NewzIntel.com

Category: Education

  • MIL-OSI: AutoScheduler CEO Speaking at Gartner® Supply Chain Symposium/Xpo on How PepsiCo Uses AI and Optimization to Evolve Warehouse Decision-Making

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    AUSTIN, Texas, April 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AutoScheduler.AI, an innovative Warehouse Orchestration Platform and WMS accelerator, announces that CEO Keith Moore and Axel Arias, Senior Director of Warehouse Operations for PepsiCo, will discuss how PepsiCo is leveraging artificial intelligence and orchestration to drive more efficient warehouse execution within its plant-based warehouses. The session occurs on Monday, May 5, from 1:35 PM to 1:55 PM EDT. AutoScheduler will be demoing its award-winning orchestration platform in Booth 922.

    “Our clients face constant disruptions, production schedule changes, poor coordination between warehouse and production processes, ineffective WMS and automation system performance, and complex layouts that result in high travel,” says Keith Moore, CEO of AutoScheduler.AI. “For enterprises serious about efficiency and resource maximization, AutoScheduler delivers dynamic orchestration tailored to plant warehouse complexities, ensuring every asset and process is optimized to support production, boost throughput, and drive profitability.”

    Attendees to the AutoScheduler.AI session, “How PepsiCo Uses AI and Orchestration to Evolve Warehouse Decision-Making,” will learn:

    • Key challenges in warehousing and how automation adds complexity.
    • How AI-driven orchestration improved speed, accuracy, and efficiency at PepsiCo, including a 30 – 35% increase in pallet moves without adding additional labor or equipment.
    • Insights into the future state of warehousing—showcasing how continued advancements in orchestration and AI will redefine warehouse operations.

    Keith Moore is the CEO of AutoScheduler.AI. He provides organization-wide strategic oversight and establishes external engagement and development initiatives. He spends most of his time working with his customers to deliver supply chain solutions focused on driving efficiency in distribution centers.

    Axel Arias is the Senior Director of Warehouse Operations at PepsiCo Foods North America, supporting the Frito-Lay division. Since joining PepsiCo in 2011, Axel has held leadership roles across both manufacturing and warehousing, where he has successfully led large-scale transformation initiatives spanning packaging, automation, and operational efficiency. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Merced. Today, Axel applies his deep operational expertise and passion for team development to drive warehouse strategy—focusing on enhancing automation performance, elevating workforce capabilities, and minimizing end-to-end operational waste.
    The Gartner Supply Chain Symposium/Xpo™ 2025 will take place in Orlando, Florida, from May 5–7, 2025. This event brings together Chief Supply Chain Officers and supply chain leaders to explore critical topics such as transformative strategies, emerging technologies, and risk mitigation. The conference is designed to equip attendees with the insights and tools needed to tackle today’s most pressing supply chain challenges.

    GARTNER is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and is used herein with permission. All rights reserved.

    About AutoScheduler.AI

    AutoScheduler.AI empowers you to take full control of your warehouse with a cloud-based solution that seamlessly integrates with your existing WMS/LMS/YMS or any other solution. We automate critical tasks like labor scheduling, dock management, and task sequencing, ensuring everything runs smoothly and efficiently. You’ve already invested in the software to run your warehouse—what we do is provide the orchestration layer that ties it all together to make real-time data driven decisions. With AutoScheduler.AI, you get smart orchestration for a smarter, more agile warehouse. For more information, visit: http://www.autoscheduler.ai.

    Contact:
    Becky Boyd
    MediaFirst PR
    Becky@MediaFirst.Net
    Cell: (404) 421-8497             

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Forging Futures: How Samsung’s PrePARe Programme is Pioneering a New Era of Research Leadership

    Source: Samsung

     
    In today’s rapidly evolving innovation ecosystem, the ability to translate academic research into real-world impact has become a defining need. Recognising this, Samsung R&D Institute India-Bangalore (SRI-B) launched the Ph.D. Internship Programme for Advanced Industrial Research (PrePARe) in 2022.
     
    The programme is designed to empower India’s brightest Ph.D. scholars with industry exposure, deep tech research opportunities, and mentorship from seasoned experts, enabling them to work on next-generation technologies such as Generative AI, Deep Learning, 6G, MIMO, AI in Wireless, and Computer Vision.
     
    Through PrePARe, Samsung is creating a unique platform where academic brilliance meets industrial scale. Scholars selected for this six-month internship are given the chance to contribute to high-impact projects that align with Samsung’s vision of building a better future through innovation.
     
    “We continue to strengthen our R&D capabilities with next-gen thinking and fresh ideas. PrePARe connects our seasoned experts with the top Ph.D. scholars to co-create impactful technologies. The programme offers interns an unmatched opportunity to tackle real-world challenges while shaping their careers. I wish them a meaningful and purpose-driven journey with us,” said Mohan Rao Goli, Corporate Vice President and Managing Director, SRI-B.
     
    Research scholars for this programme are selected from top-tier institutions including IISc, IITs (Bombay, Delhi, Kanpur, Madras, Hyderabad, Roorkee, BHU, Kharagpur), and IIITs (Hyderabad, Bangalore). They go through a rigorous selection process based on their research track record, relevance of their thesis, and innovation potential.
     
    More than 80 scholars have joined the programme so far, contributing to patents, publications, and future-ready tech solutions. At SRI-B, they are not treated as interns—they are seen as domain experts. Each is entrusted with meaningful projects that push the boundaries of applied research.
    For Chaitra D Desai, joining SRI-B as a Ph.D. intern was a turning point.
     
    “Beyond theoretical research, I am gaining robust experience working with large-scale datasets, optimizing models for edge devices, helping me inculcate a product-focused approach. Transitioning from academia to industry was an eye-opening experience,” she said.
     
    Chaitra is currently working on innovations in Robotics, AR/VR, and Autonomous Driving. Meanwhile, Bhogavalli Satwika is tackling a different challenge—integrating Radio Frequency (RF) sensing capabilities into the 5G framework to enhance network efficiency.
     
    The exposure to real-world innovation is what sets PrePARe apart. Interns work closely with SRI-B mentors, contribute to ongoing research projects, and present their findings to SRI-B leadership at the end of the programme—receiving critical insights on how their work fits into Samsung’s broader innovation strategy.
     
    Most of them also speak highly of the collaborative, high-performance culture at SRI-B.
     
    “The hands-on experience I get at Samsung will significantly improve my research,” said Sumit Sharma, while Yamini Shankar said, “I’m loving the collaboration and support my team empowers me with.”
     
    In just three years, PrePARe has emerged as a high-impact initiative one that not only nurtures academic talent but also enables them to contribute meaningfully to industry innovation. As these Ph.D. scholars push the boundaries of what is possible, they are not just gaining experience, together with Samsung, they are helping shape the technologies of tomorrow.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Genomics research will advance treatment for B.C. patients

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    The Province is accelerating the future of patient care and advancing testing for cancer, heart disease, transplants and infections with eight new genomics research projects, in partnership with Genome BC and Genome Alberta.

    Genomics is the study of an organism’s genetic material and how genes work together. In medicine, genomics is used to develop personalized treatments based on a person’s genetic makeup. Researchers from B.C.’s health authorities and the University of British Columbia are involved in all eight genomic research projects.

    “Genomics is transforming health care, offering new ways to diagnose, treat and prevent diseases,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. “By supporting Genome BC, we are helping to advance research to improve patient outcomes and make precision medicine more accessible to people across British Columbia. These efforts will contribute to faster diagnoses, more precise treatments and improved health-care outcomes for patients.”

    The eight research projects are part of Genome BC’s and Genome Alberta’s Healthy Outcomes through Genomic Innovations program, which aims to help new innovations in genetic testing and precision medicine reach hospitals and clinics faster.

    “This initiative is designed to drive the adoption of genomics-based technologies into clinical practice, focusing on projects that deliver tangible patient benefits in the near future,” said Suzanne Gill, president and CEO, Genome BC. “Whether it’s detecting cancer earlier, improving transplant success or tailoring medications to an individual’s genetic makeup, these projects are about making health care work better for everyone.”

    These projects, valued at almost $6 million, of which $1.7 million came from the Province via Genome BC, will allow care providers to get new tools to enhance diagnosis, treatment and patient care sooner. The projects focus on:

    • safer chemotherapy for children;
    • improving kidney transplant monitoring;
    • more precise cancer testing;
    • heart-failure detection;
    • at-home lung cancer screening;
    • faster diagnosis of blood-stream infections;
    • combating drug-resistant infections in hospitals; and
    • standardizing formats for genetic drug sensitivity test results.

    “Genomic research is advancing our understanding of the genetic underpinnings of disease, driving precision medicine and transforming health care,” said Dr. Paul Keown, lead researcher on one of the projects and professor in the faculty of medicine at the University of British Columbia, speaking on behalf of fellow researchers Dr. James Lan and Karen Sherwood. “We are working on innovations that are close to adoption by the health-care system. These projects will deliver meaningful results that directly improve patient care.”

    The research projects are part of B.C.’s Life Sciences and Biomanufacturing Strategy and the broader StrongerBC Economic Plan, which seeks to foster innovation, create high-paying jobs and enhance health and pandemic preparedness domestically and internationally.

    Genome BC is a not-for-profit organization that has advanced genomics research and innovation since 2000, growing a world-class life-sciences sector in B.C. The organization strives to enhance health care and address environmental and natural-resource challenges, improving the lives of British Columbians. Genome BC supports responsible research and innovation, fostering an understanding and appreciation of the life sciences among educators, students and the public.

    Learn More:

    For details about the eight genomic research projects, visit: https://www.genomebc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/BACKGROUNDER-Healthy-Outcomes-Through-Genomic-Innovations-Announcement.pdf

    For information about Genome BC, visit: https://www.genomebc.ca/

    To read the Life Sciences and Biomanufacturing Strategy, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/british-columbians-our-governments/initiatives-plans-strategies/technology-industry/life-sciences-biomanufacturing/bc_life_sciences_biomanufacturing_strategy_final_april_2023.pdf

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: I was a child soldier – here’s what it’ll take to protect young lives in conflict zones

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Charles Wratto, Associate Professor of Peace, Politics, and Conflict Studies, Babes Bolyai University

    The use of child soldiers is a profound human tragedy that continues to scar generations across the world.

    According to the United Nations, over the years, thousands of children, some as young as six years old, have been manipulated, indoctrinated and coerced into joining armed groups.

    Many of these children have fought against peacekeeping troops in Liberia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, the Democratic Republic of Congo and US-led coalition soldiers in Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia.

    The devastating effect of this grave, yet persistent, tragedy extends beyond the individual child. It tears communities and families apart and leaves generations scarred with the trauma of war long after the guns fall silent.

    International agreements like the Optional protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict, the Paris principles and commitments, the Rome statute and the Cape Town principles have condemned the practice. They provided legal and practical pathways to stop the use of child soldiers.

    Intervention campaigns like Child Soldiers International, the Children, Not Soldiers campaign, and the Kony 2012 campaign were launched to combat unlawful recruitment. They also raise awareness to protect child combatants in conflict regions.



    Read more:
    Why some rebel groups force kids to fight: it depends on how they are funded

    The International Criminal Court has held trials and convicted warlords responsible for the abduction and arming of children.

    The United Nations has published a list to “shame” governments and non-state actors that enlist minors in their armies.

    Despite these efforts, the problem persists as governments and insurgent groups recruit minors in various regions of the world.

    One of the reasons may be that children’s presence on the battlefield throws the training and ethics of professional soldiers off balance. Children are widely considered innocent, harmless, and deserving of care and protection. Harming them can cause severe emotional and psychological distress that conventional soldiers are ill-equipped to handle. Armed groups who use children can get a strategic advantage if they make adult soldiers feel guilt, terror, shame and cowardism.

    As a researcher in peace, politics and conflict studies and a former child soldier in the Liberian civil war, I have centred my studies on children in armed conflict and how states respond to crises and conflict.

    I am passionate about protecting children in conflict zones because I know what it means to experience violence at a very young age.

    I also understand, from my own experience, what it means to return to a society that saw me as a dangerous and irredeemable person and to find purpose in a world that labelled people like me as a “lost generation”.

    Based on my personal experiences and interaction with child soldiers, I identify six ways society can help protect children in conflict zones. They are: cutting off arms sales to conflict regions; providing continuous education during conflict; providing life-saving essentials; working with local communities; listening to children’s voices; and involving child soldiers in the implementation of disarmament and reintegration programmes.



    Read more:
    The old ways of reintegrating young veterans need to be abandoned

    Six ways to protect children in conflict zones

    Cut arm sales to conflict regions

    Armed groups often rely on the constant flow of small arms and light weapons to maintain their operations.

    The availability of these weapons enables groups to enlarge their forces, often using vulnerable children. Stopping weapons sales would undermine the effectiveness of these groups.

    If there are fewer arms, warlords will find it harder to lure children with false promises of protection and power. Warlords might have to create pathways for peace talks, and children could be demobilised.

    Under Charles Taylor, Liberia was a regional hub for illicit weapons trade and child soldier recruitment. The UN arms embargo in 2001 limited Taylor’s ability to resupply his troops, leading to his eventual exile and an end to the war in 2003. While an effective arms embargo may not end a war or child recruitment immediately, it can erode armed groups’ combat ability, pressuring them to negotiate, collapse, or lose their grip over vulnerable children.

    Provide life-saving essentials

    In war-torn places, poverty and starvation sometimes push families to hand over their children to armed groups in exchange for food.

    Given life-saving essentials such as food, shelter and medical care, families can be shielded from poverty. This will reduce voluntary enlistment.

    Microfinance initiatives that support small businesses, and provision of vocational training programmes, can also lift families from poverty.

    Continuous education during conflict

    Governments and multilateral institutions must provide emergency education
    and train teachers and caregivers in camps for internally displaced people.

    Being able to carry on with schooling in a safe environment can curb child recruitment and empower young people for the post-war reconstruction of their nations. Such sanctuaries should also include mobile counselling and trauma therapy centres where children can process their grief and experiences to rebuild trust.



    Read more:
    Adolescent girls in five African conflict zones share stories about their lives

    Work with local communities and leaders

    Governments, NGOs and policymakers must address existing grievances and empower local communities to assist in reintegrating former child soldiers. Reintegration involves not only children returning home but also ensuring communities are better prepared and equipped to welcome them.

    Partnering with local communities can also strengthen awareness about the dangers of child (re) recruitment.

    Ex-child soldiers as part of disarmament and reintegration

    Governments and humanitarian agencies must include former child soldiers in the design and implementation of disarmament, demobilisation, and reintegration programmes.

    Their firsthand knowledge of the conscription process, combat realities, fears, nightmares and reintegration struggle offers unique insights. They can help create programmes that meet real needs.

    Although the current disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration guidelines emphasise children’s rights to disarm, they do not mention children’s inclusion in the development of effective life changing programmes.

    Listen to children’s voices

    Educational institutions, governments and peacebuilding agencies must take children’s contributions to peacebuilding seriously.

    Children bear the wounds of war. They have seen the destruction firsthand and have experienced various forms of loss and pain. This makes them not only observers of violence but also powerful advocates for peace.



    Read more:
    War affects girls and boys differently: what we found in our study of children in the DRC

    Why the world must act

    My experiences have taught me that no child is beyond redemption, particularly when given the right support and care they need.

    Child soldiers, though shaped by unfortunate circumstances, are not inherently violent. They should not be feared or stigmatised. They are victims who deserve healing, love and education.

    I was not given a gun because I was strong. I was handed one because I was weak, because children, stripped of alternatives, can be manipulated and turned into weapons of war.

    I survived not because I was better than others, I survived because someone, a Nigerian, refused to reduce me to the war I was forced into. This is why I believe everyone can play a role to protect children in conflict zones. Those who can, but refuse to, are no different from the warlords who enlisted the children.

    Charles Wratto is affiliated with the Center for Peace and Violence Prevention.

    – ref. I was a child soldier – here’s what it’ll take to protect young lives in conflict zones – https://theconversation.com/i-was-a-child-soldier-heres-what-itll-take-to-protect-young-lives-in-conflict-zones-245517

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Nigeria’s Cross River State second to commence construction of its Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone

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

    CALABAR, Nigeria, April 15, 2025/APO Group/ —

    Nigeria’s Cross River State became the second to mark construction of a Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone after the country’s Vice President Kashim Shettima and African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina broke ground at the project site on Thursday 10 April.

    The SAPZ aims to tackle food insecurity, enhance local production, and position Nigeria as a food export leader by leveraging Cross River’s ports and research assets to boost global trade, reduce food imports, and drive prosperity through the agro-industrialization of crops like cocoa and cassava.

    The groundbreaking in Cross River follows that of Kaduna (http://apo-opa.co/42Mquvu) which took place few days earlier. Six other states – Kano, Kwara, Imo, Ogun, Oyo, and the Federal Capital Territory – are included in Phase 1 of the $538 million SAPZ program, with plans to expand to the remaining 28 states this year pending the African Development Bank’s Executive Board approval for Phase 2 funding.

    Shettima emphasized the project’s priority and need for national collaboration: “The SAPZ program has been recognized as a national priority for food security in Nigeria.” He noted, “There is no better time than now for the federal and state governments, development partners, the private sector, and our communities to work hand in hand to ensure the success of the SAPZ project.”

    Adesina celebrated the milestone, saying, “Today is a big day for Nigeria,” and added, “The Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones is bringing good news to Nigeria, State Governments and Local Governments. Good news to farmers, agribusinesses, and all rural areas of Nigeria. Good news of jobs, wealth, and prosperity with agriculture as a business.

