NewzIntel.com

Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI: Cority Unveils Vision for the Future of EHS and Sustainability

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, April 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Newly-minted CEO, Ryan Magee, shared Cority’s vision for the future of EHS & sustainability software at the enterprise software company’s annual Cority Connect event in New Orleans, laying out an AI and mobile-centered strategy he says will help make corporate responsibility a competitive advantage in a range of industries, including those related to energy, manufacturing, and infrastructure.

    “Our customers are facing a perfect storm of ballooning risk and regulatory chaos, and most solutions out there weren’t built to weather it,” Magee said. “That’s why we’re doubling down on our investment to give organizations what they need – a modern, AI and mobile-powered approach to EHS & sustainability that continuously evolves to eliminate risks and drive profitability.”

    Magee highlighted several investments for CorityOne, the company’s all-in-one EHS & sustainability solution, to support that vision including continuing to acquire and integrate the industry’s best solutions, accelerating investment in AI and mobile-focused innovation, an expanded partner ecosystem, and two new executives.

    The company shared more than 20 new enhancements to CorityOne, including:

    • A new unified, mobile-first experience focused on empowering the workforce to see, report, and act on risks of all types consistently. The modernized UX/UI experience brings consistency to navigation, dashboards, and tabular data reporting across all disciplines of EHS and sustainability.
    • Integrated sustainability management, allowing organizations to connect data from EHS and sustainability for a more complete picture of risk and performance.
    • AI-based motion capture for industrial ergonomics, which enables organizations to capture ergonomic risk data quickly and effortlessly in the field using a mobile device. Three-dimensional motion data is analyzed using CorityOne-partner Inseer’s patented risk algorithm, generating a full ergonomic assessment report in mere minutes.
    • AI-driven, real-time safety monitoring, fully integrating computer vision technology from Protex AI into CorityOne. The technology connects directly with existing CCTV (closed-circuit television) infrastructure, allowing it to detect unsafe conditions and behaviors continuously in real-time, without relying on human interaction.
    • Bowtie risk analysis capabilities, allowing customers to more easily visualize the diverse interactions and relationships between operational risk elements, helping organizations improve risk visibility and mitigation, while enabling better risk communication across all levels.
    • Further integration with Microsoft’s productivity tools, including Graph, Outlook, and Teams, furthering interoperability with the tool’s solutions used in day-to-day operations

    “Managing risk in silos can feel overwhelming—like trying to navigate a dark room with just a flashlight. You might spot one hazard or compliance issue, but so much stays hidden,” said Amanda Smith, Cority’s EVP of Strategy. “At Cority, we believe it shouldn’t be that hard. With CorityOne, we’re helping organizations turn on the lights so they can see the whole picture—including how risks connect across EHS and operations—and feel confident knowing they’re protecting their people and doing the right thing for their business.”

    For more specific details on upcoming feature releases on CorityOne, visit Cority.com/cority-one-overview

    About Cority
    Cority gives every employee from the field to the boardroom the power to make a difference, reducing risks and creating a safer, healthier, and more sustainable world. For over 35 years, Cority’s people-first software solutions have been built by EHS and sustainability experts who know the pressures businesses face. Time-tested, scalable, and configurable, CorityOne is the responsible business platform that combines datasets from across the organization to enable improved efficiencies, actionable insights, data-driven decisions, and more accurate reporting on performance. Trusted by over 1,500 organizations worldwide, Cority deeply cares about helping people work toward a better future for everyone. To learn more, visit www.cority.com

    Media Contact

    Natalie Rizk
    RiotMind
    natalier@theriotmind.agency

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: US v them: Trump’s tariffs and his economic vision of dominance

    Source: The Conversation – France – By Jérôme Viala-Gaudefroy, Spécialiste de la politique américaine, Sciences Po

    US President Donald Trump’s April 2 announcement of sweeping new tariffs against numerous countries isn’t just driven by (already questionable) economic reasoning. It reflects the deeply adversarial worldview embraced by the current occupant of the White House.

    Since returning to the presidency, Trump has unleashed a new wave of tariffs unprecedented in scope. Traditional allies and strategic rivals are now under the same banner, marking a radical shift in Washington’s trade policy that hardens positions taken in Trump’s first term, amplifying them with an unbridled display of power.

    Just as in 2017, when he spoke of “American carnage”, Trump paints an apocalyptic picture of the US, a country he claims has been “looted, pillaged, raped and plundered by nations near and far, both friend and foe alike”. This dramatic narrative is met with a double promise of “liberation” and the restoration of a new “golden age”.


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    Tariffs thus become the weapons of a nationalist crusade, where every import is an attack on sovereignty, and every export a symbolic act of reconquest.

    An authoritarian vision of international trade

    Trump’s trade doctrine is part of a broader strategy defined by confrontation, centralised executive power and a neo-imperial view of the global economy. His tariff measures go far beyond protecting domestic industry: they aim to reshape the global order according to his own interpretation of national interest. This second act of the Trumpist revolution is not a rerun, but an escalation – one based on authoritarian ambitions, the rejection of multilateralism (as seen in the administration’s utter disdain for the World Trade Organization, and the glorification of raw sovereignty.

    The supposed economic logic behind these policies is as flimsy as it is revealing. The chosen calculation method – dividing the bilateral trade deficit by import volumes – is little more than a blunt instrument to go after countries the US runs a deficit with. Officially, it’s about cutting trade deficits, bringing jobs back and raising revenue. But the real agenda runs deeper: consolidating presidential power and replacing global cooperation with a doctrine of economic domination.

    Tariffs as tools of power and messaging

    Trump’s first term has shown the limits of this strategy. The trade war with China, in particular, triggered price hikes for consumers, disrupted supply chains and severely hurt US agricultural exporters. One study found that US consumers bore the brunt of these costs, with an average 1% increase in the prices of manufactured goods.

    Trump doesn’t behave like a traditional head of state operating within a multilateral framework. He acts more like a lone ruler, dispensing rewards and punishments to serve his political – or even personal – agenda. Tariffs, in this context, function as much as media stunts as they do economic instruments. Branded as “reciprocal tariffs”, they construct a simplified and powerful narrative: that of a crusader who corrects the wrongs inflicted on citizens betrayed by free trade.

    This message hits home with workers in industries like auto manufacturing. It offers up convenient villains – China, Europe, and the domestic elite who support free trade. Trade policy is no longer about negotiation; it’s about retribution. In this worldview, the spike in tariffs isn’t just an economic manoeuvre – it’s a statement of sovereignty, even of symbolic power.

    From personal obsession to state doctrine

    Trump’s protectionism is not an overnight development, but part of a long-standing obsession. As early as 1987, he railed against Japan’s trade surpluses with the US and called for steep tariffs on Tokyo. He spoke of the US being “ripped off” and showed a near-paranoid fear of national humiliation or betrayal. At its core, this reflects a deep-seated drive to reassert dominance – to “win” in a world he views as inherently hostile and conflictual. It’s one of the few constants in Trump’s worldview, given his lack of ideological consistency and frequent U-turns on other issues.

    Today, everything is reframed as a question of sovereignty: rare earths, strategic minerals, data flows, shipping lanes. This worldview echoes the imperialist pivot of the late 19th century, especially under US president William McKinley (1897–1901) – a figure Trump pointedly invoked in his second inaugural address.

    This logic also helps explain some of his most provocative gestures: stating he wants to buy Greenland, putting pressure on Canada in hopes of access to its natural resources, and eyeing Ukraine’s mining potential. The underlying idea is blunt and unmistakeable: resources are finite, and you’d better grab your share before someone else does. In this zero-sum game, where one country’s gain is another’s loss, cooperation gives way to conquest.

    The rise of techno-nationalist mercantilism?

    In this worldview, competition isn’t seen as a source of innovation – it’s a threat to be eliminated. The aim isn’t to make America more competitive, but to sabotage the competitiveness of others. The US no longer presents itself – even rhetorically – as a democratic nation playing by the rules of global markets. Instead, it acts like a corporation determined to secure monopoly power.

    This authoritarian shift resonates with key Trumpist thinkers. Peter Thiel, a mentor to US Vice President JD Vance, famously declared that “capitalism and competition are opposites”, championing monopoly as the ultimate goal. Cuts to the federal government and sweeping deregulation aren’t about unleashing free markets – they’re about consolidating control and asserting dominance.



    À lire aussi :
    Trump protectionism and tariffs: a threat to globalisation, or to democracy itself?

    The aim now is to sidestep global systems, not to integrate them – to build an imperial-style autarky where the US controls a closed sphere of influence, shielded from outside competition. This is mercantilism reimagined for the digital age: instead of gold and silver, the currency is data, infrastructure, dollars and crypto currency. Cooperation gives way to coercion.

    Toward an authoritarian international order – or a political disaster?

    The April 2 announcement is far more than an economic decision. It’s a bold political statement – a deliberate move toward a new world order rooted in strength and loyalty, rather than law and cooperation.

    There’s undeniable continuity with Trump’s first term. But this time, the scale, radicalism and concentration of power represent a decisive escalation. Trump increasingly treats the state as his personal property – or a private business – what some have aptly called “patrimonialism”. He is shaping an authoritarian model in which trade becomes a weapon in a new kind of global cold war, driven by fear of decline and an obsession with control. In this logic, prosperity is no longer a shared national goal – it’s a privilege reserved for those in power.

    This trajectory could become politically explosive, especially as Trump faces falling markets and looming inflation – both threatening a weakening of his presidency. If he doubles down despite sinking approval ratings, Republican lawmakers may be forced – under pressure from their voters and donors – to finally push back and reassert their constitutional role. Early signs of dissent within the Republican Party are already surfacing, alongside public anger that remains scattered – but is growing harder to ignore.

    Jérôme Viala-Gaudefroy ne travaille pas, ne conseille pas, ne possède pas de parts, ne reçoit pas de fonds d’une organisation qui pourrait tirer profit de cet article, et n’a déclaré aucune autre affiliation que son organisme de recherche.

    – ref. US v them: Trump’s tariffs and his economic vision of dominance – https://theconversation.com/us-v-them-trumps-tariffs-and-his-economic-vision-of-dominance-254096

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Canada’s aging population: The unspoken ballot box issue

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Sunil Johal, Professor in Public Policy and Society, University of Toronto

    Canadians are voting in a federal election on April 28, and questions about how to deal with the United States and make Canada’s economy more resilient are dominating public discourse.

    The housing crisis, immigration policy and health-care system deficiencies are other top-of-mind concerns. But one issue we likely won’t hear much about from politicians is a trend that’s quietly shaping all of these issues: an aging population.

    Canada’s overall population is older than ever. Between 2016 and 2021, the portion of the population aged 65 and older grew to seven million people. By 2040, it’s projected that close to one-quarter of Canadians will be over the age of 65.

    That means policymakers need to think more proactively about how they can transform Canada’s existing policies to address the needs of an aging population.

    A new report we’ve published at the CSA Public Policy Centre outlines policy pathways for federal and provincial governments to consider as 2040 approaches.

    It’s time for Canadians to reimagine where we live as we grow older, transform our understanding of health and health-care services and take a whole-of-society approach to advance cultural change around the experience of aging.

    Precarious retirement

    As more baby boomers retire in the years ahead, labour productivity is expected to decline and the income tax base that supports core public services will shrink.

    At the same time, significant investments will be needed for our already strained health-care system to meet the needs of older adults living with more chronic conditions. The average cost of delivering health care is about $12,000 per person per year for those over 65, compared to only $2,700 for those under 65.

    Similarly, in the face of a years-long decline in the quality of Canada’s long-term care system and the preference of Canadians to age at home, a policy shift towards aging-in-place has become a priority.

    However, this raises important questions about social isolation, accessibility of Canada’s built environment, suitability of housing options on the market as well as the availability and affordability of necessary services.

    Recent polling shows that 95 per cent of Canadians over 45 believe that aging-in-place would maintain their independence, comfort and dignity. Yet only 12 per cent report having the funds available to receive adequate home care.

    In the absence of thoughtful policy reform, there is potential for significant disparities in health outcomes, financial security and social inclusion among older adults in the years to come.



    Read more:
    Wealthier Canadians live longer and are less likely to be dependent as they age, new research finds

    Ensuring intergenerational equity

    There is a perception that baby boomers are heading into a comfortable retirement with robust pensions and opportunities for leisure. While this may be the case for those who have accumulated or inherited wealth, others are facing the risk of poverty and homelessness.

    Data indicates that around 30 per cent of people using shelters across Canada are aged 50 or older, with many others unsheltered, living outdoors or experiencing hidden homelessness.

    With limited resources, governments will be challenged to meet the needs of older Canadians while ensuring younger Canadians can also thrive. Young Canadians are facing a housing market that feels out of reach and many are delaying the decision to start a family due to high costs of living.

    Fifty-five per cent of Canadians aged 25-44 report that rising prices are greatly affecting their ability to meet day-to-day expenses. Balancing the needs of different generations will require new ways of thinking, strategic investments and systemic cultural change.

    A path forward

    This means that, in the face of difficult decisions, resources should be allocated to those who need them most. For example, there have been calls to improve the equity of Old Age Security (OAS) — which is expected to cost $96 billion annually by 2027 — and lower income thresholds for eligibility.

    Unlike the Guaranteed Income Supplement, which is targeted to low-income Canadians over the age of 65, households with an annual income more than $300,000 may still be eligible for OAS payments.

    Similarly, vouchers could be made available to help Canadians pay for costs such as long-term care or home care services. Eligibility for programs like this should be tested against both income and wealth — access to home equity can be a significant factor in one’s ability to maintain their standard of living in retirement.

    To ensure equitable outcomes, these decisions should also be guided by meaningful engagement with diverse voices around the table, including those from older and younger generations and different lived experiences. Intergenerational dialogue can help different age groups understand each other’s challenges, collaborate on solutions and ultimately work towards solidarity and a much-needed reimagination of what it means to grow older.

    As Canadians prepare to head to the polls, we should all consider the future we want to see for ourselves and our communities as we age. Making strategic investments to improve the quality of life for older Canadians today will also lay the foundation for future generations.

    Sunil Johal is the Vice-President, Public Policy with the CSA Group and leads the CSA Public Policy Centre.

    – ref. Canada’s aging population: The unspoken ballot box issue – https://theconversation.com/canadas-aging-population-the-unspoken-ballot-box-issue-253300

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Wales well-placed to benefit from increased spending on defence

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    Wales well-placed to benefit from increased spending on defence

    Latest figures show the Ministry of Defence spends £290 for every person in Wales.

