Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Moscow State Technological University “Stankin” turns 95 years old.
Dear friends!
I sincerely congratulate you on this significant event – the 95th anniversary of the founding of the Moscow State Technological University “Stankin”.
Over its nearly century-long history, it has come a long way, becoming one of the leading technical universities in Russia. And all these years it has been making an invaluable contribution to the development of domestic mechanical engineering, automation, information technology, and the training of highly qualified engineering personnel.
Today, Stankin is a modern educational and research center where innovations are combined with fundamental knowledge. The university is rightfully proud of its glorious traditions, scientific schools, advanced developments and thousands of talented graduates who successfully realize themselves in various industries, science and business.
Behind all the achievements is the dedicated work of several generations of teachers, many of whom are recognized experts in their fields. Thanks to your professionalism and boundless dedication to the cause, students acquire extensive scientific and practical experience, learn to think outside the box, and find solutions to the most complex technical problems.
I am confident that Stankin will continue to be a leader in engineering education and a training ground for personnel for high-tech industries.
I wish the faculty, staff and students of the university success, new discoveries and prosperity.
M. Mishustin
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
During the International Scientific conference “Implementation of Innovations. New Materials and Additive Technologies” (VINMiAT-25), which took place at the Technopolis Polytech Scientific Research Institute, the School of Young Scientists was in operation. It was attended by students, postgraduates, early career researchers, as well as leading specialists in the field of additive technologies, materials science, and digital engineering.
The main objectives of the school are to ensure the transfer of advanced knowledge about modern production methods, to promote the growth of professionalism of young personnel and to introduce them to advanced trends in the field of scientific developments.
After the plenary session, the school participants worked in two sections: “Welding and related technologies/Nature-like materials and additive technologies for their production” and “Equipment, automation and robotics of innovative technologies”.
In the first section, Yarob Aldaiye, an engineer at the Research Laboratory of LiAT IMMiT, presented a report entitled “Assessment of residual deformations of a welded joint formed using various welding methods”. The scientist analyzed the influence of the welding method on the level of residual deformations, energy input and the width of the heat-affected zone, as well as on technical and economic characteristics. As part of the work, technologies for welding steel samples using various methods were created, control samples were welded to assess residual deformations, metallographic studies of welded joints were conducted, residual deformations of welded samples were analyzed and compared, and a technical and economic justification for the selected welding methods was carried out.
The second report, “Restoration of nozzle blades made of cobalt alloy MAR-M 509 using laser gas-powder surfacing,” was given by Vladimir Protsenko, an engineer at the Research Laboratory of LiAT.
A separate presentation was devoted to the restoration of nozzle blades made of cobalt and nickel alloy using laser cladding. SPbPU scientists developed a laser cladding technology and a method for preventing crack formation. The cladding blades successfully passed operational tests.
Anna Abdrakhmanova, an engineer at the Materials Design and Additive Manufacturing Laboratory, presented a report on the topic of “Study of Mechanical Properties of Continuously Reinforced Nature-Like Polymer Composite”. Maria Zaitseva, an engineer at the Russian-Chinese Research Laboratory of Functional Materials, spoke about the features of selective laser melting of DUO steel with platform heating.
Victoria Nefedova, an engineer at the Scientific and Educational Center for Structural and Functional Materials, presented the development of biocompatible titanium-tantalum composites using selective laser melting, and her colleague, engineer Alexander Zolotarev, spoke about the modification of the heat-resistant alloy BZh159 with TiB₂ and Y₂O₃ nanoparticles. Then Alexander Zaitsev, an engineer at the Russian-Chinese Laboratory for Functional Materials, gave a report on the production of a polymer-ceramic material using the filament deposition modeling method (FDM technology).
The event continued with a traditional tour of the IMMiT laboratories, where the school participants were able to get acquainted with modern equipment, industrial 3D printing systems, and discuss the knowledge gained with leading scientists working at the institute.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
July 12 marked the 95th anniversary of the founding of the Moscow State Technological University “Stankin” – one of the leading technical universities in the country. Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko took part in the ceremonial celebration of this significant date for the university, and also presented diplomas with honors to the best students.
The Deputy Prime Minister read out a congratulatory message from Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, who is a graduate of Stankin, to the university staff and students.
Dmitry Chernyshenko, in turn, shared his memories of how he himself was once a student at the university, and spoke about plans for its development: by 2030, a modern, world-class campus will be built for Stankin.
“Soon, Stankin will acquire a new site with new high-tech premises with an area of over 200 thousand square meters, designed for 11 thousand students. A modern scientific and educational ecosystem will appear by 2030 through the joint efforts of Moscow and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education. Therefore, those who will proudly bear the title of Stankinites will receive even more unique opportunities to realize their talents, as President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin instructed us. I wish the staff and students all the best, and the graduates – to fully realize their potential, as all Stankinites do. Good luck to you, bon voyage!” said the Deputy Prime Minister.
Acting Rector Boris Padalkin also congratulated the graduates. The acting rector noted that on this solemn day the students receive their diplomas and take a serious step into their future lives. He expressed confidence that they will become good engineers and will bring glory to Stankin in the years to come.
As a token of gratitude, Dmitry Chernyshenko, as a graduate of the Faculty of Automated Systems for Control of Industrial Processes (now the Institute of Information Technologies) of MSTU “Stankin”, received a symbolic scarf from the acting rector Boris Padalkin. This gift, which has become traditional for current graduates, symbolizes the inseparable connection between generations and the continuity of traditions in the training of engineering personnel of the highest level.
Dmitry Chernyshenko also assessed how the admission campaign at MSTU “Stankin” is going. The Deputy Prime Minister was informed that the recruitment of applicants in 2025 is going well, and for master’s and postgraduate studies, it is significantly ahead of last year’s figures. This year, the university allocated more than 1.6 thousand budget places, for which more than 4.5 thousand applicants from 22 thousand competitive groups applied. The most popular method of submission is through the super service “Online University Admission”: 85% of applications were submitted this way.
The following areas of training are most in demand among applicants: computer science and computer engineering, information systems and technologies, software engineering and automation. Currently, more than 5.5 thousand undergraduate and graduate students are studying at the university, and over its history, the university has graduated more than 70 thousand engineers who have contributed to the development of the country.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – Government of the Russian Federation –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
The Russian team showed outstanding results at the 57th International Chemistry Olympiad, which ended in Dubai (United Arab Emirates). All four participants from Russia won gold medals. Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko and Minister of Education Sergey Kravtsov congratulated the schoolchildren and their mentors on their victory.
“Every medal of Russian schoolchildren is a great joy and pride of the country. At a recent meeting, President Vladimir Putin especially noted the success of our Olympiad participants. All members of the team once again demonstrated their skills and received gold medals, scoring high points among about 1,000 representatives from 90 countries. As the head of state noted, we need to achieve excellence in chemistry and in the creation of new materials. I am confident that the winners of the International Chemistry Olympiad will be able to make a significant contribution to achieving this goal in the future,” said Dmitry Chernyshenko.
The Russian team took second place in the team standings.
The head of the Ministry of Education noted that the children’s achievements are the result of hard work and perseverance, which the entire country can be proud of.
“On behalf of the Russian Ministry of Education and on my own behalf, I would like to sincerely congratulate you on your successful performance at the 57th International Chemistry Olympiad in Dubai! In the conditions of tough competition among thousands of young talents, you demonstrated a high level of knowledge. By taking prize places, you confirmed that the Russian school still holds a strong position in the international arena. We are proud of you and are confident that many new victories and achievements await you ahead,” emphasized Sergey Kravtsov.
The Russian national team included:
• Konstantin Gunko (school No. 1589, Moscow);
• Viktor Demidov (TsPM school, Moscow);
• Vladimir Elistratov (TsPM school, Moscow);
• Fyodor Kuznetsov (school No. 1329, Moscow).
The team leader was Associate Professor of the Chemistry Department of Lomonosov Moscow State University Alexander Belov. His deputies were Leonid Romashov, a chemistry teacher at School No. 192, Maxim Likhanov, a senior lecturer at Lomonosov Moscow State University, and Maxim Kozlov, a chemistry teacher at Vorobyovy Gory. The Russian team was trained at the Chemistry Department of Moscow State University with the participation of the University Gymnasium.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
July 14, 2025 — Ottawa, Ontario — Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Today, Dr. Paul Hébert, President of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), announced that Dr. Rae Yeung has been appointed Scientific Director of the CIHR Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis (CIHR-IMHA) for a term of four years, starting October 1, 2025.
Dr. Yeung is one of the world’s leading experts on childhood inflammatory diseases. She is a Professor of Paediatrics, Immunology and Medical Science at the University of Toronto’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine, and a Staff Physician and Senior Scientist at The Hospital For Sick Children (SickKids). Her research focuses on precision medicine in childhood arthritis and rheumatic diseases, tailoring treatments to each patient based on presentation and biology.
By pairing phenotype with molecular insights, Dr. Yeung is uncovering the mechanisms that drive autoimmunity, with the goal of improving diagnosis, treatment, outcomes and prevention. With this innovative approach, Dr. Yeung has become internationally recognized for translational research that has transformed the clinical care of Kawasaki Disease and other inflammatory conditions.
Dr. Yeung also leads national and international efforts to develop guidance for the diagnosis and management of disease and to understand the underlying causes and progression of childhood arthritis and vasculitis. She is the driving force behind the Understanding Childhood Arthritis Network (UCAN), an international federation of research networks that involves over 50 countries with translational research hubs on three continents. UCAN has become a scalable model to improve health in many inflammatory conditions — from those affecting bones, joints and muscles to diseases associated with COVID-19.
During Dr. Yeung’s term, CIHR-IMHA will be located at SickKids in Toronto.
Almost 70 years after independence was gained across the continent, many African countries continue to face the complex task of managing ethnic diversity and building national cohesion. National cohesion is a broad and often abstract concept. It refers to the extent to which people within a country share a sense of common purpose and belonging. It is often reflected in the strength of national identities and the degree of pride individuals feel in being part of the nation.
The fact that borders in colonial Africa were drawn in the late 19th century to the early 20th century by European powers without regard for ethnic and cultural realities and histories meant that post-colonial African governments had to develop a sense of national consciousness and belonging.
To address this task, many African countries have made efforts to promote a shared national identity which could bridge ethnic and regional divides. Governments have experimented with a diverse range of policies: promoting national languages, establishing civic education, celebrating national holidays, and reforming state institutions. Other measures have included abolishing traditional kingdoms, redistributing land, renaming capital cities, compulsory military service, and national youth service programmes.
Research into the effectiveness of these African initiatives has been limited and inconclusive. In recently published research, researchers at the Centre for Research on Peace and Development at KU Leuven addressed this gap by analysing the impact of Ghana’s National Service Scheme. Our research shows that, under certain conditions, participation in this programme can meaningfully enhance feelings of national belonging.
Ghana’s experience with national service
Established in 1973, Ghana’s National Service Scheme requires university graduates to spend one year serving in diverse roles throughout the country. This sometimes takes them to regions far from their homes.
While Ghana is widely regarded as a model for the peaceful management of ethnic diversity, the establishment of the National Service Scheme in 1973 was necessary. It was partly a response to the deep regional and ethnic divisions that marked the country’s early postcolonial period. Notably, in the years leading up to the scheme’s introduction, political rivalry between Ashanti and Ewe elites played a significant role in the country’s political instability.
Initially designed to counteract such ethnic divisions, the scheme continues to engage very large numbers of graduates each year. Over 100,000 were deployed in 2025. The programme aims not only to strengthen national cohesion, but also to promote manpower development and address key social challenges. These include unemployment, illiteracy and poverty.
Participants are deployed across a range of sectors, including education, healthcare, agriculture and public administration. While the vast majority of participants are assigned to teaching roles in primary or secondary schools or to positions in healthcare institutions, others take on administrative roles within government agencies or the private sector. These deployments are meant to expose them to different communities and foster intergroup contact under conditions that promote social bonding and reduce prejudice.
But can national service also contribute towards fostering stronger feelings of national belonging?
To answer this question, we conducted a large-scale panel survey among almost 3,000 service personnel. They had participated in the scheme between August 2014 and September 2016. The participants were surveyed three times: before their deployment and again within weeks after completing their national service.
The survey was aimed at examining their feelings of national pride before, during, and after their year of national service. Our study provides compelling evidence that national service significantly boosts participants’ feelings of national pride and belonging.
Change in national pride items over time – per cohort. This graph displays the average national pride per cohort and time point (with 95% confidence bars).Authors
We found that the mechanism behind this impact lies in intergroup contact. This is described as positive, meaningful interactions between individuals from diverse ethnic and regional backgrounds. Participants who reported frequent and meaningful interactions, including developing new friendships and gaining deeper knowledge of other cultural groups, showed the most significant increases in their sense of national pride.
Importantly, the greatest improvements were observed among participants who initially identified less strongly with the nation.
We further found that the positive effects of participation were not short-lived. It persisted well beyond the year of service.
Key takeaways for policymakers
Governments aiming to strengthen national identity through youth service programmes should consider four key lessons from Ghana’s experience.
Mandatory participation is crucial. Voluntary schemes tend to attract individuals who are already inclined towards inter-ethnic harmony. This limits their broader societal impact. Ghana’s mandatory approach ensures that a wide and diverse range of participants are included. This enhances the programme’s reach and effectiveness.
Structured interactions must be actively promoted. Simply placing people from different backgrounds together is not enough. Successful programmes, such as Ghana’s, intentionally create opportunities for meaningful engagement. These structured interactions help participants develop lasting relationships and deepen their understanding of other cultures.
Youth should be engaged during formative years. Recent graduates are at a stage in life when attitudes and identities are still forming. National service programmes that target this age group can have a lasting influence. Especially on how young people perceive national unity and their role within it.
Diverse placements are essential. National service programmes should deploy participants in settings that are diverse. The geographical location is of secondary importance. Exposure to diverse settings will challenge assumptions and broaden perspectives. It will also foster stronger national bonds across ethnic and regional lines.
Why national service pays off in the long run
National youth service programmes, when well-designed and properly managed, are a promising yet underused tool for promoting national unity in Africa’s ethnically diverse societies. These initiatives can create meaningful opportunities for young people to engage across regional and ethnic lines. This helps to build trust, civic responsibility, and a shared sense of national identity.
Yet, in recent decades, many of these programmes have been scaled back or discontinued across the continent. Examples are Botswana, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Zambia. The main reason? Cost. Governments have often viewed the logistical and financial demands of deploying tens of thousands of graduates each year as unsustainable. But this short-term budget logic misses the bigger picture.
Ghana’s scheme shows what’s possible. In recent years, the scheme’s deployment figures have reached record highs. It is now common for around 100,000 national service personnel to be mobilised in a single service year. The positive outcomes observed in Ghana offer clear, evidence-based lessons for policymakers across the continent. Investing in national service is not just a cost – it’s a commitment to a more united future.
