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Category: Universities

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Smart Bank of the Future: How AI Enhances Human-Centricity

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    Photo: Higher School of Economics

    Thanks to the rapid development of digital technologies, the banking sector is going through a period of profound transformation. One of the key changes was the transition to a human-centric model, in which priority is given to the interests and needs of the client. This topic was discussed at the webinar Laboratories of human-centeredness and leadership practices HSE and the Bank of Russia. The event brought together over 1,400 representatives of banking and financial organizations from all over Russia.

    The webinar was a logical continuation conferences “Focus on the Client”, which was attended by the Chairman of the Bank of Russia Elvira Nabiullina and top management of leading Russian banks. The moderator of the plenary session was Vladimir Solovyov, Head of the Laboratory of Human-Centricity and Leadership Practices at the National Research University Higher School of Economics (CHIL Laboratory). The experts discussed what a smart bank of the future should be like.

    The webinar participants were able to delve deeper into the theory and practice of implementing human-centricity in banks, noted Ekaterina Butova, First Deputy Head of the Service for the Protection of Consumer Rights and Ensuring the Availability of Financial Services of the Bank of Russia.

    The key event of the webinar was the presentation of the results of the study conducted last year by the CHIL Laboratory and the International Laboratory of Digital Transformation in Public Administration under the auspices of the Bank of Russia. It was based on a model developed by the CHIL Laboratory, consisting of eight key aspects that allow measuring the level of human-centricity in an organization. This tool can be used by banks to assess the current situation and further development. A survey of more than 16 thousand respondents was conducted – managers and employees of government agencies.

    “The results showed that the bank of the future is a human-centric cognitive bank, where artificial and human intelligence work in synergy to deeply understand customers and offer personalized solutions,” the head of the bank noted. International laboratory of CTSU Evgeny Styrin.

    At the same time, in-depth interviews revealed that the introduction of AI and other digital tools into banking processes has both significant advantages and a number of disadvantages, and also leads to the emergence of ethical challenges.

    “34% of respondents do not want to communicate with virtual voice assistants. At the same time, negative emotions that arise during communication with them multiply very quickly, while the emergence and consolidation of positive associations requires serious efforts,” explained Oleg Samolyanov, chief expert of the CHIL Laboratory.

    Representatives of major Russian banks shared their vision of the smart bank of the future. Nikolay Tiden, Director of the Modeling and Data Research Division of the Sales Network Block of Sberbank, believes that the basis for the development of banks of the future is personalization and security. The use of artificial intelligence at all stages of interaction with clients makes user services simpler, more convenient, more reliable and more profitable.

    “A smart bank of the future values its employees, understands its clients and knows how to adapt its products and services to their needs, including actively introducing new technologies,” says Vyacheslav Rodnishev, Director of the Customer Experience and Retail Business Coordination Department at Alfa-Bank.

    At the same time, the implementation of AI solutions in the banking sector is associated with a number of ethical challenges, including data bias, protection of personal information, responsibility for AI decisions and transparency of algorithms.

    “One of the most important aspects of monitoring the ethics and correctness of artificial intelligence is monitoring its work and quality. The user must feel that the bank’s AI is attentive to his interests, accurate in its answers and financial forecasts,” says Ivan Sidorovsky, head of products for ecosystem assistants at T-Bank.

    Currently, the issues of customer trust in smart assistants developed by banking organizations and the ethics of using artificial intelligence have not been fully resolved; their discussion in the expert community continues. The solution will require a comprehensive approach combining technological, organizational and regulatory measures.

    “From the point of view of the Central Bank as a regulator, human-centricity is the key that helps to solve the root problems underlying some disputes, misunderstandings and difficulties that arise between the consumer and the financial institution,” notes Mikhail Mamuta, Head of the Service for Consumer Rights Protection and Ensuring Accessibility of Financial Services at the Bank of Russia.

    He emphasizes that human-centricity in financial organizations should begin with caring for employees, who, in turn, will transfer it to clients. Then the financial world will become more harmonious.

    The content of the discussion about human-centricity in the context of digital transformation and the use of AI largely depends on the ability to rely on structured data and the results of sociological research.

    “Today, an important and urgent task for our team is to monitor the transformation of the banking sector towards human-centricity: what new tools are emerging, what problems organizations face and how they solve them. And artificial intelligence in all its manifestations is certainly one of the key factors influencing the development of human-centricity,” Vladimir Solovyov summarized.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Kenya relies on USaid famine warning system – what happens now that it’s gone?

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Timothy Njagi Njeru, Research Fellow, Tegemeo Institute, Egerton University

    Famine Early Warning Systems Network (Fews Net), a web-based platform for predicting famine, went offline on 30 January 2025. The system had provided up-to-date data to predict and track food insecurity in nearly 30 countries in Africa, central America and Asia for 40 years. It was funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAid). It went offline following USAid’s shutdown by the new US administration.

    In Kenya, Fews Net worked with the National Drought Management Agency and the Kenya Food Security Steering Group to develop regular outlook reports at national and county levels. Timothy Njagi Njeru, an agricultural economist who researches food security and emergency responses, explains what Fews Net’s abrupt departure portends for Kenya.

    What are the highlights of the network’s work in Kenya?

    The famine early warning network provided data and interpretation to shape decisions on food insecurity in Kenya. The Kenyan pages on the web platform – which has gone dark – included:

    • an outlook for crop production based on climate data and extreme weather events

    • a standardised measure of food insecurity that helped governments prioritise their responses

    • a forecast of potential food crises using climate, economic and conflict data.

    Fews Net was launched in response to devastating famines in east and west Africa in the mid-1980s. Its main objective was to gather and analyse data to help governments avert food security crises.

    This evolved to support other critical areas that affected food security. For example, in the beginning, the network used weather information to generate forecasts on food crises. In time, it also collected price data and trade data, especially on staple commodities, to inform market stabilisation policies. And it tracked climate adaptation strategies.

    Its work helped highlight the regions vulnerable to food insecurity, assessed the support these communities got and tracked the effects of weather variability.

    In Kenya, the network worked with the Kenya Food Security Steering Group, which is made up of government, multilateral and non-profit agencies. The National Drought Management Authority, Kenya Meteorological Department and Kenya National Bureau of Statistics are in the group. So are the ministries of agriculture, health, water and education, and county governments. Development partners such as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and Unicef, and civil society organisations, such as the World Food Program and World Vision, are also members.

    Their work was published in regular Food and Nutrition Security Assessments.

    Fews Net also provided country and county-level briefs. These provided updates on the scale of food insecurity and assistance provided to these regions. They contained forecasts of crop and livestock production. They provided analyses of food trade, price trends, conflict incidences, and performance of assistance programmes. The forecasts helped generate recommendations for specific regions.

    All this data was critical for market intelligence and developing value chains. It helped stakeholders make decisions about services, infrastructure support and demand or supply.

    What difference has it made?

    The Famine Early Warning Systems Network made a huge contribution to Kenya and the region as a whole. The seasonal food security forecasts enabled governments and development partners to respond to crises adequately and in a coordinated manner.

    The network’s analytics on price trends and food trade proved very useful in overcoming obstacles to food trade. These included information asymmetry on demand and supply trends. The analytics also highlighted where infrastructural or security challenges might affect the flow of food from surplus to deficit areas. This equipped the government and stakeholders with the information to respond appropriately.

    The analytics on household data provided information on household income, food availability and mechanisms to cope with food shocks. This informs government and others about local communities’ capacity to respond to shocks.

    The tracking of local market price data informed policy responses, such as livestock offtake programmes at the height of drought or famines. Offtake programmes provide a ready market for families grappling with drought. They enable them to sell their cattle before incurring losses caused by livestock deaths during drought seasons. These programmes help communities enhance their market participation and reduce losses as they are able to sell their livestock at fair prices.

    What gaps will its absence create?

    The absence of the early warning network will affect Kenya’s ability to address food insecurity. It leaves a gap in financial and technical capacity to generate timely forecasts to inform decision making.

    It will take time for other institutions to replace that contribution. In the short run, stakeholders can use the information that’s already been generated. In the medium term, there may be uncertainty and incoherence in interventions and investments.

    Because Kenya’s weather has been so variable, the country needs seasonal forecasts at both national and county levels.

    What should Kenya do to fill the gap?

    Kenya can strengthen the capacity in institutions such as the drought management authority and statistics bureau.

    In the long term, the country must increase financial investments that support food security. And it must build technical capacity to produce credible, reliable and timely food security forecasts.

    Timothy Njagi Njeru 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. Kenya relies on USaid famine warning system – what happens now that it’s gone? – https://theconversation.com/kenya-relies-on-usaid-famine-warning-system-what-happens-now-that-its-gone-249614

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Travelling Gallery returns with new exhibition

    Source: Scotland – City of Edinburgh

    Travelling Gallery is delighted to be partnering with the University of St Andrews this February to present the exhibition Between Women.

    The exhibition features the work of Franki Raffles, Sylvia Grace Borda, Sandra George, Carolyn Scott and Niu Weiyu.

    Between Women takes images made by the photographer Franki Raffles from her base in Edinburgh during the 1980s and 1990s as a starting point to explore relationships between gender, labour, education, care and activism in documentary photography since the 1950s in Scotland and internationally. Raffles’ photographs will appear alongside images by Sylvia Grace Borda, Sandra George, Carolyn Scott and Niu Weiyu which together illuminate how gender is produced and reproduced through workplaces, housing, healthcare, and particularly schools, playgrounds and nurseries, across urban and rural landscapes.

    In examining the relationships and power structures between women, this exhibition takes inspiration from two projects by Raffles. The first is a trip Raffles made in 1984–85 to the Soviet Union and Asia, including an extended period in China, during which her concern with women at work crystallised. The second, Picturing Women, was part of a 1988–89 educational initiative organised by Stills Gallery, Edinburgh, aimed at helping young people analyse photographs, for which Raffles studied the working relationships between women at a school. These two projects provide a framework through which connections and comparisons with Niu Weiyu, Carolyn Scott, Sandra George and Sylvia Grace Borda’s photographs emerge.

    One of the few women photographers to gain professional recognition in twentieth-century China, Niu worked for state-run media organisations and produced a large number of photographs that portray women’s roles as workers throughout the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. Carolyn Scott’s documentary photographs images of children and families in Newcastle’s Rye Hill area where she lived between 1967-68 observe the relationships and socialisation forged through play, but also the effects of deindustrialisation on the community. Sandra George’s photographs of Edinburgh during the 1980s and 1990s attest to the importance of community educational groups and spaces in activism and organising, alongside public demonstrations and gatherings. Sylvia Grace Borda’s studies of schools, leisure centres and nurseries in the New Town of East Kilbride reflect on the complex legacies of post-1945 Welfare State architecture from the perspective of the early 2000s.

    Together, these photographs highlight the possibilities for solidarity between women in sites and spaces spanning the local and the global, but also the importance of recognising differences and intersectional identities that account for the constructs of gender, sexuality, race, disability and class in activism and organising.

    Launching in Edinburgh at the Community Wellbeing Centre on Monday 17 February from 11am to 5pm, the exhibition will tour throughout the week visiting the following locations:

    • Tuesday 18 February, 10am – 4pm – Glasgow Women’s Library
    • Wednesday 19 February, 10am – 4pm – Dundee International Women’s Centre
    • Thursday 20 February, 10am – 4pm – Fluthers Car Park, Cupar
    • Friday 21 February, 10am – 4pm – East Sands Leisure Centre, St Andrews

    Between Women is curated by Vivian K. Sheng and Catherine Spencer, with support from the University of St Andrews Impact and Innovation Fund.

    Culture and Communities Convener, Councillor Val Walker said:

    It’s brilliant to see the Travelling Gallery return for 2025.

    It’s crucial that art and culture is as accessible to as many people as possible. I’m proud that through our ongoing support of the Travelling Gallery, and the recent increased Creative Scotland investment, art is brought straight into the hearts of towns and cities across Scotland. I hope everyone takes the opportunity to visit the exhibition, bringing together work which illuminates how gender is produced and reproduced through workplaces.

    Here in Edinburgh, we’re clear that that our residents should be able to easily access a variety of cultural activities, and this exhibition brings art closer to people’s communities.

    Louise Briggs, Curator, Travelling Gallery said:

    We’re delighted to be working with Vivian, Catherine, and the University of St Andrews to present this exhibition. We’re looking forward to discussing the work of each artist with our visitors, who we believe will have their own stories and experiences to share that chime with many of the references (and local sites) found in the work on display.”

    With thanks to the University of St Andrews Libraries and Museums, Edinburgh Napier University, Franki Raffles Estate, Craigmillar Now, Gaofan Photography Museum, Sylvia Grace Borda and Carolyn Scott.

    Travelling Gallery is a contemporary art gallery in a bus. Since 1978 it has been bringing exhibitions to communities throughout Scotland. We recognise that art can change lives and we create fair conditions and remove barriers to allow access and engagement to audiences in their own familiar surroundings. The gallery space offers an open and welcoming environment for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities to discover and enjoy contemporary art. Over the past forty years, Travelling Gallery has brought innovative exhibitions to every part of Scotland reaching hundreds of thousands of visitors and school pupils. Travelling Gallery is a ‘not for profit’ organisation, regularly funded by Creative Scotland and supported by the City of Edinburgh Council.

    For more information, please vist the Travelling Gallery website.        

    The gallery has ramp access for wheelchairs; hearing loop and will have large print format exhibition interpretation.

    Artist Biographies

    Sylvia Grace Borda is an artist working with photography, net art, video installation, and eco-art, who has undertaken projects in Canada, Finland, Northern Ireland, Latvia, Scotland, Ethiopia and Taiwan. Her artwork is concerned with establishing systems of public understanding that underpin literacy, advocacy, and action to conserve the built and natural environments. In Scotland, she focused on New Town architecture in EK Modernism (2005–10) and A Holiday in Glenrothes (2008), and created an edible photo artwork, the Lumsden Biscuit (2016–17). Her roles at Queen’s University Belfast (2008–10); University of Salford (2011), and University of Stirling (2012–15) have focused on visual arts and social histories, digital engagement and innovation. In 2023, she received the Mozilla Foundation Rise 25 award in recognition of her transformative media arts practice to democratize the web for communities. Exhibitions include National Galleries of Scotland, RIAS, Street Level Photoworks, and The Lighthouse, Glasgow.

    Sandra George (1957–2013) was an Edinburgh-based social documentary photographer, multi-disciplinary artist, and a community worker in Craigmillar. George studied Photography at Napier University, Drawing and Painting at Edinburgh College of Art, and Community Education at The University of Edinburgh. For over 30 years she worked extensively as a freelance photographer for organisations and publications including the Sentinel, Tollcross Community Newspaper, Shelter, Craigmillar Festival News, and Craigmillar Chronicle, and taught photography and art to communities across Edinburgh. She started working in community development in Wester Hailes in the 1980s, and in Craigmillar from the 1990s, and was an integral member of initiatives including McGovan house, the Thistle Foundation, and the Craigmillar Arts Centre. Alongside a commitment to community work, anti-racism and social justice, George’s photographs document children at play and their educational and leisure environments. George’s archive is held at Craigmillar Now, a community-led arts and heritage organisation in Craigmillar.