    “With the abundant arable land, cheap labor and vast agro-ecological areas, Nigeria should not be importing food,” said Adesina who was accompanied by his wife Grace Yemisi Adesina.

    The Bank Group president highlighted Cross River’s export potential: “Bakasi deep seaport will turn the state into a logistics hub in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea, enabling trade with Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, and Guinea Bissau.”

    The 130-hectare Agro-Industrial Hub in Adiabo will leverage the Calabar Sea Port, Bakassi Deep Sea Port, a 23 kVA power plant in Tinapa, and a 630 kVA Calabar Power Plant. Its Agricultural Transformation Centre, supported by the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria and the University of Calabar, lies less than 45 minutes from Ikom, Etung, and Boki, boosting cocoa production for global markets.

    Governor Bassey Otu outlined the state’s vision, saying, “For us in Cross River State, the establishment of clusters of smallholder farmers focused on staple and cash crops such as rice, cassava, millet, cocoa, and oil palm is a vital step toward agro-industrialization.”

    “These initiatives are aimed at strengthening food security, diversifying our state’s economy toward export-oriented agriculture, and boosting our GDP,” added Governor Otu, saying the state should expect to see a big difference in two years. 

    The African Development Bank Group is investing $210 million, including $50 million from its Africa Growing Together Fund. The Islamic Development Bank is contributing $150 million, the International Fund for Agricultural Development is contributing $100 million, the Green Climate Fund is contributing $60 million, and the government is contributing $18 million.

    Speaking during the occasion, the International Fund for Agricultural Development’s Country Director, Dede Ekoue, noted that the SAPZ will build on the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises in the Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) project which has empowered 26,000 youth and women agripreneurs in the Niger Delta, including 4,000 in Cross River, with plans to scale to 100,000 by 2028.

    The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, said, “The SAPZ program is a powerful catalyst for economic growth and import substitution. By investing in agro-processing development, we are investing in the future of our communities.”

    The African Development Bank Group has committed $934 million to SAPZs in 11 African countries. The 2024 Africa Investment Forum (http://apo-opa.co/42eqx33), held in Morocco, recorded $2.2 billion in investor interest for 28 Nigerian states, which make up the second phase of the project.

    Adesina explained that with the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones, Nigeria will reduce food imports, conserve foreign exchange, expand local production and processing of food and agricultural commodities, strengthen the Naira, and attract significant private investment into the development of agricultural value chains.

    The Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones will also revive and transform rural economies and create millions of jobs.

    Adesina was accompanied by the African Development Bank Vice President for Agriculture, Human and Social Development Dr Beth Dunford, the Director General for Nigeria Dr Abdul Kamara, Prof Oyebanji Oyelaran-Oyeyinka, Senior Special Adviser on Industrialisation, Director Richard Ofori-Mante, Director of the Agricultural Finance and Rural Development Department, and Dr Yusuf Kabir, National Coordinator for SAPZ, Nigeria.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: I was a child soldier – here’s what it’ll take to protect young lives in conflict zones

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Charles Wratto, Associate Professor of Peace, Politics, and Conflict Studies, Babes Bolyai University

    The use of child soldiers is a profound human tragedy that continues to scar generations across the world.

    According to the United Nations, over the years, thousands of children, some as young as six years old, have been manipulated, indoctrinated and coerced into joining armed groups.

    Many of these children have fought against peacekeeping troops in Liberia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, the Democratic Republic of Congo and US-led coalition soldiers in Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia.

    The devastating effect of this grave, yet persistent, tragedy extends beyond the individual child. It tears communities and families apart and leaves generations scarred with the trauma of war long after the guns fall silent.

    International agreements like the Optional protocol on the involvement of children in armed conflict, the Paris principles and commitments, the Rome statute and the Cape Town principles have condemned the practice. They provided legal and practical pathways to stop the use of child soldiers.

    Intervention campaigns like Child Soldiers International, the Children, Not Soldiers campaign, and the Kony 2012 campaign were launched to combat unlawful recruitment. They also raise awareness to protect child combatants in conflict regions.

    Read more: Why some rebel groups force kids to fight: it depends on how they are funded

    The International Criminal Court has held trials and convicted warlords responsible for the abduction and arming of children.

    The United Nations has published a list to “shame” governments and non-state actors that enlist minors in their armies.

    Despite these efforts, the problem persists as governments and insurgent groups recruit minors in various regions of the world.

    One of the reasons may be that children’s presence on the battlefield throws the training and ethics of professional soldiers off balance. Children are widely considered innocent, harmless, and deserving of care and protection. Harming them can cause severe emotional and psychological distress that conventional soldiers are ill-equipped to handle. Armed groups who use children can get a strategic advantage if they make adult soldiers feel guilt, terror, shame and cowardism.

    As a researcher in peace, politics and conflict studies and a former child soldier in the Liberian civil war, I have centred my studies on children in armed conflict and how states respond to crises and conflict.

    I am passionate about protecting children in conflict zones because I know what it means to experience violence at a very young age.

    I also understand, from my own experience, what it means to return to a society that saw me as a dangerous and irredeemable person and to find purpose in a world that labelled people like me as a “lost generation”.

    Based on my personal experiences and interaction with child soldiers, I identify six ways society can help protect children in conflict zones. They are: cutting off arms sales to conflict regions; providing continuous education during conflict; providing life-saving essentials; working with local communities; listening to children’s voices; and involving child soldiers in the implementation of disarmament and reintegration programmes.

    Read more: The old ways of reintegrating young veterans need to be abandoned

    Six ways to protect children in conflict zones

    Cut arm sales to conflict regions

    Armed groups often rely on the constant flow of small arms and light weapons to maintain their operations.

    The availability of these weapons enables groups to enlarge their forces, often using vulnerable children. Stopping weapons sales would undermine the effectiveness of these groups.

    If there are fewer arms, warlords will find it harder to lure children with false promises of protection and power. Warlords might have to create pathways for peace talks, and children could be demobilised.

    Under Charles Taylor, Liberia was a regional hub for illicit weapons trade and child soldier recruitment. The UN arms embargo in 2001 limited Taylor’s ability to resupply his troops, leading to his eventual exile and an end to the war in 2003. While an effective arms embargo may not end a war or child recruitment immediately, it can erode armed groups’ combat ability, pressuring them to negotiate, collapse, or lose their grip over vulnerable children.

    Provide life-saving essentials

    In war-torn places, poverty and starvation sometimes push families to hand over their children to armed groups in exchange for food.

    Given life-saving essentials such as food, shelter and medical care, families can be shielded from poverty. This will reduce voluntary enlistment.

    Microfinance initiatives that support small businesses, and provision of vocational training programmes, can also lift families from poverty.

    Continuous education during conflict

    Governments and multilateral institutions must provide emergency education and train teachers and caregivers in camps for internally displaced people.

    Being able to carry on with schooling in a safe environment can curb child recruitment and empower young people for the post-war reconstruction of their nations. Such sanctuaries should also include mobile counselling and trauma therapy centres where children can process their grief and experiences to rebuild trust.

    Read more: Adolescent girls in five African conflict zones share stories about their lives

    Work with local communities and leaders

    Governments, NGOs and policymakers must address existing grievances and empower local communities to assist in reintegrating former child soldiers. Reintegration involves not only children returning home but also ensuring communities are better prepared and equipped to welcome them.

    Partnering with local communities can also strengthen awareness about the dangers of child (re) recruitment.

    Ex-child soldiers as part of disarmament and reintegration

    Governments and humanitarian agencies must include former child soldiers in the design and implementation of disarmament, demobilisation, and reintegration programmes.

    Their firsthand knowledge of the conscription process, combat realities, fears, nightmares and reintegration struggle offers unique insights. They can help create programmes that meet real needs.

    Although the current disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration guidelines emphasise children’s rights to disarm, they do not mention children’s inclusion in the development of effective life changing programmes.

    Listen to children’s voices

    Educational institutions, governments and peacebuilding agencies must take children’s contributions to peacebuilding seriously.

    Children bear the wounds of war. They have seen the destruction firsthand and have experienced various forms of loss and pain. This makes them not only observers of violence but also powerful advocates for peace.

    Read more: War affects girls and boys differently: what we found in our study of children in the DRC

    Why the world must act

    My experiences have taught me that no child is beyond redemption, particularly when given the right support and care they need.

    Child soldiers, though shaped by unfortunate circumstances, are not inherently violent. They should not be feared or stigmatised. They are victims who deserve healing, love and education.

    I was not given a gun because I was strong. I was handed one because I was weak, because children, stripped of alternatives, can be manipulated and turned into weapons of war.

    I survived not because I was better than others, I survived because someone, a Nigerian, refused to reduce me to the war I was forced into. This is why I believe everyone can play a role to protect children in conflict zones. Those who can, but refuse to, are no different from the warlords who enlisted the children.

    – I was a child soldier – here’s what it’ll take to protect young lives in conflict zones
    – https://theconversation.com/i-was-a-child-soldier-heres-what-itll-take-to-protect-young-lives-in-conflict-zones-245517

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gov. Pillen Announces New Nebraska Rural Veterinarian Grant Program

    Source: US State of Nebraska

    . Pillen Announces New Nebraska Rural Veterinarian Grant Program

     

    LINCOLN, NE – LINCOLN, NE – Today, Governor Jim Pillen announced a new program through the Nebraska Department of Labor (DOL) aimed at attracting and retaining production animal veterinarians in rural Nebraska. The Rural Veterinarian Grant Program is the second initiative the Governor has launched focused on growing the next generation of production animal veterinarians in the state. The first one, announced last year, is the Elite 11 Veterinary Program through the University of Nebraska – Lincoln (UNL).  

    “As I say, we feed the world and save the planet. We need to provide maximum efficiency and resources to help our producers be successful,” said Gov. Pillen. “Additionally, if a foreign animal disease were to come, we need veterinarians who are ready to respond, and enough of them, to implement the programs that would help mitigate the spread of any disease.” 

    Through DOL, recent graduates of veterinary schools will be eligible for a $150,000 grant. The same offer is available to newly practicing veterinarians who wish to move to the state and launch their own practice or join an established one in rural Nebraska. Under the program, up to 13 recipients will be selected. To be eligible, applicants must:

    • Have a doctorate in veterinary medicine and be licensed to practice in Nebraska
    • Commit to residing and practicing in Nebraska for eight years
    • Work in a veterinary clinic where at least 80% of its hours are devoted to production animals in a county with a population of less than 40,000 people

    Upon conclusion of the agreement, the grant amount will be paid in full to the veterinarian.

    “Nebraska has a talented and educated workforce, and this program is well designed to continue growing that workforce to boost the state’s animal production industry,” said DOL Commissioner Katie Thurber.

    Speaking for the Nebraska State Dairy Association, Kris Bousquet noted that the grant program, as well as UNL’s Elite 11, represented a “take the bull by the horns” approach to addressing the existing gap in large animal veterinary medicine. 

    “Every animal welfare practice that a dairy producer utilizes has been reviewed and approved by their local veterinarian. Veterinarians are not only essential for animal welfare, but also for milk quality and earning and maintaining consumer trust. This program will begin to build our bench of experts to support dairy and all other aspects of livestock production as well.”

    DOL’S program is funded through the Department of Labor’s workforce development fund. The grant selection process will focus on the candidate’s passion for production animal health, relevant experience, academic success and commitment to rural Nebraska.

    As DOL launches its program, UNL is moving into the next phase of the Elite 11 Veterinary Program, which provides scholarships to students who are interested in becoming large animal veterinarians in rural Nebraska. Students in the first cohort selected last fall are about to conclude their first year of study and will be deployed across the state to engage in apprenticeships and other opportunities for expanding their skills. 

    “At the University of Nebraska, we are proud to work alongside Governor Pillen and state leaders to grow and sustain a robust production animal veterinarian workforce,” said Dr. Tiffany Heng-Moss, dean of UNL’s College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. “Through collaborative initiatives like the Elite 11 Veterinary Program and the Department of Labor’s new effort, we are expanding opportunities for students while strengthening the future of rural communities across Nebraska.” 

    Students enrolled in the Elite 11 Veterinary Program are not eligible for the DOL grant program. 

    More information about the Nebraska Production Animal Rural Veterinarian Grant Program, can be found at: https://dol.nebraska.gov/ruralvetgrant.

    Governor Jim Pillen

    Nebraska State Dairy Association Executive Director Kris Bousquet

    Dean of UNL’s College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources Tiffany Heng-Moss

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn Law’s Anna VanCleave Recognized for Criminal Law Research Project

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    UConn Law Professor Anna VanCleave has been selected as a Bellow Scholar, a program run by the Association of American Law Schools’ Section on Clinical Legal Education’s Committee on Lawyering in the Public Interest.

    Every two years, the program recognizes and supports the empirical research projects of clinical law professors who increase the quality of justice in marginalized communities, enhance the delivery of legal services, and promote economic and social justice. The selection process is highly competitive and VanCleave’s project was unanimously supported by the committee.

    “I’m so honored to be part of the Bellow Scholars program,” said VanCleave, director of UConn Law’s Criminal Defense Clinic. “I’m lucky to have so much support at UConn to develop research like this, and I’m especially grateful for my collaborators, Jackie and Ray Boyd at Next Level Empowerment, and my colleague Erin Romano, all of whom bring a lot of wisdom to the work on bail in Connecticut.”

    VanCleave’s project is titled “Bail, Detention, and Pretrial Procedures in Connecticut: An Analysis of Current Practices and Recommendations for the Elimination of Cash Bail.” She is working with Next Level Empowerment, a non-profit organization that supports formerly incarcerated people and their families in Connecticut.

    “Collaboration is the cornerstone of innovation and growth,” Next Level Empowerment Program Executive Director Jacqueline James-Boyd said. “By supporting Anna VanCleave as a recipient of the Bellow Scholars Program, NLEP is not only investing in individual excellence but also fostering a community of shared knowledge and transformative ideas. Together, we can amplify our impact and inspire future generations.”

    Broadly, the project aims to answer the question how well do current procedures function for assessing which individuals should be detained?

    Specifically, the project will study three driving factors. It will examine if courts are adhering to procedures for bail hearings, automatic bail review hearings and hearings on bail modification motions. It will seek to find how often defense lawyers are filing motions for bail modification. It will also assess how well the existing procedures anticipate who will be deemed a risk to public safety at the conclusion of the case.

    VanCleave will analyze current Connecticut pretrial procedures, using data to understand how well the criminal procedures are ensuring that people are not being detailed pretrial who do not need to be.

    The project aims to gather data on bail and detention practices and impacts that will inform discussions about the current practices and the necessary components of a bail reform package.

    “Professor VanCleave is an innovative and outstanding scholar who has significantly enriched our intellectual community at UConn Law,” Dean Eboni S. Nelson said. “Her commitment to excellence, justice, and service has had a wonderful impact on her students, clients, and community both inside and outside Connecticut. I’m thrilled that the committee honored her with this well-deserved recognition.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Physical Therapy Program Brings in High Schoolers to Learn About the Profession

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    Windham High School students had the opportunity to learn about what a career in physical therapy could look like for them through an event co-hosted by UConn’s Physical Therapy Program and ConnCAP (Connecticut Collegiate Awareness and Preparation).

    On Saturday March 8, 15 Windham High School students visited the UConn Storrs campus where they learned about what physical therapy is and the many paths to get into the field.

    “I thought it was a great opportunity to give them another perspective about physical therapy and what we do within the profession,” says Evans Payen, a first-year student in the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program and the event organizer.

    Payen also coordinated the event with Upward Bound, a program that helps prepare first-generation and low-income students for college.

    During the event, DPT students and faculty gave presentations about what physical therapy is, what kinds of prerequisites students need to enter a physical therapy graduate program, and potential careers in physical therapy.

    “The way it’s able to open their eyes and provide them with a broader scope of careers and field opportunities instead of just seeing what’s right in front of you,” Payen says. “Because sometimes physical therapy can be kind of unknown, especially at a young age, unless you’ve had an experience with physical therapy yourself.”

    Students also participated in a demonstration of diagnostic ultrasound technology, learning about how it works, what it’s used for in physical therapy, and even trying it out on their own arms.

    “It was cool to bring in professionals from different aspects of physical therapy,” one student who participated in the event says. “It was nice knowing the different ways and techniques to diagnose different injuries. It was a fun activity using the diagnostic ultrasound.”

    “I really enjoyed the hands-on activity,” says another student participant. “I liked the preparation and explanation of careers and opportunities.”

    The students who participated in the event come from historically underrepresented racial and ethnic groups.

    “It’s crucial to have a diverse physical therapy background because it leads to better health care,” Payen says “Having physical therapists who look like their patients can lead to better outcomes.”

    A recent study compared national racial and ethnic diversity to representation in various healthcare professions. Physical therapy was one of the least representative with only 3.3% of physical therapists being Black, compared to 12% of the general U.S. population; and 3.3% Hispanic, compared to 18.7%.

    “It has really spurred the American Physical Therapy Association to have an even more concerted effort to taking action to improve representation in our student body and in our profession with the hopes of reducing health disparities,” Cristina Colón-Semenza, assistant professor of kinesiology says.

    The physical therapy program has collaborated with ConnCAP for the past three years. Each summer, ConnCAP brings high school students to UConn’s campus to learn about potential careers, one of which is physical therapy. This event represents an expansion of this partnership. The physical therapy program also hosted an event in the fall with ConnCAP.

    Colón-Semenza and Payen say they hope to make these expanded events a part of their annual collaboration with ConnCAP.

    “Many of our students, though interested in the medical field, are undecided on what path to take. Since attending the workshop, I have multiple students wanting to dive in deeper,” says Erick Castillo, ConnCAP academic coordinator for Windham High School. “It is apparent that there is true value in hearing and interacting with experts in the field. It is a positive recruitment opportunity for everyone involved and can eventually change lives.”

    This work relates to CAHNR’s Strategic Vision area focused on Enhancing Health.

    Follow UConn CAHNR on social media

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Ritual murder of children: study in Ghana and Kenya explores who’s doing it and why

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Emmanuel Sarpong Owusu, Doctoral Researcher and Lecturer, Aberystwyth University

    Superstition, an irrational belief in paranormal influences or a false attribution of events, is an age-old phenomenon found in probably all human societies or cultures. It encompasses a wide range of beliefs, practices and behaviours. Some of these have harmful or even deadly consequences.

    In many African communities, there are widespread beliefs relating to the use of human body parts for traditional healing rituals. Human body parts and blood are said to enhance the potency of traditional medicines and rituals that supposedly guarantee wealth, business success, fertility, protection and longevity, among others.

    Ritual killings, including those of children, are reported regularly around Africa. A case in point is the targeting of children with albinism for ritual purposes in Tanzania. One research report says one in five people in Mozambique and one in four people in South Africa believe that rituals and traditional medicines made with human body parts are more potent and effective than those using nonhuman objects.

    Children are particularly targeted for killing because they can’t repel attacks, and because of beliefs about the potency of their body parts. The victims in more than half of all the ritual murders reported in Ghana and Kenya in 2022 were children.

    I am a legal scholar with years of research on superstition-driven crimes against vulnerable groups in African settings and the criminal justice response to such crimes. In a recent study I explored the magnitude, characteristics and motivations, as well as the socio-cultural and economic contexts, of ritual child murder in Ghana and Kenya. My study was carried out through in-depth analysis of news reports of ritual murders for a period of 10 years, coupled with semi-structured interviews with academics and other experts.

    I found that the major factors contributing to the persistence of ritual child murders were superstition, economic hardship, illiteracy and inefficient criminal justice systems. A new consumerist ethos also plays a role: wanting a life of luxury and the admiration that comes with it.

    The study seeks to enhance awareness of the ritual child murder phenomenon and encourage support for the enforcement of child rights protection laws. When policymakers know more about the scale and circumstances of ritual child murders, they are better equipped to act on it.

    Ritual murders in Ghana and Kenya

    Belief in juju is widespread in Ghana and Kenya. This is the belief that people can mystically control events by using incantations (“magic words”) and, sometimes, objects.

    My study analysed data drawn from online news reports in eight media outlets in Ghana and Kenya. I used media content because the countries don’t have national data sets on ritual homicide, and empirical research is limited. Secondly, I interviewed 28 experts in criminology and criminal justice, sociology, African religions, and child and family welfare and social protection. These participants were selected using the purposeful sampling technique.

    In Ghana, the media reported at least 160 ritual murders between 2012 and 2021. Of this number, 94 (about 58.8%) were children. This suggests that an average of 9.4 children fall victim to ritual murder each year in the country. Of the 102 ritual murders in Kenya in the study period, 66 (64.7%) were children. This represents an annual average of 6.6 in the country.

    In both countries, most victims (over 80%) tend to be drawn from families of low socio-economic backgrounds in rural and semi-rural communities. In Kenya, children with albinism are also targeted.

    The overwhelming majority of offenders are males. There are three main categories of perpetrators of ritual child murders:

    • the juju practitioner or traditional healer who usually prescribes the required body parts and effects the medicine or ritual

    • the client who consults traditional healers and stands to benefit directly from the ritual or medicine

    • the (hired) ritual murderer, who abducts the victim and extracts the required body parts.

    Data from media reports show that most of the perpetrators apprehended are those directly involved in the killing. They are usually aged between 20 and 39 years and of low socio-economic status in rural communities. However, some interviewees insisted that some rich and prominent persons are also involved.

    In Ghana, uncles, fathers and stepfathers were the dominant perpetrators in cases where victims and perpetrators were known to be related. Unlike other types of homicide, ritual child murder generally involves strangers nearly as often as it involves family members and acquaintances.

    Motivations and responses

    The dominant motivation for ritual murder is financial gain. This conclusion is drawn from the media accounts and the interviews. Perpetrators are promised money in exchange for specific human body parts. Others kill to use the body parts for rituals that are supposed to ensure a long life, fertility, business growth, or protection against evil. In Kenya, some perpetrators kill in fulfilment of their obligations as members of occult sects.

    Other factors that sustain the practice – based on media reports and interviews – are superstition, unemployment and economic hardship. Adding to these are illiteracy, which fosters unfounded beliefs, and an inefficient criminal justice system, which enables these crimes to thrive.

    Poor parental supervision is an important risk factor for ritual child murder. In both countries, over 70% of the ritual murder victims were under 10 years old. They were abducted or murdered while going to or returning home from school. Others were abducted while running errands such as fetching water from a stream unaccompanied. Some may have been playing outside their homes unsupervised, or running errands by themselves for relatives.

    In both countries, the criminal justice system’s response is evidently ineffective. In Kenya, over 90% of perpetrators are not apprehended. Of 68 suspects arrested in Ghana, only four convictions were reported. Crime scenes are poorly managed and preserved by police officers and detectives in both countries.

    Crime scene videos show the victims’ remains being removed by authorities and conveyed to the morgue without diligent forensic examination of the body and the crime scene for evidence.

    What governments can do

    The belief in the power of juju and associated rituals and medicines cannot be wished away. It can only be combated in various ways:

    • bringing the activities of traditional healers and occult-related sects under closer scrutiny

    • promoting education and awareness, emphasising the need for supervision of children

    • stronger criminal justice systems.

    – Ritual murder of children: study in Ghana and Kenya explores who’s doing it and why
    – https://theconversation.com/ritual-murder-of-children-study-in-ghana-and-kenya-explores-whos-doing-it-and-why-249173

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Ethiopia’s 2026 elections: without reforms, the vote may not be free or fair

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Bizuneh Yimenu, Lecturer in Comparative Politics, Queen’s University Belfast

    Ethiopia is due to hold elections in 2026. But will they be free and fair?

    Since 1995, Ethiopia has held elections every five years, except for the 2021 election, delayed by COVID-19. The incumbent party has consistently secured over 95% of national parliament seats, except for 2005, when the opposition won about 32%. In 2021, the ruling Prosperity Party won 96.8% of the seats.

    I specialise in Ethiopian politics and federalism, and recently published a paper on the country’s electoral landscape. In my study, I examined elections under the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front, which ruled from 1991 to 2019, and its successor, the Prosperity Party.

    My aim was to see whether Ethiopia was moving towards political pluralism, where diverse voices are represented in government decision-making, or if it remained authoritarian.

    I conclude that the government still tends to suppress, detain and eliminate the opposition. I identified three main reasons for this.

    • Despite changes in leadership and ruling parties, state repression, vote-rigging and political exclusion have been common features in the country’s elections since 1995.

    • Ethiopia suffers from an uneven electoral playing field. Some regions experience contests while the ruling party tightly controls others.

    • Ethiopia’s first-past-the-post electoral system has excluded significant opposition voices from parliament. This allows the ruling party to dominate both federal and regional legislative seats.

    The way the electoral system works means that Ethiopia’s parliament is a one-party house, where other voices are drowned out.

    My research highlights the fact that elections can be both “free” and “unfair”. Citizens technically have the right to vote. But an unbalanced electoral system and an uneven playing field ensure that ruling parties retain power.

    The 2026 elections provide an opportunity for reforms that ensure greater political inclusion.

    How elections are run

    Ethiopia has held six rounds of elections since 1995. Despite some variations, the same patterns of electoral control persist. The ruling Prosperity Party has sustained and adapted authoritarian strategies to maintain dominance.

    The party still uses many of the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front’s tactics, including harassing, detaining and eliminating political adversaries.

    It also has some new ways of looking for support, like selectively addressing regional grievances.

    Regional differences

    Opposition parties in different regions have faced varying degrees of repression. Electoral control has been strategic, rather than uniform.

    Unlike previous studies that broadly assess Ethiopia’s authoritarian past, my research zooms in on regional variations in electoral competition. I show that repression is not uniform but strategically applied based on political calculations. This adds a new dimension to discussions on African elections. It shows that ruling parties can finetune control tactics to target specific threats.

    In an ethnically diverse federal state like Ethiopia, an electoral system that promotes broad representation is essential for stability and inclusive governance.

    First-past-the-post system

    The current winner-takes-all system fosters a political monopoly. It sidelines critical perspectives and erodes trust in democratic processes.

    In the 2021 election, opposition parties performed better in ethnically diverse regions, such as the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples. However, these parties were heavily suppressed in political strongholds like Oromia and Somali regions. The first-past-the-post system has consistently led to one-party dominance, even when opposition parties gained significant public support.

    For example, in 2005, opposition parties secured around 38% of the vote but ended up with far fewer parliamentary seats than their vote share justified.

    In 2021, the Prosperity Party won 96.8% of federal parliament seats, despite getting 90% of the total vote. In Addis Ababa, opposition groups such as Balderas and Ezema received 32% of the vote but won no seats in parliament. This is because the system gives all the seats to the party with the highest votes in each constituency. It doesn’t even matter if opposition parties collectively get a substantial vote.

    In Oromia and Somali regions, major opposition parties like the Oromo Liberation Front and the Ogaden National Liberation Front withdrew from fielding candidates due to repression. As a result, the ruling party was the sole option for two-thirds of federal seats and three-fourths of regional seats.

    A way forward

    So, what can be done? My research suggests three steps.

    First, moving towards a proportional representation system would help balance the political competition. Proportional representation means that if a party gets 20% of the vote, it receives 20% of the seats.

    About 130 countries, including South Africa, Namibia and Sierra Leone, use this system. Multi-party representation has led to more stable and inclusive governance. Fewer than 55 countries use first-past-the-post.

    Second, the government must guarantee that opposition parties can operate freely in all regions, not just in areas where they pose little threat. All parties should have an equal chance to compete.

    Third, independent electoral bodies and international observers need greater access to ensure fair play. Strengthening Ethiopia’s electoral board and making sure it’s impartial will foster public trust in elections.

    Read more: Ethiopia’s civil war: what’s behind the Amhara rebellion?

    Ethiopia’s democracy is at a tipping point. If the country continues with its current system, it risks further political alienation and instability. By embracing electoral reform, Ethiopia could move towards a more peaceful, inclusive, democratic and representative future.

    – Ethiopia’s 2026 elections: without reforms, the vote may not be free or fair
    – https://theconversation.com/ethiopias-2026-elections-without-reforms-the-vote-may-not-be-free-or-fair-253161

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: South Africans don’t donate enough blood – technology can help drive the numbers

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Relebohiseng Matubatuba, Lecturer in Marketing, University of the Witwatersrand

    The shortage of blood for medical use is a global challenge. South Africa is not exempt. Blood collection organisations such as the South African National Blood Service struggle to meet the demand for blood products, because of insufficient blood donations and the scarcity of loyal blood donors.

    Blood collection organisations rely on the goodwill of a few individuals who voluntarily donate blood. To maintain a sustainable supply of blood, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended that at least 1% of a country’s population donate blood. In South Africa the donation rate is below this.

    There are two blood collection organisations in South Africa – the Western Cape Blood Service operates exclusively in the Western Cape province while the South African National Blood Service, operates in the other eight provinces of the country.

    To increase the numbers, the country’s blood donation organisations have focused on the recruitment of new donors and awareness initiatives, using research findings that look at what motivates, and what deters, people from donating blood. But little focus has been put on the behaviour of those who already donate.

    Read more: Blood donation saves lives but few South Africans are regular donors

    I have conducted research in a bid to fill this gap. In a recent paper I examined factors influencing consumers’ intention to donate blood. In addition, in my recently completed PhD, I looked at the retention of existing blood donors and what drives their donation behaviour.

    The research suggests that blood collection organisations need to shift focus from acquiring new blood donors to building relationships with existing blood donors. Existing donors are an important cohort because they are reliable, and have higher donation eligibility and lower recruitment costs.

    The aim should be to drive loyalty.

    I considered the use of technology to encourage people to donate blood regularly. I concluded from my findings that blood collection organisations should customise appeals to various types of donors. They need to appeal to people in a personalised way if they want to drive loyalty.

    The drivers

    To understand what drives donor loyalty, it was important to understand why people donate blood.

    As part of my research, 658 blood donors completed the survey and I conducted interviews with 18 blood donors. The interviews revealed various reasons for donating blood. These included:

    • Awareness of the importance of donating blood

    As one participant in my research put it:

    I’ve been in and out of hospital for my kids and for my wife when she was pregnant. If I don’t donate, where are they going to get that blood from?

    • Contribution to society – saving or changing someone’s life

    This was articulated by one person:

    I’m past the point of only going for a reward, but I actually want to go, because I want to save someone’s life and do good in the community.

    • Moral responsibility

    As one participant put it:

    When I don’t donate blood, I feel bad because, as a universal donor, I could potentially be saving lives as my blood is not limited, as opposed to other groups.

    • Health-related benefits, like free health checks and the requirement to live a healthy lifestyle

    • Incentives

    The gifts make me feel appreciated. It makes me want to donate more and more.

    Beyond just donating blood, some donors also expressed that they shared their blood donation experiences with their friends, family, co-workers and on their social media platforms to encourage others to donate.

    The use of technology

    Findings from my PhD show that donors would like personalised communication from the blood collection organisations. This should include:

    • sharing information about blood donation achievements specific to them (the donor)

    • checking up on the donors who are not donating as they used to or may have stopped donating

    • following up on deferred donors to encourage them to return for a checkup and subsequent donation. Deferred donors are those who were unable to donate during a donation drive because they didn’t meet the donation requirements (for example they had low iron levels).

    • reminding donors of their upcoming donations.

    Others shared that they would like more interactive communication beyond being told that they have saved three lives after donating blood. This could include sharing specific information about the impact of the donors donation – “your donation helped a cancer patient recover” – and stories to make their contribution more tangible.

    What needs to be done

    Research has shown that digital technologies have been used successfully to foster customer engagement, enhance customer experiences and satisfaction, facilitate communication and information-sharing, and offer opportunities to shape and influence behaviour. To achieve this, donor organisations have large amounts of donor data and other data (big data) which they can use to gain insights that can be used in the following ways.

    Firstly, they should analyse donor data to identify patterns and segment donors based on factors such as how long an individual has been donating, donation frequency, blood type, location, and preferred communication channels.

    This information can be used to tailor communication and engagement strategies to specific donor groups. Donors follow different donor paths over time and cannot be viewed as a single segment.

    Secondly, organisations should monitor donation trends over time. This will help to understand seasonal fluctuations, identify peak donation periods, and anticipate potential donor needs. These insights can be used to plan targeted recruitment campaigns and allocate resources.

    Read more: Explainer: what are blood groups and why do they matter?

    Thirdly, organisations should consider personalised communication. This could include:

    • Targeted nudging: timely and relevant communication, like reminders for upcoming donation appointments, personalised thank-you messages, information about the donation they have made or invitations to special donor events.

    • Multi-channel engagement: reaching donors through their preferred communication channels, such as email, SMS, or social media.

    • Loyalty programmes: rewarding frequent donors with exclusive merchandise, discounts or special recognition, based on individual donor preferences and donation history.

    • Gamification: using game-like elements to make communication and the donation process more engaging and fun, using challenges, leaderboards and badges to motivate donors and foster a sense of community.

    • Predictive analytics: using data history and past events to establish donor patterns and predicts future outcomes. This data can be used to identify donors who might lapse and reach out to them with personalised communication.

    – South Africans don’t donate enough blood – technology can help drive the numbers
    – https://theconversation.com/south-africans-dont-donate-enough-blood-technology-can-help-drive-the-numbers-251827

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: SPbGASU student took part in the Russian Venture Forum

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Bogdan Pismarkin at the forum

    On April 10–11, one of the key events in the field of technological entrepreneurship took place in Kazan – the 19th Russian Venture Forum.

    The event brought together more than 150 startups, over 10 venture funds, dozens of investors and representatives of government agencies. The opening ceremony of the forum was attended by the Minister of Science and Higher Education of Russia Valery Falkov, the Head of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov and the President of the Academy of Sciences of Tatarstan Rifkat Minnikhanov.

    A second-year master’s student at SPbGASU, Bogdan Pismarkin, who is graduating from the Startup as a Diploma program at the Department of Construction Organization, took part in the forum organized by the university with the support of the Center for Student Entrepreneurship and Career of our university.

    The RVF-2025 discussed current issues of venture market development: support for technology startups, companies entering PreIPO, investments in late-stage projects and entering international markets. Particular attention was paid to the interaction between startups and investors – in the format of pitch sessions, startup battles and networking at the forum sites.

    According to Bogdan, he gained valuable practical experience, made many useful contacts with startup representatives, business angels and investors, and also deepened his knowledge in the field of growth strategy and attracting investment.

    “The participation of SPbGASU students in events of this scale not only contributes to the development of their projects, but also strengthens the university’s image. Our students talk about the support of entrepreneurship at the university, attracting new talented applicants – future creators of technology companies that develop the construction industry and the country’s economy as a whole,” noted Ekaterina Abolina, Director of the Center for Student Entrepreneurship and Career.

    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: New Jersey High School Students Explore Career Paths Through IAM Local 447 Worksite Tour

    Source: US GOIAM Union

    Seventeen students from three northern New Jersey high schools – Clifton High School, Kearny High School, and Lyndhurst High School – recently participated in an immersive worksite tour hosted by IAM Local 447. These students, all aspiring automotive and diesel technicians, are considering enrollment in the IAM CREST Auto and Diesel Technician’s Apprenticeship Program.

    The tour’s purpose was to provide students with firsthand insight into life on the job. They visited two active IAM Local 447 worksites – Hudson Toyota in Jersey City and Penske Truck Leasing in Linden – where they had the opportunity to engage with supervisors, journeyman technicians, and former apprentices. These mentors shared their experiences and offered advice about what it takes to succeed in the industry.

    These shops are just two of many in northern New Jersey that actively support the IAM apprenticeship program by hosting and mentoring apprentices. New entrants to the program typically begin with basic maintenance tasks and progress through a structured pathway toward becoming fully certified journeyman mechanics.

    “Giving students the chance to see real-world work environments and speak directly with experienced technicians is invaluable,” said IAM Safety and Health, Apprenticeships, and Scholarships Director Michael Oathout. “It helps them connect their career goals with a clear path forward through our apprenticeship program.”

    The IAM CREST Auto and Diesel Technician’s Apprenticeship Program is registered with the U.S. Department of Labor and receives support from the New Jersey Department of Labor.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: United States Attorney’s Office Announces Departure of Delia L. Smith as U.S. Attorney

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    First Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam F. Sleeper is now Acting U.S. Attorney
     

    St. Thomas, VI – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of the Virgin Islands announced today the departure of Delia L. Smith as U.S. Attorney.

    Under the Vacancies Reform Act, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam F. Sleeper is now the Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of the Virgin Islands. As Acting U.S. Attorney, he is the chief federal law enforcement official in the territory of the Virgin Islands.

    Sleeper is a career prosecutor with the United States Attorney’s Office. He has served as First Assistant U.S. Attorney and as Appellate Chief.

    Sleeper received an undergraduate degree from Connecticut College and a law degree from Cornell Law School. Before joining the Department of Justice, he clerked for Judge Curtis Gómez of the District Court of the Virgin Islands and Judge Joel Carson III of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. He also worked as an associate in the Boston, Massachusetts office of an international law firm.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Ritual murder of children: study in Ghana and Kenya explores who’s doing it and why

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Emmanuel Sarpong Owusu, Doctoral Researcher and Lecturer, Aberystwyth University

    Superstition, an irrational belief in paranormal influences or a false attribution of events, is an age-old phenomenon found in probably all human societies or cultures. It encompasses a wide range of beliefs, practices and behaviours. Some of these have harmful or even deadly consequences.

    In many African communities, there are widespread beliefs relating to the use of human body parts for traditional healing rituals. Human body parts and blood are said to enhance the potency of traditional medicines and rituals that supposedly guarantee wealth, business success, fertility, protection and longevity, among others.

    Ritual killings, including those of children, are reported regularly around Africa. A case in point is the targeting of children with albinism for ritual purposes in Tanzania. One research report says one in five people in Mozambique and one in four people in South Africa believe that rituals and traditional medicines made with human body parts are more potent and effective than those using nonhuman objects.

    Children are particularly targeted for killing because they can’t repel attacks, and because of beliefs about the potency of their body parts. The victims in more than half of all the ritual murders reported in Ghana and Kenya in 2022 were children.

    I am a legal scholar with years of research on superstition-driven crimes against vulnerable groups in African settings and the criminal justice response to such crimes. In a recent study I explored the magnitude, characteristics and motivations, as well as the socio-cultural and economic contexts, of ritual child murder in Ghana and Kenya. My study was carried out through in-depth analysis of news reports of ritual murders for a period of 10 years, coupled with semi-structured interviews with academics and other experts.

    I found that the major factors contributing to the persistence of ritual child murders were superstition, economic hardship, illiteracy and inefficient criminal justice systems. A new consumerist ethos also plays a role: wanting a life of luxury and the admiration that comes with it.

    The study seeks to enhance awareness of the ritual child murder phenomenon and encourage support for the enforcement of child rights protection laws. When policymakers know more about the scale and circumstances of ritual child murders, they are better equipped to act on it.

    Ritual murders in Ghana and Kenya

    Belief in juju is widespread in Ghana and Kenya. This is the belief that people can mystically control events by using incantations (“magic words”) and, sometimes, objects.

    My study analysed data drawn from online news reports in eight media outlets in Ghana and Kenya. I used media content because the countries don’t have national data sets on ritual homicide, and empirical research is limited. Secondly, I interviewed 28 experts in criminology and criminal justice, sociology, African religions, and child and family welfare and social protection. These participants were selected using the purposeful sampling technique.

    In Ghana, the media reported at least 160 ritual murders between 2012 and 2021. Of this number, 94 (about 58.8%) were children. This suggests that an average of 9.4 children fall victim to ritual murder each year in the country. Of the 102 ritual murders in Kenya in the study period, 66 (64.7%) were children. This represents an annual average of 6.6 in the country.

    In both countries, most victims (over 80%) tend to be drawn from families of low socio-economic backgrounds in rural and semi-rural communities. In Kenya, children with albinism are also targeted.

    The overwhelming majority of offenders are males. There are three main categories of perpetrators of ritual child murders:

    • the juju practitioner or traditional healer who usually prescribes the required body parts and effects the medicine or ritual

    • the client who consults traditional healers and stands to benefit directly from the ritual or medicine

    • the (hired) ritual murderer, who abducts the victim and extracts the required body parts.

    Data from media reports show that most of the perpetrators apprehended are those directly involved in the killing. They are usually aged between 20 and 39 years and of low socio-economic status in rural communities. However, some interviewees insisted that some rich and prominent persons are also involved.

    In Ghana, uncles, fathers and stepfathers were the dominant perpetrators in cases where victims and perpetrators were known to be related. Unlike other types of homicide, ritual child murder generally involves strangers nearly as often as it involves family members and acquaintances.

    Motivations and responses

    The dominant motivation for ritual murder is financial gain. This conclusion is drawn from the media accounts and the interviews. Perpetrators are promised money in exchange for specific human body parts. Others kill to use the body parts for rituals that are supposed to ensure a long life, fertility, business growth, or protection against evil. In Kenya, some perpetrators kill in fulfilment of their obligations as members of occult sects.

    Other factors that sustain the practice – based on media reports and interviews – are superstition, unemployment and economic hardship. Adding to these are illiteracy, which fosters unfounded beliefs, and an inefficient criminal justice system, which enables these crimes to thrive.

    Poor parental supervision is an important risk factor for ritual child murder. In both countries, over 70% of the ritual murder victims were under 10 years old. They were abducted or murdered while going to or returning home from school. Others were abducted while running errands such as fetching water from a stream unaccompanied. Some may have been playing outside their homes unsupervised, or running errands by themselves for relatives.

    In both countries, the criminal justice system’s response is evidently ineffective. In Kenya, over 90% of perpetrators are not apprehended. Of 68 suspects arrested in Ghana, only four convictions were reported. Crime scenes are poorly managed and preserved by police officers and detectives in both countries.

    Crime scene videos show the victims’ remains being removed by authorities and conveyed to the morgue without diligent forensic examination of the body and the crime scene for evidence.

    What governments can do

    The belief in the power of juju and associated rituals and medicines cannot be wished away. It can only be combated in various ways:

    • bringing the activities of traditional healers and occult-related sects under closer scrutiny

    • promoting education and awareness, emphasising the need for supervision of children

    • stronger criminal justice systems.

    Emmanuel Sarpong Owusu 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. Ritual murder of children: study in Ghana and Kenya explores who’s doing it and why – https://theconversation.com/ritual-murder-of-children-study-in-ghana-and-kenya-explores-whos-doing-it-and-why-249173

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Canada’s federal election doesn’t seem like it’s about climate change, but it actually is

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Mark Winfield, Professor, Environmental and Urban Change, York University, Canada

    A defining feature of the ongoing federal election campaign has been the apparent marginalization of the environment and climate change as top-of-mind issues due to threats by the United States against Canadian sovereignty, security and trade.

    But how Canada responds to U.S. President Donald Trump’s actions will also have profound implications for its future greenhouse gas emissions and its economy.

    The current federal election is very different from those held in 2015, 2019 and 2021. In those elections, the environment and climate were central issues. Each time, more than 60 per cent of Canadian voters chose parties (Liberal, NDP, Bloc Québécois and Green) that advocated for strong climate action, including some form of carbon pricing.



    Read more:
    Canada’s federal election made big strides for climate and the environment

    The increasing evidence of the consequences of a changing climate had placed the environment and climate change among the leading issues in the minds of Canadians for nearly two decades. The political landscape has shifted dramatically since then.

    The role of inflation

    Although Trump’s second presidency is often cited as the trigger point for a decline of the environment as a top-of-mind concern for Canadians, the slide actually began a year earlier, in the fall of 2023.

    Despite the record wildfire season that summer, the impact of inflation, triggered in large part by the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, moved economic concerns to the forefront of the public’s mind. Government stimulus programs needed to counter the impacts of the pandemic contributed to inflationary pressures, prompting the Bank of Canada to hike interest rates in response, adding to Canadians’ economic distress.

    Amid high inflation and high interest rates, the Liberal government’s climate strategies — especially consumer carbon pricing — became an easy political target, particularly for a Conservative opposition with little apparent concern for the climate challenge.

    But even though climate change is no longer top of mind for Canadians, it remains a significant embedded concern, with as many as 70 per cent of Canadians believing climate change is real and caused by human activity. And perhaps surprisingly, despite the criticism levelled at the consumer carbon tax, between 60 and 70 per cent of non-Conservative leaning voters (those intending to cast their ballots for Liberal, NDP, Bloc and Green candidates) continue to support the concept of carbon pricing.

    Focus on fossil fuels

    Despite this, many political and business leaders have responded to Trump’s actions by focusing on natural resource exports, especially fossil fuels and critical minerals, to bolster the Canadian economy.

    This has been accompanied by calls to further streamline environmental review and approval processes for resource extraction and export projects like pipelines, and to expand their subsidization by taxpayers.

    Discussions about the climate implications of these initiatives have been noticeably absent. So have conversations about the long-term economic viability and desirability of expanding Canada’s dependency on resource commodity exports to increasingly uncertain global markets.

    On fossil fuels, the International Energy Agency and others are predicting that global consumption will peak within the next decade. This will reflect the falling costs of renewable energy, improving energy productivity and the imperative of reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by mid-century.

    The peak will likely happen before any new major export infrastructure can be built in Canada, regardless of what review and approval requirements they might be subjected to.

    In a world of declining fossil fuel consumption, Canada — increasingly reliant on high-cost and high-carbon production like oilsands crude and fracked and liquified natural gas — seems more likely to be among the earliest producers to fall than among the last standing. Public investments in new export infrastructure look like dubious propositions in this scenario.



    Read more:
    Coal in Alberta: Neither public outrage nor waning global demand seem to matter to Danielle Smith

    International markets for critical minerals are likely to remain in deep flux as the pace of technological development in renewable energy and energy storage accelerates to reduce or avoid dependency on costly and difficult-to-access materials.

    Mining operations also continue to have substantial environmental impacts with significant implications for reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples in Canada.

    Backwards approach

    All of this means there must be continued meaningful scrutiny of projects in terms of their implications for climate change, environmental sustainability and reconciliation, as well as their economic viability and potential legacy costs for taxpayers — not a further streamlining of review processes.

    Falling back on fossil fuels in response to Trump is a fundamentally backwards approach. It ignores the implications of the climate challenge. As recently noted by at least one Canadian business leader, it also overlooks the need to not just diversify Canada’s markets, but to diversify Canadian products as well.

    Canada must design and implement strategies that transform its industries from producers of low-value raw materials into producers of higher-value products and services for a world that must decarbonize and advance sustainability.

    As a coalition of Canadian mayors recently pointed out, climate change remains a real threat to Canadians and their communities. It’s not going away regardless of what Trump’s executive orders might say.

    As they campaign to lead the country, the situation requires more substantive responses from Canada’s would-be prime ministers than Canadians are getting right now.

    Mark Winfield receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

    – ref. Canada’s federal election doesn’t seem like it’s about climate change, but it actually is – https://theconversation.com/canadas-federal-election-doesnt-seem-like-its-about-climate-change-but-it-actually-is-254458

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Directors’ Fortnight in Cannes, Alex Boya’s animated short Bread Will Walk (NFB) selected

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    April 15, 2025 – Montreal – National Film Board of Canada (NFB)

    The National Film Board of Canada will be in Cannes this year with Alex Boya’s animated short film Bread Will Walk, which has been selected to screen in the Directors’ Fortnight. Actor Jay Baruchel voices all the characters in the original English version of this frenetic, surrealist satire of our dehumanizing society, designed as a continuous shot.

    Organized by the Société des Réalisatrices et Réalisateurs de Films, the Directors’ Fortnight is a sidebar section of the prestigious Cannes Film Festival and runs from May 14 to 24, 2025.

    Bread Will Walk will then be presented in official competition at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, taking place June 8 to 14, 2025.

    Quotes

    “The NFB is a unique creative space that also stands out for its ability to innovate and take risks. Over the years, it has nurtured the careers of many emerging filmmakers and helped discover new talent. One such talent is Alex Boya, who made his first film, Focus (2014), as a participant in the NFB’s Hothouse animation mentorship program. The selection of Bread Will Walk for the Directors’ Fortnight speaks to the creative and visionary strengths of the NFB’s animation units and its artists. Hearty congratulations to Alex Boya and to everyone at the NFB who contributed to this wonderful film!”
    – Suzanne Guèvremont, Government Film Commissioner and Chairperson of the NFB

    “With his edgy, unorthodox visual approach, Alex Boya treats us to a brilliant, continuous shot filled with surreal metamorphoses, blending hand-drawn animation, painting and digital collage, and in the process reinventing the language of animation. We’re extremely proud that it has been selected for the Directors’ Fortnight, a celebration and showcase of unique artistic visions, which are a hallmark of the creative lab philosophy of our animation units at the NFB.”
    – Christine Noël, Executive Producer, French Animation Unit and English Animation Unit, NFB

    Quick Facts

    About the film

    Bread Will Walk by Alex Boya (11 min 17 s)
    An NFB production (Jelena Popović)
    Press kit: mediaspace.nfb.ca/epk/bread-will-walk

    • Synopsis: A devoted sister flees with her brother, a benevolent, bread-turned zombie. A mob pursues, mouths agape. Streets twist into mazes, reason dissolves, hunger reigns. Can love defy appetite?
    • Bread Will Walk was born of director Alex Boya’s reflection on overconsumption and its dehumanizing effects. Subverting the symbolism of bread, Boya created a parable in which a staple food becomes propaganda and love tries to defy hunger.
    • The sound design is by Olivier Calvert and the score was composed by Martin Floyd Cesar.

    About the filmmaker

    • Alex Boya graduated from the Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema at Concordia University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Film Production. The Bulgarian-born Montreal animator and filmmaker is known for his surreal, hand-drawn storytelling. At the NFB, he made Focus (2014) and Turbine(2018), both of which earned Special Mentions at the Ottawa International Animation Festival, with Turbine also winning Best Animation Short at NYC Shorts. Bread Will Walk sees him continue to craft worlds where poetry, technology and absurdity intertwine.
    • Boya is also very active on the animation scene, taking part in conferences and other events. He has grown a sizeable community of social media followers who eagerly keep up with his works as they are made.

    – 30 –

    Stay Connected

    Online Screening Room: NFB.ca
    NFB Facebook | NFB Twitter | NFB Instagram | NFB Blog | NFB YouTube | NFB Vimeo
    Curator’s perspective | Director’s notes

    About the NFB

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Ethiopia’s 2026 elections: without reforms, the vote may not be free or fair

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Bizuneh Yimenu, Lecturer in Comparative Politics, Queen’s University Belfast

    Ethiopia is due to hold elections in 2026. But will they be free and fair?

    Since 1995, Ethiopia has held elections every five years, except for the 2021 election, delayed by COVID-19. The incumbent party has consistently secured over 95% of national parliament seats, except for 2005, when the opposition won about 32%. In 2021, the ruling Prosperity Party won 96.8% of the seats.

    I specialise in Ethiopian politics and federalism, and recently published a paper on the country’s electoral landscape. In my study, I examined elections under the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front, which ruled from 1991 to 2019, and its successor, the Prosperity Party.

    My aim was to see whether Ethiopia was moving towards political pluralism, where diverse voices are represented in government decision-making, or if it remained authoritarian.

    I conclude that the government still tends to suppress, detain and eliminate the opposition. I identified three main reasons for this.

    • Despite changes in leadership and ruling parties, state repression, vote-rigging and political exclusion have been common features in the country’s elections since 1995.

    • Ethiopia suffers from an uneven electoral playing field. Some regions experience contests while the ruling party tightly controls others.

    • Ethiopia’s first-past-the-post electoral system has excluded significant opposition voices from parliament. This allows the ruling party to dominate both federal and regional legislative seats.

    The way the electoral system works means that Ethiopia’s parliament is a one-party house, where other voices are drowned out.

    My research highlights the fact that elections can be both “free” and “unfair”. Citizens technically have the right to vote. But an unbalanced electoral system and an uneven playing field ensure that ruling parties retain power.

    The 2026 elections provide an opportunity for reforms that ensure greater political inclusion.

    How elections are run

    Ethiopia has held six rounds of elections since 1995. Despite some variations, the same patterns of electoral control persist. The ruling Prosperity Party has sustained and adapted authoritarian strategies to maintain dominance.

    The party still uses many of the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front’s tactics, including harassing, detaining and eliminating political adversaries.

    It also has some new ways of looking for support, like selectively addressing regional grievances.

    Regional differences

    Opposition parties in different regions have faced varying degrees of repression. Electoral control has been strategic, rather than uniform.

    Unlike previous studies that broadly assess Ethiopia’s authoritarian past, my research zooms in on regional variations in electoral competition. I show that repression is not uniform but strategically applied based on political calculations. This adds a new dimension to discussions on African elections. It shows that ruling parties can finetune control tactics to target specific threats.

    In an ethnically diverse federal state like Ethiopia, an electoral system that promotes broad representation is essential for stability and inclusive governance.

    First-past-the-post system

    The current winner-takes-all system fosters a political monopoly. It sidelines critical perspectives and erodes trust in democratic processes.

    In the 2021 election, opposition parties performed better in ethnically diverse regions, such as the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples. However, these parties were heavily suppressed in political strongholds like Oromia and Somali regions. The first-past-the-post system has consistently led to one-party dominance, even when opposition parties gained significant public support.

    For example, in 2005, opposition parties secured around 38% of the vote but ended up with far fewer parliamentary seats than their vote share justified.

    In 2021, the Prosperity Party won 96.8% of federal parliament seats, despite getting 90% of the total vote. In Addis Ababa, opposition groups such as Balderas and Ezema received 32% of the vote but won no seats in parliament. This is because the system gives all the seats to the party with the highest votes in each constituency. It doesn’t even matter if opposition parties collectively get a substantial vote.

    In Oromia and Somali regions, major opposition parties like the Oromo Liberation Front and the Ogaden National Liberation Front withdrew from fielding candidates due to repression. As a result, the ruling party was the sole option for two-thirds of federal seats and three-fourths of regional seats.

    A way forward

    So, what can be done? My research suggests three steps.

    First, moving towards a proportional representation system would help balance the political competition. Proportional representation means that if a party gets 20% of the vote, it receives 20% of the seats.

    About 130 countries, including South Africa, Namibia and Sierra Leone, use this system. Multi-party representation has led to more stable and inclusive governance. Fewer than 55 countries use first-past-the-post.

    Second, the government must guarantee that opposition parties can operate freely in all regions, not just in areas where they pose little threat. All parties should have an equal chance to compete.

    Third, independent electoral bodies and international observers need greater access to ensure fair play. Strengthening Ethiopia’s electoral board and making sure it’s impartial will foster public trust in elections.



    Read more:
    Ethiopia’s civil war: what’s behind the Amhara rebellion?

    Ethiopia’s democracy is at a tipping point. If the country continues with its current system, it risks further political alienation and instability. By embracing electoral reform, Ethiopia could move towards a more peaceful, inclusive, democratic and representative future.

    Bizuneh Yimenu 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. Ethiopia’s 2026 elections: without reforms, the vote may not be free or fair – https://theconversation.com/ethiopias-2026-elections-without-reforms-the-vote-may-not-be-free-or-fair-253161

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: South Africans don’t donate enough blood – technology can help drive the numbers

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Relebohiseng Matubatuba, Lecturer in Marketing, University of the Witwatersrand

    The shortage of blood for medical use is a global challenge. South Africa is not exempt. Blood collection organisations such as the South African National Blood Service struggle to meet the demand for blood products, because of insufficient blood donations and the scarcity of loyal blood donors.

    Blood collection organisations rely on the goodwill of a few individuals who voluntarily donate blood. To maintain a sustainable supply of blood, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended that at least 1% of a country’s population donate blood. In South Africa the donation rate is below this.

    There are two blood collection organisations in South Africa – the Western Cape Blood Service operates exclusively in the Western Cape province while the South African National Blood Service, operates in the other eight provinces of the country.

    To increase the numbers, the country’s blood donation organisations have focused on the recruitment of new donors and awareness initiatives, using research findings that look at what motivates, and what deters, people from donating blood. But little focus has been put on the behaviour of those who already donate.



    Read more:
    Blood donation saves lives but few South Africans are regular donors

    I have conducted research in a bid to fill this gap. In a recent paper I examined factors influencing consumers’ intention to donate blood. In addition, in my recently completed PhD, I looked at the retention of existing blood donors and what drives their donation behaviour.

    The research suggests that blood collection organisations need to shift focus from acquiring new blood donors to building relationships with existing blood donors. Existing donors are an important cohort because they are reliable, and have higher donation eligibility and lower recruitment costs.

    The aim should be to drive loyalty.

    I considered the use of technology to encourage people to donate blood regularly. I concluded from my findings that blood collection organisations should customise appeals to various types of donors. They need to appeal to people in a personalised way if they want to drive loyalty.

    The drivers

    To understand what drives donor loyalty, it was important to understand why people donate blood.

    As part of my research, 658 blood donors completed the survey and I conducted interviews with 18 blood donors. The interviews revealed various reasons for donating blood. These included:

    • Awareness of the importance of donating blood

    As one participant in my research put it:

    I’ve been in and out of hospital for my kids and for my wife when she was pregnant. If I don’t donate, where are they going to get that blood from?

    • Contribution to society – saving or changing someone’s life

    This was articulated by one person:

    I’m past the point of only going for a reward, but I actually want to go, because I want to save someone’s life and do good in the community.

    • Moral responsibility

    As one participant put it:

    When I don’t donate blood, I feel bad because, as a universal donor, I could potentially be saving lives as my blood is not limited, as opposed to other groups.

    • Health-related benefits, like free health checks and the requirement to live a healthy lifestyle

    • Incentives

    The gifts make me feel appreciated. It makes me want to donate more and more.

    Beyond just donating blood, some donors also expressed that they shared their blood donation experiences with their friends, family, co-workers and on their social media platforms to encourage others to donate.

    The use of technology

    Findings from my PhD show that donors would like personalised communication from the blood collection organisations. This should include:

    • sharing information about blood donation achievements specific to them (the donor)

    • checking up on the donors who are not donating as they used to or may have stopped donating

    • following up on deferred donors to encourage them to return for a checkup and subsequent donation. Deferred donors are those who were unable to donate during a donation drive because they didn’t meet the donation requirements (for example they had low iron levels).

    • reminding donors of their upcoming donations.

    Others shared that they would like more interactive communication beyond being told that they have saved three lives after donating blood. This could include sharing specific information about the impact of the donors donation – “your donation helped a cancer patient recover” – and stories to make their contribution more tangible.

    What needs to be done

    Research has shown that digital technologies have been used successfully to foster customer engagement, enhance customer experiences and satisfaction, facilitate communication and information-sharing, and offer opportunities to shape and influence behaviour. To achieve this, donor organisations have large amounts of donor data and other data (big data) which they can use to gain insights that can be used in the following ways.

    Firstly, they should analyse donor data to identify patterns and segment donors based on factors such as how long an individual has been donating, donation frequency, blood type, location, and preferred communication channels.

    This information can be used to tailor communication and engagement strategies to specific donor groups. Donors follow different donor paths over time and cannot be viewed as a single segment.

    Secondly, organisations should monitor donation trends over time. This will help to understand seasonal fluctuations, identify peak donation periods, and anticipate potential donor needs. These insights can be used to plan targeted recruitment campaigns and allocate resources.



    Read more:
    Explainer: what are blood groups and why do they matter?

    Thirdly, organisations should consider personalised communication. This could include:

    • Targeted nudging: timely and relevant communication, like reminders for upcoming donation appointments, personalised thank-you messages, information about the donation they have made or invitations to special donor events.

    • Multi-channel engagement: reaching donors through their preferred communication channels, such as email, SMS, or social media.

    • Loyalty programmes: rewarding frequent donors with exclusive merchandise, discounts or special recognition, based on individual donor preferences and donation history.

    • Gamification: using game-like elements to make communication and the donation process more engaging and fun, using challenges, leaderboards and badges to motivate donors and foster a sense of community.

    • Predictive analytics: using data history and past events to establish donor patterns and predicts future outcomes. This data can be used to identify donors who might lapse and reach out to them with personalised communication.

    Relebohiseng Matubatuba 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. South Africans don’t donate enough blood – technology can help drive the numbers – https://theconversation.com/south-africans-dont-donate-enough-blood-technology-can-help-drive-the-numbers-251827

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: Panopto Appoints Stephen Laster as Chief Executive Officer

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PITTSBURGH, April 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Panopto, the leading AI-powered video learning platform, today announced the appointment of Stephen Laster as Chief Executive Officer. A proven technology and product leader, Laster brings more than two decades of executive experience driving digital transformation and innovation across education and enterprise software.

    Laster joins Panopto from D2L, where he most recently served as President. His career spans senior leadership roles at McGraw-Hill Education, Ellucian, Harvard Business School, and Babson College where he has led large-scale teams, developed category-defining products, and built platforms that have redefined how millions of learners and professionals experience education. At Panopto, Laster will lead the company’s next chapter as it scales its platform and continues to enable AI-powered video across learning, training, and communication environments around the world.

    “Panopto is uniquely positioned at the intersection of video, knowledge management, and education,” said Laster. “I am thrilled to join a company with such a strong foundation, an exceptional team, and a powerful mission. As video becomes increasingly critical to how organizations learn and operate, Panopto is poised to play an even greater role in enabling success for its customers.”

    Panopto’s enterprise-grade, open platform is trusted by leading global institutions and organizations – including Duke University, Kimberly-Clark, Harvard University, HubSpot, Nikon, Oxford University, Qualcomm, and Stanford University – to harness video at scale for skill building, training, onboarding, compliance, and knowledge sharing. As a key player in the learning tech ecosystem, Panopto leads the way in leveraging AI, advanced search, and deep integrations to power the future of visual learning.

    “Stephen is a proven operator who combines deep technical expertise with a sharp focus on customer impact,” said Sejal Pietrzak, Executive Chair at Panopto. “His track record of building world-class technology organizations and his passion for delivering exceptional product experiences make him the ideal leader to guide Panopto into its next phase of growth.”

    With this appointment, Panopto continues its commitment to building industry-leading video technology that elevates how people learn and communicate in today’s digital-first world.

    About Panopto

    Panopto is a global leader in AI-driven video learning, revolutionizing how universities and enterprises capture, share, and expand knowledge. Trusted by 22 of the world’s top 25 universities and more than 1,600 organizations, Panopto’s advanced video management platform and innovative AI tools make it easy to transform text to video to create, store, manage, and deliver engaging, accessible learning experiences. Discover the future of video learning at Panopto.com

    Contact: 
    Alexis Borucke, VP of Marketing
    alexis.borucke@panopto.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/96bb0880-f43e-486a-9935-0fd7da293e9b

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Winners of Inaugural Atlantic Canada Cleantech Awards Showcase East Coast Excellence

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HALIFAX, Canada, April 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Foresight Canada announced the winners of the inaugural Atlantic Canada Cleantech Awards at last night’s sold-out ceremony in Halifax. The event celebrated the region’s innovators, funders, adopters, and supporters collectively accelerating clean technology adoption, catalyzing economic resilience, and advancing net zero goals. This year’s award winners exemplify the region’s capability to turn visionary ideas into tangible progress.

    Driven by breakthroughs in ocean technology and increased adoption of renewable energy, the East Coast’s growing cleantech sector is well-positioned to increase efficiency and productivity of key industries and lead a more sustainable, economically prosperous future. In 2024 alone, the Government of Canada, through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), invested $72M in 166 cleantech projects, anticipated to generate 100,000 new clean energy jobs in Atlantic Canada by mid-century. This projected growth underscores the momentum of Atlantic Canada’s cleantech sector. Foresight Canada is proud to establish this new tradition on the East Coast, celebrating leaders whose dedication and ingenuity are shaping a resilient and sustainable economy.

    Meet the Winners

    Adopter of the Year: City of Summerside

    Summerside has emerged as a Canadian leader in community-driven sustainability. By expanding its smart grid, integrating renewable energy sources, and introducing innovative programs for energy efficiency and clean transportation, the city is paving the way toward a more sustainable future. Additionally, Summerside supports cleantech business growth through its Eco Park, a dedicated space that encourages clean economic development in the region.

    Supporter of the Year: Dalhousie University

    Researchers at Dalhousie University are developing clean, carbon-free technologies that will facilitate the transition to a more sustainable future. Their work encompasses engineering and commercializing innovative breakthroughs, including clean fuels, chemicals and materials, and long-life batteries for electric mobility. Dalhousie is playing a key role in advancing battery innovation through the establishment of Canada’s first university-based battery prototyping and testing facility, set to open in fall 2025.

    Funder of the Year: Carbon to Sea

    Carbon to Sea is the leading nonprofit evaluating ocean alkalinity enhancement for CO₂ removal at scale. Its work is aligned with key scientific bodies, such as IPCC and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. As the world’s foremost organization pursuing ocean alkalinity enhancement, Carbon to Sea funds exceptional researchers to close knowledge gaps and build a responsible sector.

    Startup Venture of the Year: pHathom Technologies

    pHathom is advancing a breakthrough carbon removal technology through its Accelerated Weathering of Limestone (AWL) process, which uses seawater and limestone to capture biogenic CO₂ while helping to reduce ocean acidification. The company aims to launch a commercial demonstration by 2027, with the potential to remove gigatons of carbon and unlock substantial revenue opportunities.

    Scaleup Venture of the Year: CarbonRun

    CarbonRun’s innovative river restoration method permanently removes CO₂ from the atmosphere and improves river health simultaneously. By adding limestone to rivers, they enhance natural carbon absorption and restore salmon habitats. With commitments from large corporate buyers for its credits, and a robust pipeline of projects that are being developed, CarbonRun is poised to make a major impact on global CDR goals.

    Learn more about all our 2025 Canada Cleantech Awards finalists and winners.

    Quotes

    “For the City of Summerside, being nominated for and receiving this award is like a boost of clean tech energy—fueling our momentum and reaffirming our path forward. Over the past 20 years, we’ve been deeply committed to validating and scaling solutions in the innovation and clean tech space. Along the way, we’ve learned that real progress takes a united effort—it takes a community to move mountains. The work we do with our partners can be complex, but it’s incredibly rewarding. By leveraging our infrastructure, collaborating with leading businesses, and cultivating a thriving ecosystem for change, Summerside is proud to lead and support Canada’s transition toward a sustainable future. Driving innovation, clean tech solutions and economic growth isn’t just our mission—it’s our passion.” — Mike Thususka, Director of Economic Development, City of Summerside

    “We are extremely honoured to be recognized by the Atlantic Canada Cleantech community. We are thankful for the support of our partners and the broader network in helping us get to this stage, and we hope to live up to your expectations by continuing to fight climate change while also restoring and enhancing the ecosystems we depend on.” — Dr. Halfyard, Co-Founder and CTO, CarbonRun

    “We’re capturing CO₂ right at the source and using natural ocean chemistry to lock it away safely for thousands of years. It’s high-integrity carbon removal, rooted in science, and it’s happening right here in Atlantic Canada. We’re honoured to accept this award and proud to be doing that work here, in a region that understands resilience, collaboration, and bold ideas.” — Kim Gilbert, CEO, pHathom Technologies

    “Nova Scotia’s growing reputation as a home for innovation makes it a great location to advance ocean climate science, and Carbon to Sea is proud to play a role in that. As the world grapples with the need to remove billions of tons of carbon from the atmosphere safely in the coming decades, we look forward to deepening our work here. We’re grateful to Foresight for this recognition, and for all they do to support climate innovation across Canada.” — Miriam Zitner, Canadian General Manager, Carbon to Sea Initiative

    “A heartfelt congratulations to the winners of the inaugural Atlantic Canada Cleantech Awards! Your innovative spirit is propelling the region’s cleantech growth in exciting new directions. We celebrate your vision and look forward to witnessing the ecosystem thrive and the significant contributions you’ll make in transforming East Coast industries.” — Jeanette Jackson, CEO, Foresight Canada

    “Marking a pivotal moment, the first Atlantic Canada Cleantech Awards celebrated the remarkable strength and innovation thriving within our region. The achievements of this year’s winners pave the way for a future where Atlantic Canada is a true leader in clean technology, and I can’t wait to see what comes next in East Coast innovation.” — Lindsay Murray, Sr. Manager, Partnerships, Foresight Canada

    About Foresight Canada

    ​​Foresight Canada helps the world do more with less, sustainably. As Canada’s largest cleantech innovation and adoption accelerator, they connect public and private sectors to the world’s best clean technologies, de-risking and simplifying the adoption of innovative solutions that improve productivity, profitability, and economic competitiveness, all while addressing today’s most urgent climate challenges.

    Contact:
    Heather Kingdon
    Manager, Communications
    hkingdon@foresightcac.com

    The Atlantic Canada Cleantech Awards are presented by Foresight and Bloom Funding with support from Bonsai Growth, MNP, Springboard Atlantic, and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA). Event hosted in partnership with Smart Energy Halifax.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c628c430-d0e3-4bef-905a-fd0639b1317d

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The Stolen Girl: Disney+ drama is an intriguing companion piece to Netflix’s Adolescence

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Rachel Moseley, Co-founder of the Centre for Television History, Heritage and Memory Research, University of Warwick

    From the opening moments of the new Disney+ series The Stolen Girl, you could be forgiven for thinking that you’ve happened upon a Scandi-noir crime drama.

    From the air, we follow a dark Volvo estate driving a dusty road through a tree-lined mountainous landscape. The palette is cool and desaturated, the music underpinned by a distorted electronic buzz. After the sound of a zip, light picks out the face of a child who seems to have been transported in the cramped and claustrophobic boot of the Volvo, that emblem of (Scandinavian) family road safety. “Who are you?” the child asks.

    Unlike Scandi-noir, however, there is no elevated title sequence and the five-episode thriller is set between the north of England and the south of France. We cut to the latter rapidly, to a brightly lit balcony, from which Elisa Blix (Denise Gough), private jet flight crew and the mother of the eponymous girl, looks out at the Côte D’Azur.

    In the first episode, Elisa and her husband, criminal lawyer Fred (Jim Sturgess) realise that their eldest child, Lucia, has been kidnapped while on a hastily arranged sleepover at a new school friend’s house.

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

    A number of stylistic motifs contribute to the sense of unease which pervades The Stolen Girl. The camera peers around corners into dark, claustrophobic spaces. It creeps along the ground, or tracks slowly towards buildings. In the opening sequence, for example, it drifts through lush, dark foliage towards stone steps, offering a glimpse of a doorway at their apex.

    The significance of this repeated shot doesn’t become clear until near the end of the series. Similarly, motifs from the elaborate décor of the Blixes’ “perfect” home are disturbingly echoed later in the setting of the French villa. As the drama proceeds, flashbacks and memories provide the opportunity to reassess and reinterpret, for the characters and the viewer.

    The Stolen Girl trailer.

    The Stolen Girl is meticulously constructed to unsettle and intrigue the viewer, from sound design and imagery to narrative organisation.

    For the most part, we discover and interpret clues along with another main character – doggedly persistent journalist Selma Desai (Ambika Mod). Her grasp of social media and pop psychology leads her to solve the case ahead of the detectives working it.

    I found myself having light-bulb moments with, and occasionally just before, Selma – an effective and carefully designed immersion technique which, along with frequent reversals and twists, keeps us guessing until near the very end. It’s clever, and satisfying for the attentive viewer as the whole-series release in the UK makes it easily bingeable and easy to pick up clues.

    The series was adapted for television by Catherine Moulton from Alex Dahl’s 2020 novel Playdate. It centres on two mothers and a female journalist, with a young female victim at the centre. This makes it a fascinating companion piece to the much-discussed recent Netflix drama Adolescence, which has been critiqued for its focus on the young male perpetrator and his family.



    Read more:
    Adolescence in schools: TV show’s portrayal of one boyhood may do more harm than good when used as a teaching tool

    There are very clear references to the Madeleine McCann case in The Stolen Girl. Not just in the similarly posed “victim ID” photo of Lucia, but also in the persistent blame directed at her mother Elisa. Described as a “jet-set mum-fluencer”, her decision in a harried moment between work and home facilitated the abduction of her daughter. “She spent half her childhood with me while you were up in the air”, claims her mother-in-law.

    The drama unfolds and the mystery is revealed through a highly screen-literate pastiche of gothic, noir and horror tropes. Central characters are narrated through a costume story told in shirts: tucked in, tied at the waist, over-sized, striped, floral and tailored. The mise-en-scène of The Stolen Girl is simultaneously presented as aspirational (I spotted a number of well-known fancy brands) and carefully crafted to present an unreliable façade, as the perfect life of the white middle-class family at the series’ centre is systematically unpicked.

    As it unravels, a nexus of trauma, infidelity, financial insecurity, lies and secrets are revealed. Like Adolescence, the programme identifies social media as a factor in facilitating crime, but also, through Selma, as an instrument of solving it.

    Rachel Moseley 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. The Stolen Girl: Disney+ drama is an intriguing companion piece to Netflix’s Adolescence – https://theconversation.com/the-stolen-girl-disney-drama-is-an-intriguing-companion-piece-to-netflixs-adolescence-254513

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why you should think twice before wearing outdoor shoes indoors

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Manal Mohammed, Senior Lecturer, Medical Microbiology, University of Westminster

    Wearing outdoor shoes indoors can bring in more than just a bit of dirt and blades of grass. Pixel-Shot/Shutterstock

    My mother has always had one unbreakable rule: no outdoor shoes inside the house. It didn’t matter who you were – family member, neighbour, or guest – you had to take them off before crossing the threshold. As a child, I thought it was just one of her many quirks. But as I’ve grown older (and wiser), I’ve come to understand that this wasn’t about obsessive tidiness. It was about health, safety and keeping our living space hygienic.

    Removing shoes indoors may seem like a cultural custom or a personal preference. But mounting scientific evidence suggests it’s a smart – and even vital – habit that protects us from invisible, yet serious, health threats.

    Cleanliness is often associated with visible dirt. But when it comes to shoes, what’s lurking beneath the surface is often microscopic and far more dangerous than a little mud or dried grass. Outdoor shoes carry bacteria, allergens and toxic chemicals – many of which are linked to serious health concerns.

    Consider where your shoes go each day: public toilets, pavements, hospital corridors and lawns treated with chemicals such as weed killers and insecticides to control weeds and pests. According to a University of Arizona study, a whopping 96% of shoes tested positive for coliform bacteria, which is commonly found in faecal matter. Disturbingly, 27% carried E. coli, a bacterium linked to various infections – some of them life-threatening.

    While some strains of E. coli are harmless, others produce Shiga toxin, which can cause bloody diarrhoea and lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome, a potentially fatal condition involving kidney failure. Children under five are especially at risk due to their still-developing immune systems and frequent hand-to-mouth activity.

    But E. coli isn’t the only germ hitching a ride into your living room. Shoes also pick up Clostridium difficile, a bacterium known for causing painful, sometimes severe diarrhea and Staphylococcus aureus, including MRSA, a drug-resistant “superbug” that can cause deep skin infections, pneumonia, or even deadly bloodstream infections.

    Not just germs

    The health risks extend beyond bacteria. Shoes also act as carriers for chemicals and allergens. Studies have shown that outdoor footwear can bring in pesticides, herbicides and heavy metals like lead – all of which pose serious health risks, particularly to young children and pets.

    Lead exposure, often from urban dust or soil, is especially harmful to children, as it can impair brain development and cause lifelong cognitive issues. Additionally, allergens like pollen can cling to your soles, aggravating allergies and respiratory issues inside what should be a safe haven.

    Even more alarming, asphalt sealants used on driveways and roads contain carcinogenic compounds. A US study found that these chemicals can be tracked indoors and linger in household dust – sometimes at levels 37 times higher than outdoor levels.

    And who spends the most time closest to the ground? Children and pets. Kids crawl, play and often put their hands in their mouths. Pets lick their paws after walking on these contaminated surfaces. Wearing outdoor shoes indoors can unintentionally increase their exposure to harmful substances.

    Clean floors, healthy home

    Given the evidence, my mother’s rule doesn’t sound so unreasonable anymore. In fact, it might be one of the simplest and most effective public health measures you can adopt at home. By removing your shoes at the door, you’re not just preventing dirt from staining your carpet – you’re significantly reducing your family’s exposure to harmful microbes and chemicals.

    And it’s not difficult to do. Consider designating a shoe-free area by the entrance or maybe provide a shoe rack or basket and even a few pairs of comfy indoor slippers for guests. Asking someone to remove their shoes may feel awkward at first – but it’s easy to overlook how something as routine as walking into your house could carry such hidden risks.

    But when you realise the sheer volume of bacteria and toxic chemicals that cling to your soles, it becomes clear: wearing outdoor shoes indoors is like inviting the streets – and everything on them – into your most intimate living spaces.

    So, next time you come home, take a moment to slip off your shoes. Your floors – and your health – will thank you. As my mother always said, “Clean house, clear conscience”. Turns out, she was right all along.

    Manal Mohammed 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. Why you should think twice before wearing outdoor shoes indoors – https://theconversation.com/why-you-should-think-twice-before-wearing-outdoor-shoes-indoors-254427

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Mysterious objects from other stars are passing through our solar system. Scientists are planning missions to study them up close

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Billy Bryan, Research Leader, RAND Europe

    NASA/ESA/STScI

    In late 2017, a mysterious object tore through our solar system at breakneck speed. Astronomers scrambled to observe the fast moving body using the world’s most powerful telescopes. It was found to be one quarter mile (400m) long and very elongated – perhaps 10 times as long as it was wide. Researchers named it ‘Oumuamua, Hawaiian for “scout”.

    ‘Oumuamua was later confirmed to be the first object from another star known to have visited our solar system. While these interstellar objects (ISO) originate around a star, they end up as cosmic nomads, wandering through space. They are essentially planetary shrapnel, having been blasted out of their parent star systems by catastrophic events, such as giant collisions between planetary objects.

    Astronomers say that ‘Oumuamua could have been travelling through the Milky Way for hundreds of millions of years before its encounter with our solar system. Just two years after this unexpected visit, a second ISO – the Borisov Comet – was spotted, this time by an amateur astronomer in Crimea. These celestial interlopers have given us tantalising glimpses of material from far beyond our solar system.

    But what if we could do more than just watch them fly by?

    Studying ISOs up close would offer scientists the rare opportunity to learn more about far off star systems, which are too distant to send missions to.

    There may be over 10 septillion (or ten with 24 zeros) ISOs in the Milky Way
    alone. But if there are so many of them, why have we only seen two? Put simply, we cannot accurately predict when they will arrive. Large ISOs like ‘Oumuamua, that are more easily detected, do not seem to visit the solar system that often and they travel incredibly fast.

    Ground- and space-based telescopes struggle to respond quickly to incoming ISOs, meaning that we are mostly looking at them after they pass through our cosmic neighbourhood. However, innovative space missions could get us closer to objects like ‘Oumuamua, by using breakthroughs in artificial intelligence (AI) to guide spacecraft safely to future visitors. Getting closer means we can get a better understanding of their composition, geology, and activity – gaining insights into the conditions around other stars.

    Emerging technologies being used to approach space debris could help to approach
    other unpredictable objects, transforming these fleeting encounters into profound
    scientific opportunities. So how do we get close? Speeding past Earth at an average of 32.14 km/s, ISOs give us less than a year for our spacecraft to try and intercept them after detection. Catching up is not impossible – for example, it could be done via gravitational slingshot manoeuvres. However, it is difficult, costly and would take years to execute.

    The good news is that the first wave of ISO-hunting missions is already in motion:
    Nasa’s mission concept is called Bridge and the European Space Agency (Esa) has a mission called Comet Interceptor. Once an incoming ISO is identified, Bridge would
    depart Earth to intercept it. However, launching from Earth currently requires a 30-day launch window after detection, which would cost valuable time.

    The Comet Interceptor mission is scheduled to launch in 2029.
    ESA / Work performed by ATG under contract to ESA, CC BY-SA

    Comet Interceptor is scheduled for launch in 2029 and comprises a larger spacecraft and two smaller robotic probes. Once launched, it will lie in wait a million miles from Earth, waiting to ambush a long period comet (slower comets that come from further away) – or potentially an ISO. Placing spacecraft in a “storage orbit” allows for rapid deployment when a suitable ISO is detected.

    Another proposal from the Institute for Interstellar Studies, Project Lyra, assessed the feasibility of chasing down ‘Oumuamua, which has already sped far beyond Neptune’s orbit. They found that it would be possible in theory to catch up with the object, but that this would also be very technically challenging.

    The fast and the curious

    These missions are a start, but, as described, their biggest limitation is speed. To chase down ISOs like ‘Oumuamua, we’ll need to move a lot faster – and think smarter.

    Future missions may rely on cutting-edge AI and related fields such as deep learning – which seeks to emulate the decision making power of the human brain – to identify and respond to incoming objects in real time. Researchers are already testing small spacecraft that operate in coordinated “swarms”, allowing them to image targets from multiple angles and adapt mid-flight.

    At the Vera C Rubin Observatory in Chile, a 10-year survey of the night sky is due to begin soon. This astronomical survey is expected to find dozens of ISOs each year. Simulations suggest we may be on the cusp of a detection boom.

    Any spacecraft would need to reach high speeds once an object is spotted and
    ensure that its energy source doesn’t degrade, potentially after years waiting in
    “storage orbit”. A number of missions have already utilised a form of propulsion called a solar sail.

    These use sunlight on the lightweight, reflective sail to push the spacecraft through space. This would dispense with the need for heavy fuel tanks. The next generation of solar sail spacecraft could use lasers on the sails to reach even higher speeds, which would offer a nimble and low cost solution compared to other futuristic fuels, such as nuclear propulsion.

    The Vera Rubin Observatory in Chile should discover more interstellar objects.
    RubinObs/NOIRLab/SLAC/NSF/DOE/AURA/Y. AlSayyad

    A spacecraft approaching an ISO will also need to withstand high temperatures and possibly erosion from dust being ejected from the object as it moves. While traditional shielding materials can protect spacecraft, they add weight and may slow them down.

    To address this, researchers are exploring novel technologies for lightweight, more durable and resistant materials, such as advanced carbon fibres. Some could even be 3D printed. They are also looking at innovative uses of traditional materials such as cork and ceramics.

    A suite of different approaches is needed that involve ground-based telescopes and space based missions, working together to anticipate, chase down and observe ISOs.

    New technology could allow the spacecraft itself to identify and predict the trajectories of incoming objects. However, potential cuts to space science in the US, including to observatories like the James Webb Space Telescope, threaten such progress.

    Emerging technologies must be embraced to make an approach and rendezvous with an ISO a real possibility. Otherwise, we will be left scrabbling, taking pictures from afar as yet another cosmic wanderer speeds away.

    Billy Bryan works on projects at RAND Europe that are funded by the UK Space Agency and DG DEFIS. He is affiliated with RAND Europe’s Space Hub and is lead of the civil space theme, the University of Sussex Students’ Union as a Trustee, and Rocket Science Ltd. as an advisor.

    Chris Carter works on projects at RAND Europe that are funded by the UK Space Agency and DG DEFIS. He is affiliated with RAND Europe’s Space Hub and is a researcher in the civil space theme.

    Theodora (Teddy) Ogden is a Senior Analyst at RAND Europe, where she works on defence and security issues in space. She was previously a fellow at Arizona State University, and before that was briefly at Nato.

    – ref. Mysterious objects from other stars are passing through our solar system. Scientists are planning missions to study them up close – https://theconversation.com/mysterious-objects-from-other-stars-are-passing-through-our-solar-system-scientists-are-planning-missions-to-study-them-up-close-254404

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The return on higher education for part-time graduates is lower than for full-time students

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    Employees Labor Market Research Laboratories (LIRT) HSE University found that 70% of correspondence course graduates do not receive a significant salary increase within a year after graduating. This is different from full-time course graduates, who earn more in their first year, and the gap grows in the future. The results of the study are presented in the article “The fate of a correspondence student: graduates of Russian correspondence universities in the labor market“, published in the journal “Education Issues” No. 1 for 2025.

    The authors of the study — LIRT research fellow, PhD in Economics Ksenia Rozhkova, LIRT head Sergey Roshchin and LIRT senior research fellow Pavel Travkin — state that one of the important mechanisms for the massification of Russian higher education at the turn of the 2000s was the growth in the coverage of the population by correspondence programs. Correspondence students still make up a significant part of the university graduates: 41.6% among the graduates of 2018 and 35.7% among the graduates of 2022.

    The analysis is based on the total administrative data of the Graduate Employment Monitoring Project, a project implemented jointly by the Russian Ministry of Labor and Social Protection and the Federal Service for Labor and Employment. The data cover bachelor’s and specialist’s degree graduates of two graduation years – 2018 and 2022. Their results in the labor market are measured from October 2022 to September 2023, i.e. during the first year after receiving their diploma for the 2022 class and the fifth year for the 2018 class.

    The authors of the study focus on full-time and part-time bachelor’s and specialist’s degree graduates of 2018 and 2022: 649,269 observations in 2018 and 568,375 observations in 2022. Part-time graduates make up 41.6 and 35.7% of the sample, respectively. The sample is limited to graduates who did not continue their education in other higher education programs – master’s, postgraduate, etc.

    According to the available data, in their final year, part-time students earn more than full-time graduates, which may be the result of the difference in hours spent on work (full-time for part-time students and part-time for full-time students). However, despite the higher start, further growth in part-time students’ salaries is extremely slow, which allows full-time graduates to quickly make up for the initial lag. A year after graduation, full-time students earn on average 3-5% more than part-time graduates, and five years after graduation, the situation changes dramatically: the salary gap increases to 22% in favor of full-time graduates.

    Researchers explain this by the fact that the value of skills and work experience of full-time students increases faster, probably due to differences in the quality of acquired human capital. A difference in the return on the same characteristics for graduates of full-time and part-time education has been recorded. For example, the experience of combining study with work turns out to be more valuable for graduates of full-time programs. The presence of longer work experience among part-time students, including during their studies, reduces the observed salary gap, while traditional indicators of education quality (type of university, diploma with honors) increase it.

    On the one hand, distance learning allows you to work full-time, support yourself, build a career, and achieve leadership positions while receiving your diploma. However, the weak positive dynamics of labor income after graduation and the rapidly growing gap in salaries with full-time graduates show that a diploma from a distance learning program is obviously not equal to a diploma from full-time education. The reason is primarily that distance learning programs are attended by academically less capable students, including those who would otherwise not be able to graduate from a university. The competition for distance learning programs is virtually non-existent or extremely low; they are attended mainly by graduates of secondary vocational education who use college as a way to bypass the Unified State Exam.

    The authors of the study also note that full-time education involves the development of a fundamentally different level of professional skills, which is unavailable when mastering a program part-time. As a result, the lack of a professional foundation, which is laid by high-quality educational training, does not allow part-time graduates to grow professionally after university, as evidenced by their low career and salary mobility. In the perspective of five years, even low-selective full-time education turns out to be more economically advantageous than part-time education.

    Another factor is the surrounding social environment, which makes it possible to build stable horizontal connections: this is only available in face-to-face education.

    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: Guaranteed Rate Affinity Names Bob Bachman Vice President of Mortgage Lending in Los Gatos, CA

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CHICAGO, April 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Guaranteed Rate Affinity (GRA), a leading mortgage provider offering unparalleled lending services through its partnership with Coldwell Banker, has appointed Bob Bachman as Vice President of Mortgage Lending in Los Gatos, California.

    Bachman brings 23 years of mortgage industry experience to the role and has been a member of the President’s Council for the past decade. He chose to join Guaranteed Rate Affinity for its marketing and technology tools, which help loan officers stay engaged with past clients and maintain strong relationships with real estate professionals.

    “Joining Guaranteed Rate Affinity was an easy decision,” said Bachman. “I’ve been in the mortgage space for over two decades now, and the culture at GRA is by far the best at enabling loan officers and industry agents to grow their businesses together, while making the mortgage process easier than ever for customers.”

    “We look forward to Bob’s contributions to our team,” said Jim Anderson, Regional President of Guaranteed Rate Affinity. “He has built lasting relationships with clients and partners, and his experience will be valuable in serving borrowers throughout California.”

    Bachman, recognized as one of the leading loan specialists in Los Gatos and Santa Clara County, has built a successful career dedicated to helping clients navigate the lending process with confidence. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Washington, equipping him with a strong analytical and problem-solving mindset that he applies to his work in the financial and real estate sectors. Actively engaged in the real estate community, Bachman remains committed to staying informed and connected to better serve his clients. and has built his career in the San Jose area. Outside of work, he enjoys an active lifestyle that includes boxing, golfing, skiing, and various outdoor activities, continually seeking new challenges both professionally and personally.

    About Guaranteed Rate Affinity

    Guaranteed Rate Affinity is a joint venture between Guaranteed Rate, Inc. and Anywhere Integrated Services (NYSE: HOUS), which owns some of the industry’s most recognized and respected real estate brands. The innovative JV has funded over $100 billion in loans since its inception. Guaranteed Rate Affinity originates and markets its mortgage lending services to Anywhere’s real estate, brokerage, and relocation subsidiaries.

    Guaranteed Rate Affinity provides unmatched support to Anywhere brokers coast-to-coast, ensuring their customers receive fast pre-approvals, appraisals, and loan closings, creating the ability for buyers to move quickly and confidently when purchasing homes in today’s competitive market. The company also provides the same services to the public and other real estate brokerage and relocation companies across the country—helping employers improve their employees’ relocation experience by prioritizing customer service, digital mortgage ease, and competitive rates.

    Guaranteed Rate owns a controlling 50.1% stake in Guaranteed Rate Affinity, and Anywhere owns 49.9%. Visit grarate.com for more information.

    Media Contact:
    press@rate.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: White River Bancshares Co. Reports Net Income of $2.63 million, or $1.07 Per Diluted Share, for the First Quarter of 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FAYETTEVILLE, Ark., April 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — White River Bancshares Company (OTCQX: WRIV), (the “Company”) the holding company for Signature Bank of Arkansas (the “Bank”), today reported net income increased to $2.63 million, or $1.07 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $509,000, or $0.26 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2024. The Company reported net income of $1.83 million, or $0.75 per diluted share, for the prior quarter. All financial results are unaudited and all per share data has been adjusted to reflect the two-for-one stock split effected September 4, 2024.

    “Thanks to a solid start to the year, we produced the strongest first quarter earnings in our Bank’s history,” said Gary Head, Chairman and CEO. “Loan portfolio growth contributed to an increase in net interest income compared to the first quarter of 2024. This is exactly the kind of excitement I’ve been ‘banking on’ as we head into the second quarter and celebrate the Bank’s 20 year anniversary. I am confident in our team’s capability and enthusiasm to build upon this momentum for the rest of the year.”

    “Expanding our deposit base to fund new loan growth remains our top priority, and also our biggest challenge as a community bank,” said Scott Sandlin, Chief Strategy Officer. “The Company has made deposit gathering the primary focus and our team has done an excellent job of expanding existing client relationships as well as attracting new customers to the Bank. As a result, total deposits increased 9.9% during the first quarter of 2025 and 18.9% year-over-year. At quarter end, demand and non-interest bearing accounts represented 19.3% of total deposits, and savings and interest-bearing transaction accounts represented 38.0% of total deposits. We will continue to look for additional opportunities for growing deposits in the year ahead to keep up with loan demand.”

    First Quarter 2025 Financial Highlights:

    • Net income for the first quarter of 2025 increased to $2.63 million, or $1.07 per diluted share, compared to $509,000, or $0.26 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2024.
    • Net interest income increased 32.0% to $10.6 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $8.0 million in the first quarter of 2024.
    • Net interest margin (“NIM”) increased 42 basis points to 3.39% in the first quarter of 2025, compared to 2.97% in the first quarter of 2024.
    • The Company recorded a $670,000 provision for credit losses in the first quarter of 2025, compared to a $550,000 provision in the fourth quarter of 2024, and a $648,000 provision in the first quarter of 2024.
    • Net loans increased 16.3% to $1.128 billion at March 31, 2025, compared to $969.7 million at March 31, 2024.
    • Nonperforming loans totaled $420,000, or 0.04% of total loans at March 31, 2025, compared to 0.18% a year ago.
    • Total deposits increased $190.7 million, or 18.9%, year-over-year, to $1.201 billion at March 31, 2025, compared to $1.010 billion at March 31, 2024.
    • Core deposits (demand and non-interest-bearing, and savings and interest-bearing transaction accounts, and CDs under $250,000) represent 70.25% of total deposits at March 31, 2025.
    • Total risk-based capital ratio estimates of 12.30%, Tier 1 ratio of 11.05%, and Leverage ratio of 9.35% for the Bank at March 31, 2025.
    • Tangible book value per common share was $40.33 at March 31, 2025, compared to $39.05 a year ago.

    Income Statement

    In the first quarter of 2025, the Company generated a return on average assets of 0.79% and a return on average equity of 10.64%, compared to 0.58% and 7.34%, respectively, in the fourth quarter of 2024 and 0.18% and 2.52%, respectively, in the first quarter of 2024.

    “Our strong loan growth and higher yields on interest earning assets contributed to the four basis point NIM expansion during the first quarter of 2025 compared to the prior quarter and the 42 basis point increase compared to the year ago quarter,” said Brant Ward, President. NIM was 3.39% in the first quarter of 2025, compared to 3.35% in the fourth quarter of 2024, and 2.97% in the first quarter of 2024.

    Net interest income increased 32.0% to $10.6 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $8.0 million in the first quarter of 2024. The increase was primarily due to year-over-year loan growth. Total interest income increased 23.6% to $19.8 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $16.0 million in the first quarter of 2024, primarily attributable to increased loans. Total interest expense increased to $9.2 million in the first quarter of 2025, from $8.0 million in the first quarter of 2024, primarily due to an increase in deposit costs.

    Noninterest income increased 22.7% to $1.9 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $1.6 million in the first quarter of 2024. The increase was primarily due to a $172,000 increase in wealth management fee income, the largest component of noninterest income, and a $72,000 increase in secondary market fee income during the first quarter of 2025.

    Noninterest expense was $8.4 million in the first quarter of 2025, compared to $8.3 million in the first quarter of 2024, as expenses have normalized following the investment in expanding the Company’s market presence over the past few years.

    Balance Sheet

    Total assets increased 17.2% to $1.379 billion at March 31, 2025, from $1.177 billion at March 31, 2024, and increased 7.0% compared to $1.290 billion at December 31, 2024. Cash and cash equivalents totaled $48.4 million at March 31, 2025, compared to $33.4 million a year ago. Investment securities totaled $135.0 million at March 31, 2025, an increase from $113.0 million at March 31, 2024.

    Loans, net of allowance for credit losses, increased 16.3% to $1.128 billion at March 31, 2025, compared to $969.7 million at March 31, 2024, and increased 6.0% compared to $1.064 billion at December 31, 2024.

    Total deposits increased 18.9% to $1.201 billion at March 31, 2025, compared to $1.010 billion at March 31, 2024, and increased 9.9% compared to $1.093 billion at December 31, 2024. Demand and non-interest-bearing deposits decreased less than 1% compared to March 31, 2024 while savings and interest-bearing transaction accounts increased 34.7% compared to March 31, 2024.

    FHLB advances were $21.6 million at March 31, 2025, compared to $36.9 million at March 31, 2024, and $43.7 million at December 31, 2024. Total stockholders’ equity increased to $100.5 million at March 31, 2025, compared to $79.4 million at March 31, 2024, and $96.6 million at December 31, 2024. Tangible book value per common share was $40.33 at March 31, 2025, compared to $39.05 at March 31, 2024, and $38.74 at December 31, 2024.

    Credit Quality

    Due to strong quarterly loan growth, the Company recorded a $670,000 provision for credit losses in the first quarter of 2025. This is compared to a $550,000 provision for credit losses in the fourth quarter of 2024, and a $648,000 provision for credit losses in the first quarter of 2024.

    There were $420,000 in nonperforming loans at March 31, 2025. This compared to $55,000 in nonperforming loans at December 31, 2024, and $1.7 million in nonperforming loans at March 31, 2024. Nonperforming loans represented 0.04% of total loans on March 31, 2025, 0.01% of total loans on December 31, 2024, and 0.18% of total loans a year ago.

    “We continue to take a prudent approach to building our allowance for credit losses by monitoring our portfolio mix and evaluating loan growth and local and national economic conditions to maintain what we believe to be an appropriate allowance,” said Jeff Maland, Chief Risk Officer. The allowance for credit losses was $13.3 million, or 1.17% of total loans, at March 31, 2025, compared to $12.8 million, or 1.19% of total loans, at December 31, 2024, and $12.1 million, or 1.23% of total loans, at March 31, 2024.

    Net loan charge-offs were $137,000 in the first quarter of 2025. This compared to net loan recoveries of $106,000 in the fourth quarter of 2024, and net loan recoveries of $21,000 in the first quarter of 2024.

    Capital

    The Bank’s capital ratios continued to exceed regulatory “well-capitalized” requirements, with a Total risk-based capital ratio estimate of 12.30%, a Tier 1 ratio of 11.05%, and a Leverage ratio of 9.35% for the Bank at March 31, 2025.

    About White River Bancshares Company

    White River Bancshares Company is the single bank holding company for Signature Bank of Arkansas, headquartered in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Bank has locations in Fayetteville, Springdale, Bentonville, Rogers, Brinkley, Harrison and Jonesboro, Arkansas. Founded in 2005, Signature Bank of Arkansas provides a full line of financial services to small businesses, families and farms. White River Bancshares Company (OTCQX: WRIV), trades on the OTCQX® Best Market.  

    White River Bancshares Company and Signature Bank of Arkansas will celebrate its 20-year anniversary in May 2025.

    About the Region

    White River Bancshares Company is headquartered in thriving Northwest Arkansas in the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers MSA. The region is home to the corporate headquarters for Walmart Stores Inc, Sam’s Club, Tyson Foods, Simmons Foods, and J.B. Hunt Transport. Hundreds of other market-leading companies including Procter & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson, Coca-Cola and Rubbermaid maintain offices in the region in order to maintain their relationships with the locally based Fortune 500 companies. Northwest Arkansas is also home to the state’s flagship public educational institution, The University of Arkansas, and its Sam M. Walton College of Business. The region has seen significant growth in its medical and arts infrastructures with the continued expansion of Washington Regional Medical System, Northwest Medical System, Mercy Health System of Northwest Arkansas and Arkansas Children’s Hospital Northwest. Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and the Walton Arts Center have led the expansion of the arts. Northwest Arkansas has been repeatedly recognized in recent years as one of the best places to live in the country and remains one of the nation’s fastest-growing regions. In May 2024, Walmart issued a relocation mandate requiring most of its remote employees, as well as most of its office workers in Dallas, Atlanta and Toronto to move to, in most cases, Bentonville by November 1, 2024. While the company did not disclose a number, Bloomberg reported that the number of Walmart employees who would be moving to Bentonville would be in the thousands. Walmart is making a major investment in its hometown facilities, building a new, 350-acre headquarters campus, including walking and biking trails, a hotel, fitness facilities and a large childcare center.

    The Company has expanded eastward, with new markets in Jonesboro and Harrison. Jonesboro, located in Craighead County, is a city located on Crowley’s Ridge in the northeastern corner of Arkansas. It is the home of Arkansas State University and the cultural and economic center of Northeast Arkansas. Jonesboro also houses the region’s hospital network. U.S. Steel Corp. announced that it would locate a new $3 billion steel factory in Northeast Arkansas in Osceola, a move expected to create 900 jobs with an average pay over $100,000 annually, making it the largest capital investment project in Arkansas history. Harrison sits below Branson, Missouri, which is a family tourist destination and outdoor recreation, and is well known as an entertainment destination.

    The Company currently operates out of ten locations; three in Washington County; three in Benton County; two in Monroe County; one in Boone County; and one in Craighead County.

    The housing market in Washington and Benton counties remains robust. According to the Northwest Arkansas Board of Realtors, the average home in Washington County sold for $390,000 in February 2025, with an average of 103 days on the market. For Benton County, the average house sold for $446,000, with an average of 108 days on the market.

    Source:
    http://www.nwarealtors.org/market-statistics/

    Forward Looking Statements

    This press release contains statements about future events. These forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions of management of the Company and the Bank and describe our future plans, strategies and expectations, can generally be identified by use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “believe,” “plan,” “expect,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “project,” or similar expressions or the negative of those terms. Our ability to predict results of future events and the actual effect of future plans or strategies are inherently uncertain, and actual results may differ materially from those predicted in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could have a material adverse effect on our operations and future prospects or that could affect the outcome of such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, changes in interest rates; the economic health of the local real estate market; general economic conditions; credit deterioration in our loan portfolio that would cause us to increase our allowance for loan losses; legislative or regulatory changes; technological developments; monetary and fiscal policies of the U.S. government, including policies of the U.S. Treasury and the Federal Reserve Board; the quality or composition of our loan and securities portfolios; demand for loan products in our market areas; deposit flows and costs of capital; competition; retention and recruitment of qualified personnel; demand for financial services in our market areas; and changes in accounting principles, policies, and guidelines. These risks and uncertainties should be considered in evaluating forward-looking statements, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. The Company does not undertake and specifically declines any obligation to publicly release the result of any revisions that may be made to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events.

    Contact:   Scott Sandlin, Chief Strategy Officer
        479-684-3754
    WHITE RIVER BANCSHARES COMPANY
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
    (Unaudited)
                   
        For the Three Months Ended  
        March 31,   December 31,   March 31,  
         2025    2024    2024  
                   
    INTEREST INCOME              
    Loans, including fees   $ 18,315,006   $ 17,118,955   $ 14,994,922  
    Investment securities     1,258,571     1,300,977     929,040  
    Federal funds sold and other     232,978     262,856     96,154  
    Total interest income     19,806,555     18,682,788     16,020,116  
                   
    INTEREST EXPENSE              
    Deposits     8,312,455     7,963,925     6,984,793  
    Federal Home Loan Bank advances     393,057     300,137     520,319  
    Notes payable     475,425     396,899     398,017  
    Federal funds purchased and other     13,022     4,101     78,260  
    Total interest expense     9,193,959     8,665,062     7,981,389  
    NET INTEREST INCOME     10,612,596     10,017,726     8,038,727  
    Provision for credit losses     670,000     550,000     648,000  
    NET INTEREST INCOME AFTER PROVISION FOR CREDIT LOSSES   9,942,596     9,467,726     7,390,727  
                   
    NON-INTEREST INCOME              
    Service charges and fees on deposits     171,186     182,870     150,349  
    Wealth management fee income     1,017,829     1,035,160     845,506  
    Secondary market fee income     128,824     196,277     57,064  
    Bank owned-life insurance income     80,603     82,171     79,881  
    Gain on sales and write-downs of foreclosed assets     –     11,085     1,050  
    Other     544,141     535,284     449,255  
    TOTAL NON-INTEREST INCOME     1,942,583     2,042,847     1,583,105  
                   
    NON-INTEREST EXPENSE              
    Salaries and benefits     4,931,692     5,226,075     4,999,533  
    Occupancy and equipment     1,145,101     1,130,174     928,124  
    Data processing     858,115     806,411     790,569  
    Marketing and business development     397,137     518,628     463,697  
    Professional services     650,708     660,860     669,867  
    Amortization of other intangible assets     53,036     53,032     53,036  
    Other     393,498     445,998     403,836  
    TOTAL NON-INTEREST EXPENSE     8,429,287     8,841,178     8,308,662  
                   
    Income before income taxes     3,455,892     2,669,395     665,170  
    Income tax provision     826,085     834,444     155,942  
    NET INCOME   $ 2,629,807   $ 1,834,951   $ 509,228  
                   
    EARNINGS PER SHARE              
    Basic (1)   $ 1.07   $ 0.75   $ 0.26  
    Diluted (1)   $ 1.07   $ 0.75   $ 0.26  
                   
        (1)  Prior periods adjusted to give effect to stock split effected
    in the form of a dividend on September 4, 2024.    		  
                         
    WHITE RIVER BANCSHARES COMPANY  
    CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS  
    (Unaudited)  
                   
        March 31, 2025   December 31, 2024   March 31, 2024  
                   
    ASSETS      
    Cash and cash equivalents   $ 48,360,156     $ 22,149,012     $ 33,147,221    
    Investment securities     134,968,153       133,228,210       113,033,028    
    Loans held for sale     874,009       1,117,750       696,271    
    Loans     1,141,369,199       1,076,674,377       981,829,042    
    Allowance for credit losses     (13,347,855 )     (12,814,824 )     (12,113,099 )  
    Net loans     1,128,021,344       1,063,859,553       969,715,943    
    Premises and equipment, net     35,647,835       36,335,828       29,442,303    
    Foreclosed assets held for sale     310,406       310,406       640,574    
    Accrued interest receivable     6,629,881       6,035,084       4,966,665    
    Bank owned life insurance     9,859,911       9,779,307       9,534,373    
    Deferred income taxes     4,220,559       4,390,227       4,888,369    
    Other investments     6,782,614       8,421,651       7,548,338    
    Intangible assets, net     1,750,204       1,803,240       1,962,350    
    Other assets     1,825,830       2,080,346       1,323,255    
    TOTAL ASSETS   $ 1,379,250,902     $ 1,289,510,614     $ 1,176,898,690    
                   
    LIABILITIES & STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY      
    Deposits:              
    Demand and non-interest-bearing   $ 231,331,391     $ 214,838,920     $ 233,082,292    
    Savings and interest-bearing transaction accounts     456,733,576       429,293,348       339,042,365    
    Time deposits     512,882,444       448,909,115       438,110,170    
    Total deposits     1,200,947,411       1,093,041,383       1,010,234,827    
    Federal Home Loan Bank advances     21,593,143       43,667,559       36,887,028    
    Notes payable     26,141,832       26,124,556       26,337,909    
    Operating lease liability     20,029,714       20,851,721       16,128,536    
    Reserve for losses on unfunded commitments     1,478,000       1,478,000       1,433,000    
    Accrued interest payable     2,731,699       2,838,298       2,635,771    
    Other liabilities     5,798,159       4,919,715       3,868,383    
    TOTAL LIABILITIES     1,278,719,958       1,192,921,232       1,097,525,454    
                   
    Stockholders’ equity:              
    Common stock (1)     24,882       24,854       20,162    
    Surplus (1)     102,784,831       102,679,096       90,538,459    
    Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)     4,714,375       2,084,568       (3,115,687 )  
    Treasury stock, at cost     (1,265,731 )     (1,265,715 )     (1,119,100 )  
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss     (5,727,413 )     (6,933,421 )     (6,950,598 )  
    TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY     100,530,944       96,589,382       79,373,236    
                   
      TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY   $ 1,379,250,902     $ 1,289,510,614     $ 1,176,898,690    
                   
         (1) Prior periods adjusted to give effect to stock split effected
    in the form of a dividend on September 4, 2024. 
                               
    WHITE RIVER BANCSHARES COMPANY
    SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
                   
        (Unaudited)  
        Three Months Ended  
        March 31,   December 31,   March 31,  
         2025     2024     2024   
                   
    FOR THE PERIOD              
    Net income   $ 2,629,807     $ 1,834,951     $ 509,228    
    Net income before taxes     3,455,892       2,669,395       665,170    
    Dividends declared per share (1)     –       –       –    
                   
                   
    PERIOD END BALANCE              
    Total assets   $ 1,379,250,902     $ 1,289,510,614     $ 1,176,898,690    
    Total investments     134,968,153       133,228,210       113,033,028    
    Total loans, net     1,128,021,344       1,063,859,553       969,715,943    
    Allowance for credit losses     (13,347,855 )     (12,814,824 )     (12,113,099 )  
    Total deposits     1,200,947,411       1,093,041,383       1,010,234,827    
    Stockholders’ equity     100,530,944       96,589,382       79,373,236    
                   
                   
    RATIO ANALYSIS              
    Return on average assets (annualized)     0.79 %     0.58 %     0.18 %  
    Return on average equity (annualized)     10.64 %     7.34 %     2.52 %  
    Net loans/Deposits     93.93 %     97.33 %     95.99 %  
    Total Stockholders’ Equity/Total assets     7.29 %     7.49 %     6.74 %  
    Net loan losses/Total loans     0.01 %     -0.01 %     -0.00 %  
    Uninsured & unpledged deposits     31.00 %     31.78 %     30.22 %  
                   
                   
    PER SHARE DATA              
    Shares oustanding (1)     2,449,317       2,446,563       1,982,630    
    Weighted average shares outstanding (1)     2,446,747       2,446,241       1,983,378    
    Diluted weighted average shares outstanding (1)   2,451,161       2,446,471       1,983,378    
    Basic earnings (1)   $ 1.07     $ 0.75     $ 0.26    
    Diluted earnings (1)     1.07       0.75       0.26    
    Book value (1)     41.04       39.48       40.03    
    Tangible book value (1)     40.33       38.74       39.05    
                   
                   
    ASSET QUALITY              
    Net (recoveries) charge-offs   $ 136,970     $ (106,340 )   $ (21,195 )  
    Classified assets     853,745       494,828       2,657,273    
    Nonperforming loans     419,985       55,132       1,718,805    
    Nonperforming assets     730,391       365,538       2,359,378    
    Total nonperforming loans/Total loans     0.04 %     0.01 %     0.18 %  
    Total nonperforming loans/Total assets     0.03 %     0.00 %     0.15 %  
    Total nonperforming assets/Total assets     0.05 %     0.03 %     0.20 %  
    Allowance for credit losses/Total loans     1.17 %     1.19 %     1.23 %  
                   
                   
        (1) Prior periods adjusted to give effect to stock split effected
    in the form of a dividend on September 4, 2024. 
                               
    WHITE RIVER BANCSHARES COMPANY  
    INTEREST INCOME AND EXPENSE  
    (Unaudited)  
                                           
        Three Months Ended  
        March 31,   December 31,   March 31,  
         2025     2024     2024   
        Average       Average   Average       Average   Average       Average  
        Balance   Interest   Yield/Rate   Balance   Interest   Yield/Rate   Balance   Interest   Yield/Rate  
                                           
    Interest-earning assets:                                      
    Federal funds sold and other   $ 23,287,989   $ 232,978   4.06 %   $ 20,998,114   $ 262,856   4.98 %   $ 8,343,674   $ 96,154   4.63 %  
    Investment securities available-for-sale (1)     133,405,472     1,208,821   3.67 %     132,386,055     1,150,282   3.46 %     114,440,538     900,886   3.17 %  
    Loans receivable     1,106,648,533     18,315,006   6.71 %     1,018,919,798     17,118,955   6.68 %     960,808,253     14,994,922   6.28 %  
    Total interest-earning assets     1,263,341,994   $ 19,756,805   6.34 %     1,172,303,967   $ 18,532,093   6.29 %     1,083,592,465   $ 15,991,962   5.94 %  
    Noninterest-earning assets     81,821,189             81,203,717             70,720,928          
    Total assets   $ 1,345,163,183           $ 1,253,507,684           $ 1,154,313,393          
    Interest-bearing liabilities:                                      
    Interest-bearing deposits   $ 937,669,969   $ 8,312,455   3.60 %   $ 847,808,178   $ 7,963,925   3.74 %   $ 762,899,599   $ 6,984,793   3.68 %  
    FHLB advances and federal funds purchased   36,654,930     406,079   4.49 %     28,097,088     304,238   4.31 %     50,749,219     598,579   4.74 %  
    Notes payable     26,131,761     475,425   7.38 %     26,118,547     396,899   6.05 %     25,489,325     398,017   6.28 %  
    Total interest-bearing liabilities     1,000,456,660   $ 9,193,959   3.73 %     902,023,813   $ 8,665,062   3.82 %     839,138,143   $ 7,981,389   3.83 %  
    Noninterest-bearing liabilities     244,466,979             252,089,008             233,847,965          
    Total liabilities     1,244,923,639             1,154,112,821             1,072,986,108          
    Stockholders’ equity     100,239,544             99,394,863             81,327,285          
    Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity   $ 1,345,163,183           $ 1,253,507,684           $ 1,154,313,393          
    Net interest-earning assets   $ 262,885,334           $ 270,280,154           $ 244,454,322          
    Net interest spread       $ 10,562,846   2.62 %       $ 9,867,031   2.47 %       $ 8,010,573   2.11 %  
    Net interest margin           3.39 %           3.35 %           2.97 %  
                                           
         (1) Excludes investments in bank stock (Federal Reserve Bank, Federal Home Loan Bank, and First National Bankers Bankshares).  
                                           

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Roth Canada Opens Calgary Office, Bolsters Energy and Sustainability Practice with Senior Investment Banking and Research Hires

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, April 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — via IBN — Roth Canada, Inc. (Roth Canada), the Canadian affiliate of Roth Capital Partners LLC, (collectively “ROTH”), announces today the expansion of its Energy and Sustainability teams with the addition of Tony Loria as Managing Director, Co-Head Investment Banking; Matt Halasz as Managing Director, Investment Banking; and Zain Sadek as Analyst, Investment Banking. In addition, Roth Canada has added Jamie Somerville and Christopher True as Managing Directors, Senior Research Analysts, to its Calgary office. These strategic additions reinforce our commitment to supporting Canadian growth equity companies with full-service investment banking capabilities, access to international investors, and providing institutional clients with research-driven ideas.

    Ted Roth, Vice-Chairman of ROTH and CEO of Roth Canada, noted, “ROTH has a track record of over 30 years supporting growth-stage companies across many sectors and is a leading underwriter in the small and mid-cap space. Our Energy and Sustainability practices have been core to our business, supported not only by our banking, research, and sales capabilities in the United States, but also by our international distribution and leading corporate access activities. We are committed to leveraging this platform in support of Canadian issuers, investors, and stakeholders.”

    Additions to Roth Canada’s Investment Banking:

    Tony Loria has joined Roth Canada as Managing Director, Co-Head Investment Banking, bringing over 25 years of experience in the industry. Throughout his career, he has built and managed multiple banking franchises while advising a global client base on corporate finance, M&A, strategy, and innovation. Based in Calgary, Alberta, Tony specializes in the upstream small and mid-cap Energy sector and has led multiple investment banking franchises, including Genuity, Canaccord Genuity, Dundee Securities, and Eight Capital. At Eight Capital, he played a pivotal role in expanding the firm’s presence in the Sustainability and New Energy sectors, establishing it as a cornerstone asset.

    Matt Halasz has joined Roth Canada as Managing Director, Investment Banking, bringing nearly 15 years of experience in the investment banking industry. Known for his leadership, strategic thinking, and financial expertise, Matt oversees key client relationships and leads complex financial transactions across the oil & gas, energy, and sustainability sectors. Before joining Roth Canada, he worked at several leading full-service, independent investment dealers, gaining a deep understanding of capital markets.

    Zain Sadek has joined Roth Canada as Analyst, Investment Banking, bringing three years of experience in strategic and financial advisory services. Previously, he worked as an investment banker at a prominent independent Canadian investment bank, where he supported clients in the Energy and Sustainability sectors. Before that, Zain served as a management consultant at a leading global advisory firm.

    Additions to Roth Canada’s Research Team:

    Jamie Somerville has joined Roth Canada as Managing Director, Senior Research Analyst. Jamie has over 20 years of energy finance experience. He was most recently an equity research analyst at Eight Capital, and was previously at TD Securities from 2010-2015, and at Genuity Capital Markets from 2006-2010, where he was a Brendan Woods-ranked and StarMine award-winning analyst. He has also worked in executive and senior management positions for multiple publicly listed oil and gas companies.

    Christopher True has joined Roth Canada as Managing Director, Senior Research Analyst. Christopher has 6 years of sell-side equity research experience covering energy stocks for Eight Capital and CIBC World Markets. Before that, Christopher worked in the acquisitions and growth group at a leading Canadian oil and gas royalty company. Christopher graduated from the University of Calgary with a Bachelor of Commerce from the Haskayne School of Business.

    “It is with a great deal of excitement that we announce the opening of our Calgary office, and the addition of Tony, Matt, Zain, Jamie, and Christopher,” said Brady Fletcher, President of Roth Canada. “We launched in Canada to support Canadian companies providing strategic advisory and access to capital by leveraging ROTH. Having top talent like Tony and his team recognize that opportunity continues to demonstrate the demand for our platform, and access to a differentiated network of investors, in the Canadian market.”

    About Roth Canada, Inc.

    Roth Canada, Inc. is a Canadian CIRO-regulated Dealer Member focused on serving emerging Canadian growth companies and their investors. Roth Canada is headquartered in Toronto and maintains offices in Calgary and Vancouver. For more information on Roth Canada, please visit www.rothcanada.ca.

    Investor Contact:

    Roth Canada, Inc.
    Brady Fletcher
    President
    bfletcher@rothcanada.ca

    ROTH – Member FINRA/SIPC – www.roth.com
    Roth Canada – Member CIRO/CIPF – www.rothcanada.ca

    Media Contact:

    IBN
    Los Angeles, California
    www.InvestorBrandNetwork.com
    310.299.1717 Office
    Editor@InvestorBrandNetwork.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: EnerPure Announces Appointment of New President and CEO, Rick Koshman

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Winnipeg, MB, April 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — EnerPure Inc. (“EnerPure” or the “Company”), a recycling and energy transition company, is pleased to announce that it has appointed Rick Koshman as President and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”). This planned leadership transition marks a key milestone for EnerPure as it shifts focus from technology development to commercial growth and large-scale deployment. Rick will also join EnerPure’s Board of Directors.

    Rick’s skill set aligns extremely well with the Company’s deliverables and objectives with his in-depth understanding and experience in engineering, construction and project management, operational excellence, and safety in the energy sector. These skills, combined with his leadership pedigree and corporate development background, made him the Company’s preferred candidate and will help ensure that EnerPure capitalizes on the tremendous opportunity ahead.

    “EnerPure is now at a critical inflection point thanks to the dedication of our current and former employees, board members and professional advisors. I have always been amazed by the high calibre of talent and outstanding individuals we have been able to attract and are very appreciative of their amazing contributions to date.” commented Todd Habicht, Founder and former CEO, who now transitions to Executive Chairman. “Rick’s depth of experience and alignment with our mission make him the ideal leader for this next chapter. I look forward to supporting him in my new role as we drive EnerPure into widespread commercial deployment.”

    “I’ve long admired what Todd and the EnerPure team have developed – a clean, elegant solution to a global problem with real potential to scale,” said Rick Koshman. “I’m honoured to join the team to advance the company through its next phase of growth and to help unlock the enormous opportunity ahead, starting right here in Canada.”

    The Company undertook an extensive search process to identify a new CEO, with Heidrick & Struggles (“H&S”), a leading international executive search firm, and were very impressed by the talent identified and the number of individuals that expressed an interest in leading EnerPure into the future. EnerPure would like to thank both the H&S team, led by Sean McLean, and the numerous candidates who expressed an interest in working with the Company.

    About Rick Koshman

    A seasoned energy executive with over 25 years of experience, Rick has a strong track record of delivering value across operations, project execution, and corporate development. He has led the successful delivery of over $5 billion in infrastructure projects across Canada, the U.S., and Central Asia through senior roles at Keyera Corporation, Athabasca Oil Corporation, and Canadian Natural Resources Limited.

    Rick is known for building high-performing teams and leading large-scale industrial projects from concept to operation. He has transformed multiple corporate project delivery groups by implementing best-in-class processes and fostering a strong culture of accountability and performance. In addition to his operational background, Rick has significant capital markets and private equity exposure.

    Rick is a registered professional engineer in Alberta and holds an MBA from IMD Business School in Switzerland. He currently serves on the Board of Governors of the Canadian Energy Executive Association.

    About Heidrick & Struggles – www.heidrick.com

    “Helping our clients change the world, one leadership team at a time”

    Founded in Chicago, Illinois in 1953, Heidrick & Struggles launched as one of the world’s first executive search firms. Today, Heidrick & Struggles is consistently included in the Forbes list of the World’s Best Management Consulting Firms and is best known as a premier provider of executive search, on-demand talent and leadership consulting services. Having served over 70% of the Fortune 1000 and numerous early-stage ventures, the firm brings global expertise and networks, coupled with local presence and knowledge through its over 50 offices on 6 continents, to every engagement. Heidrick & Struggles’ data-driven advisory approach and extensive global network identifies critical talent solutions to achieve the highest levels of profitability and performance.

    About EnerPure – https://enerpure.tech

    “We recycle Used Motor Oil (UMO) to reduce GHG emissions while producing a lower carbon-intensive marine fuel.”

    Each year ~17 billion litres of UMO* are improperly burned or dumped, causing widespread environmental harm. EnerPure sees a tremendous opportunity to solve this problem through the deployment of its modular micro-scale recycling plants using its patented technology to convert UMO into high-quality marine fuel.

    EnerPure is entering its next phase of growth, with our first commercial plant planned for Alberta. Our recycling plants require ~5% of the capex of traditional solutions, enabling localized recycling (while reducing the cost of collection) and providing strong economic returns.

    Our technology has been proven via our pilot plant (operating at 43% of scale) with 1.6 million litres processed and validated through the sale of over 1.2 million litres. Our drop-in ISO 8217-compliant marine fuel is in high demand in a growing market with its 14.6% lower carbon intensity. Annually each recycling plant can reduce greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions and criteria air contaminants by 36,315 and 437 tonnes, respectively.

    EnerPure, while delivering strong economic returns, offers a proven, scalable platform where environmental need meets commercial opportunity, powering the energy transition through smart regional recycling.

    *UMO is defined as any petroleum-based or synthetic lubricating oil that cannot be used for its original purpose due to contamination.

    Disclosure and Caution

    This press release may contain certain disclosures that may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. In making the forward-looking statements, the Company has applied certain factors and assumptions that the Company believes are reasonable. However, the forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and other factors, including but not limited to economic, capital expenditures, and engineering projections, that may cause future results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

    The securities referred to in this news release have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States unless pursuant to an exemption therefrom. This press release is for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities of the Company in any jurisdiction.

    The MIL Network –