– University graduates in Ghana must serve society for a year – study suggests it’s good for national unity – https://theconversation.com/university-graduates-in-ghana-must-serve-society-for-a-year-study-suggests-its-good-for-national-unity-258743
I have analysed several different peace negotiations and agreements. It’s important to distinguish between what’s needed to get warring parties to the table, and what’s eventually agreed on. In this article, I examine whether the DRC-Rwanda deal has got the four essential components that usually signal that an agreement will hold.
Two broad points about peace agreements, first – and one particular complication in the DRC-Rwanda case.
Firstly, one agreement is rarely enough to resolve a complex conflict. Most deals are part of a series of agreements, sometimes between different actors. They often mention previously concluded ones, and will be referred to by subsequent ones.
Secondly, peace is a process, and requires broad and sustained commitment. It is essential that other actors, like armed groups, are brought on board. Importantly, this also includes civil society actors. An agreement will be more legitimate and effective if different voices are heard during negotiations.
One major complication in relation to the DRC-Rwanda deal is that the United States has been the prime broker. But rather than acting as a neutral mediator trying to bring about peace, Washington seems to be pursuing its own economic interests. This does not bode well.
There is no simple recipe for a good peace agreement, but research shows that four elements are important: a serious commitment from the parties, precise wording, clear timelines and strong implementation provisions.
What underpins a good agreement
First, the parties need to be serious about the agreement and able to commit to its terms. It must not be used as a cover to buy time, re-arm or pursue fighting. Moreover, lasting peace cannot be made exclusively at the highest political level. Agreements that are the result of more inclusive processes, with input by and support from the communities concerned, have a higher success rate.
Second, the agreement must address the issues it aims to resolve, and its provisions must be drafted carefully and unambiguously. When agreements are vague or silent on key aspects, they are often short-lived. Previous experiences can guide peace negotiators and mediators in the drafting process. Peace agreement databases established by the United Nations and academic institutions are a useful tool for this.
Third, clear and realistic timelines are essential. These can concern the withdrawal of armed forces from specified territories, the return of refugees and internally displaced persons, and the establishment of mechanisms providing reparations or other forms of transitional justice.
Fourth, an agreement should include provisions on its implementation. External support is usually helpful here. Third states or international organisations, liked the United Nations and the African Union, can be mandated to oversee this phase. They can also provide security guarantees or even deploy a peacekeeping operation. What is crucial is that these actors are committed to the process and don’t pursue their own interests.
To know what to realistically expect from a specific peace agreement, it’s important to understand that such agreements can take very different forms. These range from pre-negotiation arrangements and ceasefires to comprehensive peace accords and implementation agreements.
A lasting resolution of the conflict should not be expected when only a few conflict parties have concluded a temporary ceasefire.
The DRC-Rwanda agreement: an important step with lots of shortcomings
It’s difficult to tell at this point how serious the DRC and Rwanda are about peace, and if their commitment will be enough.
But Rwanda has a history of direct military activities in the DRC since the 1990s. And the treaty only includes rather vague references to the “disengagement of forces/lifting of defensive measures by Rwanda”. It doesn’t specifically mention the withdrawal of the reportedly thousands of Rwandan troops deployed to eastern DRC.
The Paul Kagame-led Rwandan government has also supported Tutsi-dominated armed groups in the DRC since the Rwandan genocide in 1994. The Mouvement du 23 Mars (M23) is the current primary military actor in eastern DRC. But the agreement between the governments of DRC and Rwanda didn’t include the M23 or other groups. The two governments only commit themselves to supporting the ongoing negotiations between the DRC and the M23 facilitated by Qatar.
For instance, aside from a general commitment to promote human rights and international humanitarian law, there is no reference to the widespread violations of human rights and war crimes reportedly committed by all sides. These include summary executions, and sexual and gender-based violence, including violence against children.
There is no single model for this, and so-called transitional justice (defined as the “range of processes and mechanisms associated with a society’s attempts to come to terms with a legacy of large-scale past abuses, in order to ensure accountability, serve justice and achieve reconciliation”) remains highly controversial. For instance, insisting on war crimes trials can be seen as endangering a fragile peace process.
But peace agreements across the world, from Libya to the Central African Republic, have over past decades moved away from blanket amnesties. They have increasingly included provisions to ensure accountability, especially for serious crimes. The DRC-Rwanda deal is silent on these questions.
The two states agreed to establish a joint oversight committee, with members of the African Union, Qatar and the United States. It foresees a “regional economic integration framework”, which has been criticised as opening the door for foreign influence in the DRC’s rich mineral resources. The country is the world’s largest producer of cobalt, for instance, which is essential for the renewable energy sector.
Philipp Kastner 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.
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Julie Shantone Rubbi Nunan, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Early Childhood Education and Development, University of South Africa
South African primary schools are facing a crisis. Every day, learners fight, bully, destroy property, and intimidate other learners and teachers, turning what should be safe spaces into places of fear and mistrust.
Research shows that learner behaviour frequently involves violence, bullying and vandalism (damage to school property) that threatens the safety of both learners and staff.
The media usually report only serious cases of violence, but schools and teachers face challenging and dangerous behaviour every day that often goes unreported. This underreporting is not unique to South Africa; it’s a challenge seen in other countries too.
Researchshows that this kind of behaviour disrupts teaching and learning, leading to poor learner performance and school dropouts.
Teachers frequently face aggression and intimidation from learners, which undermines their ability to teach effectively. They feel unsafe and frustrated when learners act aggressively, and this problem worsens when parents protect their children’s bad behaviour instead of addressing it.
Violence, bullying, and damage to school property don’t just cause harm to learners and teachers. They also cost schools money to repair the damage and cause emotional trauma and suffering for victims and their families.
Given these realities, it is important to carefully explore the lived experiences of teachers, school leaders and caretakers to fully understand the severity and complexity of challenging learner behaviour. This understanding is essential for developing effective policies and interventions aimed at restoring safety and improving learning environments in South African primary schools.
As part of a wider study of challenging learner behaviour, I interviewed 21 participants from three primary schools in Durban, South Africa. It was a qualitative case study, in which the small sample size was well-suited and provided relevant and credible information on challenging learner behaviour. Thematic analysis was appropriate for identifying patterns and themes for further exploration.
The aim was to probe the participants’ perspectives to understand how learners’ challenging behaviour is experienced in primary schools. I wanted to know more about how behaviour stemming from children’s homes and environments, playing out at school, was affecting teachers and the overall school climate.
The interviews indicated that teachers were unhappy and wanting to quit the profession, learner victims faced constant fear and distress, and caretakers felt degraded. If this is a sign of how teachers, children and caretakers are feeling around South Africa, it points to the need for ways to reduce their stress.
Voices from schools
The schools in my study are located in semi-urban areas within the same district and serve learners from grade R (about age 5) to grade 7 (about age 12). The surrounding communities face high levels of unemployment, domestic violence, and various social challenges.
Fifteen teachers, three governors, and three caretakers shared their experiences through interviews, enabling open discussion and deeper insights. Consistency across school sites supported the trustworthiness of the findings. Ethical guidelines were followed throughout.
Across the three schools, participants described an environment where serious learner misconduct was a common, everyday problem.
Teachers, governors, and caretakers reported daily disruptions that affected teaching, learning and emotional wellbeing. Aggression and violence were constant. Learners engaged in physical fights – punching, kicking, and using sharp objects like pencils and knives. These were not minor scuffles but incidents that caused serious injuries. Teachers were also threatened, shouted at, and occasionally physically harmed.
Bullying was widespread, both verbal and physical. Learners harassed peers through name-calling, exclusion, extortion and intimidation, often in unsupervised spaces like toilets and tuckshops. Victims lived in fear, while teachers struggled to maintain discipline and protect vulnerable learners.
Vandalism and property damage were routine. Learners tore up textbooks, damaged desks and windows, defaced walls with vulgar graffiti, and clogged toilets with rubbish. Caretakers faced degrading tasks like cleaning and scrubbing faeces and graffiti off the walls. The costs of repairing damage strained already limited school budgets.
Adding to the tension, gang-like behaviour emerged. Small groups banded together to provoke fights, intimidate others, and sometimes fuel unrest rooted in xenophobia or local politics, creating fear, uncertainty and division among learners.
Some incidents had gendered and criminal implications, including the reporting of boys violating the privacy and rights of other boys in the school toilets, and girls being inappropriately touched and harassed. This contributed to emotional trauma and, in some cases, learner dropout – especially among girls. The United Nations Children’s Fund posits that school violence contributes to girls dropping out of school. The dropout rate is a concern in South Africa.
Stealing and lying were common. Learners stole from classmates, teachers, and school offices, often without remorse, and frequently lied or blamed others when confronted, further eroding trust and accountability.
Many participants believed learners expressed unspoken pain or mirrored violence and instability seen at home and in their communities. According to social cognitive theory, such behaviours are learned. Children exposed to violence, neglect, or chaos often replicate these actions in school. Without consistent guidance, role models, or consequences, the cycle intensifies.
Moving forward
In short, these schools are no longer safe havens for learning – they are in crisis. Without urgent and effective intervention, the very mission of basic education – and the wellbeing of children – is at risk.
Primary schools depend on governing authorities and communities for their safety and success. Stakeholders must take collective action to reclaim schools as safe learning spaces.
Governing authorities should address the issues raised by reviewing policies and implementing support programmes, including counselling, family-school partnerships, and teacher training to handle challenging behaviour in positive and sustainable ways.
Julie Shantone Rubbi Nunan 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.
The OCAC held the Sydney session of its 2025 Overseas Mandarin Teachers Training Program, providing a valuable opportunity for local teachers to recharge and reconnect. Director General David Cheng-Wei Wu attended the opening ceremony alongside Director Chia-Hui Chiang of the Sydney Education Division and Principal Min-Huei Chien of the Australian Oriental Culture School. DG Wu praised the teachers for contributing to the impressive Mandarin skills of second- and third-generation students in the community. He also expressed confidence that the lectures by Professor Shih-Wen Chyu (NTNU) and Professor Tzu-Ching Lin (Providence University) would provide participants with the latest insights and practical tools. The two-day workshop, hosted by the Australian Oriental Culture School, featured classroom management, curriculum design, AI-assisted teaching, and Mandarin assessment system. Through these efforts, we aim to strengthen the connection between Taiwan and new generations of overseas Taiwanese, and elevate Taiwan’s brand in global Mandarin education.
I have analysed several different peace negotiations and agreements. It’s important to distinguish between what’s needed to get warring parties to the table, and what’s eventually agreed on. In this article, I examine whether the DRC-Rwanda deal has got the four essential components that usually signal that an agreement will hold.
Two broad points about peace agreements, first – and one particular complication in the DRC-Rwanda case.
Firstly, one agreement is rarely enough to resolve a complex conflict. Most deals are part of a series of agreements, sometimes between different actors. They often mention previously concluded ones, and will be referred to by subsequent ones.
Secondly, peace is a process, and requires broad and sustained commitment. It is essential that other actors, like armed groups, are brought on board. Importantly, this also includes civil society actors. An agreement will be more legitimate and effective if different voices are heard during negotiations.
One major complication in relation to the DRC-Rwanda deal is that the United States has been the prime broker. But rather than acting as a neutral mediator trying to bring about peace, Washington seems to be pursuing its own economic interests. This does not bode well.
There is no simple recipe for a good peace agreement, but research shows that four elements are important: a serious commitment from the parties, precise wording, clear timelines and strong implementation provisions.
What underpins a good agreement
First, the parties need to be serious about the agreement and able to commit to its terms. It must not be used as a cover to buy time, re-arm or pursue fighting. Moreover, lasting peace cannot be made exclusively at the highest political level. Agreements that are the result of more inclusive processes, with input by and support from the communities concerned, have a higher success rate.
Second, the agreement must address the issues it aims to resolve, and its provisions must be drafted carefully and unambiguously. When agreements are vague or silent on key aspects, they are often short-lived. Previous experiences can guide peace negotiators and mediators in the drafting process. Peace agreement databases established by the United Nations and academic institutions are a useful tool for this.
Third, clear and realistic timelines are essential. These can concern the withdrawal of armed forces from specified territories, the return of refugees and internally displaced persons, and the establishment of mechanisms providing reparations or other forms of transitional justice.
Fourth, an agreement should include provisions on its implementation. External support is usually helpful here. Third states or international organisations, liked the United Nations and the African Union, can be mandated to oversee this phase. They can also provide security guarantees or even deploy a peacekeeping operation. What is crucial is that these actors are committed to the process and don’t pursue their own interests.
To know what to realistically expect from a specific peace agreement, it’s important to understand that such agreements can take very different forms. These range from pre-negotiation arrangements and ceasefires to comprehensive peace accords and implementation agreements.
A lasting resolution of the conflict should not be expected when only a few conflict parties have concluded a temporary ceasefire.
The DRC-Rwanda agreement: an important step with lots of shortcomings
It’s difficult to tell at this point how serious the DRC and Rwanda are about peace, and if their commitment will be enough.
But Rwanda has a history of direct military activities in the DRC since the 1990s. And the treaty only includes rather vague references to the “disengagement of forces/lifting of defensive measures by Rwanda”. It doesn’t specifically mention the withdrawal of the reportedly thousands of Rwandan troops deployed to eastern DRC.
The Paul Kagame-led Rwandan government has also supported Tutsi-dominated armed groups in the DRC since the Rwandan genocide in 1994. The Mouvement du 23 Mars (M23) is the current primary military actor in eastern DRC. But the agreement between the governments of DRC and Rwanda didn’t include the M23 or other groups. The two governments only commit themselves to supporting the ongoing negotiations between the DRC and the M23 facilitated by Qatar.
For instance, aside from a general commitment to promote human rights and international humanitarian law, there is no reference to the widespread violations of human rights and war crimes reportedly committed by all sides. These include summary executions, and sexual and gender-based violence, including violence against children.
There is no single model for this, and so-called transitional justice (defined as the “range of processes and mechanisms associated with a society’s attempts to come to terms with a legacy of large-scale past abuses, in order to ensure accountability, serve justice and achieve reconciliation”) remains highly controversial. For instance, insisting on war crimes trials can be seen as endangering a fragile peace process.
But peace agreements across the world, from Libya to the Central African Republic, have over past decades moved away from blanket amnesties. They have increasingly included provisions to ensure accountability, especially for serious crimes. The DRC-Rwanda deal is silent on these questions.
The two states agreed to establish a joint oversight committee, with members of the African Union, Qatar and the United States. It foresees a “regional economic integration framework”, which has been criticised as opening the door for foreign influence in the DRC’s rich mineral resources. The country is the world’s largest producer of cobalt, for instance, which is essential for the renewable energy sector.
– 4 things every peace agreement needs – and how the DRC-Rwanda deal measures up – https://theconversation.com/4-things-every-peace-agreement-needs-and-how-the-drc-rwanda-deal-measures-up-260944
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Julie Shantone Rubbi Nunan, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Early Childhood Education and Development, University of South Africa
South African primary schools are facing a crisis. Every day, learners fight, bully, destroy property, and intimidate other learners and teachers, turning what should be safe spaces into places of fear and mistrust.
Research shows that learner behaviour frequently involves violence, bullying and vandalism (damage to school property) that threatens the safety of both learners and staff.
The media usually report only serious cases of violence, but schools and teachers face challenging and dangerous behaviour every day that often goes unreported. This underreporting is not unique to South Africa; it’s a challenge seen in other countries too.
Researchshows that this kind of behaviour disrupts teaching and learning, leading to poor learner performance and school dropouts.
Teachers frequently face aggression and intimidation from learners, which undermines their ability to teach effectively. They feel unsafe and frustrated when learners act aggressively, and this problem worsens when parents protect their children’s bad behaviour instead of addressing it.
Violence, bullying, and damage to school property don’t just cause harm to learners and teachers. They also cost schools money to repair the damage and cause emotional trauma and suffering for victims and their families.
Given these realities, it is important to carefully explore the lived experiences of teachers, school leaders and caretakers to fully understand the severity and complexity of challenging learner behaviour. This understanding is essential for developing effective policies and interventions aimed at restoring safety and improving learning environments in South African primary schools.
As part of a wider study of challenging learner behaviour, I interviewed 21 participants from three primary schools in Durban, South Africa. It was a qualitative case study, in which the small sample size was well-suited and provided relevant and credible information on challenging learner behaviour. Thematic analysis was appropriate for identifying patterns and themes for further exploration.
The aim was to probe the participants’ perspectives to understand how learners’ challenging behaviour is experienced in primary schools. I wanted to know more about how behaviour stemming from children’s homes and environments, playing out at school, was affecting teachers and the overall school climate.
The interviews indicated that teachers were unhappy and wanting to quit the profession, learner victims faced constant fear and distress, and caretakers felt degraded. If this is a sign of how teachers, children and caretakers are feeling around South Africa, it points to the need for ways to reduce their stress.
Voices from schools
The schools in my study are located in semi-urban areas within the same district and serve learners from grade R (about age 5) to grade 7 (about age 12). The surrounding communities face high levels of unemployment, domestic violence, and various social challenges.
Fifteen teachers, three governors, and three caretakers shared their experiences through interviews, enabling open discussion and deeper insights. Consistency across school sites supported the trustworthiness of the findings. Ethical guidelines were followed throughout.
Across the three schools, participants described an environment where serious learner misconduct was a common, everyday problem.
Teachers, governors, and caretakers reported daily disruptions that affected teaching, learning and emotional wellbeing. Aggression and violence were constant. Learners engaged in physical fights – punching, kicking, and using sharp objects like pencils and knives. These were not minor scuffles but incidents that caused serious injuries. Teachers were also threatened, shouted at, and occasionally physically harmed.
Bullying was widespread, both verbal and physical. Learners harassed peers through name-calling, exclusion, extortion and intimidation, often in unsupervised spaces like toilets and tuckshops. Victims lived in fear, while teachers struggled to maintain discipline and protect vulnerable learners.
Vandalism and property damage were routine. Learners tore up textbooks, damaged desks and windows, defaced walls with vulgar graffiti, and clogged toilets with rubbish. Caretakers faced degrading tasks like cleaning and scrubbing faeces and graffiti off the walls. The costs of repairing damage strained already limited school budgets.
Adding to the tension, gang-like behaviour emerged. Small groups banded together to provoke fights, intimidate others, and sometimes fuel unrest rooted in xenophobia or local politics, creating fear, uncertainty and division among learners.
Some incidents had gendered and criminal implications, including the reporting of boys violating the privacy and rights of other boys in the school toilets, and girls being inappropriately touched and harassed. This contributed to emotional trauma and, in some cases, learner dropout – especially among girls. The United Nations Children’s Fund posits that school violence contributes to girls dropping out of school. The dropout rate is a concern in South Africa.
Stealing and lying were common. Learners stole from classmates, teachers, and school offices, often without remorse, and frequently lied or blamed others when confronted, further eroding trust and accountability.
Many participants believed learners expressed unspoken pain or mirrored violence and instability seen at home and in their communities. According to social cognitive theory, such behaviours are learned. Children exposed to violence, neglect, or chaos often replicate these actions in school. Without consistent guidance, role models, or consequences, the cycle intensifies.
Moving forward
In short, these schools are no longer safe havens for learning – they are in crisis. Without urgent and effective intervention, the very mission of basic education – and the wellbeing of children – is at risk.
Primary schools depend on governing authorities and communities for their safety and success. Stakeholders must take collective action to reclaim schools as safe learning spaces.
Governing authorities should address the issues raised by reviewing policies and implementing support programmes, including counselling, family-school partnerships, and teacher training to handle challenging behaviour in positive and sustainable ways.
– Bullying, violence and vandalism in primary school: study explores a growing crisis in South Africa – https://theconversation.com/bullying-violence-and-vandalism-in-primary-school-study-explores-a-growing-crisis-in-south-africa-260111
On July 11, 2024, Minister-Counsellor Fan Xuecheng of the Chinese Embassy in Uganda attended a series of cultural and educational exchange activities at Luyanzi Institute of Technology and Makerere University. The activities were joined by Professor Zhu Hui, Vice Chairperson of the University Council of Zhejiang University; Ms. Wang Lihong, Principal of Luyanzi Institute of Technology; H.E. Judith Nsababera, Consul General of Uganda in Guangzhou; and Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, Vice Chancellor of Makerere University.
In his remarks, Minister-Counsellor Fan Xuecheng stated that China and Uganda have long enjoyed friendly relations, and educational and cultural exchanges have built a bridge for enhancing mutual understanding and trust between the two peoples. China will continue to support people-to-people and educational cooperation, injecting fresh impetus into the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries.
Consul General Nsababera and other participants noted that Uganda is willing to take this opportunity to strengthen cooperation with China and promote Uganda-China relations to a new level.
The Ugandan premieres of two documentaries produced by Zhejiang University — Generation Z’s China-Africa Stories and Along the Silk Road — were successfully held at Luyanzi Institute of Technology and warmly received. Zhejiang University also presented a collection of A Comprehensive Collection of Ancient Chinese Paintings to Makerere University, showcasing the richness of traditional Chinese culture.
– on behalf of Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of Uganda.
Source: State University “Higher School of Economics” –
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Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Ted Palys, Professor of Criminology, Associate Member of Dept. of Indigenous Studies, Simon Fraser University
The contemporary internet has been with us since roughly 1995. Its current underlying economic model — surveillance capitalism — began in the early 2000s, when Google and then Facebook realized how much our personal information and online behaviour revealed about us and claimed it for themselves to sell to advertisers.
Perhaps because of Canada’s proximity to the United States, coupled with its positive shared history with the U.S. and their highly integrated economies, Canada went along for that consumerist ride.
The experience was different on the other side of the Atlantic. The Stasi in the former East Germany and the KGB under Josef Stalin maintained files on hundreds of thousands of citizens to identify and prosecute dissidents.
This has fuelled the motivation of Canada both internally and in co-operation with western European governments to seek greater independence in trade and military preparedness by diversifying its relationships.
Prime Minister Mark Carney has begun promoting “nation-building projects,” but little attention has been paid to Canada’s digital infrastructure.
Three recent developments suggest Canada would be well-advised to start paying close attention:
1. The current U.S. administration has raised concerns about its reliability as a partner and friend to Canada. Most of the concerns raised in Canada have been economic. However, Curtis McCord, a former national security and technology researcher for the Canadian government, has said the current situation has created vulnerabilities for national security as well:
“With Washington becoming an increasingly unreliable ally, Mr. Carney is right to look for ways to diversify away from the U.S. But if Canada wants to maintain its sovereignty and be responsible for its national security, this desire to diversify must extend to the U.S. domination of Canada’s digital infrastructure.”
2. Silicon Valley is exhibiting a newfound loyalty to Trump. The photo of the “broligarchy” at Trump’s inauguration spoke volumes, as their apparent eagerness to appease the president brings the data gathered by the internet’s surveillance-based economy under state control.
3. Trump’s recent executive order entitled “Stopping waste, fraud and abuse by eliminating information silos” is alarming. The order became operational when the Trump administration contracted with Palantir, a company known for its surveillance software and data analytics in military contexts. Its job? To combine databases from both the state and federal levels into one massive database that includes every American citizen, and potentially any user of the internet.
Combining multiple government databases is concerning. Combining them with all the personal data harvested by Silicon Valley and providing them to a government showing all the hallmarks of an authoritarian regime sounds like Big Brother has arrived.
Civil liberties groups such as the Electronic Freedom Foundation, academics and even former Palantir employees have raised alarms about the possibilities for abuse, including the launch of all the vendettas Trump and his supporters have pledged to undertake.
The appeal of Eurostack
European governments have attempted to rein in Silicon Valley’s excesses for years. Trump’s re-election and his moves toward potentially weaponizing internet data have further boosted Europe’s resolve to move away from the U.S.-led internet.
One newer effort is Eurostack. A joint initiative involving academics, policymakers, companies and governments, it envisions an independent digital ecosystem that better reflects European values — democratic, sovereign, inclusive, transparent, respectful of personal privacy and innovation-driven.
Spokesperson Francesca Bria explains the “stack” arises from the idea that a digitally sovereign internet needs to have European control from the ground up.
Bria discusses Eurostack in May 2025. (re:publica)
That includes the acquisition of raw materials and manufacture and operation of the physical components that comprise computers and servers; the cloud infrastructure that has the processing power and storage to be operational at scale; the operating systems and applications that comprise the user interface; the AI models and algorithms that drive services and its policy and governance framework.
Prospective gains to Europe are considerable. They include greater cybersecurity, promoting innovation, keeping high-end creative jobs in Europe, promoting collaboration on equitable terms and creating high-skilled employment opportunities.
Canada receives no mention in the Eurostack proposal to date, but the project is still very much in the developmental phase. Investment so far is in the tens of millions instead of the billions it will require.
Canada has a lot to offer and to gain from being part of the Eurostack initiative. With the project still taking shape, now is the perfect time to get on board.
Ted Palys 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.
When the FIFA World Cup hits North America in June 2026, 48 teams and millions of sports fans will be traveling among venues spread across Canada, the United States and Mexico.
It’s a dramatic expansion – 16 more teams will be playing than in recent years, with a jump from 64 to 104 matches. The tournament, whether you call it soccer or football, is projected to bring in over US$10 billion in revenue. But the expansion will also mean a lot more travel and other activities that contribute to climate change.
The environmental impacts of giant sporting events like the World Cup create a complex paradox for an industry grappling with its future in a warming world.
A sustainability conundrum
Sports are undeniably experiencing the effects of climate change. Rising global temperatures are putting athletes’ health at risk during summer heat waves and shortening winter sports seasons. Many of the 2026 World Cup venues often see heat waves in June and early July, when the tournament is scheduled.
Some athletes are speaking out for more sustainable choices and have called on lawmakers to take steps to limit climate-warming emissions. At the same time, the sport industry is growing and facing a constant push to increase revenue. The NCAA is also considering expanding its March Madness basketball tournaments from 68 teams currently to as many as 76.
Park Yong-woo of team Al Ain from Abu Dhabi tries to cool off during a Club World Cup match on June 26, 2025, in Washington, D.C., which was in the midst of a heat wave. Some players have raised concerns about likely high temperatures during the 2026 World Cup, with matches scheduled June 11 to July 19. AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson
Estimates for the 2026 World Cup show what large tournament expansions can mean for the climate. A report from Scientists for Global Responsibility estimates that the expanded World Cup could generate over 9 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, nearly double the average of the past four World Cups.
This massive increase – and the increase that would come if the NCAA basketball tournaments also expand – would primarily be driven by air travel as fans and players fly among event cities that are thousands of miles apart.
A lot of money is at stake, but so is the climate
Sports are big business, and adding more matches to events like the World Cup and NCAA tournaments will likely lead to larger media rights contracts and greater gate receipts from more fans attending the events, boosting revenues. These are powerful financial incentives.
In the NCAA’s case, there is another reason to consider a larger tournament: The House v. NCAA settlement opened the door for college athletic departments to share revenue with athletes, which will significantly increase costs for many college programs. More teams would mean more television revenue and, crucially, more revenue to be distributed to member NCAA institutions and their athletic conferences.
When climate promises become greenwashing
The inherent conflict between maximizing profit through growth and minimizing environmental footprint presents a dilemma for sports.
Several sport organizations have promised to reduce their impact on the climate, including signing up for initiatives like the United Nations Sports for Climate Action Framework.
However, as sports tournaments and exhibition games expand, it can become increasingly hard for sports organizations to meet their climate commitments. In some cases, groups making sustainability commitments have been accused of greenwashing, suggesting the goals are more about public relations than making genuine, measurable changes.
For example, FIFA’s early claims that it would hold a “fully carbon-neutral” World Cup in Qatar in 2022 were challenged by a group of European countries that accused soccer’s world governing body of underestimating emissions. The Swiss Fairness Commission, which monitors fairness in advertising, considered the complaints and determined that FIFA’s claims could not be substantiated.
Alessandro Bastoni, of Inter Milan and Italy’s national team, prepares to board a flight from Milan to Rome with his team. Mattia Ozbot-Inter/Inter via Getty Images
Aviation is often the biggest driver of emissions. A study that colleagues and I conducted on the NCAA men’s basketball tournament found about 80% of its emissions were connected to travel. And that was after the NCAA began using the pod system, which is designed to keep teams closer to home for the first and second rounds.
These solutions are frankly not practical, in my view, nor do they align with other positive developments. The growing popularity of women’s sports shows the challenge in limiting sports events – more games expands participation but adds to the industry’s overall footprint.
Further compounding the challenges of reducing environmental impact is the amount of fan travel, which is outside the direct control of the sports organization or event organizers.
Many fans will follow their teams long distances, especially for mega-events like the World Cup or the NCAA tournament. During the men’s World Cup in Russia in 2018, more than 840,000 fans traveled from other countries. The top countries by number of fans, after Russia, were China, the U.S., Mexico and Argentina.
There is an argument that distributed sporting events like March Madness or the World Cup can be better in some ways for local environments because they don’t overwhelm a single city. However, merely spreading the impact does not necessarily reduce it, particularly when considering the effects on climate change.