    Franki Raffles (1955–1994) was a feminist photographer specialising in social documentary. Raffles studied philosophy at the University of St Andrews from 1973–1977, where she was an active member of the Women’s Liberation Movement. After experimenting with photography while living on the Isle of Lewis, she moved to Edinburgh in 1983, and started documenting women at work, as well as organising and campaigning. Raffles frequently collaborated with Edinburgh District Council’s Women’s Committee, including on the project To Let You Understand: Women’s Working Lives in Edinburgh (1989) Zero Tolerance campaign against domestic violence in the early 1990s. She travelled widely throughout her career, including extended trips to Asia and the Soviet Union. Raffles’ work is currently the focus of a major exhibition Franki Raffles: Photography, Activism, Campaign Works at BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art. Her archive is held at the University of St Andrews.

    Carolyn Scott is an artist working in photography, film and installation. She was raised in Edinburgh and now lives in Cupar, Fife. Carolyn lived in the Rye Hill district of Newcastle Upon Tyne in the late 1960s where, in the spring and early summer of 1968, using a twin-lens Rollieflex camera, she photographed the immediate area in which she lived. Her  Rye Hill Social Documentary Photography Collection images were unseen for nearly 40 years until she revisited them during her studies at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design, Dundee University, where she received a BA and MFA. Carolyn’s work has been shown in the Cupar Arts Festival, St Andrews Photography Festival, Royal Scottish Academy and The Centre for Theology and Inquiry, Princeton. The Rye Hill Social Documentary Photography Collection is now held at the University of St Andrews. 

    Niu Weiyu (牛畏予) (1927–2020) worked as a photojournalist and photographer for North China Pictorial, Southwest Pictorial, and the News Photography Bureau. She later joined the Xinhua News Agency, where she worked for various branches from the 1950s to the 1980s. Weiyu was one of the few women photographers during this period, who were often assigned to feature women workers, such as the first women pilots, as well as public figures and officials in the Chinese Communist Party, and she travelled extensively throughout her career.

    Vivian K. Sheng is an art historian working on contemporary Chinese and East Asian art in transnational contexts and an assistant professor in contemporary art at the University of Hong Kong. In Fall 2022, she was a Global Fellow hosted by the School of Art History at the University of St Andrews. Her research investigates the intricate interrelations between women, domesticity and art practices in contexts of ever more intensified cross-border movements and exchanges, provoking reflections on notions of identity, home and belonging beyond the territorial fixity of natio-state. Relevant issues are explored in her forthcoming monograph book— The Arts of Homemaking: Women, Migration and Transnational East Asia. Her writings have appeared in ASAP/Journal, Art Journal, PARSE Journal,Third Text,  Sculpture Journal, Yishu and INDEX JOURNAL.

    Catherine Spencer is an art historian at the University of St Andrews. She is currently working on a book entitled Abstract Subjects: Art, Borders and ‘Britain’, and co-editing Grassroots Artmaking: Political Struggle and Activist Art in the UK, 1960–Present with Maryam Ohadi-Hamadani and Amy Tobin (Bloomsbury, forthcoming). Her writing on Franki Raffles has been published in Art History (2022) and the catalogue for the 2024–5 exhibition Franki Raffles: Photography, Activism, Campaign Works at BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art. In 2021, she co-curated Life Support: Forms of Care in Art and Activism with Caroline Gausden, Kirsten Lloyd, and Nat Raha at Glasgow Women’s Library. Her essays have appeared in Art History, Art Journal, ARTMargins, Tate Papers, Parallax and Oxford Art Journal.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The invitational stage of the V International Financial Security Olympiad is in full swing

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    From February 1 to 28, 2025, the Invitational Stage of the V International Financial Security Olympiad is being held in Russian and English on the international social and educational platform “Commonwealth”.

    Let us recall that last season two students from the State University of Management became Olympiad prize winners.

    Pupils of grades 8-11 and students are invited to participate. Upon completion of the stage, participants who have completed the tasks will receive a certificate.

    The invitational stage is a great opportunity not only to test your knowledge of financial security, but also to prepare for the new cycle of the Olympiad and get acquainted with the format of the tasks.

    To participate, you must register on the Olympiad platform. Tasks will be available from February 1 to February 28.

    The International Financial Security Olympiad has been held since 2021 under the patronage of the President of Russia and the Government of the Russian Federation. In 2024, representatives of 36 countries reached the final of the Olympiad.

    The International Financial Security Olympiad is aimed at popularizing financial security as a norm of life, as well as at forming a new type of thinking among young people: from the financial security of an individual to the financial security of the state. Winners and prize winners are granted additional rights when entering higher education programs.

    The Olympiad organizers are: the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, the Federal Service for Financial Monitoring, the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation, the International Network Institute in the Sphere of AML/CFT and the International Educational and Methodological Center for Financial Monitoring.

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 02/14/2025

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: ‘Emilia Pérez’ was nominated for 13 Oscars. Why do so many people hate it?

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Alejandra Marquez Guajardo, Assistant Professor of Spanish, Michigan State University

    Going by recent media coverage, you wouldn’t be remiss for assuming it had been nominated for a slew of Golden Raspberries. Netflix

    French director Jacques Audiard’s “Emilia Pérez” first made waves among critics at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2024, when it won multiple awards. It went on to receive 10 Golden Globe nominations, winning four, including best musical or comedy.

    “It is so beautiful to see a movie that is cinema,” gushed Mexican director Guillermo del Toro. Another Mexican filmmaker, Issa López, who directed “True Detective: Night Country,” called it a “masterpiece,” adding that Audiard portrayed issues of gender and violence in Latin America “better than any Mexican facing this issue at this time.”

    The film is a musical about a Mexican drug lord named Manitas del Monte, played by trans actress Karla Sofía Gascón. Del Monte hires a lawyer to facilitate her long-awaited gender transition. After her surgery, she fakes her death with her lawyer’s help and sends her wife, Jessi, played by Selena Gómez, and their children to Switzerland. Four years later, Manitas – now known as Emilia Pérez – tries to reunite with her family by posing as Manitas’ distant cousin.

    So why is it bombing among Mexican moviegoers?

    Modest research into a ‘modest’ language

    As a scholar of gender and sexuality in Latin America, I study LGBTQ+ representation in media, particularly in Mexico. So it’s been interesting to follow the negative reaction to a film that critics claim has broken new ground in exploring themes of gender, sexuality and violence in Mexico.

    Many of the film’s perceived errors seem self-inflicted.

    Audiard admitted that he didn’t do much research on Mexico before and during the filming process. And even though he doesn’t speak Spanish, he chose to use a Spanish script and film the movie in Spanish.

    Jacques Audiard speaks during the Santa Barbara International Film Festival on Feb. 10, 2025.
    Tibrina Hobson/Getty Images for Santa Barbara International Film Festival

    The director told French media outlet Konbini that he chose to make the film in Spanish because it is a language “of modest countries, developing countries, of poor people and migrants.”

    Not surprisingly, an early critique of the film centered on its Spanish: It uses some Mexican slang words, but they’re spoken in ways that sound unnatural to native speakers. Then there’s the film’s overreliance on clichés that border on racism, perhaps most egregiously when Emilia’s child sings that she smells of “mezcal and guacamole.”

    Of course, an artist need not belong to a culture in order to depict or explore it in their work. Filmmakers like Sergei Eisenstein and Luis Buñuel became renowned figures in Mexican cinema despite being born in Latvia and Spain, respectively.

    When choosing to explore sensitive topics, however, it is important to take into account the perspective of those being portrayed, both for accuracy’s sake and as a form of respect. Take Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon.” The director collaborated with members of the Osage nation to further the film’s historical and cultural accuracy.

    Glossing over the nuance

    “Emilia Pérez” centers on how violence stems from the corruption prevalent in Mexico. Multiple musical numbers denounce the collusion between authorities and criminals.

    This is certainly true. But to many Mexicans, it feels like an oversimplification of the issue.

    The film fails to acknowledge the confluence of factors behind the country’s violence, such as U.S. demand for illegal drugs stemming from its opioid crisis, or the role that American guns play in Mexico’s violence.

    Professor and journalist Oswaldo Zavala, who has written extensively about Mexican cartels, argues that the film perpetuates the idea that Latin American countries are solely to blame for the violence of drug trafficking. Furthermore, Zavala contends that this perspective reinforces the narrative that the U.S.-Mexico border needs to be militarized.

    The musical features few male characters; the ones who do appear are invariably violent, and this includes Manitas before undergoing their transition. The cruelty of Manitas contrasts with Emilia’s kindness: She helps the “madres buscadoras,” which are the Mexican collectives made up of mothers searching for missing loved ones presumed to be kidnapped or killed by organized crime. One of these collectives, Colectivo de Víctimas del 10 de Marzo, criticized the film for depicting groups like theirs as recipients of money from organized crime and beneficiaries of luxurious galas attended by politicians and celebrities.

    The group’s leader, Delia Quiroa, announced that the group would send a letter to the academy to express its condemnation of the film.

    Members of the Madres Buscadoras de Sonora search for the remains of missing persons on the outskirts of Hermosillo, a city in northwestern Mexico, in 2021.
    Alfred Estrella/AFP via Getty Images

    Backlash on multiple fronts

    These political and cultural blind spots have spurred a backlash among Mexican moviegoers.

    When the movie premiered in Mexico in January 2025, it bombed at the box office, with some viewers demanding refunds. Mexico’s Federal Consumer Protection Agency had to intervene after the movie chain Cinépolis refused to honor its satisfaction-guarantee policy.

    Mexican writer Jorge Volpi called the movie “one of the crudest and most deceitful films of the 21st century.”

    Trans content creator Camila Aurora playfully parodied “Emilia Pérez” in her short film “Johanne Sacrebleu.” In scenes filled with stereotypical French symbols such as croissants and berets, it tells the story of an heiress who falls in love with a member of her family’s business rivals.

    While some viewers have nonetheless praised “Emilia Pérez” for its nuanced portrayal of trans women and the casting of a trans actress, the LGBTQ advocacy group GLAAD described it as “a step backward for trans representation.”

    One point of contention is the musical number Emilia sings, “medio ella, medio él,” or “half she, half he,” which insinuates that trans people are stuck between two genders. The movie also seems to portray the character’s transition as a tool for deception.

    A social media viper pit

    Meanwhile, Gascón’s historic nominations as the first trans actress recognized by the Oscars and other awards have been overshadowed by her controversial statements.

    She made headlines when she accused associates of Brazilian actress Fernanda Torres of disparaging her work. Torres is also an Oscar nominee for best actress.

    Gascón’s historic nomination for best actress has been overshadowed by sniping on social media.
    Yamak Perea/ Pixelnews/Future Publishing via Getty Images

    The latest controversy began in late January 2025 when Gascón’s old social media posts resurfaced. The now-deleted messages included attacks on Muslims in Spain and a post calling co-star Selena Gómez a “rich rat,” which Gascón has denied writing.

    “Emilia Pérez” is limping into the Oscars. Netflix and Audiard have distanced themselves from Gascón to try to preserve the film’s prospects at the annual Academy Awards ceremony.

    It could be too little too late.

    Alejandra Marquez Guajardo 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. ‘Emilia Pérez’ was nominated for 13 Oscars. Why do so many people hate it? – https://theconversation.com/emilia-perez-was-nominated-for-13-oscars-why-do-so-many-people-hate-it-248297

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Nonprofits get more donations when they vary their Facebook fundraising messages − new research

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Abhishek Bhati, Associate professor, Bowling Green State University

    Money doesn’t grow on smartphones. SERSOL/Stock via Getty Images Plus

    When nonprofits use multiple strategies during their online fundraising campaigns, such as thanking donors for their support, telling the public about their missions and conveying how they are helping people, they receive more donations than if they stick to only one kind of post.

    That’s what I, a nonprofit management professor, found after conducting a study with Diarmuid McDonnell, a Scottish statistician.

    We figured this out after analyzing data from 752 nonprofits that participated in Omaha Gives, an online 24-hour fundraising event in 2015 and 2020. While reviewing the Facebook posts shared during those events, which have since been discontinued, we saw that these appeals fell into six categories:

    • Beneficiaries: Explaining how the group helps people.

    • Goals: Encouraging donors to help reach a fundraising goal.

    • Gratitude: Thanking donors for their gifts.

    • Mission: Focusing on how the organization helps people.

    • Social media engagement: Asking donors to share the post or change their profile picture to boost the campaign.

    • Solicitation: Asking for donations.

    We also considered the size of the nonprofits’ budgets, what they do, how long they’ve been operating, their prior experience in online fundraising, the total number of likes their Facebook profiles have garnered, the number of posts they made during the fundraising events, and how many times these posts were shared. The impact of having a mix of fundraising messages was consistent regardless of these other factors.

    In addition to determining that using different types of messaging works best, we found that when nonprofits frequently share messages of gratitude or that highlight progress toward their goals, they tend to raise more money than if they just ask for donations.

    Why it matters

    Previous research, including our own, has found that when nonprofits frequently post on social media platforms, they can encourage donations by engaging followers as well as their extended networks.

    Taking the strategy our study supports – making different kinds of posts – could help nonprofits beyond simply getting more donations. We suspect that it may also reduce donor fatigue. That is, it could make it less likely that donors will become so overwhelmed by the repetition of the same requests that they stop supporting a group they used to fund.

    Online giving has grown in importance in recent years. It amounted to an estimated 12% of all nonprofit fundraising in 2023, the most recent year for which data is available. Social media campaigns are an important part of online fundraising strategies, even though nonprofits still raise much more money through email.

    What still isn’t known

    It’s unclear how much of what we found is specific to Facebook. Had we examined fundraising data from other social media platforms, the results might have been different. We also didn’t assess the nonprofits’ other fundraising activities, such as how engaged their board members were in these campaigns, or the extent of their other strategies, such as direct mail.

    We aim to conduct a future study that will look at both offline and online fundraising efforts to isolate the impact of social media posts on fundraising.

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

    Abhishek Bhati 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. Nonprofits get more donations when they vary their Facebook fundraising messages − new research – https://theconversation.com/nonprofits-get-more-donations-when-they-vary-their-facebook-fundraising-messages-new-research-246942

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: ‘For You’: What to know about news on TikTok

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Anne Oeldorf-Hirsch, Associate Professor of Communication Technology, University of Connecticut

    People work inside the TikTok building in Culver City, Calif., in March 2024. AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes

    Last time you scrolled the “For You” page on TikTok, did you get a video about current events? Politics? Breaking news?

    If you’re one of the 63% of teens or 33% of adults in the U.S. who uses TikTok, you probably have. But where did it come from? Who created it? And should you believe what it told you?

    As a communication researcher who has studied news content on social media for over a decade, I can share three crucial things to know about news you get on TikTok: What videos count as news, how they got to you, and what you should do when you see them.

    These are three of what media researchers know as the “5 C’s” of news literacy: content, circulation and consumption. While they can be applied to any kind of news use, they are especially important for TikTok, where anyone can create content, and the algorithm decides what we see.

    First C: Content

    TikTok is full of user-generated content – content that is created by other users on the app rather than official news organizations – so it’s important to think about what is in your feed. This means knowing what is actually news and what is something else, like opinion or advertising.

    Any user can post their opinion, whether or not it’s backed up by any proof. TikTok has some rules about what cannot be posted, such as content that is considered inappropriate for minors or harmful content like harassment or hate speech. Still, anyone can post their own ideas about anything, including current events. This means that just because a video is on the app doesn’t make it true.

    TikTok has become a major player in advertising, with ad revenues in the U.S. alone expected to reach over US$13 billion in 2026. TikTok does its best to make videos that have been boosted with paid advertising look like any other content. You may have seen videos that seem like “real” content – uncompensated thoughts from an individual user – only to discover that they’re part of a paid brand partnership.

