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Category: Universities

  • MIL-Evening Report: AI systems are built on English – but not the kind most of the world speaks

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Celeste Rodriguez Louro, Associate professor, Chair of Linguistics and Director of Language Lab, The University of Western Australia

    Reihaneh Golpayegani / Better Images of AI, CC BY

    An estimated 90% of the training data for current generative AI systems stems from English. However, English is an international lingua franca with about 1.5 billion speakers worldwide, and countless varieties.

    So whose English is today’s technology based on? The answer is primarily the English of mainstream America.

    This is no accident. Mainstream American English is entrenched in the digital infrastructure of the internet, in Silicon Valley’s corporate priorities, and in the data sets that fuel everything from autocorrect to AI-generated synthetic text.

    The consequence? AI models produce a monolithic version of English that erases variation, excludes minoritised and regional voices, and reinforces unequal power dynamics.

    The hegemony of mainstream American English

    The proliferation of American English online is a result of historical, economic and technological factors. The United States has been a dominant force in the development of the internet, content creation, and the rise of tech giants such as Google, Meta, Microsoft and OpenAI.

    Unsurprisingly, the linguistic norms embedded in products by these companies are overwhelmingly mainstream American.

    A recent study found that speakers of non-mainstream English were frustrated with the “homogeneity of AI accents” in voice-cloning and speech-generation technologies. One participant noted the predominant mainstream American accents in the voices available, stating the technologies had been built “with some other people in mind”.

    Mainstream varieties of English have long reigned as the “standard” against which other varieties are weighed.

    To take a single example from the US, linguistics research by John Baugh found that using different accents can determine people’s access to goods and services. When Baugh called different landlords about housing advertised in the local newspaper, using a mainstream accent procured him several housing inspections while using African-American and Latino accents did not.

    The prestige of mainstream English also underpins algorithmic decisions. The models behind tools such as autocorrect, voice-to-text, or even AI writing assistants are most often trained on mainstream American-centric data. This is often scraped from the web, where US-based media, forums and platforms dominate.

    This means variations in grammar, syntax and vocabulary from other varieties of English are systematically ignored, misinterpreted or outright “corrected”.

    Whose English is perceived as adding value?

    The stakes of this linguistic bias in favour of mainstream English become even higher when AI systems are deployed around the world.

    If an AI tutor fails to understand a Nigerian English construction, who bears the cost? If a job application written in Indian English is marked down by an AI-powered resume scanner, what are the consequences? If an Australian First Nations elder’s oral history is transcribed by voice recognition software and the system fails to capture culturally significant terms, what knowledge is lost or misrepresented?

    These questions are unfolding in real time as governments, educational institutions and corporations adopt AI technologies at scale.

    Englishes, not English

    The idea that there is one “good” or “correct” English is a myth. English is spoken in diverse forms across regions, shaped by local societies, cultures, histories and identities.

    As Noongar writer and educator Glenys Collard and I have written, Aboriginal English has “its own structure, rules and the same potential as any other linguistic variety” and the same is true of other forms of English.

    Indian English, for example, has lexical innovations such as “prepone” (the opposite of postpone). Singapore English (Singlish) integrates particles and syntactic features from Malay, Hokkien and Tamil.

    These are not “broken” forms of English. Each community where English was imposed has gone on to make English its own.

    English, and language more generally, is never static. It adapts to meet the needs of an ever-changing society and its speakers.

    Yet in AI development, this linguistic diversity is often treated as noise rather than signal. Non-standardised varieties are underrepresented in training datasets, excluded from annotation schemes, and rarely feature in evaluation benchmarks.

    This results in an AI ecosystem that is multilingual in theory, but monolingual in practice.

    Toward linguistic justice in AI

    So, what would it look like to build AI systems that recognise and respect a range of different forms of English?

    A shift in mindset is required, from prescribing “correct” language to including many varieties of language. What we need are systems that accommodate linguistic variation.

    This may involve supporting community-led efforts to document and digitise linguistic varieties on their own terms, bearing in mind not all linguistic varieties should be digitised or documented.

    Collaboration across disciplines is also important. It requires linguists, technologists, educators and community leaders working together to ensure AI development is grounded in principles of linguistic justice.

    The goal is not to “fix” language but to create technology that produces just outcomes. The focus should be on changing the technology, not the speaker.

    Embracing Englishes

    English has been a powerful vehicle of empire, but it has also been a tool of resistance, creativity and solidarity. Around the world, speakers have taken the language and made it their own. AI-enabled systems should be built to be as inclusive of this variability as possible.

    So next time your phone tells you to “correct” your spelling, or an AI chatbot misunderstands your phrasing, ask yourself: whose English is it trying to model? And whose English is being left out?

    Celeste Rodriguez Louro has received funding from the Australian Research Council. She is also working with Google on a project seeking to make voice-operated technologies inclusive for First Nations people in Australia.

    – ref. AI systems are built on English – but not the kind most of the world speaks – https://theconversation.com/ai-systems-are-built-on-english-but-not-the-kind-most-of-the-world-speaks-249710

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI: Fold Holdings Appoints Matthew McManus as Chief Operating Officer

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PHOENIX, May 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Fold Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: FLD) (“Fold” or the “Company”), the first publicly traded bitcoin financial services company, announces the appointment of Matthew McManus as Chief Operating Officer, effective April 21, 2025.

    In his new role, Mr. McManus will spearhead Fold’s operational strategy, partnering closely with senior leadership to accelerate growth, optimize performance, and solidify the Company’s leadership position at the forefront of the bitcoin financial revolution.

    Matthew brings extensive experience to Fold, having previously served as Chief Product Officer at Unchained Capital, Inc., where he led product strategy, development, and execution. Prior to his tenure at Unchained Capital, Mr. McManus held key roles helping globally recognized brands including Twitter, Capital One, PBS & PBS KIDS, National Geographic, and Marriott. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Information Science, Systems, and Technology from Cornell University’s College of Engineering. His technical foundation, deep domain expertise and proven experience scaling high-performing teams, aligns strongly with Fold’s strategic vision for 2025 and beyond.

    “We are excited to welcome Matthew to Fold as our new Chief Operating Officer,” said Will Reeves, CEO of Fold. “He brings exactly the kind of leadership Fold needs. His experience driving operational excellence and innovation within fintech will be instrumental as we continue to expand our footprint and empower consumers through accessible bitcoin solutions.”

    For more information about Fold and its innovative bitcoin financial services, please visit FoldApp.com.

    About Fold
    Fold (NASDAQ: FLD) is the first publicly traded bitcoin financial services company, making it easy for individuals and businesses to earn, save, and use bitcoin. With over 1,485 BTC in its treasury, Fold is at the forefront of integrating bitcoin into everyday financial experiences. Through innovative products like the Fold App and Fold Card, the company is building the bridge between traditional finance and the bitcoin-powered future.

    For investor inquiries, please contact:
    Orange Group
    Samir Jain, CFA
    FoldIR@orangegroupadvisors.com

    For media inquiries, please contact:
    Elev8 New Media
    Jessica Starman, MBA
    media@foldapp.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: We’ve heard the promises. Now it’s up to Labor to deliver its housing, wages and other economic policies

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Cull, Associate Professor of Accounting and Financial Planning, Western Sydney University

    With a convincing win for a second term of government, the pressure is now on the new Labor government to deliver the economic policies central to its win.

    Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is wary of breaking promises and now has the opportunity to back this up. So, what are the key economic policies affecting everyday Australians that Labor is now set to deliver?

    In his victory speech, Albanese said Labor would govern for every Australian “who deserves the security of a roof over their head or dreams of owning their own home”.

    First home buyers

    Labor has budgeted A$10 billion to help more Australians buy their first home. This involves providing an extra 100,000 new homes. The government plans to work with the states from July to identify where they should be located.

    Building these homes is expected to take eight years – so the scheme will not be completed during the government’s second term. It will need to work quickly to ensure many of these homes are built while Labor is still in office.

    Helping this is Labor’s policy to increase subsidies to housing apprentices and free TAFE education.

    Also assisting first home buyers is the expansion of the 5% deposit Home Guarantee Scheme. This will allow more first home buyers to buy a home with only a 5% deposit without paying Lenders Mortgage Insurance.

    The expansion will remove income thresholds and increase eligible property price caps to better reflect the market. Further, more people will be able to apply for the scheme.

    The government plans to extend existing and introduce several new policies to help more people buy a home.
    Fizkes/Shutterstock

    In addition, the government is expanding its Help to Buy Scheme by increasing income and property price caps. This enables those on lower incomes to buy a home with a deposit as small as 2%. The government will pay for up to 40% of the cost on their behalf which will ultimately be paid back over time or when the house is sold.

    Both the Help to Buy Scheme and Home Guarantee Scheme are extensions of Labor’s existing policies, so the government should be able to deliver this relatively quickly.

    Increasing supply for all

    Labor’s housing policies are not limited to first home buyers. To further increase housing supply, Labor plans to invest $54 million to speed up the construction of prefabricated and modular homes covered by a new national certification system.

    In addition, a $1.5 billion infrastructure program to speed up the building of roads, sewage and water connections should also help increase supply.

    Labor is on track to build 55,000 social and affordable homes through the Housing Australia Future Fund and the Social Housing Accelerator. Labor is also offering Build to Rent tax incentives to increase affordable housing rental supply by up to 80,000 new rental properties.

    The government has also promised to work with states and territories to strengthen renters’ rights.

    Crisis housing

    Labor has also made promises for those needing crisis housing.

    For women and children fleeing family and domestic violence and for people experiencing homelessness, there is a $1 billion program to provide more crisis and transitional accommodation. There is also $6.2 million of grants for homelessness support.

    Workers’ pay rise

    Labor has advocated to the Fair Work Commission for a wage increase above inflation for workers in low-paid jobs, such as cleaners, retail workers and early childhood educators.

    With inflation currently at 2.4%, we can expect the minimum wage to rise to at least $24.68 an hour. The Fair Work Commission’s next Annual Wage Review should take place before the end of the financial year, with any changes likely to be effective from July.

    Labor has backed an above-inflation wage increase for workers in low paid industries.
    Dejan Dunjerski/Shutterstock

    These wage increases are in addition to the substantial pay increase for aged care nurses as part of the Fair Work Commission’s Aged Care Work Value Case decision.

    Tax cuts

    The much-discussed tax cuts, costing $17 billion, will reduce the 16% tax rate to 15% (for income between $18,201 and $45,000) in the 2026–27 financial year, and to 14% in 2027–28 – just in time for the next election.

    This will save taxpayers $268 and $536, respectively. These tax cuts will be welcomed by many and are likely to increase the labour participation rate. However, more tax reform may be needed to address bracket creep and improve equity in the tax system.

    In addition, Labor has promised an automatic instant tax deduction for work-related expenses for labour income taxpayers.

    This will take effect from the 2026–27 financial year to reduce the burden of record-keeping on taxpayers. It was also promoted as a way of “helping Australians keep more of what they earn”.

    Medicare levy

    While low wages are expected to increase and taxes to decrease, Labor also has plans to increase the low-income thresholds for the Medicare levy by 4.7% for singles, families, and seniors and pensioners from July 1 2024.

    This should bring immediate relief to those on lower incomes who will be exempt from paying the Medicare levy or pay a reduced levy when lodging their returns for the 2024–25 financial year.

    So, what’s next?

    Many of these policy announcements are a step in the right direction – the question lies around their ability to be implemented.

    Albanese admitted in his victory speech that he is an optimist and his aim is to ensure nobody is left behind.

    Once the election hype settles, Labor will need to prove it is delivering on its promises. And, of course, these policies will ultimately have to be paid for. How Labor approaches this in the longer term will become a talking point for the next election.

    Michelle Cull is a member of CPA Australia, the Financial Advice Association Australia and President Elect of the Academy of Financial Services in the United States. Michelle is an academic member of UniSuper’s Consultative Committee. Michelle Cull co-founded the Western Sydney University Tax Clinic which has received funding from the Australian Taxation Office as part of the National Tax Clinic Program. Michelle has previously volunteered as Chair of the Macarthur Advisory Council for the Salvation Army Australia.

    – ref. We’ve heard the promises. Now it’s up to Labor to deliver its housing, wages and other economic policies – https://theconversation.com/weve-heard-the-promises-now-its-up-to-labor-to-deliver-its-housing-wages-and-other-economic-policies-255865

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: What are the key risk factors for developing knee osteoarthritis? We reviewed the evidence

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Christina Abdel Shaheed, Associate Professor, School of Public Health, University of Sydney

    Osteoarthritis is the most common joint disease, affecting more than 3 million Australians and over 500 million people worldwide.

    The knee is the most commonly affected joint, but osteoarthritis can also affect other joints including the hips and hands. The condition causes painful and stiff joints.

    For someone with knee osteoarthritis, simple activities that many people take for granted such as walking, going up and down stairs or squatting can be very challenging.

    There’s currently no cure for osteoarthritis. Most available treatments, such as exercise, walking aids and medicines (including paracetamol and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), focus on managing symptoms. But it’s important to consider how we can prevent knee osteoarthritis in the first place.

    With this in mind, we undertook a systematic review to summarise the risk factors for developing knee osteoarthritis. Our findings, published today in the journal Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, can help us better understand how to lower the risk of this condition.

    What we found

    We gathered data from studies which followed people over time, to see which risk factors were associated with developing knee osteoarthritis. We included a total of 131 studies, involving more than 5 million people.

    We identified more than 150 factors that influenced the risk of developing knee osteoarthritis.

    Some key factors which increased the risk of developing knee osteoarthritis included being overweight or obese, past knee injury and occupational physical activity such as lifting heavy objects and shift work.

    We also found several other possible risk factors, including:

    • eating large amounts of ultra-processed foods (which include “junk foods”, sugary drinks and processed meats)

    • poor sleep quality (for example, sleeping less than six hours a day or having 1–2 restless nights per week)

    • feeling depressed.

    Being overweight or obese and past knee injury together accounted for 14% of the overall risk of developing knee osteoarthritis.

    In other words, if we were able to completely remove these two risk factors, we could potentially reduce the incidence of knee osteoarthritis in the population by 14%.

    Females had almost double the risk of developing knee osteoarthritis, and older age was slightly related to developing knee osteoarthritis.

    Osteoarthritis of the knee affects millions of people worldwide.
    Towfiqu barbhuiya/Pexels

    Protective factors

    On the other hand, we found some factors may lower the risk of developing knee osteoarthritis. These included following a Mediterranean diet (which includes plenty of vegetables, olive oil, nuts, fruit and healthy fats found in fish), and following a diet higher in fibre.

    Avoiding the things which increase the risk of developing knee osteoarthritis such as a diet high in ultra-processed foods, knee injury, weight gain and heavy lifting can also help a person reduce their risk of developing the condition.

    Exercise is an effective treatment for knee osteoarthritis. It can reduce pain and improve function.

    There was not enough information in our study to determine what types of physical activity (for example, walking, running, swimming) and how much time spent doing these activities could lower the risk of developing knee osteoarthritis, so this is an important area for future research.

    How can we explain these links?

    The studies we included did not generally explore the possible mechanisms linking key risk factors with the development of knee osteoarthritis.

    However other research may provide some helpful insights. Knee injury can lead to instability of the knee joint and additional wear on the knee which can lead to knee osteoarthritis. Similarly, occupational physical activity such as kneeling, squatting, climbing or heavy lifting can increase the risk of wear and tear on the knee.

    Poor sleep has been linked to weight gain and depression.

    The duration and quality of sleep has been found to affect how much we eat and the hormones responsible for regulating metabolism. Depression has been linked to reduced physical activity which can lead to weight gain. Carrying extra weight can increase the load on the knee and contribute to knee osteoarthritis.

    Shift work can lead to bad food choices and lack of sleep, which in turn can increase the risk of knee osteoarthritis.

    So it seems that while the risk factors we found may be contributing individually to the development of knee osteoarthritis, they may also be interacting together to increase the risk.

    It’s not clear why women are at greater risk of developing knee osteoarthritis. However this is likely to be due to a combination of factors, including lifestyle, biological and hormonal factors.

    A Mediterranean diet is high in polyphenols, which can reduce inflammation in the body and destruction of cartilage. It may lower the risk of developing knee osteoarthritis in this way.

    Lifestyle changes could reduce the risk of knee osteoarthritis.
    PeopleImages.com – Yuri A/Shutterstock

    Most risk factors are modifiable

    There were some limitations with the available evidence. Most studies were based on populations from the United States, or did not report on ethnicity. We know little about the risk of developing knee osteoarthritis in certain groups such as people from Hispanic, African and Southeast Asian backgrounds. We need more studies exploring risk factors in other countries and populations.

    Nonetheless, a review like this allows us to better understand what can be done to lower the risk of developing knee osteoarthritis.

    We found most risk factors associated with developing knee osteoarthritis are modifiable, which means they can be changed or better managed with healthy diet and lifestyle choices. Eating healthy, maintaining a healthy weight and taking proactive steps to prevent injuries in the workplace and sporting communities can potentially lower a person’s risk of developing the condition.

    Public health strategies aimed at encouraging healthy eating and weight loss (for example, subsidised nutrition programs and education programs starting from a young age to promote optimal diet and physical activity) could reduce the burden of knee osteoarthritis and have broader health benefits as well.

    Programs like these, as well as reducing heavy lifting in the workplace where possible, should be the focus of government strategies to address the burden of this painful condition globally.

    Christina Abdel Shaheed holds grants from the National Health and Medical Research Council and the Medical Research Future Fund.

    David Hunter receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council and the Medical Research Future Fund.

    Lyn March is on the executive committee of the Global Alliance for Musculoskeletal Health (a pro-bono role). This alliance advocates to the World Health Organization for a global strategy for addressing musculoskeletal health that includes promoting osteoarthritis prevention.

    Vicky Duong receives funding from Lenity Australia and the Medical Research Future Fund.

    – ref. What are the key risk factors for developing knee osteoarthritis? We reviewed the evidence – https://theconversation.com/what-are-the-key-risk-factors-for-developing-knee-osteoarthritis-we-reviewed-the-evidence-253722

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI: James River Announces Excess and Surplus Lines Leadership Retirement and Succession Plan

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PEMBROKE, Bermuda, May 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — James River Group Holdings, Ltd. (“James River” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: JRVR) announced today its plans for Todd Sutherland, current Senior Vice President, Management Liability within the Company’s Excess and Surplus Lines (“E&S”) segment, to succeed Richard Schmitzer as President of the E&S segment effective May 5, 2025. Mr. Schmitzer announced that he will step down as Chief Executive Officer of the E&S segment effective July 31, 2025, a position he has held since 2010, and retire during the fourth quarter of 2025 after more than 45 years in the insurance industry.

    “Richard Schmitzer has chosen to retire after a long and highly successful insurance career spanning over four decades,” said Frank D’Orazio, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. “Under Richard’s leadership, we have built a meaningfully relevant and resilient E&S business. We are grateful for his many contributions to the organization and wish him well in his retirement.”

    “It has been an honor to serve as President and CEO of James River’s E&S segment, and I am very proud of our team, our relationship with the market and the franchise we have built,” said Mr. Schmitzer. “I am committed to working with Todd and the leadership team to achieve a seamless transition as we continue to execute on our strategic priorities and plans.”

    In his new role, Mr. Sutherland will report directly to Mr. D’Orazio and will remain based in Richmond, Virginia, the headquarters of the Company’s E&S segment. Concurrent with the succession plan, the title of E&S segment Chief Executive Officer will be retired in lieu of segment President.

    Mr. Sutherland joined James River in 2023 to establish the Management Liability division of the Company, aligned with efforts to drive diversified profitable growth across the E&S product portfolio. With over thirty years of industry experience, Mr. Sutherland previously served as Head of the US Central Zone at AXA XL (“AXA”) with oversight of a multi-billion-dollar portfolio of diversified property and casualty lines. Prior to AXA, Mr. Sutherland spent 13 years at Allied World Assurance Company, where he led the development and build out of the US Central Region across all commercial lines. Mr. Sutherland has also held underwriting management roles at Axis Capital and American International Group earlier in his career. He is a graduate of Miami University.

    “On behalf of our entire organization, I am very excited to announce our plan for Todd to become our next E&S segment President,” said Mr. D’Orazio. “Todd is a proven leader with a track record of building and leading substantial, profitable businesses at several specialty insurance organizations. Our history together, and his most recent assignment at James River, give me great confidence in his ability to lead and inspire our organization to achieve continued success and reach new heights in the years to come.”

    “Richard and his team have built a powerful franchise in the E&S marketplace, and I am thrilled to be in a position to lead the business as we continue to execute on our strategic plan of profitable growth,” said Mr. Sutherland. “I look forward to working with my colleagues across the Company as we deliver exceptional products and best in class service.”

    Forward Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, such forward-looking statements may be identified by terms such as believe, expect, seek, may, will, should, intend, project, anticipate, plan, estimate, guidance or similar words. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Although it is not possible to identify all of these risks and uncertainties, they include, among others, the following: the inherent uncertainty of estimating reserves and the possibility that incurred losses may be greater than our estimate used to compute loss and loss adjustment expense reserves; inaccurate estimates and judgments in our risk management may expose us to greater risks than intended; downgrades in the financial strength rating or outlook of our regulated insurance subsidiaries impacting our competitive position and ability to attract and retain insurance business that our subsidiaries write and ultimately our financial condition; the potential loss of key members of our management team or key employees, and our ability to attract and retain personnel; adverse economic and competitive factors resulting in the sale of fewer policies than expected or an increase in the frequency or severity of claims, or both; the impact of a higher than expected inflationary environment on our reserves, loss adjustment expenses, the values of our investments and investment returns, and our compensation expenses; exposure to credit risk, interest rate risk and other market risk in our investment portfolio and our reinsurers; reliance on a select group of brokers and agents for a significant portion of our business and the impact of our potential failure to maintain such relationships; reliance on a select group of customers for a significant portion of our business and the impact of our potential failure to maintain, or decision to terminate, such relationships; our ability to obtain insurance and reinsurance coverage at prices and on terms that allow us to transfer risk, adequately protect our Company against financial loss and that supports our growth plans; losses resulting from reinsurance counterparties failing to pay us on reinsurance claims, insurance companies with whom we have a fronting arrangement failing to pay us for claims, or a former customer with whom we have an indemnification arrangement failing to perform its reimbursement obligations, and our potential inability to demand or maintain adequate collateral to mitigate such risks; the inherent uncertainty of estimating reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses and the possibility that reinsurance may be less than our estimate of reinsurance recoverable on unpaid losses; inadequacy of premiums we charge to compensate us for our losses incurred; changes in laws or government regulation, including tax or insurance laws and regulations; changes in U.S. tax laws (including associated regulations) and the interpretation of certain provisions applicable to insurance/reinsurance businesses with U.S. and non-U.S. operations, which may be retroactive and could have a significant effect on us including, among other things, by potentially increasing our tax rate, as well as on our shareholders; in the event we did not qualify for the insurance company exception to the passive foreign investment company (“PFIC”) rules and were therefore considered a PFIC, there could be material adverse tax consequences to an investor that is subject to U.S. federal income taxation; the Company or its foreign subsidiary becoming subject to U.S. federal income taxation; a failure of any of the loss limitations or exclusions we utilize to shield us from unanticipated financial losses or legal exposures, or other liabilities; losses from catastrophic events, such as natural disasters and terrorist acts, which substantially exceed our expectations and/or exceed the amount of reinsurance we have purchased to protect us from such events; potential effects on our business of emerging claim and coverage issues; the potential impact of internal or external fraud, operational errors, systems malfunctions or cyber security incidents; our ability to manage our growth effectively; failure to maintain effective internal controls in accordance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended; changes in our financial condition, regulations or other factors that may restrict our subsidiaries’ ability to pay us dividends; and an adverse result in any litigation or legal proceedings we are or may become subject to. Additional information about these risks and uncertainties, as well as others that may cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, is contained in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information to reflect changes in assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events, or otherwise.

    About James River Group Holdings, Ltd.

    James River Group Holdings, Ltd. is a Bermuda-based insurance holding company that owns and operates a group of specialty insurance companies. The Company operates in two specialty property-casualty insurance segments: Excess and Surplus Lines and Specialty Admitted Insurance. Each of the Company’s regulated insurance subsidiaries are rated “A-” (Excellent) by A.M. Best Company. Visit James River Group Holdings, Ltd. on the web at www.jrvrgroup.com.

    Zachary Shytle
    Senior Analyst, Investor Relations and Investments
    (980) 249-6848
    InvestorRelations@james-river-group.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Labor has the chance to do something big in its second term. What policy reforms should it take on?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Yee-Fui Ng, Associate Professor, Faculty of Law, Monash University

    Dan Breckwoldt/Shutterstock

    Labor’s historic election victory means the Albanese government has a rare opportunity to pursue a big, bold reform agenda. The scale of the victory all but guarantees a third term in office after the next election in 2028, and entrenches Anthony Albanese’s authority as prime minister.

    The government may opt to play it safe and limit its legislative agenda to the policies it took to the election. But if it was to chance its arm, which substantial changes should it pursue that could make a real difference to Australia’s long-term future?

    We asked three experts to nominate the top policy priorities for a second Albanese government. Here are their responses.

    Yee-Fui Ng

    Associate Professor of Law, Monash University

    Advancing Voice and Truth with Indigenous Australians should be a priority. This would build on the comprehensive rejection of the politics of division by the Australian people.

    After the defeat of the Voice referendum on Indigenous constitutional recognition, the Coalition reignited the culture wars by criticising “woke” schools and Peter Dutton’s attack on Indigenous welcome to country at Anzac Day ceremonies.

    But that negative message did not resonate with modern multicultural Australia, with its diverse population and identities. Anthony Albanese and Penny Wong’s victory speeches on Saturday night emphasised a kinder and more inclusive politics, where all Australians are recognised and no one is left behind.

    The Labor government now has a strong mandate to take more significant action on Indigenous issues. Aboriginal people experience higher rates of incarceration, and significant disparities in health, education and employment compared to non-Indigenous Australians. Reform measures could be introduced through legislation, rather than by trying to change the constitution.

    Closing the gap and revisiting Voice and Truth should be a priority for the second Albanese government.
    ChameleonsEye/Shutterstock

    Another pressing reform is bolder action on climate change. There is a growing urgency to tackle the effects of global warming, with an increase in environmental degradation and natural disasters globally.

    Peter Dutton’s proposal to build seven nuclear reactors on Australian soil was comprehensively repudiated at the election.

    European countries have harnessed the potential of regenerative energies, with the proliferation of wind farms and electric cars. Australia needs to lift its game and be on the same path towards a more sustainable future.

    We are custodians of the Earth for future generations. It is incumbent on the Labor government to put forward a stronger agenda for a cleaner, more liveable planet.

    Helen Hodgson

    Professor at Curtin Law School and Curtin Business School, Curtin University

    Second terms are often regarded as the best time strategically for governments to legislate difficult, but necessary reforms. It will be no different for the re-elected Albanese government, which will command a large majority in the new parliament.

    Genuine tax reform should be a priority for Labor over the next three years, starting with a reduction in the 50% capital gains tax (CGT) discount and taxing superannuation withdrawals on high balance accounts.

    While many people consider negative gearing to be the main concern in relation to investment in housing, reforming the CGT discount would be a more effective way to address increases in housing prices.

    Negative gearing is only effective as a wealth-building strategy if there is a payoff at the end through the concessional taxation on the capital gain. Reducing the CGT discount would limit the appeal of negative gearing.

    It would also flow through to other forms of investment that might not be delivering productivity gains, including some investments within family trusts.

    Reforming CGT would revisit a contentious Labor policy that was roundly rejected at the 2019 election. But the housing crisis has deepened since then and many voters would now see an overhaul as necessary and timely.

    The second recommendation I would make would be to address the inequalities that arise from tax exempt superannuation. Prior to 2007, withdrawals from super funds were taxed concessionally, but were not fully exempt.

    In the retirement phase, members are required to withdraw a minimum amount from their superannuation accounts. But these days they do it totally tax-free.

    The government should consider taxing these withdrawals, subject to a tax credit that reflects the tax paid by the fund prior to retirement phase. It would also be subject to the existing Seniors and Pensioners Tax Offset, which can reduce the amount of tax paid.

    The rates of these credits could be tweaked to ensure that only those in the wealthiest 20% are affected. This would level the playing field so the tax payable by most retirees with modest superannuation balances would fall within these two concessions.

    These two reforms would help reduce wealth inequality in Australia and raise funds for social spending, including increases in the JobSeeker payment.

    Intifar Chowdhury

    Lecturer in Government, Flinders University

    Despite being one of the most pressing concerns for young Australians, mental health did not get much airtime during the election campaign.

    This is striking given the evidence. According to the 2024 Australian Youth Barometer, 98% of young people aged 18–24 report feelings of anxiety or depression, and nearly 40% experience a diagnosable mental disorder in any given year. These aren’t fringe numbers, they are endemic.

    Labor has pledged $1 billion to expand access to free public mental health care, with a welcome focus on young people. But funding more services is only part of the solution.

    Experts argue that simply increasing the number of people given access to treatment and support won’t go far enough if those people only receive short term or fragmented care. A more meaningful step would be to double the number of free sessions available to people suffering complex mental health needs. Good care takes time, trust and continuity.

    More fundamentally, the current policy focus remains too clinical. By contrast, the most effective models for youth care are more holistic. Many young people grappling with mental illness are also dealing with unstable housing, drug use, educational disruption, or loneliness.

    Psychosocial supports such as social workers, peer mentors and housing liaisons, are essential to wraparound care. Yet, they remain underfunded.

    The new Medicare Mental Health Centres and Youth Specialist Care Centres, which were promised by Labor during the campaign, should not just offer more of the same. Policymakers must rethink the model entirely: multidisciplinary, community-driven, culturally safe, and youth-informed.

    They must also address why young men, who make up a majority of suicide deaths, are the least likely to seek help.

    Mental health policy should be local, flexible, and expansive. Right now, it still feels centralised, cautious, and underdone.

    Improving the mental health and wellbeing of all Australians, especially young people, would be a valuable way of ensuring the government doesn’t squander the time and space its been given by voters to do something truly valuable and reformative.

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

    – ref. Labor has the chance to do something big in its second term. What policy reforms should it take on? – https://theconversation.com/labor-has-the-chance-to-do-something-big-in-its-second-term-what-policy-reforms-should-it-take-on-255849

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Joseph Nocella, Jr. Appointed Interim United States Attorney for the Eastern District Of New York

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Joseph Nocella, Jr. has begun serving as Interim United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York as per the authority of United States Attorney Pamela Bondi. Judge Nocella was sworn in on Monday, May 5, 2025 by United States Chief District Judge Margo K. Brodie.  He will serve as Interim United States Attorney for a period of 120 days or until a Presidential nominee has been confirmed by the Senate.

    Judge Nocella stated: “I am deeply honored that President Donald J. Trump and Attorney General Pamela Bondi have appointed me United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York.  It is especially gratifying to return to the very District where I began my prosecutorial career.  Together with the exemplary staff that has made the Eastern District renown for its excellence, and the dedicated law enforcement agencies that work with the District, I look forward to prosecuting zealously the narcotics-traffickers, gang members, terrorists, human-traffickers and other criminals who have plagued the people of Nassau, Suffolk, Kings, Queens and Richmond Counties.  I would also like to thank Acting United States Attorney John J. Durham for his service and leadership.”

    Immediately before his appointment, Judge Nocella, 60, was serving as a Nassau County Family Court Judge, following several years of service as a Nassau County District Judge.  Judge Nocella began his career in public service as the first law clerk to the Honorable Lawrence M. McKenna, United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York.  Judge Nocella continued his career in public service as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Criminal Division of the Eastern District of New York, where he served from 1991 to 1995, prosecuting cases involving narcotics-trafficking, organized crime, money laundering and fraud, among others.  Judge Nocella was in private practice in New York and Los Angeles from 1989 to 1990, and from 1995 to 2010.  He also held various public service roles in government on Long Island, including Hempstead Town Attorney, Oyster Bay Town Attorney, Managing Attorney of the Nassau County Attorney’s Office and Counsel to the Nassau County Executive and Legislative Offices.  Judge Nocella graduated from Chaminade High School in 1982, received his bachelor’s degree from Fordham University in 1986 and graduated from Columbia University School of Law in 1989. 

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-Evening Report: ‘I got sent something of people shooting themselves’ – research shows young people can’t avoid harmful content online

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dougal Sutherland, Clinical Psychologist, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington

    Leon Neal/Getty Images

    A new report from New Zealand’s Classification Office has revealed how young people are being exposed to harmful content online and what it is doing to their mental health.

    The Classification Office spoke with ten different groups of young people aged between 12 and 25 from a diverse range of backgrounds.

    They found that encountering extremely harmful – and sometime illegal – content is part of the online experience for young people. And they are often trying to deal with this without adequate support or guidance.

    Unintentional consumption

    The types of content young people talked about most involved graphic depictions of real-world violence – including executions, mass shootings, suicide and extreme cruelty towards animals.

    Seeing extremely harmful content was mostly – but not always – described as unintentional or unwanted. Participants described encountering this content in much the same way they engaged with other types of content.

    Participants talked about coming across this content in their social media feeds, in chat groups, or having content shared directly by others either online or in person. One male high school student said:

    You can just be in like a server that’s for, like, a game that you like, or a YouTuber or something, and someone can just send something that’s crazy.

    Another male high school student commented:

    Yeah, I got sent something of people shooting themselves.

    Even if young people did not actively look for this content, some engaged with it when it was shared or showed up unexpectedly in their social media feeds. Curiosity – or a desire to test their boundaries – lead to some young people looking at content even if they were aware this could be harmful or disturbing.

    One male from a community group said:

    I’ve seen gore […] Just out of curiosity, me and my friend […] well, someone actually posted it on their WhatsApp status. We asked the guy, “Where did you get this video from?” He said it was from a website, so we went there […] but there was some bad stuff. So […] we decided not to watch it again.

    Content depicting real-world graphic violence, injury or death was mentioned in every group the Classifications Office spoke to. Participants also talked about young people sharing sexual images or videos of themselves or others online.

    Many young people say they are coming across harmful content online unintentionally.
    Motortion Films/Shutterstock

    Lingering impacts

    Participants described a range of impacts young people may experience when exposed to extremely harmful content, or harmful content more broadly. This includes emotional or psychological impacts, ranging from short-term shock or disgust to a longer-term impact on their mental health and wellbeing.

    Young people also discussed the harmful impacts of content on individuals’ attitudes, beliefs, or behaviours. They used words such as “horrified”, “petrified” “traumatised” or “embarrassed”.

    Others talked about not being able to “unsee” content.

    In a written response, one high school student said:

    harm can be something that gets on your mind and doesn’t leave it and keeps coming back again and again at times that you don’t want that thought to come into your head.

    Seeking guidance

    For many parents, the immediate reaction to finding their teen has watched harmful content might be to take away a young person’s device or attempt to ban them from access to the internet.

    But young people involved in this research stressed the importance of being able to talk without fear of criticism or punishment. They felt that judgement or punitive actions – such as taking away devices – tend to hurt rather than help.

    Some reported that strong emotional reactions or assumptions can complicate the situation and lead them to avoid reaching out altogether.

    A former female Youth Advisory Panel member said:

    it’s recognising how unhelpful it is ‘cause it’s just like, “Well, if you weren’t on that damned phone, then you wouldn’t have seen this stuff.” So I imagine if someone was to find objectional content then they wouldn’t feel like they could go to their parents, and then what do you do then? So I guess trying to build that understanding and bridge for communication.

    Participants consistently emphasised the need for supportive and understanding responses when seeking help with difficult content or online experiences. They wanted adults to remain calm and allow them to fully share their experiences before reacting.

    What they are seeking is practical guidance that acknowledges their efforts and agency in managing challenging situations.

    One female high school student said:

    [If my parents are] worried about something that’s happened, we’ll sort it out first, and then we’ll talk about their worries afterwards. And so like, if there’s something gone wrong, I will talk to them first because I know that they’ll have my back and they’ll sort it out for me. And then, if there are some worries, we’ll talk about it after things are sorted out.

    There are several things parents can do to help young people cope with what they have seen online.

    Reassuring young people that it’s not their fault can reduce any feelings of guilt or shame. Helping them to process what they’ve seen by acknowledging the upsetting nature of it and allowing space to discuss it can help process any intense emotions that may arise.

    Finally, parents need to be encouraging young people to think critically about how viewing this material might affect them in the long term and any steps they can take to reduce their exposure to it. This will help young people build their own long-term solutions and competence in managing their online experiences.

    Dr Dougal Sutherland is principal psychologist at Umbrella Wellbeing.

    – ref. ‘I got sent something of people shooting themselves’ – research shows young people can’t avoid harmful content online – https://theconversation.com/i-got-sent-something-of-people-shooting-themselves-research-shows-young-people-cant-avoid-harmful-content-online-255773

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Unlock what’s next: Microsoft at May 19-22 Red Hat Summit 2025

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: Unlock what’s next: Microsoft at May 19-22 Red Hat Summit 2025

    Learn more about the solutions that Microsoft and Red Hat have to offer that drive technological advancements and empower organizations.

    As the tech world eagerly anticipates Red Hat Summit 2025, Microsoft is proud to announce its role as a platinum sponsor at the event. Red Hat Summit is a premier enterprise open source event for IT professionals to learn, collaborate, and innovate on technologies from the datacenter and public cloud to edge and beyond. This year, Microsoft’s collaboration with Red Hat promises to be a highlight, showcasing the power of partnership and the innovative solutions that arise from it. 

    Over the years, this partnership has achieved significant milestones, transforming the way businesses operate and deliver value to their customers. By combining Microsoft’s cloud expertise with Red Hat’s open-source leadership, we have created a synergy that drives technological advancements and empowers organizations to achieve more. 

    One of the key benefits of this partnership is the seamless integration of Red Hat technologies with Microsoft Azure. This integration provides customers with a robust and flexible platform to build, deploy, and manage their applications. Whether it’s modernizing legacy systems or developing new cloud-native applications, the combination of Azure and Red Hat offers a plethora of capabilities and support. For instance, Red Hat OpenShift on Azure enables organizations to run containerized applications with ease, leveraging the scalability and security of Azure. Additionally, Red Hat Enterprise Linux on Azure provides a reliable and secure operating system for mission-critical workloads.

    Build your next great app with free Azure services today >

    At Red Hat Summit 2025, attendees will have the opportunity to explore these technologies in depth. Microsoft and Red Hat will showcase new features and integrations that enhance the capabilities of Azure and Red Hat solutions. From improved performance to enhanced security, these advancements are designed to meet the evolving needs of businesses in today’s digital landscape. 

    • RHEL for WSL: Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) is now available for use with Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL). WSL is a feature of Microsoft Windows that allows developers to run Linux distributions. With RHEL for WSL, developers can run a RHEL development environment on Windows without having to spin up a traditional virtual machine (VM). With a no-cost Red Hat Developer subscription, developers can download the latest release of RHEL as a WSL image during their install and easily run both Windows and RHEL at the same time on their Windows machine.
    • Azure Red Hat OpenShift: Microsoft and Red Hat are enhancing security with Confidential Containers on Azure Red Hat OpenShift, now in public preview. This feature offers hardware-level protection for workloads via memory encryption and secure execution environments, addressing compliance needs in sectors like healthcare and financial services. Managed identity for Azure Red Hat OpenShift is also in public preview, transitioning organizations from static service principals to dynamic, token-based credentials. This reduces operational complexity and security risks, facilitating container platform adoption in regulated environments. Azure Red Hat OpenShift has expanded to the Spain Central region with plans for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Central and Microsoft Azure Government (MAG) regions by Q2 2025. Enhancements include OpenShift 4.16 support, enterprise-grade cluster-wide proxy, and Ddsv5 instance performance optimization. Additionally, OpenShift Virtualization on Azure Red Hat OpenShift is entering public preview, enabling customers to accelerate VM migration to Azure without refactoring while unifying management of VMs and containers on a single platform. 
    • RHEL landing zone: The Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) on Azure Landing Zone guide provides everything needed to deploy, manage, and scale RHEL instances using Azure-specific system images. Software lifecycle automation is simplified with Red Hat Satellite and Red Hat Satellite Capsule, ensuring timely updates and patches. Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery (BCDR) are enhanced through Azure’s on-demand capacity reservations, guaranteeing reliable availability in Azure regions. Optimized identity management infrastructure deployment minimizes latencies and eliminates replication failures.
    • Application awareness and wave planning in Azure Migrate: The new application-aware method sets the stage for grouping dependent resources into waves and provides technical and business insights for the entire application to help you decide on Azure targets and tooling. Migrate applications with dependent workloads, as one to collocate in Azure for optimal performance and cost. 
    • JBoss EAP on App Service: JBoss EAP on App Service is a jointly developed and supported managed solution from Red Hat and Microsoft for running enterprise Java applications with maximum productivity. We have recently made important changes to make JBoss EAP on App Service as cost-effective as possible. This includes a 60% plus license fee price reduction for Pay-As-You-Go plans, memory optimized SKUs, a free tier for a lower barrier to entry, the availability of JBoss EAP 8, as well as a soon-to-be-released ability to Bring-Your-Own-Subscription to App Service. 
    • JBoss EAP on Azure Virtual Machines: Robust solutions to run JBoss EAP on Azure Virtual Machines are now generally available (GA). The solutions are developed and supported by Red Hat and Microsoft. The solutions include templates available in the Azure Portal to automate most boilerplate resource provisioning tasks. The solutions also include JBoss EAP VM images published in the Azure Marketplace. 

    Customer success stories 

    The success of the Microsoft and Red Hat partnership is best demonstrated through the experiences of our customers. Organizations across various industries have leveraged Azure and Red Hat solutions to achieve remarkable results. For example, Teranet utilized Azure Red Hat OpenShift for a digital transformation, migrating mission-critical systems from on-premises to Azure. Outcomes included improved automation, enhanced customer confidence, and significant cost savings to the tune of CA5.6 million. 

    Western Sydney University adopted Red Hat Enterprise Linux on Azure to enhance the security and reliability of its critical systems. 

    By providing innovative solutions and exceptional support, we empower our customers to overcome challenges and drive business growth. 

    What to expect at Red Hat Summit 2025 

    Red Hat Summit 2025 promises to be an exciting event, with a wide range of sessions, workshops, and presentations. Microsoft will be actively involved, sharing insights and expertise on various topics. Attendees can look forward to exclusive announcements and product launches that will shape the future of technology. 

    This is a unique opportunity to connect with industry leaders and gain valuable insights into the latest trends and innovations. Our vision is to deliver cutting-edge solutions that enable organizations to thrive in the digital age. We remain committed to our customers, ensuring that they have access to the best technologies and support.

    Learn more about Red Hat on Azure

    Join us to explore the innovative solutions that Microsoft and Red Hat have to offer. Register now to attend the summit and engage with our experts to learn more about how our collaboration can benefit your organization. 

    Visit the Red Hat on Azure page to learn more about our offerings and join us at the Microsoft booth number 424 at Red Hat Summit 2025!

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Global: In Yemen, Trump risks falling into an ‘airpower trap’ that has drawn past US presidents into costly wars

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Charles Walldorf, Professor of Politics and International Affairs, Wake Forest University

    A Yemeni soldier inspects the damage reportedly caused by U.S. airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, on April 27, 2025. AP Photo/Osamah Abdulrahman

    In the first 100 days of his second term, U.S. President Donald Trump has shown a willingness to lean on airpower when his administration decides that military force is necessary abroad.

    So far, the second Trump administration has launched limited airstrikes in Somalia and carried out a weekslong air campaign against the Iranian-aligned Houthis who rule most of Yemen. The president has also threatened direct strikes against Iran itself should talks on a new nuclear deal collapse.

    This turn to airpower for Trump makes sense to me. Airpower is cheap when compared with ground wars, and it usually comes with fewer casualties for those conducting the strikes. This helps explain why U.S. leaders, including Trump as a self-proclaimed “anti-war president,” typically find it attractive.

    But if the Trump administration is not careful, it could fall into what military strategists informally call the “airpower trap.” This happens when the stated objectives of military force are too big for airpower alone to achieve, potentially leading to a face-saving escalation of conflict that could – if history is a guide – draw in ground forces from the U.S. or their local allies.

    U.S. presidents such as Lyndon Johnson, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama all fell into this trap. In Vietnam, the Balkans and Syria, respectively, all ended up with far bigger wars than they bargained for, with consequences for civilian casualties, international peace and damage to America’s reputation abroad.

    As an expert on U.S. national security policy and the Middle East region, I believe the Trump administration is in danger of falling into the airpower trap in Yemen and could potentially do the same in Iran should it elect to use direct force against Tehran. Recognizing this military and historical risk, and opting for some kind of off ramp from continued airstrikes, might be the best hope the U.S. government has to avoid a further escalation into full-scale war.

    The limits of air bombardment

    Research shows airpower is most effective when it’s used for limited objectives – things like taking out leaders of terrorist groups or degrading rival capabilities – or in support of ground operations for more ambitious ends, like bolstering or overturning governments.

    Given the sophistication of U.S. airpower, a common fallacy among American strategists in particular is to think big strategic gains can be achieved solely by dropping bombs from above.

    But when airpower alone fails, leaders can feel the pressure to expand the scope of conflict and end up with bigger military commitments than expected.

    Johnson’s initial airpower-only strategy for attempting to stop communism in South Vietnam failed miserably, leading to his decision to commit half a million U.S. troops into war. That expanded conflict presaged years of war, with massive humanitarian and political consequences for people in Southeast Asia and America, as well as lasting reputational damage to the U.S.

    Yemenis carry the coffins of civilians killed in U.S. airstrikes while participating in their funeral procession on May 1, 2025, in Sanaa, Yemen.
    Mohammed Hamoud/Getty Images

    Worried about U.S. and NATO credibility, Clinton escalated airstrikes – nearly to the point of introducing ground troops – for the ambitious end of stopping genocide in the Balkans during the early 1990s. Likewise, Obama’s initial airpower-only strategy to “degrade and destroy” the Islamic State group quickly faltered, leading Obama, under intense pressure at home and abroad, to introduce thousands of ground troops to combat the group’s territorial gains across Syria and Iraq.

    In each case, relying on airpower alone ultimately failed to meet their objectives.

    The airpower trap in Yemen

    There are reasons to believe that conditions in Yemen mean that Trump, too, could be falling into a similar trap.

    Trump has adopted an airpower-only strategy to “completely annihilate” the Houthis, a powerful rebel movement that all but won the recent Yemeni civil war. The proximate cause of the air campaign, a policy inaugurated by the Biden administration and expanded dramatically by Trump, is to restore the free flow of shipping in the Red Sea that the Houthis have disrupted by force to protest Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza.

    The early signs are that this air campaign isn’t going well.

    Despite the U.S. burning through finite munitions supplies at a cost of US$1 billion to bomb at least 800 sites since March 15, the Houthis are undeterred and the volume of Red Sea shipping remains as depressed as ever. Houthi attacks on U.S. ships and Israel continue. A Houthi missile narrowly missed Israel’s Ben-Gurion airport on May 4.

    In fact, the direct attacks on the Houthis and the rapidly growing casualty count among Yemeni civilians from the Trump administration’s bombing campaign appear to be strengthening the Houthis’ political position in Yemen. In a particularly shocking case, U.S. bombs reportedly hit an African migrant camp, killing and injuring dozens of people.

    The humanitarian crisis from the brutal bombing campaign by the Saudi-led coalition against the Houthis in the late 2010s had a similar effect.

    Airpower played a big part then, too. The Saudi coalition, supported by the U.S., engaged in some 25,000 air raids against the Houthis, killing or maiming approximately 19,000 civilians. Yet despite such overwhelming force, the Houthis kept seizing territory and eventually won the civil war, according to experts.

    They have been the country’s de facto rulers ever since.

    Now, Trump is exploring options to further escalate to defeat the Houthis. Reports indicate his administration is considering arming, training and enabling anti-Houthi resistance fighters who are loosely affiliated with Yemen’s government in exile to launch ground operations.

    Between diplomacy and quagmire

    Proxies are a common tool U.S. leaders turn to when caught in the airpower trap. Sometimes those proxies fulfill American policy objectives, such as the Kurdish People’s Protection Units, or YPG, which helped the U.S. defeat the Islamic state caliphate in 2019.

    A U.S. Air Force F-5 Skoshi Tiger drops three general purpose bombs on Vietnam on Feb. 28, 1966.
    Photo by Underwood Archives/Getty Images

    Often, U.S. proxies fail on both strategic and humanitarian terms, leading to further escalation, strategic quagmires for the U.S., and loss of life and political sovereignty for the people under attack. South Vietnam was an instructive example.

    Riven by corruption, poor governance, weakness and political infighting, the South Vietnamese army and government proved so ineffective at fighting the North Vietnamese that Johnson decided to launch a ground war once U.S. airpower failed.

    Today, the anti-Houthi resistance in Yemen looks a lot more like the South Vietnamese government than the Kurdish YPG. According to a 2025 report from the Soufan Center, a security think tank, the anti-Houthi forces are poorly trained and considered incapable of pulling off victories over the Houthis without major U.S. support.

    Meanwhile, the anti-Houthi resistance consists of an estimated 85,000 fighters, compared with some 350,000 for the Houthis.

    Absent continuing the air war or escalating it into a more all-encompassing conflict, U.S. officials can still pursue diplomacy in order to try to find a political solution to the Yemen conflict.

    Despite the Trump’s administration public threats, the U.S. is already negotiating with the Houthis’ main sponsor, Iran.

    For their part, the Houthis continue to insist that they will stop attacking ships in the Red Sea if the U.S.-backed Israeli war in Gaza halts, something that happened during the recent Gaza ceasefire.

    The Trump administration might consider seeking alternatives, such as direct or indirect talks, if it wants to avoid getting stuck in a widening conflict in Yemen. History is full of examples of what happens when airpower takes on a logic of its own.

    Charles Walldorf is a Senior Fellow at the think tank Defense Priorities.

    – ref. In Yemen, Trump risks falling into an ‘airpower trap’ that has drawn past US presidents into costly wars – https://theconversation.com/in-yemen-trump-risks-falling-into-an-airpower-trap-that-has-drawn-past-us-presidents-into-costly-wars-255651

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

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

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

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

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

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

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

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



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

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

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

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

    The role of Trump

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

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

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

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

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

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

    The new Parliament

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Prince George’s County Man Faces Federal Indictment for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Greenbelt, Maryland – A federal grand jury has indicted Joel Thomas Biermann, 46, of University Park, Maryland, for multiple child exploitation offenses. Biermann is charged with two counts of producing child sexual abuse material, one count of distributing child sexual abuse material, and one count of possessing child sexual abuse material.

    Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office and Chief Malik Aziz of the Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD).

    According to the indictment, between approximately October 26, 2012, and October 28, 2024, Biermann employed, used, persuaded, induced, enticed, and coerced one or more victims to engage in sexually explicit conduct.  Biermann also produced and possessed visual depictions of the exploitation.  Additionally, the indictment alleges that Biermann distributed child sexual abuse material on March 13, 2016. 

    If convicted, Biermann faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in federal prison for the production of child sexual abuse material; a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of 20 years for the distribution of child sexual abuse material; and a maximum of 20 years for possession of child sexual abuse material. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

    An indictment is not a finding of guilt.  Individuals charged by indictment are presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding.

    This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc. Click the “Resources” tab on the left side of the page to learn about Internet safety education.

    U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the FBI and PGPD for their work in the investigation. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan S. McKoy and Trial Attorney Gwendelynn Bills, Justice Department’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, who are prosecuting the federal case.

    For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md/project-safe-childhood  and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

    # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kathleen Adams named 2025 School of Pharmacy Teacher of the Year

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Appreciating her time as an undergraduate student and graduating from the UConn School of Pharmacy in 2015, Adams rejoined Husky Nation as a faculty member in the fall of 2019. While working at Rhode Island Hospital, the Academic Medical Center for Brown University after graduation, Adams found her time working with learners, whether students or residents, to be most valuable. Through mentoring these learners and helping them reach their goals, Adams became driven to move this passion into a University setting as a professor. Wanting to give back to the School where she first found her love for pharmacy, Adams chose UConn – this time, as a professor.  

    “There is so much reward in seeing that lightbulb moment where students understand a hard concept or feel comfortable talking to a doctor.”

    Headshot of Kathleen Adams (UConn Photo)

    As a professor dedicated to her students, Adams looks forward to working each year to continuously improve lectures, curriculum, and experiences for her students. By valuing student feedback and watching her students implement in-class learning in clinical experiences, Adams strives to create more impactful and meaningful educational activities beyond the classroom.  

    The biggest challenge for Adams came during the transition back to in-person lectures and instruction after the pandemic. In pivoting out of this challenging time, Adams had to continuously adapt and rely on feedback from students.  

    Adams’s proudest accomplishment is the product of a collaboration with UConn’s Cassie Doyno and Lisa Holle as well as educators and software developers from Monash University in Australia. In collaborating, Adams and her colleagues developed the inpatient hospital version of a program called MyDispense. Described by Adams to be almost like a video game, MyDispense allows students to practice looking at patient charts, reviewing different medications, and deciding which medications are safe through interactive online simulations. In committing to inclusivity, MyDispense is a free, fully accessible software platform that any university can use. 

    In looking toward the future, Adams will strive to provide the best academic and professional foundations for students through the School’s new curriculum refresh. Likewise, as a believer in keeping students engaged, Adams plans to incorporate more active learning and immersive experiences in her classroom. 

    “Seeing the process of, over time, improving a course through feedback, practice, and experience has been remarkable.”

    Adams will receive her award during commencement weekend in May.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: World Health Organization (WHO) Ghana Welcomes New Country Representative, Dr Fiona Braka

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

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    The World Health Organization (WHO) Ghana has welcomed Dr Fiona Braka as its new Country Representative, following official endorsement by the Government of Ghana.

    A seasoned public health expert from Uganda, Dr Braka brings to her new role over two decades of extensive experience in disease prevention and control, public health emergency management, and strategic leadership. She will lead WHO Ghana’s technical and operational work, collaborating with the Ministry of Health, key stakeholders and partners to strengthen health systems, improve health outcomes, and accelerate progress towards Universal Health Coverage and the health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

    Before her appointment to Ghana, Dr Braka held several senior positions within WHO across Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Uganda. In these roles, she spearheaded initiatives to advance primary health care and public health security, while leading diverse teams in complex settings. Most recently, she served as Coordinator of Emergency Response Operations at WHO’s Regional Office for Africa in Brazzaville, Congo. In this capacity, she directed WHO’s response to major disease outbreaks and humanitarian crises across 47 countries and oversaw efforts to bolster national capacities for health emergency preparedness and response.

    Dr Braka played a pivotal role in the eradication of wild poliovirus in Nigeria, contributing to the African region’s certification as wild polio-free in 2020. As an immunization team lead in various countries, she supported the expansion of national vaccination programmes, helping to bring essential health services closer to underserved communities.

    As a dedicated contributor to global public health knowledge, Dr Braka has authored numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals. She holds a Medical Degree from Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda, and a Master of Public Health from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in the United States of America.

    Her appointment marks a new chapter in WHO Ghana’s continued support to the country’s health sector.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO), Ghana.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Special Report: China-Russia Humanitarian Exchanges Help Two Nations Bring People Closer and Know Each Other Better

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, May 5 (Xinhua) — From the Russian-Chinese joint film “Red Silk” that became a box office hit in Russia to the new version of the opera “Eugene Onegin” created by artists from both countries that debuted successfully in China; from the Chinese New Year celebration that “lit up” Moscow to the traditional Russian events held in many parts of China to celebrate Maslenitsa, humanitarian exchanges have become an important bridge for deepening China-Russia relations, enhancing mutual understanding between the two civilizations and promoting people-to-people exchanges.

    2024-2025 have been declared the Years of Culture of China and Russia. As part of the years of culture, hundreds of events are being held in various regions of the two countries, which contribute to deepening friendship and bringing their peoples closer together.

    LANGUAGE BRIDGES THE GAP

    “My name is Maria. I am studying Chinese. Nice to meet you.” A young woman approached a reporter on the banks of the Moscow River in the Russian capital. After clarifying in Russian that the reporter was Chinese, she switched to Chinese to introduce herself.

    Maria is a second-year law student at Moscow University and spends her free time studying Chinese language and culture. With a smile on her face, she admitted that she doesn’t speak Chinese well yet, but hopes to continue her studies. According to Maria, although Chinese is difficult, it sounds beautiful, and Chinese culture is very colorful and charming.

    In recent years, Russia has seen a “Chinese language boom.” Now, on the streets of Moscow, you can increasingly hear friendly greetings in Chinese: “Nihao” /”Hello,” “Shi zhongguoren ma?” /”Are you from China?”/, “Huanyi,” /”Welcome,” “Zai jian” /”Goodbye,”… Seeing Asian facial features, many Russians begin to greet in Chinese.

    “We have witnessed the popularization of Chinese culture and language: they are studied in schools, universities and at other educational levels,” says Ilya Gutin, senior lecturer at the Department of Chinese, Vietnamese, Burmese, Thai, Lao and Khmer Languages at MGIMO University of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia.

    According to statistics, there are currently over 140 universities and over 220 primary and secondary schools offering Chinese language programs in Russia. There are also 19 Confucius Institutes and five Confucius Classrooms, as well as other additional educational institutions teaching Chinese. About 110,000 people in Russia study Chinese, and it has already become a second foreign language. In China, there are over 180 colleges and universities offering Russian language programs, and about 120,000 people study Russian in primary and secondary schools and universities.

    At the same time, the two countries jointly established such cooperation projects as the Project of “10 Chinese and 10 Russian Outstanding Figures in Humanitarian Cooperation”, the Program for the Construction of Joint Chinese-Russian Scientific and Educational Centers, the Program for the Development of Chinese-Russian Associations of Specialized Universities. “Support was provided to universities in implementing joint educational programs, the scale of student exchanges between the two countries was expanded, summer schools for university students were jointly organized, cooperation in the field of professional education was carried out, which contributed to strengthening mutual understanding and friendship between young people.

    “2024-2025, declared the cross years of culture between Russia and China, have opened up new opportunities for deepening cultural and educational ties,” said I. Gutin.

    ART UNITES PEOPLE

    The Chinese dance drama “Wing Chun: The Legend of the Kung Fu Master” was recently shown to great acclaim at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow. The fusion of Chinese kung fu and dance received thunderous applause, as well as wide attention and high praise from the Russian media.

    According to Russian media, the dance performance “Wing Chun” is a story of heroes from the people based on the traditional martial art of Lingnan. The performance combines dance, martial arts and cinematic storytelling, telling the spiritual journey of Chinese kung fu to global recognition.

    In recent years, the “Chinese wind” has been blowing in Russia. Chinese works such as the play “I Didn’t Kill My Husband,” the symphony “Ode to the Red Flag,” and the dance-poetic drama “Only This Greenery” have sparkled on Russian stages, demonstrating the unique charm of Chinese culture.

    Meanwhile, a number of classic works of Russian art were presented on the stages of China. The ballets “Swan Lake”, “Sleeping Beauty”, “The Nutcracker” reflected the true “Russian aesthetics”. Theatrical, ballet and musical interpretations of such famous Russian literary works in China as “Anna Karenina” and “War and Peace” gave the audience an unforgettable experience. The Central Opera House of China and Russian artists presented a modern production of the world classic – the opera “Eugene Onegin”, breathing new life into the literary classic and emphasizing the strength of interaction between the cultures of China and Russia.

    Wang Ning, director of the National Center for the Performing Arts of China, noted that many world-famous Russian art institutions have come to China to perform, which not only conveys the essence of Russian national culture to the Chinese audience, but also gives Russian artists the opportunity to feel and understand China.

    “Artistic exchange, by influencing the eyes and ears, helps the people of the two countries gain an understanding of each other’s culture and become closer psychologically,” he concluded.

    TOURISM STRENGTHENS FRIENDSHIP

    “Going abroad for breakfast and coming back home” sounds almost unbelievable, but in the city of Heihe in northeastern China’s Heilongjiang Province, it has become routine.

    Heihe is located across the river from Blagoveshchensk, the capital of Russia’s Amur region. With the resumption of visa-free group tours between China and Russia, “cross-border tourism” is rapidly gaining popularity. Every morning, many Russians head to Heihe in groups for the morning market, shopping, and tasting of Dongbei breakfast: youtiao (deep-fried dough sticks), soy milk, eggs boiled in seasoned tea, and egg burgers. They even came up with their own original breakfast — baozi (steamed buns) and beer.

    “I just went to the dentist, bought some household goods, and now I’m going to have lunch at a restaurant. Ten minutes by boat and I’ll be home – very convenient,” says Ekaterina from Blagoveshchensk with a smile, adding that she often comes to Heihe, and although she doesn’t speak Chinese, there are signs in Russian in the city, and many vendors speak a little Russian.

    In recent years, thanks to improved transport accessibility and visa relaxations, the number of Russian tourists in China has been steadily growing. Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Sanya, Chengdu, Qinhuangdao — the list of favorite tourist destinations for Russians in China is constantly expanding.

    While Russian tourists enjoy the beauty and cuisine of China, Chinese travelers are increasingly discovering the vast expanses of Russia. According to the Association of Tour Operators of Russia /ATOR/, in 2024 the number of Chinese tourists in Russia reached 848 thousand people, which is 4.2 times more than in 2023. In addition to Moscow and St. Petersburg, the Chinese are increasingly choosing Murmansk, Novosibirsk, Irkutsk and other cities for travel.

    To make the stay of Chinese tourists more comfortable, airports and major tourist attractions in a number of Russian cities have signs in Chinese, and popular restaurants have menus in Chinese. As part of the Years of Chinese and Russian Culture, Moscow has hosted the “Chinese New Year in Moscow” festival for two years in a row. A number of events were organized — theatrical performances, master classes, lectures, film screenings, and tea ceremonies.

    “As part of the cross-years, it is planned to hold a series of cultural events in both countries. The festival in honor of the Chinese New Year will be the first in a series of events,” said Deputy Mayor of Moscow Natalya Sergunina. According to her, China is one of the promising areas for the development of tourism and partnership relations in general. “We expect that this year, thanks to joint programs, the mutual tourist flow will continue to grow,” said N. Sergunina.

    At the same time, the Chinese cities of Beijing and Xi’an celebrated Maslenitsa: “Farewell to the Russian winter in China.” During the events, Chinese residents tried Russian pancakes and got acquainted with the traditions of folk festivities.

    “We recently celebrated the Spring Festival in Moscow with our Chinese friends. It was not just a celebration, but a real celebration of culture and friendship,” said Boris Titov, Chairman of the Russian section of the Russian-Chinese Committee for Friendship, Peace and Development, noting that cross-cultural Years emphasize the importance of dialogue and mutual understanding between different cultural traditions, and also help to expand the horizons of mutual perception and respect. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Agriculture Student Scholarship Recipients Announced in Saskatchewan

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on May 5, 2025

    Today, Saskatchewan students pursuing a post-secondary education in agriculture were awarded the Agriculture Student Scholarship.

    “It’s encouraging to see such passionate and knowledgeable youth in this year’s Agriculture Student Scholarship submissions,” Agriculture Minister Daryl Harrison said. “Saskatchewan producers are generational leaders when it comes to innovation and sustainability and that is why we continue to invest in the education of our future industry leaders. Congratulations to this year’s recipients.”  

    Abbey Norek is this year’s Agriculture Student Scholarship grand-prize $6,000 winner.

    Norek’s winning video highlighted an urban-rural disconnect when it comes to agriculture. She proposed education and advocacy as key solutions to this issue. Demonstrating strong personal commitment to this topic, she discussed her experience building a school garden using recycled materials, leading outreach programs on her family farm and lobbying for agriculture electives in her school division.  

    Norek is excited about encouraging other young people involved in agricultural education.

    “What it really comes down to is education and spreading awareness about what farming is really like so more people can build trust in it,” Norek said. “Hopefully more young people want to come into this amazing industry.”  

    Noah Skoropad from Chamberlin, Rebecca Mayerle from Tisdale and Ty Annand from Nipawin were all awarded $3,000 as the runners-up. The recipients will be attending post-secondary at the University of Saskatchewan in the fall at the College of Agriculture and Bioresources seeking a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture degrees.  

    For more information on the scholarship winners and their submissions, visit: www.saskatchewan.ca/ag-public-trust.

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: To the brink and back: How near-death experiences can change how people work

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Akierah Binns, PhD Management Candidate, University of Guelph

    New research on near-death experiences challenges conventional ideas about success, motivation and workplace culture. (Shutterstock)

    What happens when someone comes close to death and then returns to everyday life, including work? For some, the experience can be transformative.

    Near-death experiences (NDEs) are deeply personal experiences that some people report after a close brush with death. These experiences can include sensations such as floating above one’s body, reviewing moments from one’s life, encountering spiritual beings and feeling a profound sense of unity and love.

    Although NDEs have been studied since the 1970s, we know relatively little about how they affect people after the event. Research suggests people who have near-death experiences may feel increased empathy, spiritual growth, a sense of purpose and even change how they approach their jobs.

    Our recent study explored how near-death experiences impact people’s return to work. We interviewed 14 working adults who had a near-death experience as a result of medical crises such as a heart attack or accidents such as a car crash. What we found challenges conventional ideas about success, motivation and workplace culture.

    Doing meaningful work

    One of the most common changes expressed by the participants in our study was a desire to do work that felt meaningful and aligned with their newfound purpose in life.

    After their near-death experiences, many wanted to spend time doing work that mattered to them and made a positive difference.

    “I was not interested in doing nonsense … I just was not gonna waste my time on nonsense,” one participant told us. Her perspective shifted dramatically after her heart began beating abnormally for 20 minutes and she lost consciousness.

    Others described similar shifts. Many participants changed their careers by focusing on different work priorities, switching jobs or even starting their own companies. One participant described quitting a high-earning job after being headhunted. She started her own business, which allowed her to use her own NDE to support individuals through the end-of-life process.

    As one participant put it:

    “I like to say that when I woke up in that hospital bed, I had a knowing that the character I was playing was no longer working for me and I had to change characters, and changing that character meant changing that job.”

    Rethinking motivation

    Another significant shift reported by participants was a reprioritization of their values, which, in turn, shifted their attitudes towards work and their careers.

    After experiencing a near-death experience, many lost interest in external measures of success such as salary, fancy titles and prestige. Across the study’s participants, all reported no longer being motivated by extrinsic factors, such as money or receiving recognition for work.

    Instead, they focused on internal alignment and authenticity. Rather than being driven by external rewards, participants were motivated by personal growth and making a positive difference.

    In some workplaces, employee motivation is driven by extrinsic incentives such as bonuses, promotions or external recognition. However, after their NDEs, participants reported being driven by their own internal benchmarks or purpose.

    As one of our interviewees said:

    “The motivation that was there came from this very strange, deep place that I wanted to all of a sudden make a huge impact, you know, in every part of my life … It’s hard to come out of this experience and not feel there’s a reason why you’re here, and you hate to say it, but you feel you have this special gift now. And it’s like why and how am I going to apply this? So, with work, I approach it that way as well.”

    Relational transformations

    We also found that near-death experiences transformed how people interacted with and related to others at work. This is consistent with previous research that shows distinct personality and attitude changes reported by survivors of NDES. Specifically, NDEs shift individual outlooks on life and can serve as catalysts for transformation, influencing how people relate to others.

    Before their near-death experience, many participants viewed workplace relationships as task-oriented and transactional. But afterward, those same relationships became more meaningful to them.

    Colleagues, clients and customers were no longer viewed as just business contacts. Instead, several participants spoke of their service and sales interactions as small acts of relationship-building rather than simply being economic exchanges.

    One participant said:

    “My relationships across the board are deeper, are more connected with people, a hundred per cent … I was a decent salesman before but this is, like, bringing spirituality into a quote-unquote sales position, which blows my mind.”

    One of the most common changes described by participants was a desire to do work that felt meaningful and aligned with a newfound sense of purpose.
    (Shutterstock)

    Lessons for the rest of us

    What does this mean for those of us who haven’t had a near-death experience?

    The participants in our study said their near-death experiences reoriented them to what really matters in life. The after-effects challenge traditional organizational values that celebrate hyper-productivity at the expense of meaning and high-quality relationships. As previous studies suggest, workers engaged in meaningful work eventually manifest greater productivity and accomplishment as opposed to burnout as a result of overwork.

    As interest in workplace well-being continues to rise — particularly in the wake of COVID-19 and the “great resignation” — NDE survivors may be ahead of the curve.

    The after-effects of a near-death experience align with what workers tend to want from their jobs. Workers generally want to satisfy three fundamental needs: economic security, meaningful work and high-quality relationships. Our results suggest that NDE after-effects result in reductions in the importance of satisfying the drive for economic security and elevate the significance of meaningful work and authentic relationships.

    The stories of near-death experience survivors offer a kind of blueprint for reimagining how we work. For employees, that might mean re-evaluating what success looks like or exploring roles that align more closely with personal values. For employers, it might involve fostering workplace cultures that prioritize connection, purpose and well-being.

    One participant offers a lasting reminder for all of us seeking more meaning in our life and jobs: “It’s about relationships, not achievements.”

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

    – ref. To the brink and back: How near-death experiences can change how people work – https://theconversation.com/to-the-brink-and-back-how-near-death-experiences-can-change-how-people-work-254443

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Science in Action: Scientist from the State University of Management Scientists Speaks at a Forum in St. Petersburg

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

    From April 28 to 29, Alexey Terentyev, Chief Researcher of the Scientific Research Coordination Department of the State University of Management, took part in the plenary session of the III International Scientific and Practical Conference “Modeling of Modern Information Systems in the Context of Digital Transformation”, which was held at the St. Petersburg State Transport University.

    The conference participants were researchers, teachers, doctoral students, postgraduate students of universities, representatives of non-profit organizations, enterprises, IT companies, regional and federal government bodies. They discussed Russian and international experience, results and prospects for the development of mathematics and information technology in transport, the growth of scientific knowledge in the field of mathematical modeling, numerical methods and software packages.

    A SMU scientist presented a report on the topic “Methods of decision-making theory under conditions of uncertainty for applied problems of transport logistics.”

    On April 29, Alexey Terentyev visited the St. Petersburg Federal Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences (SPb FRC RAS) to exchange experience in fundamental areas of research in the field of decision theory.

    As a result of fruitful communication, a common interest was identified in conducting joint research aimed at developing and elaborating original mathematical methods of modeling in complex control systems based on decision theory.

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 05.05.2025

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The Nizhny Novgorod Higher School of Economics has created simulators for government procurement

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    Specialists Faculty of Law HSE University – Nizhny Novgorod and invited experts (Larisa Pakhomova and Anastasia Selchenok) have developed a series of dialogue simulators for training public procurement specialists. Users will be able to effectively practice skills in this area and go through complex procedures in a safe virtual environment.

    The Faculty of Law of the National Research University Higher School of Economics — Nizhny Novgorod has launched a series of dialogue simulators developed for training in the field of state and municipal procurement. This is a digital environment for practical mastery of complex procurement procedures under Federal Laws 44 and 223.

    Dialogue simulators allow users — representatives of customers, suppliers, contractors and performers — to go through realistic scenarios that simulate real processes. This approach helps to learn the theoretical foundations and immediately put the acquired knowledge into practice.

    The product is designed for public procurement specialists undergoing training at programs advanced training and professional retraining Center for Legal Support of Business, Public Procurement and Foreign Economic Activity HSE University – Nizhny Novgorod. The interactivity of the tool ensures high involvement of students, and the online format makes it possible to study at a convenient time and in any place.

    “We sought to create a modern and useful tool for training specialists working with public procurement. We believe that practice is the best way to learn, especially in the legal field, where the consequences of mistakes can be quite significant,” said Anastasia Loginova, head of the center and deputy dean of the faculty of law at the National Research University Higher School of Economics – Nizhny Novgorod.

    Currently, demo versions of simulators for testing knowledge of Federal Laws 44 and 223, allowing you to get acquainted with the functionality and evaluate the effectiveness of the methodology, are available free of charge.

    The dialogue simulator “Management of state and municipal purchases” allows you to practice practical skills in purchasing goods within the framework of 44-FZ And 223-FZ. It offers the user to consistently go through the path from entering the purchase into the plan-schedule to the announcement of the winner and electronic certification. The simulator also contains tasks on 344-FZ in various pre-written scenarios. Practicing skills on the simulator will help to avoid mistakes and, accordingly, liability for violations in the field of public procurement, will teach you to identify unscrupulous suppliers at the stage of submitting applications, and also to accurately calculate the amount of the application security in order to prevent the appeal procedure in the future.

    Passing the dialogue simulator «Tender specialist» will teach you how to correctly analyze procurement documentation, calculate the amount of costs for procurement support and costs for contract execution, as well as the full amount of financial costs. In practice, errors in such calculations can lead to undesirable consequences, including bankruptcy of the organization participating in the procurement, inclusion in the register of unscrupulous suppliers, or administrative liability.

    Also available Contract Managers Simulator, working under 44-FZ.

    Currently, the Faculty of Law of the National Research University Higher School of Economics – Nizhny Novgorod continues to develop the product, including creating simulators for legal practice.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Man Sentenced to 444 Months for Firing on Law Enforcement

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – A Forsyth County, North Carolina, man was sentenced yesterday in Greensboro to a total of 37 years in prison after pleading guilty to felon in possession of a firearm, assault on a federal officer by use of a deadly and dangerous weapon, and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, announced Acting United States Attorney Randall S. Galyon of the Middle District of North Carolina (MDNC).   

    TYREE RAY LONG, age 28, was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment for the felon in possession of a firearm plus 3 years of post-release supervision by the Honorable William L. Osteen, Jr., United States District Judge in the United States District Court for the MDNC. LONG was sentenced to 204 months to run consecutive to that sentence for the assault on a federal officer plus 3 years of post-release supervision. LONG was also sentenced to 120 months to run consecutive to the other two sentences for discharging a firearm during and in relation to the assault on law enforcement plus 5 years of post-release supervision to run concurrent to the other post-release supervision.

    According to court records, on the evening of April 21, 2022, officers with the Winston-Salem Police Department (WSPD) were called to a domestic disturbance with a report of shots fired. A woman reported that her boyfriend, TYREE RAY LONG, shot at her and her daughter as they tried to drive away from their residence after an argument.  LONG hit the car four times, but no one was injured.

    Officers investigated the shooting and obtained arrest warrants for LONG. On April 26, 2022, members of the US Marshal’s Service (USMS) Fugitive Task Force (FTF) received information that LONG was at a hotel on Northpoint Boulevard in Winston-Salem. Members of the USMS FTF and local law enforcement officers from WSPD and the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office responded to the parking lot of the hotel. LONG was identified in the driver’s seat of a Ford Fusion which was backed into a parking space. At least seven law enforcement vehicles entered the parking lot and were positioned to block LONG’s exit. Agents and officers then exited their vehicles and began giving commands to LONG to show his hands. Instead, LONG dropped his hands to the gear shifter.

    LONG began to drive forward and wedged the Fusion between two law enforcement vehicles that had been blocking him in. He hit at least two cars, one of which was occupied by a United States Marshal.  LONG then sped out of the parking lot and was pursued by officers. LONG entered University Parkway Southbound and led agents and officers on a three-mile car chase through both business and residential areas, including off-campus student housing for Wake Forest University. At times during the chase, Long was driving in the opposing lane of travel.  A USMS Agent was operating the lead car in pursuit when LONG began shooting at officers out the window of his car while in the 2800 block of University Parkway.  LONG fired at officers approximately ten times.

    Shortly thereafter, LONG crashed his car into a line of traffic waiting at the stoplight at University Parkway and 25th Street, which caused a chain reaction of collisions. LONG abandoned the vehicle and ran on foot toward the CVS at that intersection. When LONG exited his car, an agent observed a handgun in LONG’s hand.

    LONG hopped the fence behind the CVS and then leveled the gun and fired one round at a pursuing WSPD officer before fleeing toward a detached garage behind a house.  He was detained shortly afterwards by pursuing officers.

    LONG pleaded guilty on August 5, 2025, to one count of Felon in Possession of a Firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2); to one count of Assault on a Federal Officer by Use of a Deadly and Dangerous Weapon, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 111(a)(1), 18 U.S.C. § 111(b); and to one count of Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence, 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(iii).

    The case was investigated by the Winston-Salem Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, and the United States Marshal Service Fugitive Task Force, with assistance from the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Martin and Assistant United States Attorney Nicole R. DuPré.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to study of how adolescents with and without mental health conditions use social media

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    A study published in Nature Human Behaviour looks at social media use in adolescents with and without mental health conditions. 

    Prof Chris Ferguson, Professor of Psychology, Stetson University, said:

    “Overall, I find this to be a basic, but overall well-done study by a reputable research group. There are some limits to this study, which the authors themselves acknowledge. The data is self-report, and that has been shown to sometimes relate to false positive correlations in some studies. I found the evidence overall to be rather inconsistent and hard to interpret as making any kind of solid conclusion one way or another.  Most of the effect sizes are very, very small so that even if they are unlikely to be statistical noise, they are probably still too small to base any firm conclusions or policy on.  Overall, I’d say there may be very tiny differences in some behaviours, between kids with or without mental health symptoms and their social media use. But, overall, these are pretty gossamer and much less critical than most of the public has tended to think.”

    ‘Social media use in adolescents with and without mental health conditions’ by Luisa Fassi et al. was published in Nature Human Behaviour at 16:00 UK time on Monday 5th May. 

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-025-02134-4

     

     

    Declared interests

    Prof Chris Ferguson: No declarations

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: GAO Makes MACPAC Appointments

    Source: US Government Accountability Office

    WASHINGTON (May 5, 2025)—Gene L. Dodaro, Comptroller General of the United States and head of the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), today announced the appointment of two new members to the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC). Four members were also reappointed.

    “I am honored to appoint our two newest members to this important commission and to welcome back our reappointed members,” Dodaro said. “Their valuable expertise and commitment to public service will enhance MACPAC’s role in providing Congress with thoughtful, evidence-based guidance on Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).”

    The newly appointed members are April Hartman and Anne Karl. Their terms will expire in April 2028. In addition, current members Sonja Bjork, Jennifer Gerstorff, Angelo Giardino, and Dennis Heaphy were reappointed to new terms, which will also expire in April 2028.

    The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Reauthorization Act of 2009 established MACPAC to review Medicaid and CHIP access and payment policies and to advise Congress on issues affecting Medicaid and CHIP. The Act directs the Comptroller General to appoint MACPAC’s members. Brief biographies of the new commission members follow.

    April Hartman, MD, FAAP is a board-certified general pediatrician with over 25 years of clinical experience in both rural and urban settings. She serves as Professor and Division Chief of General Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine at the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University. She currently chairs the Medicaid Task Force for the Georgia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics; serves as President of the Board of Directors for Child Enrichment, Inc.; and is the Medical Liaison for Resilient Communities of East Georgia. Dr. Hartman earned her medical degree from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee.

    Anne Karl, JD, is a partner at Manatt Health with 15 years of experience in health care. She advises states and providers across the country on a wide range of Medicaid and CHIP issues. Ms. Karl has expertise with complex Medicaid payment and financing issues. She also leads teams that support states as they develop, negotiate, and implement Medicaid 1115 waivers. Ms. Karl received her law degree from Yale Law School.

    For more information about MACPAC, contact Kate Massey, MACPAC’s executive director, at (202) 350-2000. Other questions should be directed to Sarah Kaczmarek, Managing Director of GAO Public Affairs at media@gao.gov.

    #####

    The Government Accountability Office, known as the investigative arm of Congress, is an independent, nonpartisan agency that exists to support Congress in meeting its constitutional responsibilities. GAO also works to improve the performance of the federal government and ensure its accountability to the American people. The agency examines the use of public funds; evaluates federal programs and policies; and provides analyses, recommendations, and other assistance to help Congress make informed oversight, policy, and funding decisions. GAO provides Congress with timely information that is objective, fact-based, nonideological, fair, and balanced. GAO’s commitment to good government is reflected in its core values of accountability, integrity, and reliability. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Investing in agriculture reduces poverty and inequality: economic model finds the best funding mix for 10 African countries

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Margaret Chitiga-Mabugu, Dean of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, University of Pretoria

    Africa faces challenges in reducing extreme poverty and inequality. In 2024, 8.5% of the global population was living in extreme poverty (that is, on less than US$2.15 a day). Nearly 67% of these people were living in sub-Saharan Africa.

    To tackle these significant issues of poverty and inequality, it is essential to identify the locations of the most impoverished individuals. This enables investments to focus on generating growth and productivity that are both inclusive of poor people and sustainable.

    About 70% of the poor in sub-Saharan Africa live in rural areas. Most (65% to 70%) are employed in agriculture. Agriculture also contributes 30%-40% to the gross domestic product (GDP).

    Despite its importance, agriculture is underfunded. African countries don’t have enough of their own resources to finance agriculture, and external funding is becoming more scarce.

    The region thus desperately needs an innovative plan to finance agriculture for economic development.

    In a recent study we analysed
    how different ways of funding agricultural investment would affect inclusive growth and the wider economy in 10 African countries. Raising taxes, cutting budgets and external support were the different funding options we explored.

    We created economic models that would help countries with tight budgets understand the trade-offs and choose the best options.

    Our study found that investing more in agriculture – especially with external financing – was best at raising incomes and reducing poverty, particularly in rural areas. External funding avoids the higher costs of domestic financing. But a mix of both is also effective.

    Regardless of the country, all financing options resulted in increased rural incomes, reducing poverty and hunger. This shows that investment in agriculture has a positive impact both nationally and in rural contexts.

    The model

    Our paper uses an economic simulation model which looks at the big picture and also at more detail. It works out how changes in agricultural spending affect people’s lives (in terms of their income and expenditure) as well as the overall economy.

    The countries studied were Angola, Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana, Rwanda, Gabon, Malawi, eSwatini, Lesotho and Zimbabwe. We chose them based on the availability and accessibility of the data required.

    The model worked out the results of different financing strategies:

    • Increase in taxes (direct ones like household income and property tax or indirect ones like VAT or sales tax). The idea is that spending more on agriculture would be compensated for by higher tax revenues. These would come from households’ growing income and property taxes.

    • Reduction in non-agricultural investment spending. Here, the proportion of government investment dedicated to agriculture remains fixed. So there has to be less investment elsewhere.

    • Increase in government external borrowing or development assistance.

    Key findings

    We found that external financing boosted both national and rural incomes the most. But variations in the exchange rate may trigger an increase in domestic prices and a subsequent decline in export volumes. That could make a country less competitive economically.

    Despite this, the associated costs are generally lower than those of internal financing, aside from Mozambique’s rural income results.

    Between the two internal financing mechanisms tested, the option of reducing non-agricultural investment raised both national income and rural income in all countries except eSwatini.

    So that option should play a key role along with external financing.

    This finding is encouraging for fiscally constrained countries as the modelling showed that domestic financing improved the countries’ agency in sustainable growth.

    In a final modelling phase, the models explored how the policy interventions could transform poverty and inequality outcomes. They did this by following the intricate interplay of income and price dynamics. After a surge in agricultural investments following the policy scenarios, the findings showed a more pronounced reduction in poverty and inequality rates across all nations. There was one notable outlier — Angola. In Angola, investments channelled into the services sector have sparked the most substantial decreases in poverty and inequality, driven by the deep interconnectivity between services and its expansive oil industry.

    Even a small increase in public investment led to a clear drop in poverty, with agriculture investments having the biggest impact, followed by industry and services. Malawi showed the most substantial reduction in poverty. There were also noticeable effects in Rwanda, Botswana, eSwatini and Angola.

    Other countries showed mild impacts, maintaining low poverty levels.

    What can be done

    Scenario modelling can offer valuable insights for policy making because it is forward-looking. It also highlights the implications of strategic priorities.

    The study’s findings show that to achieve inclusive economic growth, countries should aggressively invest in agriculture, using a mix of external and domestic fiscal sources.

    On the back of the findings we made the following proposals.

    African governments are dependent on development aid because of limited domestic finances and weak growth prospects. This gets in the way of their ability to raise funds in the markets. However, if concessional financing is attainable and exchange rate impacts are controllable, external financing should remain a preferable option for financing agriculture investments.

    In the medium term, governments must focus on:

    • cutting unproductive non-agricultural spending

    • eliminating waste

    • ensuring cost-effectiveness.

    Savings should be redirected to agriculture.

    Over the medium term, there should be a focus on reforming tax policies. Direct and indirect taxes should be increased to fund agricultural investment. But maintaining transparency in using tax revenues is crucial. This encourages public support and local ownership of tax reforms by demonstrating their benefits.

    In the long term, governments should synchronise national development plans with ambitious agricultural growth initiatives.

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

    – ref. Investing in agriculture reduces poverty and inequality: economic model finds the best funding mix for 10 African countries – https://theconversation.com/investing-in-agriculture-reduces-poverty-and-inequality-economic-model-finds-the-best-funding-mix-for-10-african-countries-252820

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: 30 years of free basic education in Ghana: a report card

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Pearl S. Kyei, Senior lecturer, University of Ghana

    Ghana, like many sub-Saharan Africa countries, began investing substantially in free education three decades ago. This led to an increase in the number of children that attend primary school. But what has the impact been on learning outcomes?

    The Conversation Africa spoke to demographer Pearl Kyei, who, with economists Fred Dzanku and Samuel Annim, has researched population literacy and numeracy in Ghana after three decades of free education.

    How long has Ghana offered free basic education?

    Ghana introduced what it calls the Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education (FCUBE) programme in 1994. This meant that families could send children to public schools without paying school fees. In 2005, it introduced the Capitation Grant Scheme to further reduce financial barriers to education and increase access. The grant was to discourage schools from charging unapproved fees and levies to make up for the lost tuition fees.

    Basic education in Ghana currently covers the pre-primary, primary and lower secondary levels. Pre-primary involves two years of kindergarten (for ages 4 and 5 years), primary is six years (for ages 6 to 11 years), and lower secondary is three years of junior high school (for ages 12 to 14 years). After junior high school, students have the option to continue to senior high, technical or vocational school (for ages 15 to 17 years).

    Several other countries on the continent, such as Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia, have put in place free basic education policies too. This is due to the adoption of the Continental Education Strategy for Africa (2016 – 2025) which references the post-2015 commitment of African governments to provide a basic education of 10 to 12 years and to provide at least one year of free pre-primary education.

    How is the policy implemented?

    Ghana’s 1992 constitution states that “basic education shall be free, compulsory and available to all”. From 1994, primary and junior high schools had to provide fee-free tuition. Financial support from government was later introduced (capitation grants) to compensate public schools for the loss of fees.

    The Capitation Grant Scheme provides money to schools each term to help cover costs. The government gives a set amount of money per student to public schools every year. This money is distributed to public schools based on the number of enrolled students, and each student receives a specific amount of money under the grant. This amount is in addition to the main education budget. The 2024 Mid-Year Budget Review reported that the capitation grant was GH₵ 15 per child (approximately US$1) per term in 2024.

    Is it working?

    Since the introduction of the 1994 free schooling programme, Ghana has recorded substantial increases in enrolment rates at the basic education level.

    Research shows there are several problems, however. These include:

    All these are likely to affect the quality of education and learning outcomes of students.

    What has the impact been on outcomes?

    We conducted research to understand whether people’s basic reading and math skills in Ghana had improved over time after many years of expanding education. The study compared groups with similar levels of schooling using two national surveys taken 10 years apart to find out if there had been a meaningful change in basic reading and math skills.

    We used data from two nationwide Ghana Living Standards Surveys, conducted in 2006 and 2017. During the data collection, interviewers used flashcards to measure the basic reading and math skills of survey respondents. Persons aged 11 or older were shown flashcards. To answer “yes” to questions about whether they could read or solve written calculations, they had to read a sentence fully and answer a simple math problem correctly.

    In the study we defined “basically literate” as being able to read a short English sentence, and “basically numerate” meant being able to solve a simple written math problem. The sample for our study comprised 25,424 and 42,376 persons in 2006 and in 2017 respectively.

    We found that the percentage of persons 11 years and older in the sample who have never attended school declined from 28% in 2006 to 16% in 2017. But there was a decline in literacy and numeracy for persons with basic education.

    The observed decline was larger for math than for literacy. For instance, those with upper primary education (class 4 to 6) were 14% less likely to be able to correctly read a short sentence in 2017 compared to 2006. For math, the likelihood of persons with upper primary education correctly solving the math problem was 25% lower in 2017.

    The study additionally found that basic literacy and numeracy declined more in urban areas than in rural areas at the lower and upper primary levels. Trends for males and females were largely similar.

    How can it be improved?

    Our findings suggest that without focusing on investments that maintain quality as enrolment increases – like hiring well-trained teachers, providing enough funding, and supplying schools with adequate materials – free education programmes could lead to long-term declines in learning outcomes.

    Such declines in basic literacy and numeracy would likely have a negative effect on job productivity, the economy, and social inclusion in the long run.

    So there is a need to invest more in quality education to go along with increased access. These investments would help students acquire the foundational skills they need and ensure that free education leads to lasting improvements in skills that are crucial for national growth.

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

    – ref. 30 years of free basic education in Ghana: a report card – https://theconversation.com/30-years-of-free-basic-education-in-ghana-a-report-card-253993

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: City police in South Africa’s capital have a bad image – how to fix it

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Azwihangwisi Judith Mphidi, Post Doctoral Research Fellow, Tshwane University of Technology

    Corruption in South Africa’s public institutions has been a pressing issue for the past two decades. From national government offices to local municipalities, stories of officials enriching themselves at the expense of the public have become all too familiar.

    The Tshwane Metropolitan Police Department – responsible for traffic policing, crime prevention, and by-law enforcement in South Africa’s capital city – has not escaped this crisis.

    With over four million residents spread across 6,298 square kilometres, Tshwane plays a vital role in the country’s political and economic landscape. Yet its municipal police department, one of the largest in South Africa, with an average of 4,000 operational staff, is increasingly associated with allegations of bribery, abuse of power and unethical behaviour.

    I am a postdoctoral researcher with a focus on criminal justice, and an active social justice advocate. In a recent research paper, I explored how corruption in the Tshwane Metropolitan Police Department is damaging public trust and compromising law enforcement and crime prevention.

    I was able to observe the culture and environment of the Tshwane Metropolitan Police Department as a motorist and as an employee under the city’s Community and Social Development Department.

    My research drew on texts and context rather than analysis of numbers, since the study was written after I left the City of Tshwane. I relied on my first hand experience, and already published and documented evidence. I did not need special permissions to do this but cited sources consulted.

    The study found that motorists view the Tshwane Metropolitan Police Department as predators rather than protectors. Corruption in the traffic police is more than a betrayal of public trust. When officers take bribes instead of enforcing traffic laws, road safety suffers.

    Inside the Tshwane Metropolitan Police Department

    In recent years, the Tshwane Metropolitan Police Department has been accused of recruiting members with criminal records and cases of corruption.

    My key findings were about:

    Hiring practices: Individuals with criminal records have been recruited into the department. Vetting is conducted, but the reports come later when they are already employed, then they are expelled.

    Bribery: Motorists frequently report officers soliciting bribes during routine traffic stops or other bribery related incidences. Some of these reports are made to the mayoral committee member for community safety.

    Lack of accountability: Officers implicated in corruption are not always dismissed, or may face minimal consequences.

    Public complaints: Over 200 officers have been under investigation for various misconduct allegations in recent years.

    Political interference and leadership instability

    In the course of the research, I found that another key factor undermining the effectiveness of the Tshwane Metropolitan Police Department is political interference in operational matters and leadership appointments as a result of the structure of the municipalities across the country. All mayoral committee executives and council members are politicians.

    Frequent reshuffling of senior leaders based on politics rather than merit weakens strategic direction and fosters corruption. Politically connected individuals often secure positions without proper vetting, either due to delays in completing reports or human resources not waiting for the report before proceeding with appointments.

    The combination of weak vetting processes, inadequate oversight, and political interference has created an environment where corruption is not only possible but, in some cases, normalised.

    Damage to the capital city’s global reputation and tourism

    The corruption within the Tshwane Metropolitan Police Department not only affects local residents but also tarnishes Pretoria’s reputation as South Africa’s administrative capital, home to embassies from around the world.

    As the city hosts more than 130 foreign diplomatic missions — the second-largest concentration of embassies in the world after Washington DC — the behaviour of municipal police officers directly influences the capital city’s global image.

    When officers solicit bribes or abuse their power during routine traffic stops, they might not distinguish between local residents, foreign diplomats or tourists. This indiscriminate targeting is likely to create an unsafe environment for international visitors and damage the trust of foreign nations engaging with South Africa.

    What needs to be done

    Addressing corruption in the Tshwane Metropolitan Police Department will require urgent reforms. Based on the research, I argue that the following actions are essential:

    Stricter recruitment processes: Background checks should be mandatory for all officers. Individuals found to have criminal records should be disqualified from serving.

    Body cameras and digital monitoring: Equipping officers with body cameras would provide an objective record of interactions with the public.

    Independent oversight: An external body should be established to investigate complaints and ensure accountability. Currently, municipal policing is governed by the South African Police Service Act 68 of 1995, and the Independent Police Investigative Directorate investigates some complaints. But it appears to have limited resources.

    Ethics training: All officers should get regular training to reinforce the importance of integrity and professionalism. They are currently trained at the Police Academy and get support from academic institutions, including the University of Pretoria.

    Community engagement: Building partnerships between the Tshwane Metropolitan Police Department and the communities it serves can help restore trust and improve transparency.

    Municipal policing law

    Restoring public confidence requires more than piecemeal reforms — it demands a new legal framework.

    A South African Municipal Policing Act could create a unified standard for municipal policing across the country, addressing many of the root causes of corruption. This legislation could introduce:

    National municipal police officers register: A centralised database that records applications, criminal background checks, disciplinary history, and performance assessments of all municipal officers.

    Uniform ethical standards: Clear ethical guidelines that apply to all municipal police officers, regardless of location.

    Independent oversight: An investigative body focused solely on municipal policing.

    Mandatory pre-vetting process: All applicants would undergo fingerprint-based criminal record checks.

    Cross-municipal blacklisting: Officers dismissed or suspended from one municipality would be automatically barred from working in another.

    Digital recording systems: All municipal police vehicles and personnel would be equipped with body cameras and GPS tracking systems to improve accountability.

    A framework like this would close loopholes that allow corrupt officers to move between municipalities undetected. It would also prevent the recycling of officers with criminal records.

    Azwihangwisi Judith Mphidi 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. City police in South Africa’s capital have a bad image – how to fix it – https://theconversation.com/city-police-in-south-africas-capital-have-a-bad-image-how-to-fix-it-251505

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Marine fossil found in South Africa is one of a kind, thanks to unusual preservation

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Sarah Gabbott, Professor of Palaeontology, University of Leicester

    A fossilised creature found in a South African roadside quarry 25 years ago has finally got an official name. The small, segmented, crustacean-like creature, dated to 444 million years ago, can now be introduced as Keurbos susanae. It belongs to the arthropod group of animals, which accounts for about 84% of all known species that exist today, including insects, spiders and crabs.

    Palaeontologist Sarah Gabbott explains what’s so unusual about her discovery, which she named as part of the process of describing it scientifically.

    What can you tell us about this creature and the environment it lived in?

    The fossil is about 50cm long and has 46 almost identical segments. Projecting from each is a delicate, gill-like structure. It would probably have looked like a bit like a horseshoe crab and the gills would have been for absorbing oxygen from the water it lived in. Its insides are exquisitely well-preserved, which is very unusual for fossils – normally only the hard, more decay-resistant external features would be preserved. You can see bundles of muscle fibres that would have powered the limbs, tendons and an internal scaffold structure that gave the animal rigidity.

    We think it would have spent most of its life living on, or more likely just above, the seafloor, probably walking and swimming in an undulatory (waving) motion.

    It lived in the immediate aftermath of the end Ordovician extinction event more than 440 million years ago, caused by glaciations (the spread of icy conditions) across vast swaths of the planet. This extinction wiped out about 85% of Earth’s species. The marine basin that Keurbos susanae inhabited was probably very cold and at times covered with sea ice.

    It was a relatively hostile environment in other ways too. Our analyses of the chemistry of the shales – the sediments on the sea bed where this animal and others lived, now turned to rock – shows that they were deposited under anoxic conditions (that is, there was no oxygen circulating freely in the water). And at times free hydrogen sulfide occurred in the sediment porewaters (the water in tiny spaces between grains of sediment) and even above the seafloor. Not much could live in these conditions and this was critical to this fossil’s amazing preservation.

    It meant the carcass was not scavenged by other animals after it died. Also, the chemistry was important in the process whereby the soft tissues, which should usually rot away rapidly, became mineralised quickly after death. This turned the animal’s anatomy to mineral which survived for hundreds of millions of years until it was discovered.

    It is preserved “inside out”.

    Keurbos susanae is a new genus and species which we are still trying to place among other early arthropods. The fact that its insides are better preserved than its outside makes it difficult to compare with other fossils that are preserved the “other way round”.

    How did you find the fossil and what else has been found in that area?

    The site is in the Cedarberg mountains, north of Cape Town. To collect fossils in this area you need a permit granted by the Council for Geoscience. Fossil-bearing rocks are protected by law because of their heritage and scientific value.

    Fossil hunting in these rocks takes a lot of hard work and patience, splitting open the shales with a hammer and chisel. These shale rocks are what’s left of layers of silt that were once on the sea floor. The fossils here are super rare: you can dig and split shale for days and not find a single fossil! But we know there are some in there because of discoveries made previously.

    I found two specimens. The first one is complete but the second one only has the middle part of the body preserved.

    In the same rocks we have found some of the earliest vertebrate fossils with mineralised teeth, called conodonts. They were eel shaped and predatory. Also eurypterids (sea scorpions), arthropods with powerful swimming appendages, which would have cruised through the frigid waters. There are also orthocones – a type of chambered cephalopod – like the mollusc fossils called ammonites, which have been found in large numbers, but with a straight shell instead of coiled.

    Why has it taken 25 years to describe Keurbos susanae scientifically?

    Two reasons really.

    First, because of the nature of preservation, where all the insides are perfectly preserved but the outside (the carapace or body covering) is absent, it is just difficult to interpret and compare to other fossils. And secondly because the specimen’s head and legs are missing and these are key characteristics that palaeontologists would use to help them to understand the evolutionary relationships of such fossils.

    If more specimens were to be found, with their heads and legs, we could be more certain about where this fossil fitted in the scheme of life. But the site where I found it has been covered in a lot of rock from quarrying activity. So we decided to describe what we had in the meantime, and not wait for more examples.

    The fossil’s name, Keurbos susanae, refers to the place where I found it and to my mother, Sue, who encouraged me to follow a career that made me happy, whatever that might be.

    Sarah Gabbott receives funding from Natural Environmental Research Council; National Geographic. She is affiliated with Green Circle Nature Regeneration CIC a not for profit Environmental Community Interest Company in the UK

    – ref. Marine fossil found in South Africa is one of a kind, thanks to unusual preservation – https://theconversation.com/marine-fossil-found-in-south-africa-is-one-of-a-kind-thanks-to-unusual-preservation-255256

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Menopause symptoms may be critical to understanding Alzheimer’s disease risk in women

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Jasper Crockford, Medical Science Master’s Student, University of Calgary

    Hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, urinary tract infections, irregular periods, low libido, trouble sleeping, brain fog, mood swings — and in rare cases, even a burning tongue sensation. What might all these symptoms have in common? They can all be signs of menopause.

    But could these symptoms hint at a greater story? New research suggests that menopause symptoms are not just immediate hurdles to overcome; they might also hold clues about a person’s future health, including their risk for conditions like dementia. However, to understand this connection, we must first understand what menopause is and how it affects the brain and body.

    Symptoms may emerge during the hormonal changes of menopause.
    (FreePik)

    What is menopause?

    Menopause marks the natural end of a woman’s menstrual periods, typically occurring in their late 40s or early 50s. Officially, menopause describes the specific day when someone has gone a full year without a period.

    However, menopause doesn’t happen overnight. It often starts years earlier with a phase called perimenopause. During this time, the body prepares for menopause, and hormone levels — especially estrogen — fluctuate. This transition can last several years, often bringing symptoms like irregular periods, hot flashes, mood swings and more.

    Once periods stop completely, a woman enters postmenopause. Unfortunately, symptoms don’t always end here; some may persist for years, and new symptoms may appear.

    These stages — perimenopause, menopause and postmenopause — are all part of the same journey, though each person’s experience is unique.

    An all too similar patient’s journey

    While menopause is a natural process, its symptoms can feel anything but. Some people may experience mild or no symptoms, while others struggle with numerous and severe symptoms that disrupt daily life.

    Symptoms like anxiety can make socializing difficult, sleep problems can lead to exhaustion and brain fog can make even simple tasks feel daunting. Together, these challenges can affect thoughts, feelings and social lives — key aspects to overall health.

    Symptoms like anxiety can make socializing difficult, sleep problems can lead to exhaustion and brain fog can make even simple tasks feel daunting.
    (FreePik)

    Why menopause matters beyond the present

    Understanding menopause and its symptoms is just the beginning. Beyond being a transitional phase, the challenges of menopause may offer a unique window into future brain health.

    Take Alzheimer’s disease, the most common cause of dementia, marked by progressive memory loss, emotional and personality changes, and eventually, a loss of independence. Women are twice as likely as men to develop Alzheimer’s disease. In the past, research thought this difference was because women live longer than men, but new research suggests that menopause-related hormone changes may also play a critical role.

    Estrogen helps protect memory, strengthen neural connections, regulate mood and remove harmful proteins from the brain. When estrogen levels fall, these health benefits may weaken.
    (FreePik)

    The role of hormones in brain health

    During menopause, the ovaries stop producing eggs, triggering significant hormonal changes. One major change is the drop in estrogen, a hormone not only essential for reproduction, but also brain health.

    Estrogen helps protect memory, strengthen neural connections, regulate mood and remove harmful proteins from the brain. When estrogen levels fall, these health benefits may weaken, possibly leaving the brain and body more vulnerable to harmful changes.

    During these hormonal changes, menopause symptoms may also emerge. While symptoms were once thought to be temporary, albeit uncomfortable, side-effects of menopause, these symptoms may also signal underlying brain changes linked to dementia risk.

    Future cognitive and behavioural health

    While past research has examined how individual menopausal symptoms may relate to dementia risk, our research team (led by Dr. Zahinoor Ismail, a physician-scientist) asked: could the number of symptoms experienced also indicate early warning signs of dementia?

    We explored this by analyzing changes in:

    1. Cognition (for example, memory, thinking, and problem-solving) and

    2. Behaviour (for example, emotions, personality, and social interactions).

    While cognitive changes are often top of mind when thinking about dementia, behavioural changes are equally important but frequently overlooked, and might also be early warning signs.

    We examined data from 896 postmenopausal participants in the CAN-PROTECT study, an online Canadian project on aging and brain health. Participants recalled the type and number of symptoms they experienced during perimenopause and completed tests assessing their current cognition and behaviour.

    Among the participants, 74.3 per cent experienced perimenopausal symptoms — an average four symptoms per person — with hot flashes (88 per cent) and night sweats (70 per cent) being most common.

    Menopause symptoms may signal underlying brain changes linked to dementia risk.
    (Shutterstock)

    Our findings revealed that experiencing more symptoms during perimenopause was associated with greater cognitive and behavioural changes later in life, suggesting the burden of perimenopausal symptoms not only affected immediate well-being, but could also signal long-term brain health risks.

    While the underlying mechanisms remain unclear, these findings highlight the importance of recognizing menopausal symptoms as potential early indicators of future brain health.

    Interestingly, participants who used estrogen-based hormone therapies for perimenopausal symptoms showed fewer behavioural changes than non-users, suggesting a possible role for estrogen in dementia risk reduction. However, further research is critical to clarify the timing and long-term effects of hormone therapy.

    It’s important to understand that these findings show a relationship between symptom burden and later brain health, but do not prove that one causes the other. We still need more research to understand why a connection exists and how it works.

    Menopause is more than a life transition; it may offer critical insights into long-term brain health.
    (FreePik)

    Why this research matters

    Our research highlights a crucial link: experiencing multiple perimenopausal symptoms may be related to cognitive and behavioural changes, which are early risk markers of dementia. Recognizing these symptoms as potential warning signs could help health care providers identify risks sooner and explore ways to protect brain health over time.

    Menopause is more than a life transition; it may offer critical insights into long-term brain health. Supporting research like CAN-PROTECT, which is still recruiting participants, can help us uncover how menopause experiences shape dementia risk, paving the way for earlier interventions and better outcomes.

    Zahinoor Ismail receives funding from Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

    Jasper Crockford and Maryam Ghahremani do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Menopause symptoms may be critical to understanding Alzheimer’s disease risk in women – https://theconversation.com/menopause-symptoms-may-be-critical-to-understanding-alzheimers-disease-risk-in-women-253216

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Lessons from the fashion industry: Why some DEI efforts fail to resonate with consumers

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Jordan Foster, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Sociology, McMaster University

    United States President Donald Trump and his administration have set their sights on the “tyranny of so-called diversity, equity and inclusion policies,” firing federal staff and purging public institutions like the Smithsonian of their commitments to racial history.

    Although many of Trump’s executive orders have focused on the federal government, some firms and private businesses have followed suit, rolling back their own commitments to DEI. For example, META and Amazon cut back their DEI efforts while some major retailers have severed ties with Black-owned businesses.

    Figures located within the fashion and beauty industry have also floundered in their commitments to DEI, investing in brief and uneven surges in racial representation on the runway and the inclusion of older models, trans models and models with disabilities.

    Industry leaders like Teen Vogue positioned models with disabilities on its cover, while brands like Aerie and Victoria Secret invested in more varied representations of beauty in their advertisements. Others however, took steps forward, then back.

    In 2021, we wrote about Victoria’s Secret’s efforts, arguing that the brand had learned that diversity sells. At the time, we noted how brands were encouraging one another to join the “inclusion revolution” — a movement Victoria’s Secret abandoned soon after.

    Had we got it wrong? We weren’t the only ones with questions.

    Backtracking on DEI?

    In 2023, British columnist Barbara Ellen noted: “For some gloaters, this is confirmation of ‘go woke, go broke,’ but the truth could be more complicated.” She went on to ask: “Is it really wokery that has scuppered Victoria’s Secret’s empowerment reboot, or is this more a corporate cautionary tale about the perils of ‘faking it?’”

    That same year, Vogue reported on the myriad ways “fashion backtracked on diversity,” drawing attention to “growing fatigue” surrounding DEI initiatives and what many perceived as insincere and performative gestures made in the name of diversity and inclusion.

    Since then, some within the fashion and beauty landscape have held firm to their commitments, while others have reneged on their promise to reflect on and represent consumer diversity. Why?

    In our ongoing work examining the rise (and fall?) of DEI in fashion and beauty, we’ve collected survey data from those who work inside the industry as well as everyday consumers.

    In looking at our data, we’ve found that certainly, some consumers do not support DEI efforts. These tend to be people who generally express attitudes aligned with those of the current U.S government.

    But we also found many more individuals who broadly like the idea of increased diversity in fashion and beauty. Sure, they expressed their fair share of skepticism toward brands that are overly “performative” in their demonstrations, but most want to see diverse figures and faces who look like them.

    Some brands may abandon DEI efforts, but we venture to guess that more brands will either continue on and stay quiet about their efforts for now, or reimagine their campaigns in the months and years to come.

    What could these campaigns look like? And what can brands do to insulate their efforts from attack?

    Capturing diversity and inclusion

    In our recently published study, we discuss the challenges that accompany DEI within the beauty industry, particularly focusing on how DEI efforts are evolving amid longstanding barriers.

    We focused on the beauty brands Benefit Cosmetics, Sephora and Dove, which have all made strides by featuring models with disabilities, racialized models and fuller-figured models in their online campaigns.

    While these advertising campaigns had their merits, we also noticed a significant under-representation of some forms of diversity in advertisements and campaign images. For example, models above the age of 55 and models with a visible disability were almost completely absent from representations of beauty online.

    Additionally, images were often altered to remove visible differences around race and disability or they were featured in ways that minimized markers of difference. This editing tends to hide what makes these individuals unique — the aspects of their appearance that may challenge society’s standard views of beauty.



    Read more:
    Fake models for fast fashion? What AI clones mean for our jobs — and our identities

    Savvy consumers are well-attuned to and perceptive of what they view in both traditional and online media, often questioning whether a brand’s DEI efforts are meaningful or purely profit-driven. They ask, for example, whether brands are simply capitalizing on current societal trends and critique companies they feel do not go far enough in promoting real inclusivity.

    The brands that do invest in what appear to be sincere and authentic strives toward diversity and inclusivity see returns, outperforming their market competitors while courting new consumers. Those who divest from DEI efforts, or act uncritically, risk losing their market share.

    What next?

    What can fashion and beauty brands do in response? For one, they can invest in sustained and consistent efforts to showcase diversity and inclusion. They can recruit models who embody differences across a range of markers and characteristics, and they can spend less time editing and “perfecting” the figures and faces they select from.

    Yet, diversity and inclusion needs to move beyond representation and toward more varied product formulations, shade ranges and accessible beauty tools.

    While there may be folks who continue to be critical of DEI campaigns because they think brands bought into being “woke” (and now are paying a price for it), many more are eager for greater and better representation.

    Consumers remain critical of insincere or superficial efforts, asking for real engagement with matters of diversity and inclusion. This includes representations that break the mould and push the boundaries surrounding who is (and isn’t) considered beautiful.

    This also means that if we want to know about why diversity and inclusion “fails,” we can’t just focus on those who are “anti-woke” nor should we focus solely on Trump’s politics.

    To safeguard against retrenchment, we need to understand why diversity and inclusion campaigns cease to resonate with those consumers who support DEI. Without their support, inclusion and diversity efforts lose legitimacy making them more susceptible to reversal.

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

    – ref. Lessons from the fashion industry: Why some DEI efforts fail to resonate with consumers – https://theconversation.com/lessons-from-the-fashion-industry-why-some-dei-efforts-fail-to-resonate-with-consumers-255091

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Mark Carney wants to make Canada an energy superpower — but what will be sacrificed for that goal?

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Leah Levac, Associate Professor of Community Engagement and Political Science, University of Guelph

    Canada’s recent federal election was regularly dubbed one of the most consequential of the last 50 years. Economic and sovereignty threats from United States President Donald Trump were key issues in the campaign. In response, pledges about energy infrastructure and resource development played an important role in party platforms.

    We have been studying impact assessments, the uneven consequences of resource development and sustainable energy transitions for over 15 years. We’re concerned about what and who may be overlooked as the government moves to become “an energy superpower,” in part by getting projects “done faster and better.”

    We’re also interested in how the newly elected Liberal government can support more just energy transitions — that is, moving toward low carbon energy and economies that prioritize equity for workers and communities.



    Read more:
    How to ensure Alberta’s oil and gas workers have jobs during the energy transition

    Challenges with Liberal promises

    The Liberal Party platform includes renewed attention to an east-west energy corridor. It also promises to speed up and streamline the review of major resource projects and “get big projects built quickly” by “shifting the focus of project review from ‘why’ to ‘how.’”

    The platform also promises more support for Indigenous participation in major projects and commits to using Gender-Based Analysis Plus — or GBA Plus — in policies and programs. GBA Plus is a method for assessing how diverse groups of people experience policies, programs and initiatives.

    Through our research, we have advocated strongly for applying GBA Plus in the resource sector, including by centring community knowledge in impact assessments and proposing strategies for improving how Indigenous women’s experiences and knowledge are considered in impact assessments.

    Over the last year, we also produced — along with our colleague Deborah Stienstra — two major research reports for the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada. Both were on the application of GBA Plus in regional assessments for offshore wind in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador.

    Regional assessments are a planning tool used before specific projects are proposed. They help identify important issues to consider if specific project assessments — for instance, for critical mineral mines, offshore wind projects or other resource developments — are conducted. If done well, regional assessments can help with more equitable and efficient project planning and development in the long run.

    What do the findings from our work in this area suggest in terms of how the Liberal government should proceed with its energy vision?

    Duty to consult

    The 2019 Impact Assessment Act requires meaningful execution of the duty to consult with Indigenous people affected by a major economic development.

    The Liberal Party made important promises to advance Indigenous participation in major projects and to double capacity support so more Indigenous communities can take an active role in project decisions at various stages.

    But what the Liberal platform overlooks is Indigenous Peoples’ right to resist and refuse developments in their territories, or how specifically to ensure that Indigenous women and gender-diverse people are meaningfully engaged.

    Moving forward, the Liberals must meet their constitutional duty to consult with Indigenous Peoples, while being guided by the United Nations’ principle of free, prior and informed consent per legislation that confirms Canada’s commitment to the UN’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

    GBA Plus

    During the campaign, the Liberal Party reiterated its support for GBA Plus by listing it as one of six key themes in its Make Canada Strong vision.

    The Liberals seemingly recognize that GBA Plus is an important tool for advancing equity for women, gender-diverse people, people with disabilities and racialized people by:

    “Identifying direct and indirect benefits of programs (e.g. job opportunities, access to programs and services) … and considering how these benefits will be distributed across diverse groups.”

    The Liberal platform does not explicitly raise GBA Plus in relation to becoming an “energy superpower.” But GBA Plus has been gaining attention in the resource sector — particularly in relation to the development of specific projects — since the requirement to consider “the intersection of sex and gender with other identity factors” was included in the 2019 Impact Assessment Act.

    GBA Plus needs to be applied in project-specific assessments (for specific developments, such as mines and hydroelectric dams) and in planning assessments (like regional assessments).

    In our work on the regional assessments for offshore wind in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador, we demonstrate the value of applying GBA Plus throughout all impact assessment processes.

    Doing so helps strengthen community engagement efforts, identify potential effects early, determine the data sources required for monitoring those effects, fill data gaps and highlight barriers that prevent diverse groups of people from benefiting from energy projects.

    For example, without adequate child-care options, many women cannot access the high-paying jobs that sometimes accompany resource projects. The Liberal government’s support for GBA Plus must therefore be explicitly incorporated into its energy proposals.

    What and who is lost with fast tracking

    A just energy transition is one concerned not only with planetary survival, but also with the effects of the transition on people who will be most affected.

    The Liberal party’s vision for becoming an energy superpower includes “conventional energy resources” (like oil) as well as clean and renewable energy (like solar and hydro) and critical minerals needed to support decarbonization and energy transitions.

    We disagree with the Liberal Party’s commitment to “shifting the focus of project review from ‘why’ to ‘how.’”

    We need to ask how — and even whether — an energy project contributes to a just transition. Answering questions about whether projects will meet climate commitments and help advance equity for workers and communities is critical. These questions are best asked early, during planning phases and as part of regional assessments, before specific projects are proposed.

    The duty to consult, GBA Plus and just energy transitions are interconnected and necessary commitments for sustainable energy production.

    Together, they can contribute to a relationship with Indigenous Peoples that recognizes their sovereignty and to a more equitable and sustainable future. But these commitments cannot be meaningfully realized when fast-tracking development, because they require time and relationship-building.

    Prioritizing fast-tracking — thereby falling short on these priorities and legal commitments — will backfire. It will lead to delays rather than more efficient processes, and will worsen existing inequities.

    Leah Levac receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. She does research on behalf of the Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women, which receives funding from the the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada, other federal departments (e.g., WAGE) and non-government organizations for work related to advancing GBA Plus practice in impact assessments and elsewhere.

    Jane Stinson is affiliated with the Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women, which receives funding from the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada, other federal departments (eg. WAGE) and non-government organizations for work related to advancing GBA Plus practice in impact assessments and elsewhere.

    Leah M. Fusco receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. She does research on behalf of the Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women, which receives funding from the the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada, other federal departments (e.g., WAGE), and non-government organizations for work related to advancing GBA Plus practice in impact assessments and elsewhere.

    – ref. Mark Carney wants to make Canada an energy superpower — but what will be sacrificed for that goal? – https://theconversation.com/mark-carney-wants-to-make-canada-an-energy-superpower-but-what-will-be-sacrificed-for-that-goal-255079

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Investing in agriculture reduces poverty and inequality: economic model finds the best funding mix for 10 African countries

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Margaret Chitiga-Mabugu, Dean of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, University of Pretoria

    Africa faces challenges in reducing extreme poverty and inequality. In 2024, 8.5% of the global population was living in extreme poverty (that is, on less than US$2.15 a day). Nearly 67% of these people were living in sub-Saharan Africa.

    To tackle these significant issues of poverty and inequality, it is essential to identify the locations of the most impoverished individuals. This enables investments to focus on generating growth and productivity that are both inclusive of poor people and sustainable.

    About 70% of the poor in sub-Saharan Africa live in rural areas. Most (65% to 70%) are employed in agriculture. Agriculture also contributes 30%-40% to the gross domestic product (GDP).

    Despite its importance, agriculture is underfunded. African countries don’t have enough of their own resources to finance agriculture, and external funding is becoming more scarce.

    The region thus desperately needs an innovative plan to finance agriculture for economic development.

    In a recent study we analysed how different ways of funding agricultural investment would affect inclusive growth and the wider economy in 10 African countries. Raising taxes, cutting budgets and external support were the different funding options we explored.

    We created economic models that would help countries with tight budgets understand the trade-offs and choose the best options.

    Our study found that investing more in agriculture – especially with external financing – was best at raising incomes and reducing poverty, particularly in rural areas. External funding avoids the higher costs of domestic financing. But a mix of both is also effective.

    Regardless of the country, all financing options resulted in increased rural incomes, reducing poverty and hunger. This shows that investment in agriculture has a positive impact both nationally and in rural contexts.

    The model

    Our paper uses an economic simulation model which looks at the big picture and also at more detail. It works out how changes in agricultural spending affect people’s lives (in terms of their income and expenditure) as well as the overall economy.

    The countries studied were Angola, Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana, Rwanda, Gabon, Malawi, eSwatini, Lesotho and Zimbabwe. We chose them based on the availability and accessibility of the data required.

    The model worked out the results of different financing strategies:

    • Increase in taxes (direct ones like household income and property tax or indirect ones like VAT or sales tax). The idea is that spending more on agriculture would be compensated for by higher tax revenues. These would come from households’ growing income and property taxes.

    • Reduction in non-agricultural investment spending. Here, the proportion of government investment dedicated to agriculture remains fixed. So there has to be less investment elsewhere.

    • Increase in government external borrowing or development assistance.

    Key findings

    We found that external financing boosted both national and rural incomes the most. But variations in the exchange rate may trigger an increase in domestic prices and a subsequent decline in export volumes. That could make a country less competitive economically.

    Despite this, the associated costs are generally lower than those of internal financing, aside from Mozambique’s rural income results.

    Between the two internal financing mechanisms tested, the option of reducing non-agricultural investment raised both national income and rural income in all countries except eSwatini.

    So that option should play a key role along with external financing.

    This finding is encouraging for fiscally constrained countries as the modelling showed that domestic financing improved the countries’ agency in sustainable growth.

    In a final modelling phase, the models explored how the policy interventions could transform poverty and inequality outcomes. They did this by following the intricate interplay of income and price dynamics. After a surge in agricultural investments following the policy scenarios, the findings showed a more pronounced reduction in poverty and inequality rates across all nations. There was one notable outlier — Angola. In Angola, investments channelled into the services sector have sparked the most substantial decreases in poverty and inequality, driven by the deep interconnectivity between services and its expansive oil industry.

    Even a small increase in public investment led to a clear drop in poverty, with agriculture investments having the biggest impact, followed by industry and services. Malawi showed the most substantial reduction in poverty. There were also noticeable effects in Rwanda, Botswana, eSwatini and Angola.

    Other countries showed mild impacts, maintaining low poverty levels.

    What can be done

    Scenario modelling can offer valuable insights for policy making because it is forward-looking. It also highlights the implications of strategic priorities.

    The study’s findings show that to achieve inclusive economic growth, countries should aggressively invest in agriculture, using a mix of external and domestic fiscal sources.

    On the back of the findings we made the following proposals.

    African governments are dependent on development aid because of limited domestic finances and weak growth prospects. This gets in the way of their ability to raise funds in the markets. However, if concessional financing is attainable and exchange rate impacts are controllable, external financing should remain a preferable option for financing agriculture investments.

    In the medium term, governments must focus on:

    • cutting unproductive non-agricultural spending

    • eliminating waste

    • ensuring cost-effectiveness.

    Savings should be redirected to agriculture.

    Over the medium term, there should be a focus on reforming tax policies. Direct and indirect taxes should be increased to fund agricultural investment. But maintaining transparency in using tax revenues is crucial. This encourages public support and local ownership of tax reforms by demonstrating their benefits.

    In the long term, governments should synchronise national development plans with ambitious agricultural growth initiatives.

    – Investing in agriculture reduces poverty and inequality: economic model finds the best funding mix for 10 African countries
    – https://theconversation.com/investing-in-agriculture-reduces-poverty-and-inequality-economic-model-finds-the-best-funding-mix-for-10-african-countries-252820

    MIL OSI Africa –