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Category: Education

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Gonzalez Announces Winner of 2025 Congressional Art Competition

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (15th District of Texas)

    BROWNSVILLE, TX – On Friday May 2, 2025, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34) announced the winner of the 2025 Congressional Art Competition. Sophia C. Acevedo-Gomez, a 12th grade student at Veterans Memorial Early College High School in Brownsville, Texas, was the winner of the 2025 Congressional Art Competition. Acevedo-Gomez’s winning piece, “Unspoken Empathy” will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year alongside the other winners from across the country.  

    Since 1982, over 650,000 high school students have entered for a chance to have their artwork displayed in the U.S. Capitol. Each year, the competition has allowed students from the 34th Congressional District of Texas to showcase their talents and creativity through their works of art. This year, the Congressman’s office received 94 total submissions.

    Art Competition winners will have the opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C. to attend a reception honoring winners from each congressional district.  In addition, she will be eligible to receive a $3,000 art scholarship to attend the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), should they apply and be accepted for enrollment.   

    “I am honored to recognize Sophia for this extraordinary work of art,” said Congressman Gonzalez. “Sophia’s ability to depict compassion and empathy through such a piece is admirable. Congratulations to her and our other winners! We must continue to support our young South Texans and their pursuit of their passions for the arts. I am excited to welcome Sophia and her artwork to Washington, D.C.” 

    For information regarding future art competitions, deadlines, rules, and eligibility, please visit gonzalez.house.gov or contact Congressman Gonzalez’s District Offices at 956-682-5545.  Press can view more photos of the event using this link.

    Full list of winners below:

    1st Place 
    Unspoken Empathy 
    Sophia C. Acevedo (12th grade) 
    Veterans Memorial Early College High School 

    2nd Place 
    State Bound 
    Mailyn Matoviche (12th grade) 
    Lopez Early College High School 

    3rd Place 
    I am Made from the Fragility of Opal 
    Itzel Martinez (11th grade) 
    Rivera Early College High School 

    4th Place 
    Ojitos Lindos 
    Adrian Garcia (11th grade) 
    Edinburg High School 

    5th Place 
    She Leads the Way 
    Sofia Marie Trevino (10th grade) 
    Homeschool 

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

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

    Source: US State of Connecticut

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

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

    Headshot of Kathleen Adams (UConn Photo)

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

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

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

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

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

    Adams will receive her award during commencement weekend in May.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    MIL OSI Africa –

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

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

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

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

    LANGUAGE BRIDGES THE GAP

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    ART UNITES PEOPLE

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

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

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

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

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

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

    TOURISM STRENGTHENS FRIENDSHIP

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: ICC leadership joins B20 South Africa task forces 

    Source: International Chamber of Commerce

    Headline: ICC leadership joins B20 South Africa task forces 

    Bolstering ICC’s engagement as an official B20 Network Partner, ICC representatives will lend expertise and leadership to co-chair the following B20 task forces: 

    Co-Chair, Finance and Infrastructure  
    John W.H. Denton AO, ICC Secretary General,   

    Industrial Transformation and Innovation  
    Shinta Kamdani, ICC Executive Board Vice-Chair, and Marjorie Yang, ICC Executive Board Member   

    Digital Transformation  
    Karan Bilimoria, Chair, ICC United Kingdom 

    The B20 is the official platform for the international business community to support the work of the G20 process. Since 2010, when the B20 was established, ICC has played a consistent and leading role in shaping the process, providing policy leadership and expertise, amplifying outcomes and supporting continuity, most recently as an official B20 Network Partner. 

    This year’s G20 Presidency is held by South Africa, marking the first time it has been led by an African nation. The B20 is hosted by Business Unity South Africa (BUSA).  

    The B20 Secretariat has convened the following eight task forces: 

    • Employment & Education 
    • Trade & Investment 
    • Energy Mix & Just Transition 
    • Digital Transformation 
    • Integrity & Compliance 
    • Finance & Infrastructure 
    • Sustainable Food Systems & Agriculture 
    • Industrial Transformation & Innovation. 

    Each of the eight task forces is chaired by a business leader from Africa and will produce a series of policy recommendations in line with the B20’s theme of Inclusive Growth and Prosperity through Global Cooperation. 

