/04/2025 14 4 859 1 500 9 809.78 17 295.00
    CEGEDIM 24/04/2025 11 27 340 1 540 3 882.80 17 556.00
    CEGEDIM 25/04/2025 9 8 750 225 8 992.50 2 697.75
    CEGEDIM 28/04/2025 9 18 225 1 044 2 785.50 12 809.88
    CEGEDIM 29/04/2025 7 46 195 2 111 2 386.80 25 859.75
    CEGEDIM 30/04/2025 20 5 1 110 150 13 342.20 1 831.50
    SOUS TOTAL CEGEDIM 04/2025 232 286 12 424 15 994 142 477.25 185 175.74
    CEGEDIM 02/05/2025 23 12 1 071 750 12 862.71 9 090.00
    CEGEDIM 05/05/2025 31 6 1 979 300 23 332.41 3 600.00
    CEGEDIM 06/05/2025 12 13 1 000 1 000 11 680.00 11 820.00
    CEGEDIM 07/05/2025 6 20 300 1 918 3 585.00 22 881.74
    CEGEDIM 08/05/2025 13 13 684 816 8 084.88 9 620.64
    CEGEDIM 09/05/2025 19 18 750 1 250 8 797.50 14 700.00
    CEGEDIM 12/05/2025 18 11 1 400 1 400 16 408.00 16 772.00
    CEGEDIM 13/05/2025 11 14 1 289 1 039 15 068.41 11 958.89
    CEGEDIM 14/05/2025 11 8 1 350 1 000 15 916.50 11 820.00
    CEGEDIM 15/05/2025 11 4 1 900 500 22 173.00 5 785.00
    CEGEDIM 16/05/2025 17 2 1 000 500 11 630.00 5 810.00
    CEGEDIM 19/05/2025 5 14 732 995 8 527.80 11 581.80
    CEGEDIM 20/05/2025 15 9 734 471 8 514.40 5 482.44
    CEGEDIM 21/05/2025 5 23 190 1 040 2 215.40 12 074.40
    CEGEDIM 22/05/2025 5 6 132 82 1 527.24 947.10
    CEGEDIM 23/05/2025 21 11 1 213 1 008 13 816.07 11 491.20
    CEGEDIM 26/05/2025 7 13 186 700 2 139.00 8 113.00
    CEGEDIM 27/05/2025 9 9 408 204 4 728.72 2 366.40
    CEGEDIM 28/05/2025 30 5 1 290 160 14 783.40 1 835.20
    CEGEDIM 29/05/2025 14 5 792 157 9 068.40 1 802.36
    CEGEDIM 30/05/2025 9 15 340 600 3 896.40 6 876.00
    SOUS TOTAL CEGEDIM 05/2025 292 231 18 740 15 890 218 755.24 186 428.17
    CEGEDIM 02/06/2025 49 11 2 312 1 412 25 686.32 15 475.52
    CEGEDIM 03/06/2025 24 13 975 376 10 929.75 4 196.16
    CEGEDIM 04/06/2025 10 8 601 200 6 731.20 2 250.00
    CEGEDIM 05/06/2025 17 3 1 900 500 20 919.00 5 515.00
    CEGEDIM 06/06/2025 18 19 750 2 775 8 175.00 30 358.50
    CEGEDIM 09/06/2025 7 14 650 965 7 072.00 10 518.50
    CEGEDIM 10/06/2025 4 8 340 900 3 665.20 9 738.00
    CEGEDIM 11/06/2025 8 6 476 375 5 107.48 4 050.00
    CEGEDIM 12/06/2025 5 3 242 264 2 601.50 2 838.00
    CEGEDIM 13/06/2025 8 4 421 77 4 479.44 821.59
    CEGEDIM 16/06/2025 9 8 438 936 4 603.38 9 828.00
    CEGEDIM 17/06/2025 5 25 275 1 700 2 920.50 18 156.00
    CEGEDIM 18/06/2025 7 6 628 228 6 650.52 2 428.20
    CEGEDIM 19/06/2025 2 15 100 1 200 1 060.00 12 816.00
    CEGEDIM 20/06/2025 2 2 31 50 331.70 536.00
    CEGEDIM 23/06/2025 6 0 429 0 4 568.85 0
    CEGEDIM 24/06/2025 4 4 380 710 4 077.40 7 746.10
    CEGEDIM 25/06/2025 10 1 402 125 4 277.28 1 343.75
    CEGEDIM 26/06/2025 4 13 383 790 4 032.99 8 302.90
    CEGEDIM 27/06/2025 4 6 250 500 2 600.00 5 215.00
    CEGEDIM 30/06/2025 7 0 386 0 4 037.56 0
    SOUS TOTAL CEGEDIM 06/2025 210 169 12 369 14 083 134 527.07 152 133.22
    TOTAL GENERAL CEGEDIM S1/2025 1 168 1 108 65 186 74 746 774 172.08 898 359.54