    However, the platform does have rules about ads and gives some clues for identifying paid posts. Look for a “sponsored” or “ad” label near the video’s caption or username. Another thing to look for is what’s called a “call-to-action” in the caption, like “tap the link to learn more!”

    TikTok doesn’t have specific rules for sharing news, and it doesn’t separate news from other categories of information, like opinion, comedy or video blogs. Journalists at reputable news outlets, on the other hand, must follow certain standards.

    For one, journalists will vet and cite their sources. That means they will share who they interviewed or what expert gave them their information, and that they’ve done research to make sure it’s a trustworthy source in the first place. They and their publication’s editors will also verify or fact-check content to make sure it’s true. So a video that shares news content should state where the information is from and link to that source.

    Second C: Circulation

    If you didn’t search for a TikTok video, it probably found you. By now, regular social media users know that TikTok has an algorithm that decides what content to show them. Algorithms are equations that learn what you like and decide how to recommend more of the same content to you.

    On TikTok, you can click on “Share” and then “Why this video” to learn more about why a video was recommended for you. Usually, it’s because you’ve watched, liked or commented on similar content, searched for related topics or followed similar accounts. Recommendations also include videos that were posted recently near you and topics that are popular where you live.

    The most important thing to remember is that each TikTok user is getting their own customized feed of content based on their behavior. Unlike in the past, when more of our news came from mainstream media – such as reading the same city newspaper or watching the same local news – now we may not know what news someone else is getting. If you see a lot of content about the same topic, that’s likely because of the algorithm customizing your feed, not necessarily because it’s the most important topic in the news.

    A little skepticism pays off.
    Philippe TURPIN/Photononstop via Getty Images

    Third C: Consumption

    You probably know about “fake news” – what researchers usually call misinformation – and that there is a lot of it online. Social media apps know it too, and have tried different ways to keep it from spreading, like using fact-checkers to flag problematic content.

    However, my team’s own research shows that these fact-checking programs may not be very successful. Some apps, like Facebook and Instagram, are even stopping fact-checking programs altogether. While TikTok doesn’t allow disinformation campaigns that are intended to deceive people, the app doesn’t prohibit people from sharing information that is simply inaccurate.

    That means, beyond the clues you already read about above, you will need to develop your own skills in judging what’s real on TikTok.

    First, think about your own opinions and biases. We all have them! Even news organizations can have biases, meaning some of them tend to report news from a certain political viewpoint.

    The more you engage with content you already agree with, the more you will get of it, and the stronger your opinions can become about it. Instead, think about what other viewpoints exist and search for content from their side. One way to do this is to seek out content from reputable news organizations across the political spectrum.

    Second, pay attention to where you get information. Is all your news coming from social media? Research shows that Americans who rely on social media as their main source of news are less knowledgeable than those who get news from almost any other news source. In a 2020 study, they couldn’t answer as many questions about current events like Donald Trump’s impeachment and the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, and were more likely to come across conspiracy theories. Pick a news website or two and sign up for their alerts instead.

    Finally, continue to evaluate the content on your “For You” page. You don’t need to stop using TikTok, but do keep looking for those clues about whether information is credible: Who is it from? Is it a journalist, a news organization? Or maybe it was a news influencer, someone who has a large following on social media for sharing current events but who is not necessarily a journalist. Do they cite and link to sources?

    If you can’t find this information, you should search about the topic online. If you don’t find any reputable news organizations reporting on it, you may want to think again about trusting it and sharing it.

    Anne Oeldorf-Hirsch 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. ‘For You’: What to know about news on TikTok – https://theconversation.com/for-you-what-to-know-about-news-on-tiktok-247975

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How to find climate data and science the Trump administration doesn’t want you to see

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Eric Nost, Associate Professor of Geography, University of Guelph

    Government scientists at NOAA collect and provide crucial public information about coastal conditions that businesses, individuals and other scientists rely on. NOAA’s National Ocean Service

    Information on the internet might seem like it’s there forever, but it’s only as permanent as people choose to make it.

    That’s apparent as the second Trump administration “floods the zone” with efforts to dismantle science agencies and the data and websites they use to communicate with the public. The targets range from public health and demographics to climate science.

    We are a research librarian and policy scholar who belong to a network called the Public Environmental Data Partners, a coalition of nonprofits, archivists and researchers who rely on federal data in our analysis, advocacy and litigation and are working to ensure that data remains available to the public.

    In just the first three weeks of Trump’s term, we saw agencies remove access to at least a dozen climate and environmental justice analysis tools. The new administration also scrubbed the phrase “climate change” from government websites, as well as terms like “resilience.”

    Here’s why and how Public Environmental Data Partners and others are making sure that the climate science the public depends on is available forever:

    Why government websites and data matter

    The internet and the availability of data are necessary for innovation, research and daily life.

    Climate scientists analyze NASA satellite observations and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather records to understand changes underway in the Earth system, what’s causing them and how to protect the climates that economies were built on. Other researchers use these sources alongside Census Bureau data to understand who is most affected by climate change. And every day, people around the world log onto the Environmental Protection Agency’s website to learn how to protect themselves from hazards — and to find out what the government is or isn’t doing to help.

    If the data and tools used to understand complex data are abruptly taken off the internet, the work of scientists, civil society organizations and government officials themselves can grind to a halt. The generation of scientific data and analysis by government scientists is also crucial. Many state governments run environmental protection and public health programs that depend on science and data collected by federal agencies.

    Removing information from government websites also makes it harder for the public to effectively participate in key processes of democracy, including changes to regulations. When an agency proposes to repeal a rule, for example, it is required to solicit comments from the public, who often depend on government websites to find information relevant to the rule.

    And when web resources are altered or taken offline, it breeds mistrust in both government and science. Government agencies have collected climate data, conducted complex analyses, provided funding and hosted data in a publicly accessible manner for years. People around the word understand climate change in large part because of U.S. federal data. Removing it deprives everyone of important information about their world.

    Bye-bye data?

    The first Trump administration removed discussions of climate change and climate policies widely across government websites. However, in our research with the Environmental Data and Governance Initiative over those first four years, we didn’t find evidence that datasets had been permanently deleted.

    The second Trump administration seems different, with more rapid and pervasive removal of information.

    In response, groups involved in Public Environmental Data Partners have been archiving climate datasets our community has prioritized, uploading copies to public repositories and cataloging where and how to find them if they go missing from government websites.

    Most federal agencies decreased their use of the phrase ‘climate change’ on websites during the first Trump administration, 2017-2020.
    Eric Nost, et al., 2021, CC BY

    As of Feb. 13, 2025, we hadn’t seen the destruction of climate science records. Many of these data collection programs, such as those at NOAA or EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program, are required by Congress. However, the administration had limited or eliminated access to a lot of data.

    Maintaining tools for understanding climate change

    We’ve seen a targeted effort to systematically remove tools like dashboards that summarize and visualize the social dimensions of climate change. For instance, the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool mapped low-income and other marginalized communities that are expected to experience severe climate changes, such as crop losses and wildfires. The mapping tool was taken offline shortly after Trump’s first set of executive orders.

    Most of the original data behind the mapping tool, like the wildfire risk predictions, is still available, but is now harder to find and access. But because the mapping tool was developed as an open-source project, we were able to recreate it.

    Preserving websites for the future

    In some cases, entire webpages are offline. For instance, the page for the 25-year-old Climate Change Center at the Department of Transportation doesn’t exist anymore. The link just sends visitors back to the department’s homepage.

    Other pages have limited access. For instance, EPA hasn’t yet removed its climate change pages, but it has removed “climate change” from its navigation menu, making it harder to find those pages.

    During Donald Trump’s first week back in office, the Department of Transportation removed its Climate Change Center webpage.
    Internet Archive Wayback Machine

    Fortunately, our partners at the End of Term Web Archive have captured snapshots of millions of government webpages and made them accessible through the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine. The group has done this after each administration since 2008.

    If you’re looking at a webpage and you think it should include a discussion of climate change, use the “changes” tool“ in the Wayback Machine to check if the language has been altered over time, or navigate to the site’s snapshots of the page before Trump’s inauguration.

    What you can do

    You can also find archived climate and environmental justice datasets and tools on the Public Environmental Data Partners website. Other groups are archiving datasets linked in the Data.gov data portal and making them findable in other locations.

    Individual researchers are also uploading datasets in searchable repositories like OSF, run by the Center for Open Science.

    If you are worried that certain data currently still available might disappear, consult this checklist from MIT Libraries. It provides steps for how you can help safeguard federal data.

    Narrowing the knowledge sphere

    What’s unclear is how far the administration will push its attempts to remove, block or hide climate data and science, and how successful it will be.

    Already, a federal district court judge has ruled that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s removal of access to public health resources that doctors rely on was harmful and arbitrary. These were put back online thanks to that ruling.

    We worry that more data and information removals will narrow public understanding of climate change, leaving people, communities and economies unprepared and at greater risk. While data archiving efforts can stem the tide of removals to some extent, there is no replacement for the government research infrastructures that produce and share climate data.

    Eric Nost is affiliated with the Environmental Data and Governance Initiative and the Public Environmental Data Partners, which have received funding for some of the work reviewed in this piece from Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Sustainable Cities Fund, and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation.

    Alejandro Paz is affiliated with the Environmental Data and Governance Initiative.

    – ref. How to find climate data and science the Trump administration doesn’t want you to see – https://theconversation.com/how-to-find-climate-data-and-science-the-trump-administration-doesnt-want-you-to-see-249321

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Parents can soon use QR codes to reveal heavy metal content in baby food

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By C. Michael White, Distinguished Professor of Pharmacy Practice, University of Connecticut

    It’s impossible to eliminate heavy metals from baby food entirely, but testing can help consumers make informed decisions. Jeff Greenberg via Getty Images

    Parents across the U.S. should soon be able to determine how much lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury are in the food they feed their babies, thanks to a California law, the first of its kind, that took effect this year.

    As of Jan. 1, 2025, every company that sells baby food products in California is required to test for these four heavy metals every month. That comes five years after a congressional report warned about the presence of dangerously high levels of lead and other heavy metals in baby food.

    Every baby food product packaged in jars, pouches, tubs and boxes sold in California must carry a QR code on its label that consumers can scan to check the most recent heavy metal readings, although many are not yet complying.

    Because companies seldom package products for a single state, parents and caregivers across the country will be able to scan these QR codes or go online to the companies’ websites and see the results.

    I am a pharmacist researcher who has studied heavy metals in mineral supplements, dietary supplements and baby food for several years. My research highlights how prevalent these toxic agents are in everyday products such as baby food. I believe the new California law offers a solid first step in giving people the ability to limit the intake of these substances.

    How do heavy metals get into foods?

    Soil naturally contains heavy metals. The earth formed as a hot molten mass. As it cooled, heavier elements settled into its center regions, called the mantle and core. Volcanic eruptions in certain areas have brought these heavy metals to the surface over time. The volcanic rock erodes to form heavy metal-laden soil, contaminating nearby water supplies.

    Another major source of soil contamination is the exhaust from fossil fuels, and in particular leaded gasoline. Some synthetic fertilizers contribute, too.

    Heavy metals in the soil can pass into foods via several routes. Plants that yield foods such as sweet potatoes and carrots, apples, cinnamon, rice and plant-based protein powder are especially good at extracting them from contaminated soil.

    Sometimes the contamination happens after harvesting. For example, local water that contains heavy metals is often used to rinse debris and bugs off natural products, such as leaves used to make a widely used supplement called kratom. When the water evaporates, the heavy metals are retained on the surface. Sometimes drying products in the open air, such as cacao beans for dark chocolate, allows dust laden with heavy metals to stick to their surface.

    Producers can reduce heavy metal contamination in food in several ways, which range from modestly to very effectively. First, they can reserve more contaminated areas for growing crops that are less prone to taking in heavy metals from the soil, such as peppers, beans, squash, melons and cucumbers, and conversely grow more susceptible crops in less-contaminated areas. They can also dry plants on uncontaminated soil and filter heavy metals out of water before washing produce.

    Producers are starting to use genetic engineering and crossbreeding to create susceptible plants that take up fewer heavy metals through their roots, but this approach is still in its early stages.

    Sweet potatoes and other root vegetables are especially susceptible to absorbing heavy metals from soil.
    skaman306 via Getty Images

    How much is too much?

    Although there is no entirely safe level of chronic heavy metal ingestion, heavy metals are all around us and are impossible to avoid entirely.

    In January 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration released its first-ever guidance for manufacturers that sets limits on the amount of lead that baby food can contain. But the FDA guidance does not require companies to adhere to the limits.

    In that guidance, the FDA suggested a limit of 10 parts per billion of lead for baby foods that contain fruits, vegetables, meats or combinations of those items, with or without grains. Yogurts, custards and puddings should have the same cutoff, according to the agency. Root vegetables and dry infant cereals, meanwhile, should contain less than 20 parts per billion of lead. The FDA regulations don’t apply to some products babies frequently consume, such as formula, teething crackers and other snacks.

    The agency has not defined firm limits for the consumption of other heavy metals, but its campaign against heavy metals in baby food, called Closer to Zero, reflects that a lower dose is better.

    That campaign also laid out plans to propose limits for other heavy metals such as arsenic and mercury.

    Modestly exceeding the agency’s recommended dosage for lead or arsenic a few times a month is unlikely to have noticeable negative health effects. However, chronically ingesting too much lead or inorganic arsenic can negatively affect childhood health, including cognitive development, and can cause softening of bones.

    How California’s QR codes can help parents and other caregivers

    It’s unclear how many products consistently exceed these recommendations.

    A study by Consumer Reports in 2018
    found that 33 of 50 products had concerning levels of at least one heavy metal. In 2023, researchers repeated testing on seven of the failing products and found that heavy metal levels were now lower in three, the same in one, and slightly higher in three.

    Because these tests assess products bought and tested at one specific time, they may not reflect the average heavy metal content in the same product over the entire year. These levels can vary over time if the manufacturer sources ingredients from different parts of the country or the world at different times of the year.

    Consumers can call up heavy metal testing results with their smartphones at the grocery store.

    That’s where California’s new law can help. The law requires manufacturers to gather and divulge real-time information on heavy metal contamination monthly. By scanning a QR code on a box of Gerber Teether Snacks or a jar of Beech Nut Naturals sweet potato puree, parents and caregivers can call up test results on a smartphone and learn how much lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury were found in those specific products manufactured recently. These test results can also be accessed by entering a product’s name or batch number on the manufacturer’s website.

    Slow rollout

    In an investigation by Consumer Reports and a child advocacy group called Unleaded Kids, only four companies out of 28 were fully in compliance with the California law as of early this year. Some noncompliant companies had developed no infrastructure, some had developed websites but no heavy metal information was logged in, and some had information but required consumers to enter batch numbers to access results, without the required QR codes on the product packaging.

    The law requires companies to provide this information for foods produced after Jan. 1, 2025, with no provisions for extensions, and the major producers agreed to comply not only for California residents but to provide the results nationwide. California enforces noncompliance by embargoing misbranded baby food products, issuing penalties, and suspending or revoking registrations and licenses.

    When companies’ testing and reporting systems are fully up and running, a quick scan at the grocery store will allow consumers to adapt their purchases to minimize infants’ exposures to heavy metals. Initially, parents and caregivers may find it overwhelming to decide between one chicken and rice product that is higher in lead but lower in arsenic than a competitor’s product, for example.