    Wales Office Minister Dame Nia Griffith at Teledyne Qioptiq.

    • Wales a key player in the defence industry providing critical technology and innovation
    • Latest figures show the Ministry of Defence spends £290 for every person in Wales and directly supports over 7,000 jobs
    • Increased spending on defence recently announced by the Prime Minister boosts national security and drives economic growth

    The cutting-edge work being carried out by defence sector firms in Wales has been highlighted on a visit by a UK Government Minister to North Wales.

    Wales Office Minister Dame Nia Griffith visited Teledyne Qioptiq Ltd in St Asaph today (Thursday 3rd April).

    The firm specialises in advanced electro-optic technology which is integral to a wide range of defence programmes including the Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft and Challenger 2 tanks. The firm also plays a key supporting role for the infantry through the STAS contract.

     Wales Office Minister Dame Nia Griffith said:

    The defence industry is a cornerstone of our national security and economic prosperity.

    All of the Ministry of Defence’s top five suppliers have a footprint in Wales and so we are well placed to benefit from an increase in defence spending.  

     > “Companies like Qioptic are not only driving innovation but also providing high-quality jobs and contributing significantly to our local and national economy.

    The UK Government’s number one mission is kickstarting economic growth. By investing in the defence sector we safeguard our national security, create new jobs and put more money in people’s pockets.

    Peter White, Managing Director of Qioptiq said:

    It is a privilege to continue to play our part in keeping our troops and society safe.

    Wales plays a key role in the UK’s defence industry with over 160 companies employing more than 20,000 people and is well placed to benefit from increased defence spending.

    Last month, the Prime Minister made a commitment to increase UK defence spending to 2.5% of GDP from April 2027.  

    According to the most recent figures the UK Government’s Ministry of Defence spent £914m in 2023-24 with industry and commerce in Wales, an increase from 2022-23 of £86m and directly supported 7,700 jobs in the country.

    In the Autumn Budget, the Chancellor committed £975 million over the next five years to the aerospace sector, with £49 million already confirmed for projects in Wales.    

    While in North Wales, Dame Nia also visited Wagtail UK in Mostyn.

    Wagtail is an award-winning company which provides detection dogs and dog trainer handling and supplies bodies including UK Border Force, HM Revenue & Customs, Police, Trading Standards and Armed Forces.

    Updates to this page

    Published 8 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Entitlement to statutory sick leave to remain unchanged at 5 days

    Source: Government of Ireland – Department of Jobs Enterprise and Innovation

    8th April 2025

    Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke TD has today confirmed that entitlement to paid statutory sick leave will remain at five days per calendar year.  

    Statutory sick leave was introduced for the first time in 2023 when the entitlement was set at three days per calendar year, with this moving to five days from January 1st 2024.

    Minister Burke said:

    “As Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, I am committed to promoting working conditions in Ireland and boosting job creation.  I must also ensure that we create a regulatory environment that allows businesses to remain viable, and, indeed, to thrive.

    “Since the introduction of statutory sick leave in 2023, and subsequently the increase in the sick leave entitlement to 5 days in 2024, business owners and representative organisations, particularly in the retail and hospitality sectors, have consistently raised concerns about the cumulative impact of such regulatory measures in light of rising labour, input and energy costs. Five days’ sick leave strikes the right balance. It gives workers income protection for five days, after which Illness Benefit is there to support them.”

    Paid sick leave ensures that employees are entitled to a minimum level of financial compensation if they are unable to work due to illness or injury. Workers will be entitled to up to 5 days of sick leave in a calendar year, paid at 70% of gross earnings, up to a daily cap of €110. The goal of the legislation is to provide a level of financial protection to employees, often in low-paid, precarious roles, who are genuinely unfit to work due to illness or injury but who do not have access to a company sick leave scheme. The illness benefit scheme operated by the Department of Social Protection remains available to eligible employees once they have exhausted their entitlement to employer-paid sick leave.

    Research by the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment on sick leave in Ireland found that firms in the retail, accommodation and food services sectors are likely to be more affected should the statutory sick leave entitlement increase from 5 days to 7 days.

    Separately, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is currently working on an analysis of closures in the hospitality sector. This work is being completed as a matter of priority.

    ENDS

    Notes for Editors

    • The Sick Leave Act 2022 commenced on 1 January 2023. The entitlement was initially set at 3 days per year in 2023, which increased to 5 days on 1 January 2024.
    • The entitlement will remain unchanged at 5 days per calendar year.
    • Once an employee has exhausted their entitlement to employer-paid sick leave, they should move onto illness benefit, operated by the Department of Social Protection, if eligible.
    • Research by the Irish Government Economic Evaluation Service and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment on the impact of the introduction of statutory sick leave in Ireland found that firms in the retail, accommodation and food services sectors were likely to be more impacted should the statutory sick leave entitlement increase from 5 days to 7 days.

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    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: From learning about professions to meeting graduates: colleges to hold a single open day

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    On April 12, 48 capital colleges will hold a single open day. Schoolchildren will be introduced to promising areas of study, and teachers, students, and graduates who work at the city’s leading enterprises will answer questions from future applicants. This was reported by Anastasia Rakova, Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Social Development.

    “Moscow creates all the conditions for obtaining high-quality secondary vocational education. Our colleges are modern workshops, relevant training programs and close cooperation with the city’s leading employers. On April 12, 48 educational organizations are waiting for future applicants. The guys will get acquainted with promising professions, see the latest equipment, talk to successful graduates and try themselves in the role of specialists in master classes,” the deputy mayor noted.

    Anyone can attend the single open day at colleges. You will need pre-registration.

    So, in First Moscow educational complex Guests will be able to try themselves in the role of an IT specialist, marketer and artist. The children will be offered to create a name badge using a neural network, master the basics of make-up and paint a watercolor still life under the guidance of experienced teachers.

    Schoolchildren will be told how to build a career in the subway at the corporate university of the transport complex. This is a partner site Moscow Transport College, so thematic master classes are organized here. The children will learn how a train is built, try to operate a train on a simulator, and then visit the college’s workshops, where they will see how specialists are trained.

    Those who are interested in construction and design are welcome in Moscow College of Architecture and Urban PlanningHere, guests will be able to design a building in a special program, study lighting schemes and create a graffiti sketch. And in Polytechnic College No. 8 named after twice Hero of the Soviet Union I.F. Pavlov Participants will assemble and configure a drone, and then independently launch it on a training ground. In addition, they will be shown how an industrial robotic manipulator works and how 3D stickers are created.

    Moscow educational complex “West” has prepared master classes on cooking and hospitality. Schoolchildren will be taught how to make muffins, tartlets with jam and Italian meringue, as well as how to paint gingerbread. In the classes on make-up and style, they will talk about trends in the beauty industry, and share the secrets of stylish make-up and hair.

    IN Medical College No. 2 Ninth-graders will try themselves in the role of medical workers. They will learn to measure blood pressure, apply bandages and even perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation. And the interactive anatomy table “Pirogov” will help to understand the structure of the human body.

    The Unified Open Day in Moscow colleges will be held within the framework of the federal project “Professionality”. It is being implemented by decision of the President of Russia. The goal of the project is to create a new model for training qualified personnel taking into account the current needs of the regional economies.

    The capital’s colleges hold open days all year round. Find out more and register here on the website.

    More information about the in-demand professions and specialties taught in the capital’s colleges can be found in the section “Colleges» on the portal“School. Moscow”, in the telegram channel“Colleges of Moscow” and the same name community on the social network VKontakte.

    Practical classes for students of Moscow colleges are held in modern workshops and laboratories. This contributes to the formation and development of professional skills in students and corresponds to the objectives of the national project “Youth and Children”.

    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.

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/152346073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: Oma Savings Bank Plc: Resolutions of the organizing meeting of the Board of Directors

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    OMA SAVINGS BANK PLC STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE, 8 APRIL 2025 AT 5:30 P.M. EET, OTHER INFORMATION DISCLOSED ACCORDING TO THE RULES OF THE EXCHANGE

    Oma Savings Bank Plc: Resolutions of the organizing meeting of the Board of Directors 

    At the Annual General Meeting of Oma Savings Bank Plc on 8 April 2025, Juhana Brotherus, Irma Gillberg-Hjelt, Aki Jaskari, Jaakko Ossa, Carl Pettersson, Kati Riikonen and Juha Volotinen were re-elected as members of the Board of Directors.

    On 8 April 2025, the organizing meeting of the Board elected Jaakko Ossa to continue as Chairman of the Board and Carl Petterson as Vice Chair.

    The Board of Directors appointed three permanent committes: Risk Committee, Audit Committee and Remuneration Committee.

    The members of the Risk Committee are Irma Gillberg-Hjelt (Chair), Aki Jaskari and Juha Volotinen.
    The members of the Audit Committee are Carl Pettersson (Chair), Kati Riikonen and Irma Gillberg-Hjelt.
    The members of the Remuneration Committee are Juhana Brotherus (Chair), Jaakko Ossa and Aki Jaskari.

    Oma Savings Bank Plc

    Additional information:
    Karri Alameri, CEO, tel. +358 45 656 5250, karri.alameri@omasp.fi
    Sarianna Liiri, CFO, tel. +358 40 835 6712, sarianna.liiri@omasp.fi

    DISTRIBUTION: 
    Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd
    Major media
    www.omasp.fi

    OmaSp is a solvent and profitable Finnish bank. About 500 professionals provide nationwide services through OmaSp’s 48 branch offices and digital service channels to over 200,000 private and corporate customers. OmaSp focuses primarily on retail banking operations and provides its clients with a broad range of banking services both through its own balance sheet as well as by acting as an intermediary for its partners’ products. The intermediated products include credit, investment and loan insurance products. OmaSp is also engaged in mortgage banking operations.

    OmaSp core idea is to provide personal service and to be local and close to its customers, both in digital and traditional channels. OmaSp strives to offer premium level customer experience through personal service and easy accessibility. In addition, the development of the operations and services is customer-oriented. The personnel is committed and OmaSp seeks to support their career development with versatile tasks and continuous development. A substantial part of the personnel also own shares in OmaSp.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Solomon Partners Hires Tannon Krumpelman as a Partner in its New Financial Institutions Group

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, April 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Solomon Partners, a leading financial advisory firm and independent affiliate of Natixis, today announced the appointment of Tannon Krumpelman as a new Partner in its Financial Institutions Group (FIG). FIG is the newest extension to the Solomon platform and the addition of Mr. Krumpelman further demonstrates Solomon’s commitment to this strategically important sector.

    “Tannon will be a tremendous asset to our firm,” said Solomon Partners CEO Marc Cooper. “His proven success advising clients across the financial services sector will be an excellent addition to our growing FIG team.”

    During his more than 25-year career, Mr. Krumpelman has advised on over $250 billion of mergers & acquisitions, strategic financing transactions and other corporate finance assignments for financial services companies and adjacent businesses.

    Before joining Solomon Partners, Mr. Krumpelman was a Senior Managing Director at Evercore, where he helped lead the firm’s financial services advisory practice. Previously, he was a Managing Director at UBS and Goldman Sachs. Mr. Krumpelman earned his ScB in Chemical Engineering from Brown University.

    “We are thrilled to welcome a banker of Tannon’s caliber and expertise to our team,” said Arik Rashkes, Partner and Head of the Financial Institutions Group. “Widely recognized as a preeminent advisor to the financial services sector, Tannon enhances our team’s capabilities and strengthens our commitment to delivering outstanding service to our clients.”

    Mr. Krumpelman commented, “Solomon has developed an incredibly attractive platform to serve clients founded upon straightforward cultural values that mirror my own. I am excited and highly motivated to further contribute to Solomon’s growth by helping to build a world-class financial services advisory franchise with my esteemed FIG partners.”

    About Solomon Partners

    Founded in 1989, Solomon Partners is a leading financial advisory firm with a legacy as one of the oldest independent investment banks. Our difference is unmatched industry knowledge in the sectors we cover, creating superior value with unrivaled wisdom for our clients. We advise clients on mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, restructurings, recapitalizations, capital markets solutions and activism defense across a range of verticals. These include Business Services; Consumer Retail; Distribution; Financial Institutions; Financial Sponsors; FinTech; Grocery, Pharmacy & Restaurants; Healthcare; Industrials; Infrastructure, Power & Renewables; Media; and Technology. Solomon Partners is an independently operated affiliate of Natixis, part of Groupe BPCE. For further information, visit solomonpartners.com.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8f0c33e8-9896-4252-95c6-59d69305b9db

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: AutoScheduler.AI Recognized as a Top 100 Logistics & Supply Chain Technology Provider for 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    AUSTIN, Texas, April 08, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AutoScheduler.AI, an innovative Warehouse Orchestration Platform and WMS accelerator, announces that Inbound Logistics has selected the company as a Top 100 Logistics & Supply Chain Technology Provider for 2025. The Top 100 list provides crucial decision support for the Inbound Logistics’ audience, even more important this year considering the need and the innovations coming online.

    “We are honored to be recognized once again as a Top 100 Logistics & Supply Chain Technology Provider by Inbound Logistics magazine,” says Keith Moore, CEO of AutoScheduler.AI. “AutoScheduler is the only solution on the market designed to orchestrate and synchronize every element of the warehouse – inventory, labor, transportation, equipment, and processes – to help businesses meet increased demand in labor, space, and time.”

    “With technology in the logistics and supply chain space evolving rapidly, it’s crucial to recognize and celebrate the companies driving innovation for shippers,” says Felecia Stratton, Editor of Inbound Logistics. “We are excited to uncover the supply chain and logistics tech industry trailblazers whose solutions are transforming the landscape. This recognition honors excellence and provides valuable insights into the evolving technological trends within the supply chain industry.”

    Inbound Logistics develops a list of the Top 100 Logistics IT Providers each year. Inbound Logistics editors research capabilities based on submitted questionnaires and other sources, then select 100 technology providers offering solutions designed to meet business logistics managers’ supply chain challenges. The editorial selection team had their work cut out for them, ultimately selecting only 100 technology solutions leaders from the 400+ candidate pool.

    Inbound Logistics editors value choosing providers whose solutions are central to solving transportation, logistics, and supply chain challenges and whose customer successes are well-documented. This year’s Top 100 Logistics IT Providers include those serving Fortune 1000 companies and small and medium-sized businesses.

    The Top 100 Logistics IT Providers list is published in all the April Inbound Logistics magazine editions and apps.

    About AutoScheduler.AI

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

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

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: WHAT THE CLASH? joins Apple Arcade in May, among five new games

    Source: Apple

    Headline: WHAT THE CLASH? joins Apple Arcade in May, among five new games

    April 8, 2025

    UPDATE

    Five new games join Apple Arcade in May, including WHAT THE CLASH?, an exciting addition to the award-winning WHAT THE GAMES? series

    A fun mix of five games joins Apple Arcade on May 1, including WHAT THE CLASH?, a quirky, fast-paced multiplayer game that combines playful activities like table tennis, archery, racing, and tag. Launching exclusively on Apple Arcade, WHAT THE CLASH? is the follow-up to indie developer Triband’s critically acclaimed racing comedy game WHAT THE CAR?, winner of Mobile Game of Year at the 2024 D.I.C.E. Awards.

    Players can also jump into with My Buddy, a cozy simulation game where players bond with and care for virtual puppies and kittens; LEGO Friends Heartlake Rush+, a fast-paced endless racing game; the popular word search game Words of Wonders: Search+; and SUMI SUMI : Matching Puzzle+, a charming matching game featuring popular San-X characters like Rilakkuma and Sumikko Gurashi. These new additions join Arcade’s hit collection of over 200 games, all free from ads and in-app purchases.

    WHAT THE CLASH? by Triband
    Play solo or challenge friends to one-on-one battles in this hilarious party game. Players unlock modifier cards to create absurd combos like giraffle, toasty archery, sticky tennis, milk the fish, and more. They’ll climb the leaderboards, enter tournaments, or find new card combinations to make each match a chaotic and fun surprise with quirky twists. With simple touch controls, everyone plays as The Hand, a charming and stretchy hand with legs that players can customize with hundreds of combinations of unlockable items like eye patches, dresses, and earrings. Competitors will have to outplay and outgoof their opponents as they go hand-to-hand with family and friends in some seriously silly showdowns.

    with My Buddy by Neilo Inc.
    Animal lovers will adore with My Buddy, a heartwarming game where players bond with a variety of dogs and cats, each with their own personality and appearance. Players will experience their pets’ growth, nurturing them through each stage of their lives and dressing them in unique outfits to express their individuality. With the ability to decorate their pets’ spaces and interact with them anytime, anywhere, this game brings the joy of companionship to life.

    LEGO Friends Heartlake Rush+ by StoryToys
    Race through Heartlake City with the LEGO Friends and their pets in this colorful, fast-paced adventure. Players can jump behind the wheel as Aliya, Autumn, Nova, Leo, Liann, and more, customizing their cars with unique colors, decals, tires, toppers, and trails. While speeding through vibrant streets, they must dodge obstacles and collect treasures, completing exciting missions to unlock amazing rewards.

    Words of Wonders: Search+ by Fugo Games
    In this hit word search game, players look for hidden words on the board while exploring iconic landmarks to uncover the secrets of the world. As they progress through levels themed around a variety of subjects, players will discover new words, challenge their knowledge, and strategize their way to success as they solve the mystery that words hide.

    SUMI SUMI : Matching Puzzle+ by Imagineer
    Featuring beloved characters like Rilakkuma and Sumikko Gurashi from Japanese character manufacturing company San-X, this game invites players into the charming world of kawaii matching puzzles. With simple tap-to-match mechanics, engaging yet relaxing gameplay, and beautifully designed maps, SUMI SUMI : Matching Puzzle+ offers a perfect blend of strategy and fun for fans of cute puzzle games.

    This month, players can also look forward to content updates to their favorite Arcade games, playable across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Vision Pro, including Hello Kitty Island Adventure, PGA TOUR Pro Golf, and WHAT THE CAR?.

    • Hello Kitty Island Adventure by Sunblink: April 16 marks the opening of the City Town Orchards, available only on Apple Arcade. Work with Keroppi, Usahana, and Wish me mell to help the city go green with rooftop fruit trees and delicious new offerings at the Imagination Cafe.
    • PGA TOUR Pro Golf by HypGames: Coinciding with the real-life tournament on April 17, players can tee off virtually at the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links.
    • WHAT THE CAR? by Triband: On April 10, new skins, new levels, and a new map will be added in this “suspicious” update.

    This month also brings updates to popular games like Talking Tom Blast Park, Tomb of the Mask+, Three Kingdoms HEROES, Drive Ahead! Carcade, Ridiculous Fishing EX, A Slight Chance of Sawblades+, Skate City: New York, and more.

    Pricing and Availability

    • Apple Arcade is available for $6.99 (U.S.) per month with a one-month free trial. Customers who purchase a new iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple TV receive three months of Apple Arcade for free.1
    • Apple Arcade is part of Apple One’s Individual ($19.95 U.S.), Family ($25.95 U.S.), and Premier ($37.95 U.S.) monthly plans, with a one-month free trial.2
    • Arcade Originals are playable across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Vision Pro. App Store Greats are available on iPhone, iPad, and Vision Pro.
    • An Apple Arcade subscription gives a family of up to six unlimited access to all the games in its catalog.
    • Availability for the 200+ games across devices varies based on hardware and software compatibility. Some content may not be available in all areas.
    1. This offer is available to new subscribers only. One subscription covers one Family Sharing group. The offer is good for three months after eligible device activation. The plan automatically renews until canceled. Restrictions and other terms apply.
    2. The Apple One free trial includes only services that are not currently used through a free trial or a subscription. The plan automatically renews after the trial until canceled. Restrictions and other terms apply.

    Press Contacts

    Peter Nguyen

    Apple

    pete_nguyen@apple.com

    Jennifer Tam

    Apple

    jennifer_tam@apple.com

    Apple Media Helpline

    media.help@apple.com

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Haiti: MSF withdraws from two medical facilities in Port-au-Prince as widespread violence intensifies

    Source: Médecins Sans Frontières –

    Port-au-Prince – Following the targeted attack on 15 March against a Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) convoy travelling between our Turgeau emergency centre and Carrefour trauma hospital, and in view of the deteriorating security situation in downtown Port-au-Prince, Haiti, we have taken the difficult decision to withdraw from these two facilities for a minimum period of three months. This period will allow an assessment as to whether the evolving security context offers the necessary conditions for the return of MSF teams.

    On the day of the attack, MSF had already evacuated the Turgeau emergency centre, as the fighting and the frontline had advanced dangerously close to the centre, with stray bullets landing in the compound every day. During the evacuation of teams from Turgeau to the Carrefour trauma hospital, clearly identified MSF vehicles, using the only access road separating the two structures, were deliberately targeted by at least one hooded man in uniform. The MSF vehicles were shot 15 times. The incident forced us to stop using this route.   

    One of the four MSF vehicles shot during an evacuation from Turgeau emergency centre in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, March 2025.
    MSF

    “The Turgeau emergency centre and the Carrefour trauma hospital are closely linked in their operations. Without the possibility of using this road to transfer patients, transport personnel or deliver medical supplies, these structures can no longer function,” says Benoît Vasseur, MSF’s head of mission in Haiti. “This is why we have also been forced to withdraw from Carrefour as of 9 April 2025. This is an extremely painful decision, at a time when people’s vital medical needs continue to grow.”

    At these two medical structures, MSF teams noted an alarming increase in the number of victims of violence. Between January and March 2025, MSF treated more than 550 people for violent trauma. At the same time, these two medical facilities carried out over 3,600 medical consultations and treated more than 3,600 emergency cases over the same period. They were the only medical facilities in the area to offer free care to victims of road accidents and domestic accidents, or to refer patients to appropriate facilities.

    Despite these withdrawals, MSF is continuing our activities in other medical facilities in Port-au-Prince and the south region of Haiti. The Tabarre trauma reference centre continues to treat victims of serious burns, accidents and violence. Hôpital Drouillard in Cité Soleil maintains a 24-hour emergency service, which includes physical and mental health treatment for victims and survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.

    The Pran Men’m clinic continues to provide comprehensive medical and psychological care to sexual violence victims and survivors, including at its main facility in Delmas and at the Isaïe Jeanty maternity hospital. Since 2021, MSF has also been sending mobile clinics to several sites for displaced people and disadvantaged neighbourhoods in Port-au-Prince. However, medical transport has been suspended for all MSF teams in Port-au-Prince. Finally, in the south region, notably in Port-à-Piment and in the surrounding area, MSF continues to provide emergency obstetric and neonatal care, as well as maternal health services.

    For over 30 years, MSF has responded to the major crises that have hit Haiti – earthquakes, hurricanes, cholera epidemics – and continues to support people in the face of the current violence. However, MSF staff cannot continue risking their lives to provide this service. Previously, on 22 November 2024, we had to suspend all operations in Port-au-Prince metropolitan area for around three weeks due to repeated attacks and threats against our staff. This is the second critical incident we have suffered in the last four months, and MSF is still waiting for the results of the investigations carried out by the Haitian authorities.

    “The extreme suffering of people in Haiti makes this decision all the more heartbreaking, but a dead or injured doctor or nurse can do nothing for patients in need,” says Vasseur. “We reiterate our appeal to all parties concerned to respect the medical mission and ensure the protection of health structures, ambulances, patients and staff.”

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Tutankhamun: plain-looking mud trays in pharaoh’s tomb have been key part of complex afterlife rituals

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Claire Isabella Gilmour, PhD Candidate, Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Bristol

    Tutankhamun’s gold burial mask and one of the plain clay trays. Roland Unger/Canva, CC BY

    More than 100 years after the discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun in the Valley of the Kings, new interpretations of the burial are still emerging. A recent article published in the Journal of Egyptian Archaeology proposes that a set of seemingly plain, functional objects are in fact a key part of the complex rituals which would ensure the transformation and regeneration of the young king in the afterlife.

    Tutankhamun inherited a throne tainted by the shifts in religious and political practices implemented by his father, Akhenaten. His reign had been hallmarked by the move from the capital city of Thebes to a new city, Akhetaten (“the horizon of the Aten”).

    Under Akhenaten, the solar deity Aten was elevated above all others, including the principal state god Amun. This resulted in the king being the sole high priest and beneficiary (along with his family) of the Aten. The resulting disconnection between state and religion severely reduced the power and influence of priests and members of the royal court. But on Akhenaten’s death, these were restored by his son.

    Tutankhamun was named Tutankh-aten (“the living image of Aten”) at birth, but took the name of Amun back when Thebes was restored as the capital city of Egypt after his accession. This time (known as the Amarna period after the modern name of Akhenaten’s city) and its changes mean that it is more challenging to understand matters such as burial practices, religious rites and so on because it was not necessarily a “typical” time.

    Therefore, while we have learned much about funerary practices from Tutankhamun’s tomb, there are objects which are still being reinterpreted.

    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.

    The artefacts in focus are a set of four clay trays, approximately 7.5 x 4.0 x 1.2cm, plain in design and apparently quite utilitarian.

    This type of artefact is known from other funerary contexts including elsewhere in the Valley of the Kings. They have been described in various ways as mud trays, earthen dishes or troughs. The lack of consistency in terminology and suggestions on function illustrate the difficulty in understanding their precise role in the tomb.

    Along with the clay trays are a set of wooden staves, just over a metre long, with a slight angle, and covered with gesso (a white pigment and binder mixture) and gold. In spite of the difference in materials, they were assumed by the man who uncovered the tomb, Howard Carter, to be directly associated with the trays. He believed they were probably intended as bases for the staffs to stand upright.

    One of the clay trays.
    Timeless Moon Public Archive

    However, it is clear that they have an even greater function to fulfil as, contextually, everything in the tomb has symbolism and meaning, even down to the wooden boxes for preserved meats, which were intended to sustain Tutankhamun in the afterlife.

    The care with which the trays and staff were laid out on matting indicates that they were important for the king’s burial. We might expect a royal burial to be filled with only the finest objects, made of the most valuable materials by elite craftsmen, with the association of materials such as gold with royalty and divinity. The richness of the rest of Tutankhamun’s burial for the most part fulfils this expectation. But, nevertheless, the ordinariness of the clay trays in the light of such riches confirms rather than refutes their significance.

    The restoration of order

    Following the royal court’s move back to Thebes in the wake of Akhenaten’s death, the restoration of Amun and the other gods was set in motion. The cult centre of Amun at the Temple of Karnak regained its status. The name of Akhenaten and his imagery, along with that of the sun disk, were subjected to a campaign of removal.

    Tutankhamun erected the so-called Restoration Stela with titles and epithets invoking the traditional gods, and statements on “having repaired what was ruined … having repelled disorder”. The upheaval of the Amarna Period was reversed.

    Discussions in academia on the dismantling of Akhenaten’s regime have tended to focus on issues such as name changes and the destruction of his upstart city. But ancient Egyptian religion had countless centuries of recorded tradition and observance, so profound demonstrations of loyalty to the traditional gods were needed.

    Two more clay trays from Tutankhamun’s tomb.
    Timeless Moon Public Archive

    The mud trays are now thought to be part of a wider funerary ritual, which both invoked the god Osiris and permitted the transfiguration of Tutankhamun. As king, he was thought to be the embodiment of the god Horus in life, and to become Osiris in death – rejuvenated and resurrected.

    Osiris is usually shown as a mummified king, with green or black skin to represent the fertility of the land and the new life which comes from it. It is not a coincidence that the trays are made of mud.

    Other aspects of the placement of the trays within the tomb such as specific placement and orientation (including particular symbols in the decoration of the tomb) indicate that the trays had a specific role to play. This may have been as an offering tray for Nile water, once more underlining the role of the river in creating life.

    Tutankhamun and his treasures are so familiar today that it is possible to overlook, or even forget, the fact that once the doors were sealed after his funeral they were meant to never be seen again. Some of his grave goods – particularly those made from gold – have outshone others. However, the ordinariness of the trays among all the riches suggests that they are crucial components of his burial. They confirm Tutankhamun as both renewed in death through Osiris, and the king who restored order to Egypt.

    Claire Isabella Gilmour 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. Tutankhamun: plain-looking mud trays in pharaoh’s tomb have been key part of complex afterlife rituals – https://theconversation.com/tutankhamun-plain-looking-mud-trays-in-pharaohs-tomb-have-been-key-part-of-complex-afterlife-rituals-253479

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Mike Collins, Brandon Gill Introduce the Staged Accident Fraud Prevention Act

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Collins (R-Georgia 10th District)

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Representatives Mike Collins (GA-10) and Brandon Gill (TX-26) introduced the Staged Accident Fraud Prevention Act to make intentionally staging a crash with a motor vehicle a federal crime. 

    “Criminal elements are launching an assault against America’s truckers, in the courtroom and on our roads. Staged accidents take advantage of truckers’ high insurance coverage and make them prime targets for criminals looking for a quick payday, saddling truckers with millions of dollars in inflated damages, increasing insurance premiums for all Americans, and driving up the costs for every transported good,” said Rep. Mike Collins. “The Staged Accident Fraud Prevention Act will hold these fraudsters and their co-conspirators accountable and stop the ‘nuclear verdicts’ that are bankrupting truckers across the country.”

    “I’m proud to co-lead the Staged Accident Fraud Prevention Act with Rep. Mike Collins, because protecting truck drivers from criminal fraud is essential to keeping our highways safe and our economy moving. With Texas being a critical freight corridor for our entire economy, we must send a clear message: staging a crash with a commercial vehicle isn’t a payday—it’s a federal crime,” said Rep. Brandon Gill.

    “When con artists seeking a big payday intentionally collide with commercial motor vehicles, their reckless disregard for safety puts innocent truck drivers and the motoring public at risk.  These unscrupulous individuals perpetuate their selfish actions by filing frivolous lawsuits against honest trucking companies, raising costs for consumer goods and contributing to soaring insurance premiums,” said American Trucking Associations Senior Vice President of Legislative Affairs Henry Hanscom. “ATA commends Congressmen Mike Collins and Brandon Gill for introducing the Staged Accident Fraud Prevention Act, which would close legal loopholes that criminals are exploiting to attack America’s hardworking truckers.  By establishing clear, enforceable criminal penalties that apply to all of the conspirators involved in staged collisions, we can finally put an end to this dangerous and costly practice.”

    “On behalf of the Georgia Motor Trucking Association, hundreds of family-owned trucking interests, and Georgia’s 74,000+ truckers, we stand in strong support of the Staged Accident Fraud Prevention Act sponsored by Georgia’s own Congressman Mike Collins. One in 12 Georgians work in the trucking industry spread across 95,000+ companies. 76% of Georgia communities are completely dependent on truckers to deliver the goods they need, and our industry moves over 363,000 tons of manufactured goods each day in Georgia – 96.9% of total manufactured tonnage. In today’s economy, truckers are recovering from a multi-year freight recession and facing higher insurance rates, rising operational costs, and depressed volumes. Additionally, our industry is facing new threats from highly sophisticated cargo theft and accident staging. The Staged Accident Fraud Prevention Act will provide desperately needed federal guardrails and accountability structures for these growing threats. The Georgia Motor Trucking Association has been the voice of Georgia’s trucking industry for over 90 years, and we are grateful to Congressman Collins and Congressman Gill for their steadfast leadership on behalf of our industry,” said Seth Millican, President & CEO of the Georgia Motor Trucking Association.

    “Staged accidents are not victimless crimes. These are calculated, premeditated assaults that endanger lives, destroy livelihoods, and compromise highway safety. To add insult to injury, criminals abuse the legal system for profit through false accusations and lawsuits, which contribute to skyrocketing insurance premiums for small trucking businesses,” said Lewie Pugh, Executive Vice President, Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association. “OOIDA and our 150,000 members support Representative Collins and his commonsense legislation to protect law-abiding truckers from sophisticated criminal fraud schemes that exploit the hardworking men and women behind the wheel.” 

    “The Texas Trucking Association strongly supports the Staged Accident Fraud Prevention Act of 2025. This critical legislation will protect hardworking truck drivers and companies from the growing threat of staged accidents, which jeopardizes road safety and imposes significant financial burdens on the trucking industry. By targeting these fraudulent schemes, this bill ensures fairness and promotes a safer transportation system for everyone,” said John D. Esparza, President & CEO of the Texas Trucking Association.

    Background

    Increasingly, con artists in passenger vehicles are intentionally colliding with commercial motor vehicles to file frivolous lawsuits, seeking damages that often exceed seven figures. These accidents endanger highway travelers, drive up the costs of insurance, and put small owner-operators out of business. Despite a rise in staged truck accidents, few states have taken action to crack down on this criminal activity. 

    The Staged Accident Fraud Prevention Act establishes clear, enforceable criminal penalties for those who stage these collisions, as well as the attorneys, physicians, and other co-conspirators who knowingly participate in this fraud. 

    The Staged Accident Fraud Prevention Act is supported by: 

    • The American Trucking Associations
    • Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association
    • Truckload Carriers Association
    • Georgia Motor Trucking Association
    • Texas Trucking Association

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Robert Garcia Reintroduces People Over Parking Act Alongside Re-Launch of the Bipartisan Congressional YIMBY Caucus

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Robert Garcia California (42nd District)

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Robert Garcia (CA-42) reintroduced the People Over Parking Act to coincide with the first Congressional Yes In My Backyard (YIMBY) Caucus event in the 119th Congress. This legislation would eliminate mandatory parking minimums in local zoning laws and promote the construction of new and affordable residential, retail, industrial, and commercial developments. Full text of the bill is available here.

    “For far too long, mandatory parking minimums have driven up the cost of housing and limited the development of vibrant and accessible communities,” said Congressman Robert Garcia. “We shouldn’t be paving parking lots where homes, stores, and restaurants should be. By removing unnecessary parking minimums, we can lower construction costs, increase the availability of housing, and make housing more affordable for everyone while making our neighborhoods more connected and sustainable.”

    “We applaud Rep. Garcia and his reintroduction of the People Over Parking Act. For decades, mandatory parking minimums have been used to limit new construction of desperately needed housing, such as accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and multi-family dwellings in cities across the country. America has a shortage of roughly 3.8 million homes. Congress must help remove barriers standing in the way of sustainable, transit-oriented communities that allow access to employment, education and healthcare resources – without reliance on travel by car,” said Mike Kingsella, CEO of Up for Growth Action.

    This bill aligns with the goals of the bipartisan Yes In My Backyard (YIMBY) Caucus, which officially re-launched this week. The legislation would work to remove barriers to housing development and make our communities more affordable and accessible for all. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has stated that walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods connected by a strong network of transportation and environmental corridors help protect people’s health and our environment. An increase of available housing will encourage people to utilize public transportation infrastructure like trains and buses, reducing emissions and community reliance on cars. This bill aims to replicate California’s approach to zoning reform at the federal level.

    Congressman Garcia believes that housing is a human right and has long supported pro-housing policies to ensure that everyone is afforded the opportunity to live safely and securely. Since coming to Congress, Congressman Garcia has fought to reduce rent and mortgage costs to ensure that more people can afford a place to live. Congressman Garcia first introduced the People Over Parking Act in the 118th Congress. Congressman Garcia launched the Yes In My Backyard (YIMBY) Caucus last year as part of his continuing efforts to build inclusive, sustainable, and public transit-friendly communities that increase housing availability while curbing emissions. Congressman Garcia led efforts to secure funding for Los Angeles and Long Beach transit systems in preparation for the 2028 Olympics and introduced the BUILD GREEN Infrastructure and Jobs Act to electrify and modernize public transportation nationwide. Congressman Garcia will always fight for the right to secure safe and affordable housing for every American.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Rivers are increasingly being given legal rights

    Source: Anglia Ruskin University

    The River Ouse in East Sussex, which has been given rights by Lewes District Council

    By Oluwabusayo Wuraola, Anglia Ruskin University

    A district council in England has passed a motion to grant its local river the rights to flow freely, to be free from pollution and to enjoy its native biodiversity. The move by Lewes District Council in East Sussex to recognise the fundamental rights of the River Ouse is the first of its kind in the UK.

    The Ouse (not to be confused with larger rivers of the same name in Yorkshire and East Anglia) flows southwards for 35 miles into the English Channel and suffers from the usual problems afflicting many rivers in the UK: chemical pollution, sewage dumping and so on.

    As a legal academic who researches exactly these sorts of rights, I was excited to see the news from Lewes (even if the council’s motions ultimately can’t overrule national laws). But simply granting a river some rights isn’t enough. We now need to think about who will actually defend these rights.

    This may mean appointing someone to represent the rights of the river. Who these representatives are, and how they think about nature and conservation, can be as important as the granting of these rights in the first place.

    Appointing representatives who care about their own personal and property interests would be a grave mistake, as would appointing anyone who prioritises the rights of humans to a healthy environment over a more intrinsic right of nature (remember: the idea is that the River Ouse has rights in itself and shouldn’t need to demonstrate its worth to humans).

    As further rivers, lakes, forests and more are granted rights like the Ouse, we’ll need to train up an army of people willing to represent the rights of nature.

    Natural entities should have legal rights

    The law professor Christopher Stone pioneered the rights of nature concept back in the 1970s. He argued that natural entities, like rivers or forests, should have legal rights and that a “guardian” or representative should be appointed to defend those rights in court when they are threatened.

    Some legal systems have adopted this model. For example, in New Zealand, the Whanganui River was granted legal personhood, and two “human faces” were appointed to act and speak on its behalf. Their duties are outlined in a 2017 act, which specifies that these representatives must have the skills, knowledge and experience needed to effectively advocate for the river’s rights.

    But even as rights of nature are being considered in many countries, there is still little consideration of who will represent these rights effectively. For instance, back in 2008 Ecuador became the first country to grant the rights of nature in its constitution. However the constitution states that “all persons” are representatives of the rights of nature. This is simply impractical: we can’t expect every citizen to truly care about the rights of nature.

    Efforts to apply the rights of nature in Ecuador have often failed. Legal challenges can become highly politicised and there is little legal infrastructure beyond general constitutional principles.

    For example, in a case brought after road builders had dumped material into the Vilcabamba River, plaintiffs claimed to represent nature in court. However, they were not genuinely advocating for the river’s rights – their main concern was protecting their downstream property.

    An ecocentric perspective

    Ultimately, defending the rights of nature in court will be a struggle if the nature in question – the river, forest or lake – is not represented by someone with an ecocentric perspective. That means prioritising the intrinsic value of nature itself, rather than focusing on how it can serve human interests.

    Ecocentric advocates have proved to be the most effective defenders of the rights of nature in many court cases. For example, in lawsuits involving Ecuador’s Los Cedros cloud forest and its marine ecosystems, ecocentric arguments helped secure stronger legal protections and even inspired the courts to grant further rights of nature.

    One of the most common legal frameworks involves appointing “all persons”, “a person”, or “a resident” as representatives or protectors. For instance, Uganda’s National Environment Act 2019 states that anyone has the right to bring an action before a court “for any infringement of rights of nature”.

    Similarly, the city of Toledo, Ohio, tried to introduce the Lake Erie bill of rights which stated that the city or any resident could act on behalf of the lake’s ecosystem. (The bill was declared unconstitutional by a federal court in 2020 and did not become the law).

    Having such broad representation can make these legal protections less effective. This is what Stone, the law professor, envisioned back in the 70s: representatives should be trained to view nature as having intrinsic value – the very reason it is granted rights – and to protect it on that basis.

    There are some promising examples. Guardians were appointed to protect the Magpie River in Canada, for instance, after it was granted legal personhood in 2022. Their responsibilities include participating – on behalf of the river itself – in any consultations on projects that might affect the river.

    When the River Atrato in Colombia was also granted legal rights, the court required the formation of a commission (with representatives from the state and local communities) to train and oversee the work of the guardians.

    Moves to give rights to nature are promising. But from Colombia to Canada to Sussex, we’ll need a whole army of nature protectors to actually enforce those rights.

    Oluwabusayo Wuraola, Lecturer in Law, Anglia Ruskin University

    This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

    The opinions expressed in VIEWPOINT articles are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of ARU.

    If you wish to republish this article, please follow these guidelines: https://theconversation.com/uk/republishing-guidelines

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Hopedale — Hopedale RCMP arrests two impaired snowmobile operators

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Over the weekend, Hopedale RCMP stopped two snowmobile operators, a 27-year-old man and a 26-year-old man, and arrested both for impaired operation.

    On Saturday, April 5, 2025, shortly before 9:30 p.m., Hopedale RCMP received a report of theft of a snowmobile. The snowmobile‘s owners located the stolen snowmobile outside of a local store and confronted the driver. Police attended and stopped the suspect who was now walking away from the store. The 27-old man from Natuashish showed signs of alcohol impairment and was arrested for impaired operation and theft of a motor vehicle. He was released from custody to appear in court at a later date. His license was suspended.

    On Sunday, April 6, 2025, at 11:00 a.m., Hopedale RCMP observed a snowmobiler operating erratically on Berry Road. Moments later, the snowmobile tipped over. Officers spoke to the operator, a 26-year-old man, who showed signs of alcohol impairment. The man was arrested for impaired operation. He was released from custody to appear in court at a later date. His license was suspended and snowmobile impounded.

    Impaired operation of any motor vehicle is a choice that unnecessarily places the driver and all others who share the roadway at an increased level of risk. If you suspect an individual is driving while impaired, please immediately call your local police or 911 to make a report.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Appeal for witnesses following a serious collision in Hackney

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    Detectives are appealing for information after a serious collision in Hackney which left a male pedestrian in a life-threatening condition.

    At 05:52hrs on Tuesday, 8 April police were called to reports of a collision between a car and a pedestrian on New North Road at the junction with Mintern Street, Hackney.

    Officers attended alongside the London Ambulance Service and London’s Air Ambulance. The pedestrian, a 60-year-old man, was taken to hospital and remains in a life-threatening condition.

    The driver of the car stopped at the scene and no arrests have been made.

    Detective Constable Bruce White, of the Met’s serious collisions investigation unit who is leading the investigation, said: “Our thoughts remain with the man who was injured and his family at this difficult time.

    “We are keen to speak to anyone who was in the area of New North Road between 05:30hrs and 06:00hrs – were you commuting to work or within the area at this time and saw something that might be helpful to us?

    “If you were driving past or live in the area, please check any dashcam or doorbell camera footage to see if you may have captured what happened.”

    “We believe that there may be witnesses who have yet to come forward. No matter how small, anyone with any information is urged to contact us immediately by calling 101 and quoting CAD/1015.”

    Detectives from the Met’s serious collision investigation unit are asking anyone who saw the incident or who may have captured it on dash cam or similar to contact 101, quoting CAD 1015/08APR25.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: UConn Law Rises in U.S. News Rankings

    Source: US State of Connecticut

    UConn School of Law is once again on the rise in the U.S. News & World Report Best Law Schools rankings, moving up five points to a rank of 50. The School’s part-time Evening Division program is ranked seventh in the country, up from tenth in last year’s edition.

    “At UConn Law, our dedication to excellence is unwavering, and we work diligently to ensure the success of our students and institution,” says Dean Eboni S. Nelson. “We have extraordinary faculty, staff, students, and alumni whose collective achievements drive our progress. I am proud and greatly appreciative of their many contributions to UConn Law and beyond.”
    UConn Law’s employment outcomes and bar passage rates are strengths recognized by U.S. News & World Report. Approximately 96 percent of the Class of 2023 was employed 10 months after graduation or enrolled in graduate studies. Among graduates who took the Connecticut bar exam for the first time in July 2023, 84 percent passed, which was 17 points above the state average.

    The Class of 2024 enjoyed similar achievements, with an 85 percent first-time Connecticut bar exam passage rate. Approximately 93 percent of the Class of 2024 was employed 10 months after graduation or pursuing graduate studies.

    “These metrics reflect many of UConn Law’s qualities, such as academic rigor; career preparation; and a supportive, inclusive campus,” says Nelson. “Through our scholarship, teaching, and programs, we are addressing some of the greatest legal challenges facing our country and world. We take great pride in our commitment to serving our community through our experiential and pro bono programs while advancing the rule of law. As funding for non-profits and legal services providers is increasingly scarce, our mission to help close the access to justice gap is more crucial than ever.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Resolutions of Oma Savings Bank Plc’s Annual General Meeting

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    OMA SAVINGS BANK PLC STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE, 8 APRIL 2025 AT 5:10 P.M. EET, DECISIONS OF GENERAL MEETING

    Resolutions of Oma Savings Bank Plc’s Annual General Meeting

    Oma Savings Bank Plc’s Annual General Meeting (the AGM) was held today on 8 April 2025. The AGM confirmed the Company’s Financial Statements and Consolidated Financial Statements for the 2024 financial year, decided to support the Company’s Remuneration Policy for governing bodies and approved the Remuneration Report for governing bodies through an advisory resolution. The AGM granted discharge from liability to the members of the Company’s Board of Directors and the interim CEO Sarianna Liiri, who served as CEO since 19 June 2024. However, the AGM did not grant discharge from liability to the Company’s CEO Pasi Sydänlammi, who served as CEO until 19 June 2024.
    In addition, the AGM decided on the following matters:

    Resolution on the use of the profit shown on balance sheet and the payment of dividend
    In accordance with the Board’s proposal, the AGM decided to pay dividend of EUR 0.36 per share based on the balance sheet adopted for the financial year 2024. The dividend will be paid to a shareholder who is registered in the Company’s shareholder register maintained by Euroclear Finland Ltd on the record date 10 April 2025. The dividend will be paid on 17 April 2025 in accordance with the rules of Euroclear Finland Ltd.

    Remuneration of the Board of Directors
    In accordance with the proposal of the Shareholders’ Nomination Committee, the AGM decided to pay the following annual remuneration to the members of the Board of Directors for the term ending at the AGM 2026: EUR 85,000 per year to the Chair, EUR 60,000 per year to the Vice Chair and for other members EUR 40,000 per year. The annual remuneration to the Chairs of the Board Committees are as follows: Chair of the Remuneration Committee EUR 6,000, Chair of the Risk Committee EUR 9 000 and Chair of the Audit Committee EUR 9,000. In addition, the meeting fees of EUR 1,000 for each Board and Committee meeting and EUR 500 for each email meeting will be paid.

    Twenty-five (25) percent of the annual remuneration of the Board of Directors will be paid in the form of Oma Savings Bank Plc’s shares acquired from the market on behalf of the members of the Board of Directors. The shares will be acquired at a price formed on the market in public trading following the publication of the interim report for the period 1 January to 31 March 2025. The Company is responsible for the costs of acquiring the shares and any transfer tax. The rest of the annual fee is paid in cash to cover the taxes arising from the fee.

    In addition, Oma Savings Bank Plc pays or reimburses travel expenses and other expenses related to board work to the members of the Board of Directors.

    Number and election of the Board of Directors
    The number of members of the Board of Directors was confirmed to be seven. Juhana Brotherus, Irma Gillberg-Hjelt, Aki Jaskari, Jaakko Ossa, Carl Pettersson, Kati Riikonen and Juha Volotinen were re-elected as Board members for a term ending at the end of the 2026 AGM.

    Election and remuneration of the auditor
    KPMG Oy Ab, a firm of authorised public accountants, was elected to continue as auditor for a term ending at the 2026 AGM. M.Sc (Econ.), APA Tuomas Ilveskoski will continue as responsible auditor. The auditor is paid based on reasonable invoicing approved by the Company.

    Election and remuneration of the sustainability reporting assurer
    KPMG Oy Ab, Authorized Sustainability Audit Firm, was elected as the Company’s sustainability reporting assurer for the term ending upon the conclusion of the 2026 AGM. APA, ASA Tuomas Ilveskoski will act as the principally responsible sustainability reporting assurer. The sustainability reporting assurer is paid based on reasonable invoicing approved by the Company.

    Amendment of the Articles of Association
    In accordance with the Board’s proposal, the AGM decided to amend the Company’s current Articles of Association as follows:

    • Amending Section 6 by removing the provision regarding the due date for the Nomination Committee’s proposals.
    • Supplementing Section 10 to enable remote general meetings. The Board can decide that general meetings are held without a physical meeting venue, allowing shareholders to exercise their decision-making rights in full and in real time through telecommunication and technical means (remote meeting).
    • Supplementing Section 12 to include provisions on deciding the remuneration of the sustainability reporting assurer and the appointment of the sustainability reporting assurer at general meetings.

    Resolution on the revised charter of the Shareholders’ Nomination Committee  
    The AGM decided on the revisions to the Shareholders’ Nomination Committee Charter. The Nomination Committee is to submit its proposals regarding the composition and remuneration of the Board of Directors to the Company’s Board no later than the end of the calendar month preceding the Board meeting that decides on convening the AGM.

    Additionally, the charter is amended to include a provision on the maximum continuous term of a Board member, ensuring alignment with the regulations, guidelines, and statements applicable to credit institutions, including the guidelines issued by the European Banking Authority (EBA). Certain technical revisions were also made.

    The Shareholders’ Nomination Committee charter is available on the Company’s website at https://www.omasp.fi/en/investors/management-and-corporate-governance/nomination-committee

    Authorisation of the Board of Directors to resolve on a share issue, the transfer of own shares and the issuance of special rights entitling to shares
    The AGM decided, in accordance with the Board of Directors’ proposal to authorise the Board of Directors to resolve on the issuance of shares or transfer of the Company’s shares and the issuance of special rights entitling to shares referred to in Chapter 10, Section 1 of the Finnish Companies Act, subject to the following conditions:

    Shares and special rights can be issued or disposed of in one or more instalments, either in return for payment or free of charge.

    The total number of shares to be issued under the authorisation, including shares acquired on the basis of special rights, cannot exceed 3,000,000 shares, which corresponds to approximately 9 percent of the Company’s total number of shares on the day of the AGM as at the notice of the meeting.

    The Board of Directors decides on all terms and conditions related to the issuance of shares. The authorisation concerns both the issuance of new shares and the transfer of own shares. A share issue and the issuance of special rights entitling to shares include the right to deviate from the pre-emptive right of shareholders if there is a weighty financial reason for the Company (special issue). A special share issue may be free of charge only if there is a particularly weighty financial reason from the point of view of the Company and in the interest of all its shareholders.

    The authorisation is valid until the end of the next AGM, but not later than 30 June 2026. The authorisation revokes previous authorisations given by the AGM to decide on a share issue, as well as the option rights and the issuance of special rights entitling to shares.

    Authorising the Board of Directors to decide on the repurchase of own shares
    The AGM decided, in accordance with the Board of Directors’ proposal, to authorise the Board of Directors to decide on the repurchase of the Company’s own shares with funds belonging to the Company’s free equity under the following conditions:

    Maximum number of 1,000,000 own shares may be repurchased, representing approximately 3 percent of the Company’s total shares according to the situation on the date of the notice of the meeting, however, in a manner that the number of own shares held by the Company does not exceed 10 percent of the Company’s total shares of the Company at any time. This amount includes the own shares held by the Company itself and its subsidiaries within the meaning of Chapter 15, Section 11 (1) of the Finnish Companies Act.

    The Board of Directors is authorised to decide how to acquire own shares. Shares purchased by the Company may be held by it, cancelled or transferred. The Board of Directors decides on other matters related to the repurchasing of own shares.

    The authorisation is valid until the closing of the next AGM, but not later than 30 June 2026.

    The minutes of the Annual General Meeting
    The minutes of the AGM will be available on the Company’s website latest 22 April 2025.

    Oma Savings Bank Plc

    Additional information:

    Karri Alameri, CEO, tel. +358 45 656 5250, karri.alameri@omasp.fi
    Sarianna Liiri, CFO, tel. +358 40 835 6712, sarianna.liiri@omasp.fi

    DISTRIBUTION: 
    Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd
    Major media
    www.omasp.fi

    OmaSp is a solvent and profitable Finnish bank. About 500 professionals provide nationwide services through OmaSp’s 48 branch offices and digital service channels to over 200,000 private and corporate customers. OmaSp focuses primarily on retail banking operations and provides its clients with a broad range of banking services both through its own balance sheet as well as by acting as an intermediary for its partners’ products. The intermediated products include credit, investment and loan insurance products. OmaSp is also engaged in mortgage banking operations.

    OmaSp core idea is to provide personal service and to be local and close to its customers, both in digital and traditional channels. OmaSp strives to offer premium level customer experience through personal service and easy accessibility. In addition, the development of the operations and services is customer-oriented. The personnel is committed and OmaSp seeks to support their career development with versatile tasks and continuous development. A substantial part of the personnel also own shares in OmaSp.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How storytelling, creativity and collaborations can inspire climate action

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Cecilia Manosa Nyblon, Director – We Are the Possible Programme, University of Exeter

    Imagine heading into space, landing on the moon and walking in the dust. As you adjust to the weightlessness, you see something unexpected on the horizon. You’re looking back at the Earth, experiencing the “overview effect”. How would you feel? What would you see, hear, touch, taste and smell?

    We asked these questions when we launched a creative writing workshop to harness the beauty and power of storytelling, education, theatre, and music to inspire a greener, healthier and fairer world for future generations.

    One of us, Cecilia Mañosa Nyblon, brought together a team from the University of Exeter, the Met Office and international experts including marine scientists, poets, soundscape artists, musicians, playwrights and children’s authors who recognise the power of the arts to bridge the gap between science and society.

    In 2021, our team launched We Are the Possible. This international award-winning programme brings together artists, scientists, educators and health professionals to connect hearts and minds. Together, we develop creative content and performances that are presented to policymakers and the public at annual UN climate summits and other public events.

    As Kathleen Jamie, Scotland’s makar (national poet), said during the 2021 UN climate summit in Glasgow: “We can’t have that massive event around nature and environment without a poetry presence there.”

    Since 2021, this programme has engaged more than 16,000 people in the UK, Egypt, United Arab Emirates and Azerbaijan. Our projects have reached more than 33 million people worldwide through mainstream media, social media and online platforms. By inspiring global and local audiences, we hope to mobilise communities to care for and protect our planet.

    “We Are the Possible” collaborated with artists, scientists, educators, musicians and schoolchildren to perform at Cop28, the UN climate summit, in Dubai in 2023.

    The project’s creative lead, Sally Flint, weaves the words of climate scientists, health professionals, storytellers, artists, youth, educators and translators into an anthology of 12 poems or stories for the 12 days of each UN climate summit, showing what people value most and what’s at stake in our changing planet.

    In our anthology for Cop28 (the 2023 climate summit in Dubai), Christiana Figueres, the Costa Rican diplomat who spent years negotiating for climate action at the UN summits, shared that “while this remains vital, I have also realised that connecting with people from the heart and with love is the most powerful place to start.”

    Scientists have the data. We have the technological solutions. But governments and leaders are failing to act with urgency. The climate crisis is our biggest communication failure.

    Culture has the power to help people imagine and inspire action through dialogue, images, storytelling and shared experiences. But for far too long, the arts, cultural heritage and creative industries have been absent in climate policy frameworks. In 2024, ministers of culture and education gathered in Abu Dhabi to establish a framework which recognises the transformative power and impact of culture and arts education [for sustainable development]https://www.unesco.org/sites/default/files/medias/fichiers/2024/02/WCCAE_UNESCO%20Framework_EN_0.pdf).

    Since Cop28, our team has been working with our partner, a not-for-profit called the Emirates Literature Foundation, to involve Indigenous poets through visual artforms. This involvement shines a light on the importance of Indigenous knowledge in our climate conversations to heal and restore our planet.

    We have also collaborated with a sustainable theatre company called The Theatre of Others to deliver The Earth Turns and Bright Light Burning. These immersive theatre performances (inspired by We Are the Possible anthologies) and panel discussions involve both policymakers and the public. After one of the performances, Jonathan Dewsbury, director of capital operations and net zero at the UK government’s Department for Education, told us: “If we don’t grab the arts, the poems, the music and embed them into our top policy thinkers, our top decision-makers, we are not going to make the right choices, the right solutions.”

    Carpet weaving is an important part of Azerbaijan’s cultural identity. At Cop29 (the 2024 UN climate summit in Azerbaijan), one group of academics and students at Khazar University in Baku wove a traditional “Chelebi” carpet. This conveyed a message of unity and environmental stewardship through symbolic patterns inspired by We Are the Possible’s anthology.

    Ocean-literate cultures

    Around 50% of countries have no mention of climate change in their school curriculum, according to Unesco. Most teachers (95%) feel that teaching about climate climate change is important but less than 30% say are ready to teach it. Meanwhile, 75% young people around the world say they are frightened about their future.

    Schools Across the Ocean, the education strand of We Are the Possible, is addressing this climate education gap. Led by our colleague, senior lecturer in education Anita Wood, this initiative has already connected more than 2,000 schoolchildren (aged 8-13) and more than 100 teachers in the UK, United Arab Emirates, Azerbaijan and other countries.

    Inspiring children to put their words and artwork of hope about the ocean.

    This six-week programme involves providing a toolkit for teachers plus activities and online workshops that engage children in science, art, storytelling and action for the ocean. The goal is for more children to understand why we all need a healthy ocean, develop their sense of agency and inspire others in their local communities to take action too.

    Wendy Wilson, headteacher St Anne’s School in Alderney on the Channel Islands, found that Schools Across the Ocean meant that her students were not just learning about climate change. She said they were also “becoming active, global citizens who are climate literate, empowered and full of hope.”

    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 40,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

    We Are the Possible programme has been funded by the University of Exeter, Met Office, British Council, British Embassy Gulf Strategy Fund, British Embassy Azerbaijan, UKRI, AHRC, Knowledge E Foundation,Arts Council England and supported by Emirates Literature Foundation, American University in Cairo, Khorfakkan University, Khazar University, BIMM University, Extreme Hangout, Banlastic, Ocean Generation, Tahrir Cultural Centre, Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter UNESCO City of Literature, Cygnet Theatre, among others.

    We Are the Possible programme has been funded by the University of Exeter, Met Office, British Council, British Embassy Gulf Strategy Fund, British Embassy Azerbaijan, UKRI, AHRC, Knowledge E Foundation, Arts Council England and supported by Emirates Literature Foundation, American University in Cairo, Khorfakkan University, Khazar University, BIMM University, Extreme Hangout, Banlastic, Ocean Generation, Tahrir Cultural Centre, Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter UNESCO City of Literature, Cygnet Theatre, among others.

    – ref. How storytelling, creativity and collaborations can inspire climate action – https://theconversation.com/how-storytelling-creativity-and-collaborations-can-inspire-climate-action-252256

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Peru’s ancient irrigation systems succeeded in turning deserts into farms because of the culture − without it, the systems failed

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Ari Caramanica, Assistant Professor of Archaeology, Vanderbilt University

    A pre-Hispanic canal funnels water from mountains to farm fields. Ari Caramanica

    Seeing the north coast of Peru for the first time, you would be hard-pressed to believe it’s one of the driest deserts in the world.

    Parts of the region receive less than an inch of rain in an entire year. Yet, water and greenery are everywhere. This is the nation’s agro-industrial heartland, and, thanks to irrigation canals, almost every inch of the floodplain is blanketed in lucrative export crops, such as sugarcane, asparagus and blueberries.

    However, the apparent success of this system masks an underlying fragility.

    Water shortages have plagued the region for centuries, and now modern climate change combined with agro-industrial practices have further intensified droughts. In response, the Peruvian government has invested billions of dollars in irrigation infrastructure in recent years designed to deliver more water from a resource more than 100 miles away: glaciers in the Andes.

    But the Andean glaciers are disappearing as global temperatures rise. Peru has lost over half its glacier surface area since 1962. At the same time, floods often connected to wet El Niño years are increasing in both frequency and intensity. These floods often destroy or obstruct critical irrigation infrastructure.

    Andean glaciers are disappearing as global temperatures rise. Peru lost over half its glacier surface area in the past half-century.
    mmphoto/DigitalVision via Getty Images

    As an archaeologist investigating societal responses to environmental and climate disaster in Peru, I’m interested in unraveling the histories of complex systems to understand how to improve similar systems today. To understand the Peruvian heartland’s vulnerabilities, it helps to look to the deep past.

    Most of the modern canal network originally dates to pre-Hispanic times, more than 1400 years ago. However, evidence suggests that while the canal systems of the past may have looked similar to those of the present, they functioned in more efficient, flexible ways. The key to adapting to our present and future climate may lie in comprehending the knowledge systems of the past – not just the equipment, technology or infrastructure, but how people used it.

    An environment of extremes

    The north coast of Peru is an environment of extremes.

    In this desert, thousands of years ago, societies encountered many of the same challenges posed by the modern climate crisis: expanding drylands, water scarcity, vulnerable food production systems, and frequent, intense natural disasters.

    Yet, people not only occupied this area for millennia, they thrived in it. Moche and Chimu societies created sophisticated, complex political and religious institutions, art and technology, and one of the largest pyramidal structures in the Americas.

    Relief of fish adorn an adobe wall in the historic Tschudi Complex archaeological site at Chan Chan, the former capital of the Chimu empire in Peru.
    FabulousFabs/Flickr, CC BY-NC

    When the Spanish arrived on the desert north coast of Peru shortly after 1532 C.E., early chroniclers remarked on the verdant, green valleys across the region.

    The Spanish immediately recognized the importance of the canal network. They had used similar canal technology in Spain for centuries. So, they set about conscripting Indigenous labor and adapting the irrigation system to their goals.

    Just a few decades later, however, historic records describe sand dunes and scrublands invading the green valleys, water shortages, and in 1578 a massive El Niño flood that nearly ended the young colony.

    So how did the Indigenous operation of this landscape succeed, where the Spanish and the modern-day agro-industrial complex have repeatedly failed?

    Culture was crucial for ancient canal systems

    Ancient beliefs, behaviors and norms – what archaeologists call culture – were fundamentally integrated into technological solutions in this part of Peru in ancient times. Isolating and removing the tools from that knowledge made them less effective.

    Scientists, policymakers and stakeholders searching for models of sustainable agriculture and climate adaptations can look to the archaeological record. Successfully applying past practices to today’s challenges requires learning about the cultures that put those tools to work effectively for so long, so long ago.

    The pre-Hispanic societies of Peru developed agricultural principles around the realities of the desert, which included both dry seasons and flash floods.

    Large-scale irrigation infrastructure was combined with low-cost, easily modified canals. Aqueducts doubled as sediment traps to capture nutrients. Canal branches channeled both river water and floodwater. Even check-dams – small dams used to control high-energy floods – worked in multiple ways. Usually made of mounded cobble and gravel, they reduced the energy of flash floods, captured rich sediments and recharged the water table.

    A drone’s view of sugarcane fields shows a pre-Hispanic adobe aqueduct on the right and small feeder canals in the modern fields.
    Ari Caramanica

    The initial failures of the Spanish on the north coast exemplify the problem of trying to adopt technology without understanding the cultural insights behind it: While they may be identical in form, a Spanish canal isn’t a Moche canal.

    Spanish canals operated in a temperate climate and were managed by individual farmers who could maintain or increase their water flow. The Moche and Chimu canal was tied to a complex labor system that synchronized cleaning and maintenance and prioritized the efficient use of water. What’s more, Moche canals functioned in tandem with floodwater diversion canals, which activated during El Niño events to create niches of agricultural productivity amid disasters.

    A handmade gate on a modern canal in northern Peru doesn’t seem that different from ancient canals, but the pre-Hispanic canal systems were generally more conceptually complex and interconnected.
    Ari Caramanica

    Desert farming required flexibility and multifunctionality from its infrastructure. Achieving that often meant forgoing impermeable materials and permanent designs, which stands in stark contrast to the way modern-day water management works are constructed.

    Copying ancient practices without the culture

    Today, the Peruvian government is pushing forward with a decades-old, multibillion-dollar project to deliver water to the north coast from a glacier-fed river.

    The Chavimochic project promises a grand transformation, turning desert into productive farmland. But it may be sacrificing long-term resilience for short-term prosperity.

    The project feeds on the temporary abundance of glacial meltwater. This is creating a water boom as the ice melts, but it will inevitably be followed by a devastating water bust as the glaciers all but disappear, which scientists estimate could happen by the end of the 21st century.

    Farmers sell locally grown corn and other crops at a street market in Piura, Peru.
    Christian Ender/Getty Images

    Meanwhile, sustainable land management practices of past Indigenous inhabitants continue to support ecosystems hundreds and even thousands of years later. Studies show higher levels of biodiversity, crucial to ecosystem health, near archaeological sites.

    On the Peruvian north coast, pre-Hispanic infrastructure continues to capture floodwater during El Niño events. When their modern-day fields are flooded or destroyed by these events, farmers will sometimes move their crops to areas surrounding archaeological remains where their corn, squash and bean plants can tap into the trapped water and sediments and safely grow without the need for further irrigation.

    Critics might point out the difficulty of scaling up ancient technologies for global applications, find them rudimentary, or would prefer to appropriate the design without bothering with understanding “the cultural stuff.”

    But this framing misses the bigger point: What made these technologies effective was the cultural stuff. Not just the tools but how they were used by the societies operating them. As long as modern engineering solutions try to update ancient technologies without considering the cultures that made them function, these projects will struggle.

    Understanding the past matters

    Archaeologists have an important role to play in building a climate-resilient future, but any meaningful progress would benefit from a historical approach that considers multiple ways of understanding the environment, of operating an irrigation canal and of organizing an agriculture-based economy.

    That approach, in my view, begins with saving indigenous languages, where cultural logic is deeply embedded, as well as preserving archaeological and sacred sites, and creating partnerships built on trust with the people who have worked with the land and whose cultures have adapted their practices to the changing climate for thousands of years.

    Ari Caramanica receives funding from The National Endowment for the Humanities.

    – ref. Peru’s ancient irrigation systems succeeded in turning deserts into farms because of the culture − without it, the systems failed – https://theconversation.com/perus-ancient-irrigation-systems-succeeded-in-turning-deserts-into-farms-because-of-the-culture-without-it-the-systems-failed-251199

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: School children in Stockton-on-Tees inspire nature recovery

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    School children in Stockton-on-Tees inspire nature recovery

    The activity, centred around Tilery Park, encouraged engagement from residents and schools to understand how the local community view and use green spaces.

    Children at Tilery Primary School unleash their inner plants and animals to help boost long-term, local nature recovery.

    Children at Tilery Primary School have unleashed their inner plants and animals by putting on a wildlife parade to help boost long-term nature recovery in Teesside.  

    Delivered through the Tees Nature Recovery Partnership (NRP), the project, aims to encourage engagement from residents to understand how they use or don’t use Tilery Park and to explore barriers to access, plus community-led future aspirations for local green spaces. 

    The children in Year Five and Six designed animal costumes based on their interpretation of Tilery Park and worked with Teesside University and local artists to design what they would like their green space to look like in 100 years, to remind them about the importance of protecting habitats for local wildlife now.

    They worked with photography, textiles and art materials, design and imagination to see, listen and explore Tilery Rec next door to the school. Local community groups also shared their memories and joined in with activities such as bingo and sculpture-making.  

    Pupils had the chance to show off their work as part of a green space parade which also formed part of their geography curriculum and highlights the school’s dedication to environmental issues.

    The parade was filmed by Teesside University’s Sarah Perks and Paul Stewart (working together as Forms of Circulation). They were joined by local artists including Annie O’Donnell, Wil Jackson, Christo Wallers and Lizzie Mckeone for this project.    

    Children in Year Five and Six designed animal costumes based on their interpretation of Tilery Park

    Emma Carter, a teacher at Tilery Primary School, said:

    Our Year Five and Six children had a wonderful time learning about Tilery Rec and how it was used in the past, how it is used now and how they would like to see it being used in the future. 

    It has been great for our children to be out and about in our community.  They are incredibly excited about the parade and are looking forward to seeing the photos taken for Natural England. Tilery Primary pupils have really benefitted from this project and are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to take part.

    Vicky Ward, Natural England Senior Project Manager for the Tees Estuary Nature Recovery Partnership said:  

    It is fantastic to see young people’s creativity, passion and enthusiasm in helping to protect our natural habitats here in Teesside.  

    Good quality green and blue spaces have an important role to play in our urban and rural environments for improving health and wellbeing, nature recovery and climate resilience. Along with addressing issues of economic growth, social inequality and environmental decline. 

    This project has utilised imaginative approaches to explore how local children, and other residents, perceive and use Tilery Park and the surrounding green spaces. Being able to co-create meaning through the arts, enables residents to participate by sharing their hopes and aspirations on how their local green spaces can be used and valued.  

    Professor Sarah Perks and Dr Paul Stewart, from Teesside University’s Institute for Collective Place Leadership led the creative project and communities’ engagement for this project as part of their research in curatorial and artistic practice.  

    Professor Perks, Professor of Curating in the University’s School of Arts & Creative Industries said:

    We are dedicated to engaging communities with local nature and connecting with living ecosystems, as part of our work as curators and academics.

    Dr Paul Stewart, Principal Lecturer in Research and Innovation in the University’s School of Arts and Creative Industries, added:

    We felt inspired by the multiple ways the schoolchildren involved in the project worked collaboratively.

    The Tees NRP started in January 2023 and covers an area of 17,200 hectares where Natural England and the Environment Agency, Hartlepool Borough Council, Groundwork NE&C, National Trust, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, RSPB Saltholme, Stockton Borough Council, Teesmouth Field Centre, Tees Rivers Trust, Tees Valley Nature Partnership and Tees Valley Wildlife Trust are developing projects that will deliver nature recovery on the ground as well as improve people’s access and connection to local spaces.   

    The aim is to create a place which is greener, cleaner and climate resilient, where nature growth is prioritised, cultural heritage is celebrated, and everyone has easy and accessible ways to connect to nature for now and always.

    Updates to this page

    Published 8 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Sergei Sobyanin approved plans for improvement in 2025

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Sergei Sobyanin approved improvement plans for 2025, which include comprehensive work on more than 700 streets.

    “A city for life — a street improvement plan for 2025 has been approved. More than 700 streets will be transformed. The focus is on upgrading three outbound highways at once: Profsoyuznaya Street, Volgogradsky Prospekt and Shchyolkovskoye Highway. Also in the plans are Novorizhanskoye and Ostashkovskoye Highways, Butyrskaya and Dubninskaya Streets. In the Presnensky District, it is planned to improve Mantulinskaya Street. On Akademika Sakharova Prospekt — the construction of a tram line. And a third tram line will appear next to the Main Entrance of VDNKh. Most of the work will take place outside the city center,” the Moscow Mayor said.

    in his telegram channel.

    Source: Sergei Sobyanin’s Telegram channel @Mos_Sobyanin

    The largest project of 2025 will be the renovation of three outbound highways at once: Profsoyuznaya Street with 60th Anniversary of October Avenue (length – 12.5 kilometers), Volgogradsky Avenue with Marxist Street (length – 12.5 kilometers) and Shchyolkovskoye Highway with Krasnoprudnaya and Bolshaya Cherkizovskaya Streets (length – about nine kilometers). In previous years, such work was not carried out on them or was carried out partially.

    The main objective of the improvement is to make the urban environment more comfortable and functional for local residents, while maintaining the transit function of the highways. During the work, overhead cable lines will be moved underground, an additional drainage system will be installed, the pavement of sidewalks and roads will be replaced, modern energy-saving lamps will be installed, and contrast lighting supports will be installed on unregulated pedestrian crossings.

    Modern bus stops will be installed for public transport passengers. Ventilation shafts and other engineering structures will receive decorative cladding and will become one of the attractive details of the renovated streets. In addition, small architectural forms will be placed along the roadway, lawns will be laid out, and green spaces will be planted.

    To add color to the autumn-winter landscape, green islands with decorative compositions of conifers will be set up on Profsoyuznaya Street and Volgogradsky Prospekt.

    As part of the improvement of Profsoyuznaya Street, two children’s playgrounds will be renovated, and on Volgogradsky Prospekt, the dog walking area will be put in order and decorative fencing with an individual design will be installed along industrial enterprises and garage complexes.

    In addition, there are plans to put Novorizhanskoe and Ostashkovskoe highways, Butyrskaya and Dubninskaya streets in order.

    It is planned to put Mantulinskaya Street in order in the Presnensky district, to make a tram line on Academician Sakharov Avenue and an additional (third) tram line near the main entrance to VDNKh.

    The main works will be carried out outside the city center, where it is planned to improve about 700 small district streets. There, the roadway and sidewalks will be resurfaced, convenient approaches and driveways to residential areas, additional pedestrian crossings and rest areas will be created, modern bus stops, traffic lights and road signs, navigation steles and other elements of a comfortable urban environment will be installed. As part of the landscaping, lawns will be tidied up and green spaces will be planted.

    The 2025 improvement program became the second stage of implementing the provisions of the Moscow development strategy for the period up to 2040. It is planned to carry out comprehensive work on more than three thousand city streets located outside the historical center.

    The first stage of improvement took place in 2024, when 667 streets received a new look, as well as 10 large objects in the city center – Kadashevskaya Embankment with Staromonetny and Pyzhevsky Lanes, lanes near Tsvetnoy Boulevard (2nd Kolobovsky, Likhov, Bolshoy, Sredny and Maly Karetnye). A new tram line was laid on Sergiya Radonezhskogo Street and Rogozhskaya Zastava Square, and comprehensive improvements were carried out.

    In addition, within the first stage, more than 20 kilometers of the Yauza River embankments, Komsomolsky Prospekt, the areas adjacent to the main building of the Lomonosov Moscow State University on Vorobyovy Gory, as well as a number of other significant city objects were put in order.

    Sergei Sobyanin approved plans for the improvement of Moscow for 2025Sergei Sobyanin: The quality of the urban environment in Moscow has significantly improved

    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.

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    https: //vv.mos.ru/mayor/tkhemes/1259505/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Rosneft organized an excursion for children to the Moscow Zoo

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Rosneft – Rosneft – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    During the school holidays, Rosneft volunteers organized an excursion to the Moscow Zoo for the pupils of the State Budgetary Institution “My Family Center “Young Guard” and activists of the “Movement of the First”. The event was dedicated to the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Victory.

    The guides told the children about the work of the zoo and the heroic efforts of its employees to save animals during the Great Patriotic War. In addition, the children also learned about the features of daily care for wild animals, their habits and diet. The Moscow Zoo is home to more than a thousand different species of animals, many of which the children saw for the first time.

    The young visitors were especially interested in the polar bears Aika and Terpey, who are under the care of Rosneft. During the excursion, the children’s attention was also drawn to elephants, Chinese pandas, walruses and seals.

    Preservation and protection of the polar bear population is one of the main areas of Rosneft’s environmental program. Currently, the Company patronizes 35 polar bears in 16 zoos in the country, providing them with maintenance, feeding, veterinary support, as well as updating enclosures, conducting scientific research and educational programs.

    With the support of the Company, special toys have been developed to increase the physical activity of animals in zoos. In addition, Rosneft is implementing a program to rescue and rehabilitate orphaned polar bear cubs in the wild.

    Reference:

    Volunteering is an important element of Rosneft’s corporate culture. The Company implements the Good Deeds Platform program, within the framework of which employees provide assistance to families and children in difficult life situations, provide targeted assistance to veterans, and also conduct patriotic, environmental education and other events.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: MENG CELEBRATES 100TH BIRTHDAY OF QUEENS WOMAN WHO ESCAPED THE HOLOCAUST

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Grace Meng (6th District of New York)

    QUEENS, NY – U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens) announced today that she helped to celebrate the 100th birthday of a woman from Queens who miraculously escaped the horrors of the Holocaust in Europe.

    Meng visited the Flushing home of Hanna Slome yesterday where the Congresswoman honored her with an official congressional proclamation and proclaimed this Friday, April 11 – the actual date of her birthday – as Hanna Slome Day throughout New York’s Sixth Congressional District. 

    Slome was born on April 11, 1925 in Czechoslovakia. She was one of 669 children rescued by Sir Nicholas Winton’s Kindertransport in 1939, escaping Nazi persecution and beginning a new life in England before immigrating to the United States at the age of 19 aboard a wartime freighter. She was unaware of who was responsible for her escape but learned decades later that it was organized by Winton, a British stockbroker.

    After settling in New York City, Slome married and moved to Flushing, raising two children and ultimately welcoming seven grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.

    Slome was actively involved in local religious institutions including Temple Gates of Prayer in Flushing as well as serving on the PTA of Junior High School 185 where she also served a term as its president. In addition, she has spoken to school groups about her experience during and after the Holocaust. 

    “I am proud to commend and recognize Hanna for a century of courage, service and inspiration,” said Meng. “Her message of resilience and hope continues to inspire generations and will do so for many years to come. It is an honor and privilege to wish her a very happy 100tth birthday and I send her my warmest congratulations.” 

    This past January, Meng introduced a bipartisan resolution on International Holocaust Remembrance Day commemorating 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz and recommitting to combatting all forms of antisemitism. She also helped to reintroduce the Holocaust Education and Antisemitism Lessons (HEAL) Act in January that seeks to increase Holocaust education efforts in public schools.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Invesco Ltd: Form 8.3 – PureTech Health PLC; Opening Position disclosure

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FORM 8.3

    OPENING POSITION DISCLOSURE BY
    A PERSON WITH INTERESTS IN RELEVANT SECURITIES REPRESENTING 1% OR MORE
    Rule 8.3 of the Takeover Code (the “Code”)

    1.        KEY INFORMATION

    (a)        Full name of discloser: Invesco Ltd.
    (b)        Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a):
            The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named.    		  
    (c)        Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates:
            Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree    		 PureTech Health plc
    (d)        If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree:  
    (e)        Date position held/dealing undertaken:
            For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure    		 07.04.2025
    (f)        In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer?
            If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state “N/A”    		 N/A

    2.        POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

    If there are positions or rights to subscribe to disclose in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 2(a) or (b) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security.

    (a)        Interests and short positions in the relevant securities of the offeror or offeree to which the disclosure relates following the dealing (if any)

    Class of relevant security: GBP 1p ordinary GB00BY2Z0H74
      Interests Short positions
      Number % Number %
    (1)        Relevant securities owned and/or controlled: 41,011,890 17.07    
    (2)        Cash-settled derivatives:        
    (3)        Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:        

            TOTAL:

    		 41,011,890 17.07    
    Class of relevant security: ADR US7462371060
      Interests Short positions
      Number % Number %
    (1)        Relevant securities owned and/or controlled: 0 0.00    
    (2)        Cash-settled derivatives:        
    (3)        Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:        

            TOTAL:

    		 0 0.00    

    All interests and all short positions should be disclosed.

    Details of any open stock-settled derivative positions (including traded options), or agreements to purchase or sell relevant securities, should be given on a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions).

    (b)        Rights to subscribe for new securities (including directors’ and other employee options)

    Class of relevant security in relation to which subscription right exists:  
    Details, including nature of the rights concerned and relevant percentages:  

    3.        DEALINGS (IF ANY) BY THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

    Where there have been dealings in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 3(a), (b), (c) or (d) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security dealt in.

    The currency of all prices and other monetary amounts should be stated.

    (a)        Purchases and sales

    Class of relevant security Purchase/sale Number of securities Price per unit
           

    (b)        Cash-settled derivative transactions

    Class of relevant security Product description
    e.g. CFD    		 Nature of dealing
    e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position    		 Number of reference securities Price per unit
             

    (c)        Stock-settled derivative transactions (including options)

    (i)        Writing, selling, purchasing or varying

    Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Writing, purchasing, selling, varying etc. Number of securities to which option relates Exercise price per unit Type
    e.g. American, European etc.    		 Expiry date Option money paid/ received per unit
                   

    (ii)        Exercise

    Class of relevant security Product description
    e.g. call option    		 Exercising/ exercised against Number of securities Exercise price per unit
             

    (d)        Other dealings (including subscribing for new securities)

    Class of relevant security Nature of dealing
    e.g. subscription, conversion    		 Details Price per unit (if applicable)
           

    4.        OTHER INFORMATION

    (a)        Indemnity and other dealing arrangements

    Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the person making the disclosure and any party to the offer or any person acting in concert with a party to the offer:
    Irrevocable commitments and letters of intent should not be included. If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”
     

    (b)        Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives

    Details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, between the person making the disclosure and any other person relating to:
    (i)        the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option; or
    (ii)        the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative is referenced:
    If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”
     

    (c)        Attachments

    Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached? NO
    Date of disclosure: 08.04.2025
    Contact name: Philippa Holmes
    Telephone number*: +441491417447

    Public disclosures under Rule 8 of the Code must be made to a Regulatory Information Service.

    The Panel’s Market Surveillance Unit is available for consultation in relation to the Code’s disclosure requirements on +44 (0)20 7638 0129.

    *If the discloser is a natural person, a telephone number does not need to be included, provided contact information has been provided to the Panel’s Market Surveillance Unit.

    The Code can be viewed on the Panel’s website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Tutankhamun: plain-looking mud trays in pharaoh’s tomb have been been key part of complex afterlife rituals

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Claire Isabella Gilmour, PhD Candidate, Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Bristol

    Tutankhamun’s gold burial mask and one of the plain clay trays. Roland Unger/Canva, CC BY

    More than 100 years after the discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun in the Valley of the Kings, new interpretations of the burial are still emerging. A recent article published in the Journal of Egyptian Archaeology proposes that a set of seemingly plain, functional objects are in fact a key part of the complex rituals which would ensure the transformation and regeneration of the young king in the afterlife.

    Tutankhamun inherited a throne tainted by the shifts in religious and political practices implemented by his father, Akhenaten. His reign had been hallmarked by the move from the capital city of Thebes to a new city, Akhetaten (“the horizon of the Aten”).

    Under Akhenaten, the solar deity Aten was elevated above all others, including the principal state god Amun. This resulted in the king being the sole high priest and beneficiary (along with his family) of the Aten. The resulting disconnection between state and religion severely reduced the power and influence of priests and members of the royal court. But on Akhenaten’s death, these were restored by his son.

    Tutankhamun was named Tutankh-aten (“the living image of Aten”) at birth, but took the name of Amun back when Thebes was restored as the capital city of Egypt after his accession. This time (known as the Amarna period after the modern name of Akhenaten’s city) and its changes mean that it is more challenging to understand matters such as burial practices, religious rites and so on because it was not necessarily a “typical” time.

    Therefore, while we have learned much about funerary practices from Tutankhamun’s tomb, there are objects which are still being reinterpreted.

    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.

    The artefacts in focus are a set of four clay trays, approximately 7.5 x 4.0 x 1.2cm, plain in design and apparently quite utilitarian.

    This type of artefact is known from other funerary contexts including elsewhere in the Valley of the Kings. They have been described in various ways as mud trays, earthen dishes or troughs. The lack of consistency in terminology and suggestions on function illustrate the difficulty in understanding their precise role in the tomb.

    Along with the clay trays are a set of wooden staves, just over a metre long, with a slight angle, and covered with gesso (a white pigment and binder mixture) and gold. In spite of the difference in materials, they were assumed by the man who uncovered the tomb, Howard Carter, to be directly associated with the trays. He believed they were probably intended as bases for the staffs to stand upright.

    One of the clay trays.
    Timeless Moon Public Archive

    However, it is clear that they have an even greater function to fulfil as, contextually, everything in the tomb has symbolism and meaning, even down to the wooden boxes for preserved meats, which were intended to sustain Tutankhamun in the afterlife.

    The care with which the trays and staff were laid out on matting indicates that they were important for the king’s burial. We might expect a royal burial to be filled with only the finest objects, made of the most valuable materials by elite craftsmen, with the association of materials such as gold with royalty and divinity. The richness of the rest of Tutankhamun’s burial for the most part fulfils this expectation. But, nevertheless, the ordinariness of the clay trays in the light of such riches confirms rather than refutes their significance.

    The restoration of order

    Following the royal court’s move back to Thebes in the wake of Akhenaten’s death, the restoration of Amun and the other gods was set in motion. The cult centre of Amun at the Temple of Karnak regained its status. The name of Akhenaten and his imagery, along with that of the sun disk, were subjected to a campaign of removal.

    Tutankhamun erected the so-called Restoration Stela with titles and epithets invoking the traditional gods, and statements on “having repaired what was ruined … having repelled disorder”. The upheaval of the Amarna Period was reversed.

    Discussions in academia on the dismantling of Akhenaten’s regime have tended to focus on issues such as name changes and the destruction of his upstart city. But ancient Egyptian religion had countless centuries of recorded tradition and observance, so profound demonstrations of loyalty to the traditional gods were needed.

    Two more clay trays from Tutankhamun’s tomb.
    Timeless Moon Public Archive

    The mud trays are now thought to be part of a wider funerary ritual, which both invoked the god Osiris and permitted the transfiguration of Tutankhamun. As king, he was thought to be the embodiment of the god Horus in life, and to become Osiris in death – rejuvenated and resurrected.

    Osiris is usually shown as a mummified king, with green or black skin to represent the fertility of the land and the new life which comes from it. It is not a coincidence that the trays are made of mud.

    Other aspects of the placement of the trays within the tomb such as specific placement and orientation (including particular symbols in the decoration of the tomb) indicate that the trays had a specific role to play. This may have been as an offering tray for Nile water, once more underlining the role of the river in creating life.

    Tutankhamun and his treasures are so familiar today that it is possible to overlook, or even forget, the fact that once the doors were sealed after his funeral they were meant to never be seen again. Some of his grave goods – particularly those made from gold – have outshone others. However, the ordinariness of the trays among all the riches suggests that they are crucial components of his burial. They confirm Tutankhamun as both renewed in death through Osiris, and the king who restored order to Egypt.

