NewzIntel.com

Category: Asia Pacific

  • MIL-OSI Economics: India’s diagnostic imaging market set to surpass $7 billion in 2033, with portable imaging leading accessibility push, reveals GlobalData

    Source: GlobalData

    India’s diagnostic imaging market set to surpass $7 billion in 2033, with portable imaging leading accessibility push, reveals GlobalData

    Posted in Medical Devices

    India’s diagnostic imaging market is poised for substantial growth, driven by rising healthcare expenditure, increasing chronic disease burden, and a growing demand for accessible diagnostic solutions. Against this backdrop, the market is expected to exceed $7 billion in 2033, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 7%, forecasts GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

    GlobalData’s research reveals that India currently accounts for around 20% of the Asia-Pacific (APAC) diagnostic imaging devices market in 2024. The increased adoption of portable imaging solutions is expected to be a key driver of market expansion, especially in underserved and rural regions where traditional infrastructure is limited.

    Rohit Anand, Practice Head – Medical Devices at GlobalData, comments: “Portable imaging devices are transforming healthcare delivery in India. In emergency and trauma situations, these devices enable rapid on-site diagnostics, reducing the need for patient transfers and enhancing care delivery. Moreover, for smaller healthcare centers, they may offer a cost-effective alternative to full-scale imaging setups, improving access without substantial capital investment.”

    The recent technological advancements are further propelling the clinical impact of portable imaging. Innovations such as AI-powered image analysis, miniaturization, and wireless connectivity are improving diagnostic accuracy and data sharing. Devices like Butterfly iQ+ handheld ultrasound, Carestream’s Motion Mobile X-ray, and Fujifilm’s lightweight FDR Xair X-ray system exemplify the growing momentum in the market. Additionally, portable MRI and CT systems, enhanced by technologies like photon counting and compact MRI magnets, are delivering higher resolution and lower radiation exposure.

    Anand adds: “The integration of portable imaging into point-of-care settings enhances early disease detection and supports real-time diagnostics, leading to timely interventions and improved patient outcomes. This is particularly vital for extending healthcare access to remote and resource-constrained communities.”

    However, the widespread adoption of portable imaging in India still in nascent stage. High ownership costs, complex import regulations, and limited service infrastructure are the key barriers. Ongoing maintenance requirements and the need for skilled personnel further add to the cost burden.

    Anand continues: “To unlock the full potential of portable imaging, it is essential to address regulatory bottlenecks, streamline import processes, and support networks. These steps will be critical to ensure affordability and scale adoption across the country.”

    Looking ahead, portable imaging is expected to complement the traditional imaging methods, offering a hybrid diagnostic approach. While stationary systems will continue to be vital for complex procedures, portable devices will revolutionize point-of-care diagnostics by improving efficiency, reducing wait times, and expanding access.

    Anand concludes: “The future of diagnostic imaging in India lies in this hybrid model. As income levels rise and awareness of preventive care grows, the demand for portable imaging will accelerate. This evolution promises to reshape healthcare delivery and improve patient outcomes across the nation.”

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI China: Regulator to conduct antitrust review of CK Hutchison’s Panama Canal deal

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    China’s top market regulator said on Friday it will carry out an antitrust review of CK Hutchison’s possible Panama Canal ports’ deal in accordance with laws to ensure fair market competition and protect public interests, according to the website of the State Administration for Market Regulation.

    In a response to media agency Hong Kong Ta Kung Wen Wei, a spokesman of the second antitrust enforcement division of the SAMR said that the regulator has noted the deal and will conduct an antitrust review.

    The move came as Hutchison Ports, a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based conglomerate CK Hutchison Holdings owned by tycoon Li Ka-shing, is reportedly in the process of selling most of its global ports business to BlackRock on April 2 for an expected $22.8 billion.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: 694 killed, 1,670 injured, 68 missing in Myanmar’s earthquake

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    A total of 694 people were killed, 1,670 injured and 68 missing in a deadly earthquake in Mandalay region of Myanmar as of Saturday morning, the Information Team of Myanmar’s State Administration Council reported.

    A 7.7-magnitude earthquake jolted the country on Friday afternoon, according to the Information Team of Myanmar’s State Administration Council.

    Official reports said that the earthquake caused a power supply system failure. Mobile networks were also not working smoothly, and there was no mobile signal in some areas of Yangon. Many buildings were damaged, and rescue operations are underway.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Thousands are feared dead in Myanmar’s quake. Trump’s USAID cuts will cause even more unnecessary deaths

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adam Simpson, Senior Lecturer, International Studies, University of South Australia

    In early 2021, after a decade of political and economic reforms, Myanmar looked like it was finally beginning to shake off the hangover of decades of military rule. Foreign investment was growing, and standards of living were gradually improving.

    In February that year, however, the military again grabbed power after ousting Aung San Suu Kyi’s democratically elected government in a coup. This sent the country spiralling towards civil war and social and economic collapse.

    In the latest addition to the daily misery of Myanmar’s long-suffering people, a huge 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit the centre of the country on Friday. Its epicentre was just outside Mandalay, the county’s second-largest city.

    The Thai capital of Bangkok, more than 1,000 kilometres from the epicentre, experienced extensive damage too. Video images showed a collapsing building under construction and sloshing rooftop infinity pools causing waterfalls down high-rise condominiums.

    Information on the extent of the damage in Myanmar was slower to emerge, given the junta has largely banned social media and communications apps, such as Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Signal and X.

    The death toll has now passed 1,000 at the time of writing. US Geological Survey modelling, however, suggests there could be more than 10,000 deaths and economic losses potentially exceeding the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).

    Unusually for the isolationist military juntas of Myanmar, its leader, Min Aung Hlaing, immediately issued a call for international assistance.

    The junta, however, has full control of as little as 21% of the country in the ongoing civil war, with the rest contested or controlled by ethnic armed groups and resistance fighters. This indicates some hard-hit areas of the country may be inaccessible to international aid.

    Compounding these difficulties, the Trump administration has decimated the US Agency for International Development (USAID) activities in the country. This will make it far more challenging to determine the areas most in need and distribute any aid on the ground.

    Natural disasters in Myanmar

    Along with its history of brutal and authoritarian military rule since gaining independence in 1948, Myanmar is also regularly afflicted by natural disasters.

    At least 430 people are believed to have died in floods last September due to the remnants of Typhoon Yagi. In 2023, Cyclone Mocha reportedly killed about 460 of the Rohingya ethnic minority, who are largely confined to government camps in Rakhine state in inhuman conditions.

    The worst natural disaster in living memory, however, was Cyclone Nargis in 2008, which left at least 140,000 dead. On that occasion, the military junta resisted international assistance, likely resulting in many unnecessary deaths.

    At that time, there was no independent media in Myanmar and it was almost impossible to find out what was actually happening on the ground.

    Fortunately, the proliferation of mobile phones in the last decade has allowed information to spread much more widely, even with the junta’s internet blocks and other methods of censorship currently in place.

    When Cyclone Nargis occurred – the year after the iPhone was launched – only around 1% of the Myanmar’s population had mobile phones. By the time of the coup in 2021, Myanmar had a smartphone penetration rate of 114%. (This means the country has more smartphones than people.)

    Foreign assistance has been compromised

    While Min Aung Hlaing has gone farther than his predecessor in 2008 in asking for international help, US President Donald Trump’s actions have ensured that any aid will be far less effective than it would have been two months ago.

    On Friday, the same day the earthquake hit, the Trump administration told Congress it would cut nearly all remaining jobs at USAID and shut the agency, closing all USAID missions worldwide.

    Jeremy Konyndyk, the president of Refugees International and a former USAID official, called the move “a total abdication of decades of US leadership in the world”. He argued the firings would cut “the last remnants of the team that would have mobilised a USAID disaster response” to the earthquake.

    In 2024, USAID spent US$240 million (A$380 million) in Myanmar, around one-third of all multilateral humanitarian assistance to the country.

    However, since Trump’s inauguration in January, the number of USAID programs in Myanmar has shrunk from 18 to just three. Several NGOs and at least seven US-funded hospitals operating along Myanmar’s border with Thailand have been shut down.

    Myanmar’s exiled independent media outlets, which shine a light on the military’s atrocities, have also seen their funding slashed by the Trump administration’s USAID cuts.

    What happens now?