    However, they may also encounter instances where one baby food product clearly contains less of three heavy metals and only slightly more for the fourth heavy metal than a comparable product from a different manufacturer. That information can more clearly inform their choice.

    Regardless of the readings, health experts advise parents and caregivers not to eliminate all root vegetables, apples and rice but instead to feed babies a wide variety of foods.

    C. Michael White 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. Parents can soon use QR codes to reveal heavy metal content in baby food – https://theconversation.com/parents-can-soon-use-qr-codes-to-reveal-heavy-metal-content-in-baby-food-247579

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How Americans really feel about deporting immigrants – 3 charts explain the conflicting headlines from recent polls

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Leo Gugerty, Professor Emeritus in Psychology, Clemson University

    A protest in San Diego against the Trump administration’s mass deportation plan, Jan. 31, 2025. Carlos Moreno/NurPhoto via Getty Images

    President Donald Trump’s signature promise during his campaign was to carry out the “largest deportation” operation in U.S. history, targeting all migrants “who violated the law coming into this country.”

    Since anyone living in the U.S. without legal permission has broken civil immigration law, Trump would have to deport all of the 11 million to 12 million immigrants living without legal authorization in the U.S., not just people who have committed serious crimes. Most immigrants living in the country illegally have been here longer than 10 years, so many longer-term residents would be deported.

    Trump has claimed that his election victory gives him a “powerful mandate” for such actions. But what do the American people really think about mass deportation?

    News outlets like CBS and Scripps News have been reporting since mid-2024 that a majority of Americans support Trump’s plans to deport most or all undocumented immigrants.

    These stories rely on some polls during 2024 that showed majority support for mass deportation. Meanwhile, other polls in 2024 found public support for deportation below 40%.

    I am a psychologist with expertise in survey research and the influence of political ideology on people’s beliefs about news events. And I believe the key to making sense of these conflicting polls lies in understanding the psychological principles that underlie opinion polling.

    Conflicting polls

    Extensive psychological research research demonstrates that people make better decisions about complex, high-stakes problems when they think about and compare multiple courses of action, instead of narrowing in on one option.

    When it comes to deportation, the main policy alternative offered by presidents as far back as George W. Bush has been allowing immigrants to become legal permanent residents if certain conditions are met, like passing a background check.

    Because of this, Pew Research, a prominent pollster, suggests that the best way to determine how people feel about issues like mass deportation is to give them a question that forces them to choose between deportation and something else – in this case, legalization.

    For example, one July 2024 poll using a “forced-choice” question asked people whether they’d rather see “a way for undocumented immigrants who meet certain requirements … to stay here legally” or “a national effort to deport and remove all illegal immigrants” from the U.S.

    Another type of question used by pollsters focuses people’s attention on only one choice by asking them how much they support a policy like deportation, but without mentioning alternatives. Polls that follow this approach ask people’s opinion of deportation in one question, and their opinion of legalization in another.

    This is not ideal because research shows it can lead people to exaggerate their support for the named policy.

    What the polls say

    In total, I found 14 polls conducted during the past eight years that measured Americans’ opinions on both mass deportation and legalizing status. I dropped two from my analysis because they had questions worded in biased language.

    The findings from the remaining 12 polls are representative of the diverse demographics of the U.S.

    Graph 1 present the results from the eight polls that used a single forced-choice question. I believe these polls give the best picture of how Americans as a group feel about the two immigration policies.

    These polls suggest that over the past eight years, Americans’ overall support for mass deportation has increased from around 22% to around 44%. Meanwhile, support for legalizing immigrants’ status has decreased from about 77% to 55%.

    However, all four polls conducted in 2024 find support for legalizing status to be above 54% and support for deportation below 45%.

    Graph 2 shows the results of the four polls that used separate questions to assess opinions about deportation and legalization.

    This chart clearly demonstrates the problem with asking people to rate their support for deportation and legalization in separate questions. Two polls, both taken in the past year – one by Gallup, the other by Times/Siena – found that a majority of respondents supported deportation and that the same group of respondents supported legalization in equal or even greater numbers.

    Consider the October 2024 poll where 57% of respondents supported deportation and 57% supported legalization. These percentages add up to more than 100% because many people in the group said they supported both policies. Since mass deportation and general legalization are polar opposites, people who support both policies should not be considered to strongly support either policy.

    For this reason, the separate questions technique does not yield good absolute information about the percentage of people who support either deportation or legalization. However, it does give useful relative information like which policy a group supports more and how opinions change over time.

    Keeping this in mind, the results of the 12 polls I analyzed indicate that people favored legalizing immigrants’ status over deportation. Eleven polls, including five taken since 2024, showed this pattern. Overall public support for deportation has actually increased since 2016, while support for legalization has decreased.

    However, these changes in opinion over time do not hold true for all Americans.

    Americans are polarized about immigration

    The poll results I’ve discussed so far are averages calculated based on the responses of everyone who responded to the poll. But group averages don’t tell the whole story on any issue – especially when opinions differ widely within a group, as they do with immigration. So let’s look at the results for Republicans and Democrats separately.

    Graph 3 breaks down the results by party for the eight polls that used the best practice: forced choice question.

    During Trump’s first term, from 2017 to 2020, just over half of Republicans supported legalization; just under half supported deportation. Only within the past year has Republican opinion shifted, with about 70% now supporting deportation.

    In contrast, Democrats’ opinions have remained steady for eight years, with about 90% supporting legalization and 10% favoring deportation.

    In other words, the apparent shift toward greater support for deportation shown in Graphs 1 and 2 occurred only among Republicans – not for Americans as a whole.

    A mandate to legalize

    Despite the recent uptick in Republican support for mass deportation, a clear majority of people in the U.S. would rather give undocumented immigrants a path to legal status than have them deported. This has remained true for eight years.

    Polls that seem to contradict this conclusion by showing majority support for mass deportation have used the less reliable separate-questions technique. These results are questionable because these poll respondents voiced equal or stronger support for legalizing immigrants’ status.

    If Trump has a “powerful mandate” on immigration, my research shows, it’s for getting legal authorization for immigrants who’ve lived in the U.S. a long time without it – not deporting them.

    Leo Gugerty is affiliated with the Democratic Party of Pickens County, SC, as a volunteer.

    – ref. How Americans really feel about deporting immigrants – 3 charts explain the conflicting headlines from recent polls – https://theconversation.com/how-americans-really-feel-about-deporting-immigrants-3-charts-explain-the-conflicting-headlines-from-recent-polls-248838

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Could Elon Musk’s government takeover happen in the UK? A constitutional law expert’s view

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Stephen Clear, Lecturer in Constitutional and Administrative Law, and Public Procurement, Bangor University

    It has been less than a month since Donald Trump retook the Oval Office. But with dozens of executive orders, every day has brought substantial change.

    While Trump claims he has a democratic mandate to cut government waste, it is the unelected Elon Musk who has been behind the most radical changes. Musk, the world’s richest man, joined the US government as head of the new Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), which Trump established by executive order.

    Trump and Doge have begun dismantling government agencies, introduced widespread recruitment freezes, and withheld billions of dollars in federal funds – including freezing foreign aid and dismantling USAid. Through Doge, Musk has also gained access to IT and payment systems in the US Treasury and other major departments.

    Want more politics coverage from academic experts? Every week, we bring you informed analysis of developments in government and fact check the claims being made.

    Sign up for our weekly politics newsletter, delivered every Friday.

    Their actions have not been without legal challenge. A judge issued a temporary order restricting Musk from accessing the Treasury’s files due to the risk of exposing sensitive data. In response, Trump has expanded Musk’s power further, instructing government officials to cooperate with Doge.

    It already appears that Trump is prepared to defy court orders related to these changes. The US is on the cusp of a constitutional showdown.

    A key question for the UK is whether something similar could happen here. In theory, the answer is yes – but it would be difficult for anybody to enact.

    There have been ongoing concerns, including some raised by the current government, around the size of the UK government and the budget deficit. Politicians from the Reform party are already saying that Britain needs to adopt a Musk-style approach to cut government waste.

    Compared to other systems of government, UK prime ministers have almost unparalleled power to change existing, and establish new, government departments as they see fit. So it would be well within the gift of the prime minister to establish a new department like Doge – though there could be limits to its power to change things like national spending, given the need for budgetary approval by parliament.

    There is also plenty of precedent for private citizens like Musk to work in the UK government. This could be as a special adviser: a temporary “political” civil servant who advises the government and is appointed under the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010. Previous examples include Alastair Campbell (Tony Blair’s spokesman) and Dominic Cummings (Boris Johnson’s senior adviser). While cabinet ministers hire their special advisers, the prime minister approves all appointments.

    Alternatively, civilians can be brought more directly into government as ministers. Under constitutional convention, a member of the UK government is a member of either the Commons or Lords. Someone who is not an elected politician can be appointed to the Lords (and a ministerial role) by the prime minister. Rishi Sunak did this when he made David Cameron foreign secretary, as did Keir Starmer with businessman-turned-minister for prisons James Timpson.

    There have even been debates in recent years over whether this convention of government ministers needing to be members of parliament can be dispensed with, given it lacks legal enforcement. But this raises questions about how you afford parliament opportunities to scrutinise the work of such ministers, if they are not even in the Lords.



    Read more:
    Plans for ministers who aren’t in parliament raise concerns for UK democracy – constitutional expert

    Constitutional limits

    However, the kind of actions that Trump and Musk are currently undertaking could not strictly pan out the same way under the UK’s constitutional arrangements.

    While it does not have executive orders in the same way as the US, there are means for the UK government to administratively act without passing legislation through parliament.

    The government’s power can be exercised through orders in council via the monarch. These can either be via statutory orders (where the power has been granted through an act of parliament) or prerogative powers.

    The prerogative refers to powers that government ministers have, which do not require the consent of parliament. For example, to enter international treaties or wars, or the ability to call an election.

    The monarch also retains some prerogative powers – for example, to appoint or dismiss a prime minister, and to summon or prorogue (end a session of) parliament. But by convention, the monarch fulfils these functions in a ceremonial and symbolic capacity – without input in the decisions. In reality, they merely follow the advice of the prime minister on these matters.

    Importantly, prerogative powers can only be used when legislation does not exist to the contrary – and the UK government cannot arbitrarily change prerogative powers or create new ones.

    President Trump signals that there is more to come from Doge.

    One way a Musk-style takeover would struggle in the UK is if a proposed change affected primary legislation and left it redundant. It has been established since 1610 that prerogative powers cannot be used to change or make law without parliament.

    To give hypothetical examples: if the UK government tried to exercise its powers in a way which ran contrary to the International Development Act, failed to fulfil a legally promised government function, or went against human rights obligations, they would be doing so contrary to UK constitutional principles – not least parliamentary sovereignty, separation of powers, and the rule of law.

    Should this happen, the courts can intervene. This was tested in Miller 1, the legal case over whether the prime minister alone had the power to leave the EU, or whether parliamentary approval was needed. It was decided that the government could not rely on its prerogative powers to trigger Brexit without parliament’s approval, as this would change primary law.

    And, as was clear when it came to Boris Johnson’s decision to prorogue parliament, the Supreme Court will nullify government action which it deems unconstitutional.



    Read more:
    Q+A: Supreme Court rules Boris Johnson’s prorogation of UK parliament was unlawful – so what happens now?

    In this sense, it is a well-established common law principle that judges will rely on the rule of law to check what the government is doing, and would view parliament as never truly intending to pass any law which would exclude that oversight. Any attempt to legislate to block courts from having that check would be an unconstitutional violation.

    Here, the UK has the advantage of a strong independence of the courts. Since 2006, judicial appointments have been the responsibility of an independent commission. There is also a separate, independent selection process for the Supreme Court. This effectively bars the prime minister from changing the composition of the courts in the same way the US president can.

    What if parliament went rogue?

    Some may be minded that, if a reformist government had a majority in parliament and existing laws were preventing change in the UK, then it could easily change the law through an act of parliament. This was the risk of the now-defunct Rwanda plan, where the government effectively tried, through legislation, to overrule the Supreme Court and send asylum seekers to Rwanda.

    Should this have continued, it would probably have faced legal challenges at the European court of human rights. Here is where efforts to remove the UK from the European convention on human rights, or to repeal the Human Rights Act, would have become consequential.



    Read more:
    How the bill to declare Rwanda a ‘safe’ country for refugees could lead to a constitutional crisis

    Of course, even with the strongest majorities, backbench MPs do not always vote with their government, and would be less likely to do so if the leader was attempting to do something extreme, unprincipled and unconscionable.

    We would be in relatively uncharted constitutional waters if the prime minister then ignored a Supreme Court ruling. But while rarely used, there are mechanisms available to parliament in such cases to use motions of no confidence in the government to instigate change to the executive.

    Unless the law is radically changed, the machinery of parliament, with the checks and balances of the Supreme Court, would make a US-style overhaul challenging – if not, theoretically, impossible. But while it is not codified into one text, the UK does still have a constitution and the safeguards that come with it – as well as hundreds of years of convention to back it up.

    Stephen Clear 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. Could Elon Musk’s government takeover happen in the UK? A constitutional law expert’s view – https://theconversation.com/could-elon-musks-government-takeover-happen-in-the-uk-a-constitutional-law-experts-view-249544

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: What does Platonic love really mean?

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Armand D’Angour, Professor of Classics, University of Oxford

    If the object of your affection were to suggest that a “platonic” relationship might be of more interest to them, your heart might sink a little. The common understanding of Platonic love, so called after the ancient Greek philosopher Plato, is that it indicates a relationship of strong affection from which sex is excluded. But there’s potentially much more to the concept of Platonic love than the absence of romantic or physical passion.

    The term is derived from Plato’s writing on the topic of love in the Symposium, a work composed in the early fourth century BC. It’s set at a dinner party in Athens that supposedly took place much earlier in 416 BC, when a playwright called Agathon won first prize for his tragic drama.

    Agathon threw a party – symposium in Greek means “drinking together” – where everyone over-indulged. So the following night the partygoers, including the philosopher Socrates, decided that instead of drinking they would give speeches in praise of the god of love, Eros (whence comes the word “erotic”).

    Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.

    In the course of the party, the comic poet Aristophanes offers a humorously extravagant story about the origins of love:

    Once upon a time human beings were duplicates of what we are today, with four arms, four legs, and two faces. These double-humans came in three types, male-male, female-female, and male-female. They were over-powerful beings who threatened the gods – so Zeus decided to split them in half. Now we’re just halves of a whole, and each half desperately seeks its matching half in a quest for completion. This is what we mean by love.

    Humour aside, Aristophanes’ tale accounts for both sexual orientation and why human beings may feel incomplete alone.

    There’s great thoughtfulness and variety in the Symposium. In addition to this comic representation of love as literally “seeking our other half”, Plato reports four speeches given by participants, followed by a presentation by Socrates, and finally an extended contribution by the flamboyant Alcibiades, who bursts in late on the gathering.

    For ancient Greeks, love was literally divine. The notion that love is a god (Eros) or goddess (Aphrodite) distinguishes many of the speeches in the Symposium. Another culturally distinctive feature is that the party consists entirely of men, who tacitly acknowledge that love is to be thought of as homoerotic.

    In ancient Athens, heterosexual relations were rarely seen to involve an intellectual dimension. Women and girls were generally not educated, so the notion of intellectual engagement as a component of a relationship was something reserved for love between men, although Plato’s propositions about love don’t exclude (as Aristophanes’ tale shows) love between the sexes or between women.