    Highlighting the unique agency of South Africa’s G20 Presidency and how ICC is working to support its success, ICC Secretary General John W.H. Denton AO, who participated in the B20 South Africa launch in Cape Town in February 2025, said: 

    “The G20 process in South Africa represents a unique opportunity to revitalise multilateralism in the current context. At ICC we are honoured to be B20 Network Partners once again, supporting all eight of the Task Forces this year. We look forward to working closely with the Secretariat to ensure the private sector is positioned as a true partner to these important discussions, leveraging our global network and policy insights.”  

    In addition to task force co-leadership roles, ICC B20 support includes the participation of 19 members of the ICC leadership across the eight task forces, policy support from the ICC Global Policy department, and network support from the ICC Agri-Food Initiative.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI USA: News 05/2/2025 Blackburn Introduces Bills to Combat Juvenile Crime and Crack Down on Carjacking

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn)

    NASHVILLE, Tenn. – U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) introduced the Advancing Frequent and Tailored Education to Rebuild Safe Communities and Help Orchestrate Opportunities and Learning (AFTER SCHOOL) Act and the Federal Carjacking Enforcement Act to reduce juvenile crime and crack down on carjacking by removing barriers to bringing federal prosecutions:

    “We need to make it easier for law enforcement, local school districts, and federal prosecutors to combat and prevent juvenile crime, violent offenses, and carjackings,” said Senator Blackburn. “My AFTER SCHOOL Act would give localities direct access to the tools they need to keep kids off the streets and on the right path. At the same time, the Federal Carjacking Enforcement Act would fix a broken statute, empowering federal prosecutors to hold offenders accountable and make our streets safer for Tennesseans and all Americans.”

    The AFTER SCHOOL Act is co-sponsored by U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.).

    AFTER SCHOOL ACT

    • Violent crime among juveniles has been on the rise after decades of decline.
      • Much of the crime committed in Memphis is driven by juvenile offenders, who are committing more and more aggravated assaults, robberies, and carjackings against innocent city residents;
      • In 2023 Shelby County saw a staggering 4,546 juvenile charges, up 37% from 2021;
      • Nashville has experienced a similar rise in juvenile crimes;
      • The number of juveniles arrested in D.C. has gone up each year since 2020, with more than 2,000 arrested in 2023 and 2024.
    • The gap of time after school and before their parents get home is prime time for violent behavior among youth, and the four hours following the end of the school day (around 2:00 to 6:00 PM) is typically the peak of violent crime.
    • The AFTER SCHOOL Act would establish a grant program administered through the U.S. Department of Justice for localities to receive funds to establish, maintain, and strengthen after school programs proven to reduce juvenile crime and recidivism.
    • School districts can apply for grant funds if their county’s juvenile offense rate exceeds 10% of total violent offenses.
    • The Memphis City Council previously passed a resolution in support of the AFTER SCHOOL Act.

    Click here for a list of Tennessee officials and advocates who have previously endorsed the AFTER SCHOOL Act.

    Click here for bill text.

    FEDERAL CARJACKING ENFORCEMENT ACT

    • Last year, Tennessee was ranked among the top ten states for motor vehicle thefts, and Tennessee saw a nearly 200% increase in auto theft crime by juveniles in 2023.
    • The current federal carjacking statute requires prosecutors to prove defendants had an “intent to cause death or bodily harm,” which has made it harder to bring federal carjacking prosecutions and accounts for the decrease in federal carjacking prosecutions in certain parts of the country.
    • The Federal Carjacking Enforcement Act would fix this drafting error by requiring prosecutors only have to prove the knowing taking of a motor vehicle.
    • In cases in which death results following a carjacking, the bill would maintain the higher “intent to cause death or bodily harm” requirement.

    The Federal Carjacking Enforcement Act is endorsed by the National District Attorneys Association (NDAA), the Major County Sheriffs of America, the National Association of Police Organizations, and the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference.

    “NDAA is proud to announce its support of the Federal Carjacking Enforcement Act. Carjacking is a violent crime that endangers lives, destabilizes communities, and threatens public safety. This legislation sends a clear message that such acts of violence will not be tolerated, while improving the current legal framework to protect victims and communities,” said Nelson Bunn, Executive Director of National District Attorneys Association.

    “The Major County Sheriffs of America (MCSA) appreciates Senator Blackburn’s leadership in advancing this important legislation, which will empower law enforcement to more effectively combat carjackings, ensuring offenders are held accountable, and justice is served. We stand ready to support all efforts to move the bill forward,” said Megan Noland, MCSA Executive Director.