    The day before the earthquake, Min Aung Hlaing addressed troops at the 80th anniversary of Armed Forces Day Parade. He announced national elections would go ahead in December – a vote that human rights groups are already calling a “sham”.

    There is no conceivable way elections of any integrity can be held in the country under military rule or while the civil war continues to rage.

    Military-backed parties have been overwhelmingly rejected by Myanmar’s electorate in every remotely free or fair election over the last four decades. This includes the most recent elections held in 2020, won by the National League of Democracy (NLD), led by Aung San Suu Kyi.

    While the world should welcome – and urgently respond to – Min Aung Hlaing’s invitation for international assistance, this doesn’t mean the past is forgotten. Thousands of innocent lives have been lost as a result of the military’s unnecessary and destructive 2021 coup.

    If the NLD had remained in government, the country would be infinitely more prepared to deal with consequences of this earthquake. Once again, the military’s brutal rule – and Trump’s draconian aid cuts – will no doubt cause more unnecessary suffering and deaths.

    Adam Simpson 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. Thousands are feared dead in Myanmar’s quake. Trump’s USAID cuts will cause even more unnecessary deaths – https://theconversation.com/thousands-are-feared-dead-in-myanmars-quake-trumps-usaid-cuts-will-cause-even-more-unnecessary-deaths-253403

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: VANDEPEER ROAD, KEILIRA (Grass Fire)

    Source: South Australia County Fire Service

    Issued on
    29 Mar 2025 16:50

    Issued for
    KEILIRA near Avenue Range in the lower South East.

    Warning level
    Advice – Monitor Conditions

    Action
    Monitor local conditions and stay informed if you are in this area. Decide what you will do if the situation changes.

    At this time there is no threat to life or property and firefighters are attending this fire.

    More information will be provided by the CFS when it is available.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Statement on The Impact of The Earthquake in Myanmar on 28 March 2025

    Source: ASEAN – Association of SouthEast Asian Nations

    1. The Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) extend their deepest sympathies and condolences to the people of Myanmar and Thailand following the powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck central Myanmar on 28 March 2025.

    2. The disaster has resulted in significant loss of life, injuries, and widespread destruction, particularly in Mandalay, Nay Pyi Taw, Bangkok, Chiang Mai and surrounding areas. ASEAN reaffirms its solidarity with the families and communities affected by the earthquake and its impact.

    Download the full statement here.
    The post ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Statement on The Impact of The Earthquake in Myanmar on 28 March 2025 appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese military warns Philippines against provoking incidents

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Chinese military conducted routine patrols in the South China Sea on Friday, said a spokesperson.

    The action took place amid ongoing efforts by the Philippines to enlist countries outside the region for so-called “joint patrols” and hype and spread its unlawful claims in the South China Sea, said Tian Junli, spokesperson for the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Southern Theater Command.

    The Philippine moves have sown destabilizing factors and undermined peace and stability in the region, Tian added.

    “We warn the Philippine side against provoking incidents and engaging in actions that heighten tensions in the South China Sea,” said the spokesperson, adding that seeking external support would prove futile.

    The forces under the Southern Theater Command will remain on high alert and resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and security, as well as peace and stability in the South China Sea, said Tian.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese volunteers head to Myanmar for quake relief

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    A group of 16 Chinese volunteers set off for the quake-hit Myanmar on Saturday morning to provide assistance in disaster relief and rescue efforts.

    The volunteers, all experienced members of the Blue Sky Rescue (BSR) team — a Chinese civil relief squad — departed from Ruili city in southwestern China’s Yunnan province, which borders Myanmar, at around 9:30 a.m.

    Equipped with emergency relief supplies, including first aid kits, power generation and lighting facilities, and demolition tools, they traveled in a convoy of five vehicles.

    “We are the first team and will be followed by a second and a third team,” said Gao Hengyi, head of the Ruili branch of BSR.

    They followed a 37-member rescue team sent by Yunnan province, which arrived in Myanmar earlier on Saturday morning.

    A total of 694 people were killed, 1,670 injured and 68 missing in a deadly earthquake in the Mandalay region of Myanmar as of Saturday morning, the Information Team of Myanmar’s State Administration Council reported.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese national rescue team leaves for earthquake-hit Myanmar

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    China has dispatched a national rescue team to assist in disaster relief efforts following a devastating 7.9-magnitude earthquake that jolted Myanmar on Friday, causing severe casualties and infrastructure damage.

    On Saturday morning, the 82-member Chinese rescue team, carrying rescue equipment and supplies, departed from the Beijing Capital International Airport aboard a chartered Air China flight, according to the Ministry of Emergency Management.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Xi extends condolences to Myanmar leader over earthquake

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday extended condolences to Myanmar’s leader Min Aung Hlaing over the massive earthquake that hit the country on Friday.

    In a message, Xi said he was shocked to learn of the strong earthquake in Myanmar, which caused heavy casualties and property losses.

    On behalf of the Chinese government and people, Xi mourned the deaths and extended sincere condolences to the bereaved families, the injured and the people affected by the disaster.

    China and Myanmar are a community of shared future sharing weal and woe, and the two peoples enjoy a profound fraternal friendship, said Xi.

    China is ready to provide assistance, and support efforts to overcome the disaster and rebuild homes at an early date, he said.

    Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Saturday also extended condolences to Min Aung Hlaing over the earthquake.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Schatz, Shaheen Lead Colleagues in Condemning the Permanent Elimination of USAID

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Hawaii Brian Schatz

    WASHINGTON— Today, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Brian Schatz (D-HI), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs, alongside Senators Chris Coons (D-DE), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) issued the following statement on the Trump Administration’s decision to ‘transition’ USAID into the State Department:

    “After months of empty promises to protect lifesaving assistance programs, support key national security interests and consult with Congress about the so called ‘90-day review’ of foreign assistance, the Trump Administration has notified Congress of their plan to fold USAID into the State Department. However, this process was clearly not meant to be a thoughtful review, and this administration has failed to recognize that consulting with Congress is not a suggestion—it is required by law. 

    “Trump Administration officials, including Peter Marocco and Ken Jackson, have been unable to answer basic questions about which programs have been terminated, how the waivers for ‘lifesaving assistance’ are being implemented or how these actions will impact our national security—and Secretary of State Marco Rubio has continued to ignore requests to appear before the Senate to explain and defend this review. 

    “We will not stand by silently as President Trump dismantles American leadership and takes a wrecking ball to U.S. institutions. The administration’s plan to permanently dismantle USAID and fire all of its employees will not only render it impossible for any retained USAID programs to be implemented, but the burden placed on the State Department will cause significant disruption to its core mission. This proposal is illegal, dangerous and inefficient. The American public deserves answers, and we demand them.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: PLA warns the Philippines to cease provoking incidents

    Source: China State Council Information Office 2

    Chinese military conducted routine patrols in the South China Sea on Friday, said a spokesperson.
    The action took place amid ongoing efforts by the Philippines to enlist countries outside the region for so-called “joint patrols” and hype and spread its unlawful claims in the South China Sea, said Tian Junli, spokesperson for the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Southern Theater Command.
    The Philippine moves have sown destabilizing factors and undermined peace and stability in the region, Tian added.
    “We warn the Philippine side against provoking incidents and engaging in actions that heighten tensions in the South China Sea,” said the spokesperson, adding that seeking external support would prove futile.
    The forces under the Southern Theater Command will remain on high alert and resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and security, as well as peace and stability in the South China Sea, said Tian.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese rescue team arrives at Myanmar after strong tremors

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    A rescue team from southwestern China’s Yunnan province arrived at Yangon, Myanmar, early Saturday after a massive earthquake jolted the Southeast Asian country on Friday.

    At least 144 people were killed and 732 injured in Myanmar after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake jolted the country on Friday.

    Myanmar’s State Administration Council Chairman, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, called for assistance from the international community, according to local reports.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Boao forum 2025 concludes with consensus reached

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

    BOAO, Hainan, March 28 — The Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 concluded Friday in Boao, a coastal town in China’s island province of Hainan, with a series of consensus reached.

    This year’s meeting mainly reached consensus in five aspects, namely, to firmly uphold multilateralism, strengthen regional cooperation and promote regional economic integration, implement the United Nations’ sustainable development goals, pursue innovation-driven growth, and advocate dialogue and exchanges to enhance understanding and trust and jointly address challenges, Zhang Jun, BFA secretary general, said at the closing press conference.

    Founded in 2001, the BFA is a non-governmental and non-profit international organization committed to promoting regional economic integration and bringing Asian countries closer to their development goals. Running from March 25 to 28, this year’s conference is themed “Asia in the Changing World: Towards a Shared Future.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Fifth Committee Concludes Resumed Session amidst Concerns Over Working Methods, Meagre Results

    Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

    Note: Full coverage of today’s meeting of the Fifth Committee will be available Tuesday, 1 April.

    While the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) concluded the first part of its resumed seventy-ninth session today with the consensual approval of five texts, several delegates expressed concern that the results were disappointing and minimal.

    At the outset of the meeting, the Committee approved — without a vote — draft resolutions titled “Special subjects relating to the programme budget for 2025” (document A/C.5/79/L.31); “Human resources management” (document A/C.5/79/L.33); “Joint Inspection Unit” (document A/C.5/79/L.32); and “Review of the implementation of General Assembly resolutions 48/218 B, 54/244, 59/272, 64/263, 69/253 and 74/257” (document A/C.5/79/L.30).  It also approved, without a vote, the draft decision titled “Questions deferred for future consideration” (document A/C.5/79/L.34).

    Speaking afterwards, the representative of the European Union, in its capacity as observer, pointed to the Committee’s role in addressing budgetary matters and providing a platform for Member States’ to discuss substantive administrative issues that keep the Organization operating smoothly.  “However”, she emphasized, “we must acknowledge that we have not been successful in providing the needed guidance, which should make us think about how we — as a Committee — can become more efficient and effective.”  

    While recognizing delegates’ efforts to reach consensus, she said that it was disappointing that no resolutions pertaining to the Organization’s efficiency were approved, particularly in the areas of accountability and supply-chain management.  This stark outcome raises serious questions about the Committee’s organization of work.  “Clearly, extending this session from four to five weeks — at considerable cost for the Organization and for ourselves — was wasteful”, she said, stating that the Committee does not need more time, but earlier, more active and constructive engagement.

    The representative of the United States echoed this disappointment, noting that delegates had invested five weeks of time with minimal results.  He expressed particular concern over the lack of action on supply-chain management, organizational resilience and the annual review of the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS).  Stressing that the Committee must exercise proper oversight to ensure the Organization keeps pace with changes, he added:  “The UN80 Initiative is a clear message that the UN must do better to streamline processes and ensure our time together turns into action.”

    The representative of the United Kingdom, too, expressed regret over the lack of action, deferrals and “retractable attitudes”, noting that a single delegation blocked agreement on some issues.  While the Committee did agree on revised estimates to finance a General Assembly resolution to combat Islamophobia, it did not identify sustainable solutions to deal with the liquidity crisis.  Stating that the Committee has strayed from its technical responsibilities, she said:  “It can do better — and must do better — to deliver technically informed outcomes.” 

    Also dissatisfied with the Committee’s meagre results, Japan’s delegate said that the body missed the opportunity to present its collective views to the Secretariat.  “We tell the UN to be more efficient, and yet our working methods are probably the least efficient,” he observed, emphasizing:  “We tell the UN to cut costs and, yet, we fail to provide the guidance to do so.”  While recognizing efforts made to reach compromises and avoid votes in this resumed session, he underscored:  “We all have to do better.”

    The representative of Israel also noted delegates’ constructive engagement despite the difficulty of the issues under consideration.  On that, she pointed to consensus on the resolution to provide additional funding to support a General Assembly resolution that aims to combat Islamophobia.  “Intolerance has no place in the Organization,” she stressed, adding that concrete measures should be taken to combat all forms of religious discrimination — including a dangerous increase in anti-Semitism.

    Pakistan’s delegate also welcomed the consensual outcome on that resolution, spotlighting the “pleasant coincidence” that it was negotiated during the month of Ramadan. “The adoption of this resolution carries spiritual meaning for our delegation,” he noted.  “We look forward to working with all delegation members in the upcoming sessions in the same spirit,” he added.

    While pleased that consensus was reached on many issues, Iraq’s representative, speaking for the Group of 77 and China, expressed concern that a substantive resolution was not reached on comprehensive agreements for human-resources management and accountability.  On that, he expressed support for more opportunities for interns from developing countries.  Concluding, he pointed out that the Organization’s liquidity crisis can only be resolved if Member States pay their assessments in full and on time.

    Closing the meeting, Egriselda Aracely González López (El Salvador), Chair of the Fifth Committee at its seventy-ninth session, said: “I know it wasn’t easy — I know that many of you would have wanted more — but we mustn’t lose sight of the fact that results are the result of collective effort.”  Thanking those present — and acknowledging that “some hours of sleep were lost”, but that it is important to “see the glass half-full, rather than half-empty” — she said:  “We have agreements that are relevant for the Organization to continue implementation of its mandates.”

    …

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Padilla Leads Colleagues Warning About Devastating Impact of Trump Cuts to Mental Health Agency

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)

    Padilla Leads Colleagues Warning About Devastating Impact of Trump Cuts to Mental Health Agency

    Senators to RFK, Jr.: “We strongly urge you to reconsider these devastating cuts and instead work to ensure that SAMHSA and the American people have the resources they need to fully address their mental and behavioral health concerns”

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), co-founder of the bipartisan Senate Mental Health Caucus, led 12 Democratic Senators in warning Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. that additional staffing cuts at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) would have disastrous ramifications for millions of Americans struggling with mental and behavioral health challenges. The Senators expressed deep concerns about the Trump Administration’s threat to cut up to 50 percent of remaining SAMHSA staff after already letting go of 10 percent of employees earlier this year, including essential employees operating the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

    Many of SAMHSA’s crucial operations will be impacted by the Trump Administration’s planned workforce cuts, including nearly $7 billion in grant distribution to states, localities, and tribes, efforts to increase access to early intervention for mental health care, and support services for timely crisis care. These services include the SAMHSA-administered 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which has served over 14.5 million Americans in crisis since it went live in July 2022.

    The letter comes after RFK, Jr. announced a major restructuring of the HHS Department yesterday, including an unlawful plan to close down SAMHSA and merge its programs into his new “Administration for a Healthy America.”

    “We are deeply troubled that in the midst of our nation’s mental health and substance use crisis, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) saw fit to downsize the agency responsible for fighting these twin epidemics,” wrote the Senators. “In 2024, SAMHSA distributed over $6.9 billion to states, localities, and tribes to fund lifesaving mental health and substance use disorder programs. Further cuts to SAMHSA’s staff will hamper its ability to conduct appropriate oversight of these grants.”

    “We are also gravely concerned about the impacts of previous dismissals and future staffing cuts to the SAMHSA-administrated 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline,” continued the Senators. “Additional SAMHSA layoffs risk decimating the Lifeline and doing fundamental harm to the President Trump’s legacy.”

    The Senators emphasized that the Trump Administration’s previous firings have already forced two SAMHSA regional offices in Regions 4 and 5 to close, impacting access to care in the South and Midwest. As a result of these cuts, Americans in 14 states now lack access to any regional officials to help administer local grants and oversee lifesaving substance use and mental health programs in these communities.

    According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 48.5 million Americans aged 12 and older battled a substance use disorder in 2023, and 58.7 million Americans aged 18 and older experienced a mental health condition. Over the past 22 years, suicide rates have increased 36 percent, and suicide is among the leading causes of death for people ages 10-64. The programs SAMHSA administers are crucial to addressing the growing mental health crisis.

    “We strongly urge you to reconsider these devastating cuts and instead work to ensure that SAMHSA and the American people have the resources they need to fully address their mental and behavioral health concerns,” concluded the Senators.

    In addition to Senator Padilla, the letter was signed by Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

    Senator Padilla is a leading advocate for expanding mental health care access, especially for underserved communities. In 2023, Padilla and Senators Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) launched the bipartisan Senate Mental Health Caucus to serve as a forum for Senators to collaborate on and promote bipartisan legislation and solutions, hold events to raise awareness of critical mental health issues, and destigmatize mental health. Padilla and Tillis applauded the Federal Communications Commission for making critical improvements to the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline to help callers access localized, lifesaving behavioral health resources, mirroring the main provision of the Senators’ Local 9-8-8 Response Act of 2023. 

    Additionally, Padilla recently introduced bipartisan legislation to combat the growing youth mental health crisis in America through early intervention and prevention services. Last year, Padilla passed a Senate resolution to raise the alarm about the mental health care crisis American children face and highlight the urgent need to increase our investment in mental health care for children and adolescents. Padilla previously introduced a trio of bills to address the unique mental health needs of military children, Latinos, and farm workers.

    Full text of the letter is available here and below:

    Dear Secretary Kennedy:

    We write to express our deep concerns regarding the recent terminations of probationary staff at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). On February 14, 2025, approximately 10 percent of SAMHSA’s workforce was dismissed, and we understand that significantly more dismissals, up to 50 percent, are imminent at SAMHSA.

    According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 48.5 million Americans aged 12 and older battled a substance use disorder in 2023, and 58.7 million Americans aged 18 and older experienced a mental health condition. Over the past 22 years, suicide rates have increased 36 percent. Suicide is among the leading causes of death for people ages 10-64 and is the second leading cause of death for people aged 10-14 and 25-24. We are deeply troubled that in the midst of our nation’s mental health and substance use crisis, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) saw fit to downsize the agency responsible for fighting these twin epidemics.

    While all Members of Congress agree with ending waste, fraud, and abuse in the government, these recent dismissals do not serve that goal. As you know, a significant portion of SAMHSA’s mission is to provide grants and resources for states, Tribes, nonprofits, and community-based organizations. In 2024, SAMHSA distributed over $6.9 billion to states, localities, and tribes to fund lifesaving mental health and substance use disorder programs. Further cuts to SAMHSA’s staff will hamper its ability to conduct appropriate oversight of these grants. In short, further staff reductions will increase the risk of fraud, waste, and abuse, not decrease it.

    We hope that you share our strong view that between the over 10% of staff that was previously dismissed and the staff that participated in the Deferred Resignation Program, SAMHSA has experienced a significant staff reduction that is already imperiling its services and endangering the lives of countless Americans. As has been reported, two SAMHSA regional offices (Regions 4 & 5) have been forced to effectively close as there is no longer staff to run these offices. This has left Americans in 14 states without any access to regional officials to help administer local grants and oversee life-saving substance use and mental health programs in these communities.  

    We are also gravely concerned about the impacts of previous dismissals and future staffing cuts to the SAMHSA-administrated 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. As you know, President Trump signed into law the National Suicide Hotline Designation Act of 2020, which created the 9-8-8 Lifeline, that has served over 14.5 million Americans since it went live in July 2022. Additional SAMHSA layoffs risk decimating the Lifeline and doing fundamental harm to the President Trump’s legacy.

    Given the serious effects that previous layoffs have already had on SAMHSA’s workforce and the crippling effects further layoffs would have, we ask that you respond to the following questions in writing by April 4, 2025.

    1. Provide the total number of full-time equivalents SAMHSA had on January 17, 2025.

    2. Provide the total number of full-time equivalents SAMHSA had on February 13, 2025.

    3. Provide the total number of SAMHSA employees terminated on February 14, 2025, including the total number of Veterans.

    4. Provide the total number of SAMHSA employees who primarily work on the 988 National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline terminated on February 14, 2025.

    5. Provide the total number of SAMHSA employees who were terminated on February 14, 2025, and have since been reinstated.

    6. Will you abide by Judge Alsup’s March 13, 2025, order to reinstate probationary workers who were fired? If so, when will these reinstatements begin and how many employees will be reinstated? If not, why will you not abide by this court ruling?

    7. SAMHSA’s regional offices in regions 4 and 5 closed due to termination orders. Will you commit to reopening these offices public in these 14 states? If so, when will these offices be reopened and how many employees will return to each regional office?

    8. Will you commit to not conducting additional layoffs at SAMHSA? As President Trump noted in the March 6, 2025, cabinet meeting, staffing decisions will be led by Cabinet Secretaries, not DOGE.

    Therefore, we strongly urge you to reconsider these devastating cuts and instead work to ensure that SAMHSA and the American people have the resources they need to fully address their mental and behavioral health concerns.

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pfluger Fly-By: March 28, 2025

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11)

    Pfluger Fly-By: March 28, 2025

    Washington, March 28, 2025

    March 28, 2025

    Friend,

    Welcome back to the weekly Pfluger Fly-By, a collection of events and happenings to keep you updated on everything I am doing week by week to represent you in Congress.

    This week, I was honored to have my good friend and fellow wingman, Colonel Shurtleff, testify on behalf of my legislation, the ACES Act, I joined Mornings with Maria on Fox Business to discuss a wide variety of topics, I chaired a Committee on Homeland Security’s Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence legislative markup that included two of my bills, I questioned the President and CEO of ERCOT on grid reliability in Texas, and much more!

    I have included some photos and highlights from the week. You can also find information on how my office can help you with any federal problems you may be having. As always, please do not hesitate to contact my office if we can ever be of assistance.

    Best,

    Colonel Shurtleff Testifies Before Congress on the ACES Act

    This week, I was honored to have my good friend and fellow wingman, Colonel Andy “Pablo” Shurtleff, testify before the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs on the need for my legislation, the ACES Act, which addresses cancer incidence in military aviators. Colonel Shurtleff is actively battling cancer as a result of his service in the cockpit.

    When brave men and women volunteer for our nation, they shouldn’t face a second battle against cancer without proper government support. The ACES Act directs the VA to partner with the National Academies of Sciences to study cancer prevalence among military aviators and identify service-connected factors, ultimately saving lives through earlier detection, developing targeted screening protocols, and ensuring our veterans receive the specialized care they’ve earned.

    As an Air Force fighter pilot with over 20 years of service, I’ve witnessed firsthand the incredible dedication, bravery, and resilience of our nation’s aviators. But I’ve also seen many of my brothers and sisters fight their toughest battles not in the air but in hospital rooms against cancer. I thank Colonel Shurtleff for his brave testimony before Congress on this crucial issue on behalf of military aviators. Please join me in praying for Colonel Shurtleff and his family as he continues his treatment.

    Watch my full line of questioning with Colonel Shurtleff here or by clicking the image below.

    Goodfellow Vietnam War Commemoration Ceremony

    Today, I was delighted to be back in TX-11 where I had the honor of attending the United States of America 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War Commemoration Welcome Home and Pinning Ceremony at Goodfellow Air Force Base. This ceremony has taken place for over 10 years in San Angelo and is an incredible way to recognize and honor Vietnam War veterans with an official commemorative lapel pin.

    This year’s ceremony coincided with the 50th anniversary of the Fall of Saigon and the end of the Vietnam War. Honoring our nation’s heroes is of the utmost importance to me. I’d like to thank the Goodfellow AFB Heritage Committee, the Heritage Chapter – Freedom Through Vigilance Association, the EC-47 History Site, and all of the Command Staff at Goodfellow AFB for putting together such a meaningful event. I was extremely honored to participate in this today and share a few remarks.

    Counterterrorism Subcommittee Markup

    As Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security’s Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence, I led the subcommittee’s first legislative markup of the 119th Congress. The markup included ten critical pieces of legislation to counter terror threats and transnational repression in the United States, two of which were my bills, the Generative AI Terrorism Risk Assessment Act and the Countering Transnational Repression Act of 2025.

    Transnational repression, the act of foreign governments or their proxies targeting individuals in another country using various coercive tactics, has become an increasingly concerning issue in the United States. Midlander Bob Fu is a victim of transnational repression. He has testified in the Homeland Security Committee about his experiences being targeted by the Chinese Communist Party.

    The Countering Transnational Repression Act of 2025 would require the Department of Homeland Security to create a dedicated transnational repression office to ensure that the federal government takes steps to counter threats from foreign authoritarian regimes.

    Watch my remarks in support of my legislation here or by clicking the image below.

    Mornings with Maria on Fox Business

    I joined Mornings with Maria on Fox Business to discuss the Republican Study Committee’s efforts to codify President Trump’s executive orders into law, President Trump signing my legislation to repeal the natural gas tax into law, President Trump and Secretary Hegseth’s announcement of the contract to build the next generation F-47 that will be the most lethal aircraft the U.S. Air Force has ever seen, and much more.

    You can watch the full interview here or by clicking the image below.

    Keeping the Lights On in Texas

    As a member of the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee, I joined my colleagues in questioning witnesses on energy grid reliability. Pablo Vegas, President and Chief Executive Officer for the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, Inc. (ERCOT), was among the witnesses called to testify.

    I believe in the ‘best of the above’, not ‘all of the above’ approach to energy production. This is why, during the hearing, I questioned Mr. Vegas on the pressing need to invest in long-duration, dispatchable resources to support grid reliability in Texas. As the demand for electricity continues to rise, we must invest in secure and reliable resources to power the future.

    You can watch my full line of questioning here or at the link below.

    Meeting with Texas-11 in Washington

    This week, I met with several community leaders and partners in Washington, which is always a pleasure. Thank you all for taking the time to discuss how we can implement smart, commonsense policies to strengthen Texas-11!

    2025 Congressional Art Competition

    My office is accepting submissions for the 2025 Congressional Art Competition. This competition gives high school students from across Texas-11 the opportunity to have their artwork displayed in the U.S. Capitol Building.

    This year’s theme is ‘Texas to Me’ and students will have until April 21st to submit their artwork. Information on the Congressional Art Competition, including how to apply, can be found on the Congressman’s website by clicking here.

    RULES

    · Artwork must be two-dimensional and original in concept, design, and execution. Art must follow the theme of ‘Texas to Me.’

    · The artwork’s dimensions can be no larger than 26 inches high, 26 inches wide, and 4 inches deep. Accepted mediums for the two-dimensional artwork are as follows:

    · Paintings: oil, acrylics, watercolor, etc.

    · Drawings: colored pencil, pencil, ink, marker, pastels, charcoal (It is recommended that charcoal and pastel drawings be fixed.)

    · Collages: must be two-dimensional

    · Prints: lithographs, silkscreen, block prints

    · Mixed Media: use of more than two mediums such as pencil, ink, watercolor, etc.

    · Computer-generated art

    · Photographs

    Students are highly encouraged to review the competition’s complete rules and regulations on our congressional website or contact Carol Cunningham in the Llano District Office at Carol.Cunningham@mail.house.gov with any questions.

    REMINDER: If you are in need of assistance with a federal agency, my office is here to help. For more information, please visit our website HERE.

    Thank you for reading. It is the honor of my lifetime to serve you in Congress. Please follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter) for daily updates.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Lebanon

    Source:

    We continue to advise Australians do not to travel to Lebanon due to the volatile security situation and the risk it could deteriorate with little notice. Beirut airport could close without warning, and you may be unable to leave for an extended period. The Australian Government may not be able to assist you to leave.

    Although a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hizballah was announced on 26 November 2024, Israeli military airstrikes in Beirut, southern Lebanon and parts of the Bekaa Valley could happen without warning. Avoid known or suspected areas of military activity. The conflict could spread to other areas in Lebanon. Be prepared to shelter in place for an extended period. Make sure you have enough supplies, including food, water, medicine, radio, torches and batteries. The conflict could spread to other areas in Lebanon. Keep your identity documents, including your passport, handy. See our advice on ‘Armed conflict’ in ‘Safety’.

    Since 19 October 2023, our advice has been Do Not Travel to Lebanon. 

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: It was wonderful to be back in Korea and Japan this week spending time with customers, partners, and employees and seeing our mission in action. [See more.]

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: It was wonderful to be back in Korea and Japan this week spending time with customers, partners, and employees and seeing our mission in action. [See more.]

    It was wonderful to be back in Korea and Japan this week spending time with customers, partners, and employees and seeing our mission in action. From meeting with students in Tokyo who participated in an AI hackathon, to announcing the expansion of our AI capacity in the country, launching a new skilling initiative in Korea with our partner KT, and meeting developers at a showcase in Seoul, it was inspiring to see firsthand how our platforms and tools are creating new economic opportunities and empowering people and organizations across every sector in both countries. We are deeply grateful to the many customers and partners who have put their trust in us as they transform in this era of AI.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Asia Pacific – At UN, CSI calls for land rights of indigenous peoples of West Papua to be protected

    Source: Christian Solidarity International

    Watch the statement here:

    https://youtu.be/YxrbHfDerx8

    The indigenous peoples of West Papua face renewed threats to their land rights, Christian Solidarity International (CSI) warned at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva on March 28.

    In an oral statement delivered during the 58th Session, CSI’s Abigail McDougal recalled that since assuming office last fall, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto had announced a revival of the government’s transmigration program to settle non-indigenous people in the province of West Papua. In addition, he had authorized the creation of two million hectares of new rice and sugar plantations, and a 50 percent increase in production capacity at the region’s Tangguh liquid natural gas facility.

    “These projects threaten not only the third largest rainforest in the world and one of the most biodiverse regions on the planet, but also the land that the indigenous peoples of West Papua call home,” CSI’s Deputy Director of Public Policy and Communications stated. According to Amnesty International, the resulting environmental degradation would pose an “existential threat to the people of West Papua.”

    The planned projects would entail an increased military presence in West Papua, which has been subjected to military occupation for decades. This “is particularly concerning,” McDougal said, “as Indonesia’s parliament last week amended the country’s military law, removing checks on the military’s power.”

    West Papua is the easternmost region of modern-day Indonesia. While Indonesia is the largest Muslim-majority country in the world, the indigenous peoples of West Papua are almost completely Christian.

    West Papua was made a colony of the Netherlands in 1898, and was administered separately from Dutch-ruled Indonesia. It was only handed over to Indonesia in 1962, thirteen years after Indonesia became independent. This decision provoked widespread protests and an independence movement that continues until today.

    With more than 79,000 West Papuans already internally displaced by military operations, protecting Papuans’ land ownership is an urgent imperative, McDougal said.

    The UN’s 2021 Durban Declaration and Program of Action on combating racism calls on states “to ensure that indigenous peoples are able to retain ownership of their lands and of those natural resources to which they are entitled under domestic law,” she recalled.

    “Christian Solidarity International calls on the government of Indonesia to halt its transmigration program in West Papua, protect indigenous land rights, and allow international rights monitors to enter the region,” McDougal concluded.

    The Indonesian delegation responded to CSI’s statement during the general debate, stating that they “reject the allegation that the Indonesian people in the six provinces of Papua are subjected to…discrimination” and pledging to “continue dialogue with all stakeholders, including with the local communities, to ensure their voices are heard.”

    Reacting to the Indonesian delegation’s reply, CSI’s Director for Public Advocacy, Joel Veldkamp, said, “There could not be a greater contrast between the Indonesian government’s assurances at the Human Rights Council, and what we hear from our friends in West Papua – that Indonesian government-led projects cause them to fear for the very survival of their people.”

    “We reiterate our call to the government of Indonesia to halt its destructive campaigns in West Papua.”

    Christian Solidarity International (CSI) is a Christian human rights organization promoting religious liberty and human dignity.

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Thailand

    Source:

    Following the 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Myanmar on 28 March, there have been tremors and aftershocks in parts of Thailand. There’s damage to some buildings and infrastructure in Bangkok and assessments are ongoing. Check with your accommodation provider. There may be local transport disruptions. Avoid affected areas. If you’re in the area or planning to travel there, follow the advice of the local authorities and monitor local media updates. Australians needing emergency consular assistance should contact the Consular Emergency Centre on 1300 555 135 in Australia or +61 2 6261 3305 from overseas.

    We continue to advise exercise a high degree of caution in Thailand overall. We continue to advise reconsider your need to travel to Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat provinces. Be alert to risks around drink spiking. Don’t leave food or drinks unattended. Stay with people you trust at bars, nightclubs and in taxis. See our advice on partying safely while overseas. There’s an ongoing risk of terrorism in Thailand. Popular tourist areas may be the target of terrorist attacks. Road accidents are a significant cause of injury. Wear helmets on motorcycles and motorcycle taxis.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Road Closed, SH1, Glen Oroua

    Source: New Zealand Police (District News)

    State Highway One, Glen Oroua, is closed following an earlier crash overnight.

    At around 9pm, Police were alerted to a single vehicle crash on SH1 near Taikorea Road.

    There are no reported injuries in relation to the crash.

    The road is closed, and diversions are in place.

    Motorists are advised to avoid the area and expect delays.

    ENDS

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Employment – 1000 days since landmark pay equity deal expired – workers losing $145 a week

    Source: PSA

    Today marks 1000 days that 65,000 mainly female care and support workers have waited for the Government to fund their pay equity claim, meaning they have missed out on about $18,600.
    In 2017 legislation increased the pay of care and support workers to 21% above the minimum wage. This increase was in recognition that care and support workers have been historically underpaid because the sector is female dominated.
    The 2017 legislation had a five-year time limit, which expired in June 2022. Since then, as a result of successive governments’ refusal to fund a new pay equity settlement, about 65,000 mainly female care and support workers are losing $145 a week they are entitled to. That amounts to $18,662 each.
    With no new pay equity settlement being agreed, care and support workers have seen their hard-won pay equity settlement eroded by inflation and the failure to maintain relativity above the minimum wage, says Melissa Woolley, an Assistant Secretary with the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
    “These workers are now largely back on the minimum wage and many have had no wage increase for two years, making a mockery of the pay equity settlement.
    “The failure to fund a settlement is a major and shameful breach of human rights,” says Woolley, who is a former care and support worker.
    Some background
    In 2017 a pay equity deal was enshrined in legislation by the then National-led Coalition government. The deal settled a successful court case brought by Lower Hutt aged care worker Kristine Bartlett that she was not receiving equal pay as required by the Equal Pay Act.
    Only after the legislation expired in 2022 were the three unions representing care and support workers – PSA, E tū, and the New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) – legally able to raise a new claim on behalf of care and support workers.
    “Care and support workers should never have been put in this position of having to raise a new claim. The Government should have agreed a new deal before the legislation expired,” Woolley says.
    “A thousand days have passed with that claim remaining unsettled. In that time our analysis shows that care and support workers are losing $145 each week, which means workers have been ripped off by $18,661.66 each,” Woolley says. “This has caused financial hardship and deep distress.”
    A care worker’s story
    Dunedin health care assistant and New Zealand Nurses Organisation Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa (NZNO) delegate Marita Ansin-Johnson says the $18,000 they have missed out on over the past three years would have made a real difference to her life and the lives of other care and support workers.
    “It would have made my life easier. I’ve had to save for repairs on my house. It’s the simple things. Good kai on the table, a roof over your head and being able to afford to go to the doctors.”
    Ansin-Johnson has a message for the Government: “Give us a fair go. We are looking after New Zealanders who fought for us. We are trying to give them quality of life in return.”
    The cost of caring for some of the most vulnerable
    Wooley says the workers covered by the legislation care for some of the most vulnerable people in our community including the elderly, disabled people, those with mental health and addictions needs and injured people.
    “Care and support workers enable those who need care to live with dignity and receive the assistance they require. For many that means being able to live in their own homes rather than the government paying for their care in expensive hospitals or other institutions.
    “Since 2022 successive governments have been ripped off women workers, effectively using their commitment to the people they support, hard work and lost wages to subsidise the provision of care and support for the vulnerable in our communities,” says Woolley.
    “It’s blatant sexism. The Government is waging economic war against these largely female workers rather than funding a pay equity settlement that has been agreed is fair and the right thing to do.
    “We call on this Government to follow the lead of the previous National-led coalition, settle this case and remedy this massive injustice,” Woolley says.
    Notes
    PSA analysis of lost wages is based on the 21% margin above the minimum wage that care and support workers received in the 2017 settlement. The settlement rates, or the minimum wage rate, whichever was higher has been compared with what the rate would have been if the 21% margin had been maintained. The comparison is based on a 30-hour work week.
    The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI: WF Holding Limited Announces Closing of Initial Public Offering

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    KUALA LUMPUR, March 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — WF Holding Limited (“WF Holding” or “Company”), a Malaysia-based manufacturer of fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) products, announced today the successful closing of its initial public offering of 2,000,000 ordinary shares, par value $0.00005 per share (the “Ordinary Shares”), at a public offering price of $4.00 per share. The offering generated total gross proceeds of $8 million, before deducting underwriting discounts and other offering expenses. The Company’s Ordinary Shares started trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market on March 27, 2025 under the ticker symbol “WFF.”

    In addition, the Company has granted the underwriters a 45-day option to purchase up to an additional 300,000 Ordinary Shares at the public offering price, less underwriting discounts. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from this offering for expanding the Company’s production capacity, hiring and training staff, working capital and general corporate purposes.

    The Offering was conducted on a firm commitment basis. Dominari Securities LLC acted as the lead underwriter, with Revere Securities LLC acting as a co-underwriter for the Offering. Bevilacqua PLLC acted as U.S. counsel to the Company, and The Crone Law Group, P.C. acted as U.S. counsel to the underwriters in connection with the Offering.

    A registration statement on Form F-1 relating to the Offering was filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) (File Number: 333-282294) and was declared effective by the SEC on March 26, 2025. The Offering was made only by means of a prospectus, forming a part of the registration statement, and a free writing prospectus. Copies of the final prospectus relating to the Offering may be obtained from Dominari Securities LLC by email at info@dominarisecurities.com, by standard mail to Dominari Securities LLC, 725 Fifth Avenue, 23rd Floor, New York, NY 10022 USA, or by telephone at +1 (212) 393-4500; or from Revere Securities LLC by email at contact@reveresecurities.com, by standard mail to Revere Securities LLC, 560 Lexington Ave, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10022 USA, or by telephone at (212) 688-2238. In addition, copies of the prospectus and free writing prospectus relating to the Offering may be obtained for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

    This press release does not constitute an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy any of the Company’s securities, nor shall there be any offer, solicitation or sale of any of the Company’s securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such state or jurisdiction.

    ***

    About WF Holding Limited

    Based in Malaysia, WF Holding Limited is an ISO 9001:2015 certified manufacturer of fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) products including tanks, pipes, ducts and custom-made FRP products. With a track record of over 30 years, we design and fabricate products that meet the specific needs of our clients, ensuring high-quality and reliable performance. Our high-quality and durable products leverage the advantages of FRP to reinforce critical industrial infrastructure, driving resilience, longevity and sustainability. We also deliver a wide range of related services such as consultation, delivery, installation, repair and maintenance.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Certain statements in this announcement are “forward-looking statements” as defined under the U.S. federal securities laws, including, but not limited to, the Company’s statements regarding the use of proceeds from the sale of the Company’s shares in the Offering. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on the Company’s current expectations and projections about future events that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Investors can find many (but not all) of these statements by the use of words such as “may,” “could,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “expect,” “plan,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “project” or “continue” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology in this press release. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Company’s registration statement and other filings with the SEC.

    For more information, please contact:

    WF Holding Limited
    Investor Relations
    Email:  corporate@winfung.com.my

    Sense Consultancy Group
    Yan Pheng Liang
    Email: phengliang@leesense.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Lt. Gov. Luke – RELEASE: Promoting Hawaiʻi’s Agricultural Sector

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    Lt. Gov. Luke – RELEASE: Promoting Hawaiʻi’s Agricultural Sector

    Posted on Mar 28, 2025 in Latest Department News, Newsroom

     STATE OF HAWAIʻI
     KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI

     

    SYLVIA LUKE
     LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
    KE KEʻENA O KA HOPE KIAʻĀINA

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
     March 28, 2025

    PROMOTING HAWAIʻI’S AGRICULTURAL SECTOR
     Hawaiʻi Leaders Advocate for Agriculture Issues in Washington, D.C.

     

    HONOLULU — A delegation of over 20 leaders in farming, ranching, and commerce returned after completing a successful visit with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in Washington, D.C.  This marked the 2nd Annual Hawaiʻi-USDA Policy Summit, led by Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke, and focused on highlighting Hawaiʻi’s unique and essential agricultural sector at the federal level.

     

    “Our first delegation visit with USDA gave participants an introduction to the vast support USDA offers all states and sparked the opportunity for greater partnership between USDA and Hawaiʻi,” said Lt. Gov. Luke. “We need to continuously strengthen local food production and support our agriculture community. Identifying key opportunities for collaboration with the USDA is crucial to ensure Hawaiʻi’s agricultural industry has the necessary resources to thrive.”

     

    The delegation of state, non-profit, business, and community leaders marked the first state delegation to visit the USDA and meet with newly sworn-in U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins.

     

    “Hawaiʻi’s agriculture feeds our nation and shapes its spirit,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins. “I am excited to continue working to put our farmers first and working to lift burdensome regulatory barriers.”

     

    In addition to meeting with Secretary Rollins, the delegation had meetings with multiple agencies within the USDA, including Agricultural Research Service, Agriculture Marketing Service, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Farm Service Agency, Food Safety Inspection Service, National Agricultural Statistics Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement, and Rural Development.

     

    The delegation also met with national industry associations, including the American Farm Bureau Federation and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

     

    “The farmers and ranchers of Hawaiʻi are so grateful for Lieutenant Governor Luke’s foresight and creativity in putting this delegation together and the USDA’s quick response in providing this opportunity to us,” said Darren Strand, President of Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau. “Hawaiʻi agriculture has such unique obstacles and challenges, and these meetings help us align federal resources with our local, island needs.  Strengthening the crucial relationship between Hawaiʻi and the USDA allows Hawaiʻi’s farmers and ranchers to thrive in uncertain times and evolving agricultural landscape.”

     

    The visit provided local farmers, ranchers, and advocates the opportunity to express the critical role of Hawaiʻi agricultural production in communities statewide. Hawaiʻi’s agricultural imports and exports, truth in labeling, expanding biosecurity protections within the state, and supporting more production of local agriculture were key priorities of the policy summit.

     

    “We have learned that when you show up, you show how serious you are about advocating for your needs,” said Nicole Galase, Managing Director of the Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council. “Bringing together such a wide representation of agriculture leaders shows a united voice for the State of Hawaiʻi — that we are an essential part of the US food system.”

     

    2025 Hawaiʻi-USDA Policy Summit Attendees

    Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke

    Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture Chairperson Sharon Hurd

    Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation Director Ed Sniffen

    Hawaiʻi Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism Deputy Director Dane Wicker

    Senator Tim Richards

    Office of Senator Mike Gabbard

    Agribusiness Development Corporation

    Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Council

    University of Hawaiʻi College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources

    Alaska Airlines

    Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau

    Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council

    Hawaii Crop Improvement Association

    Hawaii Macadamia Nut Association

    Island Harvest

    Synergistic Hawaii

    Agricultural Council

    Bayer Hawaiʻi

    Mahi Pono

    Maui Gold Pineapple

     

     

    ###

     

    Media Contact:

    Shari Nishijima  

    Communications Director  

    Office of the Lieutenant Governor  

    (808) 978-0867  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: PROMOTING HAWAIʻI’S AGRICULTURAL SECTOR

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    Hawaiʻi Leaders Advocate for Agriculture Issues in Washington, D.C.

    HONOLULU — A delegation of over 20 leaders in farming, ranching, and commerce returned after completing a successful visit with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in Washington, D.C.  This marked the 2nd Annual Hawaiʻi-USDA Policy Summit, led by Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke, and focused on highlighting Hawaiʻi’s unique and essential agricultural sector at the federal level.

    “Our first delegation visit with USDA gave participants an introduction to the vast support USDA offers all states and sparked the opportunity for greater partnership between USDA and Hawaiʻi,” said Lt. Gov. Luke. “We need to continuously strengthen local food production and support our agriculture community. Identifying key opportunities for collaboration with the USDA is crucial to ensure Hawaiʻi’s agricultural industry has the necessary resources to thrive.”

    The delegation of state, non-profit, business, and community leaders marked the first state delegation to visit the USDA and meet with newly sworn-in U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins.

    “Hawaiʻi’s agriculture feeds our nation and shapes its spirit,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins. “I am excited to continue working to put our farmers first and working to lift burdensome regulatory barriers.”

    In addition to meeting with Secretary Rollins, the delegation had meetings with multiple agencies within the USDA, including Agricultural Research Service, Agriculture Marketing Service, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Farm Service Agency, Food Safety Inspection Service, National Agricultural Statistics Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement, and Rural Development.

    The delegation also met with national industry associations, including the American Farm Bureau Federation and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

    “The farmers and ranchers of Hawaiʻi are so grateful for Lieutenant Governor Luke’s foresight and creativity in putting this delegation together and the USDA’s quick response in providing this opportunity to us,” said Darren Strand, President of Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau. “Hawaiʻi agriculture has such unique obstacles and challenges, and these meetings help us align federal resources with our local, island needs.  Strengthening the crucial relationship between Hawaiʻi and the USDA allows Hawaiʻi’s farmers and ranchers to thrive in uncertain times and evolving agricultural landscape.”

    The visit provided local farmers, ranchers, and advocates the opportunity to express the critical role of Hawaiʻi agricultural production in communities statewide. Hawaiʻi’s agricultural imports and exports, truth in labeling, expanding biosecurity protections within the state, and supporting more production of local agriculture were key priorities of the policy summit.

    “We have learned that when you show up, you show how serious you are about advocating for your needs,” said Nicole Galase, Managing Director of the Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council. “Bringing together such a wide representation of agriculture leaders shows a united voice for the State of Hawaiʻi — that we are an essential part of the US food system.”

    2025 Hawaiʻi-USDA Policy Summit Attendees

    Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Luke

    Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture Chairperson Sharon Hurd

    Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation Director Ed Sniffen

    Hawaiʻi Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism Deputy Director Dane Wicker

    Senator Tim Richards

    Office of Senator Mike Gabbard

    Agribusiness Development Corporation

    Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Council

    University of Hawaiʻi College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources

    Alaska Airlines

    Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau

    Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council

    Hawaii Crop Improvement Association

    Hawaii Macadamia Nut Association

    Island Harvest

    Synergistic Hawaii

    Agricultural Council

    Bayer Hawaiʻi

    Mahi Pono

    Maui Gold Pineapple

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Myanmar: Military must urgently allow full access to humanitarian aid for earthquake victims in all areas

    Source: Amnesty International –

    Earthquake epicentre in area already ravaged by military air strikes and years of fighting

    Military has long denied aid to areas where resistance groups are active 

    Lack of information and images a stark reminder of junta’s crushing of press freedom

    ‘Human rights must be at the centre of all relief efforts, and there must be no discrimination in aid provision’ – Joe Freeman

    Responding to reports of widescale damage from a 7.7-magnitude earthquake reported in central and other parts of Myanmar, Joe Freeman, Amnesty International’s Myanmar Researcher, said:

    “This earthquake could not come at a worse time for Myanmar. More than three million people remain internally displaced from armed conflict that has raged since the 2021 military coup. Over a third of the population will need humanitarian assistance this year. At the same time, the impacts of US aid cuts on humanitarian services in the country are just starting to bite.

    “In a country where the military has banned many media outlets and internet access is restricted, we may not have a clear picture of the extent of damage and loss for some time. That there appear to be more images and information coming out of Thailand than the epicentre in Myanmar is a startling reminder of the military’s crushing of press freedom since the 2021 coup.

    “Central Myanmar, which is believed to be the epicentre of the earthquake, has been ravaged by military air strikes and clashes between resistance groups and the military. Myanmar’s military has a longstanding practice of denying aid to areas where groups who resist it are active. It must immediately allow unimpeded access to all humanitarian organisations and remove administrative barriers delaying needs assessments.

    “All parties to the armed conflict should be prioritising the needs of civilians whose lives have been upended in this disaster and ensuring that they have unfettered access to aid.

    “Human rights must be at the centre of all relief efforts, and there must be no discrimination in aid provision. Amnesty International is calling particularly for the protection of those with specific needs, including children, older people, people with disabilities, and women and girls in vulnerable situations.”

    View latest press releases

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Video: South Sudan, Southeast Asia Earthquake & other topics – Daily Press Briefing (28 March 2025)

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    Noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

    Highlights:
    Secretary-General / South Sudan
    South Sudan / Peacekeeping
    South Sudan / Humanitarian
    Southeast Asia Earthquake
    Democratic Republic of the Congo
    Central African Republic
    Occupied Palestinian Territory
    Lebanon
    International Day of Zero Waste
    Senior Personnel Appointment – UNTMIS
    Financial Contribution
    Briefing

    SECRETARY-GENERAL / SOUTH SUDAN
    In remarks to the press today on the unfolding situation in South Sudan, the Secretary-General urged the leaders to end the politics of confrontation, to release detained military and civilian officials now and fully restore the Government of National Unity.
    Mr. Guterres also urged the guarantors of the peace agreement from the regional and international community to speak with one voice and to support the peace process. Mr. Guterres reiterated that we will work in close cooperation with the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, otherwise known as IGAD.
    The Secretary-General also called for dialogue and de-escalation for the sake of the long-suffering people of South Sudan. Three out of four South Sudanese need assistance, he sounded the alarm, that’s 9.3 million human beings in total. This is a humanitarian nightmare, he said.

    SOUTH SUDAN / PEACEKEEPING
    The Special Representative in South Sudan and Head of the peacekeeping mission there, Nicholas Haysom, just finished a meeting with President Salva Kiir.
    Mr. Haysom shared the Secretary-General’s concerns with the President that the country risks slipping into widespread conflict due to the recent political and security developments. Our peacekeeping colleagues tell us that the President, in response, reiterated his previous public message that he is steadfast in his commitment not to take the country to war.
    Mr. Haysom offered our full support to help de-escalate the tensions and encouraged the President to exercise leadership and take the necessary steps to give all South Sudanese confidence that peace will prevail in their country

    SOUTH SUDAN / HUMANITARIAN
    We can’t stress enough how deeply worried we are about the risk of the situation there worsening for the people of South Sudan.
    This humanitarian crisis is being driven by violence, by food insecurity, by political instability, by climate shocks, by disease outbreaks as well as the spillover from the conflict in neighbouring Sudan.
    Dozens of casualties have been reported due to the ongoing violence in the country in recent weeks, with up to 120,000 men, women and children having been forced to fleee their homes. The levels of acute hunger remain high, with some 7.7 million people who are severely food insecure and 650,000 children under the age of five at risk of severe acute malnutrition.
    Regarding disease outbreaks – a cholera outbreak in South Sudan is yet to be contained, with more than 42,000 cases reported and nearly 800 deaths. Once again, we call on the parties to put their weapons down and put all the people of South Sudan first.
    And at this critical juncture, we also appeal to Member States to swiftly supply the resources we need to stem the growing humanitarian crisis in the country, particularly in the face of funding cuts, So far, we’ve received just over 10 per cent of the $1.7 billion needed to reach 5.4 million people in South Sudan this year – which means we only about $174 million in our bank.

    SOUTHEAST ASIA EARTHQUAKE
    The Secretary-General expressed his condolences to the governments and people of Southeast Asia who were impacted by the 7.7 magnitude earthquake that hit earlier today.
    The epicenter of the earthquake was in Myanmar and the de-facto authorities there have called for international assistance and we are mobilizing teams and support.
    We are gathering information on the number of people impacted, damage to infrastructure and immediate humanitarian needs, in order to guide our response in the best way possible. We will share more updates and information as it becomes available.
    our Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, has made an initial allocation from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund of $5 million to support life-saving assistance in support of the operations of recovery following the earthquake.
    Meanwhile, Julie Bishop, the Special Envoy for Myanmar, said on social media that the earthquake is heartbreaking for the people of Myanmar and added that her thoughts are with all those affected across the region.
    The earthquake will compound an already dire humanitarian situation in Myanmar, where nearly 20 million people need assistance across the country, including more than 3.5 million people displaced from their homes.

    Full highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=28%20March%202025

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vy11_F6ZFLg

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: South Sudan: Leaders Must Choose Peace Over Conflict as Crisis Deepens – UN Chief | United Nations

    Source: United Nations (Video News)

    Secretary-General António Guterres said, “Now more than ever, the leaders of South Sudan must hear a clear, unified and resounding message: Put down the weapons. Put all the people of South Sudan first.”

    The Secretary-General spoke to reporters today (28 Mar) in New York on the dramatic and dire situation that is unfolding in South Sudan.

    Guterres cautioned that all the dark clouds of a perfect storm have descended upon the people of the world’s newest country – and one of the poorest, with a security emergency, a political upheaval, a humanitarian nightmare, a displacement crisis, an economic meltdown and a funding crisis.

    “Let’s not mince words” he said, “what we are seeing is darkly reminiscent of the 2013 and 2016 civil wars, which killed 400,000 people.”

    The Secretary-General highlighted that the UN Mission in South Sudan is working around the clock to ease tensions – engaging all parties and boosting protection of civilians. “But we face operational limitations,” he added.

    Guterres appealed, “For the sake of the long-suffering people of South Sudan, it is time for dialogue and de-escalation.”

    “The Horn of Africa is already in turmoil and cannot afford another conflict. Nor can the people of South Sudan,” the UN chief added.

    To the leaders of the country, Guterres said, “End the politics of confrontation. Release detained military and civilian officials now. Fully restore the Government of National Unity. And vigorously implement the promises you made through your commitments to the peace agreement – which is the only legal framework to peaceful, free and fair elections in December 2026.”

    The Secretary-General also urged the regional and international community, as guarantors of the peace agreement, “to speak with one voice in support of the peace process and against any attempts to undermine it.”

    Guterres also reaffirmed that the UN supports the AU initiative to deploy the Panel of the Wise – as well as the efforts of the Special Envoy of President Ruto of Kenya. The world body is working in close cooperation with IGAD and the AU.

    The Secretary-General reiterated, “At this critical hour, the people of South Sudan need an infusion of support. Diplomatic and political support for peace. And financial support for lifesaving aid.”

    “South Sudan may have fallen off the world’s radar, but we cannot let the situation fall over the abyss,” the Secretary-General reiterated.

    On the earthquakes that hit the parts of Southeast Asia today, Guterres sent his condolences to the government and peoples of the region, adding that the United Nations system in the region is mobilizing to help those in need.

    He said, “The Government of Myanmar has asked for international support and our team in Myanmar is already in contact in order to fully mobilize our resources in the region to support the people of Myanmar.”

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZF4M91Eq15k

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Human Rights Committee Closes One Hundred and Forty-Third Session

    Source: United Nations – Geneva

    The Human Rights Committee today closed its one hundred and forty-third session after adopting concluding observations on the reports of Albania, Burkina Faso, Mongolia, Montenegro and Zimbabwe.

    Changrok Soh, Committee Chairperson, said the Committee had come to the end of a productive session and commended the Commitete members for their commitment and professionalism.  The Committee had held constructive dialogues with Albania, Burkina Faso, Mongolia, Montenegro and Zimbabwe and the concluding observations would be posted on the Committee’s webpage later today. The review of Haiti was postponed upon the request of the State party due to the difficult human rights situation. The Committee expressed solidarity with the people of Haiti and looked forward to engaging with the State in the next session in July.

    During the session, the Committee adopted a list of issues on Chad and lists of issues prior to reporting on Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominican Republic, Jordan, Mauritius, New Zealand and Samoa, which would serve as important tools to guide dialogues with these States. 

    On individual communications, the Committee considered 19 drafts, including one draft prepared in accordance with the simplified format adopted by the Committee at its one hundred and fortieth session.  The drafts related to 66 communications: 38 were decided on the merits, five communications were declared inadmissible, and 23 communications were discontinued. Regarding the communications decided on the merits, the Committee found violations in 37 of them.

    The Committee also adopted its annual report reflecting its work undertaken during its one hundred and forty-first, one hundred and forty-second and one hundred and forty-third sessions. 

    At its next one hundred and forty-fourth session, the Committee would review the initial and periodic reports of Guinea Bissau, Haiti, Kazakhstan, Latvia, North Macedonia, Spain and Viet Nam.  The Committee would also adopt the lists of issues prior to reporting on Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Denmark, Ghana, Liechtenstein, Morocco, Rwanda, Sweden and Switzerland.  It would evaluate the reports of Armenia and Germany under its follow-up procedure to concluding observations.

    In closing, Mr. Soh expressed appreciation to members of the bureau as well as the members of the Secretariat, the Petitions Section, United Nations entities, civil society and all those who made the session possible. 

    Before the meeting closed, several Committee Members took the floor, congratulating the five new Committee members and paying tribute to the Chair’s leadership throughout the session.  The Committee was going through challenging times, and it was vital that it continued to work as a united body promoting and protecting human rights around the world. 

    The Committee’s next session will be held from 23 June to 18 July 2025, during which it will review the reports of Guinea Bissau, Haiti, Kazakhstan, Latvia, North Macedonia, Spain and Viet Nam.

    ___________

    Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the media; 
    not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.

     

     

    CCPR25.008E

    MIL OSI United Nations News –