    In Plato’s day, Athens’ rival city Thebes had established a unit of warriors, the Sacred Band, consisting of 150 pairs of male lovers. The first speaker, the young aristocrat Phaedrus, argues that an army of this kind will be invincible, because men will always strive to show courage in front of the partner they love.

    He takes sexual love for granted in arguing that love “inspires lovers to act nobly in matters of life and death”. The following speaker, Pausanias, makes a distinction between true love and sex, insisting that the latter should be reserved for committed relationships.

    Other speakers offer more abstract views of love – as a force of universal harmony, or (as Agathon argues) a stimulus to artistic creativity. Socrates then offers to “tell the truth about love”, recounting how Diotima (a fiction evidently based on a real woman, Aspasia of Miletus) had taught him that love begins with physical desire but leads on to “higher” forms such as love of knowledge, beauty, and truth.

    The final speech is given by the drunken latecomer to the party, the playboy politician Alcibiades, famously beloved of Socrates. The most handsome youth of his day, he describes how he once tried in vain to seduce the older man. Socrates was not interested because – as he argued a true lover should be – he was keener on improving the young man’s soul through philosophy than being gratified by his body.

    Properly understood, then, Platonic love is not about the negation of passion but about its elevation and transformation. This means it cannot be simply narcissistic. Aristophanes’ myth of the original human beings seeking a similar matching half is challenged by Socrates’ doctrine.

    Love’s aim, we eventually learn, is not to complete us, but to inspire us to grow creatively in relation to another person. Not to guide us to love our mirror image, but to lead us to educate and be educated by another person to become the highest version of ourselves.

    This invites us to think about relationships in terms of shared aspirations. From this point of view, Platonic love means focusing on what lies beyond the relationship itself, on the ideals that connect those who truly love each other.

    In practice, one might conclude, the highest form of love is a partnership in which two people are united by a common creative quest. Such love is not passionless, but a powerful force that begins with physical desire but ends with its transcendence.

    To love Platonically is to see in another person not just what they are, but what they may be inspired to become, and to climb together toward something greater than one might attain alone.

    Seen in this light, the quest for our “matching half” proposed by Aristophanes, if only in jest, cannot be the answer. And though we may not be wholly satisfied with any of the views expressed in the dialogue, the aim of the Symposium is surely to invite us to continue the conversation.

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

    – ref. What does Platonic love really mean? – https://theconversation.com/what-does-platonic-love-really-mean-249625

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: In the struggle to get Britain working, the long shadow of austerity could be part of the problem

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Guilherme Klein Martins, Lecturer in Economics, University of Leeds

    pxl.store/Shutterstock

    Austerity is an unusual economic concept. While it is one of the economic terms that attracts the most interest from the public, it remains controversial in policy debates. Advocates argue that reducing government deficits through spending cuts and tax increases restores confidence and stabilises economies. Critics, however, warn that these policies just deepen downturns.

    My recent research, using data from 16 countries over several decades, provides new evidence supporting the second view. That is, austerity has significant and persistent negative effects on employment and the size of an economy (measured by GDP), with the damage lasting more than 15 years.

    A common defence of austerity is that while it may slow growth in the short term, it ultimately strengthens economies by reducing debt and making room for private-sector expansion. But my findings challenge this assumption.

    I analysed episodes of austerity, defined as large fiscal contractions (reduced state spending or large tax increases) across a variety of advanced economies. What I found was the negative impact on GDP remains substantial even after a decade and a half. On average, GDP is more than 5.5% lower 15 years after a large austerity shock than would have been expected if there had been no austerity, based on statistical estimates.

    Beyond GDP, austerity has a lasting impact on labour markets (the number of jobs on offer and people available to do them). My research shows that large fiscal contractions lead to a significant drop in the total number of hours worked, which is a key indicator of labour market health.

    This is a crucial finding, as policymakers often assume that labour markets will adjust quickly after an economic shock. Instead, results suggest employment levels (which is best measured by the total number of hours worked by everyone in the labour force) remain depressed for more than a decade after major austerity measures.

    One reason for this is the connection between investment and employment. When governments cut spending, firms delay investments. This, in turn, lowers productivity growth and reduces job creation.

    If businesses anticipate that the economy will remain weak for a long time, they adjust their hiring and investment strategies. This can reinforce a cycle of stagnation. My results suggest that, on average, an austerity shock generates a reduction of 4% in the total worked hours and 6% in the capital stock (the value of physical assets like buildings and machines used to produce goods and services) after 15 years.

    The effects of an austerity shock on countries’ GDP:

    UK: A case study

    Perhaps one of the most striking real-world examples of the long-term effects of austerity is the UK. Following the 2008 global financial crisis, the UK government implemented sweeping austerity measures starting in 2010. These policies were framed as necessary to reduce the budget deficit and restore investor confidence. Spending cuts affected key areas, including welfare, healthcare, education and local government services like social housing, roads and leisure facilities.

    The 2010 coalition government brought in more than £80 billion of cuts to public spending.

    But here’s a conundrum. The UK’s fiscal deficit (the difference between what it spent and what it raised in taxes) after the implementation of these policies was greater than before the austerity cuts. The deficit in 2023/2024 was 5.7% of GDP, while in 2007/2008, it was 2.9%.

    What is evident is that these measures are associated with stagnant wages, weakened public services and sluggish GDP growth. Productivity growth has remained weak, and long-term economic damage is evident in underfunded infrastructure and an increasingly fragile NHS.

    More than a decade later, real earnings have barely recovered to pre-crisis levels. The past 15 years have been the worst for income growth in generations, with working-age incomes growing by only 6% in real terms from 2007 to 2019, compared to higher growth rates in countries including the US, Germany and Ireland.



    Read more:
    How the UK’s austerity policies caused life expectancy to fall

    My findings contribute to a growing body of research challenging the longstanding view that shocks like austerity have only short-run effects. Traditionally, models assume that economies return to their long-run growth paths after temporary disruptions. But recent evidence, including my research, suggests that demand shocks can have persistent effects on supply by reducing investment and participation in the labour force.

    In the wake of the COVID pandemic, many governments responded with generous financial support, temporarily reversing the austerity-driven policies of the previous decade. The strong recovery in some economies suggests that government spending can play a crucial role in sustaining long-run growth. On the other hand, a return to austerity measures could once again lead to prolonged stagnation.

    What should policymakers take away from this? First, the assumption that austerity is a path to long-term prosperity needs to be re-evaluated. While reducing excessive public debt might be important, the economic costs of large and rapid cuts to spending can far outweigh the benefits.

    Second, policymakers should recognise that timing matters. Gradual adjustments to spending, when really necessary, should be accompanied by measures to support investment and employment in order to reduce the likelihood of causing long-term harm.

    Finally, economic policy should prioritise long-term growth over short-term deficit reduction. Governments facing tough spending choices should explore alternative approaches – things like progressive taxation and targeted public investment. And when cuts are needed, they should avoid implementing them during periods of economic recession.

    Austerity is often framed as a necessary sacrifice for future prosperity. As governments consider fiscal strategies in an era of rising debt and economic uncertainty, they should take heed of austerity’s long-run costs. The evidence suggests that a more balanced approach – one that prioritises investment and economic stability – may be the wiser path forward.

    Guilherme Klein Martins 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. In the struggle to get Britain working, the long shadow of austerity could be part of the problem – https://theconversation.com/in-the-struggle-to-get-britain-working-the-long-shadow-of-austerity-could-be-part-of-the-problem-249888

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/SYRIA – Christian Professor in the Preparatory Committee for the National Conference

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    by Gianni ValenteDamascus (Agenzia Fides) – Her name is Hind Aboud Kabawat, she teaches at American universities and is the only Christian in the seven-member committee (five men and two women) tasked with preparing the announced “National Conference of Syria”, which will begin the process of drafting a new constitution and defining the new institutional structure of the Middle Eastern country.The seven members of the committee were chosen by the self-proclaimed “interim” president Ahmad al-Sharaa. Under the name Abu Muhammad Jolani, al-Sharaa led for years “Hayat Tahrir al Sham”, an Islamist group that played a leading role in the group of armed militias that joined forces to fight the Assad regime, which collapsed in December last year.By including Hind Kabawat in the committee that is supposed to help pave the political path to a constitution and elections, the current rulers in Syria want to send a signal that concretely confirms their declared open and inclusive attitude towards the local Christian communities. And a look at the professional profile of the Syrian-Canadian professor reveals details about the criteria of the geopolitical strategies of the new Syrian leadership. Hind Kabawat, a Catholic, has two children – a boy and a girl – and comes from an interdenominational Christian family: a Greek Catholic father, a Greek Orthodox mother. Her CV is full of outstanding references, which also attest to her constant commitment to initiatives and institutions supporting interreligious dialogue and strategies for mediation, pacification and the promotion of women in Syria, which has been torn apart by conflict and atrocities in recent years.Hind Kabawat studied economics at the University of Damascus and obtained a second degree in law from the Arab University of Beirut. She continued her academic training with a master’s degree in international relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University (near Boston, Massachusetts) and certificates in conflict resolution and negotiation strategies from the universities of Toronto and Harvard.The Syrian-born professor heads the Interfaith Peacebuilding program at the Center for World Religions, Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution (CRDC) at George Mason University (Virginia) and was deputy head of the Geneva office of the Syrian Negotiations Commission, formerly known as the High Negotiations Committee (HNC).In her role at the then HNC, Hind Kabawat had already participated in the eight rounds of Geneva peace talks on Syria in 2017. Her skills were therefore known in networks and bodies outside Syria that dealt with the situation in Syria. Hind Kabawat was also involved in the creation of the “Tastakel” center, an educational center for women dedicated to promoting non-violence and dialogue to resolve conflict situations.The spokesman for the preparatory committee for the conference on national dialogue, Hassan Dagheim, said in an interview with the official Syrian news agency “SANA” that the committee would work to ensure that all social, ethnic, cultural and religious realities in Syria are represented and that the diversity of the various Syrian provinces is respected. At the same time, with regard to the appointment of Hind Kabawat, local analysts are wondering what significance the contribution of a Christian woman has in a committee in which the radical Islamist component seems to be predominant.As in Aleppo, many local councils of professional associations (doctors, lawyers, etc.) have recently been reorganized, and the new organizational charts are predominantly made up of people linked to “Hayat Tahrir al Sham” and other influential groups in post-Assad Syria.As early as the end of August 2022, the Islamist militiamen of “Hayat Tahrir al Sham” had again allowed the celebration of a mass in a church that had been closed for ten years in the area of Idlib province under their control (see Fides, 6/9/2022). The leader of the jihadist group al-Jolani himself had “guaranteed” the celebration of the mass in the Armenian Apostolic Church “Saint Anne” near the village of Yacoubia in the northwest of Idlib. Dozens of Christians of various denominations took part in the liturgical celebration in the holy site, which previously served as a refuge for refugees. Pictures of the celebration were distributed by the Islamist militias themselves. In the previous weeks, Muhammad al-Jolani had told representatives of the Christian communities who were still in then villages of Qunaya, Yacoubia and al-Jadida, announced his intention to “protect” their liturgical celebrations and to guarantee them the gradual return of the land previously confiscated from the Christian owners. Even then, al-Jolani’s move had provoked mixed reactions. Other Salafist groups such as “Hurras al Din” had accused al-Jolani of making the province of Idlib “less Muslim”. Other analysts saw the initiative as part of a strategy by this Islamist group to make its declared “moderate turn” known internationally. Militiamen of the “Hayat Tahrir al Sham” emphasized the need to “open a new chapter” and reaffirm that Islam does not prohibit non-Muslims – including Christians – from practicing their faith freely.In 2013, al-Jolani himself was still classified as a “global terrorist” by the US State Department. In 2022, Aaron Y. Zelin wrote in an analysis of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, published at the time on the website of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, that al-Jolani was “no longer just the leader of a terrorist group or a rebel group” but should be seen as a representative of a change that also includes a change in attitude towards the United States. Zelin also reported that Hayat Tahrir al-Sham allegedly used secret channels to convey the following message to US officials: “We want to be your friends. We are not terrorists. We are only fighting against Assad. We are not a threat to you”. (GV) (Agenzia Fides, 14/2/2025)
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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: City prepares for 30th varsity Aberdeen Boat Race Scotland’s longest continuous running boat race will celebrate its 30th contest when Aberdeen’s two universities battle it out along the River Dee next month.

    Source: University of Aberdeen

    Scotland’s longest continuous running boat race will celebrate its 30th contest when Aberdeen’s two universities battle it out along the River Dee next month.
    Taking place on Saturday 15 March, the Aberdeen Boat Race will see the top crews from both Robert Gordon University (RGU) and University of Aberdeen face off to claim city bragging rights.
    The nation’s answer to the famous Oxford-Cambridge rivalry takes in 3.5km of the River Dee, beginning by the Bridge of Dee before crossing the finishing line at Aberdeen Boat Club and the respective university boathouses.
    Setting this year’s race day apart from any other, there will also be a special 500m double skull contest that will see RGU’s Principal and Vice Chancellor Steve Olivier join forces with Sports President Abhishek Kumar as they take on Aberdeen University’s Tonis Tilk, Vice President for Activities, and Dr Heather May Morgan, Dean for Enterprise and Innovation.
    Professor Steve Olivier said: “The 30th Aberdeen Boat Race provides a great opportunity to not only support the sporting prowess of our students but also celebrate the city and make the most of what’s on offer in Aberdeen.
    “I look forward to the event and wish good fortune to all of those involved. If you can make it, it would be great to see a strong crowd lining the banks and bridges to encourage each crew over the finish line.”
    Leaders of each crew are looking forward to the challenge that awaits them. For RGU, Laura Stewart is President of the University’s Boat Club as well as a fourth year Business with Marketing student. She said: “The build up to race day is on and I’m excited to see how the crews match up against each other. With a few different races throughout the day, it should shape up to be an entertaining event for all to come and watch.
    “We’re currently training hard to try and win back the title. Aberdeen University’s had a few years in a row so winning on the 30th occasion would be something special. I’m excited to see everyone down at the river cheering on the crews.”
    Her counterpart is Katharina Kusserow, President of the Aberdeen University Boat Club and third year PhD researcher in Medical Sciences. She added: “I am excited for the crews to race and celebrate the 30th Aberdeen Boat Race. We have trained hard in the run up to the day and will do our best to defend the title. We’re really grateful for all our supporters and can’t wait to feel that encouragement on the day.”

    The day promises to bring together the communities of both universities with the north-east’s public and I encourage everyone to come along and show their support for this very special event.” Professor George Boyne, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Aberdeen

    Professor George Boyne, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Aberdeen, said: “This year marks a significant milestone as the Aberdeen Boat Race has now been a major highlight in the city’s sporting calendar for 30 years.
    “Every year students from the two universities give it their all and their sporting excellence is evident on the water. The day promises to bring together the communities of both universities with the north-east’s public and I encourage everyone to come along and show their support for this very special event.”
    The event at Aberdeen Boat Club will include both a second crew race and an alumni boat race. The head-to-head standing for the main race makes for pleasant reading for University of Aberdeen who take a 21-8 lead into the 30th contest.
    The showpiece race will also bring the curtain down on the final event of this year’s Granite City Challenge, where sports clubs from both city universities compete against each other in 40+ contests.
    This year’s race has gained sponsorship from neospace, a flexible workspace and wellness facility on Riverside Drive adjacent to the River Dee and the route that the crews will take.
    Scott Paton, Managing Director, said: “neospace is proud to sponsor the Aberdeen Boat Race, a fantastic local event just steps from our door. With wellness at the heart of our ethos, we’re excited to support competitors with NeoGym’s state-of-the-art training facilities.”
    Both universities are partners alongside Scottish Rowing to comprise University Rowing Aberdeen, a rowing programme established in 2012 that presents Aberdeen-based students the opportunity to learn to row, train, compete and fulfil their ambitions within the sport.
    The Aberdeen Boat Race, which first began in 1996, regularly attracts crowds to the River Dee. Hot refreshments will be available within the Aberdeen Boat Club boathouse.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: FAVO Capital Files Form S-1 Registration Statement as It Advances Toward Nasdaq Uplisting

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. , Feb. 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — via IBN — FAVO Capital, Inc. (OTC: FAVO), a private credit firm providing alternative financing solutions to small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), today announced that it has filed a Form S-1 registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in connection with its planned uplisting to the Nasdaq Capital Market.

    This filing marks a significant milestone in FAVO Capital’s strategy to expand its market presence, increase liquidity, and broaden access to institutional investors. The uplisting is expected to enhance the company’s ability to scale its funding operations and strengthen its balance sheet as it continues to deliver innovative private credit solutions to SMBs.

    “Filing our S-1 is a key step in our journey toward Nasdaq,” said Shaun Quin, President of FAVO Capital. “This transition represents our commitment to transparency, financial discipline, and long-term value creation. Uplisting will allow us to expand our investor base and accelerate growth as we continue serving small and medium-sized businesses with flexible financing solutions.”

    Use of IPO Proceeds

    FAVO Capital intends to use proceeds from the offering to strengthen its balance sheet, reduce high-cost debt, and support strategic growth initiatives. By lowering borrowing costs and improving capital efficiency, the company aims to accelerate profitability, enhance liquidity, and expand its market presence while continuing to invest in technology-driven underwriting and operational scalability.

    “Our strategy is focused on sustainable long-term growth,” said Glen Steward, Chief Strategy Officer of FAVO Capital. “We have built a strong foundation and positioned the company for scalability. With our IPO proceeds, we plan to optimize our financial structure while continuing to expand our market reach, gain significant market share, and grow our syndication partnerships.”

    Growth Strategy & Market Positioning

    FAVO Capital specializes in private credit solutions, including the purchase of future receipts, lines of credit, and asset-backed loans. Since its inception, the company has syndicated over $1 billion in capital and supported more than 20,000 businesses. Its technology-driven focus, continued development of its proprietary customer service relationship (CRM) platform, and core funding model, provide a competitive advantage in the rapidly growing alternative lending sector.

    “This filing is a testament to the company’s growth and implementation to date,” said Vincent Napolitano, CEO of FAVO Capital. “I am proud of what the team has achieved. Our long-term financial roadmap prioritizes debt reduction, operational efficiency, and expanding our footprint as a leader in private credit. This uplisting is a major step forward in our commitment to delivering shareholder value.”

    The number of shares to be offered and the price range for the proposed offering have not yet been determined. The offering is subject to market conditions, SEC review, and approval of Favo Capital’s listing application by Nasdaq.

    This press release does not constitute an offer of any securities for sale.

    For further updates and investor information, visit www.favocapital.com.

    About FAVO Capital, Inc.

    FAVO Capital, Inc. (OTC: FAVO) is a private credit firm specializing in alternative financing solutions for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) across the United States. Since its inception, FAVO Capital has syndicated over $1 billion in funding and supported more than 20,000 businesses. FAVO Capital is committed to financial transparency, sustainable growth, and empowering SMBs with flexible funding solutions. Headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, FL, the company also has operations in New York and the Dominican Republic. For more information, visit www.favocapital.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements include, but are not limited to, projections, estimates, and expectations regarding future trends, financial performance, and operational strategies. Forward-looking statements are often identified by words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “believes,” “plans,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “may,” “will,” “should,” or similar expressions.

    These statements are based on the company’s current beliefs, expectations, and assumptions and are subject to significant risks, uncertainties, and changes in circumstances that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. Factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to, market conditions, regulatory developments, competition, economic conditions, and the company’s ability to execute its business strategy.

    Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated, and investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events, circumstances, or changes in expectations after the date of this press release, except as required by law.

    Company Contact:
    FAVO Capital, Inc.
    4300 N University Drive
    D-105
    Lauderhill, FL 33351

    Investor Relations:
    Scott McGowan
    InvestorBrandNetwork (IBN)
    Phone: 310.299.1717
    ir@favocapital.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Masturbation remains taboo – but research shows how it can be good for you

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Chantal Gautier, Senior Lecturer in Psychology and Sex and Relationship Therapist, University of Westminster

    nito/Shutterstock

    Despite being a natural act, many people still feel awkward and embarrassed about masturbation. So, why does this topic make so many of us feel uncomfortable? The past can offer clues.

    Throughout history, views on self-pleasure vary. Egyptians saw masturbation as sacred. Greeks viewed it as natural but not something to celebrate. And Romans considered it inferior to sex with a partner.

    In medieval Europe, masturbation was labelled sinful and harmful. But 20th-century scholars, including sexologists Alfred Kinsey and Shere Hite, challenged negative perceptions and helped normalise masturbation.

    However, the stigma attached to masturbation is stubborn and negative attitudes persist. Attitudes that it’s dirty, shameful or even harmful to touch yourself sexually are often shaped by conflicting messages rooted in societal norms, religious doctrines and inadequate sex education.

    Masturbation remains taboo – some people consider it an unnatural act because it has no reproductive purpose. This negative belief can be bad for health if it contributes to psychological distress, including feelings of guilt and shame caused by ingrained condemnation.

    However, through my experience as a sex therapist and psychology researcher, I understand how openly discussing masturbation with clients has been incredibly beneficial for their mental health. The more we talk about it, the easier it becomes to unravel those shame-filled thoughts. The key is creating a safe and non-judgmental space that encourages self-acceptance and understanding of what makes us tick.

    For one thing, masturbation can be surprisingly educational when it comes to appreciating your body. It’s not just about pleasure; it’s about self-discovery and understanding your sexual response and anatomy while accepting that vulvas and penises come in all shapes and sizes.

    Masturbation offers a safe, judgment-free way to explore and understand your body without any risk of pregnancy or STIs. It allows you to try out what feels good and what doesn’t – essentially getting to know your own pleasure map. It’s also a great way to experiment with sex toys.

    Connecting with your body, including your genitalia, can also help you feel more at ease in your own skin and boost your confidence. Understanding what works for you can feel liberating.

    It also makes it easier to communicate your needs and desires to others. By empowering yourself, you can take charge of your sexual experiences and fully embrace ownership of your body.

    In sex therapy, masturbation is often included as a therapeutic tool. For example, clients may be asked to engage in masturbation exercises.

    This could involve using techniques such as mindfulness to focus on sensations that help them reconnect, by turning their attention to their body and understanding what sensations lead to pleasure. So solo sex helps promote body awareness, which can be especially beneficial for anyone experiencing difficulty with orgasm.

    The stop-start technique is another method used in sex therapy to help with issues like premature ejaculation and erectile dysfunction. It is designed to help people gain greater control, particularly with orgasm and erection management. Here, too, the focus is on the sensations of touch and for the client to build awareness of their sexual responses.

    And, with masturbation, there’s no need to worry about anyone else’s expectations or feel any pressure about sexual performance. So sexual self-pleasure is a positive, safe way to explore the body without feeling rushed or self-conscious.

    Masturbation is also associated with other health benefits. For some, it can reduce stress and promote sleep. During masturbation and orgasm, hormones such as oxytocin (sometimes called the “love hormone”) and endorphins are released. Both play a role in enhancing mood and feelings of relaxation.

    Research has even found that men who ejaculate 21 or more times a month have a 31% lower risk of prostate cancer.



    Read more:
    Does ejaculating often reduce your risk of prostate cancer?

    How much is too much?

    As a sex and relationship therapist, I am often asked: “How much masturbation is too much?” There is no right answer to that.

    Masturbation can be a healthy way to seek pleasure and for some people to cope with emotions like stress. However, if it becomes the primary or only means of emotional regulation, it may start to feel compulsive.

    When this leads to a sense of loss of control, emotional distress or negative effects on daily life, it can be an issue. In these instances, sexual compulsivity attempts to resolve unmet needs, whether they are sexual, emotional or relational.

    Psychosexual therapy is an effective, sex-positive and inclusive approach that helps clients develop a wider range of strategies for managing emotions, not just masturbation.

    As we move toward a more inclusive and open understanding of sexuality, self-pleasure may one day be recognised not as something to feel guilty or ashamed about but as a natural form of self-expression. Until then, it remains a powerful act of self-love.

    Chantal Gautier 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. Masturbation remains taboo – but research shows how it can be good for you – https://theconversation.com/masturbation-remains-taboo-but-research-shows-how-it-can-be-good-for-you-249667

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: ‘Myrrh, conifer oil and … breakfast tea’: my sniffer team’s surprise findings on what mummified bodies smell like

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Cecilia Bembibre, Lecturer in Sustainable Heritage, UCL

    Mum’s the word. Banu Sevim

    When we see objects in museum display cases, it often doesn’t tell their whole story. One thing that tends to get ignored or even lost in the conservation process is the smell. We lose a lot of valuable information as a result, such as how the object was produced or how it functioned.

    My field is called sensory heritage, which relates to how we engage with heritage objects with senses other than vision. As part of this, I develop methods to identify and preserve culturally significant smells.

    For example, I have worked with St Paul’s Cathedral to recreate the scent of its library, to ensure that it can be experienced by future generations. I was also part of an EU-funded project called Odeuropa, which worked with computer scientists and historians to tell the stories of smells from 300 years of European history.

    With help from some perfumers, we brought back smells such as 17th-century Amsterdam, with its canals and linden trees. As a result, for example, visitors to Museum Ulm in southern Germany can experience our olfactory interpretations for ten of the paintings on display.

    My latest project delves much further into the past. I was asked by the University of Ljubljana, in association with the University of Krakow and the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, to help with a study of mummified bodies. Ljubljana was studying a mummified body in the national museum in Slovenia, and had been invited to extend its research to some mummified bodies in Cairo.

    The strict guidelines about studying these bodies stipulate that researchers must use techniques that are not destructive. One way is to see what can be learned by smelling, which is why I joined the project, led by Professor Matija Strlič and PhD researcher Emma Paolin.

    Sarcophaguses on display in Cairo.
    Author provided, CC BY-SA

    We studied nine mummified bodies at the Egyptian Museum, four of which were on display and five in storage. They span different time periods, with the oldest being from 3,500 years ago. They were also conserved in different ways and stored in different places, so they give a decent representation of all the mummified bodies in different collections around the world.

    I put together a team of eight expert sniffers, of which I was one. Some are specialists who have worked with me on other projects, while some are colleagues from the Egyptian Museum who were given smell training in advance. We wanted them on the panel because they are so familiar with the smells in question.

    The research

    We began by doing chemical analysis to ensure the bodies were safe to smell, since in prior decades they were treated with synthetic pesticides to keep them preserved. Several bodies had high concentrations of these pesticides, which could potentially be carcinogenic, so these were removed from the study.

    With the remaining nine, we slightly opened their sarcophaguses to insert little pipes and extract quantities of air. A measured volume of this air went into special bags which we took into a room away from display areas, so I and the other sniffers could experience them “nose on”.

    More air was captured inside metal tubes containing a polymer that traps the volatile organic compounds, so they could be studied in a laboratory at the University of Ljubljana. This air was subjected to various chemical analyses to see which compounds were present, and also separated into its constituent parts using chromatography, so that we sniffers could experience and describe each smell individually.

    This was very hard work: we usually took turns to sit on the end of a special machine with an outlet known as an olfactory port. You spend 15 to 20 minutes experiencing one smell after another, having to quickly describe them and rate their intensity. It can be as much as one smell every second, which can be overwhelming – hence the taking of turns.

    Emma Paolin taking her turn at the olfactory port in Ljubljana.
    Author provided, CC BY-SA

    Our findings

    I was more excited at the prospect of discovering something new than nervous about what it would be like to smell these ancient bodies. However, you’d be forgiven for thinking these odours would not be agreeable. From the accounts of archaeologists to movies such as The Mummy (1999), mummified bodies are associated with foul smells.

    Yet surprisingly, the smells were quite pleasant. The sniff team’s descriptions included “woody”, “floral”, “sweet”, “spicy”, “stale” and “resin-like”. We were able to identify ancient embalming ingredients including conifer oils, frankincense, myrrh and cinnamon.

    Opening the sarcophagus.
    Author provided, CC BY-SA

    We also identified degraded animal fats used in the mummification process; the human remains themselves; and both synthetic pesticides and benign plant-based pest oils that had more recently been used by the museum for preservation.

    Bodies in display cases had a stronger scent than those in storage, but none was as strong as, say, a perfume. Surprisingly, one smelled distinctly of black tea: when you smell a body from millennia ago, you certainly don’t expect to be transported back to your kitchen. The other sniffers agreed about the tea smell, and we later established that the source was probably a chemical called caryophyllene.

    Future steps

    Next, we will reconstruct the smell of the mummified bodies so that visitors to the Egyptian Museum can experience them first-hand. We’ll make both a faithful chemical construction of what we smelled, plus an interpretation of how the body would have smelled when it was sealed off in its tomb.

    It will probably be 2026 before the public can experience these. In the meantime, we’re also being approached by other museums with ancient Egyptian collections who are interested in working with us to apply similar methods.

    Separately, I am working with other colleagues on developing a catalogue for smells of cultural significance to the UK, including vintage cars, traditional dishes and more libraries.

    Gotta love the smell of an old library.
    Author provided, CC BY-SA

    Hopefully, our work with mummified bodies is an example of how you can bring back another dimension of heritage. Experiencing smells helps to give visitors a more holistic appreciation and understanding of the subjects.

    And everyone is fascinated by mummified bodies. Soon, it will be possible to put yourself in the shoes of the archaeologists who originally discovered their tombs, and revealed their secrets to the modern world.

    Part of the research mentioned in this piece was funded by the Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency (grant P1-0447), and the Odeuropa research was funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 101004469.

    – ref. ‘Myrrh, conifer oil and … breakfast tea’: my sniffer team’s surprise findings on what mummified bodies smell like – https://theconversation.com/myrrh-conifer-oil-and-breakfast-tea-my-sniffer-teams-surprise-findings-on-what-mummified-bodies-smell-like-249904

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Partnership can transform education for Met Police

    Source: Anglia Ruskin University

    A major new partnership, Policing Futures London, has been announced with the potential to transform the delivery of police degree apprenticeships in the capital.

    The collaboration brings together Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) and the University of West London (UWL) – two universities that are at the forefront of police education in the UK – with the aim of leading the Metropolitan Police’s initial recruit training from 2026, in line with the Mayor’s Police and Crime Plan 2025-2029.

    Policing Futures London’s mission closely aligns with the A New Met for London strategy, ensuring that officers are not only highly skilled but are deeply connected to the city’s communities and its policing priorities.

    With world-class facilities in east London, near Canary Wharf, and west London, the two universities have already been providing policing education at scale since 2021, all within 60 minutes travel of the Metropolitan Police’s 12 Basic Command Units.

    Anglia Ruskin University and the University of West London have a track record for delivering quality, integrated Police Constable Entry Route (PCER) programmes and could accommodate the full cohort of Metropolitan Police’s recruits at any one time.

    Anglia Ruskin University has successfully co-delivered PCER programmes alongside the seven forces in the South East and East of England to over 2,600 student police officers since 2021, while together Anglia Ruskin and the University of West London have four years’ experience of working with the Metropolitan Police, training more than 3,870 Met officers.

    Building on the delivery over the last four years, with the rich knowledge and experience of the collective academic staff, new programmes would be co-designed with the police service and led by teams who live and work in London, ensuring that officers are fully equipped to police the communities they serve.

    Policing Futures London would prioritise support for widening access and inclusive outreach recruitment programmes, would embed community engagement models to build trust between new officers and the diverse communities of London, and would be delivered by both police professionals and academic experts.

    Policing Futures London is backed up by world-class research, with Anglia Ruskin University home to both the International Policing and Public Protection Research Institute and the Centre of Excellence for Equity in Uniformed Public Services.

    In the last 18 months, Anglia Ruskin University has been named University of the Year at the UK Social Mobility Awards, the Times Higher Education University of the Year, and is in the top 20% of universities in the country for teaching quality, having been awarded a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF).

    University of West London was the number one London university for overall student satisfaction in the National Student Survey 2024* and was named best university for Student Experience and Teaching Quality in the UK in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024.

    “This partnership is about more than just delivering quality education – it’s about shaping the future of policing in London. By bringing together two institutions with deep experience in police education, we are ensuring that London’s officers receive the highest quality training, close to the communities they serve, and preparing them for the challenges of 21st-century law enforcement.”

    Sara Archer, Head of Police Education at Anglia Ruskin University

    “This exciting partnership brings together two powerhouses in policing education, not only in London but nationally, ready to deliver police training programmes that London deserves: resilient, innovative, and reflective of its communities. Policing Futures London is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build that.”

    Adrian Ellison, Pro Vice-Chancellor and executive lead for policing education at the University of West London

    “As a London university we understand London and its unique policing needs. We have directly influenced the design of the new PCDA standard, based on our extensive experience working with the MPS, to place practice-based learning and assessment at its heart. Understanding the need for everyone to work to ever tightening budgets, we will never sacrifice quality for cost.

    “This exciting new partnership combines a wealth of knowledge, experience and expertise with the aim of giving Londoners the continued quality of policing they deserve.”

    Andy Rose, Head of the Institute for Policing Studies at the University of West London

    *calculated as the average of all questions by registered populations. Excludes specialist providers, National Student Survey 2024.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Institute of International Humanitarian Affairs (IIHA)

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    Mission

    The Institute of International Humanitarian Affairs (IIHA) prepares current and future aid workers with the knowledge and skills needed to respond effectively in times of humanitarian crisis and disaster. Its courses are borne of an interdisciplinary curriculum that combines academic theory with the practical experience of seasoned humanitarian professionals.

    IIHA has designed its graduate and non-credit course offerings to be accessible to aid workers of various backgrounds and levels of experience as they continue to work in humanitarian crises around the world. The undergraduate courses are informed by their extensive experience within the field of humanitarian training and embody the moral ideals and critical analysis of a Fordham University education. In addition to our courses, IIHA publishes on a wide range of humanitarian topics and regularly host a number of events in the New York area.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: University of Essex

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    Mission

    The University of Essex is a public research university in Essex, England. Established by royal charter in 1965, it is one of the original plate glass universities.

    The university comprises three campuses in the county, in Southend-on-Sea and Loughton with its primary campus in Wivenhoe Park, Colchester.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Metis Institute for Strategy and Foresight

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    Mission

    Named after the Greek goddess of prudence and wise counsel, the Metis Institute for Strategy and Foresight brings academic knowledge to bear on today’s and tomorrow’s strategically relevant challenges of international politics.

    At home at University of the Bundeswehr Munich , Metis connects academic inquiry with policy practice. It combines continuous and scientifically rigorous research with problem-oriented, interdisciplinary counsel to the Policy Department at the Federal Ministry of Defence.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: University of the Bundeswehr Munich

    Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

    Mission

    University of the Bundeswehr Munich is one of two research universities in Germany at federal level that both were founded in 1973 as part of the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr).

    Originally called Hochschule der Bundeswehr München the institution was supposed to offer civilian academic education for military officers. As an uncommon feature amongst German universities University of the Bundeswehr Munich unifies a more theoretical research university division and a more practical-oriented College of Applied Sciences branch. Today, the university has an increasing number of civilian and international students.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: GUU is looking for dancers

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    A unique opportunity for dance lovers! Join the SMU team to participate in the All-Russian festival “Russian Student Spring”.

    Young men and women with dance experience are invited. We are waiting for creative guys who are ready for dance experiments, for whom dancing is part of everyday life. Don’t miss the chance to make a name for yourself. Only until February 17 you can become part of this exciting project!

    Rehearsals begin now!

    First gathering: February 17 at 18:45 Dance floor of the Central Control and Monitoring Center

    If you want to become part of the team, know how to dance, are passionate about it and are ready to actively participate in extracurricular activities, register and come to the rehearsal: https://forms.yandex.ru/u/67ab9f8d02848fef4723480b/

    If you have any questions, please contact: 89037238637 (WhatsApp/Telegram) – Vladimir Borisovich Zarnitsky VK: https://vk.com/id1581114 89248927268 (WhatsApp/Telegram) – Anastasia Popalitova VK: https://vk.com/nastya_popalitova

    Subscribe to the tg channel “Our State University” Announcement date: 02/14/2025

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sols 4452-4453: Keeping Warm and Keeping Busy

    Source: NASA

    Earth planning date: Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025
    I woke up this morning to my weather app telling me it felt like minus 15° C (5°F) outside. On days like this, it can take me a little longer to get myself up and out into the world. Curiosity has a similar problem — as we head toward winter and it gets colder and colder in Gale Crater, Curiosity has to spend more time warming up to do things like driving and all our good science. I’ve also been watching a couple winter storms that are expected in the next few days here in Toronto. Luckily, Curiosity doesn’t have to deal with snowstorms, and our drive in the last plan went ahead as planned and put us in a good position to go ahead with contact science today, a relief after having to forego it on Monday. 
    The contact science location that the geology team chose is called “Catalina Island,” the flat rock you can see in almost the center of the image above. As you can likely also see above, there’s a whole jumble of rocks in that image, and Mastcam and ChemCam have picked out a couple others to take a look at. These are “Point Dume,” which will be the target of ChemCam’s laser spectrometer, and “Whittier Narrows,” on which Mastcam will image some linear features. Mastcam and ChemCam are also turning their gazes further afield for Mastcam targets “Cleghorn Ridge,” “Cuyamaca Peak,” “Kratka Ridge,” and two long-distance ChemCam mosaics of the top of the Wilkerson butte and a spot a little further down known as “Pothole Trail.”
    Much like I’m keeping an eye out the window on the changing weather here, Curiosity is also continuing to keep an eye on the environment in Gale Crater. Even though it’s not the dusty season, we continue to monitor the dust around us and in the atmosphere with a dust-devil survey and a tau. But we’re especially interested in what the clouds are up to right now, which we’re checking in on with our normal zenith and suprahorizon movies, and our cloud-season-only Phase Function Sky Survey. This is a series of movies covering the whole sky that we can use to determine how sunlight interacts with the individual water-ice crystals in the clouds.
    Written by Alex Innanen, Atmospheric Scientist at York University

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Tests Drones to Provide Micrometeorology, Aid in Fire Response

    Source: NASA

    In Aug. 2024, a team of NASA researchers and partners gathered in Missoula, to test new drone-based technology for localized forecasting, or micrometeorology. Researchers attached wind sensors to a drone, NASA’s Alta X quadcopter, aiming to provide precise and sustainable meteorological data to help predict fire behavior.
    Wildfires are increasing in number and severity around the world, including the United States, and wind is a major factor. It leads to unexpected and unpredictable fire growth, public threats, and fire fatalities, making micrometeorology a very effective tool to combat fire.

    The campaign was run by NASA’s FireSense project, focused on addressing challenges in wildland fire management by putting NASA science and technology in the hands of operational agencies.
    “Ensuring that the new technology will be easily adoptable by operational agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service and the National Weather Service was another primary goal of the campaign,” said Jacquelyn Shuman, FireSense project scientist at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley.
    The FireSense team chose the Alta X drone because the U.S. Forest Service already has a fleet of the quadcopters and trained drone pilots, which could make integrating the needed sensors – and the accompanying infrastructure – much easier and more cost-effective for the agency.

    The choice of the two sensors for the drone’s payload was also driven by their adoptability.
    The first, called a radiosonde, measures wind direction and speed, humidity, temperature, and pressure, and is used daily by the National Weather Service. The other sensor, an anemometer, measures wind speed and direction, and is used at weather stations and airports around the world.

    “Anemometers are everywhere, but are usually stationary,” said Robert McSwain, the FireSense uncrewed aerial system (UAS) lead, based at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. “We are taking a sensor type that is already used all over the world, and giving it wings.”

    Robert Mcswain
    FireSense Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS) Lead

    Both sensors create datasets that are already familiar to meteorologists worldwide, which opens up the potential applications of the platform.

    Traditionally, global weather forecasting data is gathered by attaching a radiosonde to a weather balloon and releasing it into the air. This system works well for regional weather forecasts. But the rapidly changing environment of wildland fire requires more recurrent, pinpointed forecasts to accurately predict fire behavior. It’s the perfect niche for a drone.

    “These drones are not meant to replace the weather balloons,” said Jennifer Fowler, FireSense’s project manager at Langley. “The goal is to create a drop-in solution to get more frequent, localized data for wildfires – not to replace all weather forecasting.”

    Jennifer Fowler
    FireSense Project Manager

    Drones can be piloted to keep making measurements over a precise location – an on-site forecaster could fly one every couple of hours as conditions change – and gather timely data to help determine how weather will impact the direction and speed of a fire.
    Fire crews on the ground may need this information to make quick decisions about where to deploy firefighters and resources, draw fire lines, and protect nearby communities.
    A reusable platform, like a drone, also reduces the financial and environmental impact of forecasting flights. 
    “A weather balloon is going to be a one-off, and the attached sensor won’t be recovered,” Fowler said. “The instrumented drone, on the other hand, can be flown repeatedly.”

    Before such technology can be sent out to a fire, it needs to be tested. That’s what the FireSense team did this summer.

    McSwain described the conditions in Missoula as an “alignment of stars” for the research: the complex mountain terrain produces erratic, historically unpredictable winds, and the sparsity of monitoring instruments on the ground makes weather forecasting very difficult. During the three-day campaign, several fires burned nearby, which allowed researchers to test how the drones performed in smokey conditions.
    A drone team out of NASA Langley conducted eight data-collection flights in Missoula. Before each drone flight, student teams from the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho, and Salish Kootenai College in Pablo, Montana, launched a weather balloon carrying the same type of radiometer.

    Once those data sets were created, they needed to be transformed into a usable format. Meteorologists are used to the numbers, but incident commanders on an active fire need to see the data in a form that allows them to quickly understand which conditions are changing, and how. That’s where data visualization partners come in. For the Missoula campaign, teams from MITRE, NVIDIA, and Esri joined NASA in the field.

    Measurements from both the balloon and the drone platforms were immediately sent to the on-site data teams. The MITRE team, together with NVIDIA, tested high-resolution artificial intelligence meteorological models, while the Esri team created comprehensive visualizations of flight paths, temperatures, and wind speed and direction. These visual representations of the data make conclusions more immediately apparent to non-meteorologists.

    Development of drone capabilities for fire monitoring didn’t begin in Missoula, and it won’t end there.
    “This campaign leveraged almost a decade of research, development, engineering, and testing,” said McSwain. “We have built up a UAS flight capability that can now be used across NASA.”

    Robert Mcswain
    FireSense Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS) Lead

    The NASA Alta X and its sensor payload will head to Alabama and Florida in spring 2025, incorporating improvements identified in Montana. There, the team will perform another technology demonstration with wildland fire managers from a different region.
    To view more photos from the FireSense campaign visit: https://nasa.gov/firesense
    The FireSense project is led by NASA Headquarters in Washington and sits within the Wildland Fires program, with the project office based at NASA Ames. The goal of FireSense is to transition Earth science and technological capabilities to operational wildland fire management agencies, to address challenges in U.S. wildland fire management before, during, and after a fire. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: How NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer Will Make a Looping Voyage to the Moon

    Source: NASA

    Before arriving at the Moon, the small satellite mission will use the gravity of the Sun, Earth, and Moon over several months to gradually line up for capture into lunar orbit.
    NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer arrived in Florida recently in advance of its launch later this month and has been integrated with a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Shipped from Lockheed Martin Space in Littleton, Colorado, the small satellite is riding along on Intuitive Machines’ IM-2 launch — part of NASA’s CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) initiative — which is slated for no earlier than Thursday, Feb. 26, from Launch Complex 39A at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center.
    Approximately 48 minutes after launch, Lunar Trailblazer will separate from the rocket and begin its independent flight to the Moon. The small satellite will discover where the Moon’s water is, what form it is in, and how it changes over time, producing the best-yet maps of water on the lunar surface. Observations gathered during its two-year prime mission will contribute to the understanding of water cycles on airless bodies throughout the solar system while also supporting future human and robotic missions to the Moon by identifying where water is located.
    Key to achieving these goals are the spacecraft’s two state-of-the-art science instruments: the High-resolution Volatiles and Minerals Moon Mapper (HVM3) infrared spectrometer and the Lunar Thermal Mapper (LTM) infrared multispectral imager. The HVM3 instrument was provided by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California and LTM was built by the University of Oxford and funded by the UK Space Agency.