    About Cegedim:
    Founded in 1969, Cegedim is an innovative technology and services company in the field of digital data flow management for healthcare ecosystems and B2B, and a business software publisher for healthcare and insurance professionals. Cegedim employs nearly
    6,700 people in more than 10 countries and generated revenue of over €654 million in 2024.
    Cegedim SA is listed in Paris (EURONEXT: CGM).
    To learn more please visit: www.cegedim.fr
    And follow Cegedim on X @CegedimGroup, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

    Aude Balleydier
    Cegedim
    Media Relations
    and Communications Manager

    Tel.: +33 (0)1 49 09 68 81
    aude.balleydier@cegedim.fr

    		 Damien Buffet
    Cegedim
    Head of Financial
    Communication

    Tel.: +33 (0)7 64 63 55 73
    damien.buffet@cegedim.com

    		 Céline Pardo
    Becoming RP Agency
    Media Relations Consultant

    Tel.:        +33 (0)6 52 08 13 66
    cegedim@becoming-group.com

    		  

    ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Compagnie de Financement Foncier : Results of Compagnie de Financement Foncier for the first half of 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Press release for effective and full distribution

    Paris, July 23, 2025

    Compagnie de Financement Foncier’s results for the 1sthalf of 2025

    On July 23, 2025, Compagnie de Financement Foncier’s Board of Directors, chaired by Éric FILLIAT, met to approve the interim financial statements for 2025.

    ***

    I. COMPAGNIE DE FINANCEMENT FONCIER’S BUSINESS ACTIVITY

    In a still uncertain market context, Compagnie de Financement Foncier recorded good performance during the 1st half of 2025 thanks to its secure model, investor confidence and the renewed interest from Groupe BPCE institutions for its competitive refinancing offer.

    • Issuance of covered bonds

    During the 1st half of 2025, Compagnie de Financement Foncier issued €2.8bn in covered bonds, of which €2.5bn in euro benchmark format.

    • In February, Compagnie de Financement Foncier completed a first “dual-tranche” issuance of €1.25bn. The €750m and €500m tranches were issued with maturities of five and ten years respectively. The strong rate of oversubscription and the diversified allocation in terms of geographic area and investor type confirmed the success of this operation.
    • In May, Compagnie de Financement Foncier carried out a second “dual-tranche” issuance of €1.25bn, with the tranches of €500m and €750m carrying maturities of four and nine years respectively. Total demand with very high oversubscription reached €4.1bn.

    Compagnie de Financement Foncier also continued its currency diversification by issuing two tranches in CHF, each for an equivalent of €106.5m, with maturities of five and nine years.

    Compagnie de Financement Foncier also responded to the specific needs of investors through private placements, which are a key component of its issuance strategy, thus demonstrating its ability to offer bespoke solutions.

    • Refinancing of Groupe BPCE receivables

    During the 1st half of 2025, in the context of high competition in the local authorities market, Compagnie de Financement Foncier refinanced a total of €400m in receivables for Groupe BPCE institutions. The majority of this related to primary refinancing operations won by Groupe BPCE institutions.

    II. COMPAGNIE DE FINANCEMENT FONCIER’S INCOME STATEMENT

    In millions of euros (i) 1sthalf 2025 1sthalf 2024
    Net interest margin 60 75
    Net commissions 4 4
    Other bank operating charges (net) -1 -1
    Net banking income 63 78
    General operating expenses -29 -27
    Gross operating income 34 51
    Cost of risk -1 1
    Gains or losses on long-term investments 1 0
    Income before tax 34 52
    Income tax -12 -13
    Net income 22 39

    Net banking income amounted to €63m, down €15m compared to the 1st half of 2024.

    General operating expenses, at €29m, remained under control, and took into account the billing of services carried out by Crédit Foncier, as well as fees and sub-contracting expenses which were contained.

    Gross operating income amounted to €34m.

    The cost of risk represented a net allocation of €1m under the effect of a net individual risk allocation of €0.5m.

    The overall tax expense amounted to €12m, impacted by the income tax surcharge resulting from the French Finance Act for 2025.

    Net income was €22m at June 30, 2025, compared to €39m at June 30, 2024.

    III. BALANCE SHEET INFORMATION

    Compagnie de Financement Foncier’s total balance sheet amounted to €59.1bn at June 30, 2025, compared to €61.0bn at December 31, 2024.

    Assets refinanced by Compagnie de Financement Foncier for the Group’s institutions during the 1st half of 2025 mainly concerned the public sector, with a slight increase in their proportion on Compagnie de Financement Foncier’s balance sheet.

    At June 30, 2025, the covered bonds outstanding totaled €51.7bn, including related debts, up slightly compared to December 31, 2024 (€51.5bn).

    IV. PRUDENTIAL INFORMATION

    Although exempt from regulatory requirements with regard to solvency ratios, Compagnie de Financement Foncier calculates a Common Equity Tier One (CET 1) ratio, for its scope and for indicative purposes. At June 30, 2025, this ratio remained well above the thresholds provided for by Regulation 575/2013 (CRR).

    In accordance with the legislation applicable to Sociétés de Crédit Foncier, Compagnie de Financement Foncier maintains a coverage ratio for its privileged liabilities of more than 105%.

    Appendices

    ***

    Unless otherwise stated, the financial data in this press release are estimated as of today’s date and based on the Compagnie de Financement Foncier financial statements. The latter include the individual financial statements and related explanatory notes, prepared in accordance with applicable French accounting standards and Groupe BPCE standards.

    At the date of publication of this press release, the audit procedures carried out by the Statutory Auditors on the interim financial statements are ongoing.

    A wholly-owned subsidiary of Crédit Foncier and Groupe BPCE, and an affiliate of BPCE, Compagnie de Financement Foncier is an authorized specialist credit institution and a Société de Crédit Foncier.

    Regulated information can be found on the website: https://foncier.fr/en/, under “Financial communication/Regulated information”.

    Contact: Investor Relations

    Email: ir@foncier.fr
    Tel.: +33 (0) 1 58 73 55 10

                     

    (i) The rounding of certain amounts expressed in millions of euros in this press release may lead to differences compared with the amounts in euros.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: As New York Police Departments Face Staffing Shortages, Gillibrand Announces Legislation To Keep New Yorkers And Law Enforcement Families Safe

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Kirsten Gillibrand
    Bill would establish a pilot program to provide child care services for police officers
    Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand held a virtual press conference to call for the passage of the Providing Child Care for Police Officers Act. This bipartisan bill would provide $24 million in federal funding for each of the next 5 fiscal years to establish a pilot program to provide child care for law enforcement families. Providing child care options for officers could help enhance recruitment, allow families to plan around abnormal work hours, and increase public safety by reducing barriers to a career in law enforcement. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) cosponsors this bill in the Senate and Representative Scott Peters (D-CA-50) leads companion legislation in the House of Representatives.
    “Police officers play a vital role in keeping communities safe, and officers should not have to choose between taking care of their children and staying in the police force,” said Senator Gillibrand. “This bill would help give aspiring police officers safe, viable child care options while also providing stability to current officers struggling to find care for their kids that works with their nontraditional work schedules. Expanding child care is a win-win for officers and communities, and I’m committed to working across the aisle to get this bill passed.”
    The Providing Child Care for Police Officers Act would authorize $24 million in funding for each of the next 5 fiscal years and allows for grants of up to $3 million to individual law enforcement agencies or consortia to establish child care programs for their police personnel. In addition, to ensure parents employed by smaller police departments receive support, 20% of the total grant funding will be set aside for law enforcement agencies employing fewer than 200 officers.
    Police officers often work extended hours on a nontraditional schedule. In a recent survey, more than 70% of law enforcement agencies reported that recruitment is more difficult now than five years ago, and at one major metropolitan police department, more than half of officers reported having to leave or miss work due to child care issues. This issue disproportionately impacts women, who make up less than 14% of sworn officers and 4% of police chiefs. Senator Gillibrand’s bill would help increase public safety by reducing barriers to a career in law enforcement and by ensuring the best talent is recruited into our police departments.
    This legislation is supported by the following organizations: 30×30, Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA), International Union of Police Associations (IUPA), National Asian Peace Officers Association (NAPOA), National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO), National Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), NYPD Sergeants Benevolent Association (SBA), International Association of Chiefs of Police, Central New York Association of Chiefs of Police, New York State Association of Chief of Police, AFSCME, and Third Way.
    The full text of the bill can be found here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • New National Cooperative Policy to be unveiled soon: Amit Shah

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Government is set to unveil the New National Cooperative Policy (NCP), aimed at realising the vision of “Sahakar se Samriddhi,” the core mandate of the Ministry of Cooperation. In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah said that the policy seeks to unlock the full potential of the cooperative sector by providing a comprehensive framework for its growth and development.

    To formulate the new policy, a national-level committee was constituted on 2nd September 2022 under the chairmanship of Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu. The committee comprises experts from the cooperative sector, representatives from various levels of cooperative societies, Secretaries and Registrars of Cooperative Societies from States and Union Territories, and officials from central ministries and departments.

    Over the course of its work, the committee held 17 meetings and organised four regional workshops to gather feedback and suggestions from stakeholders across the country. These inputs have been carefully integrated into the draft policy, which is now ready and will be made public shortly.

    Highlighting the Government’s efforts to strengthen the cooperative movement, the Minister informed the House that a comprehensive plan has been approved to expand the reach of cooperatives to the grassroots level. The plan aims to establish two lakh new multipurpose Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (M-PACS), along with dairy and fishery cooperatives, in every panchayat and village across India over the next five years. This will be achieved through convergence of various Government of India schemes such as the Dairy Infrastructure Development Fund (DIDF), National Programme for Dairy Development (NPDD), and the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), with active support from NABARD, NDDB, NFDB, and State Governments.

    As part of this initiative, Margdarshika-a guidebook detailing the roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders- was released on 19th September 2024. According to the National Cooperative Database, a total of 21 new PACS have been registered in Haryana as of 30th June 2025.

    However, no new PACS were established in the state during the first quarter of the current financial year, from 1st April to 30th June 2025, as per the latest data available on the National Cooperative Database Portal.

     

  • MIL-OSI Security: Career Offender Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking

    Source: US FBI

    PROVIDENCE – The leader of a large-scale drug trafficking conspiracy who began trafficking kilogram quantities of powder cocaine and various quantities of crack cocaine and fentanyl within three months of completing a term of incarceration in state prison for drug trafficking was sentenced today to fourteen years in federal prison, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.

    William Mendez, 51, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy to a term of incarceration of 168 months to be followed by five years of supervised release. In October 2024, Mendez pled guilty to charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine and conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. His conduct included distributing cocaine base, powder cocaine and approximately 769.5 grams of fentanyl to a government agent.

    In September 2021, Mendez and more than a dozen other individuals were charged in federal court with having had a role in a drug trafficking conspiracy that he led. Like Mendez, many of the defendants had previously been convicted of violent crime offenses such as firearm, robbery, assault, assault with intent to commit murder, and domestic violence charges.

    Court records reflect that prior to his arrest in this matter in September 2021, William Mendez had served a total of twenty-two plus years in prison related to three separate serious felony drug convictions and two separate violent felony assault convictions; when arrested he was serving a term of state probation, having been released from Rhode Island state prison less than three months prior after completing a term of incarceration of nearly seven years.

    The FBI Safe Street Task Force, DEA, and Providence Police Narcotics Bureau joint investigation targeted all levels of drug dealing in several communities.

    Federal court records reflect the following:

    • Ramon Barriera, 53, Providence, pled guilty on October 23, 2024, to a charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and was sentenced on June 18, 2025, to 70 months of incarceration and four years of supervised release.
    • Rafael Cruz, 75, of Providence, pled guilty on January 3, 2024, to a charge of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and was sentenced on May 29, 2024, to time served and three years of supervised release.
    • Nelson Hazin, 57, of Providence, pled guilty on October 30, 2024, to a charge of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and was sentenced on April 14, 2025, to time served and three years of supervised release.
    • Ricardo Martinez, Jr., 37, of Providence, pled guilty on October 16, 2024, to a charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and was sentenced on June 6, 2025, to 78 months of incarceration to be followed by five years of supervised release.
    • Jonathan Masa-Gonzalez, 24, of Providence, pled guilty on June 5, 2024, to a charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and was sentenced on March 18, 2025, to 60 months of incarceration to be followed by four years of supervised release.
    • Juan Betancourt Sosa, 29, of New Bedford, pled guilty on October 16, 2024, to a charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and was sentenced on April 14, 2025, to70 months of incarceration to be followed by four years of supervised release.
    • Victor Yandel Aponte-Cirano, 25, of Taunton, pled guilty on September 6, 2023, to a charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and was sentenced on January 22, 2024, to time served and three years of supervised release.
    • Keven Restrepo, 33, of Providence pled guilty on December 12, 2022, to a charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and was sentenced on April 27, 2023, to 77 months of incarceration to be followed by four years of supervised release.
    • Juan Gonzalez, 47, of Providence, pled guilty on January 25, 2024, to a charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and was sentenced on July 16, 2024, to 72 months of incarceration to be followed by four years of supervised release.
    • Charles Sims, 60, of Providence, pled guilty on November 20, 2023, to a charge of  conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and was sentenced on September 25, 2024, to time served and three years of supervised release.
    • Anthony Lacoste, 33, Woonsocket, pled guilty on October 29, 2024, to a charge conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 22, 2025.
    • Karla Rivera-Rosa, 34, of Taunton, pled guilty on October 29, 2024, to a charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and is awaiting sentencing on a date yet to be set by the court.
    • Felix Robles, 63, of Providence, is awaiting trial on a charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine.

    Law enforcement agents seized approximately $78,000 in drug proceeds from Mendez at the time of his arrest.

    The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey A. Erickson and Taylor A. Dean, with the assistance of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine D. Lowell and Sandra R. Hebert.

    Acting United Sates Attorney Blooms thanks the FBI, DEA, and Providence Police Department for leading this investigation; the United States Postal Inspection Service for their invaluable assistance throughout the investigation; and the United States Marshals Service, Rhode Island State Police, Cranston, Central Falls, Fall River, North Smithfield, Pawtucket, Portsmouth, Warwick, West Warwick, and Woonsocket Police Departments for their assistance with the arrests of the defendants and the execution of search warrants.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Career Offender Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking

    Source: US FBI

    PROVIDENCE – The leader of a large-scale drug trafficking conspiracy who began trafficking kilogram quantities of powder cocaine and various quantities of crack cocaine and fentanyl within three months of completing a term of incarceration in state prison for drug trafficking was sentenced today to fourteen years in federal prison, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.

    William Mendez, 51, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy to a term of incarceration of 168 months to be followed by five years of supervised release. In October 2024, Mendez pled guilty to charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine and conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. His conduct included distributing cocaine base, powder cocaine and approximately 769.5 grams of fentanyl to a government agent.

    In September 2021, Mendez and more than a dozen other individuals were charged in federal court with having had a role in a drug trafficking conspiracy that he led. Like Mendez, many of the defendants had previously been convicted of violent crime offenses such as firearm, robbery, assault, assault with intent to commit murder, and domestic violence charges.

    Court records reflect that prior to his arrest in this matter in September 2021, William Mendez had served a total of twenty-two plus years in prison related to three separate serious felony drug convictions and two separate violent felony assault convictions; when arrested he was serving a term of state probation, having been released from Rhode Island state prison less than three months prior after completing a term of incarceration of nearly seven years.

    The FBI Safe Street Task Force, DEA, and Providence Police Narcotics Bureau joint investigation targeted all levels of drug dealing in several communities.

    Federal court records reflect the following:

    • Ramon Barriera, 53, Providence, pled guilty on October 23, 2024, to a charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and was sentenced on June 18, 2025, to 70 months of incarceration and four years of supervised release.
    • Rafael Cruz, 75, of Providence, pled guilty on January 3, 2024, to a charge of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and was sentenced on May 29, 2024, to time served and three years of supervised release.
    • Nelson Hazin, 57, of Providence, pled guilty on October 30, 2024, to a charge of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and was sentenced on April 14, 2025, to time served and three years of supervised release.
    • Ricardo Martinez, Jr., 37, of Providence, pled guilty on October 16, 2024, to a charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and was sentenced on June 6, 2025, to 78 months of incarceration to be followed by five years of supervised release.
    • Jonathan Masa-Gonzalez, 24, of Providence, pled guilty on June 5, 2024, to a charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and was sentenced on March 18, 2025, to 60 months of incarceration to be followed by four years of supervised release.
    • Juan Betancourt Sosa, 29, of New Bedford, pled guilty on October 16, 2024, to a charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and was sentenced on April 14, 2025, to70 months of incarceration to be followed by four years of supervised release.
    • Victor Yandel Aponte-Cirano, 25, of Taunton, pled guilty on September 6, 2023, to a charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and was sentenced on January 22, 2024, to time served and three years of supervised release.
    • Keven Restrepo, 33, of Providence pled guilty on December 12, 2022, to a charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and was sentenced on April 27, 2023, to 77 months of incarceration to be followed by four years of supervised release.
    • Juan Gonzalez, 47, of Providence, pled guilty on January 25, 2024, to a charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and was sentenced on July 16, 2024, to 72 months of incarceration to be followed by four years of supervised release.
    • Charles Sims, 60, of Providence, pled guilty on November 20, 2023, to a charge of  conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and was sentenced on September 25, 2024, to time served and three years of supervised release.
    • Anthony Lacoste, 33, Woonsocket, pled guilty on October 29, 2024, to a charge conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 22, 2025.
    • Karla Rivera-Rosa, 34, of Taunton, pled guilty on October 29, 2024, to a charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and is awaiting sentencing on a date yet to be set by the court.
    • Felix Robles, 63, of Providence, is awaiting trial on a charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine.

    Law enforcement agents seized approximately $78,000 in drug proceeds from Mendez at the time of his arrest.

    The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey A. Erickson and Taylor A. Dean, with the assistance of Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine D. Lowell and Sandra R. Hebert.

    Acting United Sates Attorney Blooms thanks the FBI, DEA, and Providence Police Department for leading this investigation; the United States Postal Inspection Service for their invaluable assistance throughout the investigation; and the United States Marshals Service, Rhode Island State Police, Cranston, Central Falls, Fall River, North Smithfield, Pawtucket, Portsmouth, Warwick, West Warwick, and Woonsocket Police Departments for their assistance with the arrests of the defendants and the execution of search warrants.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –