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Category: Universities

  • MIL-OSI: Hedge Funds Down-shifted on Pro-Growth Positions During Q1 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, April 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Unlimited, an asset management firm and ETF sponsor that uses proprietary technology to provide low-cost, alternative strategies to a variety of investors, today published its Q1 2025 Hedge Fund Barometer, which showed a significant reversal of pro-growth positions in both U.S. equities and corporate bonds over the quarter as well as an increase in bets on gold.

    According to Unlimited’s proprietary technology, hedge fund managers came into the year with relatively low conviction and modest views but subsequently ramped up pro-growth positions including long the U.S. dollar, and credit spread and equity bets in line with increased expectations of U.S. growth from the new administration. The majority of those positions were reversed starting in February with the exception of extending bullish positions on gold.

    “Hedge fund positioning shows some of the lowest conviction in the direction of asset prices that we have seen in decades,” said Bob Elliott, CEO and CIO of Unlimited and portfolio manager of actively-managed ETFs. “Those positions were a dramatic transition from the beginning of the quarter when hedge funds were ramping up their bullish bets on the U.S. economy. The prominence of policy volatility likely triggered managers’ reluctance to hold significant directional positions.”

    Hedge funds eked out modestly positive performance in the first quarter with the mix of sub-strategy returns largely reversing the moves of the previous quarter. Emerging Market funds outperformed meaningfully as Chinese stocks surged meanwhile Equity Long/Short and Event Driven strategies came in weak.

    1Q25 Hedge Fund Strategy Performance, Gross of Fees

    • Industry Return: 1.7%
    • Best Performing Fund Style: Emerging Markets 6.3%
    • Worst Performing Fund Style: Event Driven -0.8%

    Unlimited’s Hedge Fund Barometer showed other notable moves during the quarter included:

    • Bearish outlook on oil shifted towards neutral bullish positioning in Chinese and Japanese equities
    • Notable underweight in U.S. biotech
    • Equity Long/Short managers remain bearish on U.S. small and mid-cap companies

    Click here to view a video on how Unlimited’s technology works.

    About Unlimited
    Founded in 2022 by Bob Elliott, Bruce McNevin and Matt Salzberg, Unlimited is an investment firm using proprietary technology to create strategies that offer lower-cost access to 2 & 20-style alternative investment strategies, such as hedge funds, to a wide variety of investors. Mr. Elliott has built innovative hedge fund strategies for more than two decades, including at Bridgewater Associates, the world’s largest hedge fund. Mr. McNevin is a Professor of Economics at New York University and has held various data science positions at hedge funds Clinton Group and Midway Group, along with positions at Bank of America and BlackRock. Mr. Salzberg serves as a Managing Partner at Material and Board Director of Unlimited. Learn more at unlimitedfunds.com.

    For informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice. The data shown herein represents past performance and should not be construed as providing any assurance or guarantee as to returns that may be realized in the future. No representation is being made that any investment will or is likely to achieve profits or losses similar to those shown herein. No investment strategy or risk management technique can guarantee return or eliminate risk in any market environment.

    Media Contacts:  
    Sarah Lazarus Zach Kouwe
    Dukas Linden Public Relations Dukas Linden Public Relations
    +1 617-335-7823 +1 551-655-4032
    sarah@dlpr.com zkouwe@dlpr.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Teachers in South African schools may be slow to report rape of girls: study shows why

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Ayobami Precious Adekola, Postdoctoral Researcher, University of South Africa

    In South Africa, the age of consent for sex is 16 years old. Engaging in sexual activity with someone under the age of 16 is considered statutory rape, even if the minor consents as defined under the law that applies to adults.

    In December 2021, South Africa’s Department of Basic Education introduced a policy aimed at reducing the country’s high rates of teenage pregnancy and sexual exploitation. It requires educators to report cases where older sexual partners impregnate learners under 16 years of age.

    We are researchers in sexual and reproductive health who have been working on a decade-long community engagement project focused on improving HIV prevention and related challenges among learners. The project is in the Vhembe district of Limpopo province, South Africa, bordering Zimbabwe. Sexual health practices among young people here remain a pressing concern, due to high rates of unprotected sex, sexually transmitted infections, HIV and unplanned pregnancies.

    As part of the project, we conducted a study of the statutory rape reporting policy for schools. It showed a disconnect between the policy’s intent and implementation. We found that some rural teachers were unaware of the policy, were not sure what they were supposed to do, or faced cultural, social and systemic barriers that left them feeling powerless to act.

    The result is that the child protection law is failing the learners it was designed to safeguard.

    Because teachers are often some of the first adults to become aware of statutory rape cases, it’s crucial to equip them to deal with disclosures appropriately, navigate reporting protocols confidently, and engage support systems effectively and help prevent future sexual abuse of learners.

    Lack of awareness of policy

    Our research was conducted at eight public primary and high schools in the Soutpansberg North school circuit of Limpopo. All the schools are in rural, under-resourced and poor communities. There is a high number of HIV infections and unplanned teenage pregnancies in the schools where the study was conducted. The true incidence rate of rape is different because it’s not always reported.

    We engaged 19 educators (16 of them female) through group discussions.

    Teachers expressed confusion and frustration over the lack of formal communication and training on the statutory rape reporting policy. Some were unaware that such a policy existed. One admitted:

    Honestly, I wasn’t even aware that we had a policy on statutory rape. It’s not something we’ve ever discussed in our school.

    Another teacher said:

    I know there’s a policy, but I’m unsure where to find it or exactly what it says. As educators, we need to be informed about policies, but it feels like no one communicates them effectively to us.

    Cultural and socioeconomic barriers

    Beyond a lack of awareness, the discussions suggested that socio-cultural norms hinder the implementation of the statutory rape policy in rural areas.

    The study highlighted that intergenerational relationships are normalised in some rural communities. In these cases, families may depend financially on the older male partner, making them reluctant to report such relationships as criminal offences.

    Read more: Rape culture in South African schools: where it comes from and how to change it

    In some cases, families tacitly support relationships between young girls and older men in exchange for financial support, making such arrangements difficult to challenge.

    A participant shared:

    It’s difficult because some parents tolerate these relationships as normal and support their kids to sleep with older men, who in turn provide for the family.

    Teachers encounter immense social pressure when faced with statutory rape cases. In tight-knit rural communities, reporting a case could mean accusing a neighbour, relative, or local authority figure. This creates a moral dilemma for educators who want to protect learners but fear community backlash.

    As one participant put it:

    If I report it, they might turn against us.

    These socio-cultural dynamics create a culture of silence that protects perpetrators rather than victims.

    What’s missing

    The study also found that a lack of training on statutory rape policies is a barrier to effective implementation. Teachers reported feeling unprepared to handle the legal and emotional complexities of reporting statutory rape cases.

    There’s been no training at all. We hear about the policy, but they don’t teach us how to implement it or what steps to take if something happens.

    Another teacher added:

    There is no formal memo from the circuit office and from our school governing body meetings; it was never introduced as an agenda item.

    The absence of confidential reporting mechanisms further complicates the situation. Teachers fear that reporting cases could lead to retaliation from the community or even threats to their safety. The lack of a standardised anonymous reporting system leaves teachers feeling vulnerable and unsupported.

    Teachers indicated that fear of community backlash led them to prioritise managing learner pregnancies over investigating potential rape cases. Some said it was the parents’ responsibility to report rape.

    Read more: South Africa’s stance on teenage pregnancy needs a radical review: what it would look like

    Proposed solutions

    We recommend a few ways to improve reporting of statutory rape:

    Mandatory training for educators: The education department should ensure that all teachers understand their legal obligations and know how to navigate reporting procedures.

    Confidential reporting systems: Establishing secure and anonymous reporting channels.

    Community awareness campaigns: Programmes to help shift harmful cultural norms and make it easier to report statutory rape. Campaigns should emphasise the importance of protecting minors and the legal consequences of statutory rape.

    Interdisciplinary support networks: Schools should collaborate with social workers, legal professionals, and mental health experts to provide educators with the support and resources needed to handle statutory rape cases.

    Bridging the gap between South Africa’s statutory rape policy and what actually happens in rural areas is a social justice imperative that affects the most vulnerable members of society.

    – Teachers in South African schools may be slow to report rape of girls: study shows why
    – https://theconversation.com/teachers-in-south-african-schools-may-be-slow-to-report-rape-of-girls-study-shows-why-253992

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Round table within BIMAC-2025: how to provide the industry with personnel

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering –

    On April 24, a round table was held at SPbGASU as part of the VIII International Scientific and Practical Conference “Information Modeling in Construction and Architecture Problems” (BIMAC-2025) dedicated to the issues of developing digital competencies of students of secondary vocational education institutions (SVE) in the construction sector.

    The event brought together representatives of public organizations, educational institutions, customer companies and students to discuss current trends in personnel training and the implementation of information modeling technologies.

    SPbGASU trains personnel together with industry partners

    Polina Fedyuchek, Victoria Vinogradova

    Vice-Rector for Continuing Education at SPbGASU Victoria Vinogradova said that the university continues to actively work on the application of TIM technologies in the educational process, closely cooperating with leading enterprises in the construction industry, and emphasized that all initiatives at the university – from school projects to scientific developments – are implemented jointly with industrial partners, which ensures the practical orientation of personnel training. She also noted that the university positions itself not just as an educational institution, but as an integration center that unites educational, scientific and project activities. SPbGASU is becoming a platform for professional dialogue between all participants in the construction process – from students to the heads of large companies.

    “We are creating an environment where future specialists can gain not only theoretical knowledge, but also practical experience working with real projects,” noted Victoria Vinogradova. “Our partners are actively involved in developing educational programs, organizing internships and internships, and supervising diploma projects.” Particular attention is paid to creating conditions for professional growth. The university offers various formats of interaction: from corporate training for company employees to joint scientific research.

    “Openness to cooperation is one of our key principles,” emphasized Victoria Vinogradova. “We are ready to discuss new initiatives and joint projects that will contribute to the development of the construction industry and the training of highly qualified personnel who meet the requirements of the digital age.”

    In conclusion of her report, Victoria Vinogradova invited interested organizations to work together in several areas: the implementation of scientific and design developments, the creation of an open environment for digital projects, and the development of students’ project activities. According to her, such a comprehensive approach allows training specialists who can work effectively in the modern conditions of the digitalized construction industry immediately after graduation.

    The role of professional associations

    Elena Parikova, Development Director – Head of the NOSTROY Project Office, gave a presentation on the experience of the NOSTROY SPO Consortium in the field of digital competencies formation. She emphasized the importance of information modeling technologies and presented the consortium’s initiatives in this area.

    Particular attention was paid to personnel training. Elena Parikova noted that the industry is facing a shortage of specialists – from 300 to 700 thousand digital personnel. In higher education institutions, TIM programs are implemented in bachelor’s, master’s and postgraduate programs, including such areas as “Construction” and “Information systems and technologies”. In secondary vocational education, the federal state educational standard for the specialty 08.02.15 “Information modeling in construction” has been implemented, which provides training in technical support of TIM, design of structures and management of digital models.

    Elena Parikova noted that NOSTROY is also developing additional educational programs, including professional retraining, advanced training, and corporate training. Of particular interest were the projects “Digital Construction Classes” developed by SPbGASU for schoolchildren, and the online course “From Idea to Practice of Digitalization of the Construction Industry”, developed jointly with the RF Competence Center.

    Elena Parikova also spoke in detail about the implementation of the educational initiative “TIM-elective of SPbGASU. SPO League 2025” and the All-Russian TIM-championship of SPbGASU. SPO League 2025. She noted that NOSTROY President Anton Glushkov notes the importance of digitalization of the industry and training of qualified personnel and emphasizes that the championship has become the first all-Russian competition for students of the vocational education system after the approval of the new Federal State Educational Standard (FSES) for the specialty 08.02.15, expressing confidence that the participants will make a significant contribution to the development of the construction industry.

    In conclusion, Elena Parikova noted that the development of digital competencies requires joint efforts of educational institutions, businesses and regulators, and invited all interested parties to cooperate.

    Deputy Head of the Office of the National Association of Designers and Surveyors (NOPRIZ) Nadezhda Prokopyeva gave a report on the development of a system for independent assessment of the qualifications of specialists in the field of information modeling. In her speech, she emphasized the importance of fulfilling the order of the President of the Russian Federation from 2018 on the modernization of the construction industry through the introduction of TIM technologies.

    Nadezhda Prokopyeva noted that NOPRIZ and the Association of Software Developers “Domestic Software” are joining forces to develop TIM technologies. As part of the development of digital competencies in the construction industry, NOPRIZ has entered into an agreement with the Association “Domestic Software”, which unites Russian software developers. This partnership is aimed at harmonizing professional standards and qualification requirements with the capabilities of domestic TIM solutions. Joint work will allow adapting independent qualification assessment programs to Russian software products, as well as facilitating the training of specialists who are proficient in national digital tools.

    Particular attention was paid to the updated professional standard “Specialist in the field of information modeling in construction”, which came into force on March 1, 2025. The standard establishes five levels of qualification – from technical support of TIM to management of information modeling processes at the organizational level. On its basis, the Federal State Educational Standard of Secondary Vocational Education 08.02.15 “Information Modeling in Construction” has already been developed, which is implemented by 34 educational institutions of secondary vocational education.

    Nadezhda Prokopyeva spoke in detail about the independent qualification assessment system, which has been conducted since 2017 on the basis of Federal Law No. 238-FZ. Currently, examination centers operate in Moscow, Krasnoyarsk, Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Irkutsk and Veliky Novgorod. The exam includes both a theoretical part with questions on the regulatory framework and practical tasks on working with TIM software products.

    An important area of work for NOPRIZ is cooperation with the country’s leading construction universities to update educational programs in accordance with professional standards. In conclusion, Nadezhda Prokopyeva noted that the introduction of an independent qualification assessment system ensures a high professional level of specialists and increases confidence in TIM technologies in the construction industry.

    Polina Fedyuchek, Deputy Director for Development of the Association of SRO “OsnovaProekt”, gave a report on the role of self-regulatory organizations in training specialists for the construction industry. In her speech, she emphasized the importance of the active participation of self-regulatory organizations in issues of personnel shortage and digitalization of the construction industry.

    Polina Fedyuchek emphasized the importance of implementing state strategic documents – the Strategy for the Development of the Construction Industry and Housing and Public Utilities of the Russian Federation for the Period up to 2030 with a Forecast up to 2035 and the Concept for Training Personnel for the Construction Industry and Housing and Public Utilities up to 2035. These documents define the need for digitalization of the industry and the creation of a system of continuous professional education, where SROs act as a link between educational institutions, businesses and regulators.

    Particular attention was paid to the implementation of the educational initiative “TIM-elective. SPO League”, launched by the Association of SRO “OsnovaProekt” together with SPbGASU in 2024. The pilot project covered six colleges from different regions of Russia, training 150 students and 29 teachers. In 2025, the program expanded significantly: now 32 educational institutions are participating in it, including colleges from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Khabarovsk and other cities. The total number of students reached 787 people, of which 631 are students and 146 are teachers. The program includes 308 hours of training in key areas of TIM technologies: architecture, structures, engineering systems and others. She also noted that these educational initiatives are being implemented with the involvement of exclusively domestic software developers.

    “Support for young specialists and development of regional human resources potential remain our priorities,” noted Polina Fedyuchek. “Programs like the TIM-optional course not only help prepare qualified specialists, but also help reduce the personnel shortage in the regions.”

    In conclusion, the speaker expressed confidence that further development of the self-regulation system and strengthening of interaction with educational institutions and government agencies will allow for successful resolution of the challenges facing the industry, including digitalization and training of qualified personnel.

    As noted by Leonid Shelkovnikov, Head of the TIM Department of Kairos-Engineering LLC, a teacher at the Perm Construction College, the discrepancy between the qualifications of personnel and the needs of the labor market is a consequence of a major problem – the lack of a unified state approach to the use of information modeling technology, namely the choice of software. Educational institutions at the state level are prohibited from teaching imported software products, but construction organizations are allowed to use foreign software, including with violation of the copyrights of the departed vendors.

    “The rapid obsolescence of knowledge due to the rapid transformation of the construction industry, the effective implementation of new technologies in the conditions of “turbulence” of the economy, the lack of dialogue between enterprises of the real sector of the economy and educational institutions – this is what is worth paying attention to in the near future. Growth points lie in the close interaction of educational institutions with the construction industry, the information technology industry. Therefore, it is necessary to move towards the set goals: try to select the required software for the educational process, look for technology partners in the conditions of uncertainty of state policy in the field of application of TIM. At the same time, we are all waiting for the formation of a unified methodology for training TIM personnel in the country, we are trying to convince both students and ourselves of the need to achieve technological sovereignty of the Russian construction industry through import substitution of software products and the applied standards for information transfer,” Leonid Shelkovnikov emphasized.

    What do experts expect from the educational process?

    Leonid Shelkovnikov, Maria Lemekhova and Alexey Zubkov

    The head of the educational project of the company “ASCON”, the manager of the competence “Technologies of information modeling BIM” of the Agency for the development of skills and professions Olga Chernyadyeva clarified who a TIM teacher is. This is a certified specialist in the main BIM tools, who has experience in solving real problems of the industry and strives to constantly develop along with the update of the functionality of BIM tools and the construction industry.

    “The professional skills competitions were created at the request of the industry. The tasks include the basic principles of BIM technologies (multi-vendor, teamwork, work with exchange formats), current tasks and skills in demand by the industry, taking into account current BIM standards and professional standards. As part of the TIM Championship of SPbGASU, training intensives are held on working with BIM tools, as well as on teaching methods,” said Olga Chernyadyeva.

    She added that BIM management, the StroimProsto hackathon, the Professionals Championship movement, the TIM-Leaders All-Russian competition, and the Summer BIM School help develop the competencies of all members of the professional community.

    Maria Lemekhova, Head of the Department for Work with the Federal Targeted Program at JSC Baltic Shipyard, noted that shipbuilding is also currently implementing TIM technologies and is facing similar personnel problems.

    “Shipbuilding, like the construction industry, is unthinkable today without information modeling. At shipyards, we use TIM approaches to create ships, vessels and infrastructure. Our experience can be useful for solving problems in architecture and construction – from design optimization to life cycle management of objects. Digital twins of ships and TIM technologies in shipbuilding are the “marine version” of construction solutions. Integration of approaches will help overcome common challenges,” explained Maria Lemekhova.

    She emphasized that digitalization of shipbuilding is a key element of the strategy of technological sovereignty. It covers not only the introduction of robotics and automation, but also the transformation of human resources. The transition to the concept of “Shipbuilding 4.0” requires training specialists capable of working with digital twins, ship lifecycle management systems (PLM) and artificial intelligence. The United Construction Corporation (JSC “USC”), which includes the Baltic Shipyard, is taking steps to restructure the educational system through projects such as “Plant-VTUZ”, combining training with practical training at enterprises. For example, students of the St. Petersburg Marine Technical University (SPbGMTU) are involved in the creation of digital twins of ships, which reduces the adaptation period for graduates in production.

    “Only through the integration of digital platforms, updating retraining programs and creating attractive conditions for young people will we be able to overcome the personnel crisis,” noted Maria Lemekhova.

    Construction allows you to leave a mark on history and realize your creative potential, because each project is unique and requires an individual approach, agreed Alexey Zubkov, project manager of the service of the director for construction of social facilities of the LSR Group and a graduate of St. Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering.

    “LSR traces its history back to 1993 and in 30 years has become one of the leading construction holdings in the country. Now the LSR Group continues to increase construction and production volumes, following a proven strategy and maintaining established traditions. We follow new standards and requirements for the design of buildings and structures, including the use of modern technologies (for example, TIM). And we understand that the most important thing in any company, regardless of its size and profile of activity, is people. Therefore, we pay great attention to our many thousands of personnel, creating conditions for effective work and providing the broadest opportunities for professional and career growth. We will be glad to see young specialists in our teams,” said Alexey Zubkov.

    In addition, teachers from colleges from Perm, Belgorod, Rostov-on-Don, Veliky Novgorod and St. Petersburg spoke at the round table and shared their opinions on the educational initiative “TIM-elective SPbGASU. SPO League 2025”. The speakers outlined the issues that, in their opinion, need to be improved by next year, and thanked SPbGASU and the Association of SRO “OsnovaProekt” for organizing such an interesting and significant event.

    The participants of the round table agreed that the development of TIM technologies requires close interaction between educational institutions, businesses and regulators. Particular attention was paid to the need to adapt educational programs to rapidly changing industry requirements.

    The event became a platform for exchanging best practices and defining the vector of further cooperation in the field of digitalization of the construction industry.

    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 United Nations: 28 April 2025 News release GOARN marks 25 years of advancing global health emergency preparedness and response

    Source: World Health Organisation

    The Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN), an initiative coordinated by the World Health Organization (WHO), marks its 25th anniversary today. Since its inception in April 2000, the network has been at the forefront of the global fight against health emergencies. By leveraging the expertise of global partners – facilitating alerts, deploying rapid support capacities, and strengthening capacities – it has significantly enhanced country-level operations and strengthened regional development, playing a critical role in health preparedness and response.

    “GOARN is a vital part of the global health architecture,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “Through the network, countries get the expert support they need to respond to health emergencies, and to enhance their own capacities for preparedness and response. This means faster, more effective responses and more lives saved.”

    GOARN was created in response to the need for better coordination during global health emergencies. While many partner organizations were sending teams to assist during emergencies, there was a lack of coordination which hindered the overall effectiveness of these responses. It was also clear that no single institution could address all components of a response alone. GOARN was thus born following an international meeting organized by WHO in Geneva on 26&ndasg;28 April 2000. Some 121 representatives from 67 partner institutions discussed the growing challenge of epidemic-prone and emerging diseases, and the urgent need to build a global network based on existing partnerships to address these threats.

    In October 2000, GOARN played a key role in responding to the major Ebola outbreak in Gulu, Uganda – marking a significant milestone in what would evolve into a quarter-century of pivotal global health responses.

    “As one of the first responders deployed during the Ebola outbreak in Uganda 25 years ago, I witnessed firsthand the evolution of our response efforts and GOARN’s role,” said Dr Mike Ryan, Executive Director of WHO’s Health Emergencies Programme and Deputy Director-General of WHO.  “When I returned to Uganda earlier this year for another Ebola response, I was immensely proud to see how strong the national capacities have become, led by the Ministry of Health with the support of WHO and GOARN partners. GOARN is an example of how multilateralism works to save lives. To this day, I wear the orange GOARN lanyard alongside my blue WHO one to show my respect for and pride in this network.”

    GOARN leverages the expertise of its partner institutions to address global health challenges. Operating as a unified international community, the network has responded swiftly and effectively to public health threats by deploying technical experts to ensure the right expertise is in the right place at the right time. GOARN’s goal is to strengthen countries’ capacities and help build strong, resilient systems for response to emergencies.

    GOARN ensures that the experts are well-trained and equipped with the right skills before they’re deployed where they are needed most, fostering seamless collaboration for swift, coordinated, and impactful responses.

    GOARN has now grown into a network of over 310 institutions, including national public health agencies, nongovernmental organizations, UN agencies, academic, and other technical organizations. GOARN has responded to over 175 public health emergencies in 114 countries, deploying more than 3645 international responders who integrate within national responses, collaborating with thousands of national professionals to strengthen and enhance local efforts. The network has tackled major global public health events, including outbreaks of SARS, Ebola virus disease, Marburg virus disease, COVID-19, mpox, cholera, yellow fever, disasters such as floods and earthquakes, and war. GOARN has deployed expertise in epidemiology, disease surveillance, case management, clinical care, infection prevention and control, risk communication and community engagement, and others. These efforts have also delivered hands-on training to hundreds of national teams, bolstering their immediate response capacity and long-term resilience.

    “Looking back over the past 25 years, it’s remarkable to see how GOARN has evolved from a visionary concept to an indispensable network in the global health emergency landscape,” said Ray R. Arthur, PhD, Director, Global Disease Detection Operations Center, CDC (retired) and Former Chair of the GOARN Steering Committee. “As an early participant in establishing the network and as former chair of the Steering Committee, I witnessed firsthand the commitment and collaboration that drove the network’s success. GOARN has not only facilitated rapid response to public health emergencies but has also been instrumental in strengthening global health, ensuring that countries are better prepared for the challenges of tomorrow. It’s an honour to see the network continue to grow and play such a vital role in protecting public health worldwide.”

    Today, GOARN is a vital pillar in the Global Health Emergency Corps ensuring a well-coordinated health emergency workforce, centered in countries and connected regionally and globally. The 25-year milestone marks a significant evolution of GOARN’s role in preparedness and response. Rather than deploying large numbers of international professionals across every field, GOARN now brings in only the necessary expertise to address critical gaps on the ground. Paired with the focus on capacity strengthening and training initiates, GOARN has demonstrated the effectiveness of its mandate and efforts empowering countries to manage emergencies themselves.

    GOARN calls on all Member States, partners and the global community to continue working together to build a global health emergency architecture that is resilient, equitable, and capable of addressing future health challenges.
     

    Voices from GOARN, past and present

    Dr Mohannad Al-Nsour, Executive Director, Eastern Mediterranean Public Health Network (EMPHNET), current Chair of the GOARN Steering Committee:
    “As the world faces the growing threats of epidemics, conflict, and humanitarian crises, GOARN’s role has never been more vital. The network is being called to respond in increasingly complex environments – where conflict is more widespread, and public health emergencies unfold alongside deep humanitarian challenges. GOARN must continue to evolve, expanding its reach and strengthening collaboration to meet these urgent needs.”

    Daniela Garone, Infectious Diseases Specialist and International Medical Coordinator, Médecins Sans Frontières, current Co-Deputy Chairs of the GOARN Steering Committee and Dr Edmund Newman, Director, UK Public Health Rapid Support Team (UK-PHRST):
    “Reflecting on GOARN’s 25 years of advancing global health emergency preparedness and response, we are proud to be active partners of a network that has been instrumental in saving lives and strengthening health response systems around the world. From its humble beginnings to its current role as a vital pillar in global health response, GOARN has demonstrated the power of collaboration and expertise in tackling public health emergencies. As we look to the future, we remain committed to supporting countries in building resilient public health systems and ensuring that our collective efforts continue to evolve in response to the growing challenges of global health. Together, we will continue to foster stronger partnerships and be ready for whatever comes next.”

    Myriam Henkens MD, MPH, Senior Health Adviser, Médecins Sans Frontières, former member of GOARN Steering Committee:
    “For 25 years, GOARN has been a cornerstone in the global response to health emergencies. As a proud participant, MSF has been working alongside GOARN to strengthen health systems and ensure a more effective global response to the challenges of tomorrow. The collaborative spirit and shared expertise across the network have made a real difference in the field, and I’m proud to have been part of this journey.”

    Gail Carson, Director of Network Development at ISARIC Pandemic Sciences Institute, University of Oxford and former Chair of the GOARN Steering Committee (2022–2024):
    “Serving as Chair of the GOARN Steering Committee from 2022 to 2024 was one of the greatest honours of my career. But my connection to this network goes back much further—to GOARN’s first response to Ebola in Uganda. Over the past 25 years, I’ve seen firsthand how this global community of experts supports countries in times of crisis, delivering trusted, timely, and lifesaving technical assistance. Today, GOARN continues to evolve to meet new and complex challenges. What hasn’t changed is its core strength: GOARN remains the partner you can count on when a health emergency hits.”

    John S Mackenzie, Emeritus Professor and former Chair of the GOARN Steering Committee:
    “GOARN was born from a visionary belief that global outbreak response could be stronger through coordinated action. I was proud to serve on its first Steering Committee, and those 14 years remain among the most fulfilling of my career. GOARN continues to grow as a powerful force in global public health – driven by collaboration, expertise, and an enduring spirit of service.”

    Pat Drury, former GOARN Manager:
    “GOARN has been more than just a professional milestone—it has been a journey of saving lives and making a real difference in the face of some of the world’s most challenging outbreaks, from Ebola, and SARS to COVID-19. The network’s strength is its ability to connect people, and institutions, knowledge and expertise in real time, turning alerts into rapid responses. As the challenges have grown, so have the stakes. In an increasingly polarised world, GOARN’s role in mobilizing science, and fostering trust has never been more vital. Congratulations on 25 years of extraordinary impact, and thank you to the countless individuals who make this mission possible.”

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Teachers in South African schools may be slow to report rape of girls: study shows why

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Ayobami Precious Adekola, Postdoctoral Researcher, University of South Africa

    2A Images via Getty Images

    In South Africa, the age of consent for sex is 16 years old. Engaging in sexual activity with someone under the age of 16 is considered statutory rape, even if the minor consents as defined under the law that applies to adults.

    In December 2021, South Africa’s Department of Basic Education introduced a policy aimed at reducing the country’s high rates of teenage pregnancy and sexual exploitation. It requires educators to report cases where older sexual partners impregnate learners under 16 years of age.

    We are researchers in sexual and reproductive health who have been working on a decade-long community engagement project focused on improving HIV prevention and related challenges among learners. The project is in the Vhembe district of Limpopo province, South Africa, bordering Zimbabwe. Sexual health practices among young people here remain a pressing concern, due to high rates of unprotected sex, sexually transmitted infections, HIV and unplanned pregnancies.

    As part of the project, we conducted a study of the statutory rape reporting policy for schools. It showed a disconnect between the policy’s intent and implementation. We found that some rural teachers were unaware of the policy, were not sure what they were supposed to do, or faced cultural, social and systemic barriers that left them feeling powerless to act.

    The result is that the child protection law is failing the learners it was designed to safeguard.

    Because teachers are often some of the first adults to become aware of statutory rape cases, it’s crucial to equip them to deal with disclosures appropriately, navigate reporting protocols confidently, and engage support systems effectively and help prevent future sexual abuse of learners.

    Lack of awareness of policy

    Our research was conducted at eight public primary and high schools in the Soutpansberg North school circuit of Limpopo. All the schools are in rural, under-resourced and poor communities. There is a high number of HIV infections and unplanned teenage pregnancies in the schools where the study was conducted. The true incidence rate of rape is different because it’s not always reported.

    We engaged 19 educators (16 of them female) through group discussions.

    Teachers expressed confusion and frustration over the lack of formal communication and training on the statutory rape reporting policy. Some were unaware that such a policy existed. One admitted:

    Honestly, I wasn’t even aware that we had a policy on statutory rape. It’s not something we’ve ever discussed in our school.

    Another teacher said:

    I know there’s a policy, but I’m unsure where to find it or exactly what it says. As educators, we need to be informed about policies, but it feels like no one communicates them effectively to us.

    Cultural and socioeconomic barriers

    Beyond a lack of awareness, the discussions suggested that socio-cultural norms hinder the implementation of the statutory rape policy in rural areas.

    The study highlighted that intergenerational relationships are normalised in some rural communities. In these cases, families may depend financially on the older male partner, making them reluctant to report such relationships as criminal offences.



    Read more:
    Rape culture in South African schools: where it comes from and how to change it

    In some cases, families tacitly support relationships between young girls and older men in exchange for financial support, making such arrangements difficult to challenge.

    A participant shared:

    It’s difficult because some parents tolerate these relationships as normal and support their kids to sleep with older men, who in turn provide for the family.

    Teachers encounter immense social pressure when faced with statutory rape cases. In tight-knit rural communities, reporting a case could mean accusing a neighbour, relative, or local authority figure. This creates a moral dilemma for educators who want to protect learners but fear community backlash.

    As one participant put it:

    If I report it, they might turn against us.

    These socio-cultural dynamics create a culture of silence that protects perpetrators rather than victims.

    What’s missing

    The study also found that a lack of training on statutory rape policies is a barrier to effective implementation. Teachers reported feeling unprepared to handle the legal and emotional complexities of reporting statutory rape cases.

    There’s been no training at all. We hear about the policy, but they don’t teach us how to implement it or what steps to take if something happens.

    Another teacher added:

    There is no formal memo from the circuit office and from our school governing body meetings; it was never introduced as an agenda item.

    The absence of confidential reporting mechanisms further complicates the situation. Teachers fear that reporting cases could lead to retaliation from the community or even threats to their safety. The lack of a standardised anonymous reporting system leaves teachers feeling vulnerable and unsupported.

    Teachers indicated that fear of community backlash led them to prioritise managing learner pregnancies over investigating potential rape cases. Some said it was the parents’ responsibility to report rape.



    Read more:
    South Africa’s stance on teenage pregnancy needs a radical review: what it would look like

    Proposed solutions

    We recommend a few ways to improve reporting of statutory rape:

    Mandatory training for educators: The education department should ensure that all teachers understand their legal obligations and know how to navigate reporting procedures.

    Confidential reporting systems: Establishing secure and anonymous reporting channels.

    Community awareness campaigns: Programmes to help shift harmful cultural norms and make it easier to report statutory rape. Campaigns should emphasise the importance of protecting minors and the legal consequences of statutory rape.

    Interdisciplinary support networks: Schools should collaborate with social workers, legal professionals, and mental health experts to provide educators with the support and resources needed to handle statutory rape cases.

    Bridging the gap between South Africa’s statutory rape policy and what actually happens in rural areas is a social justice imperative that affects the most vulnerable members of society.

    Azwihangwisi Helen Mavhandu-Mudzusi receives funding from the South African Medical Research Council for this study.

    Ayobami Precious Adekola 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. Teachers in South African schools may be slow to report rape of girls: study shows why – https://theconversation.com/teachers-in-south-african-schools-may-be-slow-to-report-rape-of-girls-study-shows-why-253992

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Armstrong welcomes Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to ND, thanks her for responsiveness

    Source: US State of North Dakota

    Gov. Kelly Armstrong today participated in a roundtable discussion with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins in Fargo, welcoming her to North Dakota and thanking her for the Trump administration’s responsiveness to farmers and ranchers, calling it a “huge benefit” to North Dakota and its agriculture sector.

    “North Dakota farmers and ranchers are the best in the world, and we appreciate Secretary Rollins coming to Fargo to hear firsthand about the challenges and opportunities facing our ag producers as they feed and fuel the world,” Armstrong said. “We look forward to working with Secretary Rollins and the entire Trump administration to strengthen U.S. food security, expand markets and restore fairness to international trade relationships, and roll back unnecessary regulations that restrict producers and increase costs for consumers.”

    Rollins’ visit to North Dakota comes less than 70 days after her confirmation as the nation’s 33rd agriculture secretary on Feb. 13. During today’s roundtable with ag producers and researchers, agribusinesses and commodity groups at the Peltier Complex at North Dakota State University, Rollins announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture is releasing over $340 million in disaster assistance for farmers, ranchers and rural communities, including over $5 million for North Dakota to help rebuild electric infrastructure following damage from severe storms and wildfires.

    Rollins was hosted in Fargo by U.S. Sen. John Hoeven, a senior member of the Senate Agriculture Committee and chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee. Following the roundtable, Armstrong joined Rollins for lunch with members of NDSU’s Student Ag Ambassadors.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Open Day at the Polytechnic University brought together thousands of future students

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    Before the start of the admissions campaign, the Polytechnic University held an Open Day. On April 27, more than 4,000 applicants and their parents visited the Main Academic Building of the university. For those who could not come in person, a live broadcast was organized in the Polytechnic group for applicants on VKontakte.

    The event was opened by the Vice-Rector for Continuing and Pre-University Education of SPbPU Dmitry Tikhonov, who spoke about the advantages of studying at the Polytechnic University and the prospects for students. Then the responsible secretary of the Admissions Committee Vitaly Drobchik acquainted the participants with the key changes in the admission rules for the 2025 academic year.

    After the official part, the guests were able to visit the institutes’ stands, where they learned about the training areas and asked questions to the teachers and students. Various activities and presentations were prepared for the university’s guests. The Civil Engineering Institute held master classes on digital construction, life safety, and product design. Those interested in the humanities were able to learn about the professions of a digital linguist, psychologist, and specialist in foreign regional studies. The Institute of Biomedical Systems and Biotechnology held a master class on experiments with food pigments. The Institute of Industrial Management, Economics, and Trade organized a master class on commodity science, where schoolchildren learned to quickly determine the quality of products and identify signs of non-compliance with standards and possible counterfeiting.

    The SPbPU Career Development Department presented job opportunities to applicants in an interactive format. Specialists talked about practices, internships and options for cooperation with the university’s partners. Organizations that offer targeted training at the university were also presented.

    In addition, participants could visit a photo booth and take a sightseeing tour of the campus. At special consultation stands, guests of the university talked with employees of the Admissions Committee, activists of the United Student Council of Dormitories, representatives of the Black Bears-Polytech sports club and specialists of the Center for Work with Applicants.

    At the end of the event, participants were treated to an impressive scientific show from the Institute of Physics and Mathematics, as well as an awards ceremony for the winners of the university competition.

    The live broadcast was hosted by the Director of the Contingent Formation Center Varvara Sotova and a student of the Institute of Energy Victoria Chernova. They explained in detail the nuances of admission this year and talked about participation in the projects of the State Corporation Rosatom. The broadcast can be viewed inrecords in a group.

    The Open Day once again confirmed the leading position of the Polytechnic University, the relevance of our scientific developments and educational programs. There was a lot of excitement near the career guidance zones of each institute. And the university strategy adapted for presentation to schoolchildren aroused keen interest among applicants and parents, because we are talking about success and prospects. We see how the interest of young people in engineering areas and the use of modern technologies related to artificial intelligence, digital engineering, new materials is growing. It is especially valuable that applicants come to us not just for a diploma, but for the competencies of the future, which will allow them to become sought-after specialists in high-tech industries, – noted Dmitry Tikhonov.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Q&A on Recent Issues

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Q: What should faculty, staff, or student workers do if they are approached or contacted by federal immigration authorities?

    A: Be polite and professional. Ask for appropriate identification if not easily recognizable. Immediately notify the UConn’s Office of the General Counsel (OGC) at 860-486-5796 or UConn Police at 860-486-4800. After hours contact OGC by email at Nicole.Gelston@uconn.edu. UConn OGC will ensure a valid search warrant, subpoena, or other enforceable legal document before releasing any documents, computers, records, or reports to government agents or law enforcement official unless otherwise required by law.

    Q: What if authorities contact me seeking student information?

    A: Remember that federal student privacy law, known as FERPA, apply. In light of that, don’t share personal student information including class schedules until you receive confirmation from OGC or the police. OGC will coordinate with departments the provision of any records to government agents or law enforcement officials.

    Q: Which campus locations are accessible to federal authorities?

    A: Federal law enforcement authorities may access any area of campus if they have a judicial warrant, meaning a warrant signed by a judge, authorizing them to do so. Otherwise, they may access areas of campus that are considered public, and parts of campus that are not considered public if they are provided with consent to do so by an authorized campus official or, if a dwelling, the resident. An administrative warrant, which is distinct from a judicial warrant, would not give authorities the ability to access non-public areas of campus without consent.

    Q: What spaces on UConn’s campuses are considered public and what are not considered public?

    A: As a public university, most of our campus spaces are considered public. However, there are exceptions to this, including: residence halls, faculty and staff offices, clinical care spaces, and other spaces that are locked when not in use or can only be accessed using a key card. It is virtually impossible to definitively designate every space on UConn’s campuses as public vs. not public as it would depend on a number of factors. Fortunately, faculty, staff, and students do not have to make this determination themselves, or try to decipher what is a judicial warrant versus an administrative warrant, or decide on the spot whether or not to release information – this is why anyone who may encounter federal authorities, including faculty teaching in a classroom, should contact the General Counsel or UConn Police.

    Q: What protections do I have if I am sued as a result of activities undertaken in the course of my employment? 

    A: Under state law, state employees sued due to actions taken within the scope of their employment are entitled to be provided a defense by the state through the Office of the Attorney General as long as such actions were not wanton, malicious or reckless or the Attorney General determines such representation would not be appropriate.  Any such employee would also typically be indemnified by the state in the event there was any monetary judgment awarded against them.  These rights are codified in state statute at sections 4-165 and 5-141d of the Connecticut General Statutes.

    Q: What do I do if I am served with a lawsuit or receive a threat of litigation concerning my University role or employment?

    A: Do not respond to any correspondence from the complainant or their attorney without first contacting the Office of the General Counsel and your direct supervisor.

    Q: What do I do if I am served with a subpoena or other legal document?

    A: As an employee at the University, you may encounter a situation in which a state marshal or other process server who is paid to deliver legal documents asks you to accept service of a legal document during the course of your workday. While less common, you may also receive these legal documents by mail or email. Typically, these legal documents consist of:

    • Subpoena: A subpoena is a written order issued by a court, attorney, or administrative agency. A subpoena generally requires a person to provide testimony and/or documents in connection with a legal proceeding, such as a deposition, court hearing or a trial. A subpoena is not a lawsuit against the University or the employee.
    • Summons and Complaint: A summons and complaint are the documents used to initiate a lawsuit.

    If you are asked to accept service of a subpoena or summons and complaint/lawsuit on behalf of the University or another employee, you should decline and inform the process server to contact the Office of the General Counsel.

    Exception: The only exception to the above is if the subpoena or summons specifically names you, as opposed to the University or another employee. In that situation, you can accept service of the subpoena or summons on your own behalf.  If you are unsure, contact the Office of the General Counsel before accepting any documents.

    Q: What do I do if I receive such documents by email or accidently accept service of such documents?

    A: Contact the Office of the General Counsel as soon as possible because these documents are time sensitive and failure to alert our office can result in adverse legal consequences.

    Please also feel free to contact the Office of the General Counsel at any time if you have any questions.

    Office of the General Counsel
    John J. Budds Building
    343 Mansfield Road
    (860) 486-5796

    generalcounsel@uconn.edu

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: What have the Democrats achieved in Trump’s first 100 days?

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Richard Hargy, Visiting Research Fellow in International Studies, Queen’s University Belfast

    The Democratic response to the first 100 days of Donald Trump’s second term has been sluggish. It has made many Congressional Democrats, and party members, anxious about what the party can do to push back against the president’s fast-moving agenda.

    “None of this feels like you’re fighting for us … The words are great, but I’m really not seeing any action,” said an exasperated constituent at a town hall event held in March by Colorado Democratic Senator Michael Bennet.

    According to reports, much of the anger in the room was aimed at the Democrats lacklustre fightback against Trump, and specifically a decision by some Democratic senators to support a Republican government funding bill in order to avert a federal government shutdown.

    Democrat Senate leader Chuck Schumer’s decision to support this bill attracted criticism from within the party. Opponents argued that rejecting the bill and forcing a government shutdown would have required Trump and Republicans to rethink their strategy and negotiate a more palatable deal with Democrats. Schumer, however, argued that it was a far worse option to allow “Trump to take even much more power via a government shutdown”.

    Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi offered a sharp critique of Schumer’s approach, saying “America has experienced a Trump shutdown before — but this damaging legislation only makes matters worse. Democrats must not buy into this false choice. We must fight back for a better way”.

    Some within the party viewed this as a missed opportunity by Democrats to portray themselves as an active opposition to Trump’s agenda, especially as Republicans currently control both parts of Congress – the US House of Representatives and the Senate.

    To progress to a vote on a bill in the Senate requires 60 votes. With 52 yes votes on their government-funding bill, Republicans needed eight Democrats to switch sides. Schumer could have sunk the bill and shut down the federal government. But, as Time magazine’s Philip Elliott said, while Democrats had this option, they “lacked the bandwidth to sell it as the other guys’ fault, or put forth a unified plan on how to reopen the government on better terms”.

    Nevertheless, the outcry within Democrat circles was fierce. Prominent progressive Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York said that “there is a deep sense of outrage and betrayal”. The fallout exposed wider divisions within the party, as well as friction between Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

    Polling data released in March showed Democrats with a favourability score of 29%, the party’s lowest point since 1992. This came as some of the Democrats’ major financial backers were publicly critical of the party’s ineffective and lethargic opposition and withheld financial backing.

    Democrat Chuck Schumer voted with the Republicans.

    Effective Democratic opposition will require sustained work, which connects with and mobilises voters. Darrell M. West, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington, said that previous victories “demonstrated that long-term success involves many steps, from … political alliance-building to candidate recruitment, fundraising, registration drives, and get-out-the-vote efforts”.

    Some Democrats in Congress are trying to hold the Trump administration accountable. Congressman James Raskin of Maryland and California Senator Adam Schiff have convened “shadow hearings” to highlight what they allege to be dubious decisions. Other Democrats have signed onto several court briefs that have challenged some of Trump’s executive orders.


    How is Donald Trump’s presidency shaping up after 100 days? Here’s what the experts think. If you like what you see, sign up to receive our weekly World Affairs Briefing newsletter.

    Other notable Democrats are mounting a fightback by trying to rally their supporters. Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont have held a series of rallies that saw huge crowds of over 200,000 people turn out in mainly Republican-supporting states to hear their anti-Trump message. Sanders declared that the “future of the Democratic Party is not going to rest with the kind of leadership that we’ve had”.

    Arguably the defining moment from this turbulent three-month period of Trump’s second term was the president’s “Liberation Day” announcement on April 2, when he imposed sweeping new tariffs on many major trading partners across the world.

    The economic turmoil that followed presented Democrats with a political opportunity. Yet their immediate response was restrained and lacklustre.

    As the economic shock waves from Trump’s tariff blitz reverberated, Jonathan Chait, staff writer at the Atlantic, asked why was Trump facing sharper political attacks from his allies than he is from the putative opposition.

    Weeks of market mayhem have given Democrats an opening to challenge Republican dominance in Washington ahead of next year’s midterm elections. A recent Morning Consult poll showed Democrats, for the first time in four-years, enjoying a three percentage point advantage (46% to 43%) over Republicans on economic competency.

    Democrats will have greater leverage if Trump’s tariff policies lead to inflation, and prices rising or even a recession.

    There’s just over 18 months until the next set of national elections in the US. In that time Democrats face the challenge of reconnecting with voters.

    Leah Greenberg, co-founder of the progressive grassroots organisation, Indivisible, gave an ominous judgement of the party’s current predicament, stating there have been “a lot of episodes over the last few months that have really soured people on whether the Democratic Party has … a clear assessment of the danger it’s facing right now”.

    This warning aside, three elections held at the beginning of April gave Democrats cause for some optimism. In a contest for a Wisconsin Supreme Court seat, the Trump-backed candidate, who was supported financially by the president’s ally Elon Musk, lost by a significant margin in a state that Trump won last November.

    In two congressional races in Florida, while the Republicans held both seats, results were far closer than those seen two years ago, signalling some disapproval of Republican policy.

    Elaine Kamarck, a Brookings fellow, believes that the large demonstrations that have sprung up around the country over the past months have started to alter the mood within the Democratic party, and that’s something they can build on.

    Richard Hargy 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. What have the Democrats achieved in Trump’s first 100 days? – https://theconversation.com/what-have-the-democrats-achieved-in-trumps-first-100-days-255139

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: From withheld cancer drugs to postcode lotteries in treatment: why people in police custody are missing vital medications

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Gethin Rees, Senior Lecturer in Sociology, Newcastle University

    NottmCity/Shutterstock

    When someone is taken into police custody, they don’t lose their basic rights, including access to healthcare. But new research suggests that, for many people detained by police in England, getting the care they need can be anything but straightforward.

    Our research investigated healthcare provision inside police custody suites and uncovered a troubling reality: people held in custody often face long delays in receiving vital treatments. In some cases, they’re denied their medication altogether – even when they have serious health conditions.

    This isn’t just a bureaucratic hiccup. These delays and denials can pose real risks to people’s health and wellbeing, especially for those already living with chronic conditions or acute mental health issues.

    Healthcare inside police custody isn’t always provided by the NHS. Instead, police forces across England commission providers through a competitive tender process. These providers then employ healthcare professionals who are responsible for treating detainees and responding to emergencies.

    But our research found that the system doesn’t always work as it should. In many cases, the healthcare professionals are not based full-time at custody suites. Instead, one professional may be expected to cover several sites, often dozens of miles apart. It’s not unusual for a healthcare professional to be responsible for multiple suites spread over 50 miles or more.

    That means when someone in custody needs medical attention – say, for prescribed medication – the healthcare professional may not be there. And even if they are, they’re likely to be balancing demands from several locations and having to try to prioritise those people that need attention most urgently. This triage process, while necessary under current conditions, can result in significant and dangerous delays.

    Delays, denials and disbelief

    Delays are often compounded by another issue: distrust.

    Our data – including interviews with healthcare staff, police officers and people with lived experience – showed that many custody staff are deeply sceptical about detainees’ claims regarding their medication. There’s a strong concern that detainees might be seeking drugs or exaggerating their needs, which leads to staff adopting a highly cautious approach.

    In practice, this means that detainees are often made to wait at least six hours before receiving any medication – because they need to wait until they can be sure that any drugs taken before arrest will have metabolised. This practice is aimed at reducing the risk of overdose, but has been criticised by experts, including the Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine, a charity founded by the Royal College of Physicians. It also paints every detainee as dishonest by default.

    Across interviews and custody logs, research found repeated examples of vulnerable people missing doses of medication – whether for mental health, diabetes, or pain management.
    Andrii Spy_k/Shutterstock

    Even when people bring their own prescribed medicine, officers and staff may refuse to administer it unless it’s in its original box with the full pharmacy label – a condition that many can’t meet, especially if they were arrested suddenly.

    One person we interviewed described being detained while undergoing treatment for cancer. Despite explaining his situation, he was left without his medication.

    I can live with not having food for a couple of hours, but you can’t live with not having your medication when you’re due it … They had to take me to hospital to make sure I was all right.

    His experience was not an outlier. Across interviews and custody logs, we saw repeated examples of vulnerable people missing doses of medication – whether for mental health, diabetes, or pain management – because the system either didn’t believe them or wasn’t equipped to help them in time.

    Closing the care gap

    Based on our findings, we made a series of recommendations to improve healthcare in police custody. Two are critical to ensure that detainees receive timely access to essential medications.

    First, every custody suite should have a dedicated healthcare professional embedded on site. This would significantly reduce delays in treatment, ensuring that detainees are promptly assessed and cared for by qualified clinicians.

    Second, standardise the list of available medications across all providers police custody healthcare. A universal list of approved treatments would ensure consistency and fairness, no matter where someone is detained.

    These recommendations have already been echoed by the Independent Custody Visitors Association and the Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine. Implementing them could make a real difference to people’s safety and dignity during custody.

    Police custody is often a place of crisis. It receives some of society’s most vulnerable people – those experiencing mental illness, substance use issues, homelessness, or poverty.

    These are people who already face barriers to healthcare in daily life. Detention shouldn’t become another one.

    Timely, appropriate, and compassionate care isn’t just something that is nice to have. It’s a human right. And right now, in too many custody suites, that right is being denied.

    Gethin Rees receives funding from the Economic and Social Research Council.

    – ref. From withheld cancer drugs to postcode lotteries in treatment: why people in police custody are missing vital medications – https://theconversation.com/from-withheld-cancer-drugs-to-postcode-lotteries-in-treatment-why-people-in-police-custody-are-missing-vital-medications-255054

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: Torrey Jacoby Joins Rate as Vice President of Mortgage in Houston

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CHICAGO, April 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Rate, a leader in fintech mortgage solutions, welcomes Torrey Jacoby to Rate as Vice President of Mortgage, based in Houston. A top 1% originator both locally and nationally, Torrey brings more than a decade of experience and a track record of consistent production—closing over $62 million in 2024 alone. As Rate continues to grow in Texas and nationwide, Torrey’s customer-first approach and deep roots in the Houston market are a strong match for our fintech-powered, loan officer–driven model.

    “I’ve always believed that customer service is the foundation of long-term success in this business,” said Jacoby. “That’s how you earn referrals for life. After seven great years at my previous company, I knew it was time to make a move to a platform built for top producers, with the tools and support to take things to the next level.”

    Torrey began his mortgage career in Houston in 2011, shortly after graduating from Pepperdine University and moving from California. He has been a President’s Club winner for the past 10 years and has built his business on trust, responsiveness, and results. He lives in Houston with his wife, Victoria (Tori), and their two children, Hudson (5) and Georgie (2).

    “Torrey represents exactly the kind of leadership and production mindset we value at Rate,” said Todd Heaton, EVP and Western Divisional Manager for Rate. “He’s a powerhouse originator who’s built his business on relationships and repeat referrals. We’re proud to have him on board.”

    About Rate

    Rate Companies is a leader in mortgage lending and digital financial services. Headquartered in Chicago, Rate has over 850 branches across all 50 states and Washington D.C. Since its launch in 2000, Rate has helped more than 2 million homeowners with home purchase loans and refinances. The company has cemented itself as an industry leader by introducing innovative technology, offering low rates, and delivering unparalleled customer service.

    Honors and awards include Best Mortgage Lender for First-Time Homebuyers by NerdWallet for 2023; HousingWire’s Tech100 award for the company’s industry-leading FlashClose℠ digital mortgage platform in 2020, MyAccount in 2022, and Language Access Program in 2023; the most Scotsman Guide Top Originators for 11 consecutive years; Chicago Agent Magazine’s Lender of the Year for seven consecutive years; and Chicago Tribune’s Top Workplaces list for seven straight years.

    Visit rate.com for more information.

    Media Contact

    press@rate.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: ARRAY Technologies Names Brian Pitel General Manager, Latin America

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., April 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ARRAY Technologies (NASDAQ: ARRY) (“ARRAY” or the “Company”), a leading provider of tracker solutions and services for utility-scale solar energy projects, has named Brian Pitel as its general manager, Latin America. He will be based in São Paulo, Brazil.

    With a career spanning more than two decades across technology and renewable energy in the Brazilian and Latin American markets, Pitel brings deep expertise in the local markets and regulatory environments. His track record of growing business operations through strategic partnerships led to his ascension at General Electric (GE), where he began as a senior sourcing and logistics manager before becoming general manager of its Latin America branch.

    “Brian’s impressive background in the energy sector combined with his expertise in the Brazilian and Latin American markets made him the perfect fit to lead ARRAY’s growth objectives in the region,” said Neil Manning, President and Chief Operating Officer at ARRAY. “He has an ability to anticipate trends and manage business relationships, which will help us expand our global footprint and reinforce our leadership in renewable energy innovation.”

    Pitel will oversee all of ARRAY’s operations in Brazil and Latin America, fostering efficiency, compliance, and alignment with regional and global objectives. He will play a critical role in supporting existing customers and exploring new market opportunities as ARRAY continues its mission to provide smart, sustainable, and cost-effective solar energy solutions.

    “The solar industry is entering a pivotal moment as we work to realize the impact of recent investments, and I admire ARRAY’s dedication to advancing clean energy across Latin America,” said Pitel. “I look forward to working with the leadership team to drive strategic growth in the region and shape the next generation of solar tracking solutions.”

    Since 2024, Pitel had served as senior advisor and new business development leader at Grupo GA230, a Brazilian manufacturer of components for the oil and gas and renewable energy sectors. He was previously at GE, managing its Latin America supply chain before rising to a general manager position in 2020. Pitel began his career at United Technologies Corporation, starting as a sourcing specialist and eventually relocated to Brazil to lead materials management and logistics at the UTC Otis Elevator factory in Sao Paulo. Pitel graduated from the University of Minnesota and has master’s degrees from RPI Lally School of Management and Purdue University.

    About ARRAY
    ARRAY Technologies (NASDAQ: ARRY) is a leading global provider of solar tracking technology to utility-scale and distributed generation customers who construct, develop, and operate solar PV sites. With solutions engineered to withstand the harshest weather conditions, ARRAY’s high-quality solar trackers, software platforms and field services combine to maximize energy production and deliver value to our customers for the entire lifecycle of a project. Founded and headquartered in the United States, ARRAY is rooted in manufacturing and driven by technology – relying on its domestic manufacturing, diversified global supply chain, and customer-centric approach to design, deliver, commission, train, and support solar energy deployment around the world. For more news and information on ARRAY, please visit arraytechinc.com.

    Forward Looking Statements
    This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements are not historical facts but rather are based on the Company’s current expectations and projections regarding its business, operations and other factors relating thereto. Words such as “may,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “anticipate,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “projects,” “believes,” “estimates” and similar expressions are used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements are only predictions and as such are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of factors. Forward-looking statements should be evaluated together with the risks and uncertainties that affect our business and operations, particularly those described in more detail in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and other documents on file with the SEC, each of which can be found on our website www.arraytechinc.com. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.

    Media Contact
    Nicole Stewart
    505-589-8257
    nicole.stewart@arraytechinc.com

    Investor Relations
    ARRAY Technologies, Inc.
    Investor Relations
    investors@arraytechinc.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Moomoo Foundation Celebrates 2025 Financial Literacy Month

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • Partnered with Working in Support of Education (W!se)
    • Continued Campus Tour with Columbia University and New Jersey City University (NJCU)
    • Published Financial Literacy Survey with moomoo’s North America users

    JERSEY CITY, N.J., April 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The intuitive global trading platform moomoo and its Moomoo Foundation with the dedication to boosting financial literacy, are excited to announce its 2025 plan to celebrate the financial literacy month with its North American users and communities worldwide.

    This year, the moomoo foundation is partnering with the New York city-based educational nonprofit Working in Support of Education (W!se) to recognize the 100 Best W!se High Schools Teaching Personal Finance at Touro College in Midtown New York. Moomoo’s US CEO Neil McDonald presented awards to representatives from the 100 highest ranking high schools whose students excelled on W!se’s Financial Literacy Certification Test in the 2023-24 school year. Always held during April -Financial Literacy Month – the 100 best ceremony, is the first and only national ranking award to honor outstanding schools from W!se’s national network whose students performed well on the Test.

    In addition, Moomoo Foundation will host a series of financial literacy seminars across the New York and New Jersey area. Moomoo Technology’s Vice President of Strategy Justin Zacks spoke about stock market fundamentals and equity trading at Columbia University on April 25 and will conduct a seminar at NJCU’s business school on May 2. Working with Columbia’s GCC and NJCU’s Student Development & Community Engagement team, moomoo continues its efforts of bringing financial inclusion to empower individual investors of all kinds, irrespective of ethnicity, age or gender, with the tools they need to make informed investment decisions.

    Zacks said, “we are thrilled to extend our educational mission to the diverse academic audience in the Tri-State Area. These events reflect our long-term mission to inspire financial literacy at an early age and strengthen our community engagement with underserved demographics at every level of learning.”

    To understand investors’ financial health and their personal finance behaviors and habits, moomoo also conducted a quarterly survey with its North American users. As the U.S. markets notched a second consecutive year of over 20% price appreciation. Many retail investors gained a positive return financially, but a new tariff policy and signs of an economic slowdown made some of them concerned.

    The majority of moomoo users are better off than last year and many are able to save a consistent amount some of which is going into stocks. Low income and housing is a headwind for some and is preventing them from saving.

    Moomoo’s users in Canada are closely watching political developments both at home and in the US in order to help them adjust their spending plans.

    For more details, please download the moomoo North America financial literacy whitepaper here.

    About Moomoo Foundation

    Moomoo Foundation is a non-profit initiative launched by Moomoo, an intuitive investment and trading platform dedicated to financial empowerment. The foundation seeks to further Moomoo’s mission by promoting financial literacy, advancing economic equality, and fostering technological innovation.

    Through strategic partnerships and targeted grants, Moomoo Foundation focuses on nurturing fintech startups that share its vision, working to build a more inclusive and forward-thinking financial landscape.

    Our commitment goes beyond traditional philanthropy. At Moomoo Foundation, we are dedicated to establishing a sustainable, long-term approach that ensures our efforts make a lasting impact. We believe in equipping those we support with the knowledge, tools, and resources they need to shape their own financial journey and thrive as active participants in the investment world. For more information, please visit moomoo’s official website at

    https://www.moomoo.com/us/moomoofoundation 

    About the Survey

    The survey included approximately 1200 registered moomoo users in North America (1000 U.S. users, 200 Canada users) from March 14 to March. 23, 2025. The data shown in the survey represents the opinion of those surveyed and may change based on the market and other conditions. The survey results provided herein may not represent other customers’ experience, and there is no guarantee of future performance or success and should also not be construed as investment advice. Experiences may differ than the ones represented here. Investing involves risks regardless of the strategy selected.

    This whitepaper is for informational and educational use only and is not a recommendation or endorsement of any particular investment or investment strategy. Past investment performance does not indicate or guarantee future success. You should consider the appropriateness of this information having regard to your relevant personal circumstances before making any investment decisions.

    We do not provide tax advice and any tax-related information provided is general in nature and should not be considered tax advice. Consult a tax professional regarding your specific tax situation.

    Moomoo is a financial information and trading app offered by Moomoo Technologies Inc. In the U.S., Investment products and services on Moomoo are offered by Moomoo Financial Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC.

    About moomoo
    Moomoo is a leading global investment and trading platform dedicated to empowering investors with user-friendly tools, data, and insights. Our platform is designed to provide essential information and technology, enabling users to make more-informed investment decisions. With advanced charting tools, pro-level analytical features, moomoo evolves alongside our users, fostering a dynamic community where investors can share, learn, and grow together.

    Founded in the U.S., moomoo operates globally, serving investors in countries such as the US, Singapore, Australia, Japan, Canada and Malaysia. As a subsidiary of a Nasdaq-listed Futu Holdings (FUTU), we take pride in our role as a global strategic partner of the Nasdaq, earning numerous international accolades from renowned industry leaders such as Benzinga and Fintech Breakthrough. Moomoo has also received multiple awards in the US, Singapore, and Australia for its innovative, inclusive approach to investing.

    For more information, please visit moomoo’s official website at www.moomoo.com or feel free to email us: pr@us.moomoo.com.

    Moomoo is a financial information and trading app offered by Moomoo Technologies Inc. In the U.S., Investment products and services on Moomoo are offered by Moomoo Financial Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC.

    Investing is risky. Securities offered through Moomoo FInancial Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC

    W!se and Nasdaq are independent third parties, not affiliated with Moomoo Financial Inc., Moomoo Technologies Inc., or its affiliates.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f5a4ba7f-fa71-4fad-8fb2-6066d1f2c32c

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Politics with Michelle Grattan: pollster Kos Samaras on how voters are leaving the major parties behind

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

    As we enter the final days of campaigning, Labor leads with its nose in front on most polls, but the devil is in the detail of particular seats.

    To help get a read on what the voters are feeling at this late stage, we’re joined by RedBridge director Kos Samaras.

    RedBridge – a political research company, whose directors include both former Labor strategists like Samaras and former Liberal strategist Tony Barry – has been conducting focus groups and polling throughout the campaign.

    On Labor’s polling lead, Samaras says

    At the moment we’re looking at a situation where Labor will end up possibly forming minority government, with an outside chance of majority.

    On the large number of soft voters, Samaras says soft voters are more likely to represent people shifting from the majors to the minor parties, rather then from Liberal to Labor.

    The best way we can describe soft voters is it’s a permanent state of mind, and again we go back to talking about younger voters here, or those under the age of 45 in particular, who have very low levels of values connection to party politics in this country.

    Very low numbers of people switch from the majors these days. So I think a lot of political strategists, particularly on the Coalition side, still think they are living in the world of 20 years ago where a large soft vote means people will just transfer their entire support over to the other major party. That no longer is the case.

    By Saturday April 27, more than 2.3 million Australians (more than 13%) had already voted with a week to go to election day, according to analyst Antony Green. More than half a million votes were cast on the first day alone – a new record.

    On that early voting trend, Samaras says while it’s “standard practice now” that people vote early, both major parties have been too slow to adapt to this change.

    I would say, we haven’t seen any real evidence of the major parties really understanding the importance of starting early, although I would say Labor did start very early in the beginning of March. But you saw that the Coalition was very late to the game.

    I think there’s a way to go before the majors fully wrap their heads around that Australians are now voting very differently, and they need to actually alter their campaign to suit those practices.

    After a lacklustre campaign, voters are seeing Albanese as “the least worst option”:

    The best way we can capture it is they view Anthony Albanese as the least worst option and we can see that in our quantitative analysis as well. Both major parties and both leaders are still in the negative territory but Labor and Albanese have improved their position dramatically, whilst at the same time the Coalition and Peter Dutton’s ratings have actually dropped.

    And on political candidates lying in elections, Samaras says Australians think

    They all lie. That’s fundamentally what most Australians will tell you. They all lie and they don’t live the lives we live. That’s the sort of saying we hear all the time.

    Michelle Grattan 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. Politics with Michelle Grattan: pollster Kos Samaras on how voters are leaving the major parties behind – https://theconversation.com/politics-with-michelle-grattan-pollster-kos-samaras-on-how-voters-are-leaving-the-major-parties-behind-255421

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Italy’s Meloni is positioning herself as bridge between EU and Trump – but will it work?

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Julia Khrebtan-Hörhager, Associate Professor of Critical Cultural & International Studies, Colorado State University

    Italy Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni looks to thread a divide. Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images

    Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni recently became the first European leader to visit the United States after President Donald Trump announced a new tariff regime on trading partners, including a 20% levy on imports from the European Union.

    While those tariffs are currently on hold, the ongoing threat of them being enacted provided a telling backdrop for Meloni’s mid-April 2025 visit.

    Controversial and often perceived by critics as calculating, Meloni has walked a tightrope between European Union solidarity and embracing far-right causes since becoming Italy’s prime minister in 2022. She was the only European leader to attend Trump’s inauguration in January 2025 and counts tech titan Elon Musk among her allies.

    In many ways, Meloni reflects Europe’s own identity crisis: a regional power with global ambition. Italy, after all, was a founding pillar of the European Union, hosting the signing of the Treaties of Rome in 1957 establishing the European common market. Yet, for decades, Italy has often stood just outside the core of EU influence, overshadowed by the Franco-German partnership.

    Still, when the moment is right, Italy knows how to wield its leverage, especially as a bridge between clashing camps in Brussels.

    In Washington, Meloni made her pitch to Trump: a tighter ideological alliance over shared disdain for “woke” politics, diversity, equity and inclusion agendas, and lax immigration. She offered a sweetener – more Italian investment in the U.S. as a sop to the transatlantic trade dispute. But she also reiterated her and the EU’s support for Ukraine, a direct contrast to Trump’s skepticism to continued U.S. support in Ukraine’s conflict with Russia.

    In so doing, Meloni has cast herself as someone who can serve both Brussels and Washington without burning bridges on either side. The gamble? That balancing act could backfire. Trump’s demands over trade and increased defense spending by NATO countries force Meloni to choose between appeasing Washington or staying in line with EU norms. Her overtures to Trump risk alienating key European allies who are wary of his disruptive politics.

    In trying to play both sides, she could end up isolated from both – undermining Italy’s credibility and influence on the world stage.

    Italy was a founder member of the European Union, but it is often a third wheel behind Germany and France.
    Simona Granati/Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images

    Meloni as a bridge

    The story of modern Italy has been one of playing off sides.

    During the Cold War, Italy walked a fine line between NATO commitments and accommodating a powerful domestic Communist Party.

    Italy was regularly governed by a series of often fraught center-right coalitions that were forced to navigate fractious politics and quid pro quo political violence between the far right and far left. The center-right Christian Democrats that dominated this period married conservatism at home with a strong pro-European outlook.

    In the first decades after the Cold War ended, Italy continued to carve out its own lane – pushing for leniency on issues like immigration and fiscal rules. The period saw Italy oscillate between pro-European integration and bouts of euroscepticism, with successive governments frequently challenging Brussels over budgetary constraints or border management.

    Meloni’s own rise is deeply rooted in the post-2015 tensions, when Italy – overwhelmed by the Mediterranean migrant crisis – felt abandoned by its European partners. Her party’s hard-line stance on immigration capitalized on public frustration. While she now presents herself as firmly pro-EU, it’s a version of Europe that aligns with her own vision: more secure borders, stronger national sovereignty and less technocratic interference.

    Ironically, as the bloc itself drifts rightward on migration, Meloni’s positions no longer seem so fringe – perhaps allowing her to embrace the EU pragmatically, even as she critiques it ideologically. Meloni’s own background and rise reflect this ambiguity and duality. Emerging from a political movement with fascist roots, she now presents herself as a passionate Europeanist and pacifist while maintaining right-wing positions on immigration and cultural issues.

    Meloni has governed in that fashion: cultivating ties with conservative heavyweights like Trump and right-wing European leaders, pushing back against Brussels on contentious policy issues, but also remaining firmly committed to the European project when it suits her. Especially when the economy is at stake.

    Meloni as pragmatic European

    Meloni’s strongly nationalist rhetoric and right-wing cultural views might appear at odds with the EU’s purpose, but her approach to the continent is highly pragmatic.

    While she regularly critiques EU bureaucracy at home, her government remains the largest recipient of EU recovery funds, securing €191.5 billion (US$218 billion) from the EU’s post-COVID recovery plan program. That critical cash infusion for an aging country with persistently sluggish growth comes with a commitment to enact a series of stringent fiscal reforms and austerity measures by 2026. In addition, Italy continues to benefit from long-standing cohesion and structural funds, particularly the economically struggling south,.

    Meanwhile, Meloni’s support for Ukraine helps her stand apart from pro-Russia voices in her coalition and strengthens Italy’s standing with NATO and the EU. It’s another strategic move that boosts her credibility both at home and abroad. Far from being a fringe player, Italy under Meloni is central to the EU’s narrative of unity, solidarity and survival.

    A spaghetti Western alliance?

    While Meloni reconciles her nationalist views vis-a-vis the supranationalist EU, she has also prioritized selling her idea of Italy on a bilateral basis.

    That has largely focused on a shrewd charm offensive in the U.S., particularly since the return of Trump, whose right-wing administration provides any easy fit for Meloni. She has attempted to play both Trump and Musk to Italy’s advantage, leveraging Rome’s geopolitical position to secure economic agreements and ease tensions wrought by Trump tariffs, which Meloni called “wrong.”

    Trump has been quick to praise her stance against “anti-woke” politics, while Meloni promises to help resolve trade issues and boost U.S. gas imports, all while keeping Italy at the forefront of negotiations. With Musk, she has attempted to position Italy as a key partner in tech and energy, navigating the global game with both finesse and ambition.

    Italy runs a substantial trade surplus with the U.S. and underspends on NATO defense – two things that typically trigger Trump’s criticism. Yet with Meloni, Trump has been full of admiration: “She’s taken Europe by storm,” he said in April, agreeing during their last meeting to meet again in Rome in the near future.

    Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, left, has expressed solidarity with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
    Thierry Monasse/Getty Images

    Meloni’s diplomatic ambitions extend beyond the U.S., including making moves in the Middle East, particularly with Saudi Arabia. By promoting Italy as a gateway to Europe, she is securing key investments in energy and infrastructure, while boosting Italian exports and increasing her diplomatic leverage. The fact that many in Europe, and indeed Italy, eye such overtures toward Saudi money with distaste, appears neither here nor there. After all, in Italy there has long been an attitude among leaders that “money does not smell” – or “pecunia non olet” as the locals say – a phrase that by legend was uttered by Emperor Vespasian while slapping a tax on public urinals.

    Will all roads lead to Rome?

    While Meloni’s approach of casting Italy as a bridge between the U.S. and Europe may yield some short-term diplomatic gains, it’s nonetheless a delicate path fraught with risk. Cozying up to Washington under Trump, whose policies – especially on trade – have engendered widespread outrage in Europe, risks ruffling feathers in Brussels. Indeed, while Trump praised Meloni’s leadership, and both sides talked trade with no urgency on tariffs, Europe watched warily.

    Trying to navigate between Trump’s protectionist leanings and the EU’s collective trade stance could leave Meloni unable to satisfy either side. Should Trump push for concessions – like shrinking Italy’s trade surplus with the U.S. or increasing defense spending – Meloni may find herself at odds with EU standards and alienating European partners. But leaning too far into EU alignment – and the bloc’s commitment to Ukraine – risks souring her ties with Trump’s camp, potentially weakening her influence across the Atlantic.

    In trying to please both Washington and Brussels, Meloni could end up with enemies on both fronts – and very few wins to show for it.

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

    – ref. Italy’s Meloni is positioning herself as bridge between EU and Trump – but will it work? – https://theconversation.com/italys-meloni-is-positioning-herself-as-bridge-between-eu-and-trump-but-will-it-work-254955

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Oshikatsu, the fandom phenomenon Japan hopes can boost its flagging economy

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Fabio Gygi, Senior Lecturer in Anthropology, SOAS, University of London

    Posters in Tokyo’s enormous Shinjuku railway station are normally used for advertising commodities like cosmetics and food, as well as new films. But occasionally you may happen across a poster with a birthday message and a picture of a young man, often from a boy band and typically with impeccable looks.

    These posters are created by specialised advertising companies and are paid for by adoring fans. They are part of a phenomenon called oshikatsu, a term coined in recent years that is made from the Japanese words for “push” and “activity”.

    Oshikatsu refers to the efforts fans engage in to support their favourite oshi, which can mean an entertainer, an anime or manga character, or a group they admire and want to “push”.

    A considerable part of this support is economic in nature. Fans attend events and concerts, or buy merchandise such as CDs, posters and other collectables. Other forms of oshikatsu are meant to spread the fame of their idol by sharing content about their oshi, engaging in social media campaigns, and writing fan fiction or drawing fan art.

    A birthday message for Kogun, a South Korean singer trying to make it in Japan, in 2022.
    Fabio Gygi, CC BY-NC-ND

    Oshikatsu developed out of the desire of fans to have a closer link to their idols. The combination of oshi and katsu first appeared on social media networks in 2016 and became widespread as a hashtag on Twitter in 2018. In 2021, oshikatsu was nominated as a candidate for Japan’s word of the year, a sign that its use had become mainstream.

    Now, it has appeared on the radar of corporate Japan. The reason for this is a burst of inflation in recent years, caused by pandemic supply chain disruption and geopolitical shocks, that has caused Japanese consumers to reduce their spending.

    However, with wages set to rise again for the third time in three years, the government is cautiously optimistic that economic growth can be rekindled through consumer-driven spending. Entertainment and media companies are looking to oshikatsu as a potential driver of this, although it is unclear whether the upcoming pay hikes will be sufficient.

    A widespread phenomenon

    Contrary to popular perception, oshikatsu is no longer the purview solely of subcultures or young people. It has made inroads with older age groups in Japan as well.

    According to a 2024 survey by Japanese marketing research company Harumeku, 46% of women aged in their 50s have an oshi that they support financially. Older generations tend to have more money to spend, especially after their own children have finished education.

    Oshikatsu also signifies an interesting reversal in terms of gender. While husbands in the traditional Japanese household are still expected to be breadwinners, in oshikatsu it is more often women who financially support young men.

    How much fans spend on their oshi depends. According to a recent survey by Japanese marketing company CDG and Oshicoco, an advertising agency specialising in oshikatsu, the average amount fans spend on activities related to their oshis is 250,000 yen (about £1,300) annually.

    This contributes an estimated 3.5 trillion yen (£18.8 billion) to the Japanese economy each year, and accounts for 2.1% of Japan’s total annual retail sales.

    Oshikatsu will drive up consumer spending. But I doubt it will have the impact on the Japanese economy that the authorities are hoping for. For the younger fans, the danger is that government approval will kill any kind of cool clout, making oshikatsu less appealing to these people in the long run.

    And if you support an oshi who has not yet made it, you may have a stronger sense that your support matters. Hence some of the spending will go directly to individuals, rather than to established corporate superstars. But it’s also possible that struggling young oshis may spend more of this money than established celebrities.

    Japan hopes that fandom can help revitalise its economy.
    amri48 / Shutterstock

    The international press is focusing either on the economic side of oshikatsu, or on the quirkiness of “obsessive” fans who get second jobs to support their oshi and mothers spending large sums on a man half their age. But what such coverage misses is the slow yet profound societal transformation that oshikatsu is a sign of.

    Research from 2022 on people engaging in oshikatsu makes clear that “fan activities” address a deep wish for connection, validation and belonging. While this could be satisfied by friendship or an intimate partnership, an increasing number of Japanese young adults feel that such relationships are “bothersome”.

    Young men are leading in this category, especially those who do not work as white-collar corporate workers with relatively stable jobs, the so-called salarymen. Many who work part time or in blue-collar jobs are finding it difficult to imagine a future in which they have families.

    The tertiary sector is thus changing to accommodate an increasing number of services that turn intangible things such as friendship, companionship and escapist romance fantasies into paid-for services.

    From non-sexual cuddling to renting a friend for the day or going on a date with a cross-dressing escort, temporary respite from loneliness can be sought on a per-hour basis. As a result, human connection itself is becoming something that can be consumed for a fee.

    On the other hand, sharing oshikatsu activities can create new friendships. Fans coming together to worship their idols collectively is a powerful way of creating new communities. It remains to be seen how these shifts in the way people relate to each other will shape the future of Japan’s economy and society.

    Fabio Gygi 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. Oshikatsu, the fandom phenomenon Japan hopes can boost its flagging economy – https://theconversation.com/oshikatsu-the-fandom-phenomenon-japan-hopes-can-boost-its-flagging-economy-253853

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: 50 years later, Vietnam’s environment still bears the scars of war – and signals a dark future for Gaza and Ukraine

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Pamela McElwee, Professor of Human Ecology, Rutgers University

    During the Vietnam War, the U.S. bombed and defoliated vast areas of forest and protective mangroves. AP Photo

    When the Vietnam War finally ended on April 30, 1975, it left behind a landscape scarred with environmental damage. Vast stretches of coastal mangroves, once housing rich stocks of fish and birds, lay in ruins. Forests that had boasted hundreds of species were reduced to dried-out fragments, overgrown with invasive grasses.

    The term “ecocide” had been coined in the late 1960s to describe the U.S. military’s use of herbicides like Agent Orange and incendiary weapons like napalm to battle guerrilla forces that used jungles and marshes for cover.

    Fifty years later, Vietnam’s degraded ecosystems and dioxin-contaminated soils and waters still reflect the long-term ecological consequences of the war. Efforts to restore these damaged landscapes and even to assess the long-term harm have been limited.

    As an environmental scientist and anthropologist who has worked in Vietnam since the 1990s, I find the neglect and slow recovery efforts deeply troubling. Although the war spurred new international treaties aimed at protecting the environment during wartime, these efforts failed to compel post-war restoration for Vietnam. Current conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East show these laws and treaties still aren’t effective.

    Agent Orange and daisy cutters

    The U.S. first sent ground troops to Vietnam in March 1965 to support South Vietnam against revolutionary forces and North Vietnamese troops, but the war had been going on for years before then. To fight an elusive enemy operating clandestinely at night and from hideouts deep in swamps and jungles, the U.S. military turned to environmental modification technologies.

    The most well-known of these was Operation Ranch Hand, which sprayed at least 19 million gallons (75 million liters) of herbicides over approximately 6.4 million acres (2.6 million hectares), of South Vietnam. The chemicals fell on forests, and also on rivers, rice paddies and villages, exposing civilians and troops. More than half of that spraying involved the dioxin-contaminated defoliant Agent Orange.

    A U.S. Air Force C-123 flies low along a South Vietnamese highway spraying defoliants on dense jungle growth beside the road to eliminate ambush sites during the Vietnam War.
    AP Photo/Department of Defense

    Herbicides were used to strip the leaf cover from forests, increase visibility along transportation routes and destroy crops suspected of supplying guerrilla forces.

    As news of the damage from these tactics made it back to the U.S., scientists raised concerns about the campaign’s environmental impacts to President Lyndon Johnson, calling for a review of whether the U.S. was intentionally using chemical weapons. American military leaders’ position was that herbicides did not constitute chemical weapons under the Geneva Protocol, which the U.S. had yet to ratify.

    Scientific organizations also initiated studies within Vietnam during the war, finding widespread destruction of mangroves, economic losses of rubber and timber plantations, and harm to lakes and waterways.

    A photo at the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City, historically known as Saigon, shows the damage at Cần Giờ mangrove forest. The mangrove forest was destroyed by herbicides, bombs and plows.
    Gary Todd/Flickr

    In 1969, evidence linked a chemical in Agent Orange, 2,4,5-T, to birth defects and stillbirths in mice because it contained TCDD, a particularly harmful dioxin. That led to a ban on domestic use and suspension of Agent Orange use by the military in April 1970, with the last mission flown in early 1971.

    Incendiary weapons and the clearing of forests also ravaged rich ecosystems in Vietnam.

    The U.S. Forest Service tested large-scale incineration of jungles by igniting barrels of fuel oil dropped from planes. Particularly feared by civilians was the use of napalm bombs, with more than 400,000 tons of the thickened petroleum used during the war. After these infernos, invasive grasses often took over in hardened, infertile soils.

    Fires from napalm and other incendiary weapons cleared stretches of forest, in some cases scorching the soil so badly that nothing would regrow.
    AP Photo

    “Rome Plows,” massive bulldozers with an armor-fortified cutting blade, could clear 1,000 acres a day. Enormous concussive bombs, known as “daisy cutters”, flattened forests and set off shock waves killing everything within a 3,000-foot (900-meter) radius, down to earthworms in the soil.

    The U.S. also engaged in weather modification through Project Popeye, a secret program from 1967 to 1972 that seeded clouds with silver iodide to prolong the monsoon season in an attempt to cut the flow of fighters and supplies coming down the Ho Chi Minh Trail from North Vietnam. Congress eventually passed a bipartisan resolution in 1973 urging an international treaty to prohibit the use of weather modification as a weapon of war. That treaty came into effect in 1978.

    The U.S. military contended that all these tactics were operationally successful as a trade of trees for American lives.

    Despite Congress’ concerns, there was little scrutiny of the environmental impacts of U.S. military operations and technologies. Research sites were hard to access, and there was no regular environmental monitoring.

    Recovery efforts have been slow

    After the fall of Saigon to North Vietnamese troops on April 30, 1975, the U.S. imposed a trade and economic embargo on all of Vietnam, leaving the country both war-damaged and cash-strapped.

    Vietnamese scientists told me they cobbled together small-scale studies. One found a dramatic drop in bird and mammal diversity in forests. In the A Lưới valley of central Vietnam, 80% of forests subjected to herbicides had not recovered by the early 1980s. Biologists found only 24 bird and five mammal species in those areas, far below normal in unsprayed forests.

    Only a handful of ecosystem restoration projects were attempted, hampered by shoestring budgets. The most notable began in 1978, when foresters began hand-replanting mangroves at the mouth of the Saigon River in Cần Giờ forest, an area that had been completely denuded.

    Mangroves have been replanted in the Cần Giờ Biosphere Reserve near Ho Chi Minh City, but their restoration took decades.
    Tho Nau/Flickr, CC BY

    In inland areas, widespread tree-planting programs in the late 1980s and 1990s finally took root, but they focused on planting exotic trees like acacia, which did not restore the original diversity of the natural forests.

    Chemical cleanup is still underway

    For years, the U.S. also denied responsibility for Agent Orange cleanup, despite the recognition of dioxin-associated illnesses among U.S. veterans and testing that revealed continuing dioxin exposure among potentially tens of thousands of Vietnamese.

    The first remediation agreement between the two countries only occurred in 2006, after persistent advocacy by veterans, scientists and nongovernmental organizations led Congress to appropriate US$3 million for the remediation of the Da Nang airport.

    That project, completed in 2018, treated 150,000 cubic meters of dioxin-laden soil at an eventual cost of over $115 million, paid mostly by the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID. The cleanup required lakes to be drained and contaminated soil, which had seeped more than 9 feet (3 meters) deeper than expected, to be piled and heated to break down the dioxin molecules.

    Large amounts of Agent Orange had been stored at the Da Nang airport during the war and contaminated the soil with dioxin. The cleanup project, including heating contaminated soil to high temperatures, was completed in 2018.
    Richard Nyberg/USAID

    Another major hot spot is the heavily contaminated Biên Hoà airbase, where local residents continue to ingest high levels of dioxin through fish, chicken and ducks.

    Agent Orange barrels were stored at the base, which leaked large amounts of the toxin into soil and water, where it continues to accumulate in animal tissue as it moves up the food chain. Remediation began in 2019; however, further work is at risk with the Trump administration’s near elimination of USAID, leaving it unclear if there will be any American experts in Vietnam in charge of administering this complex project.

    Laws to prevent future ‘ecocide’ are complicated

    While Agent Orange’s health effects have understandably drawn scrutiny, its long-term ecological consequences have not been well studied.

    Current-day scientists have far more options than those 50 years ago, including satellite imagery, which is being used in Ukraine to identify fires, flooding and pollution. However, these tools cannot replace on-the-ground monitoring, which often is restricted or dangerous during wartime.

    The legal situation is similarly complex.

    In 1977, the Geneva Conventions governing conduct during wartime were revised to prohibit “widespread, long term, and severe damage to the natural environment.” A 1980 protocol restricted incendiary weapons. Yet oil fires set by Iraq during the Gulf War in 1991, and recent environmental damage in the Gaza Strip, Ukraine and Syria indicate the limits of relying on treaties when there are no strong mechanisms to ensure compliance.

    Remediation work to remove dioxin contamination was just getting started at the former Biên Hoà Air Base in Vietnam when USAID’s staff was dismantled in 2025.
    USAID Vietnam, CC BY-NC

    An international campaign currently underway calls for an amendment to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court to add ecocide as a fifth prosecutable crime alongside genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and aggression.

    Some countries have adopted their own ecocide laws. Vietnam was the first to legally state in its penal code that “Ecocide, destroying the natural environment, whether committed in time of peace or war, constitutes a crime against humanity.” Yet the law has resulted in no prosecutions, despite several large pollution cases.

    Both Russia and Ukraine also have ecocide laws, but these have not prevented harm or held anyone accountable for damage during the ongoing conflict.

    Lessons for the future

    The Vietnam War is a reminder that failure to address ecological consequences, both during war and after, will have long-term effects. What remains in short supply is the political will to ensure that these impacts are neither ignored nor repeated.

    Pamela McElwee receives funding from the Carnegie Corporation, National Science Foundation, and National Endowment for the Humanities.

    – ref. 50 years later, Vietnam’s environment still bears the scars of war – and signals a dark future for Gaza and Ukraine – https://theconversation.com/50-years-later-vietnams-environment-still-bears-the-scars-of-war-and-signals-a-dark-future-for-gaza-and-ukraine-254971

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Pierre Poilievre’s ‘More Boots, Less Suits’ election strategy held little appeal to women

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Elizabeth Goodyear-Grant, Professor, Political Studies; Director, Canadian Opinion Research Archive, Queen’s University, Ontario

    Pierre Poilievre stands between two workers — no women in sight — in a photo promoting the Conservative Party of Canada’s ‘More Boots, Less Suits’ campaign policies on the party’s website. (The Conservative Party of Canada website)

    Women represent more than 50 per cent of the Canadian population, and there is no easy path to power without their votes.

    The Conservative Party’s gender gap in support has grown in each election since 2011, when Stephen Harper closed it, paving the way to a majority government after two back-to-back minorities.

    In 2025, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s strategy doesn’t appear poised to achieve the same success in terms of closing the gender gap. In fact, his rhetoric and platform both seem aimed at men, particularly younger and working-class demographics.

    Like Donald Trump and other leaders of the populist right, Poilievre’s and the Conservative Party of Canada’s rise in the polls since 2023 has been in part due to strengthening their appeal to working-class voters, particularly men.

    Poilievre has spent much of his time as CPC leader courting blue-collar workers and shifting the party’s agenda to include pro-worker policies. The culmination of this is its “More Boots, Less Suits” plan, a package of promises to boost training and apprenticeship grants, improve access to EI, harmonize health and safety policies and provide tax write-offs for trades people’s travel and subsistence costs for out of town work.

    Male-dominated sectors

    These may be good proposals, but these policies — and the rhetoric in which they were couched during the election campaign — don’t seem to offer much opportunity for the party to close the sizeable gender gap in voter intention.

    The rhetoric is heavily masculine, including the “More Boots, Less Suits” tagline. The policies in the plan appeal to workers in sectors that are heavily male-dominated.

    Women are estimated to represent about five per cent or less of the skilled trades workers that the CPC’s 2025 platform is designed to woo.

    The role of class in how people vote

    Drawing on my forthcoming chapter “Gender, Class and Voting Behaviour” in The Working Class and Politics in Canada (UBC Press), we can examine a simple question: does class affect men and women differently as they decide how to vote?

    The CPC has considerable support among working-class voters, particularly predominantly non-unionized men, but far less support among working-class women, as my chapter shows based on analyses of the 2019 Canadian Election Study.

    This gender difference arises, in part, because there are many more working-class men, according to occupational definitions, than there are working-class women, as noted above in terms of skilled trades.

    Poilievre has made strong sector- and occupation-based appeals in this campaign, invoking the idea of blue-collar versus white-collar workers and campaigning on pro-trades policies.

    There is a second issue beyond the gender-based occupational segregation in blue-collar jobs. Even among working-class voters, the appeal of the Conservative Party is significantly greater among men compared to women.

    The graph below shows the predicted probabilities of a Conservative vote in 2019 for men and women voters grouped by working-class versus non-working class on a scale of zero to one (with control variables for other factors that influence CPC vote such as income, region and partisanship).

    A gender gap is visible in both working-class and non-working class groups, but is largest in the working-class group, with working-class men heavily supporting the Conservatives.

    What about this election?

    We can assess these numbers as probabilities that can help us think through how voters might cast their ballots today.

    What’s the probability they’ll vote Conservative? Based on the statistical analyses of 37,000 respondents to the Canadian Election Study in 2019, this chart tells us that for working-class men, more than one in two might be expected to vote CPC in 2025, which represents a majority preference.

    In contrast, only one in four non-working-class women would. This makes for a big vote gap — a chasm even — as working-class men form the backbone of the party’s voter base.

    Men and women have distinct pathways to supporting Conservatives. But key parts of the Conservative strategy in 2025 limited the party’s potential to appeal to women, even working-class women. “More Boots, Less Suits” offers little to women specifically, or provides them with an opportunity to see themselves reflected in the policy. The broader CPC platform mentions women only four times.

    One mention of women appears in a promise to end intimate partner violence and consider aggravating factors for violence against vulnerable women.
    The other three are in single policy promising to repeal a federal regulation on the rights of gender-diverse federal offenders.



    Read more:
    Pierre Poilievre’s proposals on intimate partner violence will do little to stop it

    There is a widening gender divide in Canadian electoral politics. The Conservative Party’s appeal to working-class men is clear, consistent and electorally meaningful. But this success comes at the cost of deepening the party’s gender gap, and this gap is not merely symbolic, but structural.

    With women comprising more than half of the electorate, the Conservative Party of Canada’s current trajectory risks locking the party into a limited base. The “More Boots, Less Suits” plan may have mobilized one key demographic, but it did so while alienating another the party couldn’t afford to ignore.

    Elizabeth Goodyear-Grant receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council

    – ref. Pierre Poilievre’s ‘More Boots, Less Suits’ election strategy held little appeal to women – https://theconversation.com/pierre-poilievres-more-boots-less-suits-election-strategy-held-little-appeal-to-women-255078

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Trump administration’s attempt to nix the labor rights of thousands of federal workers on ‘national security’ grounds furthers the GOP’s long-held anti-union agenda

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Bob Bussel, Professor Emeritus of History and Labor Education, University of Oregon

    Airline passengers wait at a Transportation Security Administration checkpoint before boarding to flights in Denver in 2022. Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

    As the Trump administration seeks to shrink the federal workforce, slash nonmilitary spending and curb opposition to its policies, it is taking steps beyond the firing and furloughing of thousands of government workers.

    The government is also trying to strip hundreds of thousands of federal employees of their right to bargain collectively and have a voice in their conditions of employment.

    Citing “national security” concerns, President Donald Trump issued an executive order on March 27, 2025, that canceled collective bargaining agreements at more than 30 federal agencies, commissions and programs, including the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Science Foundation and the Food and Drug Administration. A judge temporarily blocked the order’s enforcement on April 25.

    Over three decades of researching American unions, I’ve never witnessed such a sweeping assault on collective bargaining rights, which give workers represented by unions the ability to negotiate with employers about the terms of their employment.

    But advocates of strong labor rights should have known what might be in store given the labor policies recommended by the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025. That document, which Trump disavowed on the campaign trail in 2024 but has embraced in practice during his second term, questions whether public-sector unions should exist at all.

    Keeping Americans ‘safe’

    The Trump administration’s broad attack on federal workers’ rights arrived less than three weeks after an earlier, similar action by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

    On March 7, Noem announced that the government was scrapping collective bargaining rights for all Transportation Security Administration workers, eliminating a 2024 agreement. She cited what she called an “irreconcilable conflict” between union representation for those 47,000 federal workers and national security.

    Only a “flexible, at-will” workforce can possess the “organizational agility” needed to “safeguard our transportation systems and keep Americans safe,” she said. Employers may fire “at-will” workers at their discretion with few limitations.

    Noem’s claim that unions and national security aren’t compatible strikes me as disingenuous.

    Unionized workforces have displayed in recent history both patriotism and dedication in their efforts to keep Americans safe. Unionized firefighters, police officers and other first responders rushed to the World Trade Center attempting to rescue those trapped inside on 9/11, for example.

    Similarly, many unionized public-sector workers risked their health during the toxic cleanup that followed the terrorist attacks.

    It is also worth noting that veterans comprise approximately 30% of the federal workforce. Their history of military service attests, I would argue, to their clear record of demonstrating loyalty and patriotism.

    To my eye, the argument that federal workers belonging to unions compromises national security appears to be more rooted in ideology than evidence.

    Demonstrators rally in support of federal workers outside the Department of Health and Human Services on Feb. 14, 2025, in Washington.
    AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein

    TSA as a case study

    The TSA emerged as part of President George W. Bush’s administration’s response to the 9/11 attacks in 2001; it designated newly hired airport security officers as federal employees.

    At the time, Bush insisted that TSA security officers should not belong to a union. He invoked national security concerns, arguing that union representation would undercut the “culture of urgency” needed to wage the “war on terrorism.”

    TSA employees finally gained collective bargaining rights during the Obama administration when they joined the American Federation of Government Employees in 2011.

    But after joining a union, TSA workers were still paid less than most federal employees. And they still couldn’t appeal disciplinary cases outside of TSA’s authority to the external board used by other federal employees that they viewed as more impartial.

    However, in recent years, TSA workers have obtained wage increases and stronger rights of appeal, along with other advances contained in a 2024
    collective bargaining agreement that the American Federation of Government Employees described as “groundbreaking.” These gains included uniform allowances, greater input on safety concerns and a pledge to examine expanded child care options.

    Now, the union has sued Noem, another Trump administration official and the TSA itself to block the administration’s rollback of these workers’ rights and protect their 2024 contract.

    JFK empowered federal workers

    Federal employees had historically organized unions to advocate and lobby for their interests.

    However, these unions lacked the formal ability to negotiate with the federal government in a collective bargaining process where, as labor scholar Robert Repas has explained, “decisions are made jointly, rather than unilaterally,” or ultimately at managerial discretion.

    Their members did not gain collective bargaining rights until 1962 when President John F. Kennedy issued an executive order making that possible. Kennedy’s action reflected the view that government employees should not be denied basic union rights enjoyed by their private sector counterparts.

    Acknowledging concerns that union rights might limit the ability to exercise centralized command and control, Kennedy’s directive exempted the FBI, CIA and other agencies charged with national security functions from collective bargaining.

    Federal employees covered by the 1962 executive order were also barred from striking. They could not negotiate over wages and benefits; power to make these decisions remained in the hands of Congress.

    In 1978, Congress passed the Civil Service Reform Act, which expanded the right of federal employees to collectively bargain for better working conditions, which its authors said were “in the public interest.” This law created an authority to oversee federal labor relations and established an appeals board to adjudicate worker grievances.

    Although federal employees did not enjoy as many rights as most union members in the private sector, they did gain a stronger voice in determining their working conditions and accessing grievance procedures to address workplace issues and concerns.

    Reagan and the air traffic controllers union

    Three years later, however, President Ronald Reagan fired over 11,000 air traffic controllers who had gone on strike, even though they lacked the right to do so. The Federal Labor Relations Authority subsequently decertified their union, the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization – known as PATCO.

    The strike’s failure seriously diminished the economic and political leverage of all U.S. unions for years. Membership in private-sector unions has declined sharply, while public-sector union membership remained relatively stable at about 1 in 3 workers. Overall, just under 10% of U.S. workers belonged to a union in 2024.

    Besides seriously diminishing the labor movement’s power and influence, the PATCO strike also had important political consequences. In his book about this labor dispute, historian Joseph McCartin wrote that crushing the PATCO strike led the Republican Party “in the direction of an unambiguous antiunionism” and a heightened antipathy toward unions in the public sector.

    Members of PATCO, the air traffic controllers union, hold hands and raise their arms during a strike in 1981.
    Bettmann/Getty Images

    Long-term goal

    The White House’s attack on federal unions represents an attempt to fulfill a longtime ambition of conservative activists.

    Executive orders, which can be rescinded by any president, lack the power of laws.

    But Sens. Mike Lee of Utah and Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, both Republicans, introduced a bill in March that would enshrine Trump’s executive order in law. If that bill were to become law, it would “end federal labor unions and immediately terminate their collective bargaining agreements,” Lee and Blackburn have said.

    Meanwhile, eight House Republicans have asked the president to reverse course on collective bargaining rights, as have all House Democrats. A bipartisan group of senators has made a similar request.

    As the courts make their determinations and political opposition gathers, the American public has, I believe, an important question to answer. Is the spirit of the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 – that “labor organizations and collective bargaining in the civil service are in the public interest” – worth upholding?

    This question warrants careful consideration and scrutiny. How the courts, Congress and the public respond will have enormous consequences for federal workers and the future of the union movement and the state of American democracy.

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

    – ref. Trump administration’s attempt to nix the labor rights of thousands of federal workers on ‘national security’ grounds furthers the GOP’s long-held anti-union agenda – https://theconversation.com/trump-administrations-attempt-to-nix-the-labor-rights-of-thousands-of-federal-workers-on-national-security-grounds-furthers-the-gops-long-held-anti-union-agenda-252347

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Bureaucrats get a bad rap, but they deserve more credit − a sociologist of work explains why

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Michel Anteby, Professor of Management and Organizations & Sociology at Questrom School of Business & College of Arts and Sciences, Boston University

    It’s telling that U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration wants to fire bureaucrats. In its view, bureaucrats stand for everything that’s wrong with the United States: overregulation, inefficiency and even the nation’s deficit, since they draw salaries from taxpayers.

    But bureaucrats have historically stood for something else entirely. As the sociologist Max Weber argued in his 1921 classic “Economy and Society,” bureaucrats represent a set of critical ideals: upholding expert knowledge, promoting equal treatment and serving others. While they may not live up to those ideals everywhere and every day, the description does ring largely true in democratic societies.

    I know this firsthand, because as a sociologist of work I’ve studied federal, state and local bureaucrats for more than two decades. I’ve watched them oversee the handling of human remains, screen travelers for security threats as well as promote primary and secondary education. And over and over again, I’ve seen bureaucrats stand for Weber’s ideals while conducting their often-hidden work.

    Bureaucrats as experts and equalizers

    Weber defined bureaucrats as people who work within systems governed by rules and procedures aimed at rational action. He emphasized bureaucrats’ reliance on expert training, noting: “The choice is only that between ‘bureaucratisation’ and ‘dilettantism.’” The choice between a bureaucrat and a dilettante to run an army − in his days, like in ours − seems like an obvious one. Weber saw that bureaucrats’ strength lies in their mastery of specialized knowledge.

    I couldn’t agree more. When I studied the procurement of whole body donations for medical research, for example, the state bureaucrats I spoke with were among the most knowledgeable professionals I encountered. Whether directors of anatomical services or chief medical examiners, they knew precisely how to properly secure, handle and transfer human cadavers so physicians could get trained. I felt greatly reassured that they were overseeing the donated bodies of loved ones.

    Weber also described bureaucrats as people who don’t make decisions based on favors. In other forms of rule, he noted, “the ruler is free to grant or withhold clemency” based on “personal preference,” but in bureaucracies, decisions are reached impersonally. By “impersonal,” Weber meant “without hatred or passion” and without “love and enthusiasm.” Put otherwise, the bureaucrats fulfill their work without regard to the person: “Everyone is treated with formal equality.”

    The federal Transportation Security Administration officers who perform their duties to ensure that we all travel safely epitomize this ideal. While interviewing and observing them, I felt grateful to see them not speculate about loving or hating anyone but treating all travelers as potential threats. The standard operating procedures they followed often proved tedious, but they were applied across the board. Doing any favors here would create immense security risks, as the recent Netflix action film “Carry-On” − about an officer blackmailed into allowing a terrorist to board a plane − illustrates.

    Advancing the public’s interests

    Finally, Weber highlighted bureaucrats’ commitment to serving the public. He stressed their tendency to act “in the interests of the welfare of those subjects over whom they rule.” Bureaucrats’ expertise and adherence to impersonal rules are meant to advance the common interest: for young and old, rural and urban dwellers alike, and many more.

    The state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education staff that I partnered with for years at the Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth exemplified this ethic. They always impressed me by the huge sense of responsibility they felt toward all state residents. Even when local resources varied, they worked to ensure that all young people in the state − regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity − could thrive. Based on my personal experience, while they didn’t always get everything right, they were consistently committed to serving others.

    Today, bureaucrats are often framed by the administration and its supporters as the root of all problems. Yet if Weber’s insights and my observations are any guide, bureaucrats are also the safeguards that stand between the public and dilettantism, favoritism and selfishness. The overwhelming majority of bureaucrats whom I have studied and worked with deeply care about upholding expertise, treating everyone equally and ensuring the welfare of all.

    Yes, bureaucrats can slow things down and seem inefficient or costly at times. Sure, they can also be co-opted by totalitarian regimes and end up complicit in unimaginable tragedies. But with the right accountability mechanisms, democratic control and sufficient resources for them to perform their tasks, bureaucrats typically uphold critical ideals.

    In an era of growing hostility, it’s key to remember what bureaucrats have long stood for − and, let’s hope, still do.

    Michel Anteby was during a decade a member of the Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth and a former Vice-Chair, and then Chair of the Commission.

    – ref. Bureaucrats get a bad rap, but they deserve more credit − a sociologist of work explains why – https://theconversation.com/bureaucrats-get-a-bad-rap-but-they-deserve-more-credit-a-sociologist-of-work-explains-why-253317

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Detroit’s lack of affordable housing pushes families to the edge – and children sometime pay the price

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Meghan Wilson, Assistant Professor of American Politics and Public Policy, Michigan State University

    Some of Detroit’s unhoused population take refuge in abandoned buildings, cars and parks. Adam J. Dewey/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

    As outside temperatures dropped to the low- to mid-teens Fahrenheit on Feb. 10, 2025, two children died of carbon monoxide toxicity in a family van parked in a Detroit casino parking garage.

    We are political scientists who study urban and housing public policies, and in the months since this tragedy, we took a deep look at the trends in homelessness and housing policies that foreshadowed the events of that night.

    More kids are experiencing homelessness

    One important trend is that the number of homeless children in the city reached a record high in 2024. This is true even though the overall numbers of people experiencing homelessness in the city is declining overall.

    According to the Point-in-Time count, 455 children were experiencing homelessness in Detroit on Jan. 31, 2024, up from 312 the year before. The count captures data for one night each year.

    Most of these children were unhoused but considered sheltered because they had a place to sleep in an emergency shelter or transitional housing, or were able to temporarily stay with family or friends.

    Nineteen of the kids were unsheltered – meaning they were sleeping in places not designed for human habitation, like cars, parks or abandoned buildings.

    A different set of data comes from the Detroit Public Schools. The district looked at the entire 2022-2023 school year and found that roughly 1 in 19 students were unhoused at some point during that nine-month period — more than double the number in the 2019-2020 school year.

    A lack of temporary solutions

    The lack of adequate funding and staffing in the city’s shelter system means unhoused people often struggle to access temporary shelter beds.

    That includes kids. Even though the city prioritizes giving beds to the most vulnerable, the number of unsheltered children of school age has nearly tripled in three years, rising from an estimated 48 in the school year beginning in September 2019 to 142 in the school year beginning in September 2022. These figures align with the rise in unsheltered children recorded in the one-night Point-in-Time count, which increased from four in 2016 to 19 in 2024.

    The end of COVID-era funding that prevented many evictions is likely to increase the need for shelter and put additional strain on Detroit’s response to the crisis.

    Gaps in a vital system

    Children who experience housing insecurity are often caught in the middle of bureaucracy and failed regulation.

    The mother of the children who died in February had reached out to the city in November 2024 when they were staying with a family member. The mother noted that she wanted to keep all five of her children together.

    According to a report issued by the city, the Detroit Housing Authority did not follow up with her. Her situation was not considered an emergency at the time of contact since she was sheltered with family.

    At the time of the call, the family was a Category 2: immediate risk of homelessness – in other words, not the highest priority under the emergency shelter grants guideline. If the city had deemed the situation an emergency, protocol would be to dispatch immediate support for the family.

    The mother moved her family to the van after the request for help failed to provide a solution.

    The Detroit mayor’s office admitted that the family fell through the cracks and promised to expand available shelter beds and require homeless outreach employees to visit any unhoused families that call for help.

    “We have to make sure that we do everything possible to make sure that this doesn’t happen again,” Deputy Mayor Melia Howard told local media.

    More than 8 in 10 placed on wait list

    According to records from the Coordinated Assessment Model Detroit, the system responsible for connecting individuals to shelters, 82% of calls do not result in immediate help but rather being placed on a shelter waitlist. Similar to instances across the country, the wait time is long.

    Families in Detroit face an average wait of 130 days, while unaccompanied youth typically wait around 50 days.

    The long wait for shelter has contributed to the rise in people living on the streets or in their vehicles. The number of unsheltered individuals — including both adults and children — doubled from 151 in 2015 to 305 in 2024. This trend of increasing unsheltered homelessness contrasts with the overall decline in the total number of homeless people in the city, which is down from a peak of 2,597 in 2015.

    Children need safety and security to thrive.

    Their access to stable housing depends on their parents and what the adults in their life are able to provide. As rents increase in the city, some children are left vulnerable.

    Stricter regulations

    Over the past decade, Detroit, like many other U.S. cities, has experienced rising housing costs while wages fail to keep up, particularly for long-term residents.

    Since 2021, the number of rentals in the city has increased by 51%.

    Rents are also up. Since 2017, the average rent in Detroit has increased 55% for single-family homes and 43% for multifamily homes.

    While inflation and increased maintenance costs contribute to this rise, stricter rental regulations like the heightened enforcement of housing codes, expanded tenant protections and higher compliance cost for landlords have played an important role.

    Some landlords pass the expense of these regulations on to tenants, making housing less affordable. Others leave their properties vacant, pushing up prices by lessening the supply.

    The current average fair market rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Detroit is $1,314 per month. For the typical household in the city, this basic shelter cost, not including utilities, makes up 41% of the household income.

    For the lowest-income households, any unexpected expense can disrupt a delicate financial balance and lead to eviction and homelessness. Children in these situations often face major instability, moving between shelters – or, as in the case of the children who died in February, sleeping in cars.

    This kind of displacement disrupts education, strains mental health and increases exposure to danger.

    Detroit’s stricter housing regulations may have improved conditions for some renters, but a report by Outlier Media shows that only 8% of landlords are in compliance, leaving legacy residents in subpar rentals at higher prices.

    And these new rules have victims who are too often ignored until tragedy strikes.

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

    – ref. Detroit’s lack of affordable housing pushes families to the edge – and children sometime pay the price – https://theconversation.com/detroits-lack-of-affordable-housing-pushes-families-to-the-edge-and-children-sometime-pay-the-price-251591

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Granular systems, such as sandpiles or rockslides, are all around you − new research will help scientists describe how they work

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Jacqueline Reber, Associate Professor of Earth, Atmosphere, and Climate, Iowa State University

    Sand is one type of granular system – hundreds of grains act collectively. Nenov/Moment via Getty Images

    Did you eat cereal this morning? Or have you walked on a gravel path? Maybe you had a headache and had to take a pill? If you answered any of these questions with a yes, you interacted with a granular system today.

    Scientists classify any collection of small, hard particles – such as puffed rice, sand grains or pills – as a granular system.

    Even though everyone has interacted with these kinds of systems, describing the physics of how the particles collectively act when they are close together is surprisingly hard.

    Granular systems sometimes move like a fluid. Think of an hourglass where sand, a very typical granular material, flows from one half of the glass to the other. But if you’ve run on a beach, you know that sand can also act like a solid. You can move over it without sinking through the sand.

    As a geologist, I’m interested in understanding when a granular system flows and when it has strength and behaves like a solid. This line of research is very important for many agricultural and industrial applications, such as moving corn kernels or pills in a pipeline or shoot.

    Understanding when a granular system might flow is also essential for geologic hazard assessments. For example, geologists would like to know whether the various boulders making up the slope of a mountain are stable or whether they will move as a rockslide.

    Transferring forces between grains

    To understand the behavior of a granular system, scientists can zoom in and look at the interactions between individual grains. When two particles are in contact with each other, they can transfer forces between each other.

    Imagine this scenario: You have three tennis balls – the grains in this experiment. You place the tennis balls in a row and squeeze the three balls between your hand and a wall, so that your hand presses against the first ball. The last ball is in contact with a wall, but the middle ball is free floating and touches only the other two balls.

    Tennis balls can act as grains in this simple granular system experiment. When you push against the tennis ball on the end, you exert a force, which acts upon the other two balls and eventually the wall.
    Jeremy Randolph-Flagg

    By pushing against the first ball, you have successfully transferred the force from your hand through the row of three tennis balls onto the wall, even though you’ve touched only the first ball.

    Now imagine you have many grains, like in a pile of sand, and all the sand grains are in contact with some neighboring grains. Grains that touch transfer forces between each other. How the forces are distributed in this granular system dictates whether the system is stable and unmoving or if it will move – such as a rockslide or the sand in an hourglass.

    On the left are photoelastic discs used for two-dimensional experiments (9 mm diameter), and on the right are photoelastic grains used for three-dimensional experiments (14 mm diameter).
    Nathan Coon

    Tracking forces in the lab

    This is where my research team comes in. Together with my students, I study how grains interact with each other in the laboratory.

    In our experiments, we can visualize the forces between individual grains in a granular system. While all granular systems have these forces present, we cannot see their distribution because force is invisible in most grains, such as sand or pills. We can see the forces only in some transparent materials.

    To make the forces visible, we made grains using a material that is transparent and has a special property called photoelasticity. When photoelastic materials are illuminated and experience force, they split light into two rays that travel at different speeds.

    This property forms bright, colorful bands in the otherwise transparent material that make the force visible. The brightness of the grains depends on how much force a grain is experiencing, so we can see how the forces are distributed in the granular system. The particles themselves do not emit light, but they change how fast light rays travel through them when they experience force – which makes them appear brighter.

    On side A is a three-dimensional photoelastic grain without force applied, while on side B is the same grain once force is applied. In this case, we just squish the grain from the top and bottom. The brighter green bands start at the top and bottom of the grain where the force is applied and are the result of the photoelastic property.
    Jacqueline Reber

    Scientists before us have used photoelasticity to visualize force in granular materials. These previous experiments, however, have examined only a single layer of grains. We developed a method to see the forces in not just a single layer of grains but throughout a whole heap.

    Observing the forces on the outside of the heap of grains is pretty easy, but seeing how the forces are distributed in the middle of the pile is a lot harder. To see into the middle of the granular system and to illuminate grains there, we used a laser light sheet.

    To generate a laser light sheet, we manipulated a laser beam so that the light spread out into a very narrow sheet.

    With this light sheet, we illuminated one slice throughout the granular system. On this illuminated slice, we could see which grains were transferring forces, similarly to the previous two-dimensional experiments, without having to worry about the third dimension.

    We then collected information from many slices across different parts of the grain heap. We used the information from the individual slices to reconstruct the three-dimensional granular system.

    This technique is similar to how doctors reconstruct three-dimensional shapes of the brain and other organs from the two-dimensional images obtained by a medical CT scanner.

    In 3D photoelastic experiments, the cart system shown at the top left is used to obtain regularly spaced laser light slices of the experiments, with the middle being sliced. The bottom left shows a schematic on how multiple slices can recreate a 3D object. The right shows three consecutive photos that are 0.7 cm apart – roughly one grain’s radius. The bright green crosshatch pattern shows how the forces are distributed between the individual grains.
    Nathan Coon

    In our current experiments, we’ve been using only a small number of grains – 107. This way we can keep track of every individual grain and test whether this method works to see the force distribution in three dimensions. These 107 grains fill a cube-shaped box that is about 4 inches (10 centimeters) wide, tall and deep.

    So far, the experimental method is working well, and we’ve been able to see how the force is distributed between the 107 grains. Next, we plan to expand the experimental setup to include more grains and explore how the force changes when we agitate the granular system – for example, by bumping it.

    This new experimental approach opens the door for many more experiments that will help us to better understand granular systems. These systems are all around you, and while they seem so simple, researchers still don’t truly understand how they behave.

    Jacqueline Reber receives funding from the Iowa State University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Frontier Science Fund.

    – ref. Granular systems, such as sandpiles or rockslides, are all around you − new research will help scientists describe how they work – https://theconversation.com/granular-systems-such-as-sandpiles-or-rockslides-are-all-around-you-new-research-will-help-scientists-describe-how-they-work-251689

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How does soap keep you clean? A chemist explains the science of soap

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Paul E. Richardson, Professor of Biochemistry, Coastal Carolina University

    Be sure to wash your hands for at least 20 seconds. Mladen Zivkovic/iStock via Getty Images Plus

    Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to CuriousKidsUS@theconversation.com.

    How does soap clean our bodies? – Charlie H., age 8, Stamford, Connecticut

    Thousands of years ago, our ancestors discovered something that would clean their bodies and clothes. As the story goes, fat from someone’s meal fell into the leftover ashes of a fire. They were astonished to discover that the blending of fat and ashes formed a material that cleaned things. At the time, it must have seemed like magic.

    That’s the legend, anyway. However it happened, the discovery of soap dates back approximately 5,000 years, to the ancient city of Babylon in what was southern Mesopotamia – today, the country of Iraq.

    As the centuries passed, people around the world began to use soap to clean the things that got dirty. During the 1600s, soap was a common item in the American colonies, often made at home. In 1791, Nicholas Leblanc, a French chemist, patented the first soapmaking process. Today, the world spends about US$50 billion every year on bath, kitchen and laundry soap.

    But although billions of people use soap every day, most of us don’t know how it works. As a professor of chemistry, I can explain the science of soap – and why you should listen to your mom when she tells you to wash up.

    You’ll be amazed at how much work it takes to make a bar of soap.

    The chemistry of clean

    Water – scientific name: dihydrogen monoxide – is composed of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. That molecule is required for all life on our planet.

    Chemists categorize other molecules that are attracted to water as hydrophilic, which means water-loving. Hydrophilic molecules can dissolve in water.

    So if you were to wash your hands under a running faucet without using soap, you’d probably get rid of lots of whatever hydrophilic bits are stuck to your skin.

    But there is another category of molecules that chemists call hydrophobic, which means water-fearing. Hydrophobic molecules do not dissolve in water.

    Oil is an example of something that’s hydrophobic. You probably know from experience that oil and water just don’t mix. Picture shaking up a jar of vinaigrette salad dressing – the oil and the other watery ingredients never stay mixed.

    So just swishing your hands through water isn’t going to get rid of water-fearing molecules such as oil or grease.

    Here’s where soap comes in to save the day.

    Soap, a complex molecule, is both water-loving and water-fearing. Shaped like a tadpole, the soap molecule has a round head and long tail; the head is hydrophilic, and the tail is hydrophobic. This quality is one of the reasons soap is slippery.

    It’s also what gives soap its cleaning superpower.

    The round head and long wiggly tail of the soap molecules work together to eradicate dirt, grease and grime.
    Tumeggy/Science Photo Library via Getty Images

    A microscopic view

    To see what happens when you wash your hands with soap and water, let’s zoom in.

    Picture all the gunk that you touch during the day and that builds up on your skin to make your hands dirty. Maybe there are smears of food, mud from outside, or even sweat and oils from your own skin.

    All of that material is either water-loving or water-fearing on the molecular level. Dirt is a jumbled mess of both. Dust and dead skin cells are hydrophilic; naturally occurring oils are hydrophobic; and environmental debris can be either.

    If you use only water to clean your hands, plenty will be left behind because you’d only remove the water-loving bits that dissolve in water.

    But when you add a bit of soap, it’s a different story, thanks to its simultaneously water-loving and water-fearing properties.

    Soap molecules work together to encapsulate grime within a bubblelike micelle structure.
    TUMEGGY/Science Photo Library via Getty Images

    Soap molecules come together and surround the grime on your hands, forming what’s known as a micelle structure. On a molecular level, it looks almost like a bubble encasing the hydrophobic bit of debris. The water-loving heads of the soap molecules are on the surface, with the water-fearing tails inside the micelle. This structure traps the dirt, and running water washes it all away.

    To get the full effect, wash your hands at the sink for at least 20 seconds. Rubbing your hands together helps force the soap molecules into whatever dirt is there to break it up and envelope it.

    It’s not just dirt

    Along with dirt, your body is covered by microorganisms – bacteria, viruses and fungi. Most are harmless and some even protect you from getting sick. But some microorganisms, known as pathogens, can cause illness and disease.

    Whether liquid or bar, soap gets the job done.
    velvelvel/iStock via Getty Images Plus

    They can also cause you to smell if you haven’t taken a bath in a while. These bacteria break down organic molecules and release stinky fumes.

    Although microorganisms are protected by a barrier – it’s called a membrane – soap and water can disrupt the membrane, causing the microorganism to burst open. The water then washes the remains of the microorganism away, along with the stink.

    To say that soap changed the course of civilization is an understatement. For thousands of years, it’s helped keep billions of people healthy. Think of that the next time Mom or Dad asks you to wash up – which will likely be sometime soon.

    Hello, curious kids! Do you have a question you’d like an expert to answer? Ask an adult to send your question to CuriousKidsUS@theconversation.com. Please tell us your name, age and the city where you live.

    And since curiosity has no age limit – adults, let us know what you’re wondering, too. We won’t be able to answer every question, but we will do our best.

    Paul E. Richardson receives funding from the NIH and NSF.

    – ref. How does soap keep you clean? A chemist explains the science of soap – https://theconversation.com/how-does-soap-keep-you-clean-a-chemist-explains-the-science-of-soap-247559

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Cancer research in the US is world class because of its broad base of funding − with the government pulling out, its future is uncertain

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Jeffrey MacKeigan, Professor of Pediatrics and Human Development, Michigan State University

    Without federal support, the lights will turn off in many labs across the country. Thomas Barwick/Stone via Getty Images

    Cancer research in the U.S. doesn’t rely on a single institution or funding stream − it’s a complex ecosystem made up of interdependent parts: academia, pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology startups, federal agencies and private foundations. As a cancer biologist who has worked in each of these sectors over the past three decades, I’ve seen firsthand how each piece supports the others.

    When one falters, the whole system becomes vulnerable.

    The United States has long led the world in cancer research. It has spent more on cancer research than any other country, including more than US$7.2 billion annually through the National Cancer Institute alone. Since the 1971 National Cancer Act, this sustained public investment has helped drive dramatic declines in cancer mortality, with death rates falling by 34% since 1991. In the past five years, the Food and Drug Administration has approved over 100 new cancer drugs, and the U.S. has brought more cancer drugs to the global market than any other nation.

    But that legacy is under threat. Funding delays, political shifts and instability across sectors have created an environment where basic research into the fundamentals of cancer biology is struggling to keep traction and the drug development pipeline is showing signs of stress.

    These disruptions go far beyond uncertainty and have real consequences. Early-career scientists faced with unstable funding and limited job prospects may leave academia altogether. Mid-career researchers often spend more time chasing scarce funding than conducting research. Interrupted research budgets and shifting policy priorities can unravel multiyear collaborations. I, along with many other researchers, believe these setbacks will slow progress, break training pipelines and drain expertise from critical areas of cancer research – delays that ultimately hurt patients waiting for new treatments.

    A 50-year foundation of federal investment

    The modern era of U.S. cancer research began with the signing of the National Cancer Act in 1971. That law dramatically expanded the National Cancer Institute, an agency within the National Institutes of Health focusing on cancer research and education. The NCI laid the groundwork for a robust national infrastructure for cancer science, funding everything from early research in the lab to large-scale clinical trials and supporting the training of a generation of cancer researchers.

    This federal support has driven advances leading to higher survival rates and the transformation of some cancers into a manageable chronic or curable condition. Progress in screening, diagnostics and targeted therapies – and the patients who have benefited from them – owe much to decades of NIH support.

    The Trump administration is cutting billions of dollars of biomedical research funding.

    But federal funding has always been vulnerable to political headwinds. During the first Trump administration, deep cuts to biomedical science budgets threatened to stall the progress made under initiatives such as the 2016 Cancer Moonshot. The rationale given for these cuts was to slash overall spending, despite facing strong bipartisan opposition in Congress. Lawmakers ultimately rejected the administration’s proposal and instead increased NIH funding. In 2022, the Biden administration worked to relaunch the Cancer Moonshot.

    This uncertainty has worsened in 2025 as the second Trump administration has cut or canceled many NIH grants. Labs that relied on these awards are suddenly facing funding cliffs, forcing them to lay off staff, pause experiments or shutter entirely. Deliberate delays in communication from the Department of Health and Human Services have stalled new NIH grant reviews and funding decisions, putting many promising research proposals already in the pipeline at risk.

    Philanthropy’s support is powerful – but limited

    While federal agencies remain the backbone of cancer research funding, philanthropic organizations provide the critical support for breakthroughs – especially for new ideas and riskier projects.

    Groups such as the American Cancer Society, Stand Up To Cancer and major hospital foundations have filled important gaps in support, often funding pilot studies or supporting early-career investigators before they secure federal grants. By supporting bold ideas and providing seed funding, they help launch innovative research that may later attract large-scale support from the NIH.

    Without the bureaucratic constraints of federal agencies, philanthropy is more nimble and flexible. It can move faster to support work in emerging areas, such as immunotherapy and precision oncology. For example, the American Cancer Society grant review process typically takes about four months from submission, while the NIH grant review process takes an average of eight months.

    Ted Kennedy Jr., right, and Jeff Keith raise money for the American Cancer Society in 1984.
    Mikki Ansin/Getty Images

    But philanthropic funds are smaller in scale and often disease-specific. Many foundations are created around a specific cause, such as advancing cures for pancreatic, breast or pediatric cancers. Their urgency to make an impact allows them to fund bold approaches that federal funders may see as too preliminary or speculative. Their giving also fluctuates. For instance, the American Cancer Society awarded nearly $60 million less in research grants in 2020 compared with 2019.

    While private foundations are vital partners for cancer research, they cannot replace the scale and consistency of federal funding. Total U.S. philanthropic funding for cancer research is estimated at a few billion dollars per year, spread across hundreds of organizations. In comparison, the federal government has typically contributed roughly five to eight times more than philanthropy to cancer research each year.

    Industry innovation − and its priorities

    Private-sector innovation is essential for translating discoveries into treatments. In 2021, nearly 80% of the roughly $57 billion the U.S. spent on cancer drugs came from pharmaceutical and biotech companies. Many of the treatments used in oncology today, including immunotherapies and targeted therapies, emerged from collaborations between academic labs and industry partners.

    But commercial priorities don’t always align with public health needs. Companies naturally focus on areas with strong financial returns: common cancers, projects that qualify for fast-track regulatory approval, and high-priced drugs. Rare cancers, pediatric cancers and basic science often receive less attention.

    Industry is also saddled with uncertainty. Rising R&D costs, tough regulatory requirements and investor wariness have created a challenging environment to bring new drugs to market. Several biotech startups have folded or downsized in the past year, leaving promising new drugs stranded in limbo in the lab before they can reach clinical trials.

    Without federal or philanthropic entities to pick up the slack, these discoveries may never reach the patients who need them.

    A system under strain

    Cancer is not going away. As the U.S. population ages, the burden of cancer on society will only grow. Disparities in treatment access and outcomes persist across race, income and geography. And factors such as environmental exposures and infectious diseases continue to intersect with cancer risk in new and complex ways.

    Addressing these challenges requires a strong, stable and well-coordinated research system. But that system is under strain. National Cancer Institute grant paylines, or funding cutoffs, remain highly competitive. Early-career researchers face precarious job prospects. Labs are losing technicians and postdoctoral researchers to higher-paying roles in industry or to burnout. And patients, especially those hoping to enroll in clinical trials, face delays, disruptions and dwindling options.

    Researchers have been rallying to protect the future of science in the U.S.
    AP Photo/John McDonnell

    This is not just a funding issue. It’s a coordination issue between the federal government, academia and industry. There are currently no long-term policy solutions that ensure sustained federal investment, foster collaboration between academia and industry, or make room for philanthropy to drive innovation instead of just filling gaps.

    I believe that for the U.S. to remain a global leader in cancer research, it will need to recommit to the model that made success possible: a balanced ecosystem of public funding, private investment and nonprofit support. Up until recently, that meant fully funding the NIH and NCI with predictable, long-term budgets that allow labs to plan for the future; incentivizing partnerships that move discoveries from bench to bedside without compromising academic freedom; supporting career pathways for young scientists so talent doesn’t leave the field; and creating mechanisms for equity to ensure that research includes and benefits all communities.

    Cancer research and science has come a long way, saving about 4.5 million lives in the U.S. from cancer from 1991 to 2022. Today, patients are living longer and better because of decades of hard-won discoveries made by thousands of researchers. But science doesn’t run on good intentions alone. It needs universities. It needs philanthropy. It needs industry. It needs vision. And it requires continued support from the federal government.

    Jeffrey MacKeigan receives funding from NIH National Cancer Institute. He has consulting agreements with Merck and scholarly activity with the Translational Genomics Research Institute and the Van Andel Research Institute.

    – ref. Cancer research in the US is world class because of its broad base of funding − with the government pulling out, its future is uncertain – https://theconversation.com/cancer-research-in-the-us-is-world-class-because-of-its-broad-base-of-funding-with-the-government-pulling-out-its-future-is-uncertain-254536

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: Brag House, Florida Gators Athletics, and Learfield Announce Strategic Partnership to Create New Digital Sports Medium for Gen Z

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, April 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Brag House Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: TBH) (the “Company” or “Brag House”), the premier Gen Z engagement platform at the intersection of gaming, college sports, and social interaction, today announced a strategic partnership with Florida Gator Athletics and Learfield’s Florida Gators Sports Properties, the media and technology company powering college athletics at over 200 schools. All Gators Athletics sponsorship agreements are managed by athletic media rights holder Florida Gators Sports Properties. This collaboration introduces a first-of-its-kind digital sports medium for Gen Z—reimagining how students and fans engage with college sports through gaming across the nation.

    The initiative debuts with the Orange and Blue at the University of Florida (UF), with the launch of the Brag Gator Gauntlet—a flagship series of digital and in-person gaming activations that fuse school spirit, gaming culture, and live sports into immersive, competitive experiences. These events align with real-world sports calendars, offering students and fans new, interactive ways to rally around their favorite teams through video games they already love to play.

    “We’re not just adding gaming to sports—we’re creating a new lane that lives in harmony with college athletics,” said Lavell Juan Malloy II, CEO & Co-Founder of Brag House. “Starting this series with the Florida Gators and Learfield’s unparalleled access to over 200 universities allows us to scale this vision while giving brands an authentic way to connect with the most elusive and influential demographic—Gen Z.”

    “This partnership represents an exciting evolution in how partners engage with the student body and Gator Nation,” said Darren McPhail, General Manager of Florida Gators Sports Properties. “By integrating gaming into our athletic culture, we’re providing innovative avenues for student involvement and offering brands a new way to engage with the younger demographics of Gator Nation.”

    Redefining Fan Engagement 
    The Brag House x Gators Athletics initiative, in partnership with Learfield, builds a parallel sports engagement channel tailored for digitally native students:

    • Interactive in-person and online gaming activations tied to real-life sporting events
    • Branded gaming experiences designed to mirror student rivalries and fandom
    • Name, Image, and Likeness (“NIL”)-integrated gaming content featuring student-athletes to elevate school pride and authenticity

    Scalable Brand Opportunities

    For brands seeking to connect with Gen Z in a meaningful way, this partnership delivers unrivaled access to hyper-engaged college communities:

    • Custom advertising and sponsorship opportunities across digital platforms, on-site events, and athletic venues
    • Gamified experiences and branded loyalty systems that reward participation and foster deeper brand affinity
    • Student-athletes influencer-driven campaigns featuring serialized content

    This monetization model shows how brands can generate a measurable return on investment while deepening engagement with target audiences.

    Actionable Gen Z Insights
    Beyond engagement, Brag House will continue to build a robust data engine to help brands connect with Gen Z in a more authentic and measurable way. Using proprietary behavioral data and insights, Brag House will empower marketers to create hyper-personalized, performance-optimized campaigns tailored to Gen Z’s preferences and behavior.

    What’s Next
    Following the first activation with Gators Athletics for students of the University of Florida, Brag House and Learfield aim to roll out the model across additional campuses later this year. The roadmap targets a 10-school expansion in 2025, scaling to 50 campuses by the end of 2026, supported by evolving technology capabilities and advanced audience segmentation tools.

    “This is not a niche campaign—it’s a new tradition,” added Malloy. “We’re defining how Gen Z connects with college athletics—and giving brands a meaningful way to be part of that story.”

    Forward-Looking Statements 
    Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “is/are likely to,” “potential,” “continue” or other similar expressions. These statements are subject to uncertainties and risks, including, but not limited to, the risk factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s filings with the SEC. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results discussed in the Company’s filings with the SEC, which are available for review at www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations that arise after the date hereof, except as may be required by law.

    About Brag House
    Brag House is a leading media technology gaming platform dedicated to transforming casual college gaming into a vibrant, community-driven experience. By seamlessly merging gaming, social interaction, and cutting-edge technology, the Company provides an inclusive and engaging environment for casual gamers while enabling brands to authentically connect with the influential Gen Z demographic. The platform offers live-streaming capabilities, gamification features, and custom tournament services, fostering meaningful engagement between users and brands. For more information, please visit www.braghouse.com.

    About Learfield
    Learfield is the leading media and technology company powering college athletics. Through its digital and physical platforms, Learfield owns and leverages a deep data set and relationships in the industry to drive revenue, growth, brand awareness, and fan engagement for brands, sports, and entertainment properties. With ties to over 1,200 collegiate institutions and over 12,000 local and national brand partners, Learfield’s presence in college sports and live events delivers influence and maximizes reach to target audiences. With solutions for a 365-day, 24/7 fan experience, Learfield enables schools and brands to connect with fans through licensed merchandise, game ticketing, donor identification for athletic programs, exclusive custom content, innovative marketing initiatives, NIL solutions, and advanced digital platforms. Since 2008, it has served as title sponsor for the acclaimed Learfield Directors’ Cup, supporting athletic departments across all divisions.

    Media Contact:
    Fatema Bhabrawala
    Director of Media Relations
    fbhabrawala@allianceadvisors.com

    Investor Relations Contact:
    Adele Carey
    VP, Investor Relations
    ir@thebraghouse.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: From Innovations to Personnel: The Polytechnic University Hosted the Arctic Summit

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    The 9th International Arctic Summit “Arctic: Prospects, Innovations and Regional Development”, dedicated to the 180th anniversary of the founding of the Russian Geographical Society, was held in two cities – Moscow and St. Petersburg. In the Northern capital, the participants of the large-scale event were hosted by the Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University.

    At the opening of the summit in the Technopolis Polytech research building, guests were greeted on behalf of the Governor of St. Petersburg, Alexander Beglov, by the Head of the Department for Development of Interaction with the Arctic Region of the St. Petersburg Committee for Arctic Affairs, Sergei Nikolaev.

    The regional head’s address states that St. Petersburg is the center of Russia’s Arctic competencies, and the exchange of regions’ accumulated experience and the discussion of pressing issues of the development of the Far North are the key to strengthening our country’s position in the Arctic.

    As Yuri Fomin, Vice-Rector for Research at SPbPU, noted in his greeting, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University not only trains personnel for enterprises in the northern region, but also conducts research in areas that are relevant for the Arctic: development of autonomous energy, construction in the Far North, infrastructure, logistics, security, etc.

    The developments of our scientists are aimed at solving the problems outlined by the President of Russia at the VI International Arctic Forum. This is strengthening the transport and logistics contour of the Arctic, ensuring the energy independence of the region, mining, construction in difficult weather conditions, – said Yuri Vladimirovich and wished the forum participants successful and fruitful work.

    Participants of the plenary session and thematic sections discussed many problematic issues related to the geopolitical, environmental and economic situation, harsh climate conditions and the shortage of highly professional personnel for the Arctic zone. At the Polytechnic site, they sought and proposed solutions, shared experiences and found partners.

    Experts, including representatives of SPbPU, outlined the goals, main directions and mechanisms for implementing the tasks set, and also noted the importance of the activities of the Russian Geographical Society in the development of the Arctic.

    Nikolay Vatin, Director of the Scientific and Technological Complex “Digital Engineering in Civil Construction”, spoke at the plenary session. He also held a thematic session “Development of Science and Technology in the Interests of Arctic Development. Information Partnership of Arctic Regions”.

    At the special session “Scientific and technical projects and modern technologies for the development of the Arctic zone: Russian industry, world practice” Liliya Talipova, senior lecturer of the Higher School of Industrial, Civil and Road Construction of SPbPU, gave a report. She spoke about the development of a GIS platform for the design of linear objects in the Arctic.

    The round table, dedicated to improving the quality of life of the population of the Arctic, was attended by IPMEiT teachers Maxim Polyukhovich, Alexey Ulyanov and Yulia Logvinova. The topic of their presentations was a model for designing workplaces for the region. In the round table session dedicated to Arctic energy, SPbPU professor Viktor Elistratov made a report on the use of renewable energy sources in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation.

    Students of the Polytechnic University also took part in the summit. Thus, at the thematic session “International Relations in the Arctic”, Zoya Merkulova, a master of the Higher School of Technosphere Safety of SPbPU, presented a report “Comparison of Russian and Foreign Experience in Industrial Safety Applied to Enterprises in Arctic Regions”.

    Summing up the forum, the director of the Arctic 2025 summit Gennady Cherepov thanked the participants and noted the productivity of all sections. In conclusion, the winners of the competition of scientific research works aimed at sustainable development and exploration of the Arctic within the framework of the Decade of Science and Technology were awarded. Based on the materials of the summit, a scientific collection of the Russian Science Citation Index will be prepared and published.

    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: Rigetti Granted Air Force Office of Scientific Research Award to Further Develop Breakthrough Chip Fabrication Technology

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    The $5.48 million Rigetti-led consortium will include Iowa State University, the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, the University of Connecticut, and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. The project aims to develop a deeper understanding of how Rigetti’s novel chip fabrication process, Alternating-Bias Assisted Annealing (ABAA), reduces defects in superconducting qubits.

    BERKELEY, Calif., April 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Rigetti Computing, Inc. (Nasdaq: RGTI) (“Rigetti” or the “Company”), a pioneer in full-stack quantum-classical computing, announced today that it was granted an Air Force Office of Scientific Research award to further develop its breakthrough chip fabrication technology, Alternating-Bias Assisted Annealing (ABAA). The $5.48 million Rigetti-led consortium, including Iowa State University, the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, the University of Connecticut, and *Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), aims to develop a detailed understanding of how ABAA impacts the chip on a microscopic level — which will shed light on defects in superconducting qubits and open new avenues for understanding and mitigating them.

    Addressing defects in superconducting qubits is a fundamental challenge in building large-scale fault-tolerant quantum computers. Last year, Rigetti introduced ABAA which entails applying a series of alternating low-voltage pulses at room temperature to the oxide barrier of the Josephson junction, a critical part of Rigetti’s superconducting qubits. Rigetti researchers discovered that this technique enables qubit frequencies to be precisely targeted prior to chip packaging. This improves the fidelity of two-qubit gates and the scalability of the technology. Unlike more complicated solutions that address the problem of tuning frequency, which often require laser trimming of the chip, ABAA is a simple and scalable process that only requires sending pulses of voltage to the chip.

    Rigetti devices that have been manufactured leveraging ABAA show a reduction in two-level systems (TLSs). TLSs are defects in a qubit’s material that impact qubit performance by pulling energy from the qubit or dephasing it. Ultimately, understanding the effects of ABAA on TLSs will lay the groundwork for scaling the fabrication of superconducting quantum devices and other applications that rely on amorphous materials in tunnel junctions and dielectrics.

    “This project gives us access to the resources and expertise to unlock the full potential of ABAA and gain a foundational understanding of defects in superconducting qubits,” says Dr. Subodh Kulkarni, Rigetti CEO. “We already know that superconducting qubits have advantages in speed and scalability. Deepening our knowledge of superconducting qubit defects puts us in an even better position to scale our systems with improved performance.”

    Rigetti continues to support the U.S. Government’s commitment to maintaining quantum computing leadership and advancing the field. Rigetti was recently selected to participate in DARPA’s Quantum Benchmarking Initiative, which aims to determine if any approach to quantum computing can achieve utility-scale operation by 2033.

    *Funded separately though Laboratory for Physical Sciences, University of Maryland

    About Rigetti
    Rigetti is a pioneer in full-stack quantum computing. The Company has operated quantum computers over the cloud since 2017 and serves global enterprise, government, and research clients through its Rigetti Quantum Cloud Services platform. In 2021, Rigetti began selling on-premises quantum computing systems with qubit counts between 24 and 84 qubits, supporting national laboratories and quantum computing centers. Rigetti’s 9-qubit Novera™ QPU was introduced in 2023 supporting a broader R&D community with a high-performance, on-premises QPU designed to plug into a customer’s existing cryogenic and control systems. The Company’s proprietary quantum-classical infrastructure provides high-performance integration with public and private clouds for practical quantum computing. Rigetti has developed the industry’s first multi-chip quantum processor for scalable quantum computing systems. The Company designs and manufactures its chips in-house at Fab-1, the industry’s first dedicated and integrated quantum device manufacturing facility. Learn more at www.rigetti.com.

    Rigetti Computing Media Contact
    press@rigetti.com

    Cautionary Language and Forward-Looking Statements
    Certain statements in this communication may be considered “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including but not limited to, expectations with respect to the Company’s business and operations, including its expectations related to the Air Force Office of Scientific Research award and work with Iowa State University, the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, the University of Connecticut, and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory to develop a detailed understanding of how Alternating-Bias Assisted Annealing (ABAA) impacts the chip on a microscopic level, unlocking ABAA’s full potential, and expectations that deepening knowledge of superconducting qubit defects improves Rigetti’s position to scale systems with improved performance. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events and can be identified by terminology such as “commit,” “may,” “should,” “could,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “intend,” “strive,” “expect,” “intend,” “will,” “estimate,” “believe,” “predict,” “potential,” “pursue,” “aim,” “goal,” “outlook,” “anticipate,” “assume,” or “continue,” or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar terminology. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by Rigetti and its management, are inherently uncertain. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to: Rigetti’s ability to achieve milestones, technological advancements, including with respect to its roadmap, help unlock quantum computing, and develop practical applications; the ability of Rigetti to complete ongoing negotiations with government contractors successfully and in a timely manner; the potential of quantum computing; the ability of Rigetti to obtain government contracts and the availability of government funding; the ability of Rigetti to expand its QCS business; the success of Rigetti’s partnerships and collaborations; Rigetti’s ability to accelerate its development of multiple generations of quantum processors; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Rigetti or others; the ability to continue to meet stock exchange listing standards; costs related to operating as a public company; changes in applicable laws or regulations, including taxes and tariffs; the possibility that Rigetti may be adversely affected by other economic, business, or competitive factors; Rigetti’s estimates of expenses and profitability; the evolution of the markets in which Rigetti competes; the ability of Rigetti to execute on its technology roadmap; the ability of Rigetti to implement its strategic initiatives, expansion plans and continue to innovate its existing services; disruptions in banking systems, increased costs, international trade relations, political turmoil, natural catastrophes, warfare, and terrorist attacks; and other risks and uncertainties set forth in the section entitled “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, and other documents filed by the Company from time to time with the SEC. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and the Company assumes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements other than as required by applicable law. The Company does not give any assurance that it will achieve its expectations.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sustainability Takes Flight in UConn’s Poultry Science Courses

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    As the world’s population grows, it is becoming more and more important to develop more environmentally and economically sustainable ways of producing food.

    As part of an ongoing $10 million grant from the USDA, led by Kumar Venkitanarayanan, CAHNR associate dean of research and graduate education and professor of animal science, Abhinav Upadhyay, assistant professor of animal science, has developed a course to teach the next generation of agricultural workers and researchers about sustainable poultry production.

    “We are aiming to educate the next generation workforce to understand that food production is important but at the same time it should not come at the cost of losing our planet,” Upadhyay says.

    The course is designed as a follow-up to Upadhyay’s longstanding course on the fundamentals of poultry science. The new course was offered for the first time in fall 2024.

    Students are introduced to the basic tenets of sustainability, why it is important, and why the scientific community is interested in making agriculture reducing the impact of agriculture on the environment now.

    “In the scientific world, there is a lot of discussion as to how are we going to provide this human population with nutritious food that is also sustainable,” Upadhyay says. “Because what we cannot do is have an intensive farming model where we destroy forests or don’t care about the industry’s implications on climate.”

    The course then moves into more specific information on raising poultry more sustainably and the specific challenges this industry faces in terms of human, animal, and environmental health.

    For the final project in the course, students work in groups to create a proposal for their own sustainable poultry production research project.

    Through this assignment, students get to experience how research proposals are actually evaluated in the professional scientific world with their peers serving as anonymized reviewers.

    “These students don’t have a lot of research experience,” Upadhyay says. “But it was still very impressive to see how they could crosslink the ideas that were discussed in the course and then come up with a project of their own.”

    The course had 12 undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in the fall. It will be offered again in fall 2025. The course is open to all UConn students.

    “I was happy to see that the first time we introduced this course, it has significant interest among graduate and undergraduate students,” Upadhyay says.

    Mackenzie Connors ‘25 (CAHNR) is one undergraduate student who took the course in the fall.

    Connors says she valued how the course exposed her to new information not just about poultry sustainability, but also the grant writing process, even as she plans to attend veterinary school after graduation.

    “It taught me a lot about sustainable poultry and also about writing grants,” Mackenzie says. “For somebody who will do that in the future, that is a very, very good course. And even if you’re not planning to take that career path, it’s good exposure.”

    Upadhyay and his colleagues at Appalachian State University, University of Minnesota, and University of Arkansas published an article in Poultry Science, highlighting the course.

    “The aim of the research article was to share with the entire global scientific community what we are doing,” Upadhyay. “We are expecting, in the future when people read this article, they will reach out to us for potential collaborations.”

    Upadhyay will continue to offer the course at UConn and eventually share it with other universities as an online course. The course will be consistently updated to reflect new research and regulations related to sustainable poultry production.

    “In order to develop a strong workforce in the U.S. we are developing this course and UConn is at the crux of it,” Upadhyay says.

    This work relates to CAHNR’s Strategic Vision area focused on Ensuring a Vibrant and Sustainable Agricultural Industry and Food Supply.

    Follow UConn CAHNR on social media

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn to Offer Housing Option Near Hartford Campus Starting in Fall 2025

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    UConn Hartford will be able to offer student housing near its downtown campus starting this fall, a year ahead of its planned opening of a larger and permanent student housing development nearby.

    UConn’s Board of Trustees recently approved plans to lease studio and one-bedroom apartments in The Donaghue at 525 Main St., to accommodate up to 57 students in the 2025-2026 academic year. That newly renovated building is across the street from the Hartford Public Library and just a few minutes from the campus.

    The University will offer the apartments for student housing through Residential Life, acclimating students to the concept of living near the campus so they can easily transition next year to the permanent housing under development at 64 Pratt St.

    The housing complements the planned opening of a new café this fall in the Hartford Times campus headquarters building, where food will be available for purchase with UConn meal plans or à la carte by members of the University community and the public.

    Students who live in the apartments in The Donaghue building will be able to opt for a UConn meal plan that includes either five or 10 meals per week, plus $50 in dining points per semester.

    Nathan Fuerst, UConn’s vice president for student life and enrollment, said at a recent Board of Trustees meeting that offering the apartments near UConn Hartford has many benefits both for the students and for the campus itself.

    “The housing option will help students develop a strong sense of community and build momentum moving into the coming year as we prepare to open the housing on Pratt Street,” Fuerst said. “We’re very excited to be able to offer a housing opportunity even earlier than we anticipated, and we look forward to strong interest.”

    Providing the option also will help ease some space constraints at UConn Storrs, since UConn Hartford students who currently live in Storrs dorms will get first dibs on The Donaghue apartments closer to their home campus.

    “UConn Hartford’s new café and its student housing plans are examples of the University’s commitment to partnering with the City of Hartford and adding to its economic, social, and cultural vibrancy,” said Mark Overmyer-Velázquez, UConn Hartford’s dean and chief administrative officer.

    UConn plans to offer about 200 beds of student housing starting in August 2026 in a building called The Annex at the corner of Pratt and Trumbull streets in downtown Hartford, not far from the campus.

    UConn has been working for the past several years to deepen its ties with the capital city, where the University also recently opened an academic and research facility in a building that fronts the XL Center on Trumbull Street.

    UConn opened the Hartford campus downtown in 2017, and has worked since then to position it as a centerpiece of a thriving capital city by bringing people downtown to learn, live, and support the regional economy.

    Interest in student housing has grown along with the campus population. UConn Hartford’s undergraduate enrollment has increased steadily since fall 2017, and an increasing number of students are choosing to start their UConn careers there.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Financial security issues were discussed with the director of Rosfinmonitoring at the HSE Distributed Lyceum school

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    © Higher School of Economics

    Director of the Federal Service for Financial Monitoring Yuri Chikhanchin discussed with high school students the problem of financial security of young people, including droppers. The meeting, organized at the initiative of the Higher School of Economics, took place at Moscow School No. 2107, which is part of the network Distributed Lyceum of the National Research University Higher School of Economics.

    “CLASS Hour” with the head of Rosfinmonitoring brought together students in grades 10-11. The event was also attended by Deputy Vice-Rector, Director for Strategic Work with Applicants of the National Research University Higher School of Economics Alexander Chepovsky and Principal of School No. 2107 Elena Naumova. The meeting was moderated by Marina Shemyakina, Head of the Center for Inter-Olympiad Training of Schoolchildren and Students of the P.N. Lebedev Physical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

    Yuri Chikhanchin emphasized the importance of increasing the financial and legal literacy of schoolchildren and students. As the head of the department noted, criminals increasingly use minors as droppers and it is important for young people to understand the consequences of such actions, not to transfer their bank cards and account information to third parties.

    Useful knowledge on how to protect yourself and your loved ones from threats can be gained by participating in the International Financial Security Olympiad. The Olympiad also provides an opportunity to get to know the work of financial intelligence officers and the anti-money laundering system in general.

    “We are always waiting for young specialists who have modern knowledge and skills in the field of information technology, finance, economics, international law. Universities of the International Network Institute in the field of AML/CFT (counter-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing. – Ed.) prepare future financial intelligence officers. We invite you to become part of this big family,” said Yuri Chikhanchin.

    Alexander Chepovsky noted the active work of the Higher School of Economics in the field of financial security: “Since 2024, we have become part of the International Network Institute in the Sphere of AML/CFT (INI) and actively support financial security events for schoolchildren and students, and also create our own projects. For example, this academic year we are launching the minor “Financial Security and Computer Investigations” for second-year students, which will provide the necessary knowledge base and form important legal, financial and digital competencies. Upon completion of the training, students will receive an official document on microqualification. And school graduates, when entering a number of bachelor’s and specialist’s degree programs at the National Research University Higher School of Economics, receive preferences for high results in the International Olympiad on Financial Security, of which we are a co-organizer as a member of the INI.”

    During the “CLASS Hour”, students asked the head of the Russian financial intelligence service questions, took part in the thematic game “True or Fake” and solved a practical case in the role of analysts.

    As part of the meeting, a tour of the school museum of historical large-scale miniatures of the Great Patriotic War “Muzimmion” was also organized.

    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 –