    “The small team is international in scope, which is more typical of larger projects,” said Andy Klesh, Lunar Trailblazer’s project systems engineer at JPL. “And unlike the norm for small missions that may only have a very focused, singular purpose, Lunar Trailblazer has two high-fidelity instruments onboard. We are really punching above our weight.”
    Intricate Navigation
    Before it can use these instruments to collect science data, Lunar Trailblazer will for several months perform a series of Moon flybys, thruster bursts, and looping orbits. These highly choreographed maneuvers will eventually position the spacecraft so it can map the surface in great detail.
    Weighing only 440 pounds (200 kilograms) and measuring 11.5 feet (3.5 meters) wide when its solar panels are fully deployed, Lunar Trailblazer is about the size of a dishwasher and has a relatively small engine. To make its four-to-seven-month trip to the Moon (depending on the launch date) as efficient as possible, the mission’s design and navigation team has planned a trajectory that will use the gravity of the Sun, Earth, and Moon to guide the spacecraft — a technique called low-energy transfer.
    “The initial boost provided by the rocket will send the spacecraft past the Moon and into deep space, and its trajectory will then be naturally reshaped by gravity after several lunar flybys and loops around Earth. This will allow it to be captured into lunar orbit with minimal propulsion needs,” said Gregory Lantoine, Lunar Trailblazer’s mission design and navigation lead at JPL. “It’s the most fuel-efficient way to get to where we need to go.”
    As it flies past the Moon several times, the spacecraft will use small thruster bursts — aka trajectory correction maneuvers — to slowly change its orbit from highly elliptical to circular, bringing the satellite down to an altitude of about 60 miles (100 kilometers) above the Moon’s surface.
    Arriving at the Moon
    Once in its science orbit, Lunar Trailblazer will glide over the Moon’s surface, making 12 orbits a day and observing the surface at a variety of different times of day over the course of the mission. The satellite will also be perfectly placed to peer into the permanently shadowed craters at the Moon’s South Pole, which harbor cold traps that never see direct sunlight. If Lunar Trailblazer finds significant quantities of ice at the base of the craters, those locations could be pinpointed as a resource for future lunar explorers.
    The data the mission collects will be transmitted to NASA’s Deep Space Network and delivered to Lunar Trailblazer’s new operations center at Caltech’s IPAC in Pasadena, California. Working alongside the mission’s experienced team will be students from Caltech and nearby Pasadena City College who are involved in all aspects of the mission, from operations and communications to developing software.
    Lunar Trailblazer was a selection of NASA’s SIMPLEx (Small Innovative Missions for Planetary Exploration), which provides opportunities for low-cost science spacecraft to ride-share with selected primary missions. To maintain the lower overall cost, SIMPLEx missions have a higher risk posture and lighter requirements for oversight and management. This higher risk acceptance allows NASA to test pioneering technologies, and the definition of success for these missions includes the lessons learned from more experimental endeavors.
    “We are a small mission with groundbreaking science goals, so we will succeed by embracing the flexibility that’s built into our organization,” said Lee Bennett, Lunar Trailblazer operations lead with IPAC. “Our international team consists of seasoned engineers, science team members from several institutions, and local students who are being given the opportunity to work on a NASA mission for the first time.”
    More About Lunar Trailblazer
    Lunar Trailblazer is led by Principal Investigator Bethany Ehlmann of Caltech in Pasadena, California. Caltech also leads the mission’s science investigation and mission operations. This includes planning, scheduling, and sequencing of all science, instrument, and spacecraft activities during the nominal mission. Science data processing will be done in the Bruce Murray Laboratory for Planetary Visualization at Caltech. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California manages Lunar Trailblazer and provides system engineering, mission assurance, the HVM3 instrument, and mission design and navigation. Lockheed Martin Space provides the spacecraft, integrates the flight system, and supports operations under contract with Caltech. University of Oxford developed and provided the LTM instrument. Part of NASA’s Lunar Discovery Exploration Program, the mission is managed by NASA’s Planetary Mission Program Office at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, for the agency’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington.
    For more information about Lunar Trailblazer, visit:
    https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/lunar-trailblazer

    News Media Contacts
    Karen Fox / Molly WasserNASA Headquarters, Washington202-358-1600karen.c.fox@nasa.gov / molly.l.wasser@nasa.gov
    Ian J. O’NeillJet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.818-354-2649ian.j.oneill@jpl.nasa.gov
    Isabel SwaffordCaltech IPAC626-216-4257iswafford@ipac.caltech.edu
    2025-021

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) imposes penalty of ₹ 3 Lakh on coaching institute for advertising misleading claims of IIT- JEE results

    Source: Government of India

    Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) imposes penalty of ₹ 3 Lakh on coaching institute for advertising misleading claims of IIT- JEE results

    46 notices to various coaching institutes issued so far

    Posted On: 14 FEB 2025 12:00PM by PIB Delhi

    The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed penalty of ₹ 3 lakh on IITian’s Prashikshan Kendra Pvt. Ltd. (IITPK) for advertising misleading claims regarding result of IIT- JEE examination. The decision was taken to ensure that no false or misleading advertisement is made of any goods or services which contravenes the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.

    CCPA has so far issued 46 notices to various coaching institutes for misleading advertisements. The CCPA has imposed penalty of 77 lakhs 60 thousand on 24 coaching institutes and directed them to discontinue the misleading advertisements.

    In view of the violation of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, the CCPA, headed by Chief Commissioner, Smt. Nidhi Khare, and Commissioner, Shri Anupam Mishra has issued an Order against IITian’s Prashikshan Kendra Pvt. Ltd. (IITPK).

    False impression of national level toppers: The institute’s advertisements prominently featured titles such as “IIT Topper” and “NEET Topper” alongside the bold numbers ‘1’ and ‘2’ in front of candidate names and pictures. This misrepresentation was designed to create the deceptive impression that these students had secured All India Rank in respective examinations. The institute deliberately concealed that students were merely toppers within the institute, not at the national level. These misrepresentation can significantly influence the decisions of students who are the target audience (primarily students of classes 7th to 12th, aged 14-17). They are likely to assume that the institute consistently produces top national performers, thus influencing their choice of coaching institute under false pretenses.

    Misleading claims of IIT ranks: The institute claimed, “1384 IIT Ranks in the past 21 years by IITPK,” suggesting that 1384 students coached by the institute secured admission into the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). Deceptive Implications: The advertisement did not clarify that not all 1384 students were selected into IITs. By using the phrase “IIT Ranks,” the institute misled consumers into believing that these students exclusively secured admission into IITs, thereby exaggerating its success rate. Upon investigation, the CCPA (Central Consumer Protection Authority) found that the list provided by the institute included students admitted to a variety of institutions, including IITs, IIITs, NITs, BITS, Manipal University, VIT Vellore, PICT Pune, MIT Pune, VIT Pune, and other educational institutions.

    Misleading success ratio claims: Inflated and Unqualified Statements: The institute used bold claims such as “Highest success ratio year after year,” “Best success ratio for 21 years,” and “Success Ratio at 61%” in its advertisements. These statements were presented without any supporting data or context, leading consumers to believe that 61% of the institute’s students secure admission into IITs. The institute did not provide any comparative analysis or third-party verification to substantiate these claims.  During hearings, the institute submitted that the term “Success Ratio” was clarified during webinars and one-on-one counseling sessions. However, the primary platform for these claims was the advertisements themselves, where no such clarification was provided. This strategy misleads potential students and parents by not presenting crucial information upfront.

    The CCPA found that the institute deliberately concealed important information that would have helped students make an informed decision when choosing a course or coaching institute/platform. Therefore, CCPA deemed it necessary to impose a penalty in the interest of impressionable students and address false or misleading advertisements and unfair trade practices.

    (Final Order is available on the Central Consumer Protection Authority website https://doca.gov.in/ccpa/orders-advisories.php?page_no=1)

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    Abhishek Dayal/Nihi Sharma

    (Release ID: 2103128) Visitor Counter : 27

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Heartfulness Lord Buddha Trination Tri-Services Motorcycle Expedition to Cover Key Buddhist Sites Across Nepal, India, and Sri Lanka

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Heartfulness Lord Buddha Trination Tri-Services Motorcycle Expedition to Cover Key Buddhist Sites Across Nepal, India, and Sri Lanka

     Official flag-off will take place at Bodhgaya on 19th February 2025

    Posted On: 14 FEB 2025 11:18AM by PIB Delhi

    The Heartfulness Lord Buddha Trination Tri-Services Motorcycle Expedition is a historic and unique initiative uniting Nepal, India, and Sri Lanka in a journey through their shared Buddhist heritage. Under the leadership of Convener Shri Rahul Laxman Patil, the expedition is organized in association with the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) along with other partners.

    The journey will commence on 16th February 2025 from Lumbini, Nepal, the birthplace of Lord Buddha, symbolizing the historical spread of Buddhism and reinforcing the deep-rooted cultural and spiritual connections among these countries. The expedition will cover significant Buddhist heritage sites across Nepal, India, and Sri Lanka.

    The Indian chapter of the expedition is being organized with the support of the Land Port Authority of India (under the Ministry of Home Affairs) and Nalanda University, Rajgir (under the Ministry of External Affairs), with BIMSTEC as the strategic partner and IBC as the guiding institution. The route will include key Buddhist landmarks such as:

    • Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh – The site of Buddha’s first sermon
    • Bodhgaya, Bihar – The place of Buddha’s enlightenment
    • Nalanda, Bihar – The renowned ancient Buddhist university
    • Nagarjuna Sagar, Andhra Pradesh – An important Buddhist learning center
    • Udayagiri, Odisha – A significant Buddhist monastic site
    • Karnataka – Various Buddhist sites reflecting India’s rich Buddhist legacy

    The official flag-off will take place at Bodhgaya on 19th February 2025, led by Shri Ram Nath Kovind, Former President of India, at this iconic Buddhist pilgrimage site. The expedition will then proceed to Sri Lanka, where it will receive a ceremonial welcome in Jaffna, marking the culmination of this historic journey. The Sri Lankan leg of the event will highlight the enduring Buddhist ties between the three nations and further promote cultural diplomacy.

    • The Heartfulness Lord Buddha Trination Tri-Services Motorcycle Expedition aims to:
    • Promote peace and harmony through the teachings of Buddha
    • Enhance cultural and heritage tourism across South Asia
    • Raise awareness on environmental conservation and sustainable development
    • Strengthen people-to-people and defence ties between India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka

    This initiative is a testament to the unifying power of Buddhism, fostering goodwill and cooperation between the three nations while celebrating their common spiritual and historical heritage.

    ***

    Sunil Kumar Tiwari

    pibculture[at]gmail[dot]com

    (Release ID: 2103111) Visitor Counter : 25

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Text of PM’s remarks during SAMVAD programme in Thailand

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 14 FEB 2025 10:20AM by PIB Delhi

    Namo Buddhaya!

    It is an honour to join you all for this edition of SAMVAD in Thailand. Many distinguished institutions and individuals from India, Japan, and Thailand  are working to make this event possible. I commend all of them for their efforts and extend my greetings to all participants.

    Friends,

    I take this opportunity to remember my friend, Mr. Shinzo  Abe. In 2015, the idea of SAMVAD emerged from my conversations with him. Since then, SAMVAD has travelled across various countries, fostering debate, dialogue, and deeper understanding

    Friends,

    I am delighted that this edition of SAMVAD is taking place in Thailand. Thailand has a rich culture, history, and heritage. It stands as a beautiful example of the shared philosophical and spiritual traditions of Asia.

    Friends,

    India and Thailand share deep cultural ties that span over two thousand years. The Ramayana and Ramakien connect us. Our shared reverence for Bhagwan Buddha unites us. Last year,  when we sent holy relics of Bhagwan Buddha to Thailand, millions of devotees paid their respects. Our nations also share a vibrant partnership across multiple sectors. India’s ‘Act East’ policy and Thailand’s ‘Act West’ policy complement each other, promoting mutual progress and prosperity. This conference marks another successful chapter in our friendship.

    Friends,

    The theme of SAMVAD speaks of the Asian Century. When people use this term, they often refer to Asia’s economic rise. However, this conference highlights that the Asian Century is not just about economic value but also about social values. The teachings of Bhagwan Buddha can guide the world in creating a peaceful and progressive era. His wisdom holds the power to lead us towards a human-centric future.

    Friends,

    One of the core themes of SAMVAD is conflict avoidance. Often, conflicts arise from the belief that only our path is correct while all others are wrong. Bhagwan Buddha offers insight  into this issue:

    इमेसु किर सज्जन्ति, एके समणब्राह्मणा |

    विग्गय्ह नं विवदन्ति,

    जना एकंगदस्सिनो ||

    This means that some people cling to their own views  and argue, seeing only one side as true. But multiple perspectives can exist on the same issue. This is why the Rig Veda states:

    एकं सद्विप्रा बहु॒धा वदन्ति |

    When we acknowledge that truth may be seen through different lenses,  we can avoid conflict.

    Friends,

    Another cause of conflict is perceiving others as fundamentally different from ourselves. Differences lead to distance, and distance can turn into discord.To counter this, a verse from the Dhammapada states:

    सब्बे तसन्ति दण्डस्स, सब्बे भायन्ति मच्चुनो |

    अत्तानं उपमं कत्वा, न हनेय्य न घातये ||

    This means that everyone fears pain and death. By recognizing others as similar to ourselves, we can ensure that no harm or violence occurs. If these words are followed, conflict can be avoided.

    Friends,

    Many of the world’s issues stem from taking extreme positions rather than a balanced approach. Extreme views lead to conflicts, environmental crises, and even stress-related health problems. The solution to such challenges lies in the teachings of Bhagwan Buddha. He urged us to follow the Middle Path and avoid extremes. The principle of moderation remains relevant today and offers guidance in addressing global challenges.

    Friends,

    Today, conflicts extend beyond people and nations- humanity is increasingly in conflict with nature. This has led to an environmental crisis that threatens our planet. The answer to this challenge lies in the shared traditions of Asia, rooted in the principles of Dhamma. Hinduism, Buddhism, Shintoism, and other Asian traditions teach us to live in harmony with nature. We do not see ourselves as separate from nature but as a part of it. We believe in the concept of trusteeship, as advocated by Mahatma Gandhi. When using natural resources for progress today, we must also consider our responsibility to future generations. This approach ensures  that resources are used for growth, not greed.

    Friends,

    I hail from Vadnagar, a small town in western India that was once a great seat of Buddhist learning. In the Indian Parliament, I represent Varanasi, which includes Sarnath. Sarnath is the sacred place where Bhagwan Buddha delivered his first discourse. It is a beautiful coincidence that places associated with Bhagwan Buddha have shaped my journey.

     Friends,

    Our reverence for Bhagwan Buddha is reflected in the policies of our government. We have developed tourism infrastructure to connect important Buddhist sites as part of the Buddhist Circuit. The ‘Buddha Purnima Express’ special train has been launched to facilitate travel within this circuit. The inauguration of the Kushinagar International Airport is a historic step that benefits international Buddhist pilgrims. Recently, we have announced various development initiatives for Bodh Gaya to enhance its infrastructure. I warmly invite pilgrims, scholars, and monks from around the world to visit India, the land of Bhagwan Buddha.

    Friends,

    Nalanda Mahavihara was one of the greatest universities in history. It was destroyed centuries ago by the forces of conflict. But we have shown our resilience  by now reviving it as a center of learning. With the blessings of Bhagwan Buddha, I am confident that Nalanda University will regain its former glory. A significant step has also been taken to promote Pali, the language in which Bhagwan Buddha delivered his teachings. Pali has been declared a classical language by our government, ensuring the preservation of its literature. Additionally, we have launched the Gyan Bharatam mission to identify and catalog ancient manuscripts. This will encourage documentation and digitalization for the benefit of scholars of Buddhism.

    Friends,

    Over the past decade, we have collaborated with many nations to promote the teachings of Bhagwan Buddha. Recently, the First Asian Buddhist Summit was held in India under the theme ‘The Role of Buddha Dhamma in Strengthening Asia. Earlier, India hosted the First Global Buddhist Summit. I had the honor of laying the foundation stone for the India International Center for Buddhist Culture & Heritage at Lumbini, Nepal. India has also contributed to the construction of the Lumbini Museum. Further, the ‘Concise Orders’ of Lord Buddha, Mongolian Kanjur of 108 volumes, were reprinted in India and distributed to monasteries in Mongolia. Our efforts in conservation of monuments in many countries, reinforce our commitment to Bhagwan Buddha’s legacy.

    Friends,

    It is encouraging that this edition of SAMVAD is hosting a religious roundtable, bringing together diverse religious leaders. I am confident that valuable insights will emerge from this platform, shaping a more harmonious world. Once again, I extend my gratitude to the people and Government of Thailand for hosting this conference. My best wishes to all participants  who have gathered here to advance this noble mission. May the light of Dhamma continue to guide us toward an era of peace, progress, and prosperity.

     

    ****

    MJPS/VJ

    (Release ID: 2103073) Visitor Counter : 29

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –