NewzIntel.com

Category: Health

  • MIL-OSI: Lingokids Sparks Conversation Around Screen Time Parent Guilt Experienced by More Than 74% of U.S. Parents

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LOS ANGELES, April 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — According to a new survey conducted by Lingokids, the #1 interactive app for kids aged 2-8, more than 74% of American parents, including 75% of Millennial parents, admit to feeling guilty about their child’s screen time use regardless of the need for it and its potential benefits. Despite this struggle with feelings of guilt, less than 10% of American parents frequently engage in discussions about screen time with other parents or caregivers as they feel judged by others.

    Inspired by this data, Lingokids is inviting parents to open a conversation around screen time parent guilt and putting the screen time debate on trial. New Yorkers this week may have noticed thought-provoking out-of-home content prompting parents to vote “guilty or not-guilty” about their feelings when it comes to screen time use for their kids. The verdict will be revealed in a multi-channel campaign culminating with the release of a brand film debuting on May 6.

    “The data highlights the reality parents today are experiencing, with a tension between feeling guilty and judged for allowing screen time while seeing a need for it and the potential benefits,” said Lingokids CMO Mikael Journo. “It’s clear there’s a gap in communication among parents about this topic and a need for more open conversations about healthy management of screen time for children. At Lingokids, we are working to start a transparent conversation on this topic and help this generation navigate the complexities of digital-age parenting.”

    Challenges of Parenting in a Digital World

    Approximately 87% of American parents permit their children to use screens, with 41% of parents allowing up to two hours a day. This reality is compounded by the 54% of American parents who struggle with balancing work and family responsibilities, indicating that external pressures may influence screen time decisions. In addition:

    • Nearly half of parents (46%) feel pressured to constantly entertain their child
    • Admittedly, the pressure mostly comes from themselves (76%), followed by their children (42%), and society (31%)

    Screen Time, Guilt + Judgment

    These modern-day parenting challenges and misalignment with screen time guidelines often result in significant feelings of inadequacy. This sentiment is further amplified by societal judgment, with 77% of American parents feeling judged by others at least some of the time for allowing their children to use screens. In fact, nearly 30% of parents admitted to lying to other parents and caregivers about their child’s screen time use due to fear of judgment.

    The findings also show that 27% of American parents consider themselves mindful about their own screen usage, thereby setting a healthy example for their children. Those who view themselves as positive role models in digital habits report significantly lower levels of guilt, indicating that self-awareness and intentional modeling can alleviate some of the psychological burdens associated with screen time.

    Interestingly, American parents who are largely free from guilt regarding their child’s screen time use are more focused on the quality of the content their child views or engages with rather than the amount of time they spend using screens, pointing to a shift towards content-driven usage. Those grappling with high levels of guilt, however, remain concerned about the duration of screen exposure.

    “This dichotomy suggests that not all screen time is equal,” said Lingokids Education Advisory Board Chair Suzanne Barchers, EdD​. “It is important for parents to discern the most beneficial content for their child’s development. This understanding can lead to increased confidence when making screen time decisions and significantly alleviate parental guilt.”

    Screen Time + Parental Mental Health

    This guilt and judgment surrounding their child’s screen time can profoundly affect the mental health of American parents. In fact, one in four American parents report that judgment related to their child’s screen usage has a detrimental impact on their mental well-being. Furthermore, one in five American parents believe that feelings of guilt associated with their child’s digital engagement also negatively impacts their mental health. These statistics align with the concerns that led to the U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy’s advisory on the mental health and well-being of parents and caregivers and underline the critical need for enhanced support and understanding regarding management of screen time for children.

    To cast a vote around screen time parent guilt visit www.screentimeguilt.com.

    Methodology

    Lingokids conducted paid surveys in February and March 2025 utilizing Pollfish, a leading survey platform, to collect insights from 1,000 parents of children aged 2-8 in the United States.

    About Lingokids

    Lingokids is an EdTech and media company behind the #1 interactive app for kids aged 2-8.

    With more than 165M downloads around the world, the Lingokids app is packed with thousands of shows, songs and interactive games kids love—all fun, safe and educational.

    Its unique Playlearning™ methodology puts kids at the center of the Lingokids universe. As they explore, they’ll pick up academic knowledge and modern life skills in a safe, age-appropriate, ad-free environment designed for independent exploration. For more information, please visit www.lingokids.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How growing and foraging food can become a common part of cities

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By May East, MSc Supervisor, Urban Planning & Education, University of Edinburgh

    The early morning light spills over the raised beds of a thriving community garden in Harlem, New York. It’s a Saturday, and people of all ages move among the plants – harvesting collard greens, making compost and packing bags of fresh vegetables.

    A community initiative called Harlem Grown began in 2011 as a single urban farm on an abandoned neighbourhood lot. It has since become a lifeline for the people who live there.

    The project combats food insecurity, provides fresh produce to local families – 150,000 servings of food in 2023 alone – and teaches the next generation how to nourish themselves and their communities. As one long-term female volunteer told me: “Healthy habits start young.” That’s why their programmes involve schoolchildren as young as five.

    Across the boroughs of New York City, a lively ecosystem of urban farmers, non-profit leaders, dietitians and chefs work together to localise food systems. This helps communities to become more self-sufficient and less reliant on ultra-processed foods, all while ensuring support reaches the most vulnerable.

    While healthy food options are readily available in affluent areas such as in upper east side Manhattan, lower-income neighbourhoods – dominated by fast-food establishments – face a far greater need. In the Bronx, residents are establishing community gardens to encourage access to fresh, organic produce that people would otherwise require to travel outside the borough to find.

    Some young, female urban farmers from minority communities in New York believe that “like fashion, farming is political too”. Some have built their capacity through courses at the Farm School NYC, which provides them with the tools needed to become effective leaders in the food justice movement.

    Localising food systems involves growing and foraging for food in urban settings to reduce food miles and reclaim diverse, locally rooted food traditions long-displaced by industrial systems. This is one of the key lines of work explored by women in my book, What if Women Designed the City?

    I’ve been investigating how women as experts of their neighbourhoods engage with local food movements – organising community gardens, coordinating cooperatives and managing farmers markets – viewed through a transatlantic lens that connects efforts in North America with those alive in the UK.

    My research adopts a regenerative perspective on urban development, viewed through the eyes of women from diverse backgrounds who uncover untapped potential rooted in the uniqueness of their neighbourhoods. For instance, I conducted walking interviews with 274 women from both affluent and hard-to-reach areas in three Scottish cities: Glasgow, Edinburgh and Perth.

    A participant from the modernist housing estate of Wester Hailes in Edinburgh observed that locals often favour convenience foods: “People in this area like hamburgers, pizzas, mashed potatoes and stuff like that.” In her view, encouraging more community gardens could provide healthier alternatives while also reconnecting residents with fresh, seasonal produce.

    Another resident recognised the social benefits such spaces could bring, helping to counter isolation. Regular meals at the Murrayburn and Hailes Neighbourhood Garden, for instance, attract people who live alone, providing a welcoming space – even for those who don’t feel like talking. As one participant put it, these meals are especially “good for people who are slightly depressed”.

    Research suggests that getting our hands into the soil stimulates the release of serotonin, a natural antidepressant, triggered by the soil bacterium Mycobacterium vaccae, which can help people to feel more relaxed and happier. This aligns with compelling evidence on the benefits of “green care” – including social and therapeutic horticulture, care farming and environmental conservation – which has been shown to reduce anxiety, stress, and depression.

    Growing native

    At the heart of this community-led food justice movement is the belief that both herbalists and everyday gardeners should prioritise cultivating native plants that naturally thrive in their surroundings, rather than relying on plants from distant regions, that require harvesting, processing and transportation over long distances using fossil fuel energy.

    This ethos underpins the work of a growing network of women from the Grass Roots Remedies workers cooperative, who meet regularly at the community-led Calders Garden in Edinburgh to exchange experiences while growing, foraging and making their own herbal medicines.

    The vital role of communities as growers and foragers in urban resilience has largely been overlooked by city officials, urban planners and developers. Yet, these community-led efforts are bringing more life and vitality to urban spaces, fostering biodiversity, regenerating soil health and reducing the carbon footprint embedded in industrial food systems.

    Several of the women I interviewed believe that being thoughtful consumers involves also taking part in producing what they eat, while reducing food waste at all stages of production. Women are also leading the way by repurposing vacant lots and development sites for community gardening and herbal medicine kitchens while integrating local food production into urban planning and building codes.

    Regulatory measures that tie planning approval of new developments to the provision of open space for garden cultivation – either on-site or within the neighbouring area – can ensure that urban agriculture becomes an integral part of city planning. In cities, growing and foraging together deepens social links, encourages more diversified diets, reduces food miles and fosters a regenerative approach to community healthcare.

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

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

    May East 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. How growing and foraging food can become a common part of cities – https://theconversation.com/how-growing-and-foraging-food-can-become-a-common-part-of-cities-253868

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Dying for Sex: Disney’s ‘rollercoaster of emotions’ TV show reviewed by a sex and relationship therapist

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

    Warning: contains minor spoilers for Dying for Sex.

    When Molly (Michelle Williams) learns that her breast cancer has returned and time is now slipping through her fingers, she decides she isn’t ready to write off her ending. Not before living the chapter she’d never dared to start: the one about self and sexual discovery.

    The Disney+ series Dying for Sex opens with a couples’ therapy moment that, as a sex and relationships therapist, I know well. Molly is craving more sex but her husband Steve (Jay Duplass) just isn’t feeling it. After one final attempt to elicit sex, Molly gives Steve a blow job, but when she moves his hand to her chest, he breaks down. “When I touch your breasts,” he explains, “it makes me think about the mastectomy and then I think about losing you”.

    It’s not uncommon for partners like Steve to share these feelings. Studies have shown that the physical and emotional toll of care-giving and desire to protect the patient, can sometimes lead partners to withdraw from intimacy.

    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.

    Still, it doesn’t land well. Watching Molly’s reaction is painful but it marks a turning point. She decides to divorce, firmly declaring that she “doesn’t want to die with him” and longs to be seen beyond the lens of her illness.

    In pursuit of unlocking her true sexual self, Molly navigates her way through the wilds of dating apps, embarking on a string of sexual escapades from hook-ups to experimentation with sex toys. But it hits her that she doesn’t know what she really likes or dislikes.

    This isn’t unusual. Many people don’t have a clear sense of their turn-ons or preferred pleasures at first. In my private practice, it’s actually a frequent theme. Clients often come feeling unsure or disconnected from their desires, and together we explore what’s sometimes called their “erotic template”.

    In pursuit of her “yums”, Sonja (Esco Jouley), her palliative-care specialist, invites Molly and best friend Nikki (Jenny Slate) into the sex-positive world of the “play party”, a space where like-minded people into kink, BDSM, and other forms of consensual play can hang out, connect and explore.

    It’s here that something in Molly awakens. She allows herself to fully embrace new aspects of her sexuality as she discovers a preference for dominance and a strong desire to have others submit to her sexually. We get an early glimpse of this power dynamic between Molly and her neighbour Guy (Rob Delaney), setting the stage for their unique relationship.

    The trailer for Dying for Sex.

    Despite taking naturally to her newfound proficiency at dom/sub dynamics, Molly is still held back in seeking her own pleasure, specifically, her quest for an orgasm with another person. It’s only when we delve into her history that we truly see how profoundly haunted Molly is in moments of sex and her struggles to stay connected.

    This kind of disconnect or dissociation is a common response to trauma, a way the mind tries to protect itself when things feel unsafe or too overwhelming. When the body senses a threat – even if there is no real threat, but a reminder of past trauma – it can shoot us outside our window of tolerance, meaning we disconnect.

    Realising that she has spent most of her life locked out of her own body pushes Molly to revisit her childhood and subsequent sexuality. Perhaps sex and dominance is a language her nervous system can understand – a way to heal. In dom/sub spaces, everything is based on clear consent, safety and mutual respect. Here Molly can decide who touches her and how.

    And so, we find Molly at a crossroad where something deeper quietly begins to take root: agency. Molly starts to feel in charge of her life, her body and her choices – including how she navigates her cancer. She makes her own choices about which treatments feel right for her: when to stop chemo, when to be sedated for pain management and even who she wants by her side when she dies. Not out of fear, but from a place of clarity and ownership, because she has found her power.

    Dying for Sex takes viewers on a roller coaster of emotions – laughter, surprise, tenderness, sadness, even hope. Boldly provocative and deeply moving it weaves together themes of sexuality, love, a complex maternal relationship and enduring friendships.

    What emerges is not just a story about dying for sex – but a powerful celebration of what it means to truly live.

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

    – ref. Dying for Sex: Disney’s ‘rollercoaster of emotions’ TV show reviewed by a sex and relationship therapist – https://theconversation.com/dying-for-sex-disneys-rollercoaster-of-emotions-tv-show-reviewed-by-a-sex-and-relationship-therapist-255145

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: Cegedim: Like-for-like revenues grew 4.5% in the first quarter

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Quarterly financial information as of March 31, 2025
    IFRS – Regulated information – Not audited

    • Revenue grew 3.5% as reported and 4.5% LFL to €161.3 million in the first quarter of 2025.
    • The marketing, health insurance, HR, and cloud businesses delivered the most solid growth.

    Boulogne-Billancourt, France, April 24, 2025, after the market close

    Revenue

      First quarter Change Q1 2025 / 2024
    in millions of euros 2025 2024 Reported Life for like(1)(2)
    Software & Services 72.4 74.4 (2.6)% (0.4)%
    Flow 27.6 25.3 +8.9% +8.8%
    Data & Marketing 29.9 27.0 +10.6% +10.6%
    BPO 21.1 20.2 +4.3% +4.3%
    Cloud & Support 10.3 9.0 +14.8% +14.8%
    Cegedim 161.3 155.9 +3.5% +4.5%

    Cegedim’s consolidated first-quarter 2025 revenues rose to €161.3 million, up 3.5% as reported and 4.5% like for like(1) compared with the same period in 2024.

    Marketing, health insurance, HR, and cloud businesses delivered the most solid growth over the first quarter. The deconsolidation of INPS on December 10, 2024, following its voluntary placement in administration, weighed on reported growth at the Software & Services division and Group level.

    Analysis of business trends by division 

    • Software & Services
    Software & Services First quarter Change Q1 2025 / 2024
    in millions of euros 2025 2024 Reported Like for like(1)
    Cegedim Santé 18.9 18.1 +4.7% (4.7)%
    Insurance, HR, Pharmacies, and other services 44.1 42.7 +3.4% +3.4%
    International businesses 9.4 13.6 (31.1)% (6.9)%
    Software & Services 72.4 74.4      (2.6)% (0.4%

    Revenues at Cegedim Santé grew 4.7% as reported in the first quarter but fell 4.7% like for like. Reported growth got a boost from the consolidation over the full quarter of Visiodent, which was first consolidated on March 1, 2024. The Maiia suite of products and the Claude Bernard database are both doing well, but their momentum was obscured by the expiration of a contract to supply data. That contract is being renegotiated, but it did not generate any revenues in the first quarter.

    Other French subsidiaries saw revenue growth of 3.4% both as reported and like for like. The division was propelled by growth at the insurance businesses, thanks to robust project-based sales and the start of the run phase of projects started in 2024. The HR business is still getting a boost from its client diversification strategy and strong growth in its core market. On the other hand, because it is between waves of Ségur public health investments, sales of products and services for pharmacies in France are experiencing a lacklustre business environment.

    International businesses posted reported revenues down 31.1% owing to the deconsolidation of INPS from December 10, 2024, following its voluntary placement in administration. Like-for-like revenues declined 6.9% due to an unfavorable comparison in sales to pharmacies in the UK—which got a boost from the Pharmacy First program in Q1 2024—and because a client of Activus, a UK subsidiary selling software for health insurance and personal protection insurance for expats, went out of business at the end of 2024. Both businesses have clear prospects that will reverse the downward trend in the months ahead. Other international activities had a positive quarter and remain on track.

    Flow First quarter Change Q1 2025 / 2024
    in millions of euros 2025 2024 Reported Like for like(2)
    e-business 16.9 15.4 +9.0% +8.8%
    Third-party payer 10.7 9.9 +8.7% +8.7%
    Flow 27.6 25.3 +8.9% +8.8%

    First-quarter growth in e-business, e-invoicing, and digitized data exchanges was 9.0% as reported and 8.8% like for like, and both business segments contributed to the gains. E-Invoicing & Procurement continues to expand in France and abroad, whereas the Healthcare Flow segment is still getting a boost from dynamic new offerings for hospitals that are designed to make their drug purchasing secure.

    The Third-party payer business experienced 8.7% growth in Q1. It was boosted by strong growth in demand for its fraud and long-term illness detection offerings, a trend that began in H2 2024.

    • Data & Marketing
    Data & Marketing First quarter Change Q1 2025 / 2024
    in millions of euros 2025 2024 Reported Like for like(1)
    Data 13.8 13.0 +5.9% +5.9%
    Marketing 16.1 14.0 +14.9% +14.9%
    Data & Marketing 29.9 27.0 +10.6% +10.6%

    Data businesses were up 5.9% in the first quarter on the back of a strong showing in France, where sales are stronger than they are abroad.

    The Marketing segment posted robust growth of 14.9% owing to strong sales after new client wins and brisk business with existing clients.

    BPO First quarter Change Q1 2025 / 2024
    in millions of euros 2025 2024 Reported Like for like(1)
    Insurance BPO 15.2 14.5 +4.7% +4.7%
    Business Services BPO 5.9 5.7 +3.4% +3.4%
    BPO 21.1 20.2 +4.3% +4.3%

    The Insurance BPO business grew by 4.7% over the quarter, chiefly owing to its overflow business, which has been flourishing lately because it serves a critical need for clients.

    Business Services BPO (HR and digitalization) reported growth of 3.4% in the first quarter on the back of a popular compliance
    offering.

    • Cloud & Support
    Cloud & Support First quarter Change Q1 2025 / 2024
    in millions of euros 2025 2024 Reported Like for like(1)
    Cloud & Support 10.3 9.0 +14.8% +14.8%

    The Cloud & Support division continued to build on the momentum it generated in 2024, with growth of 14.8% in Q1 reflecting an expanded range of sovereign cloud-backed products and services.

    Highlights

    To the best of the company’s knowledge, there were no events or changes during the first quarter of 2025 that would materially alter the Group’s financial situation.

    Significant transactions and events post March 31, 2025
    To the best of the company’s knowledge, there were no post-closing events or changes after March 31, 2025, that would materially alter the Group’s financial situation.

    Outlook

    Based on the currently available information, the Group expects 2025 like-for-like revenue(3) growth to be in the range of 2-4% relative to 2024. Recurring operating income should continue to improve, following a similar trajectory as in 2024.

    These targets are not forecasts and may need to be revised if there is a significant worsening of geopolitical, macroeconomic, or currency risks.

                        

    WEBCAST ON APRIL 24, 2025, AT 6:15 PM (PARIS TIME)
    The webcast is available at: www.cegedim.fr/webcast
    The Q1 2025 revenue presentation is available at:
    https://www.cegedim.fr/documentation/Pages/presentation.aspx

    Financial calendar:

    2025 June 13 at 9:30

    July 24 after the close

    September 25 after the close

    September 26 at 10:00 am

    October 23 after the close

    		 Shareholders’ general meeting

    H1 2025 revenues

    H1 2025 results

    SFAF meeting

    Q3 2025 revenues

    Financial calendar: https://www.cegedim.fr/finance/agenda/Pages/default.aspx

    Disclaimer
    This press release is available in French and in English. In the event of any difference between the two versions, the original French version takes precedence. This press release may contain inside information. It was sent to Cegedim’s authorized distributor on April 24, 2025, no earlier than 5:45 pm Paris time.
    The figures cited in this press release include guidance on Cegedim’s future financial performance targets. This forward-looking information is based on the opinions and assumptions of the Group’s senior management at the time this press release is issued and naturally entails risks and uncertainty. For more information on the risks facing Cegedim, please refer to Chapter 7, “Risk management”, section 7.2, “Risk factors and insurance”, and Chapter 3, “Overview of the financial year”, section 3.6, “Outlook”, of the 2024 Universal Registration Document filled with the AMF on April 7, 2025, under number D.24-0233.

    About Cegedim:
    Founded in 1969, Cegedim is an innovative technology and services company in the field of digital data flow management for healthcare ecosystems and B2B, and a business software publisher for healthcare and insurance professionals. Cegedim employs nearly
    6,700 people in more than 10 countries and generated revenue of over €654 million in 2024.
    Cegedim SA is listed in Paris (EURONEXT: CGM).
    To learn more please visit: www.cegedim.fr
    And follow Cegedim on X @CegedimGroup, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

    Aude Balleydier
    Cegedim
    Media Relations
    and Communications Manager

    Tel.: +33 (0)1 49 09 68 81
    aude.balleydier@cegedim.fr

    		 Damien Buffet
    Cegedim
    Head of Financial
    Communication

    Tel.: +33 (0)7 64 63 55 73
    damien.buffet@cegedim.com

    		 Céline Pardo
    Becoming RP Agency
    Media Relations Consultant

    Tel.:        +33 (0)6 52 08 13 66
    cegedim@becoming-group.com

    		  

    ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

    Appendix

    Breakdown of revenue by quarter and division

    in millions of euros   Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Total
    Software & Services   72.4       72.4
    Flow   27.6       27.6
    Data & Marketing   29.9       29.9
    BPO   21.1       21.1
    Cloud & Support   10.3       10.3
    Group revenue   161.3       161.3
    in millions of euros   Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Total
    Software & Services   74.4 77.8 75.6 80.1 307.8
    Flow   25.4 24.2 23.7 27.0 100.3
    Data & Marketing   27.0 32.3 28.2 38.4 125.9
    BPO   20.2 19.7 21.6 21.2 82.7
    Cloud & Support   9.0 9.1 7.7 12.0 37.8
    Group revenue   155.9 163.1 156.8 178.7 654.5

    Breakdown of revenue by geographic zone, currency, and division at March 31, 2025

    as a % of consolidated revenues   Geographic zone   Currency
      France EMEA
    ex. France    		 Americas   Euro GBP Other
    Software & Services   87.1% 12.8% 0.1%   91.1% 6.8% 2.0%
    Flow   91.6% 8.4% 0.0%   94.3% 5.7% 0.0%
    Data & marketing   97.7% 2.3% 0.0%   98.3% 0.0% 1.7%
    BPO   100.0% 0.0% 0.0%   100.0% 0.0% 0.0%
    Cloud & Support   97.0% 3.0% 0.0%   97.0% 0.0% 3.0%
    Cegedim   92.1% 7.8% 0.1%   94.5% 4.0% 1.5%

    (1)   At constant scope and exchange rates.
    (2)   The positive currency impact of 0.1% was mainly due to the pound sterling. The negative scope effect of 1.1% was attributable to the deconsolidation of INPS as of December 10, 2024, which the consolidation of Visiodent starting March 1, 2024 only partly offset.
    (2)At constant scope and exchange rates.

    (3)At constant scope and exchange rates.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Violence against civilians must end in DRC

    Source: Médecins Sans Frontières –

    • An MSF nurse was shot dead in his home in Masisi, North Kivu province, DRC, the second staff member to be killed in the town in two months.
    • Civilians and aid workers are victims of and witnesses to the horrific levels of violence in the province.
    • MSF calls on the warring parties to protect civilians, their property and aid workers, and for relevant authorities to hold parties accountable.

    Goma, North Kivu – On 18 April, a Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) health worker was shot dead in his home by a gunman in military uniform in Masisi, North Kivu province, in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). A nurse at Masisi general referral hospital, he is the second MSF staff member to be killed in Masisi in the past two months and the third to be fatally shot in North Kivu this year.

    Earlier in the evening of 18 April, two armed men dressed in military fatigues and carrying assault rifles attacked and robbed civilians in Masisi town, before breaking into the house of the MSF nurse to rob residents. During the incident, the attackers opened fire, fatally wounding our colleague with two shots to the chest.

    “We strongly condemn this terrible act, which cost our colleague his life, and which reflects the severely deteriorating security situation we have witnessed in North and South Kivu since the beginning of the year,” said Emmanuel Lampaert, MSF country representative in DRC. “Week after week, our teams are not only witnesses but also victims of violent incidents targeting civilians, humanitarian workers and medical facilities. This must stop immediately.”

    Since early 2025, MSF teams have witnessed violent incidents on an almost daily basis – and have been the victims on a number of occasions. In the space of four months, three MSF staff have been shot dead in North Kivu, either in the course of their work or as a result of violence against civilians.  

    On 20 February, an MSF radio operator on duty at our base in central Masisi was killed in crossfire between VDP/Wazalendo and M23/AFC fighters. A few days later, another MSF worker was shot dead in the middle of the night at his home in Goma. In the past few months, other colleagues have been shot and wounded, the most recent of whom is currently hospitalised in Goma.

    “Even in locations where armed clashes have ceased, insecurity is everywhere,” says Mathilde Guého, MSF head of programmes in North Kivu. “In addition to armed violence that directly affects our hospitals and bases, on a daily basis we are witnessing persistently high levels of crime and repeated violent incidents affecting civilians, especially at night: murders, sexual violence, gunshot wounds, extortion, home invasions, intimidation and more.”

    In response to this series of violent incidents, some 15 of which have directly affected MSF teams, ambulances, offices, and the health facilities we support since January, MSF is calling on the competent authorities to hold those carrying weapons accountable. They must take immediate measures to ensure the safety of civilians and humanitarian workers, to combat crime and to put an end to the abuse our teams witness daily.

    “We remind all parties – M23/AFC, VDP/Wazalendo, FARDC – that the protection of civilians and their property in conflict zones is a legal obligation,” says Lampaert. “All relevant authorities must act urgently to uphold this responsibility.” 

    In DRC, nearly 3,000 locally-hired and international staff work directly for MSF, alongside Ministry of Health staff, to provide medical care to people across the country.
     

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Speaker Johnson Hosts Awards Ceremony Honoring 2025 Congressional Art Competition Winners and Community Leaders

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04)

    Speaker Johnson Hosts Awards Ceremony Honoring 2025 Congressional Art Competition Winners and Community Leaders

    Washington, April 24, 2025

    WASHINGTON — Today, Speaker Johnson honored winners of the 2025 Congressional Art Competition and Congressional Commendation recipients at the 2025 Community Awards Ceremony for Louisiana’s Fourth Congressional District. 

    “We just had an extraordinary event – we love to do this annually. We give out awards for people who really represent our communities well and do a lot of extraordinary work in all of our 20 parishes around the 4th Congressional District, which is the greatest district in America. There is of honor to give, and it is due,” Speaker Johnson said. “It was a great day, and we love to do this event.” 

    The Congressional Art Competition is a nationwide, visual art contest for high school students, in which one piece of artwork from each congressional district is chosen by a panel of judges to be displayed in the U.S. Capitol Building for one year. The second, third, and fourth place selections will be proudly displayed in Speaker Johnson’s congressional offices. 

    Congressional Commendation recipients were submitted for consideration by constituents of Louisiana’s Fourth Congressional District and chosen for their efforts to better their communities.

    2025 Congressional Art Competition Winners:

    • 1st Place: “Craw-Fever” by Grace Rougeau, Faith Training Christian Academy2nd Place: “Glow of the Magnolia” by Ava Agee, Airline High School
    • 3rd Place: “Serene” by Samirah Etienna, South Beauregard High School
    • 4th Place: “Bayou’s Serenity” by EMantyi Mosby, Airline High School 
    • Staff Pick: “Beauty of the Swamp” by Jarei’Yuana Adams, Homer High School
    • Staff Pick: “In Loving Memory” by Angela Smith, Simsboro High School

    2025 Congressional Commendation Recipients:

    Allen:

    • Patsy Cavenah, Founder and Director of Lighthouse Ministries

    Beauregard:

    • Kenneth Harlow, DeRidder Fire Chief (30 years of service)

    Bossier:

    • Natalie Davis, Haughton High School student, worked to get girls’ wrestling sanctioned in Louisiana
    • Brad Zagone, Bossier City Fire Chief (30 years of service)
    • James “Trey” Morriss, Mission Operation Secret Squirrel, Director of Staff, Eighth Air Force & Joint-Global Strike Operations Center
    • Warren Ward, Mission Operation Secret Squirrel, Executive Director, Louisiana Tech Research Institute
    • Lane Calloway, Barksdale Air Force Base Historian

    Caddo:

    • Laurie Boswell, CEO of Holy Angels 
    • Jacob Schneider, Caddo Magnet High School student, Eagle Scout, led a team from Shreveport to Tumutumu, Kenya to train 72 students in livestock management, farming skills needed to increase the yield of their family farms by 60%, and financial skills to market their produce and manage their money.

    Bienville:

    • Deanna Curtis, Bienville Court Appointed Special Advocate, Chamber President, Victims for Youth Justice Board Member, and DART volunteer

    Claiborne:

    • Pat Abshire, Claiborne Chamber President

    Grant:

    • Bonita Armour, created an after-school program for Grant Parish youth

    Jackson: 

    • Wilda Smith, Secretary and Treasurer for the Jackson Parish Museum Board, Jackson Parish Tourism, Jackson Parish Cancer Board, Jonesboro Hodge Lions Club Board, Secretary Jackson Parish Industrial District Board, and the Treasurer Jackson Parish Study Guild

    Lincoln:

    • Sam Mattox, Oldest-living WWII veteran in Louisiana, turning 106 this year

    Ouachita:

    • Roy Heatherly, Ouachita Chamber President

    Sabine:

    • Crystal Hable, dedicated to service and organization of events in community 
    • Blake Byles, organizes hunting trips for disabled children and veterans

    Union:

    • Axton Nolan, 2025 U.S. Service Academy Appointee, United States Air Force Academy

    Vernon:

    • Melinda Granger, School teacher of 36 years at Rosepine High School 

    Webster:

    • Jerry Madden, Minden Lion, veteran, past Minden Man of the Year

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 24 April 2025 Departmental update IARC and WHO Academy increase learning resources for World Immunization Week

    Source: World Health Organisation

    The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) Academy are collaborating this World Immunization Week 2025 to make human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination learning resources available for free to health and care workers around the world.

    The theme of this year’s World Immunization Week is “Immunization for All is Humanly Possible” and encourages governments and health workers to support strong immunization programmes at local and national levels. Immunization has saved six lives every minute since 1974, and more lives can be saved by building on these achievements.

    Often referred to as the silent killer and almost entirely preventable, cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer, and cause of cancer-related deaths, in women globally, with the majority of cases occurring in low- and middle-income countries.

    The HPV vaccine protects women from cervical cancer through preventing infection with the human papillomavirus. Recent evidence from IARC shows that one-dose HPV vaccines have 80–90% effectiveness to decrease HPV infection and prevent cervical cancer and have demonstrated optimal strategies for cervical cancer screen-and-treat programmes for use in different settings. Despite this strong evidence, only 15% of girls worldwide are fully vaccinated against HPV by the age of 15 years.

    The work to create a dedicated IARC learning space on the whoacademy.org platform that includes HPV vaccination self-paced courses began in 2024, and ensures learners can benefit from courses and material based on the latest evidence, created and validated by international experts through IARC and partners. The platform is designed for inclusion and accessibility, and adapts to the learner’s profile and context, such as preferred language or educational background. Features like offline mode, progress updates and mobile optimization ensure a smooth learning experience and address connectivity challenges.

    Register on the WHO Academy online platform and enrol in our courses for free today.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 24 April 2025 Departmental update Learning 4 Impact: strengthening frontline and community-focused learning for health emergencies

    Source: World Health Organisation

    The WHO Health Emergencies Programme, with the support of the WHO Academy, recently hosted Learning 4 Impact 2025, a series of virtual workshops that aims to catalyse build back better holistic learning programmes to address post-pandemic challenges.

    The world is not on track to achieve its health-related Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) and targets by 2030; progress is at half the required rate of change. The increasing number of global crises and the danger of future pandemics underscore the urgent need for health systems to strengthen both technical capacity and community engagement.

    Addressing critical skills gaps among health and care workers is crucial to meeting these emergency needs in the future, but there is a chronic shortage of public health professionals and health workers around the world. According to WHO estimates, there will be a shortfall of at least 10 million health workers by 2030.

    In addition, the International Health Regulations (IHR) are undergoing several amendments in response to the lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic. Member States agreed to a package of amendments to the IHR in 2024 that should come into force in mid-2025. This will result in a new demand for training from Member States to implement the new and updated IHR core capacities.

    The Learning 4 Impact series, which took place over the course of February and March, is focused on the training needs of health and care workers, particularly those in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), who serve on the frontline of public health emergency response. The workshops were aimed at IHR focal points and those working in community protection in WHO Member States, as well as WHO technical staff and partners across the globe.

    Competency-based learning for better community protection

    Within the context of WHO’s Health Emergency Preparedness, Response and Resilience (HEPR) framework, community protection plays a critical role in ensuring that emergency preparedness and response efforts are grounded in the realities of the people they serve. Community-centred approaches are essential for effective leadership in health emergencies, ensuring that interventions are trusted, inclusive and responsive to local needs.

    “Community protection is a cornerstone of emergency response. Strengthening the learning ecosystem for those working with and within communities helps us build trust, respond more effectively and ultimately save lives. This is a crucial step towards embedding community protection into the way we prepare for and respond to public health threats,” said Dr Kai von Harbou, Unit Head for Community Protection and Resilience in the WHO Health Emergencies Programme.

    Throughout the five virtual workshops, 600 participants worked together to map existing health learning products, provide insights on preliminary learning needs analyses for their countries, and identified and redefined target health learning audiences

    Community health workers (CHWs) were identified as a key learning audience, particularly in LMICs where they often serve as the first point of contact in health emergencies. Their learning needs were systematically mapped and prioritized, recognizing the crucial role CHWs play in community engagement, disease detection, risk communication and basic service delivery during crises.

    “Community health workers often operate with limited resources, unclear roles in emergency protocols and without adequate training. By investing in structured, competency-based learning the Community Protection and Resilience Unit empowers CHWs to act confidently and effectively in times of crisis – an investment that strengthens both response outcomes and long-term community resilience,” Dr von Harbou added.

    Lifelong learning for better health outcomes

    Together with key experts from the WHO Academy, participants also discussed innovative strategies and modalities that can improve the health learning experience. Following these workshops, both the IHR and community protection focal points plan to conduct more extensive learning needs analyses with their respective target learners and develop curriculum plans in collaboration with WHO. Feedback from post-webinar evaluation surveys was mainly positive. One of the participants said, “I love the fact that the Organization takes time to get feedback from the Member States on the strategies that are used so as to improve their work. This is really good.”

    Head of the Learning Design and Production Unit at the WHO Academy Melinda Frost says that to reach the SDG health targets, health systems and health and care workers need to make better use of evidence-based solutions and focus on competency-based learning.

    “Learning needs to be continuous. Health-care practices are consistently evolving, and we need to ensure that our health and care professionals continually acquire the new skills needed to deliver programmes and services for essential public health functions,” she said. “Our aim is to reach learners in LMICs, where the need is greatest. This is the Academy’s priority – to reach learners in these countries, driving equity in access to learning for health and care workers globally.”  

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI: The Now Corporation (OTC: NWPN) Releases April 2025 Newsletter Showcasing EV Infrastructure Expansion and Vintage Fashion Revival

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PASADENA, Calif., April 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Now Corporation (OTC: NWPN), a diversified holding company focused on sustainable innovation, is excited to announce the publication of its April 2025 newsletter. The latest edition highlights major advancements in electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure and the continued evolution of its vintage fashion subsidiary.

    The Now Corporate April 2025 Newsletter

    Major Highlights Include:

    EV Charging Project in Carson, CA

    Green Rain Energy, a subsidiary of The Now Corporation, has been selected to lead the development of a cutting-edge EV charging site at 23315 Main Street in Carson, California. Located within proximity to the Dignity Health Sports Park—one of the venues for the 2028 Olympic Games—this project aims to support increasing EV demand and regional sustainability efforts.

    The Now Corporation (OTC: NWPN) Through Its Subsidiary Green Rain Energy Announces New Details For Its EV Charging Project In Carson, CA

    Strategic Collaboration in Rochester, NY

    Green Rain Solar Inc. has also partnered with Chronical Electric and Rochester Gas and Electric (RG&E) to bring high-speed EV charging and battery storage solutions to Rochester, New York. This joint effort underscores The Now Corporation’s mission to advance clean, accessible energy infrastructure.

    The Now Corporation (OTC: NWPN) and Green Rain Solar Inc. Partner with Chronical Electric to Bring High-Speed EV Charging and Battery Storage to Rochester, NY

    Reviving American Heritage through M Love Vintage Holdings Inc.

    The newsletter also spotlights M Love Vintage Holdings Inc., the company’s fashion subsidiary, which is reviving iconic Americana through the timeless styles of Chuck’s Vintage. This effort marks a new era for the brand, celebrating its legacy while embracing a modern, luxurious approach to vintage wear.

    M Love Vintage Holdings Inc. Embarks on New Era of Luxury Vintage Fashion Under The Now Corporation

    About The Now Corporation:

    The Now Corporation is committed to acquiring and developing sustainable technologies across industries such as renewable energy, electric mobility, and advanced manufacturing. Through its subsidiaries, including Green Rain Solar Inc. and M Love Vintage Holdings Inc., the company strives to deliver impactful innovation.

    Stay updated and read the full newsletter at www.GreenRainEnergy.com

    Legal Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
    This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and is subject to the safe harbor created by those sections. This material contains statements about expected future events and/or financial results that are forward- looking in nature and subject to risks and uncertainties. This includes the possibility that the business outlined in this press release may not be concluded due to unforeseen technical, installation, permitting, or other challenges. Such forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of The Now Corporation to differ materially from those expressed herein. Except as required under U.S. federal securities laws, The Now Corporation undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

    Media Contact:

    Michael Cimino
    Email: Michael@pubcopr.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8b05b4f3-6481-4eba-9c01-913089647d8e

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Court bill for verbally abusing City Council staff and Northumbria Police officers

    Source: City of Sunderland

    Two residents who verbally abused City Council and Northumbria Police officers have been left with court bills of more than £1,000 each.

    The court bills follow an incident earlier this year on Monday 28 January when officers from the council’s Neighbourhood Enforcement Team and Northumbria Police were making enquiries in Broadsheath Terrace, Southwick.

    They were investigating reports about ‘public nuisances’ caused by a caravan and quad bikes being stored on the public highway.

    During the visit, the two residents were verbally abusive and aggressive towards officers. They were both charged with offences under the Public Order Act 1986 for using threatening or abusive words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm, or distress.

    Rebecca Trott and Bradley Moody, both of Broadsheath Terrace, admitted the offences when they appeared at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court. Magistrates were shown bodycam footage of the incident and imposed fines of £660, victim surcharges of £264 and costs of £85 on both defendants.

    Sunderland City Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Safer Communities, Councillor Kelly Chequer said: “Officers in the City Council and Northumbria Police are working hard to help keep our communities safe. They should never be subjected to abuse or intimidation for simply doing their jobs.

    “The court has sent a very clear message that threatening officers while carrying out their community duties is completely unacceptable. Both the City Council and Northumbria Police stand united that any abuse and intimidation will not be tolerated.”

    A Northumbria Police spokesperson added: “We want to make it clear that violence towards our officers, or any of our partners – be that physical or verbal – is completely unacceptable. Our officers come to work every day to protect and serve our communities, not to be abused and violence and intimidation against them will not be tolerated under any circumstances.

    “Let this result be a clear message to those who choose to commit violence, you will be dealt with and put before the courts.”

    The case was heard at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 2 April.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Media Advisory: Lambent CEO Richard Scannell to Speak at University Facilities 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BOSTON, April 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Richard Scannell, CEO at occupancy analytics software company Lambent, will be a featured speaker at University Facilities 2025 taking place April 28-29 at the Renaissance Boston Seaport Hotel. Scannell will co-present with Sara Walsh, Executive Dean of Finance and Administration at the Brown University School of Public Health. Their session will highlight the university’s experience using advanced analytics and data modeling to gain a better understanding of space usage and how they used that data to optimize usage and deliver tangible financial, operational and user results.

    As the future of higher education evolves, campus space utilization is becoming mission-critical. The University Facilities 2025 conference looks at how new academic facility planning and space management initiatives are being shaped by changing academic priorities and funding streams. The event provides capital project teams, project managers, facility managers, space planners, construction managers, architects, engineers, financial officers, capital planners, and university administrative staff with the data, metrics, and decision-making rationales they need for:

    • New space plans for better utilization and cost-efficient growth
    • Greater facility flexibility for shared and different uses
    • Capital project investments that attract faculty and students
    • Improved planning processes and tools

    Scannell and Walsh will present their session twice at the event:

    Session Details:

    Space use visualization tools to overcome skepticism and bureaucracy

    Dates/Times: Mon. April 28 2:20 – 3:15 p.m.
      Tues. April 29 8:35 – 9:30 a.m.
         

    All the data in the world is useless if it can’t be turned into relevant insights and communicated clearly. This presentation illustrates the leveraging of sophisticated data modeling tools and the influence of academic partners to advance projects through the administrative approval process and overcome significant hurdles. Scannell and Walsh will illustrate how to harness data to demonstrate space utilization problems and opportunities in ways that build enthusiasm at every level through the approval process. They will examine tangible financial impacts, project story telling models, and the tailoring of communication strategies for productive ad-hoc meetings, budgeting, and IT department engagement.

    Speakers: Sara Walsh
    Executive Dean of Finance and Administration
    Brown University School of Public Health
       
      Richard Scannell
    CEO
    Lambent
       

    Walsh will also lead another session at the conference titled: Growth in a landlocked campus: Brown University’s space utilization and repurposing solutions. In that session, she will profile Brown’s strategy to answer the call for more space amid rapid growth, while maintaining fiscal responsibility. Walsh will detail Brown’s multi-faceted model for campus expansion which reconciles academic priorities and financial constraints with community considerations. She’ll examine decisions on strategic property acquisition and development, the repurposing of existing structures, opportunities identified to improve space utilization, and balancing expansion with financial prudence by measuring capital expenditures. The session takes place Monday, April 28th, 10:25 – 10:50 a.m.

    About Lambent
    Lambent is an occupancy analytics software company helping corporate and higher ed campuses optimize space utilization, facilities operations and real estate investments. Its SaaS platform, Lambent Spaces, leverages existing data sources such as Wi-Fi and sensors to provide anonymous and predictive analytics to inform decisions related to utilization, workplace experiences, planning, scheduling, and maintenance. The software delivers actionable intelligence so facilities professionals and space planners can make better use of the spaces they have. For more information, visit https://lambentspaces.com/.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Couple Sentenced to Federal Prison for SNAP Fraud, Drugs and Illegal Firearms Possession

    Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

    Hagåtña, Guam – SHAWN N. ANDERSON, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that the following defendants pled guilty and were sentenced in the District Court of Guam on April 23, 2025:

    Antonio J. Toves, age 48, from Chalan Pago, Guam was sentenced to 12 months and one day for Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and Unauthorized Use, Transfer, Acquisition, Alteration, or Possession of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Benefits, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343 and 7 U.S.C. § 2024.  He was also sentenced to serve 36 months imprisonment for Possession of Methamphetamine Hydrochloride with Intent to Distribute, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(l), and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A).  The terms of imprisonment were also ordered to run consecutive.  The Court also ordered four years of supervised release, $40,869 in restitution, and $400 in mandatory special assessment fees.  Toves also forfeited several firearms and a Lexus vehicle.  Defendants convicted of SNAP fraud are barred from further participation in the program.

    Christina J. Toves, age 47, from Chalan Pago, Guam was sentenced to 12 months and one day for Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1343 and 1349; Unauthorized Use, Transfer, Acquisition, Alteration, or Possession of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (“SNAP”) Benefits, in violation of 7 U.S.C. § 2024(b)(1); and Illegal Possession of Firearms and Ammunition in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g).  The Court also ordered three years of supervised release, $40,869 in restitution, and $300 in mandatory special assessment fees.  Toves was also ordered to forfeit several firearms, ammunition, and a Lexus vehicle.

    From September 2015 to September 2020, Antonio and Christina Toves defrauded the Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) to obtain SNAP benefits to which they were not entitled. The couple made false statements about their household size and income.  They also failed to disclose to DPHSS that Christina Toves was employed as a social worker with the Guam Department of Corrections – information on which DPHSS relies in making benefits determinations. As a result of this deceit, they received $40,846.00 in fraudulently obtained SNAP benefits.

    Following his arrest, Antonio Toves was found in possession of over five grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride, two pistols, an AR-15 rifle, and over 800 rounds of ammunition.  Christina Toves was found in possession of a concealed handgun.

    “Citizens with low income rely on SNAP benefits to meet their nutritional needs,” stated United States Attorney Anderson.  “Unfortunately, some people seek to obtain these benefits through fraud and other abuse of the program.  Taxpayers deserve justice for this criminal conduct.  We will continue to pursue these prosecutions to ensure that federal funds are appropriately used.  As this case demonstrates, those who engage in this type of fraud, in addition to drug trafficking, risk significant federal penalties.”

    “Fraud, drugs and firearms are a dangerous mixture for failure,” said ATF Seattle Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Blais. “The Tove’s actions not only cost them prison time and restitution, but also cost the taxpayers of Guam because of their fraudulent claim and receipt of SNAP benefits.  This sentence is well deserved and should serve as a warning against anyone that illegal actions will be investigated and prosecuted.”

    This investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Guam DPHSS Investigation & Recovery Office.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin K. Petersburg prosecuted these cases in the District of Guam.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI China: China accelerates digital transformation of major pharmaceutical firms

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

    BEIJING, April 24 — China will speed up the digital-intelligent transformation of the pharmaceutical industry as part of the country’s broader efforts to advance new industrialization and boost its strength in manufacturing, an official document released Thursday showed.

    By 2030, large-scale pharmaceutical enterprises in China will essentially achieve full coverage of digital-intelligent transformation, according to a plan issued by seven government departments including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Commerce and the National Health Commission.

    The document outlines a strategic push to integrate artificial intelligence and next-generation information technologies into pharmaceutical production chains. The initiative aims to enhance corporate competitiveness, improve drug quality and safety, strengthen supply chain resilience, and foster new quality productive forces.

    The plan outlines a two-phase roadmap, with quantitative and qualitative goals listed for each phase. By 2027, significant progress should be made in the digital-intelligent transformation of the industry, including breakthroughs in key technologies and the development of a certain number of high-performance products and production facilities.

    By 2030, a mature ecosystem for the digital-intelligent transformation of the pharmaceutical industry is expected to emerge. This ecosystem will feature a substantially improved integration of cutting-edge technologies and a robust data system throughout the industrial chain, according to the plan.

    In China, large-scale enterprises usually refer to those boasting an annual main business turnover of at least 20 million yuan (about 2.77 million U.S. dollars).

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI: ESO Appoints Silicon Valley Tech Veteran John Basmadjian as Chief Product and Technology Officer

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    AUSTIN, Texas, April 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ESO, a leading data services and software provider for EMS, fire departments, hospitals, and state and federal agencies, today announced the appointment of John Basmadjian as chief product and technology officer. Basmadjian brings more than two decades of technology and leadership experience at Google, Amazon, GE Digital, Workday and others. Throughout his career, he has successfully scaled ecosystem partnerships worldwide and led global product development and innovation initiatives, growing three products from concept to more than $1 billion in annual revenue.

    “John combines a proven track record of scaling product innovation with a customer-centric focus that makes him a natural fit to elevate our platform’s capabilities and expand our impact for customers and their communities,” said Eric Beck, president and CEO of ESO. “His experience transforming data-driven organizations across multiple industries gives us a tremendous advantage as we continue to enhance our mature data assets and insights across the entire call-to-care journey.”

    In his role, Basmadjian will lead ESO’s product strategy with a focus on three key initiatives:

    • Enhancing data interoperability across local, state and federal levels.
    • Strengthening ecosystem partnerships.
    • Accelerating investments in data-driven insights to improve patient outcomes and emergency response efficiency.

    “I joined ESO because what we do has a real-world impact both for our customers and the communities they serve every day,” Basmadjian said. “What sets ESO apart is our ability to empower nearly 3 million users with data insights and, more importantly, tangible clinical, operational and financial outcomes that would have seemed impossible just a few years ago. I’m committed to delivering the right thing to our customers in an innovative and frictionless way. That means providing firefighters, EMS providers, clinicians, hospitals and agencies with the information they need—when and where they need it—to connect and enhance care delivery, operational efficiency and overall community impact.”

    From 2020 to 2024, Basmadjian served as senior director of engineering for Google Fitbit and global head of partner engineering for the Google Health platform, where he spearheaded the creation and global scale-up of the company’s health ecosystem. Under his leadership, Google’s health ecosystem grew from zero to more than 600 partner organizations, delivering health insights and better outcomes for 3 billion users globally. His teams also piloted electronic health records integrations, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) integration, and developed expansion and product strategies for nationalized health care systems in three countries.

    Previously, he served as Amazon’s first chief of staff for e-commerce platform strategy and operations and held roles as CTO and vice president of engineering, leading AI/ML efforts across Royal Dutch Shell and GE Power’s IoT and energy trading platforms. He also led scaling, architecture, cloud and product development transformations at PayPal and Workday. He is a Tech Stars Mentor, Forbes Technology Council Member and former Google Startup Advisor.

    For more information about ESO, visit https://www.eso.com/.

    About ESO
    ESO (ESO Solutions, Inc.) is dedicated to improving community health and safety through the power of data. Since its founding in 2004, the company continues to pioneer innovative, user-friendly software to meet the changing needs of today’s dispatch centers, EMS agencies, fire departments, hospitals, and state and federal offices. ESO currently serves thousands of customers across the globe with a broad software portfolio, including the state-of-the-art Logis IDS CAD solution, industry-leading ESO Electronic Health Record (EHR), the next-generation ePCR; ESO Health Data Exchange (HDE), the first-of-its-kind health care interoperability platform; ESO Fire RMS, the modern fire Record Management System; ESO Patient Registry (trauma, burn and stroke registry software); and ESO State Repository. ESO is headquartered in Austin, Texas. For more information, visit www.eso.com.

    Media Contact:
    For ESO,
    Hope Sander
    Red Fan Communications
    eso@redfancommunications.com
    737-280-8783

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Open letter to Fijians – ‘why is our country supporting Israel’s heinous crimes in Gaza?’

    Pacific Media Watch

    The Fijians for Palestine Solidarity Network today condemned the Fiji government’s failure to stand up for international law and justice over the Israeli war on Gaza in their weekly Black Thursday protest.

    “For the past 18 months, we have made repeated requests to our government to do the bare minimum and enforce the basic tenets of international law on Israel,” said the protest group in an open letter.

    “We have been calling upon the Fiji government to uphold the principles of peace, justice, and human rights that our nation cherishes.

    “We campaigned, we lobbied, we engaged, and we explained.

    “We showed the evidence, pointed to the law, and asked our leaders to do the right thing. Our pleas fell on deaf ears. We’ve been met with nothing but indifference.”

    The open letter said:

    “Dear fellow Fijians,

    “As we gathered tonight in Suva at the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre compound, Israel has maintained an eight-week blockade on food, medicine and aid entering Gaza, while continuing to bomb homes and tent shelters.

    “At least 52,000 people in Gaza have been killed since October 2023, which includes more than 18,000 children. The death toll means that one out of every 50 people has been killed in Gaza. We all know that the real number of those killed is far higher.

    “Today, at least 13 people were killed in Israeli attacks. Among the dead were three children in a tent near Nuseirat in central Gaza, and a woman and four children in a home in Gaza City.

    “Also reportedly killed in a recent attack was local journalist Saeed Abu Hassanein, whose death adds to at least 232 reporters killed by Israel in Gaza in this genocide.

    “For the past 18 months, we have made repeated requests to our government to do the bare minimum and enforce the basic tenets of international law on Israel. We have been calling upon the Fiji Government to uphold the principles of peace, justice, and human rights that our nation cherishes.

    “We campaigned, we lobbied, we engaged, and we explained. We showed the evidence, pointed to the law, and asked our leaders to do the right thing. Our pleas fell on deaf ears. We’ve been met with nothing but indifference.

    “Instead our leaders met with Israeli Government representatives and declared support for a country accused of the most heinous crimes recognised in international law.

    “Fijian leaders and the Fiji Government must not be supporting Israel or planning to set up an Embassy in Israel while Israel continues to bomb refugee tents, kill journalists and medics, and block the delivery of aid to a population under relentless siege.

    “No politician in Fiji can claim ignorance of what is happening.

    “Tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed.

    “Many more have been maimed, traumatised and displaced. Hospitals, clinics, refugee camps, schools, universities, residential neighbourhoods, water and food facilities have been destroyed.

    “We must loudly name what’s happening in Gaza – a GENOCIDE.

    “We should name the crime, underline our government’s complicity in it, and focus our efforts on elevating the voices of Palestinians.

    “We know that our actions cannot magically put an end to the GENOCIDE in occupied Palestine, but they can still make a difference. We can add to the global pressure on those who have the power to stop the genocide, which is so needed.

    “The way our government is responding to the genocide in Gaza will set a precedent for how they will deal with crises and emergencies in the future — at home and abroad.

    “It will determine whether our country will be a force that works to uphold human rights and international law, or one that tramples on them whenever convenient.

    “There are already ongoing restrictions against protests in solidarity with Palestine including arbitrary restrictions on marches and the use of Palestine flags.

    “We have had to hold gatherings in the premises of the FWCC office as the police have restricted solidarity marches for Palestine since November 2023, under the Public Order (Amendment) Act 2014.

    “Today, we must all fight for what is right, and show our government that indifference is not acceptable in the face of genocide, lest we ourselves become complicit.

    “History will judge how we respond as Fijians to this moment.

    “Our rich cultural heritage and shared values teach us the importance of always standing up for what is right, even when it is not popular or convenient.

    “We stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people out of a shared belief in humanity, justice, and the inalienable human rights of every individual.”

    In Solidarity
    Fijians for Palestine Solidarity Network

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Dementia support group has contract extended24 April 2025 Islanders with new or mild dementia can continue to benefit from a group which helps them to cope with their symptoms, stay healthy and stimulate their memory. Dementia Jersey has been awarded a further… Read more

    Source: Channel Islands – Jersey

    24 April 2025

    Islanders with new or mild dementia can continue to benefit from a group which helps them to cope with their symptoms, stay healthy and stimulate their memory. 

    Dementia Jersey has been awarded a further three-year contract by Health and Care Jersey, (HCJ, to deliver its successful Meeting Place Project in St Clement and St Helier.

    Launched in 2021, with the support of Government funding, the Meeting Place Project is a weekly group for people with mild symptoms and a diagnosis of dementia where they can meet other Islanders with dementia and share advice and support. 

    During the sessions, people can take part in brain stimulating activities such as language and number games, take part in light exercise including Tai Chi as well as share their own experiences with people in similar situations. 

    Due to the new contract with HCJ, Dementia Jersey can continue to provide The Meeting Place Project in St Helier and St Clement. The charity also offers groups in St Martin, St Brelade and St Ouen. 

    Ally Cordery, whose godfather attends the Meeting Place Project, said: “When Roger was diagnosed with dementia 12 months ago, I felt so sad for him and neither of us discussed the diagnosis, we treated it as a shameful secret. I went on a course to increase my understanding of the condition, and Roger began attending the Meeting Place, and suddenly, we both came to the realisation that Roger was living with dementia and not suffering from it.

    “He benefits hugely from the safe environment of the group and the socialising, as well as the puzzles and games. He has never attended a company Christmas party during his 40+ years of employment, but he went along to the Christmas party at Dementia Jersey and thoroughly enjoyed it. We’re so grateful for all the support the charity offers, not only to Roger but also to my family.” 

    Ann-Marie Self, who attends the St Helier sessions after she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2023, said: “The Meeting Place Project is very supportive. It’s great because I don’t feel like I’m alone with my diagnosis. Everyone is different but we all have this in common. I was worried after getting my diagnosis from the Memory assessment service, but they referred me to the Meeting Place Project and it’s really helped.” 

    The Meeting Place Project embodies the Government’s Common Strategic Policy to support Islanders to live healthier, active, longer lives, improve the quality of and access to mental health services and to put patients and their carers at the heart of Jersey’s health and care system. 

    The Minister for Health and Social Services, Deputy Tom Binet, said: “When we published the Dementia Strategy and its Implementation Plan last year, we were clear that we wanted to ensure that Islanders living with dementia and their families have access to the care and support that they deserve. 

    “I’m delighted that Dementia Jersey will continue to provide these sessions as we know that The Meeting Place Project provides invaluable support for Islanders as they navigate their diagnosis.” 

    Claudine Snape, Dementia Jersey CEO, said: “We’re incredibly grateful to Health and Care Jersey and the Government of Jersey for their continued support. This renewed funding ensures that people living with dementia can access the help they need in a supportive and stimulating environment. We’ve seen firsthand the difference the Meeting Place Project makes, and we’re proud to continue this vital work across the island.” 

    To apply or to find out more, please contact the Meeting Place Coordinator Dan Du Heaume by emailing: Dan@dementia.je​ or call 01534 723519.​

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The hidden history of Philadelphia’s window-box gardens and their role in urban reform

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Sonja Dümpelmann, Professor of Environmental Humanities, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich

    Window-box gardening has been a Philly tradition since the 1800s. Sonja Dümpelmann, CC BY-SA

    It’s that time of year when Philadelphia row home owners with a green thumb fastidiously attend to their window boxes – selecting new plants to design an artful blend of colors, shapes and textures.

    Sonja Dümpelmann is a historian of landscapes and the built environment who lived in Philly from 2019 to 2023. During this time, she researched how female reformers and activists in Philadelphia in the 19th and 20th centuries tended to window-box gardens both for charity and to spur urban renewal in rundown neighborhoods.

    Dümpelmann recently published an article on this history in the architectural journal Buildings & Landscapes. She spoke with The Conversation U.S. about what she learned.

    Some homeowners change out their plants throughout the year.
    Sonja Dümpelmann, CC BY-SA

    How did you become interested in window boxes?

    When I first moved to Philadelphia from Cambridge, Massachusetts, in August 2019, I was immediately struck by the window boxes. The lushness and freshness of the plants in many of the boxes, and sometimes in sidewalk planters, made walking more pleasant and interesting. This was especially the case in the hot summer months when I would often see plants from subtropical and tropical climates in the Rittenhouse Square, Fitler Square and Graduate Hospital neighborhoods.

    I noticed that there were three categories of window boxes. Many were visibly cared for, often freshly planted and decorated several times a year in accordance with the changing seasons. Some were derelict and had spontaneous growth of saplings and different grasses. And a third category were boxes outfitted with plastic plants, perhaps signaling absentee owners or landlords who seek to simulate care.

    What makes them landscape architecture?

    Window boxes – especially the planted boxes, but also painted boxes that are empty – change outdoor space and building exteriors. They make them more colorful and interesting, and they break up plain vertical walls by protruding from the facade.

    You could say that the window boxes “greet” passersby. They connect private indoor space with the public realm of the street. As one early window-box promoter observed in 1903, “The man in the street gets as much enjoyment out of them as its owner.”

    “Gardens in a box,” as they were also referred to by early promoters, can make homes and entire neighborhoods look and feel different. They forge distinct identities with their plant selection and the style and color of the boxes.

    Window gardens are a way to greet passersby on the street.
    Sonja Dümpelmann, CC BY-SA

    How did window gardening begin?

    Window gardening became popular in Victorian England and continental Europe in the 19th century. It began as an indoor activity and was practiced especially by women, but it soon also moved outdoors. There it became part of what American women in the late 19th century called “municipal housekeeping.” It extended their conventional female roles as housekeepers and mothers into the larger “household” of the community.

    Window gardening became a means of female social reform during the Progressive Era. During this period in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when industries and cities were growing fast, women sought to improve education, public health and living conditions, especially for poor and immigrant communities. By offering plants, flowers and entire window boxes, the women supported homemakers of lesser means.

    However, these boxes were also a way to make sure that order in and outside of homes was maintained. Window gardens became cultural symbols of cleanliness and good housekeeping. Furthermore, reformers considered window gardening as a practice that could help immigrants assimilate into American society.

    When did they become political?

    In Philadelphia there were two big window-gardening movements. The first occurred in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and I describe it as window-box charity. The second, which I call window-box activism, began in the 1950s.

    Window-box charity was carried out primarily by white philanthropists and social workers who would distribute plants and goods sent from outside the city to the urban poor and sick, especially immigrants and Black Americans. Sometimes the window boxes were ready to be installed outside the windows. Other times recipients built and planted boxes themselves.

    The Neighborhood Garden Association, the organization that pioneered window-box activism, at work near the now-closed Alexander Wilson School in West Philadelphia in 1955.
    Courtesy of the McLean Library and Archives, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

    Several decades later, in the mid-20th-century, plants became a vehicle for white suburban garden club ladies and Black inner-city residents to counter urban decay resulting from racism and public disinvestment. On annual planting days, the garden club ladies brought plants into the city and joined residents in planting and installing window boxes to brighten up their neighborhood blocks.

    Plants were key in both window-box charity and window-box activism. People came together to care for plants, creating friendships among neighbors and ties between low-income and wealthy neighborhoods. The women used plants and window boxes to protect private space and increase the safety of public space. In the 1960s, the Philadelphia police reported less crime on streets with window boxes.

    Of course, window boxes and plants alone could not solve larger urban social problems such as poor housing conditions and racial discrimination. So while they could be catalysts of neighborhood change, they also helped to camouflage and quite literally naturalize larger social problems that required political responses.

    Are they still linked to urban renewal?

    Like a smaller version of public parks, community gardens and street trees, window gardens can contribute to green gentrification. This occurs when the construction of parks or the planting of trees contributes to an increase in property values that leads to the displacement of long-term residents in low-income neighborhoods.

    Window gardening did help save some of Philly’s old row house neighborhoods from demolition during urban renewal beginning in the 1950s. However, quite a few of these neighborhoods – such as Washington Square West and Graduate Hospital – have since been gentrified, and families who once window gardened to turn their neighborhoods into more beautiful and safer places could no longer afford to live there.

    The 20th century window-box activism drew the attention of sociologists and other national and international observers, especially because it brought white and Black residents together during the tensions of the Civil Rights Movement. It also raised public awareness about unequal access to urban green spaces.

    Window boxes on Delancey Street in Philadelphia.
    Photo by R. Kennedy for Visit Philadelphia, CC BY-SA

    Yet despite the movement’s good intentions and positive effects, racial segregation remains a persistent problem in Philadelphia.

    In gentrified parts of Center City today, new and restored row houses often include fixtures and built-in irrigation pipes for window boxes. Many owners outsource window-box planting and maintenance to paid service providers.

    But for lower-income residents, the costs in both time and money to install and maintain window gardens can be prohibitive.

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

    – ref. The hidden history of Philadelphia’s window-box gardens and their role in urban reform – https://theconversation.com/the-hidden-history-of-philadelphias-window-box-gardens-and-their-role-in-urban-reform-254361

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Pope Francis’ death right after Easter sounds miraculous – but patients and caregivers often work together to delay dying

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Michelle Riba, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, University of Michigan

    Pope Francis died after celebrating Easter with his congregants. AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia

    On the morning of Easter Monday, after his final public address the day prior, Pope Francis died at age 88, closing 12 years of leading the Catholic Church. He joins the phenomena of people “holding on” until after an anticipated date or event, such as the holidays or a birthday, before dying.

    It sometimes seems like some patients are able to stay alive out of sheer willpower. But for many people, behind the scenes are a village of people and an ongoing series of conversations that help patients be able to celebrate their child’s graduation or travel to a place they’ve always wanted to go.

    We asked Dr. Michelle Riba, director of the psycho-oncology program at the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center, to explain how meaning matters just as much as medicine at the end of life.

    What factors come into play at the end of life?

    Psychosocial factors that affect a person’s mental health and well-being – such as stress, social support, depression and anxiety, and socioeconomic status – play an important part of all parts of life, but especially at the end of life. End of life refers to the days, weeks or months after somebody is told that they have a disease that can be fatal.

    Questions about meaning and what’s important to a patient and their family are important at all times. But when somebody is diagnosed with a grave illness, these questions become particularly important to acknowledge in medical conversations. As many doctors like to say, patients aren’t the disease, they have a disease.

    We want to give patients control about how they want to live their lives in the most meaningful way, especially at the end. And this includes how they want to use their time, energy and resources, who they want to spend their time with and where they want to be.

    How does the ‘will to live’ affect treatment and survival?

    There was a new movement starting in the 1960s to 1970s that believed a person’s attitude and outlook on life could affect their health and longevity. People like minister Norman Vincent Peale promoted the idea that a positive mindset could help improve outcomes. Psychologist Martin Seligman developed the field of positive psychology that focused on subjective well-being by promoting resilience and human flourishing. The idea that you could do better if you were optimistic resonated with many people, including physicians.

    Then surgeon Bernie Siegel proposed the specific idea that staying positive after a cancer diagnosis could extend your life, and that became a major focus of the movement. However, there was little to no data to support his claims. The studies researchers conducted to figure out whether it was true that people who were more positive lived longer or had a lower prevalence of cancer than those who did not were either flawed or did not consistently show this effect.

    Eventually Siegel’s ideas were disproved. But for a long time, they affected how patients felt about themselves and how their families addressed illness. My own patients would tell me, “How can I be positive? I can’t eat, I’m in pain and I’m sick.” They felt guilty that they couldn’t feel positive and optimistic, and that caused extra stress and reduced their quality of life.

    Learning about what matters most to a patient requires asking them.
    FG Trade/E+ via Getty Images

    Additionally, the social determinants of health – such as a patient’s environment, race, education and wealth – are also very important to their health and longevity. Having a good social life, money and not being discriminated against makes it easier to stay positive and do better in life. During the COVID-19 pandemic, people were less likely to do well if you didn’t have money, or if you were a certain race.

    Research shows that patients who have severe mental illness such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder often live about 20 years less than somebody who doesn’t. And it’s not just because of the disease. Having a severe mental illness means that you probably can’t work, you probably don’t have financial means, and you may not have family support.

    How can doctors help patients feel like they have more control?

    In studying how patients could feel more confident, physicians like me realized that having control over their destiny, if you will, didn’t necessarily mean patients had to stay positive. Rather, it meant understanding the things that gave them joy and meaning before their diagnosis, and how clinicians could help them continue to do these things.

    For example, a patient who could no longer work because of their cancer or their treatments might miss their sense of routine. Working with them to make a schedule of all their medical appointments and enjoyable activities might help them take control over their days. The structure may provide meaning and help them cope better.

    A marathon runner who loses their ability to balance due to a brain tumor is another example. If this patient found meaning and pleasure in running but could no longer run, what could we do to help them regain some of this joy? This might look like starting physical therapy and rehab, or finding alternative activities they can do.

    If going to their place of worship is important to a patient but they’re no longer able to, we could see if their rabbi, imam or minister could see them at their home.

    Additionally, helping patients continue doing what’s meaningful for them also gives them hope. It helps them know that their physicians feel they’re worth doing that for, and that there’s a life beyond cancer treatment.

    How do a patient’s goals factor into their treatment plan?

    When doctors give patients hope, patients tend to have better outcomes. That doesn’t mean we’re telling patients something false, or that they’re going to live a longer time. Rather, doctors can help patients improve or maintain their quality of life and achieve certain goals.

    For example, a patient may be thinking of attending their child’s graduation two months from now. Their care team can talk to them about how they might be able to do this, or think of other ways they can celebrate.

    Feeling supported during a serious illness can make a big difference.
    Joshua Hoehne/Unsplash, CC BY-SA

    My mother passed away from cancer a month after I graduated high school. I remember she couldn’t participate in a lot of senior prom activities, like helping me get a dress or do my hair. But my date and I and another couple were allowed to go to her hospital room just before the prom so she could see us all dressed up. And it was one of the most meaningful moments of my life. Though she couldn’t be there for graduation or all the other preparations and celebrations, it mattered to my mother and me that she was able to see my friends and me before prom. Also, very meaningfully, my friends were so kind and thoughtful to make that effort on our behalf.

    There have been observations that some patients with terminal illness manage to hold on until after a certain holiday or date. A 1988 study found that the number of Jewish people who died before Passover was lower than expected, and the number of deaths after Passover was higher than expected. While this study had flaws and limitations, other researchers have made similar observations for deaths for specific groups after holidays like Christmas, the Mid-Autumn Festival and birthdays.

    But these studies don’t address whether those specific holidays were actually what these patients really cared about. It may be that people made it through something else important to them. It may be that they were able to be with the people they loved at the end. It may be something else entirely. We don’t really know what’s important for someone unless we ask.

    Allowing patients and their families to think about what matters most to them and how we can help them achieve their goals is part of our job as physicians.

    How do you balance a patient’s medical care with their goals?

    Being diagnosed with a terminal illness can be a traumatic event. Patients often can remember where and when they heard the news about a certain illness or scan or problem. How to help people process, understand and live with this to the best of their ability is really the key to having the best quality of life. This means giving them choices and helping them see some ways to address it for themselves and their families.

    Sometimes that can be really hard. For patients who really want to travel somewhere, we might figure out a way to defer specific treatments or procedures, or set up appointments for them to be done at the local hospital or clinic. But there’s not much we can do for a patient who wants to attend their young child’s wedding when that won’t be for decades in the future. The medical team does everything it can within reason, and it tries to make sure the patients and their loved ones understand the risks and benefits.

    Receiving bad news can be a traumatic event.
    Maskot/DigitalVision via Getty Images

    Doctors and patients may also have different goals that can be difficult to meet at the same time. Figuring out how to juggle these agendas and listening to each other during these conversations can be challenging but important.

    Everybody is trying to do what they think is right and best for the patient. This means taking care of the whole person, not just the disease. Whether that means reaching a certain holiday or special event, or just gathering together with the people they love, taking the time and effort to understand what is important for the patient and their family is key to good care.

    Michelle Riba chairs the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Distress Guidelines.

    – ref. Pope Francis’ death right after Easter sounds miraculous – but patients and caregivers often work together to delay dying – https://theconversation.com/pope-francis-death-right-after-easter-sounds-miraculous-but-patients-and-caregivers-often-work-together-to-delay-dying-254970

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 24 April 2025 News release WHO calls for revitalized efforts to end malaria

    Source: World Health Organisation

    On World Malaria Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) is calling for revitalized efforts at all levels, from global policy to community action, to accelerate progress towards malaria elimination.

    In the late 1990s, world leaders laid the foundation for remarkable progress in global malaria control, including preventing more than 2 billion cases of malaria and nearly 13 million deaths since 2000.

    To date, WHO has certified 45 countries and 1 territory as malaria-free, and many countries with a low burden of malaria continue to move steadily towards the goal of elimination. Of the remaining 83 malaria-endemic countries, 25 reported fewer than 10 cases of the disease in 2023.

    However, as history has shown, these gains are fragile.

    “The history of malaria teaches us a harsh lesson: when we divert our attention, the disease resurges, taking its greatest toll on the most vulnerable,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “But the same history also shows us what’s possible: with strong political commitment, sustained investment, multisectoral action and community engagement, malaria can be defeated.”

    Investments in new interventions drive progress

    Years of investment in the development and deployment of new malaria vaccines and next-generation tools to prevent and control malaria are paying off.

    On World Malaria Day, Mali will join 19 other African countries in introducing malaria vaccines—a vital step towards protecting young children from one of the continent’s most deadly diseases. The large-scale rollout of malaria vaccines in Africa is expected to save tens of thousands of young lives every year.

    Meanwhile, the expanded use of a new generation of insecticide-treated nets is poised to lower the disease burden. According to the latest World malaria report, these new nets—which have greater impact against malaria than the standard pyrethroid-only nets—accounted for nearly 80% of all nets delivered in sub-Saharan Africa in 2023, up from 59% the previous year.

    Progress against malaria under threat

    Despite significant gains, malaria remains a major public health challenge, with nearly 600 000 lives lost to the disease in 2023 alone. The African Region is hardest hit, shouldering an estimated 95% of the malaria burden each year.

    In many areas, progress has been hampered by fragile health systems and rising threats such as drug and insecticide resistance. Many at-risk groups continue to miss out on the services they need to prevent, detect and treat malaria. Climate change, conflict, poverty and population displacement are compounding these challenges.

    WHO recently warned that the 2025 funding cuts could further derail progress in many endemic countries, putting millions of additional lives at risk. Of the 64 WHO Country Offices in malaria-endemic countries that took part in a recent WHO stock take assessment, more than half reported moderate or severe disruptions to malaria services.

    Renewed call to protect hard-won gains

    World Malaria Day 2025 – under the theme, “Malaria ends with us: reinvest, reimagine, reignite” – is calling for stepped up political and financial commitment to protect the hard-won gains against malaria.

    To reinvest, WHO joins partners and civil society in calling on malaria-endemic countries to boost domestic spending, particularly in primary health care, so that all at-risk populations can access the services they need to prevent, detect and treat malaria. The successful replenishments of the Global Fund and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, are also critical to financing malaria programmes and interventions, and accelerating progress towards the targets set in the WHO Global technical strategy for malaria 2016-2030.

    Addressing current challenges in global malaria control will also require a reimagined response through innovative tools, strategies and partnerships. New and more effective antimalarial drugs are needed, as all well as advancements in service delivery, diagnostics, insecticides, vaccines and vector control methods.

    More countries are making malaria control and elimination a national priority, including through the Yaoundé Declaration, signed in March 2024 by African Ministers of Health from 11 high burden countries.

    “Ministers committed to strengthening their health systems, stepping up domestic resources, enhancing multisectoral action and ensuring a robust accountability mechanism,” notes Dr Daniel Ngamije, Director of the WHO Global Malaria Programme. “This is the kind of leadership the world must rally behind.”

    Reigniting commitment at all levels – from communities and frontline health workers to governments, researchers, the private sector innovators and donors – will be critical to curbing and, ultimately, ending malaria.

    Notes to the editor:

    For more information on the WHO World Malaria Day campaign, visit: https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-malaria-day/2025

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Competition for filling positions of faculty members

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering –

    In accordance with Article 332 of the Labor Code of the Russian Federation and in connection with the availability of vacant positions of professorial and teaching staff for the 2025/2026 academic year from September 1, 2025, the Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering announces a competitive selection to fill the following positions:

    assistant; senior lecturer; associate professor; professor.

    By department:

    architectural and urban planning heritage; architectural design; architectural and building structures; water use and ecology; geodesy, land management and cadastres; geotechnics; urban planning; design of the architectural environment; reinforced concrete and stone structures; computer science; information systems and technologies; history and theory of architecture; history and philosophy; landscape architecture; mathematics; intercultural communication; construction management; metal and wooden structures; ground transport and technological machines; descriptive geometry and engineering graphics; construction organization; jurisprudence; legal regulation of urban planning and transport; drawing; structural mechanics; structural physics, electric power engineering and electrical engineering; forensic examinations; heat and gas supply and ventilation; technical operation of vehicles; construction production technology; technology of building materials and metrology; technosphere safety; transport systems and road and bridge construction; economics of construction and housing and communal services; economic security.

    The term for which an employment contract will be concluded for each of the above-mentioned positions to be filled, corresponding to the term of election by competition, is three years (until August 31, 2028).

    The competition procedure is determined by the order of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation dated December 4, 2023 No. 1138 “On approval of the Regulation on the procedure for filling the positions of teaching staff related to the faculty” and “Regulations on the organization and procedure for election by competition to positions of teaching staff at SPbGASU” (approved by the decision of the Academic Council of SPbGASU dated June 27, 2024, protocol No. 6 (as amended on April 24, 2025)).

    The qualification requirements are defined:

    The Unified Qualification Handbook of Positions of Managers, Specialists, and Employees (approved by the Order of the Ministry of Health and Social Development of the Russian Federation dated January 11, 2011, No. 1n); the requirements for passing the competitive selection of the teaching staff of SPbGASU (approved by the decision of the Academic Council of SPbGASU dated June 27, 2024, protocol No. 6).

    To participate in the competitive selection, it is necessary to submit an application electronically through the personal account portal between April 24 and May 26, 2025 (HTTPS: // Portal.SPBGASU.ru/ – for employees of SPbGASU, HTTPS: //Conquispps.SPBGASU.ru/ – for applicants who are not employees of SPbGASU) the following documents:

    an application addressed to the rector of the university; a copy of the higher education document; a copy of the candidate/doctor of science diploma (if any); a copy of the associate professor/professor certificate (if any); documents confirming the length of service in scientific and pedagogical work (a certificate of teaching experience or a copy of the work record book, certified at the place of work) – for applicants who are not full-time employees of SPbGASU; a list of scientific and educational-methodical works for the last three years; consent to the processing of personal data; documents confirming the absence of restrictions on employment in the field of education (certificate of no criminal record).

    The procedure and deadlines for making changes to the terms of the competition, as well as its cancellation:

    Amendments to the terms of the competition, as well as its cancellation, are formalized by order of the rector until May 26, 2025.

    In case of a positive decision of the commission, the originals of the competition documents and educational documents are provided by the competition participant upon conclusion of an employment contract to the Human Resources Department from June 27 to August 31, 2025 at the address: 190005, St. Petersburg, 2-ya Krasnoarmeyskaya St., Bldg. 4, office 125, 126. Tel. 316-42-13.

    The competition will be held in person.

    Place, date and time of the competition: June 25, 2025 at 10:00, St. Petersburg, 2-ya Krasnoarmeyskaya st., bldg. 4, room 216.

    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 Canada: Tick Safety Important Across Nova Scotia

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Tick populations are growing in every part of Nova Scotia, urban and rural. With the temperature above freezing, it is important for people to take the necessary steps to protect themselves, their family and pets.

    “Ticks are not just a nuisance, they carry serious diseases,” said Provincial Medical Officer of Health Dr. Jennifer Cram. “That’s why it’s important to take simple precautions like using insect repellants before you spend time outdoors and checking for ticks on your body daily.”

    Ticks like moist and humid environments and can often be found in areas of high vegetation such as tall grass, shrubs, urban parks, gardens and forests.

    There are several kinds of ticks in Nova Scotia, including the blacklegged tick, which is known to transmit diseases such as Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis and Powassan virus infection.

    People can reduce their risk by:

    • checking their clothing and body carefully for ticks after spending time outside
    • wearing long pants and long sleeves in areas likely to have ticks
    • wearing light-coloured clothing (light colours make it easier to see ticks)
    • wearing enclosed shoes and tucking their pants into their socks
    • walking on well-travelled paths, avoiding long grass and vegetation
    • applying insect repellents approved by Health Canada to exposed skin and clothes (following directions carefully).

    People with questions or concerns about tick safety or tick-borne diseases can call 811 or the Nova Scotia Health Tick Hotline at 902-266-7199 or toll-free at 1-866-266-7199.

    Local pharmacists can assess tick bites and determine if a preventive antibiotic is needed. More information is at: https://novascotia.ca/dhw/pharmacare/healthcare-services.asp

    Quick Facts:

    • ticks can be found throughout the province as the weather begins to warm, particularly if the temperature is above 4 degrees C

    Additional Resources:

    More information, including how to remove and dispose of ticks safely, is available at: https://novascotia.ca/ticksafety/

    Tick-check poster: https://novascotia.ca/ticksafety/poster.pdf

    More information about the Nova Scotia Health Tick Hotline is available at: https://www.nshealth.ca/clinics-programs-and-services/nova-scotia-health-tick-service

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI: Quino Energy and Long Hill Energy Partners Awarded $10M in California Energy Commission Grant Funding to Demonstrate an 8 MWh Organic Flow Battery System

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN LEANDRO, Calif., April 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Quino Energy, a company developing water-based flow batteries, and Long Hill Energy Partners, a California-based clean energy developer, have been awarded $10M in grant funding through the California Energy Commission (CEC) Energy Research and Development Division’s Electric Program Investment Charge Program (EPIC). The funding will support a proposed 8 MWh flow battery energy storage project at the High Desert Regional Health Center (HDRHC) in Lancaster, CA.

    This project will be the first U.S. commercial deployment of Quino Energy’s proprietary organic flow battery technology and will demonstrate its viability in large-scale, long-duration storage in an application serving critical infrastructure. It falls within Project Group 2, which focuses on funding multiple use-case demonstrations for energy storage value stacking.

    Quino Energy and Long Hill Energy Partners will jointly develop this proposed project, with Quino leading technology development, integration, and testing and Long Hill serving as lead for project development, permitting and program management and reporting. The demonstration will be conducted in partnership with Los Angeles County, where the site is located, and the Clean Coalition Group, a community-based non-profit specializing in the development and testing of clean energy microgrids.

    Once operational, Quino Energy’s organic flow battery is expected to provide critical energy resiliency and back-up power capacity for up to 100% of HDRHC’s energy demand during peak and off-peak hours while maximizing safety due to the system’s completely non-flammable nature. Additionally, Quino’s flow battery will enable the HDRHC to save over $10 million in electricity costs over the flow battery’s estimated 20-year operating life. Further, the installation of an on-site flow battery will allow Los Angeles County to expand an existing solar carport installed at this site, dramatically increasing the percentage of clean and renewable solar power generated and consumed by the HDRHC and further reducing electricity costs.

    “Quino Energy is grateful to the CEC for its support to demonstrate the potential of scalable, reliable organic flow batteries in our home state of California,” said Eugene Beh, CEO of Quino Energy. “Our technology started as an invention at a lab at Harvard and has rapidly grown in scale by leveraging mature flow battery systems that have been proven over decades with vanadium electrolyte. Our low-cost, non-flammable, and Made in USA organic electrolyte in place of vanadium will allow flow batteries to dramatically come down in cost to be a serious alternative to lithium-ion batteries. We are very excited to work with Long Hill Energy Partners, Los Angeles County, the High Desert Regional Health Center, and the Clean Coalition to showcase our technology in a real-world setting.”

    “Long Hill is excited to partner with the CEC to scale-up and demonstrate Quino Energy’s innovative flow battery solution for LA County’s High Desert Regional Health Center,” said Ed Chiao, Managing Director of Long Hill Energy Partners. “The Clean Coalition Group, a Southern California-based non-profit energy consultancy, will lead community engagement and provide expertise in Microgrid design and implementation. Once installed, the flow battery will provide critical energy resiliency and is also projected to save up to $10 million in energy costs for LA County’s hospital.”

    “We are very pleased that Quino Energy and Long Hill Energy Partners have been awarded $10 million by the CEC,” added Masahiro Sameshima, General Partner at ANRI, a venture capital firm based in Tokyo and one of Quino Energy’s investors. “We believe this recognition reflects the high evaluation of their innovative flow battery technology and its great potential. We look forward to seeing them accelerate their R&D with this funding and contribute to the realization of a decarbonized society.”

    Project permitting is anticipated to begin in Q3 2025; the project is expected to break ground in the Fall of 2026, with the flow battery system coming online in early 2027.

    Quino Energy has previously received funding through the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)’s Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office (AMMTO) to support the development of its flow battery material production line as well as to demonstrate their innovative aqueous organic quinone redox flow battery (QRFB) technology in carbon steel tanks.

    About Quino Energy

    Formed in 2021, Quino Energy is a start-up company that is developing water-based flow batteries that store electrical energy in organic molecules called quinones, for commercial and grid applications. These batteries are predicted to enjoy a unique combination of low capital cost, true fire safety, rapid scalability, and local manufacturability. This is made possible by a number of technological breakthroughs, some of which were first discovered at Harvard University and later licensed by Quino Energy. Please visit quinoenergy.com for more details on the team and the technology.

    About Long Hill Energy Partners

    Long Hill Energy Partners is an energy development company which specializes in supporting the scale-up and commercialization of emerging clean energy technologies. Long Hill partners with innovative venture-stage companies to develop and demonstrate their technology at scale, proving out economic returns for real-world applications.

    Media inquiries:
    quino@fischtankpr.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Press Release of the 33rd Meeting of ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Council

    Source: ASEAN

    KUCHING, Sarawak, Malaysia, 24 April 2025 – The 33rd Meeting of ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Council successfully concluded today. “As the ASCC Blueprint 2025 draws near to its conclusion, the ASCC has taken proactive steps in future-proofing its post-2025 future with the ASCC Strategic Plan, which presents a holistic strategy and measures anchored on sectoral priorities and people’s aspirations.” Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, delivered this optimistic message at the opening of the 33rd Meeting of ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Council on 24 April, in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia.
     
    The ASCC Council Meeting brought together Ministers and representatives of ASEAN Member States to discuss the path forward for the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community, ensuring that it is aligned with the ASEAN Community Vision 2045. The Meeting was presided over by Dato Sri Tiong King Sing, Malaysia’s Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture and the current chair of the ASCC Council. Representatives from Timor-Leste also joined the meeting as Observers.
     
    In his opening message, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn spoke about the ASCC Strategic Plan’s emphasis on deepening engagement with partners and strengthening collaboration with other pillars to address urgent crosscutting challenges, especially in the areas of climate resilience, disaster risk reduction and management, and narrowing the development gaps.
     
    Minister Tiong King Sing lauded the Ad Hoc Working Group and all the sectoral bodies who worked on the ASCC Strategic Plan and highlighted the need to support and sustain its implementation to achieve the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 of a resilient, innovative, dynamic, and people-centred ASEAN.  He also reiterated Malaysia’s commitment in advancing inclusivity, creating fair opportunities for all levels of society, and ensuring that no one is left behind.
     
    At the meeting, the ASCC Council likewise affirmed its support for key priorities under the ASCC Chairmanship of Malaysia that include the following:
     
    (i) Cultural Heritage for Value Creation
    (ii) Artificial Intelligence, Digitalisation and Green Jobs towards Future Proofing Skills and Talents for ASEAN
    (iii) Healthy ASEAN Initiatives Towards a Prosperous ASEAN
    (iv) Youth and Sports Potential for All to Foster Growth, Unity and Excellence
    (v) Climate Action for Stewardship, Partnership and Ownership.
     
    The ASCC Council also endorsed three outcome documents for adoption and notation at the upcoming 46th ASEAN Summit on 26 May 2025, in Kuala Lumpur, namely the ASEAN Declaration of Commitment on ASEAN Drug Security and Self-Reliance (ADSSR), Checklist for ASEAN Member State governments, labour recruiters and employers of migrant workers on fair recruitment and decent employment practices, and 33rd ASCC Council Report to the 46th ASEAN Summit, while the ASEAN Creative Economy Sustainability Framework will be endorsed via ad referendum.
     
    The meeting concluded with the Ministers and representatives expressing their unanimous support for the ASCC Strategic Plan, and demonstrating a renewed vigour to help realise the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.

    Photos credit: Ministry of Tourism Arts and Culture (MOTAC) of Malaysia
    The post Press Release of the 33rd Meeting of ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Council appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 24 April 2025 Expanded use of new dual-insecticide nets offers hope for malaria control efforts in Africa

    Source: World Health Organisation

    Insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) have been a cornerstone of malaria prevention efforts over the past 2 decades, and their widespread use has been instrumental in preventing the disease and saving lives. Since 2000, the global malaria response, including through ITN distribution campaigns, has helped prevent more than 2 billion cases and nearly 13 million deaths.

    Despite progress, malaria-transmitting mosquitoes in many areas have developed resistance to the insecticides commonly used on ITNs – especially pyrethroids – reducing their impact and undermining gains in malaria prevention. This rising threat has prompted researchers to accelerate the development of new types of nets that offer more durable protection against malaria.

    In 2017, WHO recommended the first ITN designed to enhance efficacy against pyrethroid-resistant mosquitoes. While this marked an important step forward, further innovation was needed to develop dual-insecticide nets, assess their efficacy in managing resistant mosquitoes and their impact on malaria transmission, and to evaluate their cost-effectiveness.

    This photo story, published on World Malaria Day 2025, highlights the research, development and scale-up of dual-insecticide ITNs – made possible through years of collaboration among countries, communities, manufacturers, funders and a range of global, regional and national partners.

    A young girl sleeps under a dual-insecticide net in Cameroon. © The Global Fund

    Global partnership launches extensive studies to test dual-insecticide nets

    In 2018, Unitaid and the Global Fund launched the New Nets Project. Led by the Innovative Vector Control Consortium – and working closely with National Malaria Programmes and other partners such as the U.S. Presidents Malaria Initiative, the Gates Foundation and MedAccess – the project supported evidence building and pilots to rapidly accelerate the shift to dual-insecticide nets in sub-Saharan Africa to counter pyrethroid resistance.

    The nets were first deployed in 2019 in Burkina Faso, and then Benin, Mozambique, Rwanda and the United Republic of Tanzania were added in subsequent years to test how the nets performed in different settings.

    By the end of 2022, the New Nets Project, together with the Global Fund and U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative deployed more than 56 million mosquito nets in 17 countries across sub-Saharan Africa where insecticide resistance had been reported.

    Clinical trials and pilot studies found that dual-insecticide nets improved malaria control by 20–50% compared with standard pyrethroid-only nets. Additionally, clinical trials in the United Republic of Tanzania and Benin demonstrated that the pyrethroid-chlorfenapyr nets significantly reduced malaria infections in children between the ages of 6 months and 10 years.

    “The New Nets Project significantly advanced malaria control by accelerating access to dual active ingredient nets, an important tool in the fight against malaria,” said Dr Philippe Duneton, Executive Director of Unitaid. “The success of this initiative is the result of strong partnerships that helped us overcome access barriers and reach communities faster. Together with our partners, we continue working to explore and support innovations that reduce malaria transmission and save lives.”

    The New Nets Project also included research universities, such as Tulane University and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine; advocacy organizations such as PATH, Population Services International (PSI) and the Alliance for Malaria Prevention; and funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Gates Foundation.

    A mother and her 8-month-old son play in their home in Soa, Cameroon. The family sleeps under dual-insecticide mosquito nets to protect themselves from malaria. © The Global Fund/Vincent Becker.

    WHO issues recommendations for new generation nets

    With strong clinical trial and study results, WHO issued recommendations for new generation insecticide-treated nets and updated the WHO guidelines for malaria in 2023. The WHO recommendations covered 2 new classes of dual ingredient ITNs: pyrethroid-chlorfenapyr nets and pyrethroid-pyriproxyfen nets.

    Pyrethroid-chlorfenapyr nets combine a pyrethroid and a pyrrole insecticide to enhance the killing effect of the net and pyrethroid-pyriproxyfen nets combine a pyrethroid with an insect growth regulator (IGR), which disrupts mosquito growth and reproduction.

    Wider scale-up of new generation nets poised to lower disease burden

    Today, malaria-endemic countries and families are recognizing the value of new generation nets in preventing malaria and saving lives. In 2023, nearly 80% of nets delivered in sub-Saharan Africa were these more effective dual-insecticide nets, up from 59% in 2022, according to the latest World malaria report.

    “In 2019, we used to have malaria frequently before we got the nets,” says Elizabeth, a tailor and mother of two young children in the United Republic of Tanzania. “It cost us a lot of money because sometimes we used to go to private hospitals.”

    Since receiving the new generation nets, Elizabeth’s family has stayed free of malaria. “The difference now is that I don’t use the money to treat my child for malaria,” she adds. “Instead, I use the money to pay for school fees.”

    To date, dual-insecticide nets are being used and scaled up in 17 countries in Africa. The rapid scale-up of the new nets and other innovative tools, such as malaria vaccines, offer fresh hope for controlling malaria, especially in countries with the highest risk of the disease.

    “Dual-insecticide nets represent a breakthrough in malaria prevention,” notes Dr Daniel Ngamije, Director of the WHO Global Malaria Programme. “Their development and wide deployment are a testament to what can be achieved through science, sustained investment and global collaboration.”

    Sustained investment in innovations critical to curbing malaria

    Strengthening surveillance, monitoring and management of biological threats – such as insecticide resistance, invasive species and changing vector behaviour – will be essential to curb and, ultimately, eliminate malaria transmission. At the same time, investment in innovative tools to address these evolving challenges remains equally critical.

    Scaling up the deployment and monitoring of next-generation nets, vaccines and other innovations will require sustained investment in malaria control and elimination programmes. This includes securing successful replenishments for the Global Fund and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

    In addition to new nets, researchers are pursuing a range of innovative vector control products, such as spatial repellents, lethal house lures (eaves tubes) and genetic engineering of mosquitoes.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI: Thomas Barnes Joins Monarch Private Capital’s #Bestinclass Renewable Energy Team

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ATLANTA, April 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Monarch Private Capital (Monarch), a nationally recognized impact investment firm that develops, finances, and manages a diversified portfolio of projects generating both federal and state tax credits, is pleased to welcome Thomas Barnes as Manager, Renewable Energy.

    In this newly-created role, Barnes will facilitate all aspects of investment execution, including onboarding, investment alignment, fund documentation, underwriting/closing, and subsequent fundings. He serves as a key liaison between Monarch’s investors and developer partners, working with internal placement, project management, operations, and asset management teams—ensuring a seamless and #bestinclass transaction process.

    Barnes brings extensive tax credit structuring and legal experience to Monarch. Prior to joining the firm, he held several roles within the renewable energy division at U.S. Bank, most recently serving as Syndications Project Manager. In that role, he led investor communications and due diligence efforts, negotiated transaction documents, and facilitated the closing of tax credit investments. Earlier in his tenure at U.S. Bank, Barnes served as an Asset Manager, overseeing a portfolio of renewable energy investments and supporting risk mitigation efforts across legal, tax, and credit functions. Before transitioning into renewable energy finance, Barnes practiced law for nearly a decade, focusing on corporate transactions and contract negotiation for a wide range of clients and industries.

    “Thomas brings a rare combination of legal acumen and transaction execution experience to our already strong team,” said Bryan Didier, Partner and Managing Director of Renewable Energy at Monarch Private Capital. “His ability to manage complexity, collaborate across functions, and drive high-quality outcomes for our investors will undoubtably enhance our #everbetter, #bestinclass execution process.”

    In addition to his transaction responsibilities, Barnes will contribute to process innovation, cross-functional collaboration, and risk management strategies across Monarch’s clean energy portfolio.

    “Monarch is known for its thoughtful, high-performing culture, and I’m excited to be a part of a team that prioritizes excellence and investor success,” said Barnes. “I look forward to contributing to a strong foundation that enables the firm to continue scaling with impact.”

    Barnes earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Minnesota Law School and a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of St. Thomas. Committed to giving back, he has volunteered with organizations including Catholic Charities, Feed the Children, and Project Offstreets, and has mentored and coached youth in both Minneapolis and Denver.

    For more information about Monarch Private Capital, visit www.monarchprivate.com.

    About Monarch Private Capital

    Monarch Private Capital manages impact investment funds that positively impact communities by creating clean power, jobs, and homes. The funds provide predictable returns through the generation of federal and state tax credits. The Company offers innovative tax credit equity investments for affordable housing, historic rehabilitations, renewable energy, film, and other qualified projects. Monarch Private Capital has long-term relationships with institutional and individual investors, developers, and lenders participating in these federal and state programs. Headquartered in Atlanta, Monarch has offices and professionals located throughout the United States.

    CONTACT
    Jane Rafeedie
    Monarch Private Capital
    Jrafeedie@monarchprivate.com
    470-283-8431

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/11639d57-4ef6-4162-9d83-aa2972dbe120

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: CERo Therapeutics Holdings, Inc. Announces Sarah Cannon Research Institute at Colorado Blood Cancer Institute as Key Clinical Trial Site for its Phase 1 Clinical Trial of CER-1236 in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SOUTH SAN FRANSCISCO, Calif, April 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CERo Therapeutics Holdings, Inc., (Nasdaq: CERO) (“CERo” or the “Company”) an innovative immunotherapy company seeking to advance the next generation of engineered T cell therapeutics that employ phagocytic mechanisms, announces that Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI) at Colorado Blood Cancer Institute (CBCI) in Denver, Colorado will be a key clinical trial site for the Company’s Phase 1 clinical trial of CER-1236. Partnering with SCRI to advance cancer research, CBCI is the region’s leader in blood cancer care and serves a seven-state region. The trial is focused on patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and patient enrollment is underway with first dosing of the initial cohort of patients expected by June.

    Dr. Yazan Migdady, Co-Director, Research and Clinical Innovation for the Myeloid Disease & Allogeneic Stem Cell Program at Colorado Blood Cancer Institute, an investigator in the trial, commented, “The use of chimeric engulfment receptor technology in cellular therapy for AML offers new hope for patients battling aggressive leukemia. This trial represents a crucial step forward in developing innovative therapies, enhancing patient clinical and survival outcomes by improving treatment efficacy, reducing relapse rates, and ultimately bringing a brighter future to AML patients and their families.”

    The first-in-human, multi-center, open label, Phase 1/1b study is designed to evaluate the safety and preliminary efficacy of CER-1236 in patients with acute myeloid leukemia that is either relapsed/refractory, has measurable residual disease, or has a mutation of the TP53 gene. The two-part study will begin with dose escalation to determine highest tolerated dose and recommended dose for Phase 2, followed by an expansion phase to evaluate safety and efficacy. Primary outcome measures include incidence of adverse events (AEs) and serious adverse events (SAEs), incidence of dose limited toxicities and estimation of overall response rate (ORR), complete response (CR), composite complete response (cCR), and measurable residual disease (MRD). Secondary outcome measures include pharmacokinetics (PK).

    Chris Ehrlich, CERo Therapeutics CEO added, “CBCI is a world-renowned cancer center, and we believe their participation in our AML trial is continued validation of the scientific work performed to date with CER-1236. We look forward to announcing enrollment and initial dosing in the near term for this trial and to progress in launching our solid tumor study.”

    About CERo Therapeutics Holdings, Inc.

    CERo is an innovative immunotherapy company advancing the development of next generation engineered T cell therapeutics for the treatment of cancer. Its proprietary approach to T cell engineering, which enables it to integrate certain desirable characteristics of both innate and adaptive immunity into a single therapeutic construct, is designed to engage the body’s full immune repertoire to achieve optimized cancer therapy. This novel cellular immunotherapy platform is expected to redirect patient-derived T cells to eliminate tumors by building in engulfment pathways that employ phagocytic mechanisms to destroy cancer cells, creating what CERo refers to as Chimeric Engulfment Receptor T cells (“CER-T”). CERo believes the differentiated activity of CER-T cells will afford them greater therapeutic application than currently approved chimeric antigen receptor (“CAR-T”) cell therapy, as the use of CER-T may potentially span both hematological malignancies and solid tumors. CERo anticipates initiating clinical trials for its lead product candidate, CER-1236, in 2025 for hematological malignancies.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This communication contains statements that are forward-looking and as such are not historical facts. This includes, without limitation, statements regarding the financial position, business strategy and the plans and objectives of management for future operations of CERo and the implementation of its proposed plan of compliance with Nasdaq continued listing standards. These statements constitute projections, forecasts and forward-looking statements, and are not guarantees of performance. Such statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. When used in this communication, words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “strive,” “would” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. When CERo discusses its strategies or plans, it is making projections, forecasts or forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on the beliefs of, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to, CERo’s management.

    Actual results could differ from those implied by the forward-looking statements in this communication. Certain risks that could cause actual results to differ are set forth in CERo’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed on April 15, 2025, and the documents incorporated by reference therein. The risks described in CERo’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission are not exhaustive. New risk factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible to predict all such risk factors, nor can CERo assess the impact of all such risk factors on its business, or the extent to which any factor or combination of factors may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. You should not put undue reliance on these statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. All forward-looking statements made by CERo or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements. CERo undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

    Contact:
    Chris Ehrlich
    Chief Executive Officer
    chris@cero.bio

    Investors:
    CORE IR
    investors@cero.bio

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Mayor launches powerful Mental Health Arts exhibition in Strabane

    Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

    Mayor launches powerful Mental Health Arts exhibition in Strabane

    24 April 2025

    The Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Lilian Seenoi Barr, recently launched the solo exhibition ‘Narratives’ by Derry-born artist Eamon McAteer at the Alley Theatre in Strabane. The stunning collection of paintings resonates deeply with the theme of this year’s NI Mental Health Arts Festival ‘CathARTSis,’ a play on the word catharsis.

    The launch was attended by an appreciative audience of family, friends, art educationalists, and fellow artists, all gathered to celebrate Eamon McAteer’s powerful body of work. ‘Narratives’ offers viewers a glimpse into the artist’s emotional responses and personal interpretations, providing solace and sanctuary in today’s often chaotic world.

    Mayor Barr emphasised the significance of the festival, saying: “The NI Mental Health Arts Festival is a powerful initiative which brings hope to many in our community. The power of artistic expression cannot be understated. In a world where the pressures of daily life can often feel overwhelming, this festival provides a vital lifeline. It offers a compassionate space where individuals can share their most personal experiences, find solace in creativity, and connect with others through the universal language of art.”

    She further added, “Our mental health is precious, and programmes like this remind us that seeking support, expressing our vulnerabilities, and celebrating our resilience are fundamental to our collective well-being. By platforming diverse stories through music, visual arts, performance, and literature, the festival breaks down barriers and helps destigmatise conversations around mental health. I had the pleasure of opening Eamon McAteer’s show ‘Narratives’ at the Alley Theatre and saw first-hand how much the paintings resonated with the audience. The festival is a wonderful initiative which offers an outlet where mental health can be promoted in a positive, open and welcoming environment, well done to everyone involved.”

    Artist Eamon McAteer expressed his delight at being part of the festival, saying: “I am delighted to be exhibiting my solo show of paintings, ‘Narratives’ at The Alley Theatre as part of the NI Mental Health Arts Festival. My work resonates with the festival’s theme of CathARTSis. My focus is to create something personal, individual and honest. The work is inspired by my emotional response to a wide variety of influences, I paint intuitively in the studio so that the work suggests memories and personal interpretations. There is a sense of intimacy and intensity, and the idea of a glimpse into a remembered reality. My paintings mostly relate to the Irish expressionist landscape tradition.”

    Noelle Mc Alinden, Co-Chair of the NI Mental Health Arts Festival, highlighted the importance of such exhibitions saying: “There is no doubt that Eamon’s exhibition provides a wonderful opportunity to inspire and enthuse audiences young and old. Exhibitions like this help to show the power of the arts and the vital role our artists contribute to the inspiration and well-being of others.”

    Eamon McAteer’s exhibition ‘Narratives’ will continue at The Alley Theatre Strabane until May 30th.

    The NI Mental Health Arts Festival will run from May 9th to May 20th across Northern Ireland, featuring a diverse programme of events including poetry, comedy, dance, theatre, walks, talks, and tours. Two major symposiums will also take place, in Belfast on May 9th and in the Guildhall on May 20th. Both events are free and are guaranteed to inspire, providing an excellent forum for compassionate dialogue, performances, panel discussions and excellent insights from those with lived experience drawn from Health, Arts, Community, Education and Academic Research. The events will be hosted by the Mayors of both cities. Celebrating artists from across Northern Ireland the NI Mental Health Arts Forum is delighted Derry-based artist Bronagh Corr McNicholl’s photographic exhibition is touring between both cities – first at The Garden of Reflection in Derry and then Belfast Exposed. Justine Scoltock’s exhibition Hidden Layers also features in the Garden of Reflection throughout May.

    For more information on the NI Mental Health Arts Festival and the exciting  programme of events, please visit www.nimhaf.org.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: EUDA Partners with Authorized Distributor of Guangdong Cell Biotech to Offer Stem Cell Therapies to Customers in Singapore and Malaysia

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE, April 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — EUDA Health Holdings Limited (“EUDA” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: EUDA), a Singapore-based property management services provider and a leading non-invasive healthcare provider in Singapore and Malaysia, today announced an update to the potential strategic partnership, previously announced in December 2024, with Guangdong Cell Biotech Co. Ltd. (“Guangdong Cell Biotech”). Guangdong Cell Biotech is a prominent player in stem cell therapies and regenerative medicine in China. It develops autologous cell treatments and tailored medicines for various disorders.

    Instead of the initially contemplated joint venture, the parties have adopted a commercial distribution arrangement structure that better aligns with their respective operational models and regional market dynamics.

    On April 22, 2025, CK Health Plus Sdn Bhd (“CK Health”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of EUDA and a direct seller of holistic wellness consumer products, signed a collaboration agreement with Guangdong Key Lock Health Management Co., Ltd. (“Keylock”), an authorized distributor of Guangdong Cell Biotech. Pursuant to this collaboration agreement, CK Health will market and sell to EUDA customers in Singapore and Malaysia stem cell therapies provided by Guangdong Cell Biotech in China.

    This revised structure builds upon the original strategic intent of the parties to collaborate, giving EUDA access to Guangdong Cell Biotech’s cutting-edge stem cell therapies and regenerative medicine.

    “This commercial distribution structure showcases our strategy to diversify our business and revenue streams,” said Mr. Alfred Lim, CEO of EUDA. “Combining our mission to expand access to holistic healthcare solutions in Southeast Asia with Guangdong Cell Biotech’s established stem cell therapies, we aim to transform the health and wellness landscape in the region.”

    About EUDA Health Holdings Limited

    EUDA Health Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: EUDA) is a Singapore-based property management services provider and a leading non-invasive healthcare provider in Singapore and Malaysia. Our mission is to transform the health and wellness landscape by leveraging cutting-edge technology to enhance non-invasive treatments and expand holistic healthcare access in Southeast Asia. We offer a diverse portfolio of innovative non-invasive wellness products and services, including bioenergy capsules and stem cell therapies, marketed under the CK Health brand in Malaysia and Singapore.

    Forward Looking Statements

    This document may contain forward-looking statements regarding risks and uncertainties. These statements usually use forward-looking words, such as the words “estimates,” “projected,” “expects,” “envisions,” “anticipates,” “forecasts,” “plans,” “intends,” “believes,” “seeks,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “future,” “propose” and variations of these words or similar expressions (or the negative versions of such words or expressions).These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, conditions or results, and involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors, many of which are outside EUDA’s control, that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. You should not overly rely on forward-looking statements that are only applicable to the date of publication of this document. These forward-looking statements are based on information from EUDA and Guangdong Cell Biotech, as well as other sources that we believe are reliable. The Company does not undertake any 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.

    Contact:

    Christensen Advisory

    Roger Hu

    +852.2232.3968

    roger.hu@christensencomms.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: First Northwest Bancorp Reports First Quarter 2025 Improved Profitability

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PORT ANGELES, Wash., April 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — First Northwest Bancorp (Nasdaq: FNWB) (“First Northwest” or the “Company”) today reported net income of $1.5 million for the first quarter of 2025, compared to a net loss of $2.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2024 and net income of $396,000 for the first quarter of 2024. Basic and diluted income per share were $0.17 for the first quarter of 2025, compared to basic and diluted loss per share of $0.32 for the fourth quarter of 2024 and basic and diluted income per share of $0.04 for the first quarter of 2024.

    In the first quarter of 2025, the Company recorded adjusted pre-tax, pre-provision net revenue (“PPNR”)(1) of $1.5 million, compared to $1.4 million for the preceding quarter and $1.2 million for the first quarter of 2024.

    The Board of Directors of First Northwest declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.07 per common share, payable on May 23, 2025, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on May 9, 2025.

    Quote from First Northwest President and CEO, Matthew P. Deines:
    “We were pleased to see improved profitability in the first quarter of 2025, which helped grow capital levels and tangible book value. We saw improvement on our asset quality metrics, with nonperforming loans 14% lower than the prior quarter, and remain focused on continued asset quality improvement over the balance of 2025. Core commercial and consumer customer growth was positive during the first quarter, with lower net loans and deposits largely the result of a decrease in funding to one large wholesale relationship and reduced brokered deposit balances. We expect better core growth and asset quality trends, combined with ongoing expense discipline and modest margin improvement, will continue to improve profitability and capital in future quarters. With improved profitability, we are evaluating the potential for future stock buybacks.”

    Key Points for First Quarter and Going Forward

    Positive Balance Sheet Trends:

    • A favorable deposit mix shift included a $45.0 million decrease in brokered deposits while core customer deposits grew $23.0 million. The loan-to-deposit ratio was stable at 99.9% compared to 99.3% in the fourth quarter of 2024.
    • The Company reduced borrowings by $28.9 million. The total cost of funds decreased to 2.67% compared to 2.80% in the fourth quarter of 2024.

    Update on provision for credit losses:

    • The Company recorded a $1.6 million provision for credit losses on loans in the first quarter of 2025, primarily due to $1.4 million of charge-offs related to three commercial business loans, one commercial construction loan and a small number of consumer loans. This compares to loan credit loss provisions of $3.8 million for the preceding quarter and $1.2 million for the first quarter of 2024.
    • We believe the reserve on individually analyzed loans does not represent a universal decline in the collectability of all loans in the portfolio. We continue to work on resolution plans for all troubled borrowers and expect further improvement in nonperforming loans over the course of 2025.

    Other significant events:

    • First Fed Bank’s (“First Fed” or the “Bank”) balance sheet restructuring continued with the remaining bank-owned life insurance policy (“BOLI”) surrender transaction recorded in the first quarter of 2025, with $266,000 of tax and penalties recorded in the provision for income tax. The surrendered policy value was reinvested in the second quarter of 2025. We expect to receive the return of the surrendered funds early in the third quarter of 2025.
    • We sadly lost a former Bank employee in the first quarter of 2025, resulting in a $1.1 million BOLI death benefit gain.
    • The Company recorded a $846,000 gain on extinguishment of debt related to repurchasing $5.0 million of subordinated debt at a discount during the first quarter of 2025. In addition to the current quarter gain, the future cost related to interest expense on the subordinated debt will be reduced.
    • The Company also recognized a $315,000 gain on the conversion of a commercial business loan receivable into a Series A equity investment during the first quarter of 2025.

    (1) See reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures later in this release.

    Selected Quarterly Financial Ratios:

        As of or For the Quarter Ended  
        March 31,
    2025    		     December 31,
    2024    		     September 30,
    2024    		     June 30,
    2024    		     March 31,
    2024    		  
    Performance ratios: (1)                                        
    Return on average assets     0.28 %     -0.51 %     -0.36 %     -0.40 %     0.07 %
    Adjusted PPNR return on average assets (2)     0.27       0.26       0.17       0.10       0.22  
    Return on average equity     3.92       -6.92       -4.91       -5.47       0.98  
    Net interest margin (3)     2.76       2.73       2.70       2.76       2.76  
    Efficiency ratio (4)     79.4       92.2       100.3       72.3       88.8  
    Equity to total assets     7.22       6.89       7.13       7.17       7.17  
    Book value per common share   $ 16.63     $ 16.45     $ 17.17     $ 16.81     $ 17.00  
    Tangible performance ratios: (1)                                        
    Tangible common equity to tangible assets (2)     7.15 %     6.83 %     7.06 %     7.10 %     7.10 %
    Return on average tangible common equity (2)     3.96       -6.99       -4.96       -5.53       0.99  
    Tangible book value per common share (2)   $ 16.48     $ 16.29     $ 17.00     $ 16.64     $ 16.83  
    Capital ratios (First Fed): (5)                                        
    Tier 1 leverage     9.5 %     9.4 %     9.4 %     9.4 %     9.7 %
    Common equity Tier 1 capital     12.7       12.4       12.2       12.4       12.6  
    Total risk-based     13.9       13.6       13.4       13.5       13.6  
    (1 ) Performance ratios are annualized, where appropriate.
    (2 ) See reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures later in this release.
    (3 ) Net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets.
    (4 ) Total noninterest expense as a percentage of net interest income and total other noninterest income.
    (5 ) Current period capital ratios are preliminary and subject to finalization of the FDIC Call Report.


    Adjusted Pre-tax, Pre-Provision Net Revenue     (1)

    Adjusted PPNR for the first quarter of 2025 increased $40,000 to $1.5 million, compared to $1.4 million for the preceding quarter, and increased $308,000 from $1.2 million in the first quarter one year ago.

        For the Quarter Ended  
    (Dollars in thousands)   March 31,
    2025    		     December 31,
    2024    		     September 30,
    2024    		     June 30,
    2024    		     March 31,
    2024    		  
    Net interest income   $ 13,847     $ 14,137     $ 14,020     $ 14,235     $ 13,928  
    Total noninterest income     4,092       1,300       1,779       7,347       2,188  
    Total revenue     17,939       15,437       15,799       21,582       16,116  
    Total noninterest expense     14,249       14,233       15,848       15,609       14,303  
    PPNR (1)     3,690       1,204       (49 )     5,973       1,813  
    Less selected nonrecurring adjustments to PPNR:                                        
    BOLI death benefit     1,059       1,536       —       —       —  
    Gain on extinguishment of subordinated debt included in other income     846       —       —       —       —  
    Gain on conversion of loan receivable into Series A equity investment     315       —       —       —       —  
    Equity investment repricing adjustment     —       (1,762 )     —       —       651  
    One-time compensation payouts related to reduction in force     —       —       (996 )     —       —  
    Net gain on sale of premises and equipment     —       —       —       7,919       —  
    Sale leaseback taxes and assessments included in occupancy and equipment     —       —       —       (359 )     —  
    Net gain on sale of investment securities     —       —       —       (2,117 )     —  
    Adjusted PPNR (1)   $ 1,470     $ 1,430     $ 947     $ 530     $ 1,162  

    (1) See reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures later in this release.

    • Total interest income decreased $1.4 million to $26.8 million for the first quarter of 2025, compared to $28.2 million for the previous quarter, and decreased $503,000 compared to $27.3 million in the first quarter of 2024. Interest income decreased in the first quarter of 2025 primarily due to a decrease in the income earned on loans receivable and reduced interest income received on Company deposit accounts as both yields earned and average volumes decreased. Average loan balances and related interest income were impacted by a significant decrease in the Northpointe Bank Mortgage Purchase Program (“Northpointe Bank MPP”) of $24.7 million and $461,000, respectively. Variable-rate yields on loans and investments were impacted by the cumulative 100 basis points Federal Reserve rate cuts which occurred between September and December 2024.
    • Total interest expense decreased $1.1 million to $13.0 million for the first quarter of 2025, compared to $14.1 million for the previous quarter, and decreased $422,000 compared to $13.4 million in the first quarter of 2024. Interest expense decreased in the first quarter of 2025 primarily due to decreases in interest paid on brokered certificates of deposit (“CDs”), money market accounts and customer CDs.
    • The net interest margin increased to 2.76% for the first quarter of 2025, from 2.73% for the prior quarter, and was flat compared to the first quarter of 2024. The Company reported reduced rates and declining volumes of CDs and money market accounts during the first quarter of 2025 which lowered costs; however, these savings were partially offset by a decrease in interest earned on loans and an increase in cost due to higher average borrowings.
    • Noninterest income included a $1.1 million BOLI death benefit payment received due to the passing of a former employee, a $846,000 gain on extinguishment of debt and a $315,000 gain on the conversion of a loan receivable into an equity investment during the current quarter.
    • Noninterest expense was relatively unchanged at $14.3 million for the first quarter of 2025, compared to the previous quarter and the first quarter of 2024.

    Allowance for Credit Losses on Loans (“ACLL”) and Credit Quality

    The allowance for credit losses on loans (“ACLL”) increased $176,000 to $20.6 million at March 31, 2025, from $20.5 million at December 31, 2024. The ACLL as a percentage of total loans was 1.24% at March 31, 2025, an increase from 1.21% at December 31, 2024, and an increase from 1.05% one year earlier. The small increase to the pooled loan reserve combined with charge-offs totaling $1.4 million resulted in a provision expense of $1.6 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2025.

    Nonperforming loans totaled $26.4 million at March 31, 2025, a decrease of $4.1 million, or 13.5%, from December 31, 2024. ACLL to nonperforming loans increased to 78% at March 31, 2025, from 67% at December 31, 2024, and decreased from 92% at March 31, 2024. This ratio increased during the first quarter as principal payments and charge-offs decreased balances on loans that were already adequately reserved.

    Classified loans decreased $4.7 million to $37.9 million at March 31, 2025, from $42.5 million at December 31, 2024, primarily due to $3.9 million in principal payments received on two commercial construction loans and charge-offs totaling $825,000 on two commercial business loans and one commercial construction loan during the first quarter. An $8.1 million construction loan relationship, which became a classified loan in the fourth quarter of 2022; a $7.2 million commercial construction loan relationship, which became classified in the second quarter of 2024; and a $6.2 million commercial loan relationship, which became classified in the fourth quarter of 2023, account for 57% of the classified loan balance at March 31, 2025. The Bank has exercised legal remedies, including the appointment of a third-party receiver and foreclosure actions, to liquidate the underlying collateral to satisfy the real estate loans in two of these three collateral-dependent relationships. The Bank is also closely monitoring a group of commercial business loans that have similar collateral, with 16 loans totaling $1.7 million included in classified loans at March 31, 2025, and an additional seven loans totaling $2.4 million included in the special mention risk grading category.

        For the Quarter Ended  
    ACLL ($ in thousands)   March 31,
    2025    		     December 31,
    2024    		     September 30,
    2024    		     June 30,
    2024    		     March 31,
    2024    		  
    Balance at beginning of period   $ 20,449     $ 21,970     $ 19,343     $ 17,958     $ 17,510  
    Charge-offs:                                        
    Construction and land     (374 )     (411 )     —       (3,978 )     —  
    Auto and other consumer     (243 )     (364 )     (492 )     (832 )     (806 )
    Commercial business     (811 )     (4,596 )     (24 )     (2,643 )     (33 )
    Total charge-offs     (1,428 )     (5,371 )     (516 )     (7,453 )     (839 )
    Recoveries:                                        
    One-to-four family     —       —       42       —       2  
    Commercial real estate     6       2       —       —       —  
    Auto and other consumer     43       52       24       198       46  
    Commercial business     2       36       —       —       —  
    Total recoveries     51       90       66       198       48  
    Net loan charge-offs     (1,377 )     (5,281 )     (450 )     (7,255 )     (791 )
    Provision for credit losses     1,553       3,760       3,077       8,640       1,239  
    Balance at end of period   $ 20,625     $ 20,449     $ 21,970     $ 19,343     $ 17,958  
                                             
    Average total loans     1,662,164       1,708,232       1,718,402       1,717,830       1,678,656  
    Annualized net charge-offs to average outstanding loans     0.34 %     1.23 %     0.10 %     1.70 %     0.19 %
    Asset Quality ($ in thousands)   March 31,
    2025    		     December 31,
    2024    		     September 30,
    2024    		     June 30,
    2024    		     March 31,
    2024    		  
    Nonaccrual loans:                                        
    One-to-four family   $ 1,404     $ 1,477     $ 1,631     $ 1,750     $ 1,237  
    Multi-family     —       —       —       708       708  
    Commercial real estate     5,574       5,598       5,634       14       22  
    Construction and land     15,280       19,544       19,382       19,292       14,440  
    Home equity     54       55       116       118       121  
    Auto and other consumer     710       700       894       746       1,012  
    Commercial business     3,365       3,141       2,719       1,003       1,941  
    Total nonaccrual loans     26,387       30,515       30,376       23,631       19,481  
    Other real estate owned     —       —       —       —       —  
    Total nonperforming assets   $ 26,387     $ 30,515     $ 30,376     $ 23,631     $ 19,481  
                                             
    Nonaccrual loans as a % of total loans (1)     1.59 %     1.80 %     1.75 %     1.39 %     1.14 %
    Nonperforming assets as a % of total assets (2)     1.21       1.37       1.35       1.07       0.87  
    ACLL as a % of total loans     1.24       1.21       1.27       1.14       1.05  
    ACLL as a % of nonaccrual loans     78.16       67.01       72.33       81.85       92.18  
    Total past due loans to total loans     1.74       1.98       1.92       1.45       1.91  
    (1 ) Nonperforming loans consists of nonaccruing loans and accruing loans more than 90 days past due.
    (2 ) Nonperforming assets consists of nonperforming loans (which include nonaccruing loans and accruing loans more than 90 days past due), real estate owned and repossessed assets.


    Financial Condition and Capital

    Investment securities decreased $24.9 million, or 7.3%, to $315.4 million at March 31, 2025, compared to $340.3 million three months earlier, and decreased $10.5 million compared to $326.0 million at March 31, 2024. The market value of the portfolio increased $3.1 million during the first quarter of 2025. The estimated average life of the securities portfolio was approximately 6.9 years at March 31, 2025, 6.9 years at the prior quarter end and 7.8 years at the end of the first quarter of 2024. The effective duration of the portfolio was approximately 4.3 years at March 31, 2025, compared to 3.9 years at the prior quarter end and 4.4 years at the end of the first quarter of 2024. The MBS non-agency portfolio decreased $20.2 million due to early redemptions and maturities and $2.4 million from regular repayment activity during the most recent quarter.
     

    Investment Securities ($ in thousands)     March 31,
    2025    		       December 31,
    2024    		       March 31,
    2024    		       Three Month
    % Change    		       One Year
    % Change    		  
    Available for Sale at Fair Value                                        
    Municipal bonds   $ 78,295     $ 77,876     $ 87,004       0.5 %     -10.0 %
    U.S. government agency issued asset-backed securities (ABS agency)     12,643       12,876       14,822       -1.8       -14.7  
    Corporate issued asset-backed securities (ABS corporate)     15,671       16,122       13,929       -2.8       12.5  
    Corporate issued debt securities (Corporate debt)     55,067       54,491       53,031       1.1       3.8  
    U.S. Small Business Administration securities (SBA)     8,061       8,666       7,911       -7.0       1.9  
    Mortgage-backed securities:                                        
    U.S. government agency issued mortgage-backed securities (MBS agency)     96,642       98,697       83,271       -2.1       16.1  
    Non-agency issued mortgage-backed securities (MBS non-agency)     49,054       71,616       65,987       -31.5       -25.7  
    Total securities available for sale   $ 315,433     $ 340,344     $ 325,955       -7.3       -3.2  

    Net loans, excluding loans held for sale, decreased $31.4 million, or 1.9%, to $1.64 billion at March 31, 2025, from $1.68 billion at December 31, 2024, and decreased $49.0 million, or 2.9%, from $1.69 billion one year prior. Construction loans that converted into fully amortizing loans during the quarter totaled $13.3 million. Loan payoffs of $71.0 million, regular payments of $29.4 million and charge-offs totaling $1.4 million outpaced new loan funding totaling $45.3 million and draws on existing loans totaling $23.3 million. The large decrease in commercial business loans was due to the change in funding needs of the Northpointe Bank MPP, which dropped $36.2 million compared to the prior quarter.

    Loans ($ in thousands)     March 31,
    2025    		       December 31,
    2024    		       March 31,
    2024    		       Three Month
    % Change    		       One Year
    % Change    		  
    Real Estate:                                        
    One-to-four family   $ 394,428     $ 395,315     $ 383,905       -0.2 %     2.7 %
    Multi-family     338,147       332,596       339,538       1.7       -0.4  
    Commercial real estate     392,882       390,379       385,130       0.6       2.0  
    Construction and land     64,877       78,110       125,347       -16.9       -48.2  
    Total real estate loans     1,190,334       1,196,400       1,233,920       -0.5       -3.5  
    Consumer:                                        
    Home equity     79,151       79,054       72,391       0.1       9.3  
    Auto and other consumer     273,878       268,876       268,834       1.9       1.9  
    Total consumer loans     353,029       347,930       341,225       1.5       3.5  
    Commercial business     120,486       151,493       136,297       -20.5       -11.6  
    Total loans receivable     1,663,849       1,695,823       1,711,442       -1.9       -2.8  
    Less:                                        
    Derivative basis adjustment     (566 )     188       710       -401.1       -179.7  
    Allowance for credit losses on loans     20,625       20,449       17,958       0.9       14.9  
    Total loans receivable, net   $ 1,643,790     $ 1,675,186     $ 1,692,774       -1.9       -2.9  

    Total deposits decreased $22.0 million to $1.67 billion at March 31, 2025, compared to $1.69 billion at December 31, 2024, and was relatively unchanged compared to one year prior. During the first quarter of 2025, total customer deposit balances increased $23.0 million and brokered deposit balances decreased $45.0 million. Overall, the current rate environment continues to contribute to greater competition for deposits leading to higher rates paid on interest-bearing demand deposits and savings accounts during the current quarter. The deposit mix compared to March 31, 2024, also reflects a shift to higher demand and money market account balances with increased rates paid on those accounts while rates paid on certificate and savings accounts decreased.

    Deposits ($ in thousands)     March 31,
    2025    		       December 31,
    2024    		       March 31,
    2024    		       Three Month
    % Change    		       One Year
    % Change    		  
    Noninterest-bearing demand deposits   $ 247,890     $ 256,416     $ 252,761       -3.3 %     -1.9 %
    Interest-bearing demand deposits     169,912       164,891       170,729       3.0       -0.5  
    Money market accounts     424,469       413,822       395,480       2.6       7.3  
    Savings accounts     235,188       205,055       236,550       14.7       -0.6  
    Certificates of deposit, customer     450,663       464,928       418,904       -3.1       7.6  
    Certificates of deposit, brokered     137,946       182,914       192,200       -24.6       -28.2  
    Total deposits   $ 1,666,068     $ 1,688,026     $ 1,666,624       -1.3       0.0  

    Total shareholders’ equity increased to $157.0 million at March 31, 2025, compared to $153.9 million three months earlier, due to an increase in the after-tax fair market values of the available-for-sale investment securities portfolio of $2.4 million and net income of $1.5 million, partially offset by dividends declared of $656,000 and a decrease in the after-tax fair market values of derivatives of $425,000.

    Capital levels for both the Company and the Bank remain in excess of applicable regulatory requirements and the Bank was categorized as “well-capitalized” at March 31, 2025. Preliminary calculations of Common Equity Tier 1 and Total Risk-Based Capital Ratios at March 31, 2025, were 12.7% and 13.9%, respectively.

    First Northwest continued to return capital to our shareholders through cash dividends during the first quarter of 2025. The Company paid cash dividends totaling $649,000 in the first quarter of 2025. No shares of common stock were repurchased under the Company’s April 2024 Stock Repurchase Plan (the “Repurchase Plan”) during the quarter ended March 31, 2025. There are 846,123 shares that remain available for repurchase under the Repurchase Plan.

    We recommend reading this earnings release in conjunction with the First Quarter 2025 Investor Presentation, located at http://investor.ourfirstfed.com/quarterly-reports and included as an exhibit to our April 24, 2025, Current Report on Form 8-K.

    About the Company
    First Northwest Bancorp (Nasdaq: FNWB) is a financial holding company engaged in investment activities including the business of its subsidiary, First Fed Bank. First Fed is a Pacific Northwest-based financial institution which has served its customers and communities since 1923. Currently First Fed has 18 locations in Washington state including 12 full-service branches. First Fed’s business and operating strategy is focused on building sustainable earnings by delivering a full array of financial products and services for individuals, small businesses, non-profit organizations and commercial customers. In 2022, First Northwest made an investment in The Meriwether Group, LLC, a boutique investment banking and accelerator firm. Additionally, First Northwest focuses on strategic partnerships to provide modern financial services such as digital payments and marketplace lending. First Northwest Bancorp was incorporated in 2012 and completed its initial public offering in 2015 under the ticker symbol FNWB. The Company is headquartered in Port Angeles, Washington.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    Certain matters discussed in this press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, expectations of the business environment in which we operate, projections of future performance and execution on certain strategies, perceived opportunities in the market, potential future credit experience, including our ability to collect, the outcome of litigation and statements regarding our mission and vision, and include, but are not limited to, statements about our plans, objectives, expectations and intentions that are not historical facts, and other statements often identified by words such as “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are based upon current management beliefs and expectations and may, therefore, involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. Our actual results, performance, or achievements may differ materially from those suggested, expressed, or implied by forward-looking statements as a result of a wide variety of factors including, but not limited to: increased competitive pressures; changes in the interest rate environment; the credit risks of lending activities; pressures on liquidity, including as a result of withdrawals of deposits or declines in the value of our investment portfolio; changes in general economic conditions and conditions within the securities markets, including potential recessionary and other unfavorable conditions and trends relating to housing markets, costs of living, unemployment levels, interest rates, supply chain difficulties and inflationary pressures, among other things; legislative, regulatory, and policy changes; and other factors described in the Company’s latest Annual Report on Form 10-K under the section entitled “Risk Factors,” and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”),which are available on our website at www.ourfirstfed.com and on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

    Any of the forward-looking statements that we make in this press release and in the other public statements we make may turn out to be incorrect because of the inaccurate assumptions we might make, because of the factors illustrated above or because of other factors that we cannot foresee. Because of these and other uncertainties, our actual future results may be materially different from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements made by or on our behalf and the Company’s operating and stock price performance may be negatively affected. Therefore, these factors should be considered in evaluating the forward-looking statements, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. We do not undertake and specifically disclaim any obligation to revise any forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statements. These risks could cause our actual results for 2025 and beyond to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements by, or on behalf of, us and could negatively affect the Company’s operations and stock price performance.

    For More Information Contact:
    Matthew P. Deines, President and Chief Executive Officer
    Phyllis Nomura, EVP and Chief Financial Officer
    IRGroup@ourfirstfed.com
    360-457-0461

    FIRST NORTHWEST BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARY
    CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
    (Dollars in thousands, except share data) (Unaudited)
     
        March 31,
    2025    		     December 31,
    2024    		     September 30,
    2024    		     June 30,
    2024    		     March 31,
    2024    		  
    ASSETS                                        
    Cash and due from banks   $ 18,911     $ 16,811     $ 17,953     $ 19,184     $ 15,562  
    Interest-earning deposits in banks     51,412       55,637       64,769       63,995       61,784  
    Investment securities available for sale, at fair value     315,433       340,344       310,860       306,714       325,955  
    Loans held for sale     2,940       472       378       1,086       988  
    Loans receivable (net of allowance for credit losses
         on loans $20,625, $20,449, $21,970, $19,343,
         and $17,958)    		     1,643,790       1,675,186       1,714,416       1,677,764       1,692,774  
    Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) stock, at cost     13,106       14,435       14,435       13,086       15,876  
    Accrued interest receivable     8,319       8,159       8,939       9,466       8,909  
    Premises held for sale, net     —       —       —       —       6,751  
    Premises and equipment, net     9,870       10,129       10,436       10,714       11,028  
    Servicing rights on sold loans, at fair value     3,301       3,281       3,584       3,740       3,820  
    Bank-owned life insurance, net     31,786       41,150       41,429       41,113       34,681  
    Equity and partnership investments     15,026       13,229       14,912       15,085       15,121  
    Goodwill and other intangible assets, net     1,082       1,082       1,083       1,084       1,085  
    Deferred tax asset, net     13,179       13,738       10,802       12,216       12,704  
    Right-of-use (“ROU”) asset, net     16,687       17,001       17,315       17,627       5,841  
    Prepaid expenses and other assets     31,588       21,352       24,175       23,088       27,141  
    Total assets   $ 2,176,430     $ 2,232,006     $ 2,255,486     $ 2,215,962     $ 2,240,020  
                                             
    LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY                                        
    Deposits   $ 1,666,068     $ 1,688,026     $ 1,711,641     $ 1,708,288     $ 1,666,624  
    Borrowings     307,091       336,014       334,994       302,575       371,455  
    Accrued interest payable     2,163       3,295       2,153       3,143       2,830  
    Lease liability, net     17,266       17,535       17,799       18,054       6,227  
    Accrued expenses and other liabilities     24,217       31,770       25,625       23,717       29,980  
    Advances from borrowers for taxes and insurance     2,583       1,484       2,485       1,304       2,398  
    Total liabilities     2,019,388       2,078,124       2,094,697       2,057,081       2,079,514  
                                             
    Shareholders’ Equity                                        
    Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, authorized
         5,000,000 shares, no shares issued or outstanding    		     —       —       —       —       —  
    Common stock, $0.01 par value, 75,000,000
         shares authorized; issued and outstanding at
         each period end: 9,440,618; 9,353,348;
         9,365,979; 9,453,247; and 9,442,796    		     94       93       94       94       94  
    Additional paid-in capital     93,450       93,357       93,218       93,985       93,763  
    Retained earnings     98,056       97,198       100,660       103,322       106,202  
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax     (28,129 )     (30,172 )     (26,424 )     (31,597 )     (32,465 )
    Unearned employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) shares     (6,429 )     (6,594 )     (6,759 )     (6,923 )     (7,088 )
    Total shareholders’ equity     157,042       153,882       160,789       158,881       160,506  
    Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity   $ 2,176,430     $ 2,232,006     $ 2,255,486     $ 2,215,962     $ 2,240,020  
    FIRST NORTHWEST BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARY
    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
    (Dollars in thousands, except per share data) (Unaudited)
     
        For the Quarter Ended  
        March 31,
    2025    		     December 31,
    2024    		     September 30,
    2024    		     June 30,
    2024    		     March 31,
    2024    		  
    INTEREST INCOME                                        
    Interest and fees on loans receivable   $ 22,231     $ 23,716     $ 23,536     $ 23,733     $ 22,767  
    Interest on investment securities     3,803       3,658       3,786       3,949       3,632  
    Interest on deposits in banks     482       550       582       571       645  
    FHLB dividends     307       273       302       358       282  
    Total interest income     26,823       28,197       28,206       28,611       27,326  
    INTEREST EXPENSE                                        
    Deposits     9,737       11,175       10,960       10,180       10,112  
    Borrowings     3,239       2,885       3,226       4,196       3,286  
    Total interest expense     12,976       14,060       14,186       14,376       13,398  
       Net interest income     13,847       14,137       14,020       14,235       13,928  
    PROVISION FOR CREDIT LOSSES                                        
    Provision for credit losses on loans     1,553       3,760       3,077       8,640       1,239  
    Provision for (recapture of) credit losses on unfunded commitments     15       (105 )     57       99       (269 )
    Provision for credit losses     1,568       3,655       3,134       8,739       970  
        Net interest income after provision for credit losses     12,279       10,482       10,886       5,496       12,958  
    NONINTEREST INCOME                                        
    Loan and deposit service fees     1,106       1,054       1,059       1,076       1,102  
    Sold loan servicing fees and servicing rights mark-to-market     195       (115 )     10       74       219  
    Net gain on sale of loans     11       52       58       150       52  
    Net gain on sale of investment securities     —       —       —       (2,117 )     —  
    Net gain on sale of premises and equipment     —       —       —       7,919       —  
    Increase in cash surrender value of bank-owned life insurance     372       328       315       293       243  
    Income from death benefit on bank-owned life insurance, net     1,059       1,536       —       —       —  
    Other income (loss)     1,349       (1,555 )     337       (48 )     572  
    Total noninterest income     4,092       1,300       1,779       7,347       2,188  
    NONINTEREST EXPENSE                                        
    Compensation and benefits     7,715       7,367       8,582       8,588       8,128  
    Data processing     2,011       2,065       2,085       2,008       1,944  
    Occupancy and equipment     1,592       1,559       1,553       1,799       1,240  
    Supplies, postage, and telephone     298       296       360       317       293  
    Regulatory assessments and state taxes     479       460       548       457       513  
    Advertising     265       362       409       377       309  
    Professional fees     777       813       698       684       910  
    FDIC insurance premium     434       491       533       473       386  
    Other expense     678       820       1,080       906       580  
    Total noninterest expense     14,249       14,233       15,848       15,609       14,303  
       Income (loss) before provision for income taxes     2,122       (2,451 )     (3,183 )     (2,766 )     843  
    Provision for income taxes     608       359       (1,203 )     (547 )     447  
    Net income (loss)   $ 1,514     $ (2,810 )   $ (1,980 )   $ (2,219 )   $ 396  
                                             
    Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per common share   $ 0.17     $ (0.32 )   $ (0.23 )   $ (0.25 )   $ 0.04  
                                             
    FIRST NORTHWEST BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARY
    ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
    (Dollars in thousands) (Unaudited)
     
    Selected Loan Detail   March 31,
    2025    		     December 31,
    2024    		     September 30,
    2024    		     June 30,
    2024    		     March 31,
    2024    		  
    Construction and land loans breakout                                        
    1-4 Family construction   $ 42,371     $ 39,319     $ 43,125     $ 56,514     $ 69,075  
    Multifamily construction     9,223       15,407       29,109       43,341       45,776  
    Nonresidential construction     7,229       16,857       17,500       1,015       3,374  
    Land and development     6,054       6,527       5,975       6,403       7,122  
    Total construction and land loans   $ 64,877     $ 78,110     $ 95,709     $ 107,273     $ 125,347  
                                             
    Auto and other consumer loans breakout                                        
    Triad Manufactured Home loans   $ 134,740     $ 128,231     $ 129,600     $ 110,510     $ 119,309  
    Woodside auto loans     118,972       117,968       126,129       131,151       128,072  
    First Help auto loans     13,012       14,283       15,971       17,427       8,326  
    Other auto loans     1,313       1,647       2,064       2,690       3,313  
    Other consumer loans     5,841       6,747       7,434       23,845       9,814  
    Total auto and other consumer loans   $ 273,878     $ 268,876     $ 281,198     $ 285,623     $ 268,834  
                                             
    Commercial business loans breakout                                        
    Northpointe Bank MPP   $ –     $ 36,230     $ 38,155     $ 9,150     $ 15,047  
    Secured lines of credit     39,986       35,701       37,686       28,862       41,014  
    Unsecured lines of credit     2,030       1,717       1,571       1,133       1,001  
    SBA loans     6,889       7,044       7,219       7,146       8,944  
    Other commercial business loans     71,581       70,801       70,696       70,803       70,291  
    Total commercial business loans   $ 120,486     $ 151,493     $ 155,327     $ 117,094     $ 136,297  
    Loans by Collateral and Unfunded Commitments   March 31,
    2025    		     December 31,
    2024    		     September 30,
    2024    		     June 30,
    2024    		     March 31,
    2024    		  
    One-to-four family construction   $ 38,221     $ 44,468     $ 51,607     $ 49,440     $ 70,100  
    All other construction and land     30,947       34,290       45,166       58,346       55,286  
    One-to-four family first mortgage     428,081       466,046       469,053       434,840       436,543  
    One-to-four family junior liens     15,155       15,090       14,701       13,706       12,608  
    One-to-four family revolving open-end     51,832       51,481       48,459       44,803       45,536  
    Commercial real estate, owner occupied:                                        
    Health care     29,386       29,129       29,407       29,678       29,946  
    Office     19,363       17,756       17,901       19,215       17,951  
    Warehouse     14,843       14,948       11,645       14,613       14,683  
    Other     74,915       78,170       64,535       56,292       55,063  
    Commercial real estate, non-owner occupied:                                        
    Office     41,885       49,417       49,770       50,158       53,099  
    Retail     50,737       49,591       49,717       50,101       50,478  
    Hospitality     62,226       61,919       62,282       62,628       66,982  
    Other     93,549       81,640       82,573       84,428       93,040  
    Multi-family residential     339,217       333,419       354,118       350,382       339,907  
    Commercial business loans     76,330       77,381       86,904       79,055       90,781  
    Commercial agriculture and fishing loans     22,914       21,833       15,369       14,411       10,200  
    State and political subdivision obligations     369       369       404       405       405  
    Consumer automobile loans     133,209       133,789       144,036       151,121       139,524  
    Consumer loans secured by other assets     137,619       131,429       132,749       129,293       122,895  
    Consumer loans unsecured     3,051       3,658       4,411       5,209       6,415  
    Total loans   $ 1,663,849     $ 1,695,823     $ 1,734,807     $ 1,698,124     $ 1,711,442  
                                             
    Unfunded commitments under lines of credit or existing loans   $ 172,260     $ 163,827     $ 166,446     $ 155,005     $ 148,736  
    FIRST NORTHWEST BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARY
    NET INTEREST MARGIN ANALYSIS
    (Dollars in thousands) (Unaudited)
     
        Three Months Ended March 31,  
        2025     2024  
        Average     Interest             Average     Interest          
        Balance     Earned/     Yield/     Balance     Earned/     Yield/  
        Outstanding     Paid     Rate     Outstanding     Paid     Rate  
        (Dollars in thousands)  
    Interest-earning assets:                                                
    Loans receivable, net (1) (2)   $ 1,642,007     $ 22,231       5.49 %   $ 1,661,420     $ 22,767       5.51 %
    Investment securities     333,208       3,803       4.63       307,490       3,632       4.75  
    FHLB dividends     13,609       307       9.15       12,328       282       9.20  
    Interest-earning deposits in banks     42,917       482       4.55       46,583       645       5.57  
    Total interest-earning assets (3)     2,031,741       26,823       5.35       2,027,821       27,326       5.42  
    Noninterest-earning assets     143,033                       138,366                  
    Total average assets   $ 2,174,774                     $ 2,166,187                  
    Interest-bearing liabilities:                                                
    Interest-bearing demand deposits   $ 168,414     $ 260       0.63     $ 165,379     $ 187       0.45  
    Money market accounts     414,425       2,345       2.29       377,505       1,949       2.08  
    Savings accounts     216,499       783       1.47       235,784       953       1.63  
    Certificates of deposit, customer     451,936       4,522       4.06       437,525       4,494       4.13  
    Certificates of deposit, brokered     158,269       1,827       4.68       205,923       2,529       4.94  
    Total interest-bearing deposits (4)     1,409,543       9,737       2.80       1,422,116       10,112       2.86  
    Advances     279,500       2,796       4.06       252,912       2,892       4.60  
    Subordinated debt     38,370       443       4.68       39,446       394       4.02  
    Total interest-bearing liabilities     1,727,413       12,976       3.05       1,714,474       13,398       3.14  
    Noninterest-bearing deposits (4)     243,569                       249,283                  
    Other noninterest-bearing liabilities     47,238                       40,563                  
    Total average liabilities     2,018,220                       2,004,320                  
    Average equity     156,554                       161,867                  
    Total average liabilities and equity   $ 2,174,774                     $ 2,166,187                  
                                                     
    Net interest income           $ 13,847                     $ 13,928          
    Net interest rate spread                     2.30                       2.28  
    Net earning assets   $ 304,328                     $ 313,347                  
    Net interest margin (5)                     2.76                       2.76  
    Average interest-earning assets to average interest-bearing liabilities     117.6 %                     118.3 %                
    (1) The average loans receivable, net balances include nonaccrual loans.
    (2) Interest earned on loans receivable includes net deferred costs of ($338,000) and ($171,000) for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
    (3) Includes interest-earning deposits (cash) at other financial institutions.
    (4) Cost of all deposits, including noninterest-bearing demand deposits, was 2.39% and 2.43% for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
    (5) Net interest income divided by average interest-earning assets.
    FIRST NORTHWEST BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARY
    ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
    (Dollars in thousands) (Unaudited)


    Non-GAAP Financial Measures
    This press release contains financial measures that are not in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”). Non-GAAP measures are presented where management believes the information will help investors understand the Company’s results of operations or financial position and assess trends. Where non-GAAP financial measures are used, the comparable GAAP financial measure is also provided. These disclosures should not be viewed as a substitute for operating results determined in accordance with GAAP, and are not necessarily comparable to non-GAAP performance measures that may be presented by other companies. Other banking companies may use names similar to those the Company uses for the non-GAAP financial measures the Company discloses, but may calculate them differently. Investors should understand how the Company and other companies each calculate their non-GAAP financial measures when making comparisons. Reconciliations of the GAAP and non-GAAP measures are presented below.

    Calculations Based on PPNR and Adjusted PPNR:

        For the Quarter Ended  
    (Dollars in thousands)   March 31,
    2025    		     December 31,
    2024    		     September 30,
    2024    		     June 30,
    2024    		     March 31,
    2024    		  
    Net income (loss)   $ 1,514     $ (2,810 )   $ (1,980 )   $ (2,219 )   $ 396  
    Plus: provision for credit losses     1,568       3,655       3,134       8,739       970  
    Provision for income taxes     608       359       (1,203 )     (547 )     447  
    PPNR (1)     3,690       1,204       (49 )     5,973       1,813  
    Less selected nonrecurring adjustments to PPNR:                                        
    BOLI death benefit     1,059       1,536       —       —       —  
    Gain on extinguishment of subordinated debt included in other income     846       —       —       —       —  
    Gain on conversion of loan receivable into Series A equity investment     315       —       —       —       —  
    Equity investment repricing adjustment     —       (1,762 )     —       —       651  
    One-time compensation payouts related to reduction in force     —       —       (996 )     —       —  
    Net gain on sale of premises and equipment     —       —       —       7,919       —  
    Sale leaseback taxes and assessments included in occupancy and equipment     —       —       —       (359 )     —  
    Net gain on sale of investment securities     —       —       —       (2,117 )     —  
    Adjusted PPNR (1)   $ 1,470     $ 1,430     $ 947     $ 530     $ 1,162  
                                             
    Average total assets   $ 2,174,774     $ 2,205,502     $ 2,209,333     $ 2,219,370     $ 2,166,187  
    Return on average assets (GAAP)     0.28 %     -0.51 %     -0.36 %     -0.40 %     0.07 %
    PPNR return on average assets (Non-GAAP) (1)     0.69 %     0.22 %     -0.01 %     1.08 %     0.34 %
    Adjusted PPNR return on average assets (Non-GAAP) (1)     0.27 %     0.26 %     0.17 %     0.10 %     0.22 %
    (1) PPNR removes the provisions for credit loss and income tax from net income. This removes potentially volatile estimates, providing a comparative amount limited to income and expense recorded during the period. Adjusted PPNR further removes large nonrecurring transactions recorded during the period. We believe these metrics provide comparative amounts for a better review of recurring net revenue.
    FIRST NORTHWEST BANCORP AND SUBSIDIARY
    ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
    (Dollars in thousands) (Unaudited)
     
    Calculations Based on Tangible Common Equity:
     
        For the Quarter Ended  
    (Dollars in thousands, except per share data)     March 31,
    2025    		       December 31,
    2024    		       September 30,
    2024    		       June 30,
    2024    		       March 31,
    2024    		  
    Total shareholders’ equity   $ 157,042     $ 153,882     $ 160,789     $ 158,881     $ 160,506  
    Less: Goodwill and other intangible assets     1,082       1,082       1,083       1,084       1,085  
    Disallowed non-mortgage loan servicing rights     415       423       489       517       489  
    Total tangible common equity   $ 155,545     $ 152,377     $ 159,217     $ 157,280     $ 158,932  
                                             
    Total assets   $ 2,176,430     $ 2,232,006     $ 2,255,486     $ 2,215,962     $ 2,240,020  
    Less: Goodwill and other intangible assets     1,082       1,082       1,083       1,084       1,085  
    Disallowed non-mortgage loan servicing rights     415       423       489       517       489  
    Total tangible assets   $ 2,174,933     $ 2,230,501     $ 2,253,914     $ 2,214,361     $ 2,238,446  
                                             
    Average shareholders’ equity   $ 156,554     $ 161,560     $ 160,479     $ 163,079     $ 161,867  
    Less: Average goodwill and other intangible assets     1,082       1,083       1,084       1,085       1,085  
    Average disallowed non-mortgage loan servicing rights     423       489       517       489       481  
    Total average tangible common equity   $ 155,049     $ 159,988     $ 158,878     $ 161,505     $ 160,301  
                                             
    Net income (loss)   $ 1,514     $ (2,810 )   $ (1,980 )   $ (2,219 )   $ 396  
    Common shares outstanding     9,440,618       9,353,348       9,365,979       9,453,247       9,442,796  
    GAAP Ratios:                                        
    Equity to total assets     7.22 %     6.89 %     7.13 %     7.17 %     7.17 %
    Return on average equity     3.92 %     -6.92 %     -4.91 %     -5.47 %     0.98 %
    Book value per common share   $ 16.63     $ 16.45     $ 17.17     $ 16.81     $ 17.00  
    Non-GAAP Ratios:                                        
    Tangible common equity to tangible assets (1)     7.15 %     6.83 %     7.06 %     7.10 %     7.10 %
    Return on average tangible common equity (1)     3.96 %     -6.99 %     -4.96 %     -5.53 %     0.99 %
    Tangible book value per common share (1)   $ 16.48     $ 16.29     $ 17.00     $ 16.64     $ 16.83  
    (1 ) We believe that the use of tangible equity and tangible assets improves the comparability to other institutions that have not engaged in acquisitions that resulted in recorded goodwill and other intangibles.

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d5c93711-67c1-4664-a49c-37df22040147

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4a3584b1-1204-464b-8080-7fcc46d66470

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/37ce187a-5662-457d-bd13-66e409ac2710

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4b958691-2f11-4ceb-a89a-ab88b1b1d702

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7207465f-e4fb-4f05-8218-e87558fb913c

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1c8a4efe-4d1b-4b02-bdac-6fd686314c0b

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Newsom announces appointments 4.23.25

    Source: US State of California 2

    Apr 23, 2025

    SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:

    Annabelle Hopkins, of Sacramento, has been appointed Deputy Director of Government Affairs at the California Public Advocates Office. Hopkins has been Government Relations Manager at RWE Offshore Wind since 2024. She was Legislative Director at the Office of Assemblymember Jim Wood in the California State Assembly from 2022 to 2023. Hopkins held multiple positions in the Office of Senator Dave Min in the California State Senate from 2021 to 2022, including Legislative Director and Legislative Aide. She was a Senate Fellow in the Office of Senator Mike McGuire in the California State Senate from 2019 to 2020. Hopkins was the Finance Director/Policy Advisor for Audrey Denney for Congress from 2018 to 2019. She is a Board Member of FemDems and Young Professionals in Energy, Sacramento. Hopkins earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and History from College of Wooster. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and compensation is $153,000. Hopkins is a Democrat.

    Mandi Posner, of Gold River, has been appointed Deputy Director of the Center for Health Care Quality at the California Department of Public Health. Posner has been Chief of Field Operations for the South Division of the Center for Health Care Quality at the California Department of Public Health since 2021, where she has held multiple positions since 2016, including Branch Chief of Field Operations for the South Division, Los Angeles County Contract Manager, Staff Services Manager for Fiscal Operations, and Associate Governmental Program Analyst. Posner is a Member and California Representative of the Association of Health Facility Survey Agencies. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Recreation Administration from California State University, Chico. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $183,840. Posner is a Democrat.

    Yang Lee, of Sacramento, has been appointed Chief of Data Analytics and Strategy at the California Department of Developmental Services. Lee has been Deputy Director and Chief Financial Officer at the California Department of Social Services since 2022, where he was previously Assistant Director from 2020 to 2022. He held multiple positions at the California Department of Finance from 2008 to 2020, including Principal Program Budget and Finance Budget Analyst. Lee was a Legislative Assistant in the Office of Assemblymember Loni Hancock in the California State Assembly from 2006 to 2008. Lee earned a Master of Public Policy Analysis degree and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Ethnic Studies from California State University, Sacramento. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $198,660. Lee is a Democrat. 

    Heather Leslie, of Sacramento, has been appointed Chief Counsel at the California Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety. Leslie has been the Assistant General Counsel at the California Natural Resources Agency since 2021. She was a Deputy Attorney General at the California Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General from 2015 to 2021. Leslie earned a Juris Doctor degree from University of California, Los Angeles School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from University of California, Berkeley. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and compensation is $198,000. Leslie is a Democrat.

    Cindy Gustafson, of Tahoe City, has been appointed to the State Board of Fire Services. Gustafson has been the District Five County Supervisor for the County of Placer since 2019. She was the Chief Executive Officer of the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association from 2017 to 2018. Gustafson held multiple positions at the Tahoe City Public Utility District from 1991 to 2017, including Director of Resource Development and Community Relations, Assistant General Manager, and General Manager. She was a Commissioner at the California Fish and Game Commission from 2005 to 2009. Gustafson is a Member of Tahoe Fund. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Gustavus Adolphus College. This position does not require Senate Confirmation and there is no compensation. Gustafson is registered without party preference.

    Hampus Idsater, of Thousand Oaks, has been appointed to the Boating and Waterways Commission. Idsater has been an Investment Manager at Suntex Marina Investors since 2022. He was a Finance and Business Development Director at Hamner, Jewell & Associates from 2020 to 2022. Idsater was a Vice President at Eight Roads from 2015 to 2020. He was an Investment Manager at Fosun International from 2013 to 2015. Idsater was an Analyst at Morgan Stanley from 2011 to 2013. He is a Member of the Marine Recreation Association and Toastmasters International. Idsater earned a Master of Arts degree in Economics from University of Oxford. This position requires Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $100 per diem. Idsater is a Democrat.

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