How fans can cut their environmental footprint
Sport organizations and event planners can take steps to be more sustainable and also encourage more sustainable choices among fans. Fans can reduce their environmental impact in a variety of ways. For example:
Avoid taking airplanes for shorter distances, such as between FIFA venues in Philadelphia, New York and Boston, and carpool or take Amtrak instead. Planes can be more efficient for long distances, but air travel is still a major contributing factor to emissions.
While in a host city, use mass transit or rent electric vehicles or bicycles for local travel.
Consider sustainable accommodations, such as short-term rentals that might have a smaller environmental footprint than a hotel. Or stay at a certified green hotel that makes an effort to be more efficient in its use of water and energy.
Engage in sustainable pregame and postgame activities, such as choosing local, sustainable food options, and minimize waste.
You can also pay to offset carbon emissions for attending different sporting events, much like concertgoers do when they attend musical festivals. While critics question offsets’ true environmental benefit, they do represent people’s growing awareness of their environmental footprint.
Through all these options, it’s clear that sports face a significant challenge in addressing their environmental impacts and encouraging fans to be more sustainable, while simultaneously trying to meet ambitious business and environmental targets.
In my view, a sustainable path forward will require strategic, yet genuine, commitment by the sports industry and its fans, and a willingness to prioritize long-term planetary health alongside economic gains – balancing the sport and sustainability.
Brian P. McCullough 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.
When the FIFA World Cup hits North America in June 2026, 48 teams and millions of sports fans will be traveling among venues spread across Canada, the United States and Mexico.
It’s a dramatic expansion – 16 more teams will be playing than in recent years, with a jump from 64 to 104 matches. The tournament, whether you call it soccer or football, is projected to bring in over US$10 billion in revenue. But the expansion will also mean a lot more travel and other activities that contribute to climate change.
The environmental impacts of giant sporting events like the World Cup create a complex paradox for an industry grappling with its future in a warming world.
A sustainability conundrum
Sports are undeniably experiencing the effects of climate change. Rising global temperatures are putting athletes’ health at risk during summer heat waves and shortening winter sports seasons. Many of the 2026 World Cup venues often see heat waves in June and early July, when the tournament is scheduled.
Some athletes are speaking out for more sustainable choices and have called on lawmakers to take steps to limit climate-warming emissions. At the same time, the sport industry is growing and facing a constant push to increase revenue. The NCAA is also considering expanding its March Madness basketball tournaments from 68 teams currently to as many as 76.
Park Yong-woo of team Al Ain from Abu Dhabi tries to cool off during a Club World Cup match on June 26, 2025, in Washington, D.C., which was in the midst of a heat wave. Some players have raised concerns about likely high temperatures during the 2026 World Cup, with matches scheduled June 11 to July 19. AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson
Estimates for the 2026 World Cup show what large tournament expansions can mean for the climate. A report from Scientists for Global Responsibility estimates that the expanded World Cup could generate over 9 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, nearly double the average of the past four World Cups.
This massive increase – and the increase that would come if the NCAA basketball tournaments also expand – would primarily be driven by air travel as fans and players fly among event cities that are thousands of miles apart.
A lot of money is at stake, but so is the climate
Sports are big business, and adding more matches to events like the World Cup and NCAA tournaments will likely lead to larger media rights contracts and greater gate receipts from more fans attending the events, boosting revenues. These are powerful financial incentives.
In the NCAA’s case, there is another reason to consider a larger tournament: The House v. NCAA settlement opened the door for college athletic departments to share revenue with athletes, which will significantly increase costs for many college programs. More teams would mean more television revenue and, crucially, more revenue to be distributed to member NCAA institutions and their athletic conferences.
When climate promises become greenwashing
The inherent conflict between maximizing profit through growth and minimizing environmental footprint presents a dilemma for sports.
Several sport organizations have promised to reduce their impact on the climate, including signing up for initiatives like the United Nations Sports for Climate Action Framework.
However, as sports tournaments and exhibition games expand, it can become increasingly hard for sports organizations to meet their climate commitments. In some cases, groups making sustainability commitments have been accused of greenwashing, suggesting the goals are more about public relations than making genuine, measurable changes.
For example, FIFA’s early claims that it would hold a “fully carbon-neutral” World Cup in Qatar in 2022 were challenged by a group of European countries that accused soccer’s world governing body of underestimating emissions. The Swiss Fairness Commission, which monitors fairness in advertising, considered the complaints and determined that FIFA’s claims could not be substantiated.
Alessandro Bastoni, of Inter Milan and Italy’s national team, prepares to board a flight from Milan to Rome with his team. Mattia Ozbot-Inter/Inter via Getty Images
Aviation is often the biggest driver of emissions. A study that colleagues and I conducted on the NCAA men’s basketball tournament found about 80% of its emissions were connected to travel. And that was after the NCAA began using the pod system, which is designed to keep teams closer to home for the first and second rounds.
These solutions are frankly not practical, in my view, nor do they align with other positive developments. The growing popularity of women’s sports shows the challenge in limiting sports events – more games expands participation but adds to the industry’s overall footprint.
Further compounding the challenges of reducing environmental impact is the amount of fan travel, which is outside the direct control of the sports organization or event organizers.
Many fans will follow their teams long distances, especially for mega-events like the World Cup or the NCAA tournament. During the men’s World Cup in Russia in 2018, more than 840,000 fans traveled from other countries. The top countries by number of fans, after Russia, were China, the U.S., Mexico and Argentina.
There is an argument that distributed sporting events like March Madness or the World Cup can be better in some ways for local environments because they don’t overwhelm a single city. However, merely spreading the impact does not necessarily reduce it, particularly when considering the effects on climate change.
How fans can cut their environmental footprint
Sport organizations and event planners can take steps to be more sustainable and also encourage more sustainable choices among fans. Fans can reduce their environmental impact in a variety of ways. For example:
Avoid taking airplanes for shorter distances, such as between FIFA venues in Philadelphia, New York and Boston, and carpool or take Amtrak instead. Planes can be more efficient for long distances, but air travel is still a major contributing factor to emissions.
While in a host city, use mass transit or rent electric vehicles or bicycles for local travel.
Consider sustainable accommodations, such as short-term rentals that might have a smaller environmental footprint than a hotel. Or stay at a certified green hotel that makes an effort to be more efficient in its use of water and energy.
Engage in sustainable pregame and postgame activities, such as choosing local, sustainable food options, and minimize waste.
You can also pay to offset carbon emissions for attending different sporting events, much like concertgoers do when they attend musical festivals. While critics question offsets’ true environmental benefit, they do represent people’s growing awareness of their environmental footprint.
Through all these options, it’s clear that sports face a significant challenge in addressing their environmental impacts and encouraging fans to be more sustainable, while simultaneously trying to meet ambitious business and environmental targets.
In my view, a sustainable path forward will require strategic, yet genuine, commitment by the sports industry and its fans, and a willingness to prioritize long-term planetary health alongside economic gains – balancing the sport and sustainability.
Brian P. McCullough 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.
NEW YORK, July 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Resolute Holdings Management, Inc. (“Resolute Holdings”) (Nasdaq: RHLD), an operating management company responsible for providing management services to CompoSecure Holdings, L.L.C. (“CompoSecure Holdings”), a wholly owned subsidiary of CompoSecure, Inc. (“CompoSecure”) (Nasdaq: CMPO), today announced the appointment of two new members to its Board of Directors (“Board”). Wayne M. Hewett and Timothy O. Mahoney have been appointed to join Resolute Holdings as independent directors.
“We are excited to welcome Wayne and Tim to our Board of Directors. Their extensive financial, operating, and leadership capabilities will be a great asset in our efforts to drive long-term value creation for Resolute Holdings and our shareholders,” said David Cote, Executive Chairman of Resolute Holdings’ Board.
Mr. Wayne Hewett is a seasoned executive leader who currently serves as a Director on the boards of Home Depot (since 2014), Wells Fargo & Company (since 2019), and United Parcel Services, Inc. (since 2020). Since 2018, he has also served as a senior advisor to Permira, a global private equity firm. Since 2019, he has served as Chairman of Cambrex Corporation, a contract developer and manufacturer of active pharmaceutical ingredients; and since 2023, he has served as Chairman of Quotient Sciences, a drug development and manufacturing accelerator. In 2023, he joined the board of managers of ASP Resins Holdings LP, a private company that produces adhesives and performance materials. From 2015 to 2017, Mr. Hewett served as Chief Executive Officer of Klöckner Pentaplast Group, a packaging supplier. Mr. Hewett has previously held several other executive roles, spending over 20 years with General Electric Company (“GE”), including leadership roles in various GE business units and membership on GE’s Corporate Executive Council. Mr. Hewett earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering from Stanford University.
Mr. Timothy Mahoney is a highly experienced aerospace and defense executive who brings a breadth of operating capabilities from his leadership roles at major industrial companies. He served in several executive roles at Honeywell International, Inc. (“Honeywell”), including Senior Vice President of Digital Transformation from 2019 to 2022, Chief Executive Officer of Honeywell Aerospace from 2009 to 2019, and multiple Vice President roles across Honeywell Aerospace from 2003 to 2009. Prior to Honeywell, Mr. Mahoney spent 18 years at Sikorsky Aircraft, where he held a series of increasingly significant leadership roles. Mr. Mahoney earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of South Florida and graduated from the Program for Management Development at Harvard Business School.
“Wayne and Tim bring significant experience and capabilities to our Board, and I look forward to working with them as we continue to scale the platform,” said Tom Knott, Chief Executive Officer of Resolute Holdings.
About Resolute Holdings Management, Inc.
Resolute Holdings (Nasdaq: RHLD) is an alternative asset management platform led by David Cote and Tom Knott that provides operating management services including the oversight of capital allocation strategy, operational practices, and M&A sourcing and execution at CompoSecure Holdings and other managed businesses in the future. Resolute Holdings brings a differentiated approach to long-term value creation through the systematic deployment of the Resolute Operating System, which will create value at both the underlying managed businesses and at Resolute Holdings. For additional information on Resolute Holdings, please refer to Resolute Holdings’ filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or please visit www.resoluteholdings.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on the beliefs and assumptions of management. Although Resolute Holdings believes that its plans, intentions, and expectations reflected in or suggested by these forward-looking statements are reasonable, Resolute Holdings cannot assure you that it will achieve or realize these plans, intentions, or expectations. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. Generally, statements that are not historical facts, including statements concerning Resolute Holdings’ expectations regarding personnel, future platform acquisitions, limited profitability for the year ending December 31, 2025, revenues from management fees, the deployment of the Resolute Operating System, market opportunities, possible or assumed future actions, business strategies, events, or results of operations, and other matters, are forward-looking statements. In some instances, these statements may be preceded by, followed by or include the words “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “projects,” “forecasts,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “seeks,” “plans,” “scheduled,” “anticipates” or “intends” or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar terminology. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. You should not put undue reliance on these statements which speak only as of the date hereof. You should understand that the following important factors, among others, could affect Resolute Holdings’ future results and could cause those results or other outcomes to differ materially from those expressed or implied in Resolute Holdings’ forward-looking statements: the timing and amount of the management fees payable to Resolute Holdings, including unexpected fluctuations therein, unexpected changes in costs, risks associated with the implementation of the Resolute Operating System, unexpected market and macroeconomic developments, demand for Resolute Holdings’ services, the ability of Resolute Holdings to grow and manage growth profitably, compete within its industry and attract and retain its key employees; the possibility that Resolute Holdings may be adversely impacted by other global economic, business, competitive and/or other factors, including but not limited to inflationary pressures, volatile interest rates, variable tariff policies or intensified disruptions in the global financial markets; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Resolute Holdings or others; future exchange and interest rates; and other risks and uncertainties, including those under “Risk Factors” in filings that have been made or will be made with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Resolute Holdings undertakes no obligations to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
NEW YORK, July 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Resolute Holdings Management, Inc. (“Resolute Holdings”) (Nasdaq: RHLD), an operating management company responsible for providing management services to CompoSecure Holdings, L.L.C. (“CompoSecure Holdings”), a wholly owned subsidiary of CompoSecure, Inc. (“CompoSecure”) (Nasdaq: CMPO), today announced the appointment of two new members to its Board of Directors (“Board”). Wayne M. Hewett and Timothy O. Mahoney have been appointed to join Resolute Holdings as independent directors.
“We are excited to welcome Wayne and Tim to our Board of Directors. Their extensive financial, operating, and leadership capabilities will be a great asset in our efforts to drive long-term value creation for Resolute Holdings and our shareholders,” said David Cote, Executive Chairman of Resolute Holdings’ Board.
Mr. Wayne Hewett is a seasoned executive leader who currently serves as a Director on the boards of Home Depot (since 2014), Wells Fargo & Company (since 2019), and United Parcel Services, Inc. (since 2020). Since 2018, he has also served as a senior advisor to Permira, a global private equity firm. Since 2019, he has served as Chairman of Cambrex Corporation, a contract developer and manufacturer of active pharmaceutical ingredients; and since 2023, he has served as Chairman of Quotient Sciences, a drug development and manufacturing accelerator. In 2023, he joined the board of managers of ASP Resins Holdings LP, a private company that produces adhesives and performance materials. From 2015 to 2017, Mr. Hewett served as Chief Executive Officer of Klöckner Pentaplast Group, a packaging supplier. Mr. Hewett has previously held several other executive roles, spending over 20 years with General Electric Company (“GE”), including leadership roles in various GE business units and membership on GE’s Corporate Executive Council. Mr. Hewett earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering from Stanford University.
Mr. Timothy Mahoney is a highly experienced aerospace and defense executive who brings a breadth of operating capabilities from his leadership roles at major industrial companies. He served in several executive roles at Honeywell International, Inc. (“Honeywell”), including Senior Vice President of Digital Transformation from 2019 to 2022, Chief Executive Officer of Honeywell Aerospace from 2009 to 2019, and multiple Vice President roles across Honeywell Aerospace from 2003 to 2009. Prior to Honeywell, Mr. Mahoney spent 18 years at Sikorsky Aircraft, where he held a series of increasingly significant leadership roles. Mr. Mahoney earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of South Florida and graduated from the Program for Management Development at Harvard Business School.
“Wayne and Tim bring significant experience and capabilities to our Board, and I look forward to working with them as we continue to scale the platform,” said Tom Knott, Chief Executive Officer of Resolute Holdings.
About Resolute Holdings Management, Inc.
Resolute Holdings (Nasdaq: RHLD) is an alternative asset management platform led by David Cote and Tom Knott that provides operating management services including the oversight of capital allocation strategy, operational practices, and M&A sourcing and execution at CompoSecure Holdings and other managed businesses in the future. Resolute Holdings brings a differentiated approach to long-term value creation through the systematic deployment of the Resolute Operating System, which will create value at both the underlying managed businesses and at Resolute Holdings. For additional information on Resolute Holdings, please refer to Resolute Holdings’ filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or please visit www.resoluteholdings.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on the beliefs and assumptions of management. Although Resolute Holdings believes that its plans, intentions, and expectations reflected in or suggested by these forward-looking statements are reasonable, Resolute Holdings cannot assure you that it will achieve or realize these plans, intentions, or expectations. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. Generally, statements that are not historical facts, including statements concerning Resolute Holdings’ expectations regarding personnel, future platform acquisitions, limited profitability for the year ending December 31, 2025, revenues from management fees, the deployment of the Resolute Operating System, market opportunities, possible or assumed future actions, business strategies, events, or results of operations, and other matters, are forward-looking statements. In some instances, these statements may be preceded by, followed by or include the words “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “projects,” “forecasts,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “seeks,” “plans,” “scheduled,” “anticipates” or “intends” or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar terminology. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. You should not put undue reliance on these statements which speak only as of the date hereof. You should understand that the following important factors, among others, could affect Resolute Holdings’ future results and could cause those results or other outcomes to differ materially from those expressed or implied in Resolute Holdings’ forward-looking statements: the timing and amount of the management fees payable to Resolute Holdings, including unexpected fluctuations therein, unexpected changes in costs, risks associated with the implementation of the Resolute Operating System, unexpected market and macroeconomic developments, demand for Resolute Holdings’ services, the ability of Resolute Holdings to grow and manage growth profitably, compete within its industry and attract and retain its key employees; the possibility that Resolute Holdings may be adversely impacted by other global economic, business, competitive and/or other factors, including but not limited to inflationary pressures, volatile interest rates, variable tariff policies or intensified disruptions in the global financial markets; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Resolute Holdings or others; future exchange and interest rates; and other risks and uncertainties, including those under “Risk Factors” in filings that have been made or will be made with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Resolute Holdings undertakes no obligations to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
NEW YORK, July 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Resolute Holdings Management, Inc. (“Resolute Holdings”) (Nasdaq: RHLD), an operating management company responsible for providing management services to CompoSecure Holdings, L.L.C. (“CompoSecure Holdings”), a wholly owned subsidiary of CompoSecure, Inc. (“CompoSecure”) (Nasdaq: CMPO), today announced the appointment of two new members to its Board of Directors (“Board”). Wayne M. Hewett and Timothy O. Mahoney have been appointed to join Resolute Holdings as independent directors.
“We are excited to welcome Wayne and Tim to our Board of Directors. Their extensive financial, operating, and leadership capabilities will be a great asset in our efforts to drive long-term value creation for Resolute Holdings and our shareholders,” said David Cote, Executive Chairman of Resolute Holdings’ Board.
Mr. Wayne Hewett is a seasoned executive leader who currently serves as a Director on the boards of Home Depot (since 2014), Wells Fargo & Company (since 2019), and United Parcel Services, Inc. (since 2020). Since 2018, he has also served as a senior advisor to Permira, a global private equity firm. Since 2019, he has served as Chairman of Cambrex Corporation, a contract developer and manufacturer of active pharmaceutical ingredients; and since 2023, he has served as Chairman of Quotient Sciences, a drug development and manufacturing accelerator. In 2023, he joined the board of managers of ASP Resins Holdings LP, a private company that produces adhesives and performance materials. From 2015 to 2017, Mr. Hewett served as Chief Executive Officer of Klöckner Pentaplast Group, a packaging supplier. Mr. Hewett has previously held several other executive roles, spending over 20 years with General Electric Company (“GE”), including leadership roles in various GE business units and membership on GE’s Corporate Executive Council. Mr. Hewett earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering from Stanford University.
Mr. Timothy Mahoney is a highly experienced aerospace and defense executive who brings a breadth of operating capabilities from his leadership roles at major industrial companies. He served in several executive roles at Honeywell International, Inc. (“Honeywell”), including Senior Vice President of Digital Transformation from 2019 to 2022, Chief Executive Officer of Honeywell Aerospace from 2009 to 2019, and multiple Vice President roles across Honeywell Aerospace from 2003 to 2009. Prior to Honeywell, Mr. Mahoney spent 18 years at Sikorsky Aircraft, where he held a series of increasingly significant leadership roles. Mr. Mahoney earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of South Florida and graduated from the Program for Management Development at Harvard Business School.
“Wayne and Tim bring significant experience and capabilities to our Board, and I look forward to working with them as we continue to scale the platform,” said Tom Knott, Chief Executive Officer of Resolute Holdings.
About Resolute Holdings Management, Inc.
Resolute Holdings (Nasdaq: RHLD) is an alternative asset management platform led by David Cote and Tom Knott that provides operating management services including the oversight of capital allocation strategy, operational practices, and M&A sourcing and execution at CompoSecure Holdings and other managed businesses in the future. Resolute Holdings brings a differentiated approach to long-term value creation through the systematic deployment of the Resolute Operating System, which will create value at both the underlying managed businesses and at Resolute Holdings. For additional information on Resolute Holdings, please refer to Resolute Holdings’ filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or please visit www.resoluteholdings.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on the beliefs and assumptions of management. Although Resolute Holdings believes that its plans, intentions, and expectations reflected in or suggested by these forward-looking statements are reasonable, Resolute Holdings cannot assure you that it will achieve or realize these plans, intentions, or expectations. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. Generally, statements that are not historical facts, including statements concerning Resolute Holdings’ expectations regarding personnel, future platform acquisitions, limited profitability for the year ending December 31, 2025, revenues from management fees, the deployment of the Resolute Operating System, market opportunities, possible or assumed future actions, business strategies, events, or results of operations, and other matters, are forward-looking statements. In some instances, these statements may be preceded by, followed by or include the words “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “projects,” “forecasts,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “seeks,” “plans,” “scheduled,” “anticipates” or “intends” or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar terminology. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. You should not put undue reliance on these statements which speak only as of the date hereof. You should understand that the following important factors, among others, could affect Resolute Holdings’ future results and could cause those results or other outcomes to differ materially from those expressed or implied in Resolute Holdings’ forward-looking statements: the timing and amount of the management fees payable to Resolute Holdings, including unexpected fluctuations therein, unexpected changes in costs, risks associated with the implementation of the Resolute Operating System, unexpected market and macroeconomic developments, demand for Resolute Holdings’ services, the ability of Resolute Holdings to grow and manage growth profitably, compete within its industry and attract and retain its key employees; the possibility that Resolute Holdings may be adversely impacted by other global economic, business, competitive and/or other factors, including but not limited to inflationary pressures, volatile interest rates, variable tariff policies or intensified disruptions in the global financial markets; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Resolute Holdings or others; future exchange and interest rates; and other risks and uncertainties, including those under “Risk Factors” in filings that have been made or will be made with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Resolute Holdings undertakes no obligations to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
NEW YORK, July 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Resolute Holdings Management, Inc. (“Resolute Holdings”) (Nasdaq: RHLD), an operating management company responsible for providing management services to CompoSecure Holdings, L.L.C. (“CompoSecure Holdings”), a wholly owned subsidiary of CompoSecure, Inc. (“CompoSecure”) (Nasdaq: CMPO), today announced the appointment of two new members to its Board of Directors (“Board”). Wayne M. Hewett and Timothy O. Mahoney have been appointed to join Resolute Holdings as independent directors.
“We are excited to welcome Wayne and Tim to our Board of Directors. Their extensive financial, operating, and leadership capabilities will be a great asset in our efforts to drive long-term value creation for Resolute Holdings and our shareholders,” said David Cote, Executive Chairman of Resolute Holdings’ Board.
Mr. Wayne Hewett is a seasoned executive leader who currently serves as a Director on the boards of Home Depot (since 2014), Wells Fargo & Company (since 2019), and United Parcel Services, Inc. (since 2020). Since 2018, he has also served as a senior advisor to Permira, a global private equity firm. Since 2019, he has served as Chairman of Cambrex Corporation, a contract developer and manufacturer of active pharmaceutical ingredients; and since 2023, he has served as Chairman of Quotient Sciences, a drug development and manufacturing accelerator. In 2023, he joined the board of managers of ASP Resins Holdings LP, a private company that produces adhesives and performance materials. From 2015 to 2017, Mr. Hewett served as Chief Executive Officer of Klöckner Pentaplast Group, a packaging supplier. Mr. Hewett has previously held several other executive roles, spending over 20 years with General Electric Company (“GE”), including leadership roles in various GE business units and membership on GE’s Corporate Executive Council. Mr. Hewett earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering from Stanford University.
Mr. Timothy Mahoney is a highly experienced aerospace and defense executive who brings a breadth of operating capabilities from his leadership roles at major industrial companies. He served in several executive roles at Honeywell International, Inc. (“Honeywell”), including Senior Vice President of Digital Transformation from 2019 to 2022, Chief Executive Officer of Honeywell Aerospace from 2009 to 2019, and multiple Vice President roles across Honeywell Aerospace from 2003 to 2009. Prior to Honeywell, Mr. Mahoney spent 18 years at Sikorsky Aircraft, where he held a series of increasingly significant leadership roles. Mr. Mahoney earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of South Florida and graduated from the Program for Management Development at Harvard Business School.
“Wayne and Tim bring significant experience and capabilities to our Board, and I look forward to working with them as we continue to scale the platform,” said Tom Knott, Chief Executive Officer of Resolute Holdings.
About Resolute Holdings Management, Inc.
Resolute Holdings (Nasdaq: RHLD) is an alternative asset management platform led by David Cote and Tom Knott that provides operating management services including the oversight of capital allocation strategy, operational practices, and M&A sourcing and execution at CompoSecure Holdings and other managed businesses in the future. Resolute Holdings brings a differentiated approach to long-term value creation through the systematic deployment of the Resolute Operating System, which will create value at both the underlying managed businesses and at Resolute Holdings. For additional information on Resolute Holdings, please refer to Resolute Holdings’ filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or please visit www.resoluteholdings.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on the beliefs and assumptions of management. Although Resolute Holdings believes that its plans, intentions, and expectations reflected in or suggested by these forward-looking statements are reasonable, Resolute Holdings cannot assure you that it will achieve or realize these plans, intentions, or expectations. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. Generally, statements that are not historical facts, including statements concerning Resolute Holdings’ expectations regarding personnel, future platform acquisitions, limited profitability for the year ending December 31, 2025, revenues from management fees, the deployment of the Resolute Operating System, market opportunities, possible or assumed future actions, business strategies, events, or results of operations, and other matters, are forward-looking statements. In some instances, these statements may be preceded by, followed by or include the words “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “projects,” “forecasts,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “seeks,” “plans,” “scheduled,” “anticipates” or “intends” or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar terminology. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. You should not put undue reliance on these statements which speak only as of the date hereof. You should understand that the following important factors, among others, could affect Resolute Holdings’ future results and could cause those results or other outcomes to differ materially from those expressed or implied in Resolute Holdings’ forward-looking statements: the timing and amount of the management fees payable to Resolute Holdings, including unexpected fluctuations therein, unexpected changes in costs, risks associated with the implementation of the Resolute Operating System, unexpected market and macroeconomic developments, demand for Resolute Holdings’ services, the ability of Resolute Holdings to grow and manage growth profitably, compete within its industry and attract and retain its key employees; the possibility that Resolute Holdings may be adversely impacted by other global economic, business, competitive and/or other factors, including but not limited to inflationary pressures, volatile interest rates, variable tariff policies or intensified disruptions in the global financial markets; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Resolute Holdings or others; future exchange and interest rates; and other risks and uncertainties, including those under “Risk Factors” in filings that have been made or will be made with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Resolute Holdings undertakes no obligations to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
NEW YORK, July 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Resolute Holdings Management, Inc. (“Resolute Holdings”) (Nasdaq: RHLD), an operating management company responsible for providing management services to CompoSecure Holdings, L.L.C. (“CompoSecure Holdings”), a wholly owned subsidiary of CompoSecure, Inc. (“CompoSecure”) (Nasdaq: CMPO), today announced the appointment of two new members to its Board of Directors (“Board”). Wayne M. Hewett and Timothy O. Mahoney have been appointed to join Resolute Holdings as independent directors.
“We are excited to welcome Wayne and Tim to our Board of Directors. Their extensive financial, operating, and leadership capabilities will be a great asset in our efforts to drive long-term value creation for Resolute Holdings and our shareholders,” said David Cote, Executive Chairman of Resolute Holdings’ Board.
Mr. Wayne Hewett is a seasoned executive leader who currently serves as a Director on the boards of Home Depot (since 2014), Wells Fargo & Company (since 2019), and United Parcel Services, Inc. (since 2020). Since 2018, he has also served as a senior advisor to Permira, a global private equity firm. Since 2019, he has served as Chairman of Cambrex Corporation, a contract developer and manufacturer of active pharmaceutical ingredients; and since 2023, he has served as Chairman of Quotient Sciences, a drug development and manufacturing accelerator. In 2023, he joined the board of managers of ASP Resins Holdings LP, a private company that produces adhesives and performance materials. From 2015 to 2017, Mr. Hewett served as Chief Executive Officer of Klöckner Pentaplast Group, a packaging supplier. Mr. Hewett has previously held several other executive roles, spending over 20 years with General Electric Company (“GE”), including leadership roles in various GE business units and membership on GE’s Corporate Executive Council. Mr. Hewett earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering from Stanford University.
Mr. Timothy Mahoney is a highly experienced aerospace and defense executive who brings a breadth of operating capabilities from his leadership roles at major industrial companies. He served in several executive roles at Honeywell International, Inc. (“Honeywell”), including Senior Vice President of Digital Transformation from 2019 to 2022, Chief Executive Officer of Honeywell Aerospace from 2009 to 2019, and multiple Vice President roles across Honeywell Aerospace from 2003 to 2009. Prior to Honeywell, Mr. Mahoney spent 18 years at Sikorsky Aircraft, where he held a series of increasingly significant leadership roles. Mr. Mahoney earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of South Florida and graduated from the Program for Management Development at Harvard Business School.
“Wayne and Tim bring significant experience and capabilities to our Board, and I look forward to working with them as we continue to scale the platform,” said Tom Knott, Chief Executive Officer of Resolute Holdings.
About Resolute Holdings Management, Inc.
Resolute Holdings (Nasdaq: RHLD) is an alternative asset management platform led by David Cote and Tom Knott that provides operating management services including the oversight of capital allocation strategy, operational practices, and M&A sourcing and execution at CompoSecure Holdings and other managed businesses in the future. Resolute Holdings brings a differentiated approach to long-term value creation through the systematic deployment of the Resolute Operating System, which will create value at both the underlying managed businesses and at Resolute Holdings. For additional information on Resolute Holdings, please refer to Resolute Holdings’ filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or please visit www.resoluteholdings.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on the beliefs and assumptions of management. Although Resolute Holdings believes that its plans, intentions, and expectations reflected in or suggested by these forward-looking statements are reasonable, Resolute Holdings cannot assure you that it will achieve or realize these plans, intentions, or expectations. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. Generally, statements that are not historical facts, including statements concerning Resolute Holdings’ expectations regarding personnel, future platform acquisitions, limited profitability for the year ending December 31, 2025, revenues from management fees, the deployment of the Resolute Operating System, market opportunities, possible or assumed future actions, business strategies, events, or results of operations, and other matters, are forward-looking statements. In some instances, these statements may be preceded by, followed by or include the words “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “projects,” “forecasts,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “seeks,” “plans,” “scheduled,” “anticipates” or “intends” or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar terminology. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. You should not put undue reliance on these statements which speak only as of the date hereof. You should understand that the following important factors, among others, could affect Resolute Holdings’ future results and could cause those results or other outcomes to differ materially from those expressed or implied in Resolute Holdings’ forward-looking statements: the timing and amount of the management fees payable to Resolute Holdings, including unexpected fluctuations therein, unexpected changes in costs, risks associated with the implementation of the Resolute Operating System, unexpected market and macroeconomic developments, demand for Resolute Holdings’ services, the ability of Resolute Holdings to grow and manage growth profitably, compete within its industry and attract and retain its key employees; the possibility that Resolute Holdings may be adversely impacted by other global economic, business, competitive and/or other factors, including but not limited to inflationary pressures, volatile interest rates, variable tariff policies or intensified disruptions in the global financial markets; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Resolute Holdings or others; future exchange and interest rates; and other risks and uncertainties, including those under “Risk Factors” in filings that have been made or will be made with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Resolute Holdings undertakes no obligations to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
Zohran Mamdani takes photos with union members during a campaign rally at the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council headquarters in New York on July 2, 2025. AP Photo/Richard Drew
When Zohran Mamdani announced his candidacy for mayor of New York City, political observers noted his progressive platform and legislative record. But understanding the Democratic candidate’s background requires examining the rich cultural tapestry woven into his very surname: Mamdani.
He takes the name from his father, Mahmood Mamdani, a prominent academic who was raised in Uganda and whose work focuses on postcolonial Uganda. I studied the history of the Khoja community for my doctoral work and have helped develop Khoja studies as an academic discipline. The Mamdani surname tells a story of migration, resilience and community-building that spans centuries and continents.
The Khoja history
Mamdanis in Uganda belong to the Khoja community, a South Asian Muslim merchant caste, that shaped economic development across the western Indian Ocean for centuries.
The name originates from greater Sindh, a region in South Asia that today includes southeastern Pakistan and Kachchh in western India.
Its etymology is twofold. Mām is an honorific title in Kachchhi and Gujarati languages, meaning kindness, courage and pride. Māmadō is a local version of the name Muhammad that often appeared in surnames in Hindu castes that converted to Islam, such as the Memons.
The Khoja were categorized by the British in the early 19th century as “Hindoo Mussalman” because their traditions spanned both religions.
Over time, the Khoja came to be identified only as Muslim and then primarily as Shiite Muslim. Today, the majority of Khoja are Ismaili: a branch of Shiite Islam that follows the Aga Khan as their living imam.
The Mamdani family, however, is part of the Twelver community of Khoja, whose Twelfth Imam is believed to be hidden from the world and only emerges in times of crisis. Twelvers believe he will help usher in an age of peace during end times.
Around the late 18th century, the Khoja helped export textiles, manufactured goods, spices and gems from the Indian subcontinent to Arabia and East Africa. Through this Western Indian Ocean trading network, they imported timber, ivory, minerals and cloves, among other goods.
Khoja family firms were built on kinship networks and trust. They built networks of shops, communal housing and warehouses, and extended credit for thousands of miles, from Zanzibar in Tanzania to Bombay – now Mumbai – on the western coast of India.
Cousins and brothers would send money and goods across the ocean with only a letter. The precarious nature of trade in this period meant that families also served as insurance for each other. In times of wealth, it was shared; in times of disaster, help was available.
Khoja contributions in Africa
The Khoja became instrumental in building the commercial infrastructure of eastern, central and southern Africa. But the Khoja contribution to the development of Africa extended far beyond trade.
In the absence of colonial investment in public infrastructure, they helped build institutions that formed the foundation of the modern nation-states that emerged after colonization. The institutions both facilitated trade and established permanent communities.
For example, the first dispensary and public school in Zanzibar were constructed by a Khoja magnate, Tharia Topan, who made his wealth through the ivory and clove trades. Topan eventually became so prominent that he was knighted by Queen Victoria in 1890 for his service to the British Empire in helping to end slavery in East Africa.
The Khoja community continues to invest in East Africa. The most famous example is the Aga Khan Development Network, whose hospitals and schools operate in 30 countries. In places such as Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, they are considered the best.
Khoja in Uganda
Like in other parts of Africa, the Khoja settled in Uganda as a liaison business community to develop a market to serve both African and European needs. The linguistic and cultural knowledge, developed over centuries, helped facilitate business despite the challenges of colonization.
Ugandan President Idi Amin and his wife, Sarah, in Rome on Sept. 10, 1975. AP Photo
However, in 1972, Ugandan dictator Idi Amin expelled all Asians – approximately 80,000 – forcing families like the Mamdanis into exile. These included indentured laborers, who were brought in to help build the railroad and farm during the British colonial period, and free traders, like the Mamdani family.
Amin saw them all as the same and famously said: “Asians came to Uganda to build the railway. The railway is finished. They must leave now.”
The experience was a bitter one. Families lost everything, and many left with only the clothes on their backs.
Mahmood Mamdani, who came from a Khoja merchant family, was 26 when he was exiled. Yet, unlike most Ugandan Asians, he chose to go back. At Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda’s capital, Mamdani set up the Institute for Social Research, which helped to provide rigorous social science training to Ugandan researchers trying to improve their society.
While the earlier generations of the Khoja tended to choose business or adjacent professions, such as accounting, the subsequent generations – particularly those educated in the West – embraced the knowledge economy as professionals, academics and nonprofit leaders.
Several of Mahmood Mamdani’s generation of Khoja academics conducted path-breaking work on Afro-Asian solidarity – a way of thinking about the world beyond colonial categories, such as the category of religion as a separate domain from the secular. These scholars, such as Tanzania’s Issa Shivji and Abdul Sheriff, worked on creating solidarity among the newly independent states of the Global South.
Mahmood Mamdani is known for his influential post-9/11 academic work, “Good Muslim, Bad Muslim,” which examined how Muslim identities are stereotyped. He argued that these identities are complex and varied, shaped by accumulated history and present experiences.
Interfaith identity
The Khoja community – known globally as the Khoja Shia Ithnasheri Muslim Community – has developed strong transnational connections. Today, they are concentrated in the United Kingdom, Canada, United States and France. However, Khoja can be found in almost any country in the world. In 2013, I met members of the community in Hong Kong.
The Khoja community plays an important role in interfaith dialogue and global development initiatives. A prominent Ismaili Khoja, Eboo Patel, the founder of Interfaith America, has dedicated his life to pluralism and mutual understanding through building up civil society.
Zohran Mamdani’s mother, acclaimed filmmaker Mira Nair, is Hindu by birth. This interfaith marriage exemplifies the flexibility, diversity and tolerance of Khoja Islam, which has historically navigated between Hindu and Islamic traditions.
Whether Mamdani’s policies prove practical remains to be seen, but his background offers something valuable: a deep understanding of how communities build resilience across generations and geographies.
Iqbal Akhtar 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.
Zohran Mamdani takes photos with union members during a campaign rally at the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council headquarters in New York on July 2, 2025. AP Photo/Richard Drew
When Zohran Mamdani announced his candidacy for mayor of New York City, political observers noted his progressive platform and legislative record. But understanding the Democratic candidate’s background requires examining the rich cultural tapestry woven into his very surname: Mamdani.
He takes the name from his father, Mahmood Mamdani, a prominent academic who was raised in Uganda and whose work focuses on postcolonial Uganda. I studied the history of the Khoja community for my doctoral work and have helped develop Khoja studies as an academic discipline. The Mamdani surname tells a story of migration, resilience and community-building that spans centuries and continents.
The Khoja history
Mamdanis in Uganda belong to the Khoja community, a South Asian Muslim merchant caste, that shaped economic development across the western Indian Ocean for centuries.
The name originates from greater Sindh, a region in South Asia that today includes southeastern Pakistan and Kachchh in western India.
Its etymology is twofold. Mām is an honorific title in Kachchhi and Gujarati languages, meaning kindness, courage and pride. Māmadō is a local version of the name Muhammad that often appeared in surnames in Hindu castes that converted to Islam, such as the Memons.
The Khoja were categorized by the British in the early 19th century as “Hindoo Mussalman” because their traditions spanned both religions.
Over time, the Khoja came to be identified only as Muslim and then primarily as Shiite Muslim. Today, the majority of Khoja are Ismaili: a branch of Shiite Islam that follows the Aga Khan as their living imam.
The Mamdani family, however, is part of the Twelver community of Khoja, whose Twelfth Imam is believed to be hidden from the world and only emerges in times of crisis. Twelvers believe he will help usher in an age of peace during end times.
Around the late 18th century, the Khoja helped export textiles, manufactured goods, spices and gems from the Indian subcontinent to Arabia and East Africa. Through this Western Indian Ocean trading network, they imported timber, ivory, minerals and cloves, among other goods.
Khoja family firms were built on kinship networks and trust. They built networks of shops, communal housing and warehouses, and extended credit for thousands of miles, from Zanzibar in Tanzania to Bombay – now Mumbai – on the western coast of India.
Cousins and brothers would send money and goods across the ocean with only a letter. The precarious nature of trade in this period meant that families also served as insurance for each other. In times of wealth, it was shared; in times of disaster, help was available.
Khoja contributions in Africa
The Khoja became instrumental in building the commercial infrastructure of eastern, central and southern Africa. But the Khoja contribution to the development of Africa extended far beyond trade.
In the absence of colonial investment in public infrastructure, they helped build institutions that formed the foundation of the modern nation-states that emerged after colonization. The institutions both facilitated trade and established permanent communities.
For example, the first dispensary and public school in Zanzibar were constructed by a Khoja magnate, Tharia Topan, who made his wealth through the ivory and clove trades. Topan eventually became so prominent that he was knighted by Queen Victoria in 1890 for his service to the British Empire in helping to end slavery in East Africa.
The Khoja community continues to invest in East Africa. The most famous example is the Aga Khan Development Network, whose hospitals and schools operate in 30 countries. In places such as Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, they are considered the best.
Khoja in Uganda
Like in other parts of Africa, the Khoja settled in Uganda as a liaison business community to develop a market to serve both African and European needs. The linguistic and cultural knowledge, developed over centuries, helped facilitate business despite the challenges of colonization.
Ugandan President Idi Amin and his wife, Sarah, in Rome on Sept. 10, 1975. AP Photo
However, in 1972, Ugandan dictator Idi Amin expelled all Asians – approximately 80,000 – forcing families like the Mamdanis into exile. These included indentured laborers, who were brought in to help build the railroad and farm during the British colonial period, and free traders, like the Mamdani family.
Amin saw them all as the same and famously said: “Asians came to Uganda to build the railway. The railway is finished. They must leave now.”
The experience was a bitter one. Families lost everything, and many left with only the clothes on their backs.
Mahmood Mamdani, who came from a Khoja merchant family, was 26 when he was exiled. Yet, unlike most Ugandan Asians, he chose to go back. At Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda’s capital, Mamdani set up the Institute for Social Research, which helped to provide rigorous social science training to Ugandan researchers trying to improve their society.
While the earlier generations of the Khoja tended to choose business or adjacent professions, such as accounting, the subsequent generations – particularly those educated in the West – embraced the knowledge economy as professionals, academics and nonprofit leaders.
Several of Mahmood Mamdani’s generation of Khoja academics conducted path-breaking work on Afro-Asian solidarity – a way of thinking about the world beyond colonial categories, such as the category of religion as a separate domain from the secular. These scholars, such as Tanzania’s Issa Shivji and Abdul Sheriff, worked on creating solidarity among the newly independent states of the Global South.
Mahmood Mamdani is known for his influential post-9/11 academic work, “Good Muslim, Bad Muslim,” which examined how Muslim identities are stereotyped. He argued that these identities are complex and varied, shaped by accumulated history and present experiences.
Interfaith identity
The Khoja community – known globally as the Khoja Shia Ithnasheri Muslim Community – has developed strong transnational connections. Today, they are concentrated in the United Kingdom, Canada, United States and France. However, Khoja can be found in almost any country in the world. In 2013, I met members of the community in Hong Kong.
The Khoja community plays an important role in interfaith dialogue and global development initiatives. A prominent Ismaili Khoja, Eboo Patel, the founder of Interfaith America, has dedicated his life to pluralism and mutual understanding through building up civil society.
Zohran Mamdani’s mother, acclaimed filmmaker Mira Nair, is Hindu by birth. This interfaith marriage exemplifies the flexibility, diversity and tolerance of Khoja Islam, which has historically navigated between Hindu and Islamic traditions.
Whether Mamdani’s policies prove practical remains to be seen, but his background offers something valuable: a deep understanding of how communities build resilience across generations and geographies.
Iqbal Akhtar 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.
Who was the first pirate? – Yandel R., age 11, Lakewood Ranch, Florida
When most people imagine a pirate, they picture actor Johnny Depp playing the mad but likable swashbuckler Jack Sparrow, captain of the sailing ship the Black Pearl.
Depp’s pirate portrayal was inspired by seafaring bandits in older make-believe tales, such as Long John Silver in “Treasure Island,” Captain Hook in “Peter Pan,” or sailor Edmond Dantès in “The Count of Monte Cristo.”
Pirates in these stories were mischievous but also glamorous, courageous and mostly kindhearted. They wore flashy costumes. They had missing limbs, like Captain Cook’s iron hook for a left hand and Long John Silver’s wooden peg leg. They buried treasure chests of gold and silver, forced enemies to walk the plank and had talking parrots as shipboard companions. They flew the Jolly Roger skull and crossbones flag from the ship’s mast to frighten enemies. The new Netflix series “One Piece,” which is based on a Japanese comic book, continues this popular depiction of pirates.
While fun, these portrayals of pirates are mostly invented.
I’m a political scientist who studies modern-day commerce raiding: robbing of private cargo vessels on the high seas. I’m interested in where it happens in the world, who does it and what can be done to stop it. My research finds today’s pirates to be less like swashbuckling Jack Sparrow and more like regular old thieves.
Pirates in the ancient world
Since pirates have been around for as long as people have moved things by boat, it is hard to pin down the very first pirate.
But archaeological evidence shows that boatbuilding goes all the way back to the ancient Egyptians, who used boats made from papyrus reedsas early as 6,000 years ago. These vessels likely carried valuable goods up and down the Nile River, and where valuable goods can be found, you can usually find thieves too. In fact, researchers know that pirates – basically just thieves on the water – targeted these river boats, because Egyptian pharaohs left records grumbling about pirates and their widespread pillaging.
By 3,500 years ago, thieves were using sailing vessels to raid coastal towns and villages in and around the Nile Delta, as well as the Aegean and Adriatic basins. Attacking ships far from land on the high seas and stealing the cargo was a logical next step in the tactics of seafaring raiders.
As trade increased across the Mediterranean Sea, boats carrying valuable cargo, such as pottery, silk, glass, spices and metals, became the targets of ancient pirates. Given the worth of these goods, pirate attacks became widespread across the ancient Mediterranean Sea. With money from the Roman senate and strong effort by a military leader named Pompey, the Roman navy worked hard to stop the pirates – and for a while it did.
The earliest named pirate?
The first mention of a pirate by name may have been in a Greek history book written in the fifth century BCE by an ancient historian named Herodotus.
He briefly describes the adventures of a naval commander by the name of Dionysius who was from Ionia, which is in modern-day Turkey. Dionysius set up a pirate base on the island of Sicily that allowed him and his fellow pirates to plunder ships that happened to sail past.
Pirates of the Caribbean
While Dionysius may have been the first recorded pirate, the most famous pirates lived during the 17th and 18th centuries, which came to be known as the golden age of sea piracy.
Islands such as Jamaica, Tortuga and the Bahamas, as well the North Carolina coast, all became notable pirate havens. Port Royal, on the island of Jamaica, in particular, was a notorious pirate refuge. It was ideally positioned for preying upon Spanish galleons sailing across the Atlantic from ports in Panama and Venezuela. Johnny Depp’s character, Jack Sparrow, swashbuckled around a fictionalized Port Royal in the first “Pirates of the Caribbean” film.
Each dot represents a maritime pirate attack that happened between 1995 and 2023. Brandon Prins
21st-century pirates
The 2013 Hollywood movie “Captain Phillips,” starring Tom Hanks, drew attention back to real-world pirates and piracy. The movie was based on a real-life 2009 attack by Somali pirates on a ship named the MV Maersk Alabama, which was carrying food to Kenya. The 500-foot-long vessel and its crew were rescued by the U.S. Navy.
To better understand 21st-century piracy, my research team compiled data on all pirate attacks from 1995 to the present day. We found three main piracy hot spots: the Gulf of Aden near Somalia, the Strait of Malacca in Southeast Asia and the Gulf of Guinea off the coast of West Africa. All three locations experience the conditions that attract pirates: ship traffic, valuable cargo and weak governments.
Why become a pirate?
People become pirates for many reasons, not the least of which is to escape poverty and enslavement. Others just want adventure and to travel the world. These are the same motivations that drove commerce raiding in the ancient world, during the golden age of piracy, and even today.
While we may never know the first pirate, just like we will never know the very first thief, historical evidence shows that sea-raiding has been around since the very first boats traversed the world’s waterways. Despite efforts to end piracy, my research shows that the conditions that produce ship looting remain and will likely always exist.
Hello, curious kids! Do you have a question you’d like an expert to answer? Ask an adult to send your question to CuriousKidsUS@theconversation.com. Please tell us your name, age and the city where you live.
And since curiosity has no age limit – adults, let us know what you’re wondering, too. We won’t be able to answer every question, but we will do our best.
Brandon Prins received funding from the U.S. Department of Defense, Office of Naval Research, through the Minerva Initiative, awards #N00014-21-1-2030 and #N00014-14-1-0050.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
GUANGZHOU, July 14 (Xinhua) — The area around Songshan Lake in southern China’s Guangdong Province exudes youthful energy. Just two decades ago, it was a quiet orchard, but now it is home to a thriving innovation hub. These days, it is not harvesting fruits, but ideas.
The 103 square kilometer high-tech zone is home to more than 17,000 market players, including seven national manufacturing champions and 770 national high-tech enterprises. Each is contributing to the rise of next-generation technologies, from connected vehicles and robotics to intelligent engineering, biomedicine, and advanced materials and energy.
The rapid growth of enterprises is facilitated by the innovative ecosystem of Songshan Lake, which is home to six universities and 18 provincial-level new R&D institutions. It is also home to several key scientific facilities, including the China Spallation Neutron Source and an advanced attosecond laser infrastructure currently under construction.
The evolution of ePropulsion, co-founded by Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) alumnus Pan Zongliang and three of his classmates, is a vivid illustration of this dynamic ecosystem.
In 2012, recognizing the significant potential in marine renewable energy, they formed a startup team dedicated to research and development in marine electric propulsion systems. By 2014, they had completed the prototype of their first electric outboard motor. However, the process of turning this innovation into a market-ready product was fraught with challenges. The industrialization process proved to be a complex undertaking that required considerable effort and resources to manage.
Fortunately, HKUST professor Li Zexiang founded the XbotPark robotics base in Songshan Lake area in 2014. He also facilitated the relocation of ePropulsion’s five-person staff to Songshan Lake, providing them with valuable assistance.
“As a marine renewable energy company, we needed a water area to test our products,” explained Pan Zongliang, co-founder and COO of ePropulsion. The Songshan Lake Administrative Committee provided the team with a key asset: a special dock for conducting water tests. “It was a huge support,” Pan Zongliang recalled.
In addition to political support, Songshan Lake’s strategic location allows XbotPark companies to take advantage of the supply chain advantages of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
According to the director of the XbotPark robotics base, teams working in this environment often say: “If you can imagine it, you can build it.” “Finding suppliers for good ideas can usually be completed in about thirty minutes,” he says.
ePropulsion currently operates from a manufacturing facility in Dongguan, Guangdong Province, southern China, where Lake Songshanhu is located. The product range includes a wide range of overhead electric systems from 500 to 1000 kW, as well as overhead drives, embedded systems, batteries and control systems, which are sold worldwide.
“Our main market is Europe and the United States, and our small and medium-sized electric outboard motors ranked first in the world in terms of shipment volume last year,” Pan Zongliang said. “The domestic market share is also growing as the new energy boat sector expands in China,” he added.
Their eco-friendly propulsion systems now power boats at events such as SailGP and the America’s Cup, as well as on scenic waters across China, including Donghu Lake in Wuhan, West Lake in Hangzhou and the Lijiang River in Guilin.
According to XbotPark, it has helped create more than 80 startups in the field of robotics and intelligent equipment, of which six are included in the list of unicorn companies whose estimated value has grown to a billion US dollars in a short period of time. At the same time, their survival rate has exceeded 80%. The total value of the leading companies in the base is $ 10 billion.
Nearby, at the Guangdong Institute of Intelligent Robotics (GIRI), another industrial park near Songshan Lake, a bright yellow robot maneuvers in a test tank, rising and falling with the agility of a fish. This intelligent underwater inspection robot, developed by BlueDiveBot, conducts comprehensive inspections with no blind spots.
“Underwater robots can perform equipment maintenance, garbage collection, water quality monitoring and emergency response, overcoming human limitations and safety risks,” said Hu Gangyi, CEO of BlueDiveBot.
Incubated by GIRI and founded in 2023, BlueDiveBot has established a collaborative innovation platform integrating industry, education, research and application for advanced underwater equipment. The company has mastered a number of advanced technologies in the field of unmanned underwater intelligent systems, some of which are the first of their kind in the country.
“The well-developed industrial chain in Dongguan and surrounding areas accelerates the commercialization of our R&D,” Hu Gangyi said. “We have quickly achieved the expansion of production capacity and significant growth in market sales.”
Since its establishment in August 2015, GIRI has focused its R&D and commercialization efforts on key robotics components such as high-power lasers, sensors and machine vision systems, in addition to its core products that include industrial robots, high-end intelligent equipment, unmanned autonomous systems and industrial big data.
GIRI Deputy Director Zhou Xiaoxiao compares prototype technologies to an “unripe green apple.” In order to become a “ripe red apple,” the technology must undergo a process of refinement, she says, and this transformation is necessary for the technology to become the basis for producing a wide range of products, including both “apple jam” and “apple juice.”
Further development of innovation was supported by Songshan Lake High-tech Zone’s partnership with Huawei Cloud to build the “Developer Village” in April 2022. It meets the digitalization needs of enterprises through deep integration and joint innovation between various developer organizations, promoting digital innovation and industrial upgrading. Currently, 29 companies are located there.
“The Songshan Lake High-Tech Zone has carried out cutting-edge basic research,” concluded Wang Qianqian, deputy director of the Songshan Lake Science, Technology and Innovation Bureau. “Based on the results of basic research, we have built a complete innovation chain from pioneering research to commercialization and industrial development.” -0-
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
TIANJIN, July 14 (Xinhua) — Umar Suleimanov, a student from Tajikistan who chose the Chinese name Wu Mofan, actively gestures with his hands in front of a video camera, showing various configurations of his wrist and fingers, and a bionic robotic arm installed nearby, equipped with tens of hundreds of multi-dimensional tactile sensors, instantly repeats these movements as a mirror image.
All this took place at the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Forum on Digital Economy in the northern Chinese city of Tianjin and attracted the attention of many guests from SCO countries.
“I learned that these bionic arms can sense mechanical information, sense temperatures, and differentiate between materials and textures. They can be applied to industrial production on a large scale, and can greatly improve the production efficiency of factories through data collection, algorithm integration, and other technological systems,” said Wu Mofan, a student at Tianjin Nankai University. He hopes that China’s digital smart manufacturing solutions and products can be spread to more countries to promote local development.
The development of digital economy is a strategic direction in the new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation. With the promotion of targeted policies and guidelines, iterative approach in technology, huge market demand and other driving factors, China has shown impressive achievements in industrial upgrading through the development of digital manufacturing.
According to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of the People’s Republic of China, there are currently more than 30,000 smart factories with basic automation, over 230 smart factories with full digitalization of production, and about 421 national-level smart manufacturing demonstration factories in China. In the first quarter of 2025, the operating revenue of China’s digital sector reached 8.5 trillion yuan (about 1.19 trillion US dollars), growing 9.4 percent year on year.
“I am very impressed that more and more AI and robotics projects are being implemented in various industrial scenarios in China. In this regard, China has made very impressive progress,” said Mehmet Bozkurt, a senior expert at the Turkish Center for Asia-Pacific Studies.
Pan Yuanyuan, deputy director of the International Investment Department at the Institute of World Economy and Politics under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, attributes the rapid development of China’s digital economy to its huge population, strong market demand, and rich application scenarios. “China’s achievements and accumulated experience in the digital economy are useful for countries seeking development,” she said.
China has repeatedly reaffirmed its determination not only to digitalize its own industry, but also to assist other SCO countries in modernizing their production by exporting more and more digital technologies.
Among the significant projects of cooperation between China and other SCO countries in the digital economy, Song Xianrong, a responsible official for international cooperation at the State Data Administration of the People’s Republic of China, highlighted the smart railway project in Mongolia with the participation of a Chinese enterprise, thanks to which the volume of coal production in areas located along the railway increased by 3-4 times, and the cost of transporting each ton of coal decreased from 32 to 15 US dollars, and the cost of operation and maintenance of the railway fell by 50 percent.
Another striking example of such cooperation was a joint project between the Tianjin Design and Research Institute of the Cement Industry and the oil and gas company SOUTH-OIL of Kazakhstan, in which Chinese technologies and standards for digital intelligence were introduced into the production scenario in one of the modern industrial parks in the south of Kazakhstan.
“China provides impressive intellectual solutions in the process of digital transformation of energy and industry,” said Gulnaziya Almakhanova, head of the International Relations Department at Korkyt Ata Kyzylorda University in Kazakhstan. “We hope that China will be able to share successful experience and solutions with other members of the SCO family so that more countries can benefit from this wave of technological revolution.”
As it became known, at the SCO Forum on Digital Economy-2025 in Tianjin, a ceremony was held to sign documents in 12 projects of cooperation on the digital economy between China, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Egypt and other countries. These projects are related to such areas as cross-border e-commerce and the construction of “smart” cities. -0-
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, July 14 (Xinhua) — Astronomers have begun searching for traces of the Big Bang using a radio telescope installed at an altitude of 5,250 meters above sea level in southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region.
The AliCPT-1 radio telescope has captured the first images of the Moon and Jupiter at 150 GHz, marking a key step toward probing primordial gravitational waves, the Institute of High Energy Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (IHEP CAS) announced on Sunday.
Gravitational waves are faint whispers from the dawn of time that may hold the key to explaining how the universe came into being.
Imagine the universe at birth; primordial gravitational waves would be its very first cry. Born from quantum fluctuations in spacetime during the inflationary stage, primordial gravitational waves are thought to be the most pristine ripples ever recorded in the universe.
In this regard, probing primordial gravitational waves is important for testing the Big Bang theory, the quantum theory of gravity.
“If we successfully detect primordial gravitational waves, we will be able to see the Universe at the very first moment of its existence,” said Xinmin Zhang, the principal investigator of the AliCPT-1 project and a senior researcher at the IHEP.
“At the same time, it could lead to breakthroughs in cutting-edge technologies such as cryogenic superconducting detectors and cryogenic readout electronics, bringing cosmology into an era of unprecedented precision,” the scientist added.
The construction of the radio telescope took eight years. The project involved 16 research institutions, including the National Astronomical Observatory of the ANC and Stanford University in the United States.
According to the results of the study, the list of areas on Earth suitable for probing primary gravity waves includes only Antarctica, the Atacama Desert in Chile, the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau and Greenland, said project leader Liu Congzhan.
Obtaining images of the Moon and Jupiter is just the beginning. The AliCPT-1 radio telescope fills a gap in China and, together with devices in Antarctica and Chile, forms a global network, said IHEP researcher Li Hong of the ANC. -0-
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Over 7 million people in the United States live with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia (ADRD). Some risk factors for ADRD, like genetics, can’t be controlled, but others can be treated. One of the most prevalent is depression (known clinically as major depressive disorder, or MDD). Between 11.1% and 14.7% of ADRD cases – affecting roughly one million individuals in the US – are attributable to MDD.
Now, researchers at theUConn Center on Aginghave uncovered a variety of mechanisms linking these conditions, giving at-risk individuals and health care providers a greater understanding of how the disease may be prevented and mitigated.
“We’ve known for a long time that depression is one of the most relevant, potentially preventable risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease,” says Breno Diniz, MD, Ph.D., associate professor of psychiatry at UConn Health and the Center on Aging, who has devoted his research career to tackling this issue. “However, we didn’t know why.”
Diniz’s latest publication, in the journal Nature Mental Health, has uncovered two key factors linking these diseases: proteostasis,or how the body synthesizes and metabolizes proteins; and dysregulation of inflammatory responses.
“Depression is a disease that is bigger than a depressed mood,” Diniz says. “It has consequences that are silent, that may appear many years later.”
The Power in the Proteins
Diniz’s research team identified a series of protein markers in the body that seemed to increase the risk of ADRD for everyone – patients both with and without a history of MDD. These markers are related to general processes in the body that tend to change with age, such as inflammation, cell division, and apoptosis (the destruction and removal of damaged cells from the body).
But in patients with MDD, the researchers found a unique change in the process of proteostasis. This change increased inflammation in the brain, which in turn increased the risk of developing ADRD.
“What we have here is a causal effect,” says Diniz, explaining that these two factors – changes in proteostasis and an increase in neuroinflammation – “seem to work together, synergistically, to increase the risk of dementia.”
Using this insight, the team developed a Proteomic Risk Score that can be used to assess the risk for an individual patient with depression developing ADRD. This unique tool evaluates multiple proteins and offers “a more concrete way of looking at the risk of dementia in these individuals,” says Diniz.
To the research team’s surprise, the newly developed tool was a better predictor of ADRD risk than any previous model. It was more effective than models which evaluate the classic risk factors for ADRD, both in the general population and among those with depression – signaling hope for early detection and prevention.
“It’s a very robust model,” says Diniz, “and it has concrete clinical applications.”
The Proteomic Risk Score tool will help clinicians and patients holistically examine their ADRD risk factors, and it may also enable researchers to better select human subjects for ADRD intervention and prevention efforts.
Breaking it Down
In this study, Diniz and his co-authors used a combination of proteomic and genomic approaches to analyze data available from the United Kingdom Biobank, specifically tracking ADRD outcomes among middle-aged adults with depression.
Proteomics is the study of the proteins that are created by cells in the body. And genomics – the study of someone’s entire set of DNA – is a natural complement to proteomics, since DNA determines which proteins are produced by cells. Combining these two analytical approaches is called proteogenomics, and it can give researchers a deeper insight into complex biological processes and how they are related to different pathologies.
“Every molecular layer – from genes to epigenetics, RNA, and proteins – conveys different biological information, and they can have different roles in … creating prediction models,” explains Diniz. “Their combination makes the models more powerful, and brings them a step closer to precision geroscience.” This is a major goal of theUConn Pepper Center, led by the paper’s co-authors George Kuchel, MD, and Richard Fortinsky, Ph.D.
To enable this multifaceted analysis, Diniz partnered with other researchers across departments at UConn and UConn Health, including Kuchel; Fortinsky; Zhiduo Chen, Ph.D.; David C. Steffens, MD; and Chia-Ling Kuo, Ph.D. The research team also included scientists from the University of Exeter (UK) and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, Canada.
Depression’s ‘Silent Consequences’
This research emphasizes the profound interconnection between mind and body, especially the long-term health impacts of untreated mental illness. For those outside the scientific community, Diniz hopes this work will spur people to take their mental health just as seriously as their physical health.
“It’s extremely important to seek help,” Diniz urges. “Not only when you’re 50 or older – anytime in your life. Lots of studies in the past decade have shown that any depressive episode throughout the lifespan, even in your 20s, can increase the risk of dementia later on. So, it’s very important to seek help, and it’s very important to treat – and try to reach full remission of – the depressive episode.”
Fortunately, he notes, many of the lifestyle recommendations which have been shown to improve depressive symptoms – like exercise and not smoking – also improve other health outcomes, so treating depression does not need to occur in isolation.
Offering patients and health care providers tools like the Proteomic Risk Score and a more holistic understanding of health, this research joins a growing body of literature dedicated to preventing many cases of ADRD before it’s too late.
This work was supported by the NIA grant P30AG067988 (UConn Pepper Center, PIs: Kuchel and Fortinsky).
Over 7 million people in the United States live with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia (ADRD). Some risk factors for ADRD, like genetics, can’t be controlled, but others can be treated. One of the most prevalent is depression (known clinically as major depressive disorder, or MDD). Between 11.1% and 14.7% of ADRD cases – affecting roughly one million individuals in the US – are attributable to MDD.
Now, researchers at theUConn Center on Aginghave uncovered a variety of mechanisms linking these conditions, giving at-risk individuals and health care providers a greater understanding of how the disease may be prevented and mitigated.
“We’ve known for a long time that depression is one of the most relevant, potentially preventable risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease,” says Breno Diniz, MD, Ph.D., associate professor of psychiatry at UConn Health and the Center on Aging, who has devoted his research career to tackling this issue. “However, we didn’t know why.”
Diniz’s latest publication, in the journal Nature Mental Health, has uncovered two key factors linking these diseases: proteostasis,or how the body synthesizes and metabolizes proteins; and dysregulation of inflammatory responses.
“Depression is a disease that is bigger than a depressed mood,” Diniz says. “It has consequences that are silent, that may appear many years later.”
The Power in the Proteins
Diniz’s research team identified a series of protein markers in the body that seemed to increase the risk of ADRD for everyone – patients both with and without a history of MDD. These markers are related to general processes in the body that tend to change with age, such as inflammation, cell division, and apoptosis (the destruction and removal of damaged cells from the body).
But in patients with MDD, the researchers found a unique change in the process of proteostasis. This change increased inflammation in the brain, which in turn increased the risk of developing ADRD.
“What we have here is a causal effect,” says Diniz, explaining that these two factors – changes in proteostasis and an increase in neuroinflammation – “seem to work together, synergistically, to increase the risk of dementia.”
Using this insight, the team developed a Proteomic Risk Score that can be used to assess the risk for an individual patient with depression developing ADRD. This unique tool evaluates multiple proteins and offers “a more concrete way of looking at the risk of dementia in these individuals,” says Diniz.
To the research team’s surprise, the newly developed tool was a better predictor of ADRD risk than any previous model. It was more effective than models which evaluate the classic risk factors for ADRD, both in the general population and among those with depression – signaling hope for early detection and prevention.
“It’s a very robust model,” says Diniz, “and it has concrete clinical applications.”
The Proteomic Risk Score tool will help clinicians and patients holistically examine their ADRD risk factors, and it may also enable researchers to better select human subjects for ADRD intervention and prevention efforts.
Breaking it Down
In this study, Diniz and his co-authors used a combination of proteomic and genomic approaches to analyze data available from the United Kingdom Biobank, specifically tracking ADRD outcomes among middle-aged adults with depression.
Proteomics is the study of the proteins that are created by cells in the body. And genomics – the study of someone’s entire set of DNA – is a natural complement to proteomics, since DNA determines which proteins are produced by cells. Combining these two analytical approaches is called proteogenomics, and it can give researchers a deeper insight into complex biological processes and how they are related to different pathologies.
“Every molecular layer – from genes to epigenetics, RNA, and proteins – conveys different biological information, and they can have different roles in … creating prediction models,” explains Diniz. “Their combination makes the models more powerful, and brings them a step closer to precision geroscience.” This is a major goal of theUConn Pepper Center, led by the paper’s co-authors George Kuchel, MD, and Richard Fortinsky, Ph.D.
To enable this multifaceted analysis, Diniz partnered with other researchers across departments at UConn and UConn Health, including Kuchel; Fortinsky; Zhiduo Chen, Ph.D.; David C. Steffens, MD; and Chia-Ling Kuo, Ph.D. The research team also included scientists from the University of Exeter (UK) and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, Canada.
Depression’s ‘Silent Consequences’
This research emphasizes the profound interconnection between mind and body, especially the long-term health impacts of untreated mental illness. For those outside the scientific community, Diniz hopes this work will spur people to take their mental health just as seriously as their physical health.
“It’s extremely important to seek help,” Diniz urges. “Not only when you’re 50 or older – anytime in your life. Lots of studies in the past decade have shown that any depressive episode throughout the lifespan, even in your 20s, can increase the risk of dementia later on. So, it’s very important to seek help, and it’s very important to treat – and try to reach full remission of – the depressive episode.”
Fortunately, he notes, many of the lifestyle recommendations which have been shown to improve depressive symptoms – like exercise and not smoking – also improve other health outcomes, so treating depression does not need to occur in isolation.
Offering patients and health care providers tools like the Proteomic Risk Score and a more holistic understanding of health, this research joins a growing body of literature dedicated to preventing many cases of ADRD before it’s too late.
This work was supported by the NIA grant P30AG067988 (UConn Pepper Center, PIs: Kuchel and Fortinsky).
When Tony N. King makes up his mind about something, he’s firm in his choice – you might call him a man of action.
“Decision-making sends out this frequency that propels you in the direction you want to go further and faster,” he says. “The more resolute that you are in your decision-making, I think the world conspires around the idea.”
That proved true early last year when King ’23 MFA decided to move from Atlanta, where he eventually settled after grad work at UConn, back to New York City, where he briefly landed after his undergrad and now was looking to return to make a go of it as an actor.
Like dominos, everything fell into place.
He called a friend to get permission to stay in his empty apartment for a month while he found his own. Then, three days before boarding the plane to head north, King booked three voiceover jobs.
“It was serendipitous,” he says of getting that work. “Now I had to get to New York because I needed to be in the studio and that gave me momentum to keep things rolling.”
About two weeks into the move, even before he’d found his own place, King came across an audition notice for a then-growing show he’d never heard of. It was work, so he sent in a self-tape and two days later he was sitting with casting to book the role.
“It was insanely fast,” he says. “Once I was fed up selling luggage in Atlanta, then everything moved into place. It felt like prayers being answered.”
Some might say quite literally.
That then-growing show was the acclaimed Biblical series “The Chosen,” twice rated the No. 1 show on Prime Video this year – and King had just secured a role in Season 5, which was released in theaters in late March before making a streaming debut June 15.
Resolving to Take Another Path
While it isn’t his first big-screen appearance – viewers can find him as an extra standing beside Eddie Murphy in “Coming 2 America” – the role, which carries through into Season 6, means King finally can say he’s earning a living as an actor.
“I had always been somewhat of an artsy, dramatic child,” he says of his upbringing in Charlotte, North Carolina. “I remember getting a karaoke machine and having a singing group in elementary school. But some level of realism smacked me in the face at some point, and I told myself I should probably consider being a doctor or a lawyer.”
He instead settled on studying business at Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) and headed to New York after graduation to take a job in corporate finance and investment banking, a quick-lived position as he says he developed “an overwhelming feeling of, ‘I don’t want to die doing this forever,’ and I also didn’t want to leave this world saying, ‘I didn’t try because I was afraid.’”
Once he resolved to quit, King says he headed home to North Carolina in search of a fully funded MFA acting program. The problem was he’d never taken an acting class, not a one, joking that the closest he got to creativity while working in corporate was designing a marketing flyer.
He sought coaching from Andre Minkins at WSSU to prepare for the program URTA – that’s short for University Resident Theatre Association – which lets prospective MFA acting students audition and apply to hundreds of schools with one application. UConn’s dramatic arts department is among those schools, and brought King to Storrs.
To prepare for his MFA, he booked a couple of children’s theater shows, rubbed elbows with Eddie Murphy, and started doing some voiceover work. After UConn came a bit more children’s theater and that job selling luggage in Atlanta, one might say another that caused him to wonder if this was it.
Then, into King’s life came the role of “bird vendor.”
Tony N. King ’23 (SFA) worked with “The Chosen” creator, director, co-writer, and executive producer Dallas Jenkins to bring to life the role of “bird vendor” in Season 5 of “The Chosen.” Jenkins asked King to return for Season 6, giving him a pivotal role in the series’ next installment about the crucifixion. (Contributed photo)
A Bird in the Hand
“That immediately told me that I may be handling birds, because in the script were these doves and pigeons,” he says. “I knew I was going to be passing and holding birds, so an actor prepares.”
King says he found the most idyllic bird shop imaginable in Brooklyn, Pigeons on Broadway, with an owner who not only could catch pigeons midair but agreed to teach King how to master the same.
“Being in ‘Coming 2 America’ and other various projects as an extra, I knew how quickly set moves. You need to be able to go when the director is ready for you, and I didn’t want to be flustered over holding birds,” he says. “And now I can quite literally grab a bird off the street and hold it like it’s a friend.”
As “bird vendor,” King appears several times in episodes 2 and 3 of “The Chosen: Last Supper,” filmed on set in Utah in an area that replicated Jerusalem’s Court of the Gentiles to the nth detail. That’s the courtyard area outside the Jewish temple, where animal dealers sold livestock and birds for sacrifice.
It’s also the location of the “cleansing of the temple” when Jesus tipped over tables and used a whip to drive, as he said, the merchants and moneymakers from his Father’s house. Each season of “The Chosen” covers a specific aspect of Jesus’ life, with Season 5 featuring the Last Supper and events leading up to it.
“When we got on set, everything went super smooth,” King says. “Dallas Jenkins, the director, has a very specific and keen eye for what he wants. He grew this show from a crowdfunded, indie project into this masterpiece. We had a blast on set, and now people all over the world get to see Jesus flip the table over on me.”
That’s a sentence King admits he never thought he’d say – and at the end of filming came words he’d only so far hoped would come.
“In my first contract, it says in so many words that my role ‘may continue.’ So, I had an idea that I could be invited back, but I knew I needed to do well for that to happen. Once I wrapped last season, Dallas came up to me and in his very soothsayer way said, ‘There’s more to come.’ Sure enough, my character has developed into a spoiler for Season 6. Let’s just say, he’s a very pivotal character in the crucifixion,” he says.
Filming for Season 6, at least the scenes that included King, wrapped this month in Italy, and now he’s in Paris celebrating his 30th birthday. Season 6 will depict Jesus’ crucifixion.
‘Grateful to be called to be a part of it’
“What’s beautiful about portraying biblical characters is that you have these stories, although truth to some, that really represent metaphorically the pillars that we lean on: taking on the burdens of someone you never thought you could or would and really lending yourself to a stranger. I feel like we all can reason with that,” King says.
Raised as a member of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Charlotte, King says he’s always been a spiritual person and in tune with faith, but not overtly religious. For the last two years, though, as he’s prepared for the role, he’s versed himself in the Gospel, coming to study the role of the disciples, Jesus’ ministry and miracles, and eventual crucifixion.
“I think the story of the Bible can be diluted and changed and misconstrued, but as long as we have good people retelling these stories with their hearts and sharing these universal truths, I think we’ll all be better off for it,” King says.
In a way, he goes on to say, his character in Season 6 reflects his place today in the world of acting and as a cast member on “The Chosen.”
“We’re both just grateful to be part of something bigger,” he says, adding, “You start to see the beauty and the magnificence that is Jesus and that is the people who he touched, and you’re just grateful that you were called to be a part of it.”