    Claire Isabella Gilmour 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. Tutankhamun: plain-looking mud trays in pharaoh’s tomb have been been key part of complex afterlife rituals – https://theconversation.com/tutankhamun-plain-looking-mud-trays-in-pharaohs-tomb-have-been-been-key-part-of-complex-afterlife-rituals-253479

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How dentists could help tackle obesity in children

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Jessica Large, Doctoral Researcher, Centre for Lifestyle Medicine and Behaviour (CLiMB), Loughborough University

    © World Obesity , CC BY-NC-SA

    As a specialty registrar in paediatric dentistry, I’ve seen first-hand the pain children experience because of poor oral health. Tooth decay happens when teeth are damaged by acids produced by oral bacteria breaking down sugar from foods and drinks – and although it’s largely preventable – it’s the most common reason for hospital admission in children aged between five and nine in England.

    Tooth decay in children is also linked to obesity. Childhood obesity increases the risk of developing other diseases throughout childhood and into adulthood, including diabetes, high blood pressure and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

    My research, conducted with colleagues at Loughborough University, explores how acceptable and feasible it is for dental teams to offer weight checks and support, such as referral to weight loss programmes, to patients during routine appointments. In my job as a paediatric dentist, I discuss weight and health with families and offer referral to local healthy lifestyle services.

    The World Health Organization estimates that 43% of children have decay worldwide and 20% of children aged 5-19 years are overweight or living with obesity.

    In England, 29.3% of five-year-olds have tooth decay and 21.3% of four and five year olds are overweight or living with obesity. A diet high in sugary foods and drinks increases the risk of developing both conditions. and evidence suggests that children who are overweight or living with obesity are more likely to have tooth decay.

    Mouth disease is also linked with disease in other parts of the body. Gum disease, for example, is an infection of the tissues that support teeth, which has links with type 2 diabetes. When one disease is poorly controlled, it can make the other worse. The number of children with type 2 diabetes is increasing, with excess weight increasing the risk of developing this condition.

    Given the links between diet, tooth decay, obesity, type 2 diabetes, as well as other diseases that can develop when living with obesity, dental teams may be ideal professionals to tackle both tooth decay and obesity. It can be difficult to see an NHS dentist in the UK but NHS dental teams do see millions of children every year and already advise families on reducing sugary foods and drinks in the diet to reduce the risk of tooth decay.

    Dental teams taking body measurements is not new. Height and weight measurements to calculate body mass index (BMI), a measure of body fat, are already collected by some dental teams. These measurements are helpful when prescribing medication and for planning dental treatment for children who need a general anaesthetic or sedation.

    Some hospital dental teams, such as in Edinburgh and Dundee in Scotland, also offer weight and height checks for children and young people as part of routine appointments. The child’s weight is discussed with the child’s parent or carer in a sensitive way and families are offered referral to a local service to support healthy lifestyle changes.

    This opportunity to support a child with their oral health as well as weight aligns with the NHS initiative, Making Every Contact Count. Making Every Contact Count calls on all health care professionals to take every opportunity within their appointments with patients to help improve patient health.

    Children living in more deprived areas of the UK are at least twice as likely to be living with overweight and obesity. They’re also three times as likely to have tooth decay. The NHS aims to reduce these inequalities among children and has chosen oral health and diabetes as two key areas to improve care for children and young people.

    The public have shown support for dental teams to talk about weight at dental visits and offer guidance to lose weight and improve health when done in a supportive way. Research published in 2024, found that over 80% of the public supported weight measurements being taken by dental teams and a discussion of weight at dental appointments. Most of the studies in this review came from the USA.

    A UK based survey asked parents and carers if they would feel comfortable with their child(ren)’s weight and height being taken at a dental appointment in a dental practice. The survey found 58% of parents and carers would feel comfortable and a further 12% might feel comfortable with this approach.

    This was very similar to how adults completing the survey felt about having their own height and weight measured at a dental appointment with 60% reporting they would feel comfortable and a further 10% saying they may feel comfortable.

    Discussing weight can feel uneasy and dental teams say they worry they will upset patients if they talk about weight. Some studies have found dental teams are also concerned they do not have enough time to talk about weight and that they have not had training on how to do this.

    However, studies have found when weight checks and support are offered to families by trained dental teams, help is well received and lack of time rarely a problem.

    Dental decay and obesity are preventable in many cases. Both conditions can continue into adulthood with the risk of developing other health problems.

    Research shows that dental teams are willing to provide support and that children and their families are open to receiving help for obesity. Dental teams do have an important role to play, as well as GPs and allied healthcare professionals, in tackling obesity in children as well as tooth decay.

    Jessica Large 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 dentists could help tackle obesity in children – https://theconversation.com/how-dentists-could-help-tackle-obesity-in-children-252258

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why Nato is struggling to rebuild itself in an increasingly threatening world

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Amelia Hadfield, Head of Department of Politics, University of Surrey

    In the years after Nato was formed in 1949, its US and European members had a collective approach to defence with clear goals in common, largely built around the protection of western Europe against the Soviet Union. Throughout this era, the US and Europe both relied on the stability of the international system by creating international cooperation on shared dilemmas.

    Fast forward more than 70 years, and there is now a ticking clock on reinventing the transatlantic alliance.

    European security and US-led Nato security are no longer one and the same. Certainly, recent statements from US leaders that the US will prioritise empowering Europe to own responsibility for its own security has made for tough listening in Europe.

    For some, this may be an overdue opportunity to fundamentally rework the transatlantic security relationship. For others, such statements are worryingly set against the backdrop of Trump’s pro-Russia stance, with Trump’s demands sounding sinister at best.

    Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte recently outlined a need to “build a stronger, a fairer and more lethal NATO”. Global threats were creating a more dangerous world, he argued.

    Mark Rutte, Nato’s secretary-general, speaks at a 2025 meeting in Brussels,

    From its establishment by 12 states on April 4, 1949, until the end of the cold war era, Nato was focused on one big thing: deterring Soviet aggression. Ultimately, Nato had one job, one enemy, one threat, one theatre and one instrument of power.

    It was a partnership that enabled the US to build and maintain a more permanent role in European security. This collective security plan prevented the US from falling back into isolationist foreign policies that it had held before the second world war

    Arguably, US attitudes fluctuated throughout this era. Initially the country sought a temporary role in Nato, with limited military commitment. It also encouraged western European Nato members to take early and primary responsibility for defence.

    However, the huge Soviet nuclear threat hardened US attitudes. And Nato came to be seen as key to the US’s overall ability to prevent a Soviet invasion of western Europe. Equally important was the role of the Marshall Plan, a massive post-war reconstruction plan for Europe, which (in conjunction with Nato) represented the US’s desire to work with European partners to both stabilise the region, and ensure democracy.

    Through the decades that followed, the US saw Nato as a cornerstone of its foreign policy. It is important to remember that transactionality has always been an integral part of the transatlantic relationship, but it was never at the expense of the values that underpinned it, and indeed reinforced both US national and European regional interests in doing so.

    Throughout the 1990s, and well into the 2000s, Nato clearly represented the US’s preferred method of maintaining its military presence in Europe (including US bases, weapons and troops stationed in member countries). The US drove the redefinition of post-cold war Nato, to include former Warsaw Pact countries including Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic.



    Read more:
    US and Russia squabble over Arctic security as melting ice opens up shipping routes

    The question now is whether US leadership in Nato was focused so extensively on security of Europe and pushing back against the Soviets that for a long time the dilemma of who paid for what was essentially set aside.

    Long overdue problems?

    But two wake-up calls were to come. The first was the increasingly clear indications from US administrations from Barack Obama’s presidency onwards that the US was ill at ease with Nato as a whole, and it was unhappy with the lower financial commitment, than the US, coming from European members.

    The second was in 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea. Unfortunately, the first warning sign by Obama was largely ignored; and when Russia invaded Crimea, Nato did not step up to push back against Putin’s expansionism.

    Now, Nato finds itself once again in the crosshairs of US anger about funding, and with Trump furious at European defence spending levels, and determined to massively revise the transatlantic bargain.

    Trump’s first administration put spending from European Nato members firmly on the table. His recent position is merely a continuation of that theme.

    From the European perspective, the US was, and is, a key part of the collective security structure that has empowered European defence and deterrence, but possibly with an out-of-date funding model.

    Trump, meanwhile, appears to see the US’s involvement as politically naïve. He seems to view Nato as strategically futile and defence spending imbalances as an indication that Nato is nothing more than a giant security racket.

    What is stark is the reversal between the US having helped found Nato and as the leading nation backing of a rule-bound global system under international law and Trump’s preference to reject any responsibilities for global leadership and stability.

    What has come as a shock to European members is not perhaps the demands regarding improving defence funding, but the abdication of US leadership and the threat to leave Nato completely, with no ongoing US responsibility to defend the world order.

    The onus is now on European Nato members to make both serious and swift changes. Indications of far more serious financial commitments, including from Germany, are emerging. European defence spending overall increased by 11.7% over the last year to roughly €423.3 billion (£371 billion), representing ten years of consecutive regional growth.

    Next steps include focusing on AI-led technologies, cheap drones, digital tech and improved commitments to joint projects.

    But the hardest task is also the most urgent. Namely, to avoid the chaos of a unilateral US withdrawal from Nato.

    There’s a need to move the financial and military burden to Europe in a way agreeable to the US before the Nato summit in June. Discussions on how to achieve this need to cover everything from nuclear deterrence to challenges arising from the conflict in Ukraine.

    Whether Rutte and European states can indeed preserve and maintain the collective security foundations on which Nato was first built remains to be seen. But, certainly, the current world situation is no less dangerous that the world in which Nato itself was first built.

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

    – ref. Why Nato is struggling to rebuild itself in an increasingly threatening world – https://theconversation.com/why-nato-is-struggling-to-rebuild-itself-in-an-increasingly-threatening-world-253494

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: What autistic people think should be prioritised in education for autistic learners

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Laura Gormley, Assistant Professor in Education, Dublin City University

    wavebreakmedia/Shutterstock

    The education of autistic children and young people in western societies has been heavily influenced by a medicalised understanding of autism. This means considering autism as a disorder, with a focus on correcting autistic people’s perceived lacks, rather than building on their strengths.

    Autistic learners’ strengths, interests, preferences, goals and values were typically sidelined. Making the learner appear less autistic was the main focus.

    This included increasing eye contact and building neurotypical social skills. It involved attempting to reduce stimming: self-stimulatory behaviour, which can include chewing on objects, fidgeting, watching moving objects, and making repetitive sounds.



    Read more:
    Autistic stimming explained – and why stopping it can lead to burnout

    However, the neurodiversity movement – a social advocacy movement that promotes the idea that neurological differences are an expected and normal part of human variation – has challenged these assumptions. Instead of the autistic learner being viewed as disabled, it suggests the educational environment can be disabling for the autistic learner.

    This contrasts with the past when school norms typically did not support the strengths and needs of autistic learners. These children were expected to fit in.

    What autistic people want

    The autistic voice has been largely missing from educational research and policymaking. My research study with colleagues, co-produced with autistic researchers, set out to change this. We wanted to identify the educational priorities of adult members of the autistic community, as well as teachers supporting autistic learners, in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

    We did this by carrying out a survey comprising 34 autistic adults with no role in education (non-educators), ten autistic educators, and 65 non-autistic educators who supported autistic learners. We asked them about priority goals to be included in individual education plans for autistic learners.

    The individual education plan is the foundation of inclusive and special education in many countries. It serves as an educational map that charts the learner’s current level of performance and their annual goals. It lays out the steps and resources needed to reach these goals.

    In countries such as Finland, the US and UK, an individual learning plan is legally mandated for all learners who make use of special education services. However, this is not the case in the Republic of Ireland. Provisions were made in the 2004 Education for Persons with Special Education Needs Act. Over 20 years later, though, individual education plans are still not compulsory, regulated or assessed in the Republic of Ireland.

    This lack of oversight has occurred against the backdrop of a 600% increase in special classes in the Republic of Ireland from 2013 to 2023. Autism classes accounted for 89% of these – 2,466 classes out of a total of 2,754.

    Before carrying out the survey, we expected very little overlap in the goal priorities of autistic respondents and non-autistic respondents. We were wrong. Our findings clearly showed significant overlap in the priorities across the groups.

    Our survey respondents prioritised goals that promote autonomy, social inclusion and communication. They saw these goals as contributing positively to autistic wellbeing.

    Learning goals that focused on social inclusion were a priority.
    wavebreakmedia/Shutterstock

    On the other hand, academic goals did not feature as a priority for the vast majority of respondents. Academic goals include reading comprehension, writing skills, critical thinking, time management, problem solving and maths skills.

    It could be argued that this does a disservice to the educational potential of autistic learners. However, while academic goals are important, wellbeing must come first. Without a strong foundation of physical and mental health, meaningful academic success is difficult to achieve.

    Finally, all groups actively discouraged educational goals that focused on improving eye contact and reducing stimming. The overriding consensus was that a focus on changing these aspects of behaviour is detrimental to a learner’s ability to work towards meaningful and functional educational goals including independence, wellbeing and social inclusion.

    Prioritising wellbeing

    There is growing support for prioritising wellbeing, communication, socialisation and daily living skills over more academic goals. However, teachers may not be equipped to design, teach and monitor goals that align with these priorities of the autistic community.

    Teachers in a UK study cited several barriers to supporting autistic learners in their classrooms. Their greatest frustration came from having limited access to autism-specific knowledge and expertise during their initial teacher training.

    Similar frustrations were also reported among Irish teachers. Many teachers in the study thought a specialised qualification should be compulsory for those teaching in autism classes.

    However, autism prevalence rates are on the rise, and there is an international trend towards inclusive education – educating children with special educational needs in mainstream classrooms. This means there is a growing likelihood that teachers will find themselves supporting autistic learners.

    Research shows that teachers’ attitudes, knowledge and skills towards inclusion are improved if they can go on placements during their training to schools that emphasise a culture of inclusion.

    Partnerships between universities and schools could be an important way to make this happen. This could help empower student teachers to go on to design and support effective individual education plans for their autistic learners.

    However, without a legal mandate for individual education plans in the Republic of Ireland, initial teacher education and teacher professional development programmes will continue to struggle to effectively prepare teachers for this part of their role.

    Laura Gormley works as an assistant professor in Dublin City university and received seed funding from SCoTENS (The Standing Conference on Teacher Education, North and South) to carry out this study.

    – ref. What autistic people think should be prioritised in education for autistic learners – https://theconversation.com/what-autistic-people-think-should-be-prioritised-in-education-for-autistic-learners-250195

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –