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  • MIL-OSI USA: NCDHHS Releases Black Youth Suicide Action Plan to Tackle Rising Number of Suicides Among Black Youth, Young Adults

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: NCDHHS Releases Black Youth Suicide Action Plan to Tackle Rising Number of Suicides Among Black Youth, Young Adults

    NCDHHS Releases Black Youth Suicide Action Plan to Tackle Rising Number of Suicides Among Black Youth, Young Adults
    jawerner

    In response to a sharp increase in suicide rates among young Black youth, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announces the NC Black Youth Suicide Prevention Action Plan. Coinciding with the Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, this effort sheds light on communities which have been marginalized, where mental health challenges persist, and outlines initiatives to be implemented over the next five years to reduce injury and save the lives of Black youth and young adults.

    “A community-led, ground-up approach is essential to address the increase in suicide rates among Black youth and young adults,” said Kelly Crosbie MSW, LCSW NCDHHS Director of the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Use Services. “NCDHHS wants to ensure everyone has the support they need before, during, and after a personal crisis, especially groups that are disproportionately affected.”

    A review of 2023 data showed an urgent need for action and indicated Black populations were over-represented in emergency department visits for suicidal thoughts or self-injury, particularly among the 10-24 age group. Additionally, research shows Black youth are over-represented in suicides and attempts but are under-represented in calls to 988, particularly in urban counties. Data showed from 2013-22 more than half of Black youth and young adults who died by suicide used firearms.

    Black families also experience significant barriers to accessing medical and mental health services, due to a variety of socio-economic factors, including effective cultural communication from providers and a lack of access to a provider with a shared identity.

    The action plan was developed by NCDHHS in collaboration with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, the UNC Suicide Prevention Institute and several community-based organizations and includes feedback from members of the public.

    The plan identifies six objectives to improve the health and well-being of Black youth and young adults:

    1. Establish the Community of Practice and Education (COPE) initiative to lead, develop and champion suicide prevention efforts at the community level, targeting Black youth and young adults in North Carolina.
    2. Strengthen supportive mental health services for Black youth, incorporating both peer support specialists and peer-to-peer support systems.
    3. Enhance awareness and training for suicide prevention, specifically for Black youth.
    4. Reduce access to lethal means among Black youth.
    5. Strengthen protective factors for Black youth to support mental well-being.
    6. Establish a comprehensive understanding of the suicide prevention needs of Black youth through data analysis and reporting to inform targeted interventions and increase awareness.

    Each objective includes a series of goals to guide policy-making decisions.

    The plan includes many culturally relevant strategies to address the issue. These include expanded training efforts among trusted community partners, such as barbers, with specific attention to key programs: Counseling on Access to Lethal Means (CALM), Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), and information about the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. 

    DHHS will also support a statewide event on Sept. 20 in Rocky Mount: the Stronger Together Conference. This unique conference is a free one-day, interactive experience centered on cultural connection, creative expression and community care. The event will bring together youth, young adults and advocates for a day of learning, healing and community building. Registration is open and available on the website. NCDHHS will provide more details about the event in the coming weeks. 

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    If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health or need someone to talk to, you are not alone. Resources are available on the NCDHHS Suicide Prevention website for social or family situations, depression, anxiety, panic attacks, thoughts of suicide, alcohol or drug use, or if you just need someone to talk to. Our Crisis Services Communications Toolkit includes free flyers, posters and other resources to promote and explain crisis services in your community in English and Spanish.

    • For those in a mental health crisis, NCDHHS provides somewhere to go, someone to talk to and someone to respond. The 988 Lifeline Chat and Text – 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is free, confidential, and available to everyone 24/7 by call, text, or chat. Educational resources include 988 materials specifically designed for people who attend Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
    • North Carolinians can call the Peer Warmline (1-855-PEERS NC [855-733-7762]) 24/7 to speak with a Peer Support Specialist. Peer Support Specialists (or “peers”) are people living in recovery with mental illness and/or substance use disorder who provide support to others who may have similar life experiences and can benefit from their lived experiences.
    • NCDHHS crisis services include mobile crisis teams that can come to you and community crisis centers, which are safe places where you can get help from a licensed clinician, without needing to go to the emergency room.

    En respuesta a un fuerte aumento en las tasas de suicidio entre los jóvenes negros, el Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte anuncia el Plan de Acción para la Prevención del Suicidio entre los Jóvenes Negros de Carolina del Norte. Coincidiendo con el Mes Nacional de Concientización sobre la Salud Mental de las Minorías Bebe Moore Campbell, este esfuerzo hace énfasis en las comunidades que han sido marginadas, donde persisten los desafíos de salud mental, y describe las iniciativas que se implementarán en los próximos cinco años para reducir las lesiones y salvar las vidas de los jóvenes y adultos jóvenes negros.

    “Un enfoque basado en la comunidad es esencial para abordar el aumento de las tasas de suicidio entre los jóvenes y adultos jóvenes negros”, dijo Kelly Crosbie MSW, LCSW NCDHHS directora de la División de Servicios de Salud Mental, Discapacidades de Desarrollo y Uso de Sustancias. “El Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte quiere asegurarse de que todos tengan el apoyo que necesitan antes, durante y después de una crisis personal, especialmente los grupos que se ven afectados de manera desproporcionada”.

    Una revisión de los datos de 2023 mostró una necesidad urgente de acción e indicó que las poblaciones negras estaban sobrerrepresentadas en las visitas al departamento de emergencias por pensamientos suicidas o autolesiones, particularmente entre el grupo de edad de 10 a 24 años. Además, la investigación muestra que los jóvenes negros están sobrerrepresentados en suicidios e intentos de suicidio, pero están subrepresentados en las llamadas a la línea 988, particularmente en los condados urbanos. Los datos mostraron que entre el 2013 y 2022 más de la mitad de los jóvenes y adultos jóvenes negros que murieron por suicidio usaron armas de fuego.

    Las familias negras también experimentan barreras significativas para acceder a los servicios médicos y de salud mental, debido a una variedad de factores socioeconómicos, incluida la comunicación cultural efectiva de los proveedores y la falta de acceso a un proveedor con una identidad compartida.

    El plan de acción fue desarrollado por el Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte (NCDHHS, por sus siglas en inglés) en colaboración con el Departamento de Instrucción Pública de Carolina del Norte, el Instituto de Prevención del Suicidio de la Universidad de Carolina del Norte (UNC, por sus siglas en inglés) y varias organizaciones comunitarias, e incluye comentarios de miembros del público.

    El plan identifica seis objetivos para mejorar la salud y el bienestar de los jóvenes y adultos jóvenes negros:

    1. Establecer la iniciativa Comunidad de Práctica y Educación (COPE) para liderar, desarrollar y defender los esfuerzos de prevención del suicidio a nivel comunitario, dirigidos a jóvenes y adultos jóvenes negros en Carolina del Norte.
    2. Fortalecer los servicios de salud mental de apoyo para los jóvenes negros, incorporando tanto especialistas en apoyo entre pares como sistemas de apoyo entre pares.
    3. Mejorar la conciencia y la capacitación para la prevención del suicidio, específicamente para los jóvenes negros.
    4. Reducir el acceso a medios letales entre los jóvenes negros.
    5. Fortalecer los factores de protección para los jóvenes negros para apoyar el bienestar mental.
    6. Establecer una comprensión integral de las necesidades de prevención del suicidio entre los jóvenes negros a través del análisis de datos y la presentación de informes para guiar las intervenciones específicas y aumentar la conciencia.

    Cada objetivo incluye una serie de metas para guiar las decisiones de desarrollo de políticas.

    El plan incluye muchas estrategias culturalmente relevantes para abordar el problema. Estos incluyen una expansión de esfuerzos de capacitación entre socios comunitarios de confianza, como barberos, con atención específica a programas clave: Asesoramiento sobre el acceso a medios letales (CALM, por sus siglas en inglés), Primeros Auxilios de Salud Mental (MHFA, por sus siglas en inglés) e información sobre la Línea 988 de Prevención del Suicidio y Crisis.

    El DHHS también apoyará un evento en todo el estado el 20 de septiembre en Rocky Mount: la conferencia Stronger Together (Más fuertes juntos). Esta conferencia única es una experiencia interactiva gratuita de un día, centrada en la conexión cultural, la expresión creativa y la atención comunitaria. El evento reunirá a jóvenes, adultos jóvenes y defensores para un día de aprendizaje, sanación y creación de comunidad. La inscripción está abierta y disponible en el sitio web. El NCDHHS proporcionará más detalles sobre el evento en las próximas semanas.

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    Si usted o alguien que conoce está luchando con su salud mental o necesita a alguien con quien hablar, no está solo. Los recursos están disponibles en el sitio web de Prevención del Suicidio del NCDHHS para situaciones sociales o familiares, depresión, ansiedad, ataques de pánico, pensamientos de suicidio, consumo de alcohol o drogas, o si solo necesita a alguien con quien hablar. Nuestro Kit de herramientas de comunicaciones de servicios de crisis incluye volantes gratuitos, carteles y otros recursos para promover y explicar servicios de crisis en su comunidad en inglés y español.

    • Para aquellos en una crisis de salud mental, el NCDHHS proporciona un lugar a donde ir, alguien con quien hablar y alguien que responda. La Línea 988 de Prevención del Suicidio y Crisis es gratuita, confidencial y está disponible para todos, las 24 horas del día, los 7 días de la semana, por llamada, mensaje de texto o chat. Los recursos educativos incluyen materiales del 988 diseñados específicamente para las personas que asisten a Colegios y universidades históricamente negros.
    • Los habitantes de Carolina del Norte pueden llamar a la línea de ayuda entre pares Peer Warmline (1-855-PEERS NC [855-733-7762]) las 24 horas del día, los 7 días de la semana, para hablar con un especialista en apoyo entre pares. Los especialistas en apoyo entre pares (o “pares”) son personas que viven en recuperación con enfermedades mentales y/o trastornos por uso de sustancias que brindan apoyo a otras personas que pueden tener experiencias de vida similares y pueden beneficiarse de sus experiencias vividas.
    • Los servicios de crisis del NCDHHS incluyen equipos móviles de respuesta a crisis que pueden acudir a usted y centros comunitarios de respuesta crisis, que son lugares seguros donde puede obtener ayuda de un médico con licencia, sin necesidad de ir a la sala de emergencias.
    Jul 18, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Automatic voter registration: a huge step forward for democracy – and a chance to bring missing millions into elections

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Toby James, Professor of Politics and Public Policy, University of East Anglia

    Shutterstock/Melinda Nagy

    The UK government has announced planned changes to elections which it claims to be “the boldest and most ambitious change to our democracy for decades”. This includes extending the franchise to 16- and 17-year-olds at parliamentary elections – but also other important reforms such as automatic voter registration.

    At the moment, everyone needs to fill in an individual voter registration application at least 12 days before an election. Automatic registration would enable electoral officials to update the electoral rolls without people having to make an application to register to vote. They could use other reliable data to make the electoral register as accurate and complete as possible.

    Electoral officials would then write to the potential voter to inform them that they had been added to the register. They would have the opportunity to make any corrections needed.

    The details are still to be worked out and the change would not come overnight. The process may be semi-automated to begin with – with the individual process sitting alongside some automation.

    Why is automatic registration needed?

    Many people don’t register in time for elections. Some don’t intend to vote, but others assume that they’re already registered. Some are also just busy.

    The result is that there are around 7-8 million people who are not correctly registered when the polling stations open on election day. A significant number are then turned away. The problem is getting worse as the number of people who are not registered is also rising at an alarming rate.

    Estimated number of people missing from the electoral register at UK general elections, 1945-2024.

    The number of people missing from the voter .
    James, Bernal and Berry, CC BY-ND

    What is especially troubling is that there are large gaps in registrations by age, gender, ethnicity and socioeconomic status. Nearly all over-65-year-olds are on the register, but younger people are increasingly missing. Only 60% of 18-to-19-year-olds are on the electoral rolls – and 16% of the soon-to-be-enfranchised 16- to 17-year-olds (you can currently register to vote at 16).

    Automatic registration will therefore be crucial to making votes at 16 a success. Asking and reminding young people to register would inevitably involve an enormous administrative effort. But if data could be transferred from schools and government departments to election officials to put them straight onto the roll, it would save both time and money – and bring about a higher participation rate.

    Does automatic voter registration work?

    Roughly half of countries around the around the world use automatic voter registration – including Germany, the Netherlands, Iceland and Finland. Countries which have historically not had automatic registration, such as the US, Malta, Canada and Australia, have all moved to at least partially implement it over recent years.

    The UK is thought have one of the more difficult voter registration systems compared to other countries. The evidence is that automatic voter registration leads to more accurate and complete electoral registers. It can therefore reduce the opportunity for fraud and increase convenience for citizens.

    What data might be used?

    In a recent report with colleagues, I set out how this can be implemented and suggested a range of datasets that could be securely used.

    Electoral rolls could be updated when people apply for a passport, register to pay council tax, update their driving licence details, register at university or claim benefits. Electoral officials could also be authorised to update the electoral rolls with data such as council tax data and information held by the Department for Work and Pensions.

    One option would be to register people to vote when they apply for a passport.
    Shutterstock/ClimbWhenReady

    Data sharing is already used in electoral registration. Every time a voter registration application is made, it is checked against another government dataset. There is therefore already the data infrastructure to enable automatic registration to work.

    Electoral officials already use such data to register, remove or re-register people. This has enabled a lot of savings and less administrative hassle for many people.

    Voter identification changes

    The government’s election bill proposals will also extend the forms of identification that voters can present at polling stations to include bank cards. It clears the path for future digital forms of ID to be accepted.

    The last government introduced a requirement for everyone to provide photographic identification at polling stations at UK general elections and some local elections. Accepted forms of identification include passports and driving licences but also a range of other options. If citizens don’t have identification, then they can apply for a free voter authority certificate, provided that they do so before the deadline.

    However, our research found that many people were turned away in polling stations as they did not have required identification. Poll workers reported that the impact particularly affected some groups, such as students and women.

    The UK is now ranked in the bottom half of countries in the UK by election quality. The proposed changes to electoral law are therefore urgent, important and will strengthen elections in areas where they are weak.

    They may not, however, go far enough. The previous government restricted the independence of the Electoral Commission and these changes have not been reversed by the Labour government. The Electoral Commission will play an important role in automatic registration, so the government could renew its independence to help build confidence and trust in elections.

    Nonetheless, the move to automatic registration would be a major step forward for a changing democracy – as long as the government now puts on the afterburners to power the effort needed to make these changes work effectively in time for the next election.

    Toby James has previously received funding from the AHRC, ESRC, Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust, British Academy, Leverhulme Trust, Electoral Commission, Nuffield Foundation, the McDougall Trust, Unlock Democracy, International IDEA and the Canadian SSHRC.

    – ref. Automatic voter registration: a huge step forward for democracy – and a chance to bring missing millions into elections – https://theconversation.com/automatic-voter-registration-a-huge-step-forward-for-democracy-and-a-chance-to-bring-missing-millions-into-elections-261489

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: HSE University Educational Programs for Top AI and IT Specialists

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: State University “Higher School of Economics” –

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    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: New axolotl study gives researchers a leg up in work towards limb regeneration

    Source: US Government research organizations

    Researchers supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation have discovered that it is not how much of a key molecule that allows axolotls to regenerate limbs properly, it is how little. This new knowledge moves researchers closer to enabling tissue repair and, possibly, limb regeneration in humans.

    “Axolotls are a species of salamander that have the ability to regrow limbs and repair organ tissue,” said Anna Allen, a program officer in the NSF Directorate for Biological Sciences. “Based on previous work, researchers knew that a particular molecule told cells to start the process of regrowth but how cells knew where they were along a limb and, therefore, what structure to build in that location remained a mystery.”

    The new work, led by James Monaghan, a professor of biology and director of the Institute for Chemical Imaging of Living Systems at Northeastern University, shows that the key is how that critical molecule, retinoic acid, degrades. An enzyme whose only job is to destroy retinoic acid is extremely prevalent at the far end of the limb (the wrist) but much less prevalent at the shoulder, meaning the reverse for retinoic acid. It is this decreasing amount of retinoic acid that allows the cells to know if they are at the shoulder, mid-limb, or wrist.

    Building on their findings, the researchers used CRISPR technology to turn off certain genes to help identify which genes were involved in various aspects of limb regeneration. They found one gene, Shox, which has a role in human height, was critical in directing the shaping of parts of a limb near the shoulder. Other genes are important in shaping further out portions. When these genes were deactivated, limbs still regenerated but not to the proper length. Because axolotls and humans share these same genes and it is only whether or not they can be accessed at the right time, this information provides a genetic and molecular instruction manual that moves scientists closer to enabling tissue repair — and, maybe, limb regeneration — in humans.

    “We are still a long way from humans regrowing limbs,” added Allen. “But, while that may still be science fiction, we are now one step closer to repairing lost or damaged tissue rather than just having it scar over.”

    NSF has funded other work looking at the regenerative properties of axolotls, including to understand the function of genes involved in regeneration in the species and fish that can regrow their fins and how cells convert stimuli into electrochemical activity during regeneration.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • Why India’s True Freedom Lies in the Strength of Local Languages and Culture, Reveals New Book

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    In a linguistically diverse country like India, disputes over language are commonplace. Yet, intriguingly, resistance to English education and the resulting sense of “Englishness” is almost nonexistent—perhaps never existent. What lies at the root of this? A new book by scientist Amitabh Satyam, titled *The Hindi Medium Types*, delves into this question, unraveling the hollow “Englishness” entrenched in Indian society, particularly among the elite.

    Originally from Sheohar, Bihar, Amitabh Satyam, an IIT Kanpur graduate with an MBA from Fisher University, USA, shares his journey from Bihar to America. Through experiences spanning student life to professional endeavors, he illustrates how English in India is not just a language but a mindset. Despite India’s independence, colonial notions and Western cultural concepts remain firmly rooted in the Indian psyche.

    Satyam highlights experiences that many Indians, especially those who speak local languages, may find relatable. Though published in English and Hindi, the book champions every Indian local language, culture, and its values. From viewing traditional attire like dhoti-kurta as inferior to dismissing Ayurveda as unscientific, Satyam underscores aspects that reveal the hollowness of “Englishness” in certain societal sections. He notes how English medicine has deemed expensive fruits like apples essential, while local and seasonal fruits are equally beneficial.

    Striking at the mindset of English supremacy, Satyam writes: “Today, people don’t even consider that English is the language of foreigners who forcibly ruled and exploited us. Millions of Indians—once pioneers in science, engineering, literature, medicine, philosophy, and art—were declared illiterate overnight. By the decree of English-speakers, India’s greatness was dismissed, and English language and culture were imposed as superior. Jobs went only to those who spoke English and followed their ways. Governance was in their hands.”

    Satyam observes that English culture so deeply influences Indian systems that parents prefer schools named after Western “saints.” He recounts how merely changing a school’s name in his hometown led to a surge in admissions. Remarkably, the notion that English is supreme follows Indians even to America. Satyam shares: “In the USA, my English accent and pronunciation were American-like. Most Indians speak English with an Indian accent, having learned it in India. But I learned proper English in America, so it sounded like theirs. My American accent earned me praise from Indians there: ‘You’re from India? You sound like you were born here!’”

    The book, divided into nine chapters, is a treasure trove of anecdotes exposing the colonial mindset ingrained in Indian society. It challenges the notion of venerating the language and culture of former oppressors, suggesting that a large part of India’s population is gripped by a form of “Stockholm Syndrome.” This book is essential reading for anyone who senses the excesses of Western civilization and colonial thinking in India.

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Coventry’s revolutionary Very Light Rail system to take centre stage at national UK event

    Source: City of Coventry

    Coventry’s innovative Very Light Rail (CVLR) system is to showcase its pioneering technology at a prestigious national conference next week.

    CVLR is designed to create an affordable rail-based travel system that can be delivered at less than half the cost and in half the time of conventional light rail systems.

    It will now be showcased at next week’s UK Light Rail conference in Leeds. From 22 July, the two-day convention is the UK’s premier event dedicated solely to the advancement of light rail, featuring over 50 expert speakers and bringing together key decision-makers, manufacturers, operators and innovators from across the sector.

    Coventry will present to the conference on Wednesday 23 July with a dedicated session titled: CVLR: Coventry’s first On Road Test installation and operation.  The CVLR team will also participate in a discussion panel called Smarter moves in light rail, demonstrating the breadth of expertise and innovation the project represents.

    The recognition represents a significant milestone for the project, which has achieved remarkable success during its recent on-road testing phase.

    The 220-metre track was laid in the city centre of Coventry in just eight weeks – a timeframe unmatched anywhere in the world. Over six weeks, more than 3,000 members of the public experienced the future of urban transport first-hand through test rides, providing overwhelmingly positive feedback.

    Councillor Jim O’Boyle, Cabinet Member for Jobs, Regeneration and Climate Change, said: “Being invited to showcase Coventry’s Very Light Rail at the UK’s premier light rail conference is testament to the ground-breaking innovation we’ve achieved here in Coventry.

    “Our successful on-road testing, which saw over 3,000 people experience this revolutionary transport system, proves that we can deliver affordable, sustainable rail solutions at unprecedented speed and cost.

    “The fact that we laid our 220-metre track in just eight weeks – faster than anywhere else in the world – demonstrates how CVLR can transform the way cities approach public transport infrastructure.

    “Crucially, this isn’t just a transport system – it’s designed and built right here in Coventry, creating jobs and establishing a whole new industry for our city.

    “As we begin work on our next 800-metre section connecting the railway station to University Technology Park, we’re not just building a transport system for Coventry – we’re pioneering a solution that could revolutionise urban mobility across the UK and beyond while positioning Coventry as the home of this innovative technology and the skilled jobs it brings.”

    The Very Light Rail system addresses the critical challenge facing many UK cities seeking sustainable transport solutions. Where conventional light rail systems can cost upwards of £25 million per kilometre to install and as much as £100 million per kilometre in city centres, CVLR delivers a solution that provides the benefits of a conventional tram but at a significantly reduced installation cost.

    Key innovations that set CVLR apart:

    Revolutionary Vehicle Design: The battery-powered vehicle eliminates the need for overhead wires and features an innovative turning system, enabling it to handle 15m radius curves. This allows for installation in tight corners within the existing highway. The vehicle has a capacity of 56, is comfortable and has low floors to enable passengers to embark and disembark easily.

    Ultra-Thin Track Technology: The new track is laid just 30cm within the road’s surface, minimising the need to relocate pipes and cables, which is time-consuming and expensive. It achieves this by leveraging cutting-edge materials science, while still utilising standard rail parts to ensure ease of manufacture.

    Sustainable Impact: Transport is responsible for nearly 30% of carbon emissions. The CVLR system will help improve air quality, reduce congestion, support housing development, and provide jobs and skills while securing local investment and putting Coventry at the forefront of the green industrial revolution.

    The project represents a collaborative effort involving multiple partners, including the West Midlands Combined Authority, the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership, WMG at the University of Warwick and Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council.

    Recent months have seen significant progress, with Simon Lightwood, Minister for Local Transport, visiting the CVLR track during Better Transport Week, demonstrating growing government interest in the technology’s potential. Work has also started on the next stage, which will see an 800-metre section laid from the railway station to the University Technology Park on Puma Way.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Britain’s ban on lead ammunition could save tens of thousands of birds from poisoning

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Deborah Pain, Visiting Academic, University of Cambridge; Honorary Professor, University of East Anglia, University of Cambridge

    CHUYKO SERGEY/Shutterstock

    The UK’s environment minister Emma Hardy has announced a ban on toxic lead ammunition to protect Britain’s countryside. This ban includes the sale and use for hunting of both lead shotgun ammunition (each cartridge of which contains hundreds of small lead pellets called “shot”), used mainly for hunting small game animals like gamebirds, and large calibre lead bullets, used for hunting large game animals like deer.

    This is great news for Britain’s birds because the ban will eventually prevent the deaths and suffering of the vast numbers affected by lead poisoning each year after ingesting lead from ammunition.

    Most shot fired do not hit their targets and thousands of tonnes of lead shot are scattered in the environment every year.

    Waterbirds and land-based gamebirds mistakenly eat these because they look like food or the grit they ingest to help grind up their food. Shot are retained in their gizzards (a muscular part of the stomach), ground up, and the lead dissolved and absorbed into the bloodstream.

    Lead poisoning kills an estimated 50,000-100,000 waterbirds annually in the UK. These birds suffer considerably before they die. Many more birds are poisoned, but not killed.

    While this additional “sublethal” poisoning does not kill birds directly, they may be more likely to die of other causes. This is because lead poisoning affects the immune system and behaviour.

    Gamebirds will no longer be able to be killed using lead shot under a new ban in Britain.
    AdamEdwards/Shutterstock

    The use of lead shot for hunting waterfowl and over certain wetlands is already banned in England and Wales. It is also banned for shooting over all wetlands in Scotland.

    However, compliance with the regulations in England is only about 30%, and is also low in Scotland, although has not been measured in Wales. This new comprehensive ban should dramatically improve the situation across all habitats throughout Britain.

    Birds of prey, including eagles, common buzzards and red kites ingest lead fragments when they scavenge flesh from animals killed by lead ammunition, or prey on animals wounded by lead ammunition. The acidic conditions in their stomachs help dissolve the lead.

    Our research shows that while fewer birds of prey than waterbirds are estimated to die of lead poisoning, it can have a far greater effect on their populations, especially for species that first breed at a later age, produce fewer young, and would otherwise have higher annual adult survival rates.

    The lead ban will benefit birds that live in Britain permanently or for just part of the year. But it will not entirely solve the problem for migratory species. If lead shot continues to be used elsewhere, these species may still ingest it on migration or on their breeding or wintering grounds.

    Beyond borders

    To protect all species, lead ammunition needs to be replaced by non-lead alternatives everywhere. The use of lead shot is already banned in many wetlands globally. Across the EU, a ban on the use of lead shot in or close to wetlands came into force in February 2023.

    Denmark was the first country to ban lead ammunition across all habitats. In 1996, it banned the use of lead shot and in April 2024, it banned lead bullets. Our research shows that the lead shot ban in Denmark has been very effective, with good levels of compliance.

    Now, Britain is set to become the second country to ban most uses of lead ammunition. This has been made possible by the increasing availability of safe, efficient and affordable non-lead ammunition alternatives, primarily steel shot and copper bullets.

    In February 2025, the European Commission published a draft regulation banning most uses of lead ammunition and fishing weights. This awaits approval under EU processes – if successful, it will represent a major step forward.

    Beyond birds

    Birds are particularly susceptible to the effects of ingested lead from ammunition due to their muscular gizzards and stomach acidity. But it also puts the health of many other animals at risk, including pets and people.

    In the UK, we found average lead concentrations in raw pheasant dog food from three suppliers to be tens of times the legal maximum residue limit for lead in animal feed.

    The UK government based its decision to ban lead ammunition on a report by the Health and Safety Executive which highlighted risks to the health of young children and women of pregnancy age if they frequently eat meat from game hunted with lead ammunition. Children’s developing nervous systems are particularly sensitive to the effects of lead.

    We recently urged the EU’s committee of member states for Reach (the chemicals regulation), the European parliament and council to fully support the European Commission’s proposal to restrict lead ammunition.

    We also encouraged the European Food Safety Authority to recommend that the European Commission set a legal maximum level for lead in game meat marketed for human consumption. This maximum level should be similar to the one already set for meat from most farmed animals.

    Until this happens, and more countries follow suit by banning all use of lead ammunition for hunting, the health of wildlife, domestic animals and vulnerable groups of people will continue to be threatened by the toxic effects of lead from ammunition.

    Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

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    Deborah Pain is an Honorary Professor at the University of East Anglia (Biological Sciences) and a Visiting Academic in the Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge. She has been an independent scientist since April 2018. She has received no remuneration for research on lead poisoning since that time, but, along with colleagues, has received funding for the costs of research and chemical analysis from a number of sources, as acknowledged in published papers. She was a member of the UK REACH Independent Scientific Expert Pool (RISEP) and within this the Challenge Panel on Lead in Ammunition and received payment for that work. However, her published research on lead poisoning was independent of that process.

    Rhys Green has received funding for research from several organisations including the RSPB, where he was principal conservation scientist until 2017. He is now retired. He is an unpaid volunteer research scientist at RSPB and Emeritus Honorary Professor of Conservation Science in the Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge. He is a member of the UK REACH Independent Scientific Expert Pool (RISEP), which is an expert group set up by a UK government agency, the Health & Safety Executive. He receives occasional payments for work done on behalf of RISEP. He is on the Board of Trustees of Chester Zoo.

    Niels Kanstrup 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. Britain’s ban on lead ammunition could save tens of thousands of birds from poisoning – https://theconversation.com/britains-ban-on-lead-ammunition-could-save-tens-of-thousands-of-birds-from-poisoning-260958

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Lions rugby tour: why visual training, including juggling, can be a secret weapon in elite sports

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Zoe Wimshurst, Senior Lecturer of Sport Psychology, Health Sciences University

    Odua Images/Shutterstock

    Much of the pre-series attention on the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour of Australia has been on injuries, player omissions and personal rivalries.

    One of those rivalries involves the Australian sensation Joseph-Akuso Suaalii facing Lions centre player, Sione Tuipulotu, with whom he had a fiery encounter in a match last year.

    Suaalii only switched codes from rugby league to rugby union in 2023 and has just five international caps to his name. But despite his lack of union experience, he has been catching attention lately for more than just his powerful runs and physicality. In recent weeks, Suaalii’s unusual pre-match warm-up has also sparked curiosity, most notably, his use of juggling and peripheral awareness drills to prepare his visual system.

    For many spectators, seeing a player showing off their juggling skills is more suited to a circus performance than international rugby. But there is science behind his bizarre approach. This preparation could be giving him an edge the Lions should fear.

    Growing evidence

    Visual performance in elite sport remains an under-applied area of sport science, yet the evidence for its effectiveness is growing.

    My own research has found that a county cricket team which underwent six weeks of visual training improved their basic cricket skills more than a control group which did extra cricket skills exercises. This demonstrates that we need to be looking beyond the confines of the sport itself to bring about maximal performance.

    Visual skill in sport is about more than just 20/20 vision. Each sport has its own specific demands, and rugby requires skills such as peripheral awareness, depth perception, rapid eye movement, reaction speed, dynamic visual acuity and eye-body coordination.

    Joseph-Akuso Suaalii.
    wikipedia, CC BY-SA

    Combining these visual skills will allow the most accurate information to be sent to the brain for processing – helping players to make the best decisions, even under intense pressure and high levels of fatigue.

    By using exercises such as juggling, Suaalii is training several of these visual skills at once. Juggling requires excellent eye-body coordination, the use of the peripheral system and reaction speed. These are all skills which are also used in rugby for catching high balls kicked by opponents, reading attacking threats and spotting the movement of teammates and opposition players.

    Juggling has also been shown to bring about positive structural changes in the human brain – particularly in areas linked to processing visual information – and integrating this with motor control.

    This demonstrates that this relatively simple exercise can lead to improvements not only in the eyes, but also the brain. In rugby, the visual array will be constantly changing. A shift in the defensive line, a looping support run, a player slightly slow to recover from a ruck, or a spiralling high kick – the ability to spot, process and respond to these visual cues can be the difference between success and failure.

    Suaalii is by no means the first rugby player to train his visual system. Former coach Clive Woodward famously brought in a visual performance coach to work with the England team – and they went on to win the 2003 Rugby World Cup.

    I also worked with the Harlequins rugby team in the English Premiership as a visual performance coach. We won three trophies in my first three seasons with the team, which is known for free flowing, creative play. This style of play places extremely high demands on the players’ visual systems.

    Lions test series

    So what particular visual skills can you look out for over this Lions test series and how might they impact the outcome?

    When defending close to their own try line, players should be scanning across the width of the pitch to ensure that they do not become outnumbered on either side of the field. Conversely, the attackers should be making rapid scans to quickly identify any mismatch (for example, a slow front row forward versus a swift and agile winger) they can take advantage of.

    In these situations, players can often focus too much on the ball, allowing opposition players to craftily reposition themselves unseen. The best players will, wherever possible, be looking at everything, everywhere, all at once, improving their spatial awareness and enabling them to maintain an overview of the game in their minds.

    To catch a kicked spiralling highball, a fullback or winger needs exceptional tracking ability and depth perception. Players in this situation are sometimes let down by “convergence issues”, where as the eyes track an object moving towards them, they can drift outwards or become misaligned. This can cause players to mistime their jump, or for the ball to hit their chest before being caught, wasting vital milliseconds. Training these convergence issues has been shown to bring about improvements in sports performance.

    As a scrum-half is collecting the ball from a breakdown, they need quickly to scan the positions of teammates on either side of them, and be aware of the depth of the defensive line. Having this visual information will lead to better decisions and creating faster attacking opportunities.

    A crunching tackle may seem like a purely strength-based skill. But to ensure it is both perfectly timed and legal, a defender must perfectly anticipate the speed and direction of the oncoming player. They can then use this information to precisely position their own body to impart their full momentum, while using their reaction speed to make last-second adjustments to ensure they do not put their opponent in danger.

    Subtle visual advantages, honed through practice, can influence these moments. During this test series, they may well be the difference between winning and losing. Suaalii’s juggling may seem better suited to the circus, but it could be the secret weapon Australia need to secure the series.

    Zoe Wimshurst is the owner and director of Performance Vision Ltd, a company which provides visual training and consultancy services.

    – ref. Lions rugby tour: why visual training, including juggling, can be a secret weapon in elite sports – https://theconversation.com/lions-rugby-tour-why-visual-training-including-juggling-can-be-a-secret-weapon-in-elite-sports-261424

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  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Afghan data leak: how selective state secrecy and cover-ups can harm civilians

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Victoria Canning, Professor of Criminology, Lancaster University

    In 2022, somebody in the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) mistakenly shared a spreadsheet containing the personal information associated with 18,714 Afghans and their family members. This data breach, and the efforts to cover it up, raises serious questions about state secrecy, blame-shifting and accountability.

    After discovering the mistake in August 2023, the government covered up their spectacular error with an unprecedented injunction “contra mundum” (against the world). This “superinjunction” prohibited journalists and others in the know – like one author of this article (Professor Sara de Jong) – from reporting the breach and even the very existence of the injunction.

    When the superinjunction was finally lifted on July 15, John Healey, the defence secretary, revealed that the MoD had operated a secret resettlement scheme for Afghans whose data had been leaked at risk from the Taliban. To date, 900 Afghans and 3,600 family members have been flown to Britain or are currently in transit via this scheme. A further 600 people and their immediate family members are still in Afghanistan, being promised evacuation. Many thousands of others on the list were already resettled in the UK via two other official routes.

    The spectacular nature and impact of this data leak should not distract from the fact that it is not entirely unique. The personal data of Afghan applicants had already been exposed by the MoD in an earlier series of data breaches in September 2021.

    The superinjunction is only the latest in a string of silences that have prevented accountability on Afghanistan and other issues to do with national security.

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    In the wake of the dramatic Nato withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021, the foreign affairs select committee was dependent on whistleblowers to get to the truth about then prime minister Boris Johnson’s prioritisation of an animal charity for evacuation, over others at acute risk. Political accountability over the chaos of the evacuation was compromised by the foreign office who, according to then committee chair Tom Tugendhat, “repeatedly has given us answers that, in our judgement, are at best intentionally evasive, and often deliberately misleading”.

    The Ministry of Defence – including Healey in his statement on the data breach – routinely cites the deaths of 457 British soldiers as the “costs of war” in Afghanistan. But the department only released the data on how many Afghan interpreters died alongside them after a freedom of information request by Sara de Jong. The MoD, even after several freedom of information Requests and appeals, refuses to provide further details about the circumstances of their deaths.

    Even the latest shocking revelations didn’t end with the lifting of the superinjunction. A secondary injunction was lifted on July 17, revealing that the leaked list also contained the identities of dozens of British officials, including spies and special forces.

    Selective secrecy

    In the wider context of government leaks and secrecy, critical questions need to be asked about which secrets are kept, by whom and why.

    In his judgement lifting the superinjunction, Mr Justice Chamberlain credited media organisations and individual journalists involved with the fact that they had kept the leak confidential. Like Sara, some had become aware of the breach several months before Healey (the then-shadow defence secretary was informed in December 2023). But all kept quiet to keep Afghans at risk safe, not to cover up their own errors.

    The government invests in secrecy when it also has its own embarrassment to hide, whether it is an extraordinary superinjunction or secrecy about the prioritisation of a pet charity during the Afghanistan evacuation.

    Appeals to national security routinely obstruct media, legal and public access to information to hold the government to account. Meanwhile, many Afghans are left wondering why their and their loved ones’ data was on a spreadsheet that could be emailed around with a click of the wrong button.

    Effects on Afghans

    The consequences of the cover-up will be felt most acutely by Afghans – those on the leaked list still waiting for evacuation, including family members of Afghans already in the UK, whose own presence may be complicated further by anti-immigration sentiment.

    Following the revelations, Healey announced that the secret relocation scheme was now closed, following the sudden decision to close the two official Afghan resettlement schemes.

    The decision to shut down the two publicly known resettlement schemes, he claimed, was based on “policy concerns about proportionality, public accountability, cost and fairness”, as well as a commissioned report on the impact of the leak.

    He defended his decisions saying that “the taxpayer should be paying £1.2 billion less over the next few years, and that around 9,500 fewer Afghans will come to this country”. In the context of ongoing anti-immigration rhetoric, the mention of costs combined with refugees is as unsurprising as it is inflammatory.

    On the day of announcement, affected Afghans were sent a notice by the MoD and a link where they could find out if their data had been compromised. The email said very little about what the MoD could offer, and said a lot about what measures Afghans were now supposed to take: use a virtual private network, limit who can see your social media profiles.

    Afghans unlucky enough to be Afghanistan were simply advised that, “If you are outside the UK, please do not try to travel to a third country without a valid passport and visa. If you do so, you will be putting yourself at risk on the journey, and you may face the risk of being deported back to Afghanistan”.

    It is almost impossible for Afghans to travel legally without international assistance. And, since the Taliban are not recognised as a legitimate government, embassies are closed for citizens to even obtain legal travel documentation.

    Given that the British government recognises the real risk of rights violations in Afghanistan, as well as the ongoing assault on women’s rights by the Taliban, it seems contradictory – and a remarkable abdication of responsibility – to close routes to safety.

    Victoria Canning has received funding from UKRI and British Academy.

    Sara de Jong has received funding from the British Academy (Mid-Career Fellowship 2022) for research on Afghan interpreters and their claims to protection and rights. She is the chair of the board of trustees of the Sulha Alliance CIO, which advocates for and supports Afghan interpreters employed by the British Army.

    – ref. Afghan data leak: how selective state secrecy and cover-ups can harm civilians – https://theconversation.com/afghan-data-leak-how-selective-state-secrecy-and-cover-ups-can-harm-civilians-261394

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Going on holiday? What you need to know about taking your meds with you

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Dipa Kamdar, Senior Lecturer in Pharmacy Practice, Kingston University

    YAKOBCHUK VIACHESLAV/Shutterstock

    As summer holidays begin, many travellers are packing more than just swimsuits and sunscreen – for millions, medicines are essential. But taking them abroad isn’t always simple. From legal pitfalls to temperature-sensitive drugs, here’s how to travel safely and legally with your medication.

    Know the law

    Medicines that are legal in the UK can be restricted or even banned in other countries. Having a valid prescription doesn’t guarantee you can take a medicine into another country.

    For example, Nurofen Plus, which contains codeine (an opioid painkiller), is prohibited in countries like Egypt, Indonesia and the UAE.

    Even common cold remedies containing decongestants like pseudoephedrine can land you in trouble in places like Japan and South Korea. This is because pseudoephedrine can be used to make methamphetamine (“speed”). Likewise, many stimulant ADHD drugs are also banned from these countries.

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    Some countries have restrictions on the amount of medication that you are allowed to bring into the country – usually a maximum of three months supply.

    Travellers often overlook how strict customs regulations can be regarding medications. Even if prescribed for a valid medical reason, carrying a prohibited drug can lead to confiscation (leaving you without essential treatment), fines (especially in countries with tough drug laws) and detention or arrest in rare but serious cases.

    If you’re travelling with certain controlled drugs – such as opioids, stimulants or psychotropic substances – you may need to apply for an export licence from the UK Home Office. This is typically required when carrying a supply of three months or more. Examples of controlled drugs include diazepam (for anxiety and muscle spasms), codeine and morphine (for pain), amphetamines (for ADHD) and temazepam (for insomnia).

    Before you travel, check whether your medicine is affected by any of these restrictions. Use the country’s embassy website or the UK government’s travel advice to check the rules of your destination country.

    This should provide guidance on whether you simply need a copy of your prescription, a doctor’s letter or a special import certificate (some countries require official documentation even for personal use).

    The UK government advises carrying controlled drugs or any drugs that might be restricted in your hand luggage. You should take along a prescription or a signed letter from your doctor detailing your medication, dosage and travel dates.

    Ensure you take sufficient supplies for the duration of your trip and include extras for unexpected delays, damage or loss.

    Even some over-the-counter medicines can fall foul of the law.
    olesea vetrila/Shutterstock.com

    Store your medication properly

    It might be tempting to save space by transferring pills or liquids into smaller containers or pill organisers. While this can be convenient, it’s not always advisable. Customs officials may not recognise unlabelled containers, increasing the chance of delays or confiscation.

    Some medications are sensitive to light, air or temperature, and must remain in their original packaging to stay effective. For example, HRT (hormone replacement therapy) sprays like Lenzetto must not be decanted.

    These products rely on precise metered dosing and specialised packaging to deliver the correct amount of hormone. Transferring them to another container could result in incorrect dosing or loss of potency.

    Similarly, GTN (glyceryl trinitrate) tablets, used to treat angina, should always be stored in their original glass bottle. The active ingredient can evaporate if exposed to air, reducing the tablets’ effectiveness.

    You might be worried about the 100ml liquid in hand luggage restriction – with a doctor’s letter certifying the need for this medicine, you should be able to take larger amounts of liquid medicine through security.

    Medicines should always be kept in their original packaging with labels intact. When in doubt, ask your pharmacist whether your medication can be safely repackaged for travel.

    It’s also important to split your supply of medicines between bags (if more than one is used) in case one is lost. Tablets and capsules can sometimes be placed in a pill organiser for daily use, but always carry the original box or prescription label as backup.

    Some medicines require refrigeration – like Wegovy and Ozempic (semaglutide) injections for weight loss or insulin.

    Usually, unopened Wegovy pens and insulin preparations should be stored between 2°C and 8°C in a fridge. Once out of the fridge, they can be kept at room temperature (up to 25°C) for up to 28 days, but must be protected from heat and sunlight. High temperatures, such as in direct sunlight or a hot car, can damage insulin.

    When travelling, use an insulated travel case or cool pack, but avoid placing pens or other medicines directly next to ice packs to prevent freezing.

    Airlines generally do not provide refrigeration or freezer storage for passenger items, including medicines, due to space and liability concerns, but it’s worth contacting them to see if they can help with arrangements for storage. Inspect insulin for crystals after flying – if any are present, it should be discarded.

    You can bring needles and injectable medicines like EpiPens (for allergies), insulin or Wegovy in your hand luggage. But it’s important to carry a doctor’s note stating your medical condition and the necessity of the medication, and a copy of your prescription.

    You should also declare them at airport security. Security officers may inspect these items separately, so allow for extra time going through security.

    Contact your airline for any specific rules on needles and injectable medicines. Always carry such medicines and medical devices in your hand luggage – checked bags can be lost or exposed to extreme temperatures.

    Don’t skip doses

    Tempting as it may be to leave your medication behind for a short trip, doing so can be risky. Stopping treatment – even temporarily – can lead to relapse or worsening of symptoms (especially for chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension or depression).

    For medicines like antidepressants or opioids, people may start feeling withdrawal effects. You’re also at risk of reduced effectiveness if you miss doses of medicines that require consistent levels in your bloodstream.

    If you’re considering a break from your medication, consult your doctor first. They can advise whether a short pause is safe or help you plan a travel-friendly regimen.

    Take the right documents

    While showing your NHS app to border officials may help demonstrate that a medicine is prescribed to you, it’s not always sufficient – especially when travelling with restricted or controlled drugs and injectable medicines.

    Most countries require a copy of your prescription, and a doctor’s letter confirming the medication is for personal use. Your doctor is not legally obliged to issue this letter, but most will do so upon request.

    It’s best to ask at least one to two weeks in advance, as some practices may charge a fee or require time to prepare the documentation.

    Travelling with medication doesn’t have to be stressful, but it does require planning. With the right preparation, you can enjoy your holiday without compromising your health or running afoul of foreign laws.

    Dipa Kamdar 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. Going on holiday? What you need to know about taking your meds with you – https://theconversation.com/going-on-holiday-what-you-need-to-know-about-taking-your-meds-with-you-261018

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Going on holiday? Here’s how to make sure your trip is sustainable

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Sayed Elhoushy, Senior Lecturer in Marketing, Queen Mary University of London

    Anna Om/Shutterstock

    With the rise of sustainable tourism (travelling in a way that minimises harm to the environment, and benefits local communities), words such as “sustainable”, “”eco” and “green” appear on countless holiday brochures. From five-star hotels promoting “eco luxury” to airlines pledging to reduce carbon emissions and destinations making various green claims, sustainability is increasingly being used as a marketing tool.

    But with so many green claims floating around, it’s hard to know who is really providing sustainable travel and who is just greenwashing. A recent report shows that 53% of green claims are vague, misleading, or unfounded – and half of all green labels offer weak or non-existent verification.

    So, how can travellers distinguish genuine sustainability from greenwash that exaggerates environmental claims to attract eco-conscious travellers?

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

    Sustainability certification is a voluntary, third-party assessment that verifies a product, service, or organisation meets certain environmental, social, or ethical standards. These certifications provide a structure to manage, improve and communicate sustainability performance.

    More than 100 sustainable certifications promise that they have vetted tourism businesses so you can have a satisfying and guilt-free holiday.

    Yet, not all certifications are made equal, as our recent research shows. Most certification schemes audit actions taken, rather than assessing how effective these are.

    They assure you that the hotel you are staying in has an environmental policy or that it is progressively reducing some of its negative effects on the environment, but not that their energy or water consumption is well below that of its competitors, for example.

    Choosing a sustainable holiday involves more than just travel to your destination.
    PhotoSunnyDays/Shutterstock

    One major challenge is that consumers are not using these labels to inform their buying decisions. Next time you travel, select businesses certified by an organisation with a proven track record of verification and transparency. There are several things a strong certification should do:

    First, it should be third-party verified. This ensures that the green claims are independently checked.

    Second, it needs specific and clear criteria. Beware of vague sustainability claims, such as “eco-friendly”. Look for certifications that require transparent reporting on performance for specific environmental actions, such as waste management, or responsible sourcing.

    Third, it should go beyond eco-savings. Reducing energy and water consumption saves the hotel money. They should not get a prize for that. Seek evidence of the certification promoting best practice in complex issues like biodiversity conservation and dignity in the workplace.

    Examples of sustainable tourism certifications to keep an eye on include Green Key (the largest label in Europe); B Corp (which measures a company’s entire social and environmental impact); The Long Run (a promoter of nature conservation); and Fair Trade Tourism (a promoter of fair working conditions). These certifications require businesses to undergo regular audits to maintain them.

    In case you are thinking it’s not your responsibility to find out who is any good – you are right. The EU Green Claims Directive (due to be implemented by 2026) is a new legislation that requires companies to prove their environmental claims and labels, and ensure they are credible and trustworthy. This directive recognises the greenwash problem and will require certification to be based on assessment of actual performance – in tourism, and every other sector of the economy. The directive applies to any business anywhere in the world that sells to consumers from the EU. Expect fewer, but more respected and recognisable labels, that reduce consumer confusion.

    Buying locally produced souvenirs supports artisans.
    studiolaska / Shutterstock.com

    Beyond eco-labels

    Certification is only part of the picture. Your next holiday can make a greater contribution to local communities while minimising its harm to the environment. Take the time to consider how your trip can be part of a larger, positive contribution. Here are more ways to ensure that your holiday supports local communities and the environment:

    Make sure you travel shorter and stay longer. Research shows that transport is a major part of the carbon footprint of your trip. Fly less (if at all). Choose flights with lower carbon footprints – various booking sites now tell customers the carbon footprint for each flight at the time of purchase. And stay longer so you spend more locally, for that same flight.



    Read more:
    Five ways to make aviation more sustainable right now

    Choose tour operators that prioritise locally owned and small suppliers. Buy souvenirs that are made locally, and you can only find in that country. Travel slow – soak in where you are. Hike, cycle, use local transport. You will see more of the real place you are in.

    Choose buses and trains over private cars. Rent electric vehicles and select accommodation that provides charging facilities. And enjoy local and seasonal rather than imported food. Eat everything in your plate, rather than create food waste.

    Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

    Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 45,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

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

    – ref. Going on holiday? Here’s how to make sure your trip is sustainable – https://theconversation.com/going-on-holiday-heres-how-to-make-sure-your-trip-is-sustainable-255037

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Bluetongue outbreak endangers UK livestock – what you need to know about the virus

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Cate Williams, Knowledge Exchange Fellow at Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University

    Bluetongue causes illness and death in cattle, sheep, goats and other ruminants. Juice Flair/Shutterstock

    A tiny midge, no bigger than a pinhead, is bringing UK farming to its knees. The culprit? A strain of the bluetongue virus that’s never been seen before.

    As of July 1, the whole of England has been classed as an “infected area” due to bluetongue virus serotype 3 (BTV-3).

    There are movement restrictions and testing in place in Scotland, Wales and the island of Ireland. No animals from England – or that have passed through England – are allowed to attend this year’s Royal Welsh Show on July 21-24, for example.

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    The virus, which causes illness and death in sheep, cattle, goats and other ruminants, is spread by biting midges. Although it poses no risk to humans and can’t be transmitted from one animal to another, the latest outbreak is more severe than previous ones. And it could cause lasting damage to UK farming.

    Bluetongue isn’t new to the UK, however. A different strain, BTV-8 was detected in 2007 and contained. But BTV-3 is a different story. First detected in the Netherlands in late 2023, it was quickly spotted in the UK, where an early containment effort initially appeared successful.

    But the virus made a comeback in autumn 2024 – and this time it spread. On its second attempt, the virus was able to circulate and caused an outbreak. With little existing immunity, BTV-3 has now established itself, prompting concerns about animal welfare, food production and farming livelihoods.

    What does the disease do?

    Sheep tend to be the most severely affected, though all ruminants are at risk. Clinical signs are species-specific but can include swelling of the face, congestion, nasal discharge, ulcers in the mouth and nose, difficulty breathing and abortion or birth deformities.

    Bluetongue can cause the animal’s tongue to swell. It can also turn blue from lack of blood flow – although this is somewhat rare.

    Bluetongue disease causes suffering in animals, and while there is a vaccine, there is no treatment for the disease once it’s contracted.

    BTV-3 appears to be more lethal than earlier strains. In the Netherlands, vets report that BTV-3 is causing more severe symptoms than BTV-8 did.

    Vets in England reported that in some herds 25-40% of cows failed to get pregnant, and there was a high rate of birth defects and stillborn calves. One farm in Suffolk started the calving season with 25% of their cows not pregnant and ended with just 48 calves from 97 cows.

    Belgium has seen a fall in calf births, reduced milk deliveries and higher mortality in small ruminants compared to the previous three years.

    How is it spread?