    “According to the Council on Criminal Justice, carjacking rates in 10 major U.S. cities increased 93% from 2019 to 2023. This substantial surge in carjackings poses a serious risk to public safety and we must ensure the perpetrators of this violent crime face justice. We stand with Senator Blackburn in support of this important change to the federal carjacking statute and thank her for her dedication to protecting public safety,” said Bill Johnson, Executive Director of the National Association of Police Organizations.

    “Tennessee District Attorneys appreciate Senator Blackburn’s commitment to public safety, support for prosecutors and law enforcement, and her meaningful legislative leadership and efforts to reduce violent crime.  We are happy to partner with her to endorse and fully support this legislation that will protect Tennesseans,” said Stephen D. Crump, Executive Director, Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference.

    Click here for bill text.

    MIL OSI USA News –

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

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on May 5, 2025

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Doing meaningful work

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

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

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

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

    As one participant put it:

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

    Rethinking motivation

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

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

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

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

    As one of our interviewees said:

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

    Relational transformations

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

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

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

    One participant said:

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

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

    Lessons for the rest of us

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

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

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

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

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Junior Named Key Into Public Service Scholar

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Andy Zhang ’26 (CLAS, CAHNR) has been selected as a Key into Public Service Scholar by the Phi Beta Kappa Society, the nation’s oldest academic honor society and a leading national advocate for the value of liberal arts and sciences education.

    The program annually recognizes 20 exceptional arts and sciences students with a demonstrated interest in pursuing careers in local, state, and federal government. This year, over 800 students applied for the honor.

    Zhang, an economics and environmental sciences major, will receive a $5,000 scholarship and will participate in a Washington, D.C., conference providing training, mentorship, and opportunities for reflection on pathways to active citizenship.

    “This award perfectly aligns with a lot of my interests given that it has a strong focus on liberal arts, public service, and natural sciences,” says Zhang. “It is a wonderful opportunity as I look towards my future.”

    Zhang is president of UConn’s Undergraduate Student Government and is involved in a number of environmental groups on campus. He is president and founder of the UConn chapter of Plant Futures, an organization focused on addressing the climate crisis through a plant-centric future.

    He is a student ambassador for the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources and a sustainability intern for the Office of Sustainability.

    Zhang served as a food policy intern for Friends of the Earth and was a Forge Fellow for the Roosevelt Network, where he engaged in weekly economic policy programming and collaborated with other fellows to deliver a policy critique on energy democracy.

    “What really sets Andy apart is his combination of originality and high energy,” says economics professor Richard Langlois. “His energy and enthusiasm help explain his success as an organizer and booster of environmental causes on campus. It is contagious energy, and other students want to be swept along.”

    Zhang was a sustainability intern for Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, a fellow for the Paragon Policy Fellowship, and a Different Maker Mentor for the UConn Natural Resources Conservation Academy.

    This summer, he will work at the New York State Attorney General’s Environmental Protection Bureau, where he will continue to contribute to meaningful statewide climate action.

    Following graduation, he plans to pursue a law and public policy degree with the goal of shaping equitable food and climate policy at the federal level. Zhang hopes to do that either working in the federal government or at a nonprofit organization.

    Zhang grew up in Sandy Hook and was a third grader at Sandy Hook Elementary School on the day of the mass shooting in December 2012.

    “It wasn’t until college that I began to fully understand how that experience shaped me,” says Zhang. “What has stayed with me most is the power of community — the way people came together in the aftermath, supported one another, and built something stronger. That sense of collective care and resilience is what drives me now, whether I’m advocating for climate justice, building coalitions, or serving in student government. I believe public service is ultimately about showing up for others, especially in times of crisis.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

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

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Best Slots to Play Online for Real Money — JACKBIT: Crowned #1 Destination for Top-Rated Slot Games

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BINGHAMTON, N.Y., May 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The allure of spinning the reels and landing a massive jackpot has made real money slots a cornerstone of online casino entertainment. With vibrant themes, immersive graphics, and the potential for life-changing wins, online slots that pay real money offer an exhilarating experience accessible from your device.

    Whether you’re chasing progressive jackpots or enjoying bonus-packed video slots, the thrill of casino slots real money is unmatched. The best slots to play online for real money combine high Return to Player (RTP) percentages, engaging features, and substantial payout potential, making them a favorite for players seeking both fun and rewards.

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    Choosing the right real money slot games is crucial for a rewarding experience. High-quality slots not only provide better odds through competitive RTPs but also feature exciting bonus rounds, free spins, and multipliers that enhance your chances of winning. Playing at reputable casinos ensures fair play, secure transactions, and prompt payouts, safeguarding your slots win real money journey.