    Bluetongue virus is transmitted by midges from the Culicoides genus. These are tiny, biting insects that thrive in mild, wet conditions.

    Multiple midges can bite the same animal, and it only takes one of them to carry BTV before that animal becomes a host for further transmission. When animals are transported long distances, infected individuals can be bitten again and introduce the virus to previously uninfected midge populations.

    Climate change is making outbreaks like this more likely. Milder winters and cooler, wetter summers are ideal for midges, increasing both their numbers and their biting activity.

    While there’s no danger to human health, the consequences of BTV-3 are far-reaching. Limitations on movement, exports and imports are being imposed to help prevent the spread of the disease, but this could also hamper farming practices and trade.

    The disease and its associated restrictions pose another source of stress for farmers, 95% of whom have ranked mental health as the biggest hidden problem in farming.

    Genetic pick and mix

    One of the reasons bluetongue is so tricky to manage is its ability to evolve. It has a segmented genome, meaning its genetic material, in this case RNA, is split into ten segments. This characteristic is exclusive to “reassortment viruses” and means that they can easily exchange segments of RNA. It’s like a genetic pick and mix with ten different types of sweets that come in an unlimited number of flavours.

    This allows BTV to create new, genetically distinct “serotypes”, which may have a selective advantage or a disadvantage. Those with an advantage will emerge and spread successfully, while those with a disadvantage will not emerge at all. This process, known as “reassortment”, is partly responsible for the numerous influenza pandemics throughout history and has even allowed diseases to jump the species barrier.

    Although bluetongue doesn’t affect humans directly, its spread poses a growing threat to the UK’s livestock sector and food supply. It’s important to learn from other countries that are further along in the BTV-3 outbreak so that the likely effects can be anticipated in the UK.

    Cate Williams 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. Bluetongue outbreak endangers UK livestock – what you need to know about the virus – https://theconversation.com/bluetongue-outbreak-endangers-uk-livestock-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-virus-260229

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: How to understand the row between Angela Rayner and Unite – and what it means for Labour’s relationship with the unions

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Eric Shaw, Honorary Research Fellow in Politics, University of Stirling

    At its recent conference in Brighton, the union Unite voted overwhelmingly to expel deputy prime minister Angela Rayner from membership.

    The successful motion denounced the way Birmingham’s Labour council has handled a pay dispute with the city’s bin workers, which, it claimed, involved large pay cuts. The motion also condemned the Labour government for supporting the council.

    Rayner was suspended because, in the words of Unite general secretary Sharon Graham, she had “backed a rogue council that has peddled lies and smeared its workers fighting huge pay cuts”.

    The resolution called upon the union leadership to “re-examine” its relationship with the Labour party. Graham added: “People up and down the country are asking whose side is the Labour government on and coming up with the answer, not workers”.

    Rayner’s suspension seems an extraordinary move. The soft-left deputy PM is the most senior pro-union voice in the government and has a long history in the union movement. Crucially, when in opposition, Rayner was primarily responsible for hammering out a package of measures with the unions that was designed to bolster employee rights. These measures are now in the process of being codified in the employment rights bill that is making its way through parliament.

    Why Rayner (along with some Birmingham Labour councillors) was selected for expulsion is unclear. Perhaps the union was simply lashing out. The impact of its decision was lessened by the fact that Rayner says she had already resigned from Unite and remains a member of Unison, a union in which she once served as an official.

    Unite and Labour

    The more significant move was (or appeared to be) the pledge to “re-examine” Unite’s relationship with the party. This should be placed in the context both of recent controversies over attempts to means-test winter fuel payments and cut disability benefits, and of reports of moves to form a new leftwing party under the putative leadership of Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana..

    Might Unite disaffiliate from Labour and rally behind the new party? Given that Unite, with its 1.2 million members, is Britain’s second largest union (after Unison), and, over the years, has been a generous donor to Labour, such a move would be significant. Support from Unite could give the new leftwing party real heft and allow it to pose a worrying threat to Labour’s electoral prospects.

    Unite’s recent history might suggest this as a possibility. With a long tradition stretching back over three quarters of a century, Unite (and its precursor, the TGWU) has been a stalwart of the Labour left. Under its leftwing general secretary, Len McCluskey, Unite made a major contribution to Ed Miliband’s election as party leader in 2010. McCluskey subsequently attacked Miliband for drifting too far to the right.

    The union then played a crucial role in sustaining Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership: indeed, without its support, Corbyn might not have survived so long. And as it became evident that Keir Starmer was determined to wrench the party to the right, Unite once more became the centre of leftwing dissent.

    McCluskey retired in 2021, but neither of the two candidates affiliated to his “Unite left” faction won the election to succeed him. Unexpectedly, they were both defeated by Graham, another leftwinger who believed that Unite had become too embroiled in internal Labour party matters and was determined to divert resources away from funding the Labour party to industrial activities.

    The dog that hasn’t barked

    However, Graham’s desire to divest from Labour should not be taken as a sign that she wants to reinvest in another party. The whole thrust of Graham’s leadership is to give much higher priority to industrial than to political concerns.

    Even had she not been so explicit about this, union leaders are, above all, realists. They are concerned with the practicalities of protecting the interests of their members and hence averse to risky political experimentation.

    And, however contentious a role Unite has played in the Labour party, multiple ties, in terms of history, tradition, ethos and interest, still bind the two together.

    The row between Unite and Labour shouldn’t lead us to overlook the fact that, despite all the controversies and disappointments, the other major union affiliates, including Unison, GMB and USDAW, have largely refrained from public criticism of the government.

    This is a sign of loyalty. The unions do not wish to add to the massive problems the Starmer government already faces. But it’s also evidence that, however undersold, the Labour government is delivering on the issues that matter to unions. Its employment rights bill promises the most significant enhancement of individual and collective worker rights in a generation. The unions will allow nothing to jeopardise this.

    But for Starmer, there is no room at all for complacency. With a stuttering economy, greatly overstretched public services, a cost of living crisis and very difficult public sector pay negotiations, even the most sympathetic union leaders will come under great pressure from a disgruntled rank and file to take a tougher line with the government. The road ahead will be rocky.

    Eric Shaw is a member of the Labour party

    – ref. How to understand the row between Angela Rayner and Unite – and what it means for Labour’s relationship with the unions – https://theconversation.com/how-to-understand-the-row-between-angela-rayner-and-unite-and-what-it-means-for-labours-relationship-with-the-unions-261340

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: VIDEO: Capito Celebrates Career, Legacy of Outgoing WVU President Gordon Gee

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito

    [embedded content]

    Click here or on the image above to watch Senator Capito’s remarks.

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Yesterday, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) delivered a speech on the Senate floor celebrating the career and legacy of West Virginia University’s (WVU) outgoing president Dr. Gordon Gee.

    Dr. Gee, who retired this week, dedicated nearly two decades of his life to the service of West Virginia, where he saw the university through many victories and challenges. Dr. Gee worked tirelessly to make education in West Virginia more accessible and obtainable, partnered with Marshall University president Brad Smith to keep the best and brightest students in West Virginia after graduation, and oversaw the addition of 20 hospitals under the WVU Medicine umbrella.

    Senator Capito’s remarks as prepared for delivery: 

    “Mr. President, 

    “I rise today to honor a dear friend of mine, who has dedicated nearly two decades of his life to the service of our great state of West Virginia, and, to the betterment of our students seeking higher education.

    “The man who has been president of more universities than anyone else in the entire world!

    “Doctor E. Gordon Gee, President of West Virginia University, who retired this week.

    “Dr. Gee, or Gordon as we call him, was fortunate to serve two tenures as President of WVU,

    “First from 1981 to 1985, and again from 2013 to 2025.

    “Where he brought his strong desire for community, and love of education, to our Home Among the Hills in Morgantown.

    “I know I speak for everyone when I say how much we will miss his signature bow tie—I believe he has thousands, his love for athletics and impact within the NCAA—he even offered to suit up for the WVU football team, although he’s quick to admit he isn’t much of an athlete—his infectious energy, and his thoughtful guidance.

    “His legacy will be felt at WVU for generations to come.

    “To understand the impact that Gordon has made on West Virginia, I must expand on what WVU means to our state and people far outside our borders.

    “WVU was established in 1867, initially named the Agricultural College of West Virginia, and became our state’s first public land-grant university.

    “Since then, individuals from across our state, country, and world have become Mountaineers – including many members of my own family.

    “There are a couple things that I must note about WVU:

    “First, Mountaineers are everywhere.

    “There isn’t a town across West Virginia, or an airport across our country, where you won’t see the trademark blue and gold flying WV logo.

    “The Mountaineers serve as a point of pride for our state and bring recognition to the wonderful people, passion, culture, and history that we have in West Virginia.

    “Second, Mountaineers are changing the world.

    “Across WVU’s thirteen colleges and schools, whether it be engineering, agriculture, law, or medicine, Mountaineers are making a difference.

    “WVU is our state’s only institution to hold the title of an R-1 University, the benchmark that recognizes exceptional research capacity.

    “This is a status that WVU received in 2016 under Gordon’s leadership.

    “Gordon’s connection to West Virginia isn’t just a professional one. It’s a personal one too.

    “He chose to return to West Virginia not once, but twice, because he believes in West Virginia, our people, and WVU.

    “When he speaks of his love and passion for our state, it is unmistakenly heartfelt.

    “Gordon believes in the power of education, and that belief has left its mark not only on Morgantown, but across every corner of our great state, and honestly, across our entire nation.

    “When Gordon became President of WVU the first time in 1981, he was only 37 years old.

    “When he returned to Blaney House in 2013, he came back seasoned, with the experience and perspective that WVU needed.

    “Through the foundation of his four pillars—education, health care, prosperity, and purpose—Gordon has guided WVU through times both successful and tumultuous—including through a global pandemic—made education for our children in West Virginia more accessible and obtainable, and moved our state towards one of his principles that West Virginians should not have to leave our state’s borders to receive the health services they deserve.

    “The impact that Gordon has made is apparent in many areas, but particularly noteworthy is the impact he has made through the continued expansion of WVU Medicine.

    “As the Chairman of the WVU Medicine Board of Directors, Gordon oversaw the addition of 20 hospitals under the WVU Medicine umbrella that span across our state,

    “And increased the capacity and research support for WVU’s world class facilities like the Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, Cancer Institute, Heart and Vascular Institute, and the new Children’s hospital.

    “As West Virginia’s Senator, I’ve had the privilege to work with the wonderful and incredibly impressive people of WVU Medicine and visit these facilities many times.

    “Let me tell you, they are on the cutting edge of medical advancements that will saves live and change our world.

    “Gordon’s leadership has been a critical part of this success, and it’s fitting that his recently finished portrait will live on the WVU Medicine campus.

    “Although Gordon was born in Utah, he is the first to tell you that he is a ‘born-again’ West Virginian.

    “He has made our state his home, and the effort and energy he puts toward benefiting the lives of his fellow West Virginians is evident.

    “Two of Gordon’s four pillars that I mentioned earlier—purpose and prosperity—relate directly to economic development in our state.

    “Along with Marshall President Brad Smith, Gordon was central to developing the ‘First Ascent’ program in West Virginia,

    “This program connects recent WVU and Marshall graduates with workforce opportunities within our state that launch their professional careers, and keep our best and brightest home, contributing to our communities.

    “The duo also worked together to establish ‘Ascend West Virginia,’ which has been a successful effort to attract remote workers to West Virginia’s mountains, highlighting the wonderful outdoor recreation opportunities our state offers to young professionals and their families.

    “Additionally, Gordon has made it a priority to visit and spend time in all 55 of West Virginia’s counties, showing the excellent work of the WVU Extension services, designed to build prosperity, enhance educational opportunities, improve health, and create purpose in communities across the entirety of our state.

    “While Gordon’s presence as WVU President will be missed, we know that he will continue to make a difference in West Virginia.

    “And, as I said when I started this speech, the legacy he has built will continue to be felt for generations to come.

    “I know that I join Gordon and our state when I say we look forward to leadership and experience that the new WVU president, Michael Benson, brings to Morgantown.

    “In a recent article published by WVU Magazine, I found the advice that Gordon gave to his successor to be wise, true, and eloquent:

    “’If you love the state and its people, they will love you back.’

    “That has certainly been the case for Doctor E. Gordon Gee, and the time he has spent in Morgantown.

    “On a personal note, Charlie and I have been the recipients of emails, texts, and letters from Gordon that have lifted us up in tough times, and in good times as well.

    “I have leaned on Gordon’s counsel as I’ve made difficult decisions, and he has always taken the time to give me thoughtful advice.

    “Both Charlie and I can safely say that our lives have been touched by Gordon, and by the friendship we have fostered with him and Laurie.

    “Here in the U.S. Senate, there are members who may have Gordon on speed-dial, but I am eternally grateful that the West Virginians are the ones who get to claim him!

    “Gordon, I wish you the best in your next chapter, and I hope you enjoy the well-deserved time to now spend with your Laurie, who has made an unbelievable mark on our state and the university alongside you, as well as your daughter Rebekah, and your twin granddaughters that you love so dearly.

    “Thank you for all you have done for West Virginia University— for your leadership, your vision, your heart, and all you’ve done for our state and the people who call it home.

    “With that, I yield the floor.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Fischer Advances $9 Million for Key Nebraska Safety Upgrades

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Nebraska Deb Fischer

    Today, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that she advanced more than $9 million for critical Nebraska safety priorities through the Senate Appropriations Committee. The funding was included in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS) Appropriations Act, which now awaits consideration on the Senate Floor.

    “Nebraska’s police officers and first responders work around the clock to keep our communities safe, which is why it’s important they have the tools at their disposal to carry out their duties effectively. I’m proud to champion efforts through the Appropriations Committee to bring federal dollars back to Nebraska to support our law enforcement, upgrade our emergency communication systems, and support child trafficking prevention efforts. I will always support our men and women in blue, and I look forward to seeing these important provisions advance through the legislative process,” Fischer said.

    Funding projects advanced by Fischer for Nebraska are listed below:

    Child Trafficking Prevention Project
    Project Description: Implementing and assessing the Missing and Anti-Trafficking Youth Services Program to protect children from exploitation.
    Project Location: University of Nebraska—Omaha
    Amount: $2,000,000

    Communications Modernization Project
    Project Description: System-wide upgrades for emergency communications.
    Project Location: Otoe County
    Amount: $2,700,000

    Emergency Radio System Improvements
    Project Description: Equipment upgrades for emergency radio communications interoperability.
    Project Location: Thayer County
    Amount: $327,000

    Nebraska Online Child Exploitation Prevention Technology Project
    Project Description: Nebraska State Patrol task force technology upgrades to support investigations for the arrest of child predators.
    Amount: $176,000

    Police Public Safety Equipment
    Project Description: Public safety equipment upgrades for the Omaha Police Department.
    Project Location: City of Omaha
    Amount: $1,000,000

    Sheriff’s Office Equipment & Body-Worn Cameras
    Project Description: Acquisition of equipment, including body-worn cameras, for the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office.
    Project Location: Lancaster County
    Amount: $1,200,000

    Sheriff’s Office Technology Systems Upgrades
    Project Description: Equipment and technology upgrades for law enforcement information systems.
    Project Location: Douglas County
    Amount: $639,000

    Southeast Communications 911 Center Equipment Upgrades
    Project Description: Emergency communications equipment upgrades at the Southeast Communications 911 Center.
    Project Location: City of Beatrice
    Amount: $782,000

    Region 26 Communications Center Radio Update
    Project Description: Equipment upgrades to support fire, rescue, and law enforcement emergency communications.
    Project Location: Region 26 Council: Thomas, Blaine, Loup, Garfield, Wheeler, Greeley, Valley, and Sherman Counties
    Amount: $415,000

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Council awarded significant grant by The National Lottery Heritage Fund

    Source: City of Coventry

    Coventry City Council has won a major grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, securing nearly £1 million to transform the city’s green and blue spaces.

    The transformation will particularly occur in areas with limited nature through the ‘Green for All’ scheme. This will significantly improve public health and boost the city’s climate resilience.

    Through the ‘Green for All’ scheme, nature will be a central part of Coventry’s future. The funding will help revitalise parks, create new community gardens, restore waterways and develop natural corridors bringing vibrant, accessible green spaces closer to where people live. The scheme will also support the creation of school allotments, offering children a hands-on experience with nature and inspiring the next generation.

    The Council will be setting up a new partnership to deliver the project and will be working with partners to transform how we plan, manage and make best use  of our green spaces for nature and people across the city. Local people will be at the heart of the work and activities will include empowering local people to take part, providing training to staff and volunteers to improve nature conservation across the city, alongside, practical projects, with children and young  people playing a vital role in shaping the future of the city’s natural environment.

    A comprehensive digital mapping initiative will also create an interactive resource on the council’s website, helping residents discover and connect with nearby natural spaces while informing a pioneering Green and Blue Infrastructure Strategy that will prioritise nature in future developments.

    The ‘Green for All’ initiative, in partnership with local organisations, community groups and schools, will deliver:

    • new green corridors and revitalised urban parks as part of Coventry’s Green and Blue Infrastructure Strategy.
    • co-designed green spaces with under-represented communities, empowering residents to shape and take ownership of local natural areas.
    • upskilling the city’s workforce through new training programmes, apprenticeships and educational resources for schools and community groups.
    • developing sustainable funding and innovation to protect and expand Coventry’s green spaces for the long term.
    • supporting nature restoration of 30% of the city’s land by 2030, driving biodiversity and climate resilience.  

    Cllr Jim O’Boyle, Cabinet Member for Jobs, Regeneration and Climate Change, said: “This successful bid demonstrates our commitment to a greener, healthier and more sustainable future for Coventry. The funding will help us to ensure every resident can access green spaces and nature within their local community.

    “Whether it’s transforming neglected front gardens, upgrading shared alleyways and frontages or using digital tools to make nature more accessible, the project will create new opportunities, improve well-being and encourage community spirit.

    “This is a significant step to ensure Coventry becomes a national leader in the movement to re-green our towns and cities, proving that urban nature can be a powerful force to connect local communities, improve our local landmarks and create a greener Coventry.”

    A range or organisations from across the city will help to deliver the project including  Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, John Muir Trust, National Trust, Historic Coventry Trust, Grapevine Coventry and Warwickshire, Garden Organic and Coventry and Warwick Universities.

    Cllr Patricia Hetherton, Cabinet Member for City Services, added: “Our green spaces are vital to the city, not only for our environment and wildlife, but for the well-being and health of residents. This new funding empowers us to make these natural spaces more inclusive, accessible and inspiring for residents and visitors.

    “With this support, we’ll be able to plant more trees, enhance walking paths and create welcoming community spaces that offer peaceful escapes within our city. These improvements will help transform everyday spaces into places of tranquillity, improving the daily well-being of residents.

    “We are committed to ensuring that every corner of Coventry can share in the benefits of green spaces. This investment marks a meaningful step forward in our mission to make nature an important part of daily life in Coventry.”

    Margot James, Chair of the Coventry Independent Climate Change Board said “The Coventry Climate Change Board comprises a wide range of partners across the city and has a clear vision for a cleaner, greener and more sustainable Coventry. Thanks to this funding that vision will become a reality sooner rather than later. A huge amount of work went in to winning this funding and I would like to congratulate, and thank, everyone involved in the process.

    “Introducing green spaces, restoring biodiversity and improving our city’s ability to be resilient to the effects of climate change are central pillars to our strategy. This funding will not only help in the short term but it will also help us set the foundations to ensure that nature is at the heart of Coventry’s future”.

    Green for All community events will be held later this year, and local people will be able to get involved.  People can find out more on the Council’s website. 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Government assures the public on ARV residues in drinking water

    Source: Government of South Africa

    The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has assured the public that the presence of anti-retroviral (ARV) residues in drinking water poses no health risk and cannot result in HIV transmission.

    This follows the release of a study by North West University’s Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management and the Africa Unit for Transdisciplinary Health Research, which found measurable levels of ARV residues in some South African water sources.

    The report, titled “Quantification, Fate, and Hazard Assessment of HIV-ARVs in Water Resources”, revealed that ARVs are entering the water supply primarily through municipal wastewater treatment systems.

    These facilities, originally not designed to eliminate such pharmaceutical compounds, allow residues to pass into rivers and into drinking water sources.

    The most detected ARVs included lopinavir and efavirenz, with concentrations at some sites far exceeding global norms.

    Despite this, the department emphasised that the presence of ARV residues in drinking water is harmless, although “prolonged exposure to the broader population may lead to antimicrobial resistance, a subject of ongoing research”.

    In a joint statement with the Water Research Commission (WRC), the department noted that the appearance of ARVs in water is a result of South Africa’s massive programme to curb HIV and AIDS treatment programme.

    As a result, traces of ARVs are entering municipal sewage systems and passing through these systems into rivers.

    “Pharmaceuticals such as ARVs are drugs used to treat diseases – they do not cause diseases. Therefore, the presence of traces of ARVs in the water will not result in people contracting HIV.

    “At present, there is limited knowledge of environmental toxicity, potential adverse effects on ecosystems and viral resistance of these compounds. The study did not find any ARVs in fish,” the department said.

    Emerging global challenge

    The Water Research Commission, alongside local and international partner research organisations, has since early 2000 commissioned several studies on the presence of contaminants of emerging concern (CEC) in water resources and drinking water.

    The WRC’s research has focused on CECs such as microplastics, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals that could potentially pose risks to human health and the environment. These studies inform the water quality guidelines and regulations issued by DWS.

    “However, CECs are a relatively new area of research globally, particularly relating to the causes and effects of CEC, the human health risks, treatment methods to remove CECs, and potential regulatory measures that can be taken to address the problem.”

    The study commissioned by the WRC and carried out by North West University found that:

    • Almost all the concentrations in drinking water samples at the test sites were below limits of quantification. The most frequently detected compound was fluconazole (28 detections from 72 samples), with concentrations ranging between 0.06-1.8 μg/L (nanograms per litre).
    • Nevirapine and efavirenz were the second most detected compounds, both with 22 detections out of 72 samples.
    • However, on average, lopinavir and efavirenz had the highest concentrations of the compounds analysed, while Didanosine and zidovudine were the least detected compounds (2 and 6 detections out of 72 samples).

    The department has also assured that the key water quality risks to human health of a biological and microbiological nature, are well understood and regulated in South Africa.

    “The South African National Standard SANS241 for water quality is based on World Health Organisation standards, ensuring that the human health risks are mitigated. 

    “This has enabled DWS to implement monitoring programmes such as the blue and green drop programmes to provide information to the public on the performance of municipal water and wastewater systems relative to SANS241.

    “The traces of pharmaceuticals, microplastics and other such CECs that have been found in water resources in South Africa are very small quantities, measured in nanograms (one billionth of a gram). Conventional water and wastewater treatment technologies are designed to remove much larger contaminants such as particles of faeces and bacteria,” the department said.

    To access the report visit: wrc.org.za/wp-content/uploads/mdocs/2594 – Volume 1.pdf and https://wrcwebsite.azurewebsites.net/wp-content/uploads/mdocs/31661.pdf. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Florida plan to deputize National Guard officers as immigration judges at Alligator Alcatraz would likely violate constitutional rights

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Raquel Aldana, Professor of Law, University of California, Davis

    President Donald Trump visits Alligator Alcatraz in Ochopee, Florida on July 1, 2025. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images

    Seeking to expand Florida’s role in federal immigration enforcement, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in May 2025 submitted the state’s Immigration Enforcement Operations Plan to the Trump administration.

    The plan, endorsed by President Donald Trump, says all of Florida’s roughly 47,000 law enforcement officers have received, or soon will receive, training to act as immigration officers. It’s part of an effort to, as the plan notes, “maintain state-led border security operations in the absence of federal support.”

    The DeSantis plan includes a proposal to deputize Florida’s nine National Guard Judge Advocate General’s Corps officers to serve as immigration judges. JAG officers are attorneys who serve as legal advisers, prosecutors, defense counsel and military judges in a wide range of matters specific to the armed forces. That includes courts-martial and civil matters involving the military.

    DeSantis has said the move is necessary to create a fast-track deportation system at Florida’s new immigration detention facility in the Everglades, Alligator Alcatraz.

    He has dismissed due process concerns – such as a lack of training and independence – from legal experts, pointing to the backlog in immigration courts. Immigration judges in Florida’s immigration courts have one of the largest backlogs in the country, with over half a million cases.

    Congress establishes immigration policy

    The Constitution grants Congress, not the president or state governments, the power to establish immigration laws.

    Under the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952, also known as the McCarran-Walter Act, Congress created a clear process for immigration removal cases.

    In general, a U.S. noncitizen may face removal from the country based on violations to the immigration laws. Those range from unauthorized entry to committing or being convicted of certain crimes.

    Congress designated the Executive Office for Immigration Review, an agency within the Department of Justice that houses the immigration courts and the Board of Immigration Appeals, as the body exclusively responsible for deciding immigration removal cases. The office also details the authority and standards for how immigration judges conduct deportation hearings.

    Immigration judges undergo rigorous vetting and training. And their decisions are subject to appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals, the administrative appellate body for decisions made by immigration judges.

    The McCarran-Walter Act also contains several provisions that subject most immigration court decisions such as removal or asylum to judicial review in federal courts. That can happen on direct appeal or as part of habeas corpus petitions that challenge the legality of detention or removal.

    The system is far from perfect. But Congress designed it to ensure legal expertise and due process guarantees.

    As an immigration scholar, I believe that allowing Florida JAG officers to serve as immigration judges bypasses this framework that is set in law, and violates the constitutionally mandated separation of powers.

    JAG officers, including those in Florida’s National Guard, are not governed by the McCarran-Walter Act. They are military lawyers in an entirely separate system, overseen by the Uniform Code of Military Justice, which defines the role of military judges. The code retains a unique military character that is substantially different from the judicial appellate system that governs immigration administrative rulings.

    Simply put, neither Trump nor DeSantis can create an entirely new system of immigration judges outside of the one already established by Congress.

    Federal agencies cannot deputize JAGs

    A current immigration provision, known as the 287(g) program, authorizes U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to collaborate with local law enforcement to enforce federal immigration laws.

    But this provision only authorizes deputizing local law enforcement to assist “in relation to the investigation, apprehension, or detention” of immigrants – not the arbitration of deportation cases.

    In the nearly three decades since 287(g) was enacted, no state or local officials – let alone military officers – have been permitted to act as immigration judges.

    DeSantis’ plan seeks to convert Florida’s JAG officers from state to federal officials to function as immigration judges. Trump’s approval of this plan would also exceed the scope of his statutory authority.

    Federal statutes allow the president to federalize the National Guard in limited instances: during times of war or national emergency.

    But neither DeSantis’ rhetoric nor Trump’s framing of undocumented immigration as an “invasion” meet these legal thresholds.

    An aerial view of the migrant detention center in Ochopee, Florida on July 4, 2025.
    Alon Skuy/Getty Images

    JAGs cannot engage in domestic law enforcement

    Even if Florida’s National Guard were federalized, JAG officers still could not legally serve as immigration judges.

    The Posse Comitatus Act, enacted in 1878, restricts the use of federal military personal in civilian law enforcement. It reflects a longstanding American principle: The military should not police civilians.

    Immigration enforcement – including deciding whether someone is deported – is fundamentally a civilian enforcement function.

    The only narrow exceptions to the Posse Comitatus Act’s restrictions require a clear statutory basis, such as Trump invoking the Insurrection Act of 1807, a law that would allow the president to rely on the military for domestic enforcement to quell a rebellion or widespread violence.

    Due process concerns

    The DeSantis plan also compromises constitutionally guaranteed rights to a fair process for immigrants facing removal.

    Immigration law is notoriously complex. Even experienced immigration lawyers struggle to keep up with its constant changes.

    JAG officers, trained primarily in military law, would face immense challenges interpreting and applying immigration statutes. That’s especially true with only weeks of preparation, as DeSantis proposes.

    But due process isn’t only about knowledge of legal technicalities. The Fifth Amendment guarantees due process rights to all persons on U.S. soil, regardless of immigration status.

    For decades, courts have interpreted these protections to include fair hearings before qualified immigration judges – and, in most instances, judicial review.

    By circumventing established procedures, DeSantis’ plan risks creating a system where expedited deportations come at the expense of accuracy and constitutional rights.

    Raquel Aldana 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. Florida plan to deputize National Guard officers as immigration judges at Alligator Alcatraz would likely violate constitutional rights – https://theconversation.com/florida-plan-to-deputize-national-guard-officers-as-immigration-judges-at-alligator-alcatraz-would-likely-violate-constitutional-rights-260677

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Polytechnic student Gerald Samuel Vega Bonilla: “I want to continue my education in Russia”

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    A Peruvian student, Gerald Samuel Vega Bonilla, studying at the Polytechnic University in the World Economy and International Economic Relations profile, became the best delegate at the Model UN in Smolny in 2025 (in Spanish) and was recognized as a constructive delegate at the Model UN at the Higher School of Economics Research University.

    How Gerald ended up in Russia, why he chose the Polytechnic, who inspired him and how he sees his future destiny – you will learn all about this from his interview for the traditional column “Persona”.

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

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • US judge weighs putting new block on Trump’s birthright citizenship order

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    LA federal judge on Friday could deal another blow to President Donald Trump’s attempts to limit birthright citizenship, even though a U.S. Supreme Court decision last month made it more difficult for lower courts to block White House directives.

    A group of Democratic attorneys general
    from 18 states and the District of Columbia will urge U.S. District Judge Leo Sorokin at a hearing in Boston at 10 a.m. ET Friday to maintain an injunction he imposed in February that blocked Trump’s executive order nationwide.

    The order directs U.S. agencies to refuse to recognize the citizenship of children born in the United States after February 19 if neither their mother nor father is a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.

    The states’ case is back in Sorokin’s courtroom so he can assess the impact of the Supreme Court’s landmark June 27th decision. In that 6-3 ruling authored by conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett, the court directed lower court judges like Sorokin that had blocked Trump’s policy to reconsider the scope of their orders.

    Rather than address the legality of Trump’s executive order, the justices used the case to discourage nationwide, or “universal,” injunctions — in which a single district court judge can block enforcement of a federal policy across the country.

    COMPLETE RELIEF

    But the court raised the possibility that universal injunctions are still permissible in certain circumstances, including class actions, in which similarly situated people sue as a group, or if they are the only way to provide “complete relief” to litigants in a particular lawsuit.

    Friday’s hearing will shed light on how lower courts plan to address what providing complete relief entails, said George Washington University law professor Paul Schiff Berman.

    “One of the questions the Supreme Court left open in its nationwide injunction decision is whether states can assert claims on behalf of their citizens and, if so, whether a large-scale injunction would then be necessary to vindicate the rights of large numbers of citizens from large numbers of states,” Berman said.

    Spokespersons for the White House and the attorneys general did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

    A ruling from Sorokin, an appointee of Democratic President Barack Obama, in favor of the states would be the second blow to Trump’s executive order this month. On July 10 at a hearing in New Hampshire, U.S. District Judge Joseph Laplante, an appointee of Republican president George W. Bush, issued a nationwide injunction blocking Trump’s order after he found that children whose citizenship status would be threatened by it could pursue their lawsuit as a class action.

    The Democratic-led states, backed by immigrant rights groups, argue the White House directive violated a right enshrined in the U.S. Constitution’s 14th Amendment that guarantees that virtually anyone born in the United States is a citizen.

    They have argued that, if the executive order is allowed to take effect, it would wreak havoc on the administration of federal benefits programs like Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program by making it difficult to verify eligibility.

    They also argue that, because children often move across state lines or are born outside their parents’ state of residence, a “patchwork” of injunctions would be unworkable.

    “Families are likely to be confused if federal benefits eligibility — let alone U.S. citizenship — differs by State,” the states wrote in a July 15 court filing.
    They have urged Sorokin to double down on his February injunction, saying in the court filing that the Supreme Court decision has no bearing on the case before him.

    “This Court correctly remedied the States’ injuries via a nationwide injunction, based on the same complete-relief principle that the Supreme Court recently recognized and endorsed,” the brief argued.

    The Justice Department has countered that Sorokin’s injunction from February was “clearly overbroad and inappropriate.”
    In a July 8 court filing, the department argued that individuals are best situated to litigate their own citizenship status.

    (Reuters)

  • US judge weighs putting new block on Trump’s birthright citizenship order

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    LA federal judge on Friday could deal another blow to President Donald Trump’s attempts to limit birthright citizenship, even though a U.S. Supreme Court decision last month made it more difficult for lower courts to block White House directives.

    A group of Democratic attorneys general
    from 18 states and the District of Columbia will urge U.S. District Judge Leo Sorokin at a hearing in Boston at 10 a.m. ET Friday to maintain an injunction he imposed in February that blocked Trump’s executive order nationwide.

    The order directs U.S. agencies to refuse to recognize the citizenship of children born in the United States after February 19 if neither their mother nor father is a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.

    The states’ case is back in Sorokin’s courtroom so he can assess the impact of the Supreme Court’s landmark June 27th decision. In that 6-3 ruling authored by conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett, the court directed lower court judges like Sorokin that had blocked Trump’s policy to reconsider the scope of their orders.

    Rather than address the legality of Trump’s executive order, the justices used the case to discourage nationwide, or “universal,” injunctions — in which a single district court judge can block enforcement of a federal policy across the country.

    COMPLETE RELIEF

    But the court raised the possibility that universal injunctions are still permissible in certain circumstances, including class actions, in which similarly situated people sue as a group, or if they are the only way to provide “complete relief” to litigants in a particular lawsuit.

    Friday’s hearing will shed light on how lower courts plan to address what providing complete relief entails, said George Washington University law professor Paul Schiff Berman.

    “One of the questions the Supreme Court left open in its nationwide injunction decision is whether states can assert claims on behalf of their citizens and, if so, whether a large-scale injunction would then be necessary to vindicate the rights of large numbers of citizens from large numbers of states,” Berman said.

    Spokespersons for the White House and the attorneys general did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

    A ruling from Sorokin, an appointee of Democratic President Barack Obama, in favor of the states would be the second blow to Trump’s executive order this month. On July 10 at a hearing in New Hampshire, U.S. District Judge Joseph Laplante, an appointee of Republican president George W. Bush, issued a nationwide injunction blocking Trump’s order after he found that children whose citizenship status would be threatened by it could pursue their lawsuit as a class action.

    The Democratic-led states, backed by immigrant rights groups, argue the White House directive violated a right enshrined in the U.S. Constitution’s 14th Amendment that guarantees that virtually anyone born in the United States is a citizen.

    They have argued that, if the executive order is allowed to take effect, it would wreak havoc on the administration of federal benefits programs like Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program by making it difficult to verify eligibility.

    They also argue that, because children often move across state lines or are born outside their parents’ state of residence, a “patchwork” of injunctions would be unworkable.

    “Families are likely to be confused if federal benefits eligibility — let alone U.S. citizenship — differs by State,” the states wrote in a July 15 court filing.
    They have urged Sorokin to double down on his February injunction, saying in the court filing that the Supreme Court decision has no bearing on the case before him.

    “This Court correctly remedied the States’ injuries via a nationwide injunction, based on the same complete-relief principle that the Supreme Court recently recognized and endorsed,” the brief argued.

    The Justice Department has countered that Sorokin’s injunction from February was “clearly overbroad and inappropriate.”
    In a July 8 court filing, the department argued that individuals are best situated to litigate their own citizenship status.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: ‘I just couldn’t stop crying’: How prison affects Black men’s mental health long after they’ve been released

    Source: The Conversation – USA (3) – By Helena Addison, Postdoctoral fellow, Yale University

    Black men who have been incarcerated have elevated rates of PTSD, depression and psychological distress. da-kuk/E+ Collection via Getty Images

    Mike returned home to Philadelphia after a 15-year prison sentence and suffered an emotional breakdown.

    “I just couldn’t stop crying … I don’t know. It was the anxiety. It was just a lot,” he said. “I was under a lot of pressure and it just came crashing down.”

    Mike, who was in his late 40s when we spoke, told me about his childhood filled with abuse, his first arrest at age 14, and the over 20 years of his life that he spent behind bars.

    As a registered nurse and nurse scientist who studies how incarceration affects mental health, I know Mike’s experience after release from prison is not uncommon. Studies show that Black men who have experienced incarceration have higher rates of PTSD, depression and psychological distress compared with Black men who have never been incarcerated.

    Working in psychiatric hospitals in Philadelphia, I met many patients in crisis who had been incarcerated at some point in their lives. As a part of my doctoral research, funded by the National Institute of Nursing Research, I interviewed 29 formerly incarcerated Black men to understand how incarceration has affected their mental health.

    My peer-reviewed findings were published in the journal Social Science & Medicine. All quotes shared here use pseudonyms to protect the men’s privacy.

    Trauma of incarceration

    Mass incarceration in the U.S. has serious health consequences for individuals, families and communities. In Philadelphia alone, over 20,000 people return home from incarceration each year.

    While incarceration rates are declining in Philadelphia, the needs of those coming home remain significant.

    Many formerly incarcerated men described experiencing or witnessing violence, including being beaten by correctional officers and witnessing close friends get assaulted or killed.

    “You know you are not regular because you come from a traumatic situation, right?” said Thomas, 44, who spent 18 years incarcerated.

    The participants expressed that racism was common, especially while incarcerated in facilities located in the rural central and northern regions of Pennsylvania.

    “I ain’t gonna sugar coat it – Black people going up into them white people mountains, they call you [n-word] all day long and you basically there to accept it,” Antonio told me.

    Incarceration was especially difficult for those who were held for months pretrial without ever being convicted and those incarcerated during COVID restrictions who spent more than 23 hours a day in their cells.

    ‘Even though I’m free, I ain’t free’

    Participants described life on parole or probation, or in transitional housing, as another form of confinement.

    Ken, 56, has been out of prison for over a decade but said, “I’m still locked up, even though I’m free, I ain’t free. You just get a whole new set of rules and regulations.”

    Men described significant anxiety related to community supervision requirements, including difficulty sleeping the night before a probation appointment.

    Participants also described distress caused by “no association” restrictions. These are common parole and probation requirements that prohibit people under supervision from interacting with others who have criminal records, are also under supervision or are currently incarcerated. Violating this requirement can lead to a technical violation and reincarceration.

    While these requirements are meant to reduce the risk of reoffending, they often isolate people from supportive relationships and resources, including housing and employment.

    “[There are] a lot of smart brothers in there. And it hurts my heart. And that’s where the depression coming in too,” said Reese, who spent six years incarcerated. “I can’t contact them in jail. … That’s just how it is in the system.”

    Philadelphia has the highest rate of community supervision – including probation and parole – among the largest U.S. cities, according to a 2019 analysis by The Philadelphia Inquirer.

    At that time, the Inquirer reports, 1 in 23 adults in Philadelphia were under community supervision – and 1 in 14 Black adults in Philadelphia.

    The men I interviewed said they felt like parts of them never left jail or prison, while others felt that they brought prison or jail home with them.

    Tyrese, 34, said he stays home as often as he can.

    “I’ve been out of the joint for seven years now and feel like I’m still institutionalized, I guess,” he said. “I know people that don’t even come outside,” referring to other formerly incarcerated men.

    Others had dreams that they were back in a cell, or at home still wearing jail clothing. Long after release, many described constant hypervigilance and anxiety.

    “I can be walking to the bus station and there be people walking around me, I’m constantly watching them,” said Anthony, who was first incarcerated at age 18 and served 16 years. “I’m watching every movement they’re doing. That’s a habit I had from jail.”

    Philly rapper Meek Mill, shown here at a 2018 rally outside a Center City courthouse, was sentenced to probation for 10 years after a conviction on drug and gun charges. He became an advocate of criminal justice reform.
    Michael Candelori/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images

    Finding work

    People who have been incarcerated often struggle to find employment after release, as many employers are unwilling to hire a person with a criminal record.

    This leaves about 35% of formerly incarcerated Black men unemployed.

    At the time of our interview, Tay, 31, was working part-time in carpentry. “Because I had felonies on my record a lot of places won’t hire me,” he said. “And a couple of places that I was working with, they ended up firing me once they did the background check.”

    These frustrations can easily spill over into family life.

    Mark, 30, also works part-time and said he found himself frequently becoming agitated and snapping at his kids, other family members and his girlfriend. “I can’t get the job I want or the job that I need to do what I need to do for my family and I’ll be frustrated,” he shared.

    Participants struggled with having to depend on others for basic needs upon release. Kenny, who is now self-employed as a caterer, recalled his experience a few years earlier. “I was crying. I was a grown man, almost 40 years old, and my mother had to buy me underwear, socks,” he said.

    The importance of fatherhood

    Despite their many hardships, some of the men spoke with joy about reconnecting with their children.

    “I think the most positive thing that happened since I’ve been out of prison is I got custody of my sons,” said Ken, a father of two. “Them kids saved me.”

    Like many of the other participants with children, however, he was frustrated about being unable to provide for them and worried about repeating harmful cycles.

    “You want to do good, but it makes you think bad stuff when you don’t have the right resources,” he continued. “You don’t want [your kids] to do the same things you did.”

    Others struggled to bond with their children after years of separation.

    John, 29, explained, “The bonding is kind of awkward, because you wasn’t there, especially during the pandemic when there was no visits allowed.”

    Returning to disadvantaged neighborhoods

    Most people released from incarceration return to neighborhoods with high rates of poverty, violence and other disadvantages.

    Shawn, who lives in pubic housing, showed me abandoned buildings and boarded storefronts in his neighborhood and described how the environment made rebuilding his life harder.

    For many participants, returning to divested communities brought stress. They experienced frequent exposure to substance use, violence and negative police encounters, and they had limited access to basic resources and job opportunities needed to support recovery and stability.

    “This is my real life. It’s not fake. It’s not no, ‘Well, why did he go back and do this or that?’” he said. “I live in an underserved, impoverished, danger zone – period.”

    Moving forward

    The experiences these men shared with me demonstrate how traumatic incarceration is, even many years after release.

    Supporting the mental health of formerly incarcerated Black men requires trauma-informed services, such as culturally responsive counseling, peer support and care that acknowledges the lasting effects of incarceration.

    It also means helping them build or rebuild their financial resources, reconnect with their children and loved ones, and supporting the broader communities they return to through investment in housing, employment and accessible health and social services.

    Helena Addison received funding from National Institute of Nursing Research of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number F31NR020434, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration and American Nurses Association Minority Fellowship Program, the University of Pennsylvania’s Presidential PhD Fellowship, and Jonas Philanthropies to support this study and/or her PhD training. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health, or any other funding organizations or institutions. The views expressed in written training materials or publications and by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department and Human Services; nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

    – ref. ‘I just couldn’t stop crying’: How prison affects Black men’s mental health long after they’ve been released – https://theconversation.com/i-just-couldnt-stop-crying-how-prison-affects-black-mens-mental-health-long-after-theyve-been-released-259975

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: About a third of pregnant women in the US lack sufficient vitamin D to support healthy pregnancies − new research

    Source: The Conversation – USA (3) – By Melissa Melough, Assistant Professor of Nutrition Science, University of Delaware

    Higher vitamin D levels in a mother’s blood during pregnancy have been linked to higher IQ scores in early childhood and reduced behavioral problems.
     gpointstudio/iStock via Getty Images

    Children whose mothers had higher vitamin D levels during pregnancy scored better on tests of memory, attention and problem-solving skills at ages 7 to 12 compared with those whose mothers had lower levels. That is a key finding of a new peer-reviewed study that my colleagues and I published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

    While vitamin D has long been known for its role in maintaining bone health, scientists have since uncovered its importance in regulating immune function, reducing inflammation and protecting the nervous system. Now, growing evidence – including our new findings – suggest it may also support brain development beginning in the womb.

    My team and I found that the link between prenatal vitamin D levels and childhood cognition was strongest among Black families, who also face higher rates of vitamin D deficiency.

    This suggests that vitamin D supplementation may be a promising, low-cost strategy to support brain development while reducing racial disparities. Our study also suggested that vitamin D levels early in pregnancy may be most important for childhood cognitive development, highlighting the importance of early action by health care providers.

    We analyzed more than 900 mother-child pairs across the U.S. who participated in a large national study called ECHO, short for Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes. We measured vitamin D in the mothers’ blood during pregnancy and assessed children’s cognitive abilities using a standardized test battery. We also accounted for other important factors that shape childhood development such as the mother’s education, neighborhood conditions and the child’s age and sex.

    This new study builds on our earlier findings that higher vitamin D levels during pregnancy are linked to higher IQ in early childhood and with reduced behavioral problems in middle childhood.

    Collectively, these studies suggest that vitamin D plays a crucial role in brain development during pregnancy, with lasting benefits for children’s cognitive and behavioral outcomes.

    The children of mothers who had higher vitamin D levels during pregnancy scored better on tests of memory, attention and problem-solving skills at ages 7 to 12.
    Prostock-Studio/iStock via Getty Images Plus

    Why it matters

    Vitamin D deficiency is a common global problem.

    In the U.S., about 42% of adults have vitamin D levels below 20 nanograms per milliliter, or ng/ml, a commonly used cutoff for deficiency. About a third of U.S. pregnant women are deficient, and the rates are even higher among Black pregnant women, with 80% found to be deficient. This racial difference is partly due to differences in skin pigmentation, as melanin pigment reduces the skin’s ability to produce vitamin D from sunlight.

    Although we can get vitamin D both from sun exposure and our diets, deficiency is common because these sources don’t meet everyone’s needs. Sunlight isn’t always a reliable source, especially for people with darker skin, those living in northern climates or those who often wear sunscreen or sun-protective clothing. Natural food sources such as fatty fish, egg yolks and certain mushrooms contain some vitamin D, and fortified products such as milk and breakfast cereals help, but not everyone eats enough of these foods to maintain healthy vitamin D levels.

    That’s why supplements are often necessary and are recommended in many cases by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

    Although current guidelines recommend that pregnant women consume 600 international units, or IUs, of vitamin D daily, higher doses of at least 1,000 to 2,000 IU are often needed to correct deficiency. On average, U.S. women consume only 168 IU from food and beverages, and many prenatal vitamins provide just 400 IU. This highlights an important opportunity for clinicians to improve screening and support around vitamin D supplementation both before and during pregnancy.

    If a simple, low-cost strategy such as prenatal vitamin D supplementation can help support brain development, it may yield lasting benefits for children. Long-term studies have shown that higher cognitive scores in childhood are linked to better memory and reasoning in older age, as well as longer lifespan.

    What still isn’t known

    While our studies have linked higher vitamin D levels in pregnancy to improved cognitive and behavioral development in children, we cannot yet prove that vitamin D is the direct cause.

    Therefore, studies called randomized controlled trials – the gold standard of research – are needed to confirm these findings and determine how best to translate them into clinical practice. These studies will be essential for determining the optimal target levels for vitamin D to support brain development in pregnancy.

    The Research Brief is a short take on interesting academic work.

    Melissa Melough receives funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

    – ref. About a third of pregnant women in the US lack sufficient vitamin D to support healthy pregnancies − new research – https://theconversation.com/about-a-third-of-pregnant-women-in-the-us-lack-sufficient-vitamin-d-to-support-healthy-pregnancies-new-research-259433

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Leaders in India, Hungary and the US are using appeals to nostalgia and nationalism to attack higher education

    Source: The Conversation – USA (2) – By Riyad A. Shahjahan, Professor of Higher, Adult and Life Long Education, Michigan State University

    Two scholars argue that nostalgia and resentment fuel government attacks on universities. Rick Friedman/AFP

    Harvard University is under siege by the Trump administration – and the world is watching. But this case isn’t just an American issue.

    It’s part of a global trend: universities cast as enemies and institutions in need of reform. Populist, right-wing governments are blaming universities for tearing at the fabric of nations.

    These attacks are part of a broader strategy known as affective nationalism. It occurs when leaders use emotions, not just ideas, to build national identity. Feelings such as fear, pride, nostalgia and resentment are deployed to create a story about who belongs, who doesn’t and who’s to blame.

    As scholars who study nationalism, emotion and higher education, we explore the emotional politics behind these attacks.

    Prime Minister Viktor Orbán of Hungary has been hostile to academic freedom.
    Pierre Crom/Getty Images News

    Global backlash

    Much of President Donald Trump’s vision and rhetoric is inspired by Hungary, where Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has waged a culture war on higher education for over a decade, banning gender studies and reshaping university governance. Orbán’s attacks on Central European University expose his hostility to academic freedom, critical thinking and diversity. All are viewed as threats to his nationalist “illiberal democracy.”

    Trump followed Orbán’s playbook. On May 22, 2025, his administration declared that Harvard could no longer enroll foreign students. A U.S. Department of Homeland Security statement claimed that university leaders “created an unsafe campus environment by permitting anti-American, pro-terrorist agitators.” The statement suggested that many of the so-called agitators were foreign students.

    Similarly, in India, students at Jawaharlal Nehru University were labeled “anti-national” for protesting the Citizenship Amendment Act, which provides fast-track citizenship to non-Muslim refugees. The students argued that it marginalizes Muslims. Since 2016, the Modi government has increasingly used “anti-national” and sedition charges to silence student and academic dissent.

    These labels – “elite,” “foreign” or “anti-national” – are not neutral. They fuel fear, resentment and powerful narratives that frame universities as threats. Harvard, Central European University and Jawaharlal Nehru University have become symbols of broader national anxieties around identity and belonging.

    British-Australian feminist scholar Sara Ahmed’s work on the sticky nature of emotions helps reveal the two emotions that often appear in attacks on universities: nostalgia and resentment.

    The Trump administration has used nostalgia as a tool in its attacks on Harvard University.
    Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images News

    Glorifying the nation’s past

    Nostalgia is a longing for a better past.

    Consider Trump’s “Make American Great Again” slogan. It implies the nation was once great, has declined and must reclaim its former glory. That’s a powerful emotional story. Nationalism often works this way – by telling a tale of a lost golden age and a future that must be saved.

    For that reason, nostalgia is central to populist attacks on universities and institutional reform. U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, for example, evoked Harvard’s symbolic past as part of the American Dream, arguing it has lost its way and “put its reputation in serious jeopardy.”

    In India, Modi’s government rejects Western influence, while using nostalgia to revive a Hindu past in higher education. The Modi government promotes national pride on campuses by glorifying military heroes and installing symbolic figures – such as the statue of Swami Vivekananda, a Hindu monk and philosopher, at Jawaharlal Nehru University – to shape student identity and loyalty.

    In Hungary, Orbán mobilizes a glorified Christian past to challenge discourses on diversity, inclusion, critical inquiry and academic freedom in higher education. A 2021 bill tasks universities with defending the nation and preserving its intellectual and cultural heritage.

    In India, the Modi government has increasingly framed public universities as institutions corrupted by Western ideas.
    Tomas Cuesta/Getty Images News

    Enemies of the nation

    Resentment is a powerful emotion often used by states that see themselves as defenders of national unity and values. When Harvard resisted Trump’s reforms, the president framed the university’s stance in a Truth Social post as a betrayal to the nation, denouncing it as “terrorist inspired/supporting ‘sickness.’” Meanwhile, the Department of Education issued a statement that accused the university of a “troubling entitlement mindset.”

    Similarly, in India, the Modi government has increasingly framed public universities – especially those with critical voices – as “anti-national” spaces. By casting critical voices as enemies within, the state turns resentment into a political weapon to justify the erosion of academic freedom.

    In Hungary, the Orbán government mobilized resentment to portray universities and academics as disloyal elites working against the nation. One example of Hungary’s war on universities is the 2018 ban on gender studies, justified by the Orbán government as rejecting “socially constructed genders” in favor of “biological sexes.” This move reflects how the government uses resentment to assert ideological control over academic institutions.

    Universities are under attack for what they represent.
    Hindustan Times

    Emotional battlegrounds?

    Universities, especially elite ones such as Harvard and Jawaharlal Nehru University, carry deep symbolic weight. People care because of what the institutions represent.

    Harvard, with its elite status, has long been a symbol of academic authority. But more recently, it has been cast as a defender of liberal higher education – making it a Trump administration target.

    Jawaharlal Nehru University in India holds similar symbolic weight. It’s historically associated with producing the country’s social elites and is seen, especially in mainstream media, as left-leaning, making it a lightning rod in India’s polarized political landscape.

    In Hungary, the Orbán government viewed Central European University as a danger because it threatened the government’s Christian-nationalist vision of the nation-state.

    Universities are under attack not just for what they teach and research, but for what – and who – they represent. These are not just ideological disputes; they are emotional struggles over identity, belonging and public trust.

    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. Leaders in India, Hungary and the US are using appeals to nostalgia and nationalism to attack higher education – https://theconversation.com/leaders-in-india-hungary-and-the-us-are-using-appeals-to-nostalgia-and-nationalism-to-attack-higher-education-258975

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Former Bishop of AME Zion Church Pleads Guilty to Defrauding Congregations in California

    Source: US FBI

    OAKLAND – Staccato Powell, a former bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church (“AME Zion”), pleaded guilty in federal court today to wire fraud, mail fraud, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud in connection with a far-reaching scheme to obtain control of church properties in California using false statements, forged documents, concealment, and deception.  

    Powell, 65, of Wake Forest, North Carolina, was indicted along with co-defendant Sheila Quintana by a federal grand jury in January 2022.  Quintana pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud in April 2025.

    According to court documents and the plea agreement, in 2016, shortly after Powell was selected as bishop and assigned to AME Zion Church’s Western Episcopal District, a geographic division of the church covering several states in the western United States, including California, he formed an entity called Western Episcopal District, Inc. (WED, Inc.).  Powell was the chief executive officer of WED, Inc. and Quintana was the chief financial officer from 2017 to 2019.

    In 2016, Powell instructed pastors of AME Zion Churches throughout the Western Episcopal District to sign deeds granting WED, Inc. title to their congregation’s property – typically the church building, but also any outbuildings, lots, parking lots, and residences used by the pastors.  At Powell’s direction, Quintana and other WED, Inc. officers worked on completing the necessary steps to accomplish the transfer of titles through grant deeds.  

    Starting in early 2017, Powell instructed Quintana and other WED, Inc. officers to obtain loans using the property of local AME Zion Churches acquired through the grant deeds as collateral for the loans.  In response to the lenders’ request for confirmation of the local AME Zion Church’s authorization of the loan, Powell caused to be created documents purporting to be resolutions by churches to support WED, Inc.’s loan applications.  In several instances, Powell directed WED, Inc. to use church resolutions with false statements, and directed Quintana to create the false documents and sign the resolutions in the name of an officer with the local church.

    In pleading guilty, Powell admitted to fraudulently obtaining mortgages on the following church properties:

    • Kyles Temple in Vallejo: Powell formed a group that included co-defendant Quintana to assist with the purchase of a $1.5 million episcopal residence in Granite Bay, with approximately $1 million covered by a bank loan.  At Powell’s direction, to obtain the additional $500,000 in funding, the group identified two church properties, including Kyles Temple in Vallejo, that would be used as collateral to secure the financing to purchase the episcopal residence.  Quintana executed the loan documents using a false resolution, which she drafted at Powell’s direction, that purported to confirm approval of the transaction by the Kyles Temple congregation.  Powell also directed Quintana to draft the resolution to indicate that there had been a church meeting at which the board of trustees approved it and purportedly gave Quintana authority to execute loan documents as chair of the Kyles Temple Board of Trustees.  No such meeting to discuss or approve the resolution had occurred.  
    • First AME Zion Church in San Jose: In 2017, Powell determined that the First AME Zion of San Jose would be used as collateral for a new loan to purchase a parsonage, and instructed Quintana to execute the purchase agreement on the new residential property.  At Powell’s direction, Quintana prepared a resolution of the First AME Zion Church of San Jose’s trustee board approving the transaction including the use of the church’s property as collateral for the loan.  Quintana then prepared, again at Powell’s direction, a second resolution on the San Jose church’s letterhead falsely stating that a membership meeting was held at the church to vote on “deeding all properties to the AME Zion Western Episcopal District, Inc., of The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church” and that the church’s membership unanimously approved the transaction and authorized its pastor to sign all transaction documents.  In fact, the church’s trustee board met twice to consider whether to execute a deed transfer to WED, Inc. and Powell knew that at these meetings the trustee board voted against the deed transfer.  Nevertheless, Powell directed Quintana to proceed with the loan transaction in the amount of $750,000, using the church as collateral based on the false resolution.  Powell later learned that the AME Zion Church of Los Angeles held a title interest in the San Jose church and directed Quintana to prepare another resolution.  This resolution falsely stated that the AME Zion Church in Los Angeles held a membership meeting on October 12 and voted to deed the church in San Jose to WED, Inc.  Subsequently, in December 2019, Powell directed WED, Inc. officers to encumber the San Jose church with an additional debt of $3 million.  Powell admitted that he knew that the San Jose church did not authorize either the $750,000 loan or the $3 million loan.  
    • Greater Cooper AME Zion Church in Oakland: Powell decided in 2018 to use the Greater Cooper AME Zion Church in Oakland as collateral for a loan in the amount of $1.1 million. At Powell’s direction, Quintana obtained a resolution from Greater Cooper signed by the reverend transferring title to WED, Inc., and signed grant deeds in May 2019 transferring the church property to WED, Inc.  Then, in November 2019, the reverend signed a grant deed transferring all interest in title from Greater Cooper AME Zion Church to WED, Inc., which then executed a second loan of $500,000, with the Greater Cooper property used as collateral.  Powell admitted that the Greater Cooper congregation did not authorize the loans.
    • University AME Zion Church of Palo Alto: In 2017, Powell informed the pastor of University AME Church that he planned to use the church as collateral for a $200,000 loan to assist another AME Zion Church in Sacramento.  Powell directed Quintana to prepare a transfer of deed of the University AME Church to WED, Inc.  After the reverend signed the grant deed, Powell directed Quintana to execute the necessary paperwork for a $2 million dollar loan using University AME Zion Church as collateral.  Although Powell told Quintana he would inform the reverend of the $2 million loan, Powell never did so.  Powell encumbered the University AME Church with unauthorized loans totaling approximately $3.9 million.  
    • First AME Zion Church in Los Angeles:  Powell decided in December 2017 that the First AME Zion Church in Los Angeles would be used as collateral for a new loan.  Powell informed Quintana that he had spoken to the pastor of the Los Angeles church and that the pastor told him that the membership had approved the transfer of title from the Los Angeles church to WED, Inc.  Based on Powell’s representation, Quintana prepared a resolution purportedly from the Los Angeles church confirming its approval of the loan and placed a signature on the resolution purporting to be that of the church’s secretary.  Later, in furtherance of Powell’s instructions to use the Los Angeles church as collateral, Quintana prepared an updated resolution which also purported to document a meeting at which the membership approved the transfer of title to WED, Inc. and which authorized Powell to sign all documents pertaining to the transaction, again with the church secretary’s forged signature.  Based on the false resolution with the forged signature, Quintana executed the deed of trust and other loan paperwork for this $1.2 million loan. As a result, WED, Inc. obtained the $1.2 million loan using the Los Angeles church property without the authorization of the congregation.  

    Further, Powell admitted that at his direction, WED, Inc. borrowed $2.15 million in September 2019 to pay off other outstanding loans and $3 million in December 2019 to pay off the September 2019 loan, using several AME church properties in Arizona and California as collateral.  

    In addition, while serving as bishop, Powell diverted some of the funds borrowed by WED, Inc., using properties of local AME Zion Churches as collateral, for his personal benefit, including purchase of real property in North Carolina for two of his children and payment of mortgage debt that he owed on a residence in North Carolina.

    Powell caused WED, Inc. to file for bankruptcy in a July 2020 petition, in which it claimed its assets included 11 churches, a parsonage, and Powell’s official residence. The petition stated that WED, Inc.’s real property was worth over $26 million with debts totaling over $12 million.

    In connection with pleading guilty, Powell agreed to pay restitution in an amount no less than $3,000,000 and no greater than $12,475,453.  He also agreed to forfeit any interest, claim, or right in the properties of the AME Zion Church denomination.

    United States Attorney Craig H. Missakian and FBI Special Agent in Charge Sanjay Virmani made the announcement.

    Powell is currently released on bond.  Powell’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for Sept. 23, 2025, before Senior U.S. District Judge Jeffrey S. White.  Defendant faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years and a $250,000 fine for each count.  Any sentence will be imposed by the court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence, 18 U.S.C. § 3553.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan U. Lee is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Kathy Tat, Helen Yee, and Yenni Weinberg.  The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI. 
     

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The State University of Management will provide expert and analytical support in organizing the activities of the commissions of the State Council of Russia

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Official website of the State –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    On July 17, 2025, the State University of Management was visited on a working visit by GUU graduates: Anton Ageyev, General Director of the ANO “Expert Coordination Center of the Commissions of the State Council of the Russian Federation”, Deputy Chairperson of the State Council of Russia Commission on Personnel Elena Lagoshina, Deputy Governor of the Kaluga Region Tatyana Leonova.

    At the beginning of the meeting, the rector of the State University of Management Vladimir Stroev spoke in detail about his participation in the work of the 1st All-Russian Festival of Student Families.

    Anton Ageyev, Director General of the Expert Coordination Center of the Commissions of the State Council of Russia, outlined the purpose of the working visit. Since April of this year, the structure of the State Council commissions that work in the areas of national projects has been changed.

    Let us recall that Decree No. 309 of the President of Russia in May 2025 defined the national development goals of the Russian Federation until 2030.

    Given the cross-cutting, interdepartmental nature of the national projects developed in pursuance of this Decree, it is necessary to strengthen interaction with the scientific and expert community. For this purpose, it is planned to conclude an agreement with the State University of Management, which implies the joint implementation of the tasks facing the commissions of the State Council of the Russian Federation in the relevant areas of socio-economic development, for which it is supposed to use the scientific and educational potential of the oldest management university in the country.

    The meeting participants discussed the development and implementation of research, expert-analytical, educational and project activities; areas of preparation, publication and distribution of methodological, analytical and information materials; organization and holding of joint events, exchange of experience, best practices and information in the field of joint activities.

    Deputy Governor of the Kaluga Region Tatyana Leonova outlined priority areas of joint work, which will primarily concern the activities of the State Council commissions “Personnel”, and noted the need for interdepartmental cooperation to solve the strategic task set by the President of Russia to achieve technological leadership for Russia.

    Vice-Rector of the State University of Management Maria Karelina proposed a systematic approach to solving the issues under discussion and integrating the results of the work of the State Council commissions into mathematical models, formalizing this in the form of a special project.

    The meeting participants particularly focused on the issue of eliminating the need for personnel and current instruments for regulating the labor market: forecasting the need, recruiting students in sought-after specialties in colleges and universities, and cooperation with employers and the state.

    The guests and representatives of the rector’s office of the State University of Management exchanged many other ideas, one of which suggested the obligation of all state structures to post their research on a single resource, which will expand the analytical capabilities of the State Council commissions and speed up the synchronization and updating of data.

    The colleagues compared schedules and agreed to approve specific projects in the near future within the framework of the cooperation and interaction agreement.

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

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Aberdeen professor among the new Fellows announced by the British Academy A University of Aberdeen Professor is among the distinguished scholars newly elected to the British Academy’s Fellowship in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the humanities and social sciences.

    Source: University of Aberdeen

    Professor Behr joins a distinguished community of over 1,800 scholars who share a commitment to advancing the humanities and social sciences

    A University of Aberdeen Professor is among the distinguished scholars newly elected to the British Academy’s Fellowship in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the humanities and social sciences.
    Reverend Professor John Behr, Regius Chair in Humanity and Head of the Department of Divinity at the School of Divinity, History, Philosophy & Art History, is one of 92 academics elected this year.
    Previously at St Vladimir’s Seminary, New York, where he also served as Dean, he is also a part-time Professor at Radboud University, Nijmegen, Holland; and has published editions and translations of various Patristic texts with Oxford University Press, and most recently In Accordance with the Scriptures: The Shape of Christian Theology.
    “I am deeply touched and honoured to be elected a Fellow,” said Professor Behr, adding that he looks forward “to working with the British Academy to help ensure that research in the Humanities at the highest level continues to be supported.”
    Professor Behr was elected alongside other notable academics such as Professor Lily Kong BBM, PPA, FBA, the first Singaporean woman to lead a university in Singapore, and Professor Jonathan D Jansen FBA, the first Black Vice Chancellor and Rector of the University of the Free State, now Distinguished Professor of Education at Stellenbosch University.
    This year, a total of 58 new Fellows have been elected from 25 universities across the United Kingdom, as well as 30 International Fellows from universities in the United States, Ireland, South Africa, Singapore, China, Australia, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Finland, and Cyprus. Four Honorary Fellows have also been elected in recognition of their exceptional achievements in music, art, journalism and librarianship.
    This year’s cohort join a community of over 1,800 scholars who share a commitment to advancing the humanities and social sciences.
    Professor Susan J. Smith PBA, new President of the British Academy, said: “With specialisms ranging from the neuroscience of memory to the power of music and the structural causes of poverty, they represent the very best of the humanities and social sciences. They bring years of experience, evidence-based arguments and innovative thinking to the profound challenges of our age: managing the economy, enabling democracy, and securing the quality of human life.
    “This year, we have increased the number of new Fellows by nearly ten percent to cover some spaces between disciplines. Champions of research excellence, every new Fellow enlarges our capacity to interpret the past, understand the present, and shape resilient, sustainable futures. It is a privilege to extend my warmest congratulations to them all.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: EU efforts to measure companies’ environmental impacts have global effects. Here’s how to make them more just

    Source: The Conversation – France – By Mira Manini Tiwari, Research Associate at the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies, European University Institute

    If you choose to buy a sustainable product at the supermarket, or invest in a sustainable portfolio at your bank, how far does that sustainability reach? Does the product’s “sustainable” label account for the environmental and labour costs where the raw materials were extracted? Does the portfolio include renewable energy in countries where the investment is needed most?

    In the EU, whether you are an individual or represent a company or financial institution, these questions are governed by the bloc’s non-financial reporting (NFR) regulations. The latest ones include the European Sustainable Reporting Standards (ESRS), which are gradually coming into force through 2029. The ESRS set out reporting standards and requirements, while the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) determines which companies these standards apply to, to what extent, and when.

    These EU regulations also have strong implications for the Majority World, the countries and territories outside Europe and North America where most people live, at a time when global, systemic policy effects are more important than ever. As supply chains become longer and more interconnected, and as communities involved in them confront the fragilities of economic, political and climate shifts, the regulations that govern the sustainability of these chains and that enable or prohibit participation in them must be crafted and implemented to minimise harm to the most vulnerable.

    In an article in Environment and Development Economics, my co-authors and I developed a set of proposals to improve the global sustainability of the NFR regulations. These call for collaborative development of regulations across the value chain, better data accessibility, measuring of and accounting for cross-border environmental damage, and greater integrity and engagement from financial actors.


    A weekly e-mail in English featuring expertise from scholars and researchers. It provides an introduction to the diversity of research coming out of the continent and considers some of the key issues facing European countries. Get the newsletter!

    Cooperation, not compliance

    As the ESRS come into force, reporting requirements are being applied to companies’ full value chains. This means that Majority World actors, such as those that extract raw materials for European products, may be indirectly subjected to the NFR regulations. This is important, as it holds companies and consumers, EU and non, accountable for the ethics of the goods and services they rely on. However, when regulations are built without directly involving those they will affect, they risk causing collateral, longer-term damage. For example, reporting requirements that feel inaccessible to smaller organisations can foster distrust and backlash, or cause companies to withdraw from contexts where data are less accessible, taking away key sources of income for communities.

    While global climate negotiations have come under public scrutiny for their Minority World dominance, there has been relatively less scrutiny of global organisations governing financial and corporate sustainability standards. On their boards, the Majority World is conspicuous by its absence, demonstrating the dearth of attention to its agency in enabling greater sustainability, both locally and globally. European investors and policymakers are already shifting capital from the Majority World back to the EU in response to the NFR regulations, citing the difficulty of accounting for activities along the length of value chains. The damage falls on livelihoods, industries and essential investments, such as in renewable energy, which can suddenly disappear.

    Developing NFR regulations in collaboration with all stakeholders, rather than only at the top, can provide a regulatory landscape that is, from the outset, more implementable, accessible and effective in the long run.

    Democratic data and digitalisation

    Efficacy in global NFR regulations relies on global data cooperation, which could lower the administrative burden on those reporting and enable greater accountability. The increasing number of EU NFR regulations do not exist in a vacuum: they have been accompanied by shifts in global regulations and a proliferation of national regulations. With regulations expanding to cover the full value chain, actors are increasingly likely to be subjected to multiple regulatory bodies, or have to provide data to reporting entities upstream. The time, financial resources and practical challenges involved in identifying, collecting, processing and sharing data are considerable, both for those submitting data and those receiving and verifying them. This makes divestment or significant losses more likely. Furthermore, the expansion of regulations can result in isolated streams of data and closed-circuit processes, which, in turn, cut out civil society organisations and individuals who use data to help hold firms to account for their social and environmental responsibilities.

    Aside from EU calls for a European Single Access Point for corporate data, Majority World contexts offer particularly fertile ground for reimagining and building data infrastructures. Digitalisation in low- and middle-income countries is growing rapidly, and demonstrates the ability to make digital financial and business instruments democratic and accessible to those with the fewest resources. Such efforts should involve statisticians and local data experts from the outset to determine and harmonise appropriate data, along with transnational entities with the mandate of establishing links across data systems.

    Support for international emissions accounting

    Corporate reporting on environmental impacts must be accompanied by their reduction. Indeed, the work and transparency required to identify impacts in the first place, let alone mitigate them, underpins decisions to simply detach from the system, moving economic activity to local contexts where impacts are more traceable.

    Firms that cannot afford to bring their activities onshore must account for emissions that occur from assets not directly under their ownership or control, which are known as Scope 3 emissions. In some cases, these emissions constitute well over half of a firm’s total value chain emissions. However, the implementation of the ESRS has designated the reporting of Scope 3 emissions, and climate impacts in general, to be largely discretionary, under the condition that firms provide evaluations of the economic and material implications of a given activity in their value chains.

    The glaring gaps between some firms’ targets, actions and declarations are in part enabled by reporting systems that allow the omission of more distant climate risks and impacts, maintaining the misalignment between climate pledges and actions aimed at achieving them. While the number of firms showing readiness to comply with Scope 3 accounting is increasing, data on global investor preferences suggests that investors do not necessarily prioritise companies’ performance on these emissions when making investment decisions. For ethics to exist on the ground, they must be prioritised in financial flows.

    Investment with integrity

    In light of the above, financial institutions have a core responsibility to engage with NFR. These institutions’ economic leverage and centrality in the value chains and activities of several sectors give them incentivising power to catalyse a shift from the submission of reports to the building of living data systems and the achievement of fuller value chain accountability. Currently, many investors are not willing to accept reductions in their returns in exchange for the pursuit of social or environmental goals. Surveys suggest this is in part due to perceptions of low quality of environmental information, limited ability to assess the data received, and the difficulty of making investment decisions accordingly. In the current landscape of Minority World-led reporting, such mistrust is likely to be greater with respect to Majority World data, reiterating the need for data systems and reporting mechanisms built on equal footing.

    Financial institutions can operate proactively, using their privileged access to data to bridge Minority and Majority World actors engaging in sustainable practices, such as microfinance bodies, local communities and relevant investors. Doing so could plug, at least in part, an information and trust gap that can hinder Minority World firms’ investment in unfamiliar contexts.

    Regulating for whom?

    The research underpinning our article initially involved a recommendation on streamlining and supporting reporting by small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which account for more than 60% of the EU’s corporate emissions. For these firms, especially, regulators face a critical balance between lowering the entry barrier of the reporting ecosystem and setting robust environmental targets. The nature, data points and timelines of reporting under the CSRD are currently under review following calls for simplification and greater support, and decision-makers are wrestling with the tension between accessibility and integrity.

    Our work also included a recommendation that turns from the supply side, the focus of the preceding proposals, to the demand side: the data and sustainability literacy of the individual who walks into the supermarket to buy that sustainable product, or wants family investments to do more good than harm. Across sectors – public policy, investment and citizen engagement – resources must be dedicated to these literacies, so that actors are better placed to hold each other to account. Regulation becomes easily abstracted, reduced to figures and PDFs, databases and scores. Beneath each regulation is a world of citizens whose homes, livelihoods and health depend on them.

    The author was affiliated with the University of Siena during the period in which she and her colleagues did the original work for the scholarly article that is mentioned in this piece. The author’s affiliation came via a project that, overall, was financed by the Italian National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR). The scholarly article and the present article were not outputs for the project.

    – ref. EU efforts to measure companies’ environmental impacts have global effects. Here’s how to make them more just – https://theconversation.com/eu-efforts-to-measure-companies-environmental-impacts-have-global-effects-heres-how-to-make-them-more-just-261226

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: EU efforts to measure companies’ environmental impacts have global effects. Here’s how to make them more just

    Source: The Conversation – France – By Mira Manini Tiwari, Research Associate at the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies, European University Institute

    If you choose to buy a sustainable product at the supermarket, or invest in a sustainable portfolio at your bank, how far does that sustainability reach? Does the product’s “sustainable” label account for the environmental and labour costs where the raw materials were extracted? Does the portfolio include renewable energy in countries where the investment is needed most?

    In the EU, whether you are an individual or represent a company or financial institution, these questions are governed by the bloc’s non-financial reporting (NFR) regulations. The latest ones include the European Sustainable Reporting Standards (ESRS), which are gradually coming into force through 2029. The ESRS set out reporting standards and requirements, while the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) determines which companies these standards apply to, to what extent, and when.

    These EU regulations also have strong implications for the Majority World, the countries and territories outside Europe and North America where most people live, at a time when global, systemic policy effects are more important than ever. As supply chains become longer and more interconnected, and as communities involved in them confront the fragilities of economic, political and climate shifts, the regulations that govern the sustainability of these chains and that enable or prohibit participation in them must be crafted and implemented to minimise harm to the most vulnerable.

    In an article in Environment and Development Economics, my co-authors and I developed a set of proposals to improve the global sustainability of the NFR regulations. These call for collaborative development of regulations across the value chain, better data accessibility, measuring of and accounting for cross-border environmental damage, and greater integrity and engagement from financial actors.


    A weekly e-mail in English featuring expertise from scholars and researchers. It provides an introduction to the diversity of research coming out of the continent and considers some of the key issues facing European countries. Get the newsletter!

    Cooperation, not compliance

    As the ESRS come into force, reporting requirements are being applied to companies’ full value chains. This means that Majority World actors, such as those that extract raw materials for European products, may be indirectly subjected to the NFR regulations. This is important, as it holds companies and consumers, EU and non, accountable for the ethics of the goods and services they rely on. However, when regulations are built without directly involving those they will affect, they risk causing collateral, longer-term damage. For example, reporting requirements that feel inaccessible to smaller organisations can foster distrust and backlash, or cause companies to withdraw from contexts where data are less accessible, taking away key sources of income for communities.

    While global climate negotiations have come under public scrutiny for their Minority World dominance, there has been relatively less scrutiny of global organisations governing financial and corporate sustainability standards. On their boards, the Majority World is conspicuous by its absence, demonstrating the dearth of attention to its agency in enabling greater sustainability, both locally and globally. European investors and policymakers are already shifting capital from the Majority World back to the EU in response to the NFR regulations, citing the difficulty of accounting for activities along the length of value chains. The damage falls on livelihoods, industries and essential investments, such as in renewable energy, which can suddenly disappear.

    Developing NFR regulations in collaboration with all stakeholders, rather than only at the top, can provide a regulatory landscape that is, from the outset, more implementable, accessible and effective in the long run.

    Democratic data and digitalisation

    Efficacy in global NFR regulations relies on global data cooperation, which could lower the administrative burden on those reporting and enable greater accountability. The increasing number of EU NFR regulations do not exist in a vacuum: they have been accompanied by shifts in global regulations and a proliferation of national regulations. With regulations expanding to cover the full value chain, actors are increasingly likely to be subjected to multiple regulatory bodies, or have to provide data to reporting entities upstream. The time, financial resources and practical challenges involved in identifying, collecting, processing and sharing data are considerable, both for those submitting data and those receiving and verifying them. This makes divestment or significant losses more likely. Furthermore, the expansion of regulations can result in isolated streams of data and closed-circuit processes, which, in turn, cut out civil society organisations and individuals who use data to help hold firms to account for their social and environmental responsibilities.

    Aside from EU calls for a European Single Access Point for corporate data, Majority World contexts offer particularly fertile ground for reimagining and building data infrastructures. Digitalisation in low- and middle-income countries is growing rapidly, and demonstrates the ability to make digital financial and business instruments democratic and accessible to those with the fewest resources. Such efforts should involve statisticians and local data experts from the outset to determine and harmonise appropriate data, along with transnational entities with the mandate of establishing links across data systems.

    Support for international emissions accounting

    Corporate reporting on environmental impacts must be accompanied by their reduction. Indeed, the work and transparency required to identify impacts in the first place, let alone mitigate them, underpins decisions to simply detach from the system, moving economic activity to local contexts where impacts are more traceable.

    Firms that cannot afford to bring their activities onshore must account for emissions that occur from assets not directly under their ownership or control, which are known as Scope 3 emissions. In some cases, these emissions constitute well over half of a firm’s total value chain emissions. However, the implementation of the ESRS has designated the reporting of Scope 3 emissions, and climate impacts in general, to be largely discretionary, under the condition that firms provide evaluations of the economic and material implications of a given activity in their value chains.

    The glaring gaps between some firms’ targets, actions and declarations are in part enabled by reporting systems that allow the omission of more distant climate risks and impacts, maintaining the misalignment between climate pledges and actions aimed at achieving them. While the number of firms showing readiness to comply with Scope 3 accounting is increasing, data on global investor preferences suggests that investors do not necessarily prioritise companies’ performance on these emissions when making investment decisions. For ethics to exist on the ground, they must be prioritised in financial flows.

    Investment with integrity

    In light of the above, financial institutions have a core responsibility to engage with NFR. These institutions’ economic leverage and centrality in the value chains and activities of several sectors give them incentivising power to catalyse a shift from the submission of reports to the building of living data systems and the achievement of fuller value chain accountability. Currently, many investors are not willing to accept reductions in their returns in exchange for the pursuit of social or environmental goals. Surveys suggest this is in part due to perceptions of low quality of environmental information, limited ability to assess the data received, and the difficulty of making investment decisions accordingly. In the current landscape of Minority World-led reporting, such mistrust is likely to be greater with respect to Majority World data, reiterating the need for data systems and reporting mechanisms built on equal footing.

    Financial institutions can operate proactively, using their privileged access to data to bridge Minority and Majority World actors engaging in sustainable practices, such as microfinance bodies, local communities and relevant investors. Doing so could plug, at least in part, an information and trust gap that can hinder Minority World firms’ investment in unfamiliar contexts.

    Regulating for whom?

    The research underpinning our article initially involved a recommendation on streamlining and supporting reporting by small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which account for more than 60% of the EU’s corporate emissions. For these firms, especially, regulators face a critical balance between lowering the entry barrier of the reporting ecosystem and setting robust environmental targets. The nature, data points and timelines of reporting under the CSRD are currently under review following calls for simplification and greater support, and decision-makers are wrestling with the tension between accessibility and integrity.

    Our work also included a recommendation that turns from the supply side, the focus of the preceding proposals, to the demand side: the data and sustainability literacy of the individual who walks into the supermarket to buy that sustainable product, or wants family investments to do more good than harm. Across sectors – public policy, investment and citizen engagement – resources must be dedicated to these literacies, so that actors are better placed to hold each other to account. Regulation becomes easily abstracted, reduced to figures and PDFs, databases and scores. Beneath each regulation is a world of citizens whose homes, livelihoods and health depend on them.

    The author was affiliated with the University of Siena during the period in which she and her colleagues did the original work for the scholarly article that is mentioned in this piece. The author’s affiliation came via a project that, overall, was financed by the Italian National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR). The scholarly article and the present article were not outputs for the project.

    – ref. EU efforts to measure companies’ environmental impacts have global effects. Here’s how to make them more just – https://theconversation.com/eu-efforts-to-measure-companies-environmental-impacts-have-global-effects-heres-how-to-make-them-more-just-261226

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Immigrants in Europe and North America earn 18% less than natives – here’s why

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Are Skeie Hermansen, Professor of Sociology, University of Oslo

    F Armstrong Photography/Shutterstock

    As many countries grapple with ageing populations, falling birthrates, labour shortages and fiscal pressures, the ability to successfully integrate immigrants is becoming an increasingly pressing matter.

    However, our new study found that salaries of immigrants in Europe and North America are nearly 18% lower than those of natives, as foreign-born workers struggle to access higher-paying jobs. To reach this conclusion, we analysed the salaries of 13.5 million people in nine immigrant-receiving countries: Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the United States. Data was taken from the period of 2016 to 2019.

    Immigrants in these countries earned less primarily because they were unable to access higher-paying jobs. Three-quarters of the migrant pay gap was the result of a lack of access to well-paid jobs, while only one-quarter of the gap was attributed to pay differences between migrant and native-born workers in the same job.

    Spain has the largest gap, while Sweden’s is the smallest.
    Author’s own elaboration

    The high-income countries we examined in Europe and North America all face similar demographic challenges, with low fertility rates resulting in an ageing population and labour shortages. Pro-natalist policies are unlikely to change this demographic destiny, but sound immigration policies can help.

    Across these countries with vastly different labour market institutions and immigrant populations, a common theme emerged: countries are not making good use of immigrants’ human capital.

    Stark regional differences

    We found that immigrants earn 17.9% less than natives on average, although the pay gap varied widely by country. In Spain, a relatively recent large-scale receiver of immigrants, the pay gap was over 29%. In Sweden – a country where many employed immigrants find work in the public sector – it was just 7%. These results don’t include immigrants who are unemployed or in the informal economy.

    Where immigrants were born also mattered. The highest average overall pay gaps were for immigrants from sub-Saharan Africa (26.1%) and the Middle East and North Africa (23.7%). For immigrants from Europe, North America and other Western countries, the difference in average pay compared to natives was a much more modest 9%.

    Migrant pay gaps according to region of origin. The minus sign (−) before figures indicates that immigrants earn less than natives. Note that data for second-generation immigrants is unavailable in France, Spain and the US.
    Author’s own elaboration

    Our results suggest that the children of immigrants faced substantially better earning prospects than their parents. For the countries where second-generation data was available – Canada, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Norway and Sweden – the gap narrowed over time, and the children of immigrants had a substantially smaller earnings gap, earning an average of 5.7% less than workers with native-born parents.

    The struggle to access higher-paying jobs

    Beyond quantifying the gap, we wanted to understand the roots of pay disparities. To create better policies, it is important to know whether immigrants are paid less than natives when they’re doing the same job in the same company, or whether these differences arise because immigrants typically work in lower-paying jobs.

    By a wide margin, we found that immigrants end up working in lower-paying industries, occupations and companies; three-quarters of the gap was due to this type of labour-market sorting. The pay gap for the same work in the same company was just 4.6% on average across the nine countries.

    These differences represent a failure of immigration policy to incorporate immigrants, as immigrants are relegated to jobs where they cannot contribute to their full potential. Our analyses rule out that the lack of access to higher-paying jobs simply reflects a difference in skill between immigrants and native-born workers. We also found that the size of the pay gap and the key role of unequal access to well-paid jobs is similar for immigrants with and without a university education.

    This means that the immigrant-native pay gap in large part represents a market inefficiency and policy failure, with significant social consequences for both immigrants and immigrant-receiving countries.



    Leer más:
    What Britons and Europeans really think about immigration – new analysis

    Policy implications

    Although equal pay for equal work policies may seem like a viable solution, they won’t close the immigrant pay gap. This is because they only help those who have already secured work, but immigrants face barriers to employment that begin long before even applying for a job. This includes convoluted processes to validate university degrees or other qualifications, and exclusion from professional networks.

    The policy focus should therefore be on improving access to better jobs.

    To make this happen, governments should invest in programmes such as language training, education and vocational skills for immigrants. They should ensure immigrants have early access to employment information, networks, job-search assistance and employer referrals. They should implement standardised and transparent recognition of foreign degrees and credentials, helping immigrants to access jobs matching their skills and training.

    This is particularly important for Europe as it races to attract – and retain – skilled immigrants who may be having second thoughts about the US in the Trump era. In the European Union, around 40% of university-educated non-EU immigrants are employed in jobs that do not require a degree, an underutilisation of skills known as brain waste.

    Some countries are already taking steps to remedy this. Germany’s Skilled Immigration Act – which took effect in 2024 – allows foreign graduates to work while their degrees are being formally recognised. In 2025, France reformed its Passeport Talent permit to attract skilled professionals and address labour shortages, especially in healthcare.

    These kinds of policies help ensure that foreign-born workers can contribute at their full capacity, and that countries can reap the full benefits of immigration in terms of productivity gains, higher tax revenue and reduced inequality.

    If immigrants can’t get access to good jobs, their skills are underutilised and society loses out. Smart immigration policy doesn’t end at the border – it starts there.

    Are Skeie Hermansen has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s
    Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement no. 851149), the Research Council of Norway (grant 287016), and the Center for Advanced Study at The Norwegian Academy of Science
    and Letters (Young CAS grant 2019/2020).

    Marta M. Elvira receives funding from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, grant PID2020-
    118807RB-I00/AEI /10.13039/501100011033

    Andrew Penner no recibe salario, ni ejerce labores de consultoría, ni posee acciones, ni recibe financiación de ninguna compañía u organización que pueda obtener beneficio de este artículo, y ha declarado carecer de vínculos relevantes más allá del cargo académico citado.

    – ref. Immigrants in Europe and North America earn 18% less than natives – here’s why – https://theconversation.com/immigrants-in-europe-and-north-america-earn-18-less-than-natives-heres-why-261188

    MIL OSI Analysis –