    This article explores the best slot games to play for real money, detailing their features, RTPs, and why they stand out. We’ll also highlight JACKBIT Casino as a top platform to enjoy these online slots for real cash, share tips for maximizing wins, and explain why slots are a prime choice for online casino slots real money players.

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    Big Bass Bonanza (Pragmatic Play)

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    Gates of Olympus (Pragmatic Play)

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    Sweet Bonanza (Pragmatic Play)

    With a candy-themed 6×5 grid, Sweet Bonanza offers a 96.49% RTP and high volatility, delivering a max win of 21,175x. Its pay-anywhere mechanic awards wins for 8+ matching symbols, and the tumble feature allows multiple wins per spin. The free spins round introduces multipliers up to 100x, making it a top pick for online slots games real money players seeking high payouts.

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    Book of Dead (Play’n GO)

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    Sugar Rush (Pragmatic Play)

    Sugar Rush is a vibrant 7×7 cluster pays slot with a 96.50% RTP and high volatility, offering a max win of 5,000x. Tumbles and multiplier spots up to 128x in the free spins round create exciting win opportunities. Its colorful candy theme and engaging mechanics make it a standout for real slots online players.

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    Goddess of the Night (Evoplay)

    This mystical 5×3 slot has a 95.97% RTP and medium volatility, with a max win of 2,803x. Features like Drop Mechanic, Multipliers, Wilds, and Free Spins add depth to its gameplay. The enchanting theme and balanced payouts make it a compelling choice for slots for real money.

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    Where to Play These Slots Online for Real Money – JACKIT is Ranked as the Best Online Casino Featuring Online Slots Game

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    Slot Developers Behind the Best Online Slots

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    • Pragmatic Play: Known for Sweet Bonanza, Big Bass Bonanza, and Sugar Rush, offering vibrant themes and innovative features (Pragmatic Play).
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    • NetEnt: Renowned for Starburst, providing high-quality online casino slots real money experiences.
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    Real Money Slots with the Best RTP for Big Wins at JACKBIT

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    Big Bass Bonanza

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    Gates of Olympus

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    • Volatility: High
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    Sweet Bonanza

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    • Max Win: 21,175×

    Book of Dead

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    • Volatility: High
    • Max Win: 5,000×

    Sugar Rush

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    • Volatility: High
    • Max Win: 5,000×

    Goddess of the Night

    • RTP: 95.97%
    • Volatility: Medium
    • Max Win: 2,803×

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    FAQ: Best Slots to Play Online for Real Money

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    Disclaimer
    This content is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as legal or financial advice. Information is based on research available at the time of writing—please verify independently before making decisions.

    Gambling Warning
    Online gambling involves risk and may not suit everyone. Ensure you’re of legal gambling age and comply with local laws. Participation is your responsibility. We are not affiliated with JACKBIT and are not liable for any disputes, losses, or issues that may arise.

    Affiliate Note
    Some links may be affiliate links, meaning we may earn a commission—at no extra cost to you. Our recommendations are unbiased, but we urge you to do your research before signing up.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at:
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7bba947c-917b-4ff9-bc2a-d149f7cb34d3

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Boozman, Bennet Lead Bipartisan Bill to Reduce Premature Births

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Arkansas – John Boozman

    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) introduced legislation to improve pregnancy outcomes and infant health by continuing research and education programs aimed at preventing preterm births.

    The Prematurity Research Expansion and Education for Mothers who deliver Infants Early (PREEMIE) Reauthorization Act would reauthorize critical federal research, education and intervention activities to reduce preterm birth and infant mortality. The legislation also calls for a study to better understand the factors that lead to preterm birth and identify effective prevention and treatment options.

    In 2023, there were 4,259 preterm births in Arkansas, representing 12.1 percent of live births. Premature birth can lead to significant developmental delays and chronic health problems for infants. While preterm delivery can happen in any pregnancy, the rate of preterm birth for Black mothers is disproportionately high.

    “Arkansas families and providers face the consequences of preterm birth too often with one of the highest rates in the country. Although important progress has been made through awareness initiatives and investments in research, intervention and education to promote better outcomes for infants and mothers, there is more work to be done,” said Boozman. “Our bipartisan legislation is a strong step in the right direction to reduce preterm births and infant mortality so more moms and babies lead strong, healthy lives.”

    “We need more research to understand the causes of preterm births and ensure more moms have access to the care they need, especially in underserved communities where preterm birth rates are disproportionately high,” said Bennet. “Our bipartisan bill will renew lifesaving research to prevent premature delivery and give mothers and babies a healthy start in life.”

    The PREEMIE Act reauthorizes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s research and data collection on infants born prematurely and programs at the Health Resources and Services Administration aimed at improving the treatment and outcome of infants born prematurely. This includes grants to help doctors and the public understand the potential risk factors for having a preterm baby, such as smoking, as well as screening and treating pregnant women for depression and substance use disorders including opioid addiction. These programs have not been reauthorized since 2023.

    “Every family deserves the healthiest possible start, but for far too many in the U.S., that’s not the reality,” said March of Dimes Senior Vice President for Public Policy and Government Affairs Stacey Y. Brayboy. “The March of Dimes Report Card shows a preterm birth rate of 10.4 percent—more than 370,000 babies born too soon and too sick. That’s unacceptable. Preterm birth with low birthweight is the second leading cause of infant death, behind birth defects. Improving access to quality health care before, during, and after pregnancy is essential to changing these outcomes. The PREEMIE Reauthorization Act is the only federal law focused on preventing and treating preterm birth. Renewing this legislation is a vital step toward reversing this alarming trend and giving every mom and baby the best possible start.” 

    Companion legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives by Robin Kelly (D-IL-02), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA-01), Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX-07), Buddy Carter (R-GA-01), Shontel Brown (D-OH-11) and Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02).

    The bill text is available here.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

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

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

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

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

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

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

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

     

     

    Declared interests

    Prof Chris Ferguson: No declarations

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: GAO Makes MACPAC Appointments

    Source: US Government Accountability Office

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    #####

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

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Celebrating Early Childhood Education Month by Supporting Early Childhood Educators

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on May 5, 2025

    The month of May has been proclaimed as Early Childhood Education Month in Saskatchewan and May 14th has been proclaimed as Early Childhood Educator (ECE) Appreciation Day. 

    The month provides an opportunity to celebrate and thank the thousands of dedicated professionals who play a significant role in creating and implementing programs that support the physical, social-emotional and intellectual development of children in Saskatchewan.

    To continue building skill and capacity in this profession, the Government of Saskatchewan has updated the Child Care Licensee’s Manual to provide more opportunity for ECE’s by providing all regulated child care facilities two days per licensing year for professional development. 

    In addition to this update, to align with the requirements for family and group home child care operators, changes introduced to The Child Care (Grants) Amendment Regulations, 2025, will require all staff working in child care centres to complete a minimum of six hours of professional development annually. 

    “I am proud to proclaim May as Early Childhood Education month and May 14th as Early Childhood Educators Appreciation Day to celebrate and recognize all that they do for Saskatchewan families,” Education Minister Everrett Hindley said. “We have heard from the sector that there is limited time for staff to carry out planning and learning together. In support of our ECE’s, these additional two days for professional development will further provide Saskatchewan ECEs opportunities to build their knowledge and to stay on top of best practices that support children’s growth and development.”

    “Early childhood educators are the heart of our child care system,” Saskatchewan Early Childhood Association Interim Executive Director Ashley Elgert said. “Every day, they show up with care, creativity and deep commitment to the children and families they support. We are pleased to see the ministry respond to what we and others in the sector have long advocated for – dedicated time for professional development. These changes are a meaningful step forward in valuing ECEs and investing in their continued growth, while recognizing the essential role they play in Saskatchewan communities.”

    Early childhood educators are critical to an expanded, high quality regulated child care system and work in regulated child care centres and homes, Prekindergarten classrooms, the Early Childhood Intervention Program and Early Years Family Resource Centres. 

    In the coming weeks, Saskatchewan residents will see a public awareness campaign focused on a career in early childhood education and the role they play in shaping young minds during their most formative years. Learn more by visiting: www.saskatchewan.ca/early-childhood-educator.

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    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    The model

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

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

    The model worked out the results of different financing strategies:

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

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

    • Increase in government external borrowing or development assistance.

    Key findings

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Other countries showed mild impacts, maintaining low poverty levels.

    What can be done

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

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

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

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

    In the medium term, governments must focus on:

    • cutting unproductive non-agricultural spending

    • eliminating waste

    • ensuring cost-effectiveness.

    Savings should be redirected to agriculture.

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

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

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

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

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

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

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

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

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

    How long has Ghana offered free basic education?

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

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

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

    How is the policy implemented?

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

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

    Is it working?

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

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

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

    What has the impact been on outcomes?

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

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

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

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

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

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

    How can it be improved?

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

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

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

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

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

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Inside the Tshwane Metropolitan Police Department

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

    My key findings were about:

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

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

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

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

    Political interference and leadership instability

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

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

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

    Damage to the capital city’s global reputation and tourism

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

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

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

    What needs to be done

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Municipal policing law

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    It is preserved “inside out”.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Two reasons really.

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

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

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

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

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

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

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

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

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

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

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

    What is menopause?

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

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

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

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

    An all too similar patient’s journey

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

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

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

    Why menopause matters beyond the present

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

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

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

    The role of hormones in brain health

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

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

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

    Future cognitive and behavioural health

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

    We explored this by analyzing changes in:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Why this research matters

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

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

    Zahinoor Ismail receives funding from Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

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

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

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Backtracking on DEI?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Capturing diversity and inclusion

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

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

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

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



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

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

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

    What next?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

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

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

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

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

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



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

    Challenges with Liberal promises

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Duty to consult

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

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

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

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

    GBA Plus

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    What and who is lost with fast tracking

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    The model

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

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

    The model worked out the results of different financing strategies:

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

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

    • Increase in government external borrowing or development assistance.

    Key findings

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Other countries showed mild impacts, maintaining low poverty levels.

    What can be done

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

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

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

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

    In the medium term, governments must focus on:

    • cutting unproductive non-agricultural spending

    • eliminating waste

    • ensuring cost-effectiveness.

    Savings should be redirected to agriculture.

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

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

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

    MIL OSI Africa –

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

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

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

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

    How long has Ghana offered free basic education?

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

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

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

    How is the policy implemented?

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

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

    Is it working?

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

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

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

    What has the impact been on outcomes?

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

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

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

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

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

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

    How can it be improved?

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

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

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

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

    MIL OSI Africa –

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Inside the Tshwane Metropolitan Police Department

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

    My key findings were about:

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

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

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

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

    Political interference and leadership instability

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

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

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

    Damage to the capital city’s global reputation and tourism

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

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

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

    What needs to be done

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Municipal policing law

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    MIL OSI Africa –

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    It is preserved “inside out”.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Two reasons really.

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

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

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

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

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn’s Dr. Cato T. Laurencin Mentors Students at University of Maryland School of Medicine

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Dr. Cato T. Laurencin’s talk, “Regenerative Engineering, The Future is Here,” delivered this Spring, was sponsored by the University of Maryland Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP).

    The endowed biennial lectureship was established to honor the memory of Stephen R. Max, Ph.D., a great scientist, and the former and founding MD-Ph.D. Program Director. The lectureship invites an outstanding physician scientist to visit the scientific community, interact with and mentor MSTP students there, and deliver a major scientific lecture.

    Laurencin earned a B.S.E. in Chemical Engineering from Princeton University. He completed the Harvard Medical School Medical Scientist Training Program, earning his MD from the Harvard Medical School, Magna Cum Laude, and his Ph.D. in biochemical engineering/biotechnology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

    Laurencin is the University Professor at UConn and the Albert and Wilda Van Dusen Distinguished Endowed Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the UConn School of Medicine, professor of Chemical Engineering, professor of Materials Science and Engineering, and professor of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Connecticut. He is chief executive officer of The Cato T. Laurencin Institute for Regenerative Engineering, a cross-university institute named in his honor at UConn.

    In his talk, he encouraged students to pursue excellence in all they do. He discussed his autobiography entitled, Success is What You Leave Behind, published by Elsevier. He encouraged students to give back throughout their careers. Laurencin’s work in mentorship is well known. He has created and established numerous programs in his career including the UConn Young Innovative Investigator Program, the UConn M-1 Program, the UConn Pre-K Program, the UConn NSF EFRI Regenerative Engineering REM and REU Programs, and the UConn NIH T32 Regenerative Engineering at the University of Connecticut alone. The UConn Foundation established the Cato T. Laurencin Scholars Award given to undergraduate students, while nationally, the Society for Biomaterials created the Cato T. Laurencin, MD, Ph.D. Travel Award given to undergraduate students in Biomaterials Science. He is the first to receive the three principal national awards for mentoring: the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Mentor Award, the Beckman Award for Mentoring, and the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Math, and Engineering Mentoring given to him by President Barack Obama in ceremonies at the White House.

    The pioneer of the field of Regenerative Engineering, Laurencin is the first surgeon elected to the National Academy of Medicine, the National Academy of Engineering, the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Inventors. As an orthopaedic surgeon physician-scientist he is the first individual to receive the Nicolas Andry Award (highest honor of the Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons), the Kappa Delta Award (highest research honor of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons), the Marshal Urist Award (highest honor in regeneration of the Orthopaedic Research Society), and the American Orthopaedic Association’s (AOA) Distinguished Contributions to Orthopaedic Surgery with induction into the AOA Awards Hall of Fame.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SUN Bucks Food Program is Back for Second Summer in North Carolina

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: SUN Bucks Food Program is Back for Second Summer in North Carolina

    SUN Bucks Food Program is Back for Second Summer in North Carolina
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    The SUN Bucks food program is back for 2025 and is expected to provide benefits to more than one million school children in North Carolina this summer. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction are partnering again to administer the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer program known as “SUN Bucks.”

    SUN Bucks provides a one-time payment of $120 per eligible child on a debit-like card that can be used to buy nutritious food at retailers and farmers markets that accept EBT, including most major grocery stores in North Carolina. SUN Bucks is one of three NC Summer Nutrition (SUN) Programs for Kids  that keep children fueled during the summer while schools are out.

     “Many students rely on their public school to provide them with healthy meals during the school year as nearly one in six children in North Carolina face food insecurity,” said NC Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai. “The SUN Bucks program helps them receive nutritious food while school is not in session, so they may continue to thrive.”

    Notifications from NCDHHS have been sent to eligible families in recent weeks alerting them that their child is automatically certified to receive SUN Bucks benefits. If you received a call, email, or text from NCDHHS, please do not disregard. 

    Families with questions can visit the website at ncdhhs.gov/sunbucks or call the NC SUN Bucks Call Center at 1-866-719-0141, select a language, then select option 2 to speak with a SUN Bucks representative.

    Most eligible children will automatically qualify for the program and were auto enrolled by May 2, 2025. Children automatically qualify if they are eligible for any of the following programs: 

    • Free and reduced-price (FRP) meals at schools by approved FRP application
    • Food and Nutrition Services (also called FNS or food stamps)
    • Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
    • Cherokee Tribal Food Distribution Program (CTFDP)
    • Child is in Foster Care
    • Child is enrolled in the McKinney-Vento program (experiencing homelessness or runaway)
    • OR if they receive NC Medicaid benefits and have a household income below 185% of the federal poverty level

    Families with children who qualify will receive a new 2025 SUN Bucks card in the mail.  

    If your child goes to a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) but doesn’t fit into any of the categories above, you’ll have to apply. SUN Bucks is an income-based food assistance program and is only open for students enrolled in a NSLP or CEP school during the 2024-2025 school year.

    The SUN Bucks program had a major impact in North Carolina in its first year of operation in 2024:  

    • Close to 1.1 million of the 1.5 million children in North Carolina’s public schools received benefits to increase healthy food choices during the summer months.
    • Almost $130 million in SUN Bucks food assistance benefits was issued in our state. These dollars were invested in local grocery stores, farmers markets and supermarkets across the state.

    SUN Bucks complements existing USDA Summer Nutrition Programs for Kids, which are available at no cost to families for ages 18 and younger. Through SUN Meals, kids and teens can eat meals and snacks and engage in fun fitness and educational activities during the summer at schools, parks, and other neighborhood locations. In rural areas where it may be difficult to access and participate in SUN Meals, SUN Meals To-Go may be available for pick up or delivery. Families can locate nearby summer meals for youth and more information at SummerMeals4NCKids.org.

    The SUN Bucks program also works with other available nutrition programs, such as Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) to provide consistent access to nutrition to children and families. Families who may be eligible for nutrition programs like FNS, WIC and others can learn more at ncdhhs.gov/fns.

    NCDHHS and NCDPI prioritize nutrition security for children and families across the state and support access to healthy food during the summer months.

    El programa de alimentos SUN Bucks regresa para 2025 y se espera que brinde beneficios a más de un millón de niños en edad escolar en Carolina del Norte este verano. El Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte (NCDHHS, por sus siglas en inglés) y el Departamento de Instrucción Pública de Carolina del Norte (NCDPI, por sus siglas en inglés) se asocian nuevamente para administrar el Programa de Transferencia Electrónica de Beneficios (EBT) de Verano del Departamento de Agricultura conocido como “SUN Bucks”. 

    SUN Bucks proporciona un pago único de $120 por niño elegible en una tarjeta de débito que se puede usar para comprar alimentos nutritivos en minoristas y mercados de agricultores que aceptan transferencia electrónica bancaria (EBT), incluyendo la mayoría de las principales tiendas de comestibles en Carolina del Norte. SUN Bucks es uno de los tres programas de nutrición de verano para niños (SUN, por sus siglas en inglés) de NC que mantienen a los niños alimentados durante el verano mientras las escuelas están fuera de clases.

    “Muchos estudiantes confían en que su escuela pública les brinde comidas saludables durante el año escolar, ya que casi uno de cada seis niños en Carolina del Norte enfrenta inseguridad alimentaria”, dijo el secretario de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Carolina del Norte, Dev Sangvai. “El programa SUN Bucks les ayuda a recibir alimentos nutritivos mientras la escuela no está en sesión, para que puedan seguir prosperando”.

    Las notificaciones de NCDHHS se han enviado a las familias elegibles en las últimas semanas avisando que su niño está certificado automáticamente para recibir los beneficios de SUN Bucks. Si recibió una llamada, correo electrónico o mensaje de texto de NCDHHS, no lo ignore. 

    Las familias con preguntas pueden visitar el sitio web: ncdhhs.gov/sunbucks o llamar al Centro de llamadas de NC SUN Bucks al 1-866-719-0141, seleccionar un idioma y luego oprima la opción 2 para hablar con un representante de SUN Bucks.

    La mayoría de los niños elegibles calificarán automáticamente para el programa y fueron inscritos automáticamente antes del 2 de mayo de 2025. Los niños califican automáticamente si son elegibles para cualquiera de los siguientes programas:

    • Comidas gratuitas y a precio reducido (FRP) en las escuelas por solicitud de FRP aprobada
    • Servicios de alimentación y nutrición (también llamados FNS o cupones de alimentos)
    • Asistencia Temporal para Familias Necesitadas (TANF)
    • Programa de Distribución de Alimentos Tribales Cherokee (CTFDP)
    • Niños en hogares de crianza temporal
    • El niño está inscrito en el programa McKinney-Vento (sin hogar o fugitivo)
    • O si reciben beneficios de Medicaid de Carolina del Norte y tienen un ingreso familiar inferior al 185% del nivel federal de pobreza

    Las familias con niños que califiquen recibirán una nueva tarjeta SUN Bucks 2025 por correo.

    Si su niño va a una escuela que participa en el Programa Nacional de Almuerzos Escolares (NSLP) o en la Disposición de Elegibilidad Comunitaria (CEP) pero no pertenece a ninguna de las categorías anteriores, tendrá que presentar una solicitud. SUN Bucks es un programa de asistencia alimentaria basado en los ingresos y solo está abierto para los alumnos matriculados en una escuela NSLP o CEP durante el año escolar 2024 a 2025.

    El programa SUN Bucks tuvo un gran impacto en Carolina del Norte en su primer año de funcionamiento en 2024:

    • Cerca de 1.1 millones de los 1.5 millones de niños en las escuelas públicas de Carolina del Norte recibieron beneficios para aumentar las opciones de alimentos saludables durante los meses de verano.
    • En nuestro estado se emitieron casi $130 millones en beneficios de asistencia alimentaria de SUN Bucks. Estos dólares se invirtieron en tiendas de comestibles locales, mercados de agricultores y supermercados en todo el estado.

    SUN Bucks complementa los actuales programas para niños de nutrición de verano del Departamento de Agricultura de EE. UU. (USDA, por sus siglas en inglés), que están disponibles sin costo para las familias con hijos de 18 años o menos. A través de SUN Meals, los niños y adolescentes pueden comer y tener bocadillos cuando participan en actividades divertidas de acondicionamiento físico y educativas durante el verano en escuelas, parques y otros lugares del vecindario. En las zonas rurales donde puede ser difícil acceder y participar en SUN Meals, puede estar disponible SUN Meals To-Go para recogida o entregada. Las familias pueden encontrar comidas de verano cercanas para los jóvenes y más información en SummerMeals4NCKids.org

    El programa SUN Bucks también funciona con otros programas de nutrición disponibles, como Servicios de alimentación y nutrición(FNS) y el Programa de nutrición suplementaria para mujeres, bebés y niños (WIC) para proporcionar acceso constante a la nutrición para niños y familias. Las familias que pueden ser elegibles para programas de nutrición como FNS, WIC y otros pueden obtener más información en ncdhhs.gov/fns.

    El NCDHHS y el NCDPI priorizan la seguridad nutricional para los niños y las familias en todo el estado y apoyan el acceso a alimentos saludables durante los meses de verano.

    May 2, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –