NewzIntel.com

Category: COVID-19 Vaccine

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Japanese encephalitis in Victoria

    Source: Government of Victoria 3

    Key messages

    • A second confirmed human case of Japanese encephalitis (JE) has been identified in a resident of northern Victoria, with likely exposure in the Riverina region of New South Wales on the Murray River.
    • JE virus has also been detected through environmental surveillance along much of the Murray River in Victoria from Mildura to Moira.
    • Additional human cases of Japanese Encephalitis have been reported in New South Wales and Queensland.
    • JE virus has also been detected in mosquito populations and at piggeries across Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland this summer.
    • Residents and people visiting northern Victoria and inland riverine regions of eastern Australia, particularly near the Murray River, are potentially at higher risk of infection and should take measures to prevent mosquito bites.
    • Avoid mosquito bites by using mosquito repellent containing picaridin or diethyltoluamide (DEET) on all exposed skin. Wear long, loose fitting clothing when outside, and ensure accommodation, including tents are properly fitted with mosquito nettings or screens.
    • In Victoria, JE vaccine is available free-of-charge for specific groups at higher risk of exposure to the virus, including eligible people in 24 eligible LGAs in northern Victoria, and those at occupational risk across Victoria.
    • JE vaccine booster doses are now recommended for some people one to 2 years after their primary course, if they remain eligible in Victoria.
    • Clinicians should test for JE virus in patients with compatible illness and notify the Department of Health immediately of suspected cases by calling 1300 651 160 (24 hours).

    What is the issue?

    A second confirmed case of JE virus infection has been identified in a resident of northern Victoria this mosquito season. Five human cases of Japanese encephalitis have also been reported across New South Wales and Queensland.

    JE virus has continued to be detected through environmental surveillance in northern Victoria, and in mosquitoes and at piggeries in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.

    JE virus can cause a rare but potentially serious infection of the brain and is spread to humans through bites from infected mosquitoes.

    Mosquitoes can spread diseases such as JE, Murray Valley encephalitis (MVE), and West Nile (Kunjin) virus infections, as well as Ross River and Barmah Forest viruses. The risk of mosquito-borne diseases remains high in the coming weeks. Taking measures to avoid mosquito bites is critical to protect against infections.

    In Victoria, cases of JE were reported for the first time in 2022 while cases of MVE were last reported in 2023.

    Mosquito testing is being carried out across Victoria to help identify high risk areas.

    Who is at risk?

    Anyone is potentially at risk of being bitten by mosquitoes and while most bites will only cause minor swelling and irritation, an infected mosquito can transmit potentially serious diseases, including JE. People with increased exposure to mosquitoes may be at a higher risk of infection, particularly people camping, working or spending time outdoors in inland riverine regions and along the Murray River.

    Children aged under 5 years old and older people who are infected with JE virus are at a higher risk of developing more severe illness, such as encephalitis (inflammation of the brain).

    Symptoms and transmission

    JE virus is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. There is no evidence of transmission from person to person.

    More than 90 per cent of JE virus infections are asymptomatic. Less than one per cent of people infected with JE virus develop neurologic illness.

    Encephalitis is the most serious clinical consequence of JE virus infection. Illness usually begins 5 to 15 days after exposure with sudden onset of fever, headache and vomiting. Mental status changes, focal neurological deficits, seizures, generalised weakness, movement disorders, loss of coordination and coma may develop over the next few days. The encephalitis cannot be distinguished clinically from other central nervous system infections. Milder forms of disease, such as aseptic meningitis or undifferentiated febrile illness, can also occur.

    Recommendations

    For health professionals

    • Clinicians should consider the possibility of JE virus infection in patients presenting with encephalitis or a compatible illness, and particularly in those who have spent time in rural or regional Victoria, the inland riverine regions of eastern Australia or have had extensive mosquito exposure or contact with pigs within the few weeks prior to symptom onset.
    • JE virus infection is an urgent notifiable condition and must be notified immediately to the department if suspected or confirmed by medical practitioners and pathology services by phoning 1300 651 160 (24 hours).
    • Recommended testing for patients with encephalitis, particularly those without another pathogen identified, and with compatible MRI or CT findings, in adults and children is as follows:
      • Blood (serum tube – 2 mL from children, 5-8 mL from adults)
        • Acute and convalescent (3-4 weeks post onset) for flavivirus and JEV IgG, IgM and Total Ab
        • Culture/PCR on acute sample
      • CSF (at least 1 mL)
        • Flavivirus and JEV PCR and culture
        • Flavivirus and JEV IgG, IgM and Total Ab
      • Urine (2-5 mL in sterile urine jar)
        • Flavivirus and JEV PCR and culture.
    • Specimens should be sent urgently (same or next day) to Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory (VIDRL) for flavivirus serology, PCR and culture and transported at 4 degrees Celsius. Request forms should be appropriately labelled and the on-call pathologist at VIDRL should be contacted to provide information on samples being sent.

    For the public

    • Victorians should be aware of the risk of mosquito-borne diseases, including JE virus infection and take steps to significantly limit their exposure to mosquitoes. There are simple steps to protect against mosquito-borne diseases:
      • Cover up – wear long, loose-fitting, light-coloured clothing.
      • Use mosquito repellents containing picaridin or diethyltoluamide (DEET) on all exposed skin.
      • Don’t forget the kids – always check the insect repellent label. On babies, you might need to spray or rub repellent on their clothes instead of their skin. Avoid applying repellent to the hands of babies or young children.
      • Limit outdoor activity if lots of mosquitoes are about, especially around dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active.
      • Remove stagnant water where mosquitoes can breed around your home or campsite.
    • Residents and visitors to high-risk areas of Northern Victoria and visitors to at-risk areas of New South WalesExternal Link and QueenslandExternal Link are advised to take additional preventative measures, including:
      • Make sure your accommodation is fitted with mosquito netting or screens.
      • Close doors and tent flaps to stop mosquitoes getting inside.
      • Sleep under a mosquito net if mosquito screens are not available.
      • Try to avoid camping near wetland habitats where mosquitoes are likely breeding.
      • Mosquito coils can be effective in small outdoor areas where you gather to sit or eat.

    JE vaccination

    • There is significant global demand for the JE vaccine and therefore access is restricted to those most at risk.
    • JE vaccine is available free-of-charge for specific groupsExternal Link at higher risk of exposure to the virus, including eligible people in 24 eligible LGAs in northern Victoria, and those at occupational risk across Victoria. Eligibility criteria will continue to be monitored.
    • The free JE vaccine is available for eligible people through GPs, Aboriginal health services, community pharmacies and some local councils.
    • JE vaccine booster doses are now recommended for people one to 2 years after their primary course, if they remain eligible in Victoria and their primary course was with:
      • Imojev®, and the individual was less than 18 years at time of primary dose, OR
      • JEspect®, and the individual was ≥18 years at time of primary dose.
    • Imojev® vaccine is contraindicated in people who are immunocompromised, and in pregnant or breastfeeding women.
    • Eligible people should speak to their GP or immunisation provider it if has been one to 2 years since getting a primary course of JE vaccine, to check if they require a booster dose.
    • See JE vaccination for further detailed information on vaccine eligibility criteria and access.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: As Measles Epidemic Spreads, Warren Demands RFK Jr. Explain “Irresponsible and Reckless” Efforts to Undermine Vaccines at Health Agency

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren

    March 03, 2025

    “You were an anti-vaccine crusader before becoming HHS Secretary, and now appear to be continuing that crusade while in office — risking deadly consequences for the American public.” 

    “These are dangerous times for public health – and your irresponsible and reckless efforts to undermine the nation’s vaccine policy threaten to fan the flames of disaster.” 

    Text of Letter (PDF)

    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) wrote to Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy regarding his dangerous actions to undermine vaccines and vaccine production, just weeks after he was confirmed as Secretary and days after he published a new op-ed.  

    “In your March 2nd op-ed responding to the Texas measles outbreak, which has already killed one unvaccinated child, you failed to include a strong call for vaccinations. Instead, you claimed that ‘good nutrition remains a best defense against most chronic and infectious diseases.’ Do you believe good nutrition is a better defense against measles than the MMR vaccine?” asked Senator Warren. “Will you change course and tell American parents to vaccinate their children to protect against measles, yes or no?”

    Ahead of his February 2025 confirmation vote in the Senate, Secretary Kennedy committed to maintaining the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Process (ACIP), which advises the federal government on vaccine approvals, and that he would “base vaccine recommendations on data-driven, evidence-based, and medically sound research.”

    However, on February 20, 2025, Politico reported that Secretary Kennedy had started preparing to replace members of the committee. Shortly after, he postponed ACIP’s first meeting of his tenure — during which it had planned to take votes related to vaccines for “HPV, RSV, influenza, and Lyme disease” — without rescheduling it for a later date. 

    Later that month, Secretary Kennedy cancelled a meeting of a key FDA committee that would have selected the flu strains included in the 2025-26 flu vaccine. The flu is estimated to kill between 6,000 and 52,000 Americans each year, and the delay of this meeting threatens the timely manufacturing of this year’s flu vaccines. 

    “(I)nterfering with the timely production of a safe and effective flu vaccine will endanger thousands — particularly children and seniors, who are most likely to die or become hospitalized due to the flu,” said Senator Warren. 

    Meanwhile, Secretary Kennedy is chairing a “Make America Healthy Again” commission, created by President Trump, which is already undermining confidence in vaccines. Secretary Kennedy has declared that the commission will investigate the “childhood vaccine schedule” and that “nothing is going to be off limits.” 

    Amidst multiple public health crises, Secretary Kennedy’s actions are dangerous. In Texas, a deadly measles outbreak is raging. The United States is also in the middle of its deadliest flu epidemic in 15 years, with at least 19,000 Americans dead. Experts are increasingly warning about the spillover of the H5N1 bird flu into humans, and the potential for a deadly pandemic. Last week, HHS announced that it is “reevaluating” its funding agreement with Moderna for an mRNA-based bird flu vaccine.

    “The mission of the agency you lead is ‘to enhance the health and well-being of all Americans.’ You are already failing to do so — and you must reverse course immediately,” said Senator Warren.

    Senator Warren demanded Secretary Kennedy explain his recent actions to undermine vaccines at HHS by March 10, 2025. 

    Senator Warren has led the resistance to Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, for his conflicts of interest and misleading views on vaccines: 

    • On February 13, 2025, following Senate Republicans voting to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Secretary of Health and Human Services, Senator Elizabeth Warren released a statement calling his confirmation “a huge mistake” and said his conflicts of interest would allow him and his family to “continue getting richer from his anti-vaccine crusade.” 
    • On February 12, 2025, on the Senate floor, Senator Elizabeth Warren joined Democrats in delaying a final vote to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. In her speech, she warned that American families and children would pay the price for Mr. Kennedy’s “conspiracy-driven health care decisions,” while his serious ethics conflicts remain unresolved.
    • On February 6, 2025, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) wrote to then-nominee Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. about his continued conflicts of interest. The senators called out Mr. Kennedy’s plan to enter office with a serious ethics conflict by keeping a financial interest in anti-vaccine lawsuits within his family, asked him to recuse himself from former clients’ matters, commit to not lobbying HHS after his tenure as Secretary, and more.
    • On February 4, 2025, following the Senate Finance Committee vote to advance the nomination of RFK Jr. for Secretary of Health and Human Services, Senator Warren gave remarks regarding Mr. Kennedy’s continued conflicts of interest. 
    • On February 3, 2025, Senators Warren and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Ranking Member on the Senate Finance Committee, wrote to RFK Jr., pressing him to urgently resolve his serious conflicts of interest before the committee vote Wednesday morning.
    • On January 31, 2025, following pressure from Senate Democrats, RFK Jr., agreed to amend his flawed ethics agreement (see Warren QFRs at the end of Part 2 and start of Part 3).
    • On January 29, 2025, at a hearing of the Senate Finance Committee, Senator Warren questioned Mr. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services, about his dangerous conflicts of interest and record of profiting from anti-vaccine conspiracies.
    • On January 18, 2025, ahead of RFK Jr.’s confirmation hearing for Secretary of Health and Human Services, Senator Warren sent a 34-page letter detailing her concerns with his nomination and asked him to answer 175 questions ahead of his hearing before the Finance Committee.
    • On November 14, 2024, in response to the news that President-elect Donald Trump selected Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to serve as Secretary of Health and Human Services, Senator Warren released a statement calling him a “danger to public health, scientific research, medicine, and health care coverage for millions of Americans.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ahead of Confirmation Hearing, Warren Presses FDA, NIH Nominees to Address Conflicts of Interest with Private Health Care, Medical Research Companies

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
    March 03, 2025
    “The rampant revolving door of former government leaders lobbying the agencies they once led, while their government relationships remain fresh, erodes Americans’ faith in the federal government.” 
    Text of Letter to Dr. Makary (PDF) | Text of Letter to Dr. Bhattacharya (PDF) 
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) wrote to Marty Makary and Jay Bhattacharya, nominees to lead the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), respectively, asking them to address their conflicts of interest ahead of their confirmation hearings. 
    Dr. Makary currently serves as Chief Medical Officer at Sesame Care, a direct-to-consumer health care company that connects patients with providers who virtually prescribe Sesame’s medicine. He also serves on the board of Harrow, an ophthalmic company that relies on the FDA to approve its therapeutics. While Dr. Makary said he would resign from the board before taking office, his relationship with the company raises concerns about his ability to be impartial at the FDA. 
    Dr. Bhattacharya most recently worked as a research associate at Acumen, LLC, which offers analytical research services to the federal government, and has contracts with multiple agencies across the Department of Health and Human Services – including NIH.
    Senator Warren asked both nominees to recuse themselves from all matters involving their former clients and employers for at least four years, a commitment their predecessors under the Biden administration made. 
    Senator Warren also asked them to agree to not work for any companies they regulate or interact with during their tenure, for four years after leaving office. During his confirmation process, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who oversees both of the nominees’ agencies, committed not to work for a pharmaceutical company for at least four years after leaving office. 
    Lastly, Senator Warren asked the nominees to refrain from lobbying their respective agencies for four years after leaving office.
    “The rampant revolving door of former government leaders lobbying the agencies they once led, while their government relationships remain fresh, erodes Americans’ faith in the federal government,” wrote Senator Warren to the nominees.  
    To mitigate concerns about former government leaders lobbying the agencies they once led, multiple Biden appointees agreed to a post-employment lobbying ban, following pressure from Senator Warren. 
    “By making these commitments, you would increase Americans’ trust in your ability to serve the public interest, rather than the special interests of [former contractors or companies they regulated],” concluded Senator Warren. 
    Senator Warren gave the nominees until March 10, 2025 to demonstrate their commitment to public health and address their conflicts of interest. 
    Senator Warren has been a leader on enforcing government ethics standards and pressing nominees to address conflicts of interest: 
    In February 2025, Senator Elizabeth Warren wrote to Mr. Stephen Feinberg, nominee for Deputy Secretary of the Department of Defense (DoD), pressing him to explain his “serious conflicts of interest” and his track record of mismanagement.
    In February 2025, following reports that Elon Musk would take advantage of loopholes in federal ethics laws to avoid publicly disclosing his financial conflicts of interest, Senator Elizabeth Warren led several Democrats in a letter demanding Musk publicly reveal how he could stand to profit from his role in the Trump administration.
    In February 2025, Senator Elizabeth Warren and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) called on Mr. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to recuse himself from former clients’ and employers’ particular matters and commit to not lobbying HHS after his tenure as Secretary.
    In February 2025, following the Senate Finance Committee vote to advance the nomination of Mr. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Secretary of Health and Human Services, Senator Elizabeth Warren gave remarks regarding the nominee’s continued conflicts of interest. 
    In February 2025, Senators Warren and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Ranking Member on the Senate Finance Committee, wrote to Mr. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., pressing him to urgently resolve his serious conflicts of interest before the committee vote Wednesday morning.
    In January 2025, following pressure from Senate Democrats, Mr. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. agreed to amend his flawed ethics agreement (see Warren QFRs at the end of Part 2 and start of Part 3).
    In January 2025, at a hearing of the Senate Finance Committee, Senator Elizabeth Warren questioned Mr. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services, about his dangerous conflicts of interest and record of profiting from anti-vaccine conspiracies.
    In January 2025, ahead of Mr. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s confirmation hearing for Secretary of Health and Human Services, Senator Elizabeth Warren sent a 34-page letter detailing her concerns with his nomination and asked him to answer 175 questions ahead of his hearing before the Finance Committee.
    In January 2025, Senator Elizabeth Warren wrote to Mr. Pete Hegseth, then-nominee for Secretary of the Department of Defense, regarding his ethics conflicts ahead of the Senate’s consideration of his nomination. Particularly concerning were the facts that Mr. Hegseth’s household owns stock in several defense contractors and that he was unwilling to commit to the same post-employment restrictions he previously advocated for.
    In January 2025, Senator Elizabeth Warren wrote to Trump Transition Co-Chairs Howard Lutnick and Linda McMahon, urging them to make the White House’s ethics pledge for incoming appointees as strong as possible and outlining specific provisions to do so. The letter came at the end of the first week of confirmation hearings for President-elect Trump’s cabinet nominees, many of whom have been found to have serious conflicts of interest and massive wealth.
    In December 2024, Senator Elizabeth Warren sent a letter to President-elect Trump with concerns about Elon Musk’s conflicts of interest as he served as a top advisor for the incoming president.
    In December 2024, Senators Elizabeth Warren, Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) wrote to Dr. Mehmet Oz, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, raising stark concerns about his advocacy to eliminate traditional Medicare and his deep financial ties to the private health insurers that would benefit from that move.
    In November 2024, in response to the news that President-elect Donald Trump selected Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to serve as Secretary of Health and Human Services, Senator Elizabeth Warren released a statement calling him a “danger to public health, scientific research, medicine, and health care coverage for millions of Americans.”
    In March 2024, Senator Elizabeth Warren secured ethics commitments from Douglas Schmidt, ahead of his confirmation to be the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E) for the Department of Defense.
    In February 2024, Senator Elizabeth Warren secured unprecedented ethics commitments from former Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney, President Biden’s nominee for U.S. Ambassador to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), including his recusal from participating in the OECD’s decision making processes regarding crypto and digital assets policy. 
    In January 2024, Senator Elizabeth Warren and Representative Jayapal sent a letter to Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, expressing concerns about the Department of Commerce’s reliance on a small team of Wall Street financiers to help allocate $39 billion in CHIPS and Science Act taxpayer-funded manufacturing and R&D subsidies.
    In June 2023, Senator Elizabeth Warren and representative Andy Kim reintroduced her Department of Defense Ethics and Anti-Corruption Act.
    In April 2023, Senator Elizabeth Warren chaired a hearing with Pentagon officials and ethics experts about problems with the revolving door, retired military officers working for foreign governments, and issues with executive branch officials owning stocks in companies impacted by their official actions.
    In May 2022, Senator Elizabeth Warren secured a commitment from then-Federal Reserve Vice Chair for Supervision nominee Michael Barr not to seek employment or compensation – including as a result of board service – from any company that has a party matter before the Fed, or any financial services company, for four years after he leaves government service.
    In February 2022, Senator Elizabeth Warren secured the strongest ethics standards ever agreed to by Federal Reserve Board nominees from Lisa Cook, Phillip Jefferson, and Sarah Bloom Raskin. The nominees agreed to a four-year recusal period from matters which they oversee on the Board of Governors, not to seek a waiver from these recusals, and not to seek employment or compensation from financial services companies for four years after leaving government service.
    In January 2022, Senator Elizabeth Warren secured a commitment from then-FDA Commissioner nominee Dr. Robert Califf to recuse himself from matters involving his former employers and clients for four years, two years longer than what was required in the Biden administration’s Ethics Pledge. He also agreed not to seek employment with or compensation, including as a result of board service, from any pharmaceutical or medical device company that he interacts with during his tenure as FDA Commissioner for four years after completing his government service. 
    In July 2021, Senator Elizabeth Warren secured agreements to four-year recusals from former clients’ and employers’ party matters from then-Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall and then-USD(R&E) Heidi Shyu.
    In January 2021, Senator Elizabeth Warren secured a commitment from General Lloyd Austin III, then-nominee for Secretary of Defense, to extend his recusal from Raytheon Technologies for four years and to not seek a position on the board of a defense contractor or become a lobbyist after his government service.
    In December 2020, Senator Elizabeth Warren and Representative Jayapal introduced the Anti-Corruption and Public Integrity Act, the most ambitious anti-corruption legislation since Watergate, which would outlaw corrupt revolving-door schemes so that public servants are serving the public – not the financial interests of themselves or giant corporations.
    In March 2020, President Trump signed the bipartisan Presidential Transition Enhancement Act into law, which included major provisions of Sen. Warren’s (D-Mass.) Transition Team Ethics Improvement Act.
    In September 2019, the Senate passed a key provision of the Transition Team Ethics Improvement Act introduced by Senators Warren and Tom Carper (D-Del.) to enhance the ethics requirements that govern presidential transitions.
    In November 2016, as President Trump prepared to take office, Senator Elizabeth Warren and Chairman Cummings requested a GAO investigation of the chaotic Trump transition. In September 2017, Government Accountability Office (GAO) released the results of the investigation, finding that the Trump transition team ignored advice from the Office of Government Ethics and failed to follow past precedents regarding ethics and presidential transitions.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Food prices soar as Israel blocks aid into Gaza

    Source: United Nations 2

    Humanitarian Aid

    Israel’s move to prevent all aid from entering the Gaza Strip after Hamas reportedly refused to accept a plan to continue with phase one of the fragile ceasefire has had an immediate impact, including a 100-fold increase in the price of flour and vegetables.

    That’s according to the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, which said on Monday that the Kerem Shalom, Erez and Zikim crossing closures means that vital humanitarian assistance, including thousands of tents, can’t be delivered to civilians in need.

    Phase one of the ceasefire mediated by Egypt, Qatar and the US expired on Saturday, with Hamas calling on Israel to move on to the next agreed phase – but Israel is calling instead for a continuation of phase one through the end of the Holy Month of Ramadan in line with a proposal from the top US envoy to the region.

    January’s ceasefire deal has seen the release of 33 Israeli hostages who’ve been held captive since the 7 October terror attacks, with around 1,900 Palestinian prisoners exchanged.

    “The ceasefire has provided the opportunity to distribute food, to distribute water, as well as shelter assistance and medical aid, allowing nearly everyone in Gaza to receive food parcels,” said UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, briefing reporters in New York.

    “Our humanitarian partners tell us that following the closure of the crossings into Gaza yesterday, flour and vegetable prices increased more than 100-fold. Partners are currently assessing the stocks that are currently available,” he added.

    Ceasefire, ‘a critical lifeline’: UNICEF    

    The UN children’s agency, UNICEF, warned that the stoppage of aid deliveries into Gaza will quickly lead to devastating consequences for children and families who are simply struggling to survive.

    “The aid restrictions announced yesterday will severely compromise lifesaving operations for civilians,” said Edouard Beigbeder, UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East. “It is imperative that the ceasefire – a critical lifeline for children – remains in place, and that aid is allowed to flow freely so we can continue to scale up the humanitarian response.”

    The agency said that between 19 January and last Friday, almost 1,000 UNICEF trucks had crossed into the enclave carrying clean water, medical supplies, vaccines, therapeutic food and other materials.

    Since the start of the ceasefire on 19 January, UNICEF and partners have provided warm clothing to 150,000 children in Gaza and increased daily water distribution for nearly half a million people living in more remote areas, Mr. Dujarric said.

    Nearly 250,000 children and thousands of pregnant and breast-feeding mothers have received nutritional supplements since the ceasefire took effect.

    Over the past two weeks, in Rafah, Khan Younis and Deir al Balah, aid partners have distributed vegetable seed kits for gardening to try and encourage more diverse diets.

    Around 1,500 water distribution points are now operating across Gaza – double the number operational at the start of the ceasefire. “However, partners tell us that pipes and spare parts for maintenance are urgently needed,” said Mr. Dujarric.

    Classrooms open

    Across Gaza, more than 100 public schools have reopened, allowing around 100,000 students back into the classroom.

    In Gaza City and North Gaza, UN partners will use tents to ensure children can continue learning, with some wood pallets recycled into school furniture.

    OCHA teams visited a displacement site in Khan Younis on Monday where around 1,200 people are staying. These communities have not been allowed to return to their homes, which are located in the buffer zone.

    OCHA is working to mobilise assistance to meet their needs.

    Meanwhile in the occupied West Bank, OCHA reports that ongoing operation by Israeli forces continues to drive humanitarian needs in northern areas. Humanitarian partners continue to face movement restrictions.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Hochul is a Guest on CNN’s ‘The Situation Room’

    Source: US State of New York

    arlier today, Governor Kathy Hochul was a guest on CNN’s “The Situation Room” with Wolf Blitzer. The Governor spoke on the New York City mayoral race, her “You’re Hired” initiative for those impacted by the Department of Government Efficiency’s layoffs and on how the Trump administration’s tariffs on Canada affect New York State residents.

    AUDIO: The Governor’s remarks are available in audio form here.

    A rush transcript of the Governor’s remarks is available below:

    Wolf Blitzer, CNN:  New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is now plotting a major political comeback, announcing over the weekend his candidacy for mayor of New York City. Cuomo resigned from office back in 2021 amid a sexual harassment scandal — he denies all those allegations.

    Joining us now is New York’s current governor, Kathy Hochul. She served as Lieutenant Governor during the Cuomo administration. Governor Hochul, thanks so much for joining us. When Cuomo stepped down, back in 2021, you called his behavior, and I’m quoting you now, “repulsive.” Do you think he is fit to serve as New York’s mayor?

    Governor Hochul: First of all, Wolf, congratulations on the new show, delighted to be on your first episode. Also, here’s what I’m going to tell you about the mayor’s race — and this is the position you’re going to hear today, all the way up until the election’s over for the primary in June — I will work with whomever the really smart voters of New York City decide they want to be their mayor. That is not up for me to decide. I don’t even vote in the city.

    But I will say, also, I will support people — ultimately, after they’re elected — who support my agenda of increasing public safety, dealing with the homelessness crisis, people with mental health problems, closing down illegal cannabis shops, making our streets safer.

    So, I’m looking forward to working with whomever wants to partner with me to lift this city up. But in the meantime, I’m not focused on the politics. I have a state to run, I’ve got multiple crises — many of them emanating from Washington. I was with children yesterday who are severely ill, where parents are terrified of losing Medicaid. So, I will say this will all work itself out, but I’m focused on governing the State of New York, nothing else.

    Wolf Blitzer, CNN: The Governor of New York, as you well know, and the Mayor of New York City have to work together very, very closely. If Cuomo wins that race and becomes the next mayor of New York, would you be able to work with him despite some of that history?

    Governor Hochul: It’s up to the voters, Wolf. I’m not injecting my voice into this election. There’s a lot of people that have put their names forward. I admire anybody who wants to run for office. I’m in my 16th election — I know how challenging it is, but I want people who will put the city first, who will understand that I have done more to help this city than anybody in a long time. Investing money — I’m literally paying for overtime for our police officers, NYPD, to be on the subways, and guess what? Subway crimes are way down. I’m working on getting more homeless off the streets, building more housing. No one has ever taken this on the way I have — to reduce the cost of living here in this great city.

    My agenda is broad-based. It’s very supportive of the city. I had to work with Bill de Blasio as mayor, I worked with Eric Adams for the last number of years and, whatever the voters decide, I will respect that.

    Wolf Blitzer, CNN: Governor, I want to turn now to President Trump’s sweeping efforts right now to slash the entire federal government. You hosted a roundtable this morning with workers hit by those federal job cuts. What kind of impact is this having in my home State of New York?

    Governor Hochul: It is absolutely devastating. Some people are on the verge of tears. I gathered about ten people who, unceremoniously, were dumped, some of them on Valentine’s Day. People that were working to fight consumer fraud, making sure that the huge corporations that are trying to evade taxes have to pay it; people who take care of our veterans; people who are making us safe — all of them were just dumped.

    And I know the Trump-Musk administration doesn’t have regard for them — they think they’re disposable, that they make no contributions, but guess what? These are people who keep our skies safe. They’re the ones who are researching, making sure we can have cures so our kids don’t get sick; taking care of vaccinations. Countless ways that these are highly valuable people, but in New York, we’re saying, “You get fired by them? In New York, you’re hired.”

    And just literally today, you’ll start seeing in Washington at Union Station, you’ll see ads that show basically this message, that you want a job in public service? We respect you, we want you to stay and so here it is.

    We want you to come back and work for us. I will hire you. I need you. We have 7,000 openings in the State of New York, and we value public service. Public servants take care of our people. That’s what it’s all about. Come onboard. We’ll hire you.

    Wolf Blitzer, CNN: On another very sensitive issue, Governor, I want to get your thoughts. President Trump is now pushing ahead with plans to slap 25 percent tariffs on Canada and Mexico starting tomorrow. Canada, of course, borders New York State. You and I grew up in western New York, right on the border with Canada. How is this going to affect New York State, which has such close economic ties with Canada, especially Ontario?

    Governor Hochul: It’ll be devastating. You know the synergy there is to us in Western York. It’s not another country, it’s just our neighbors across the bridge. And the jobs, the people who go get their education back and forth, the close connections, but also the businesses that thrive in New York and in Canada because they’re our largest trading partner. $5 billion worth of trade across our borders every single year. That’s going to affect the cost of steel and aluminum as we’re trying to build up.

    We’re building Micron, the largest semiconductor manufacturing plant going on right now, the largest [private] investment in [New York State] history, going on in Syracuse, New York. I have to keep that going.

    And for our businesses to think that some of their commodities, their products, are now going to cost 25 percent more, how is that about reducing people’s costs? We were promised lower prices on day one, Inauguration Day. Not only is everything going to go up, even eggs — eggs now cost $11 in New York City, up 20 percent from what they’ve been on Inauguration Day.

    This is not the trend. This is not what people have promised. And I encourage the administration to look closely at how they can keep the promise of reducing the cost of living for every American, but particularly people who are hard hit here in New York.

    Wolf Blitzer, CNN: Yeah. Very hard hit indeed. Governor, the Trump administration has already delayed the implementation of these tariffs before. Do you foresee that happening again?

    Governor Hochul: I hope so. I hope they understand that what is a good sound bite is not going to help in reality, especially the businesses and the people who voted for you. These are people in the North Country of New York. It is a predominantly red area. They voted for you, Mr. President, and now their jobs in manufacturing are on the line. And I’d be terrified to know that the damage that could happen is people losing their jobs in New York and all across America. We can’t let that happen. So continue to delay. Let’s work this out, let’s find a solution, but let’s not drive up the cost on people all across this country. That’s the last thing we need right now.

    Wolf Blitzer, CNN: The President has repeatedly tied his proposal for a lot of tariffs to the flow of drugs crossing the border, including the Canadian border, into the United States. Are you seeing evidence of significant drug trafficking from New York’s border with Canada?

    Governor Hochul: There was a time when there was a spike, but I have deployed more people on the border, the Canadians are working closely with us, the Border Patrol — it is a fraction of what is being talked about. It is a problem, of course, we don’t want a single drug to come across the border. But it does not justify the cataclysmic impact the tariffs will have on the State of New York.

    So, we can solve the problem at the border. We don’t want drugs coming over, we don’t want gangs coming over, we don’t want human traffickers coming over, we get that. We’ll work with you. We’ll work with the federal administration on this. But this is such an extreme remedy that is going to have a ripple effect across our entire economy, and especially in a place like this state.

    Wolf Blitzer, CNN: New York Governor Kathy Hochul, as usual, thank you very much. Appreciate it. We’ll continue this conversation down the road.

    Governor Hochul: Sounds good. Thanks, Wolf.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: New round of polio vaccinations begins in Gaza

    Source: United Nations MIL OSI

    Health

    The latest round of a large-scale polio vaccination campaign in Gaza targeting nearly 600,000 young children got underway on Saturday.

    It follows a campaign last year that reached hundreds of thousands of young children under the age of 10.  Polio virus was recently detected in wastewater samples in Gaza, indicating that circulation is ongoing, thus putting young lives at risk.

    The campaign is being led by the Palestinian Ministry of Health and implemented with support from the World Health Organization (WHO), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), UN Palestine refugee agency UNRWA and other partners.

    UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini wrote in post on the social media platform X that 1,700 team members are taking part across the agency’s health centres and mobile points.

    Separately, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said “teams are on the ground providing support to ensure a quality campaign.”

    UNRWA health teams constitute a third of the response, comprising 555 out of the total 1,660 teams involved.

    They will be issuing vaccinations in 10 of its health centres: one in Rafah, three each in Khan Younis and the Middle Area, and one in Gaza City in the north.  Around 60 UNRWA mobile medical points will also carry out vaccinations.

    The campaign is set to run through 26 February.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Dr. Jitendra Singh addressed the celebrations of India’s National Science Day at the Indian Embassy at Tokyo in Japan

    Source: Government of India

    Dr. Jitendra Singh addressed the celebrations of India’s National Science Day at the Indian Embassy at Tokyo in Japan

    Dr. Singh dedicates year 2025-26 as the India-Japan Year of Science, Technology, and Innovation Exchange

    Dr. Jitendra Singh traces the remarkable progress made since 2014 under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, marking the beginning of a new chapter in Indo-Japan cooperation

    Celebrating 40 Years of Indo-Japan Science & Technology Cooperation

    A Landmark Shift in India-Japan Cooperation Under PM Modi’s Leadership: S&T Minister Dr. Singh

    India’s Space Program: A Global Leader in Cost-Effective Innovation

    Posted On: 03 MAR 2025 5:27PM by PIB Delhi

    In a landmark initiative, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh addressed the celebrations of India’s National Science Day at the Indian Embassy at Tokyo in Japan.

    Tracing the four decades of successful science and technology (S&T) collaboration between India and Japan, Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for Science and Technology, dedicated the year 2025-26 as the India-Japan Year of Science, Technology, and Innovation Exchange.

    Dr. Jitendra Singh traced the remarkable progress made since 2014 under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, marking the beginning of a new chapter in Indo-Japan cooperation. He highlighted the significant achievements since 2015, such as the selection of around 7,000 Indian science students by the Department of Science and Technology for the Sakura Science Program, which allowed them to visit Japan and gain exposure to cutting-edge scientific research.

    This event marks a significant milestone in the ongoing S&T partnership between the two nations and sets the stage for further deepening collaboration in critical areas such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning, Quantum Technology, and Space.

    Gracing the NSD celebrations virtually, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space and MoS Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr. Jitendra Singh said “The Inter-Governmental Agreement between India and Japan has laid the foundation for numerous initiatives over the years, and this year marks a momentous 40 years of impactful partnership,” emphasizing that the Indo-Japan S&T cooperation has been one of the most robust and enduring aspects of India’s international S&T engagements.

    Building on the strong foundation of this bilateral cooperation, Dr. Jitendra Singh announced that the 11th meeting of the Indo-Japan Joint S&T Committee is expected to be held in June 2025. The meeting will review ongoing collaborations and channel new initiatives to explore the full potential of S&T synergies between the two nations.

    Highlighting the long-standing association, Dr. Singh pointed out that the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) has been instrumental in supporting more than 300 joint projects since 1993, with thousands of scientists from both countries engaging in exchange visits. Additionally, the partnership has facilitated numerous seminars, workshops, and collaborative initiatives in emerging fields like AI and Machine Learning.

    “Together with Japan’s Science and Technology Agency (JST), we are pioneering joint programs focused on the future of technology. The collaboration between our two countries in these fields is key to addressing the global challenges of tomorrow,” Dr. Singh remarked.

    Dr. Singh revealed that the future of India-Japan cooperation will see an increase in the exchange of students and researchers, with a particular focus on long-term stays, joint supervision, and internships in Japan. Special emphasis will be placed on nurturing talented women scientists. In a bid to further strengthen bilateral ties, the Department of Science and Technology (DST) has also invited Japanese science students for exposure visits to India. Last year, ten students and their two supervisors visited India as part of this initiative.

    Celebrating India’s remarkable transformation over the past decade, Dr. Jitendra Singh shared that India has significantly improved its global position across various innovation benchmarks. India now ranks 3rd globally in research publications, PhDs, and start-ups, and is 9th in the quality of research publications. The nation has also risen to 3rd in terms of unicorns and 39th in the Global Innovation Index, a significant leap from its position of 80th in 2014.

    Dr. Jitendra Singh also took pride in India’s space achievements, particularly highlighting the success of the Chandrayaan-3 mission, which marked the first soft landing on the south pole of the Moon. He noted that this achievement is not only a monumental success for India but for the entire world. “India’s space program is now among the strongest, most ambitious, and cost-effective in the world. Our 2017 achievement of launching 104 satellites in a single mission by ISRO is a world record,” he remarked.

    Reaffirming the theme “Empowering Indian Youth for Global Leadership in Science & Innovation for Viksit Bharat,” Dr. Jitendra Singh highlighted India’s unwavering commitment to creating a level playing field for women and young scientists, ensuring their active participation in the nation’s scientific and technological journey. He emphasized the importance of a multi-stakeholder approach, involving academia, research and development institutions, and entrepreneurs, to foster an inclusive ecosystem where talent from all corners of society can thrive.

    In his address, Dr. Singh also touched upon India’s growing role in pioneering innovations in AI, quantum technology, cybersecurity, biotechnology, and vaccine production. He noted that India’s space sector is now open to private sector investments, unlocking new opportunities for collaboration with global players, including Japan.

    In a bold move, Dr. Singh referred to the recent Union Budget announcement, which opened up the nuclear energy sector to non-government entities. He described this as an unprecedented step that will allow the creation of BharatSmall modular reactors (SMRs) in India, marking a new era in the country’s energy landscape.

    Concluding his remarks, Dr. Jitendra Singh expressed his vision for a future of deepened scientific and technological engagement between India and Japan. With a focus on mutual benefits and shared growth, the next decade promises to bring even greater achievements in science, technology, and innovation, positioning both nations at the forefront of global progress.

    ***** 

    NKR/PSM

    (Release ID: 2107794) Visitor Counter : 15

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Road safety in Sicily and the failure to complete Highway 117 (Santo Stefano di Camastra to Gela) – E-002982/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    1. Under the Regional Programme Sicily 2021-2027[1], EUR 90 million are indicatively allocated for upgrading or extraordinary maintenance of secondary and local roads benefitting inner areas, to increase their safety standards and their functionality.

    Under the Regional Programme Sicily European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) 2014-2020, around EUR 201 million were allocated to strengthen secondary and local connections of inner areas and those in agricultural and agro-industrial production districts with the main roads and railways of the trans-European transport network.

    2. In its Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy[2], the Commission committed to ‘explore options to further support safe, smart and sustainable road transport operations under an existing agency or another body’. In line with this commitment, the Commission launched a feasibility study, which identifies shortcomings in the current policy implementation and governance set-up and explores options to enable swifter deployment of innovation and new technologies for competitive, safe, smart and sustainable road transport and keep EU technical regulation fit for purpose. While the feasibility study on the possible support to this development has been completed, the Commission’s assessment of the needs has not been finalised yet. F urther steps on this issue will be decided by the Commission following the outcome of this assessment.

    3. The construction of Highway 117 (Santo Stefano di Camastra to Gela) is not financed under the ERDF. According to the available information, support is provided by national funding; therefore, the matter falls under the responsibility of Italian authorities only.

    • [1] Supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/funding/erdf_en
    • [2] https://transport.ec.europa.eu/transport-themes/mobility-strategy_en
    Last updated: 3 March 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Dmitry Grigorenko: Rosreestr is one of the leaders in the use of artificial intelligence among government agencies

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Deputy Prime Minister – Chief of the Government Staff Dmitry Grigorenko visited Rosreestr and familiarized himself with the main results of the agency’s work in the field of digital transformation of government services and services in the real estate sector over the past five years.

    March 3, 2025

    Previous news Next news

    During the visit, key digital projects were demonstrated: the Federal State Information System for Maintaining the Unified State Register of Real Estate (FGIS EGRN), the unified digital platform “National Spatial Data System” and the agency’s Cybersecurity Center.

    “Today, Rosreestr is one of the leaders in innovation among government agencies. Over the past five years, the service has achieved a major breakthrough in digitalization. This is especially important, given that Rosreestr services are the most widespread and in demand among citizens. For example, the share of electronic mortgages has increased 9 times and reached 84%. Rosreestr has also become one of the first agencies to actively implement high-tech services using artificial intelligence,” said Dmitry Grigorenko.

    He noted that the digital assistant “Eva” made it possible to automate the process of receiving documents in the MFC. At the same time, the service is used by state registrars of Rosreestr during legal examination, which allows processing 30-40 packages of documents daily instead of 10, as was previously the case. By the end of the year, it is planned to scale “Eva” to the entire country. The “Smart Cadastre” service made it possible to massively identify unregistered real estate objects using neural networks, eliminating manual point analysis and door-to-door canvassing.

    According to the head of the department Oleg Skufinsky, over the past five years, Rosreestr has done a lot of work to reengineer processes and digitalize services. In 2020, the service faced serious challenges. The Unified State Register of Real Estate (USRRE) FGIS was not implemented in 34 of the largest regions of the country, which is 70% of the data, or 110 million real estate objects. Interaction with the MFC was entirely on paper, which led to the department’s archives being overfilled.

    “In an unprecedentedly short time during 2020, we completed the transition to a single centralized system – the Unified State Register of Real Estate. In 2021, we approved the Rosreestr Development Strategy and the departmental digital transformation program – it is one of the largest and sets 374 indicators for 2025. We reengineered processes, switched to paperless document flow with the MFC and ensured extraterritorial acceptance of documents at the MFC in all regions of the country. We ensured the creation of a single domestic electronic cartographic basis – today the digital map of the country is already 72% complete,” the head of the department said.

    According to him, at the end of 2023, Rosreestr put into commercial operation a single digital platform, the National System of Spatial Data (NSPD), which consolidates data on land and real estate. Today, 20 services for people, the state and business operate on the basis of NSPD. Also, on the instructions of the Government and in cooperation with the Ministry of Digital Development, all mass socially significant services of Rosreestr have been transferred to a single portal of public services.

    It was also noted that in 2024, the service provided 407 million services, which is 3 times more than 5 years ago. And the share of electronic services has increased 3 times since 2020, to 60%. The term of registration of rights has been reduced by 3.6 times, to 1.4 days, and the term of cadastral registration – by 2.5 times, to 1.6 days. Suspensions of registration of rights have been reduced by 2 times, to 1.2%, and of cadastral registration – by 6.8 times, to 1.63%.

    In addition, as part of large-scale work to optimize public administration in the field of land and real estate, the public-law company (PLC) Roskadastr was created in 2022.

    Instead of the two institutions and two joint-stock companies that previously operated, one full-cycle enterprise has emerged. Since 2023, the PPC has been operating a competence center in the field of digital technologies – a branch of the Information Technology Center “Roskadastr-Infotech”, which provides support, maintenance and operation of Rosreestr information systems.

    Rosreestr has also implemented and is successfully operating a comprehensive information security system.

    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 United Kingdom: Coventry supports Covid-19 Day of Reflection

    Source: City of Coventry

    Coventry is marking the Covid-19 National Day of Reflection on Sunday 9 March with a large pavement artwork, placed inside the Cathedral Ruins.

    It will offer members of the public the opportunity to spend a moment of reflection on the impact of the pandemic on their families, the city, nationally and its devastating effect across the world.

    The artwork will provide a beautiful, quiet space for private thoughts and shared experiences.

    The installation will be unveiled by the Deputy Leader of Coventry City Council and other invited guests, including representatives from University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust, in the ruins of Coventry Cathedral.

    Deputy Leader of Coventry City Council, Cllr Abdul Salam Khan said, “The pandemic affected all communities and residents, and as we always do in this city, we all stood together to support those who suffered at this challenging time.

    “As a city we came together to reach out in any way we could to support vulnerable members of our community and anyone who needed help. I’m proud that the city played a leading role in the roll-out of the vaccines and the hope and support it provided to people during such a momentous time.”

    “I hope this piece of art gives a place of peace and quiet reflection to anyone who feels they would like to come and have a few moments to reflect on what was a challenging and worrying time for us all.”

    UHCW NHS Trust was awarded the Freedom of the City by the council in July 2022 as a thank you for the efforts of its staff in supporting Coventry through the pandemic, including delivering the world’s first Covid-19 vaccine in December 2020.

    The pavement artwork will be in place for one day with the Cathedral Ruins being open during normal daytime opening hours of 10am to 4pm.

    Local street artist, Katie O, has been commissioned to produce the artwork which will be secular and reflect the human experience of loss and the city’s role in tackling the pandemic. 

    Katie O, said: “I’m grateful for the opportunity to mark this important day. I think lockdown showed us how the arts can play a powerful part in connecting with people, our emotions and community. Showing compassion and empathy is an important gift to share. I hope the artwork speaks to people who lost loved ones, who struggled mentally, and physically, and reminds us we are united through our care and love for others.” 

    Later in the day, Coventry Cathedral will be conducting a themed Evensong at 4pm.

    Sunday 9 March 2025 is a national Covid Day of Reflection.

    People are invited to:

    • remember and commemorate those who lost their lives since the pandemic began
    • reflect on the sacrifices made by many, and on the impact of the pandemic on us all
    • pay tribute to the work of health and social care staff, frontline workers and researchers
    • appreciate those who volunteered and showed acts of kindness during this unprecedented time

    Find more information on the Covid-19 Day of Reflection.

    Monday, 3rd March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: FDA Roundup: February 28, 2025

    Source: US Food and Drug Administration

    For Immediate Release:
    February 28, 2025

    Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is providing an at-a-glance summary of news from around the agency:

    On Thursday, the FDA approved Odactra to include use in individuals 5 through 11 years of age to treat house dust mite induced nasal inflammation (allergic rhinitis), with or without eye inflammation (conjunctivitis). Odactra is an allergen extract immunotherapy that is administered under the tongue (sublingual) and had been approved for use in individuals 12 through 65 years of age. The prescribing information includes a boxed warning to inform that Odactra can cause severe allergic reactions that may be life-threatening. As with other FDA-approved allergen extracts administered sublingually, patients receiving Odactra should be prescribed epinephrine.
    On Monday, the FDA updated the outbreak advisory: Outbreak Investigation of Listeria monocytogenes: Frozen Supplemental Shakes (February 2025) to include that Lyons Magnus LLC recalled 4 oz. Lyons ReadyCare and Sysco Imperial Frozen Supplemental Shakes. As of February 24, 2025, a total of 38 people infected with the outbreak strain of Listeria monocytogenes have been reported from 21 states. Of the 38 people for whom information is available, 37 people have been hospitalized, and 12 deaths have been reported.
    On Monday, the FDA cleared Tandem Diabetes Care, Inc.’s Control-IQ+ technology, an interoperable automated glycemic controller (iAGC) that is a software-only, prescription use, device. The device is intended for use with compatible integrated continuous glucose monitors (iCGM) and alternate controller enabled (ACE) pumps to automatically increase, decrease, and suspend delivery of basal insulin based on iCGM readings and predicted glucose values. It can also deliver certain insulin doses (correction boluses) necessary when the glucose value is predicted to exceed a predefined target, which is typically calculated based on carbohydrate intake, exercise, and sleep schedule.  This clearance allows the device to be used for the management of type 1 diabetes in individuals two years and older and for the management of type 2 diabetes in individuals 18 years and older, where the prior version was only for type 1 diabetes. This is the latest example of the FDA’s ongoing commitment to help advance the development of products that can improve the management of diabetes.
    On Friday, February 21, the FDA approved for marketing a software update to Medtronic Inc.’s Activa, Percept and SenSight Deep Brain Stimulation Therapy System, an implantable device that delivers low-intensity electrical pulses to nerve centers in the brain as part of deep brain stimulator (DBS) therapy for Parkinson’s Disease (PD). This first-of-its-kind software update will provide the user with an option for adaptive deep brain stimulation (aDBS), which individualizes the DBS therapy by adjusting the stimulation level based on detected brain signals surrounding the DBS electrode of the implant. The new programming option is intended to reduce some of the symptoms in patients diagnosed with levodopa-responsive PD, specifically those with symptoms not been adequately controlled with medicine for at least four years.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CHP investigates imported measles case

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (March 1) is investigating an imported measles case and reminded members of the public to ensure that they have completed two doses of measles vaccination before travelling to reduce the risk of infection.
          
         The case involves a 38-year-old male with good past health. He developed diarrhea and rash since February 22 and February 25 respectively. He attended the Accident and Emergency Department of Queen Elizabeth Hospital on February 26 and was admitted for treatment and isolation on the same day. His clinical specimen was tested positive for the measles virus upon nucleic acid testing. He is still hospitalised and in stable condition.
          
         Upon notification of the case, the CHP immediately commenced epidemiological investigations. According to the patient, he travelled to Vietnam during the incubation period (February 3 to 8). As he did not have contact with measles patients in Hong Kong, the case has been identified as an imported case. His travel collateral is currently asymptomatic.
          
         He had stayed in Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI) during the communicable period. The CHP has maintained a close liaison with the HKSI for follow-up on the contacts of the case. As he also visited the cafeteria of the HKSI from February 22 to 25, the CHP has set up an enquiry hotline (Tel: 2125 2372) for people who visited the cafeteria of the HKSI. The hotline will operate from tomorrow (March 2) to March 7 (from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, and from 9am to 1pm on Sunday).
          
         The investigation is ongoing.
          
         As what the CHP had stated in a recent press release, the number of measles cases in some overseas countries has been on the rise recently. Apart from the United States, measles outbreaks have occurred in neighboring countries, including Vietnam and the Philippines, due to suboptimal overall measles vaccination coverage.
          
         “The incubation period of measles (i.e. the time from infection to onset of illness) is seven to 21 days. Symptoms include fever, skin rash, cough, runny nose and red eyes. When such symptoms appear, people should wear surgical masks, stay home from work or school, avoid crowded places and contact with unvaccinated people, especially those with weak immune system, pregnant women and children under one year old. Those who suspected they are infected should consult their doctors as soon as possible and inform healthcare workers of their history of exposure to measles,” the Controller of the CHP, Dr Edwin Tsui, said.
          
          “Under the Hong Kong Childhood Immunisation Programme, the overall immunisation coverage in Hong Kong has been maintained at a very high level through the immunisation services provided by the DH’s Maternal and Child Health Centres and the School Immunisation Teams. As evidenced by the findings on vaccination coverage of primary school students and the territory-wide immunisation surveys conducted regularly by the DH, the two-dose measles vaccination coverage has remained consistently high, well above 95 per cent, and the local seroprevalence rates of measles virus antibodies reflect that most of the people in Hong Kong are immune to measles. However, Hong Kong, as a city with a high volume of international travel, still faces the potential risk of importation of measles virus and its further spread in the local community. Hence, a small number of people who have not completed measles vaccination (such as non-local born people including new immigrants, foreign domestic helpers, overseas employees and people coming to Hong Kong for further studies) are still at risk of being infected and spreading measles to other people who do not have immunity against measles, such as children under one year old who have not yet received the first dose of measles vaccine,” he added.
          
         Dr Tsui also noted that people born before 1967 could be considered to have acquired immunity to measles through natural infection, as measles was endemic in many parts of the world and in Hong Kong at that time. People born in or after 1967 who have not yet completed the two doses of measles vaccination or whose measles vaccination history is unknown, to consult their family doctors as soon as possible to complete the vaccination and ensure adequate protection against measles. For those who plan to travel to measles-endemic areas, they should check their vaccination records and medical history as early as possible. If they have not been diagnosed with measles through laboratory tests and have never received two doses of measles vaccine or are not sure if they have received measles vaccine, they should consult a doctor at least two weeks prior to their trip for vaccination.
          
         Besides being vaccinated against measles, members of the public should take the following measures to prevent infection:
          

    Maintain good personal and environmental hygiene;
    Maintain good indoor ventilation;
    Keep hands clean and wash hands properly;
    Wash hands when they are dirtied by respiratory secretions, such as after sneezing;
    Cover the nose and mouth while sneezing or coughing and dispose of nasal and mouth discharge properly;
    Clean used toys and furniture properly; and
    Persons with measles should be kept out of school till four days from the appearance of a rash to prevent the spread of the infection to non-immune persons in school.

          
         For more information on measles, the public may visit the CHP’s measles thematic page. Members of the public who are going to travel can visit the website of the DH’s Travel Health Service for news of measles outbreaks outside Hong Kong.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Text of Vice-President’s address at the Fourth P. Parameswaran Memorial Lecture in Thiruvananthapuram (Excerpts)

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 02 MAR 2025 5:34PM by PIB Delhi

    It is an absolute privilege and an honour to deliver the 4th P. Parameswaran lecture organised by Bharatheeya Vicharakendram in Thiruvananthapuram.The memorial lecture in the honour, in the memory of one of the greatest sons of Bharat. He happens to be in the front league of idealogues and thinkers of Hindu thought process in this century. We are celebrating by way of this lecture one of the finest intellectuals committed to social work and such a son of the soil being honoured in the land of Kerala, North zone territory.

    It is a testament that our civilisational values thrive, A civilisation is known only by one fundamental consideration, does it really honour its great sons and that has been the theme in last few years. Our forgotten heroes, unsung heroes, we have remembered them.

     Kerala has been the cradle of intellectual discourse, cultural enlightenment, and spiritual pursuits. This is a land that birth legends for Adi Shankharacharya who expounded the philosophy of Advaita Vedanta to Narayana Guru who led the modern message by his social reform and by his team of social reformers. We are celebrating the memory of one of them.

     This land is also home to some of the most revered temples, including Sabrimala, Padmanabhaswamy temple, and Guruvayur drawing millions of devotees, they get inspired and motivated. The faith and devotion that permeates these sacred spaces reminds us of the eternal values that hold our nation together.

     Our values are sublime, full of religiosity and spirituality, righteousness and self service. This fertile sacred geography also birthed Shri P. Parameswaran ji who received his values with birth. His unwavering commitment to Bharatiya values, his deep understanding of Indian ethos and his relentless pursuit of national unity continues to inspire generations.

     His vision for a self-reliant Bharat, culturally rooted and spiritually awakened, resonates profoundly across the nation. When we talk about the confluence of East and West, we remember Shri Vivekananda, Swami Vivekananda and his historic address at Chicago that was rendered at the World Council of Religions in 1893. But who rekindled it? Who ignited the flame in us? Who inspired us in modern times? By the essence of that address that stirred global minds, it was none other than Shri P. Parameswaran.

     In 1993, hundred years after that event, it was Parameswaran ji who invited the world to reflect on Swamiji. His life, his legacy and his message. The Government of India has rightly recognised this great son of the soil, a great ideologue of Hindu thought process.

     A messenger of Bharatiya Sanskriti, an epicentre in a sense who disseminated sublimity of our values with Padma Shri in early 2000 and in 2018 with the second highest civilian award of Padma Vibhushan, but these decorations do not completely define the man in whose memory we are having this lecture.

     The tribute which we can pay to such towering figures who amplify our values, epitomise our cultural essence, the best of human values, is to follow what he exemplified. We must emulate the value system that he professed.

     Ladies and gentlemen, I greatly commend the subject or theme of this lecture, “Demography, Development and Democracy, Shaping the Future of Bharat”– Nothing could be more contemporaneously relevant than this theme, and this theme, when the theme is a tribute to Rashtriya Rishi who dedicated his journey to welfare of humanity through Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh, an organisation spinally rooted in our cultural ethos and now in the centennial year, I appeal to everyone in two years we will be celebrating the birth centenary of this great son of the soil.

     I am sure steps will be taken by the organisers in concert with similar outfits so that his message goes around to the entire country and the world. If I have to put in summation the thought process of P. Parameswaran ji, we all are Bharatiya. भारतीयता हमारी पहचान है। राष्ट्रहित हमारा धर्म है, राष्ट्र कल्याण सर्वोपरि है। कोई भी हित व्यक्तिगत हो या राजनीतिक या सामाजिक, राष्ट्रहित से ऊपर नहीं है।

     And therefore, I commend the organisers for having so thought about it. The theme calls upon me to first reflect on the state of the nation. There was a time, and I had the occasion to see it, as a member of parliament in 1989, as a union minister in 1990-91, an atmosphere that did not

    inspire us. That was alarmingly worrisome, full of concern, and now our Bharat is brimming with positivity and possibility.

     It is full of hope and aspirations. All around, all pervasive, an ecosystem of hope and possibility we can see, and in global firmament, it is the brightest spot of investment and opportunity. The country has seen in the last decade exponential economic upsurge. Our rise from 11th position a decade ago, on the scale of economic size, we have traversed a long distance, facing headwinds, difficult terrain, overcoming hurdles created earlier, cleansing the system, making it transparent and accountable.

     We are the 5th largest global economy at the moment, on way to becoming 4 trillion economy in US dollars very shortly, and with average growth over this period of about 8%. Bharat happens to be the fastest growing global economy in last decade, acclaimed, accoladed and applauded by global institutions, the IMF and the World Bank.

     World Bank has appreciated our deep digitisation, technological penetration, and everyone sees it now as a ground reality. Next comes infrastructure. Phenomenal infrastructure growth has dotted our landscape. Be it on sea, deep sea, ground, sky or in space, all our accomplishments make us greatly proud, and I am happy to share with you, every year the country has added four new airports and one metro system, and on a daily basis, 14 kilometres of highways and 6 kilometres of railways are

    being added.

     If I reflect on scale of deep technological penetration, 85 million are benefiting with houses, 330 million with health coverage, and 29 million small businesses with loans annually. The government is hand-holding them by affirmative policies and innovative schemes. We now boast of beyond what we achieved in space. Lunar and Mars missions in medical science, vaccine production, and the nation is bound to be hub of semiconductors, engineering and manufacturing.

     India’s engagement with world in green energy, urbanisation, emerging disruptive technologies, we are in the front rank. It is for the first time that the country is in big league of nations on Artificial Intelligence, on Quantum computing, on Green Hydrogen mission, and all pervasive digitisation has generated transparency, Accountability, easy service affordability.

     Corruption has been neutralised from power corridors on account of technological inroads. Technological inroads have been no less than invasion on corruption and malpractices, and that is reflected in the scenario that almost half of digital transactions in the world are

    emanating from this country, 6.5 billion monthly.

     Let me recall what P. Parameswaran ji said on this occasion, on such an occasion, we need to reflect, remember, I quote, “The youth of Bharat are not merely inheritors of our civilisation, but the architects who will shape our nation’s future glory through their aspirations, innovations, and resilience.”

     Our demographic dividend, the youth component of it, is envy of the world. India’s greatest strength is its population. We are home to one-sixth of humanity, but look at our qualitative cutting edge demographic dividend.

    Sixty-five percent of the population is in working age. Our nation is an average age of 28.4 years. We are uniquely positioned as the world’s youngest major economy.

    Compare this to Japan, 48.7 years. Compare it to Germany, 44.3 years, and China, 38.4 years. People-centric policies and transparent accountable governance has given buoyancy to ecosystem. Imagine the scale of it, a nation of 1.4 billion. Look at the transformative change that has impacted the rural environment.

     Every house has a toilet, electric connection, water connection is on way, a gas connection.And look at the connectivity, internet, and road, rail, and handholding policies in health and education centre. These define our growth trajectory. India is no longer a nation with a promise. India is no longer labelled as a nation of snake charmers. India is charming the entire world with the potential it has for everyone on the globe.

     This economic renaissance, which was beyond imagination, beyond contemplation, beyond dreams, a few years ago, has generated

    what is essence of our Sanatana inclusivity. Non-discriminatory, uniform, even-handed, equitable development, results, and fruits for one

    and all. Effort has been made, irrespective of any qualification, race, religion, caste, colour, that the benefit must reach those who are in the last line, and this is being done with great success.

    Bharat is the only democracy in the world that has structured democracy at the village level. Constitutionally sanctified democracy at the Village level, Municipal level, State level, and the Central level. I want, on this great occasion, to everyone reflect on what is democracy.

     Democracy is defined by freedom of expression and dialogue. If we enjoy freedom of expression and do not lend our ears to the other point of view, do not enter into dialogue, do not appreciate the other point of view, expression becomes authoritarianism.

     प्रजातन्त्र में किसी भी व्यक्ति या संस्था के लिए अहं और अहंकार का कोई स्थान नहीं है। प्रजातन्त्र का मूल तत्व है समानता, समान अधिकार, समान अवसर।

     And I therefore appeal that those who do not believe in harmony, social harmony, national harmony, must get into the thought process of Shri P. Parameswaran ji.

    How can we countenance in this land that has 5,000 years of civilisational ethos? Someone says, मैं अकेला सही हूँ, मेरी बात का कोई विकल्प नहीं है, ऐसा नहीं है। These thoughts are antithetical to our civilisational ethos. They militate against the very concept of democracy, and therefore, we must focus, alongside expression, on dialogue, dialogue enables everyone to self-assess oneself, to self-audit oneself, to be open to the other idea.

     And that was what P. Parameswaranji was doing all throughout. Ideologic discourse, ideologic debate, ideologic brainstorming should be dominating our discourse, not violence. What does our culture say, हमारी संस्कृति क्या कहती है? अभिव्यक्ति, वाद-विवाद और अनंतवाद, अनंतवाद का स्रोत हमारी सांस्कृतिक विरासत में है। अनंतवाद का ही नतीजा है कि भारत ज्ञान का भंडार था, जानकारी का भंडार था।

     If India is today a cultural centre of the world, we owe to people like P. Parameswaranji for coming to this level. If in the past, about 1200 years ago, India was the world’s repository of knowledge and wisdom, it was on account of our institutions.

     आज के दिन, कुछ हालात भयावह हैं, चिंतन और मंथन के लिए विवश करते हैं।

    We are faced with an alarmingly worrisome scenario on certain aspects. Politics has become polarised. We are faced with an alarmingly worrisome scenario on certain aspects. Vertically divisive, temperatures are ever high. The core national values and civilisational values are not the central theme. In this country where diversity is reflected in unity, this country that prides in Sanatana values of inclusivity, we cannot afford ourselves to be distanced from these core values and engage in polarised, divisive activities.

    Time for us to fall in the groove of Sanatana Dharma as enlightened by Shri P. Parameswaranji, and let me reflect on that concern. As meaningful dialogue fades, so do the pillars of cooperation, collaboration and consensus.

     I must share with you my anguish, my pain. The largest democracy’s parliament must be role model for people. It is a platform to transform aspirations of the people into reality. It has to be impregnable citadel of dialogue, debate, discussion and deliberation. And these facets were exemplified by the Constituent Assembly that worked for about three years in eighteen sessions. And what we see today? Dialogue, deliberation and others have yielded to disturbance and disruption.

     Can there be sacrilege of more intense enormity when temples of democracy are ravaged by disruption and disturbance? Our democracy has to survive. And the first test is parliamentary functioning. We face situations where national interest is relegated. Anti-national narratives take wings.

     We are living in very dangerous times. Political intolerance and reckless stance promoting partisan and personal interests at the cost of nationalism needs to be moderated. There is need for social counselling. Young minds and senior citizens must converge to generate an ecosystem. By becoming influencers of our mindset, we have a Constitution that remarkably depicts Gurukul.

     That makes reference to Ramayana. What is the message? अधर्म पर धर्म की विजय, when in fundamental rights, Part- III of the Constitution, you have a picture of Ram, Sita and Lakshman coming to Ayodhya. अंधकार से प्रकाश, धर्म की जीत अधर्म की हार। मर्यादित आचरण का संदेश और यदि अगर कहें सबका साथ सबका विश्वास इसका अंश आपको रामायण में मिलेगा ।

     भारत के संविधान में, if we go to the next part, Directive Principles of State Policy. महाभारत का वह scene है, कुरुक्षेत्र का वह दृश्य है। श्रीकृष्ण अर्जुन को उपदेश दे रहे हैं। What does it teach us? It says, लक्ष्य को ध्यान में रखो, छत को मत देखो, मछली को मत देखो, मछली की आँख को मत देखो क्योंकि आपका लक्ष्य नहीं है। आपको भेदन है। इसी तरीके से शासन का काम करते हुए, कर्तव्य निर्वहन करते हुए हमारी दृष्टि भाई-भतीजेवाद पर नहीं होनी चाहिए। The message is loud and clear. Patronism, nepotism, favouritism, are evils that cut into merit of the society. Fortunately, power corridors have been sanitised. It is obligation of every person, every Bharatiya, not only to believe in these values, but to disseminate them.

     Let me now come to demography. Demography does matter. Demography should not be confused with majoritarianism. We cannot have a society divided in these two camps. But ladies and gentlemen, the nation is faced with grim challenges when it comes to demography.

     The demography evolution must be organic. It must be natural. It must be soothing only then it reflects unity and diversity, but if demographic variations are brought about in the nature of virtual and earthquake, there is cause for concern.

     If inorganic demographic variations take place with intent to increase demographic component with the objective to secure progress, then we have to be alarmed. This is being done. This is noticeably being done. We are at a stage crossroads, where we can neither overlook nor countenance this highly destabilising development.

     We have to be extremely alert. All of you converge to preserve the pristine demographic sanctity of Bharat. The challenge is coming in varied ways. One is through allurements, temptations. Reaching out to the needy and vulnerable. Providing succour. And then, in a subtle way, suggesting change of religion which is labelled as conversions. The country allows everyone to have a religion of his or her choice. This is our fundamental right.

    This is handed to us from our civilisational wealth, but if this is tampered with, it is tweaked. ऐसा बर्दाश्त नहीं हो सकता. लालच, लोभ आधार नहीं हो सकता। कोई पीड़ा में है, दिक्कत में है,  जरूरतमंद है उसको hand-holding करते समय, धर्म परिवर्तन की तरफ मत खींचो. यह बर्दाश्त के लायक नहीं है, मैं कितनी ही कोशिश करूँ, I will not be able to express the gravity of the concern, enormity of the challenge that we are faced on account of these statized, orchestrated, financially fuelled misadventures to effect conversions.

     The third motive, which is ill-motivation towards our nation. How can a nation suffer millions of illegal migrants? Look at the number. Look at the danger they bring to this country. Everyone in this country is fired with the dream of nationalism. These people come, they demand on our employment, on our health, on our education sectors, and then become a factor in electoral politics. It is very urgent. This has to be addressed. We are cliffhanging. We must generate awareness. The mindset of the people must be activated.

     Every Bharatiya must be steered to face this challenge. And that flow is threatening our culture also. I would urge we must courageously thwart these demographic dislocations. I have indicated three. As of now in the country we have from electoral point of view areas where elections do not make much sense. We have fortresses in the country that have emerged in the last few years where the outcome of the election is always foreclosed by democratic demographic dislocations.

     Addressing these challenges which are very daunting, policy interventions alone are not sufficient. We have to appreciate and recognise these challenges as existential to our nationalism and also to our democracy. True devotion to Bharat Mata means not merely celebrating its spiritual heritage but actively protecting its erosion caused by demographic transformation. I am happy to share with you that Viksit Bharat is not a dream now. It is our object. The nation is regaining past glory. We are on way to it. Our youth will play a critical role. We must gear up to do that. Everything that is happening in the country is making us proud globally.

     I reflected on global institutions. Now look at what happened only a few days ago. More than twice the population of the US had footprint at Mahakumbh. The holy Mahakumbh. More than twice the population of the US. Imagine the size and scale of it. And look at the exemplary management, quick response, facilities everything for us to take pride. The world has not seen such organised handling of a situation at this mega scale. Nowhere on the planet this has been seen. Nowhere there has been congregation of humanity in that number on a daily basis. That defines Bharat. That surprises the world. Look at how the mobility was there.

     How health was taken care of. How public order was maintained. How hygiene was controlled. I was there. My entire family was there. That should make us proud. This is a glorifying facet of Indian civilisation. We must ever remember. From all considerations all I can say is भारत जैसा कोई दूसरा देश नहीं है। हम अत्यंत भाग्यशाली हैं परमपिता परमेश्वर के कि हमारा जन्म यहाँ हुआ। अब हमें कर्तव्य निर्वहन करना चाहिए और कर्तव्य निर्वहन का मार्ग परमेश्वरन जी ने जीवन पर्यंत सिखाया है। आदर्श प्रचारक के रूप में, देश और दुनिया की सबसे बड़ी ideological संस्था से जुड़कर– राष्ट्रीय स्वयंसेवक संघ और एक रास्ता दिखाकर अहिंसा विकल्प नहीं है।

     I am extremely grateful to the organisers for having made this great opportunity to me available. I feel blessed, I feel honoured, and I look forward to the centennial celebrations of his birthday be organised at the national level. I must recognise in the audience’s presence of another great son of Bharat, Padma Bhushan Dr. O. Rajagopal.

     My greetings to all of you. I am grateful for your patience.

     Jai Hind.

    ***

    JK/RC/SM

    (Release ID: 2107567) Visitor Counter : 82

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: In siding with Russia over Ukraine, Trump is not putting America first. He is hastening its decline

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Matthew Sussex, Associate Professor (Adj), Griffith Asia Institute; and Fellow, Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Australian National University

    Has any nation squandered its diplomatic capital, plundered its own political system, attacked its partners and supplicated itself before its far weaker enemies as rapidly and brazenly as Donald Trump’s America?

    The fiery Oval Office meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday saw the American leader try to publicly humiliate the democratically elected leader of a nation that had been invaded by a rapacious and imperialistic aggressor.

    And this was all because Zelensky refused to sign an act of capitulation, criticised Putin (who has tried to have Zelensky killed on numerous occasions), and failed to bend the knee to Trump, the country’s self-described king.

    The Oval Office meeting became heated in a way that has rarely been seen between world leaders.

    What’s worse is Trump has now been around so long that his oafish behaviour has become normalised. Together with his attack dog, Vice President JD Vance, Trump has thrown the Overton window – the spectrum of subjects politically acceptable to the public – wide open.

    Previously sensible Republicans are now either cowed or co-opted. Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is gutting America’s public service and installing toadies in place of professionals, while his social media company, X, is platforming ads from actual neo-Nazis.

    The FBI is run by Kash Patel, who hawked bogus COVID vaccine reversal therapies and wrote children’s books featuring Trump as a monarch. The agency is already busily investigating Trump’s enemies.

    The Department of Health and Human Services is helmed by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vaccine denier, just as Americans have begun dying from measles for the first time in a decade. And America’s health and medical research has been channelled into ideologically “approved” topics.

    At the Pentagon, in a breathtaking act of self-sabotage, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered US Cyber Command to halt all operations targeting Russia.

    And cuts to USAID funding are destroying US soft power, creating a vacuum that will gleefully be filled by China. Other Western aid donors are likely to follow suit so they can spend more on their militaries in response to US unilateralism.

    What is Trump’s strategy?

    Trump’s wrecking ball is already having seismic global effects, mere weeks after he took office.

    The US vote against a UN General Assembly resolution condemning Russia for starting the war against Ukraine placed it in previously unthinkable company – on the side of Russia, Belarus and North Korea. Even China abstained from the vote.

    In the United Kingdom, a YouGov poll of more than 5,000 respondents found that 48% of Britons thought it was more important to support Ukraine than maintain good relations with the US. Only 20% favoured supporting America over Ukraine.

    And Trump’s bizarre suggestion that China, Russia and the US halve their respective defence budgets is certain to be interpreted as a sign of weakness rather than strength.

    The oft-used explanation for his behaviour is that it echoes the isolationism of one of his ideological idols, former US President Andrew Jackson. Trump’s aim seems to be ring-fencing American businesses with high tariffs, while attempting to split Russia away from its relationship with China.

    These arguments are both economically illiterate and geopolitically witless. Even a cursory understanding of tariffs reveals that they drive inflation because they are paid by importers who then pass the costs on to consumers. Over time, they are little more than sugar pills that turn economies diabetic, increasingly reliant on state protections from unending trade wars.

    And the “reverse Kissinger” strategy – a reference to the US role in exacerbating the Sino-Soviet split during the Cold War – is wishful thinking to the extreme.

    Putin would have to be utterly incompetent to countenance a move away from Beijing. He has invested significant time and effort to improve this relationship, believing China will be the dominant power of the 21st century.

    Putin would be even more foolish to embrace the US as a full-blown partner. That would turn Russia’s depopulated southern border with China, stretching over 4,300 kilometres, into the potential front line of a new Cold War.

    What does this mean for America’s allies?

    While Trump’s moves have undoubtedly strengthened the US’ traditional adversaries, they have also weakened and alarmed its friends.

    Put simply, no American ally – either in Europe or Asia – can now have confidence Washington will honour its security commitments. This was brought starkly home to NATO members at the Munich Security Conference in February, where US representatives informed a stunned audience that America may no longer view itself as the main guarantor of European security.

    Vice President JD Vance delivers a strong message to European leaders.

    The swiftness of US disengagement means European countries must not only muster the will and means to arm themselves quickly, but also take the lead in collectively providing for Ukraine’s security.

    Whether they can do so remains unclear. Europe’s history of inaction does not bode well.

    US allies also face choices in Asia. Japan and South Korea will now be seriously considering all options – potentially even nuclear weapons – to deter an emboldened China.

    There are worries in Australia, as well. Can it pretend nothing has changed and hope the situation will then normalise after the next US presidential election?

    The future of AUKUS, the deal to purchase (and then co-design) US nuclear powered submarines, is particularly uncertain.

    Does it make strategic sense to pursue full integration with the US military when the White House could just treat Taipei, Tokyo, Seoul and Canberra with the same indifference it has displayed towards its friends in Europe?

    Ultimately, the chaos Trump 2.0 has unleashed in such a short amount of time is both unprecedented and bewildering. In seeking to put “America First”, Trump is perversely hastening its decline. He is leaving America isolated and untrusted by its closest friends.

    And, in doing so, the world’s most powerful nation has also made the world a more dangerous, uncertain and ultimately an uglier place to be.

    Matthew Sussex has received funding from the Australian Research Council, the Atlantic Council, the Fulbright Foundation, the Carnegie Foundation, the Lowy Institute and various Australian government departments and agencies.

    – ref. In siding with Russia over Ukraine, Trump is not putting America first. He is hastening its decline – https://theconversation.com/in-siding-with-russia-over-ukraine-trump-is-not-putting-america-first-he-is-hastening-its-decline-251140

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: English rendering of PM’s address in NXT Conclave

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 01 MAR 2025 2:03PM by PIB Delhi

    Namaskar, 

    ITV Network founder and my colleague in Parliament, Kartikeya Sharma ji, the entire team of the network, all the guests from India and abroad, other dignitaries, ladies and gentlemen, NewsX World’s auspicious beginning and for this I congratulate all of you, my best wishes. Today, all the regional channels of your network including Hindi and English are going global. And today many fellowships and scholarships have also been started. I wish all of you the best for these programs.

    Friends, 

    I have been attending such media events earlier also, but today I feel that you have set a new trend and I congratulate you for this too. Such media events keep happening in our country, and it is a tradition that is continuing. There are some economic topics in it, it is a matter of benefit for everyone, but your network has given it a new dimension. You have worked on a new model by breaking away from the norm. I remember, if I talk about the earlier summits and your summit I have been listening to since yesterday, the earlier summits organised by different media houses have been leader-centric, I am happy that this one is policy-centric, policies are being discussed here. Most of the events that have taken place have been about living the present on the basis of the past. I see that your summit is dedicated to the future. I have seen that in all such programs that I have seen from afar or have attended myself, the importance of controversy was more there, here the importance of dialogue is more. And I firmly believe that all the events that I have attended are held in a small room and have their own people. Seeing such a huge event here and that too the event of a media house and people from all walks of life being here, is a big thing in itself. It is possible that other media people will not get any masala (scoop) from here, but the country will get a lot of inspiration, because the thoughts of every person who comes here will be thoughts that inspire the country. I hope that in the coming days other media houses will also adopt this trend, this template, in their own way and make it innovative and at least come out of that small room.

    Friends, 

    Today the whole world is looking at 21st century India, people from all over the world want to come to India, want to know India. Today India is the country in the world where positive news is being created continuously. There is no need to manufacture news, where new records are being made every day, something new is happening. Just on 26 February, the Maha Kumbh of unity was concluded in Prayagraj. The whole world is surprised that how in a temporary city, a temporary arrangement, crores of people came to the banks of the river, travelled hundreds of kilometers and got filled with emotions after taking a holy bath. Today the world is seeing India’s organising and innovating skills. We are manufacturing everything from semiconductors to aircraft carriers right here. The world wants to know about this success of India in detail. I think that this NewsX World is a very big opportunity in itself.

    Friends, 

    Just a few months ago, India conducted the world’s largest elections. After 60 years, it happened that a government in India has returned to power for the third consecutive time. The basis of this public trust are India’s many achievements in the last 11 years. I am confident that your new channel will take India’s real stories to the world. Without adding any colour, your global channel will show the picture of India as it is, we do not need makeup.

    Friends, 

    Many years ago, I had presented the vision of Vocal for Local and Local for Global to the country. Today we are seeing this vision turning into reality. Today our Ayush products and Yoga have gone from Local to Global. Go anywhere in the world, you will find someone who knows Yoga, my friend Tony is sitting here, he is a daily Yoga practitioner.  Today, India’s superfood, our Makhana, is going global from local. India’s millets – Shreeanna, are also going global from local. And I have come to know that my friend, Tony Abbott, has had first-hand experience of Indian millets at Delhi Haat, and he liked the millet dishes very much and I felt very happy to hear this.

    Friends, 

    Not only millets, India’s turmeric has also gone from local to global, India supplies more than 60 percent of the world’s turmeric. India’s coffee has also gone from local to global, India has become the world’s seventh largest coffee exporter. Today India’s mobiles, electronic products, medicines made in India are making their global identity. And along with all this, one more thing has happened. India is leading many global initiatives. Recently I got a chance to go to the AI ​​Action Summit in France. India was the co-host of this summit which is taking the world towards the AI ​​future. Now India has the responsibility of hosting it. India organised such a wonderful G-20 Summit during its presidency. During this summit, we gave the world a new economic route in the form of India-Middle East-Europe Corridor. India also gave a strong voice to the Global South, we have connected the island nations and their interests to our priority. India has given the vision of Mission Life to the world to deal with the climate crisis. Similarly, International Solar Alliance, Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, there are many such initiatives which India is leading globally. And I am happy that today when many brands of India are going global, the media of India is also going global. It is understanding this global opportunity.

    Friends, 

    For decades, the world used to call India its back office. But today, India is becoming the new factory of the world. We are not just becoming a workforce, but a world-force! Today, the country is becoming an emerging export hub for the things that we once imported. The farmer who was once limited to the local market, today his crop is reaching the markets of the whole world. The demand for Pulwama’s Snow Peas, Maharashtra’s Purandar Figs and Kashmir’s Cricket Bats is now increasing in the world. Our Defence products are showing the world the power of Indian Engineering and technology. From the Electronics to Automobile Sector, the world has seen our scale and capability. We are not only providing our products to the world, India is also becoming a trusted and reliable partner in the global supply chain.

    Friends, 

    If we have become a leader in many sectors today, then it is because of years of well deliberated hard work. This has been possible only due to systematic policy decisions. Look at the journey of 10 years, where bridges were incomplete, roads were stuck, today dreams are moving ahead at a new pace. With good roads, excellent expressways, both travel time and cost have reduced. This has given the industry an opportunity to reduce the turnaround time of logistics. Our automobile sector got a huge benefit from this. This increased the demand for vehicles, we encouraged the production of vehicles and EVs. Today we have emerged as a major automobile producer and exporter in the world.

    Friends, 

    A similar change has been seen in electronics manufacturing. In the last decade, electricity reached more than 2.5 crore households for the first time. The demand for electricity increased in the country, production increased, which increased the demand for Electronic Equipment. When we made data cheaper, the demand for mobile phones increased. As more and more services were brought on mobile phones, the consumption of digital devices increased further. By turning this demand into an opportunity, we started programs like PLI Schemes. Today, India has become a major electronics exporter.

    Friends, 

    Today India is able to set very big targets and is achieving them, so there is a special mantra at the core of this. This mantra is – minimum government, maximum governance. This is the mantra of efficient and effective governance. That means no interference from the government, no pressure from the government. I will give you an interesting example. In the last decade, we have abolished about 1500 laws that have lost their importance. It is a big deal to abolish 1500 laws. Many of these laws were made during British rule. Now I will tell you something, you will be surprised to hear that there was a law called dramatic performance act, this law was made by the British 150 years ago, at that time the British wanted that drama and theatre should not be used against the then government. There was a provision in this law that if 10 people were found dancing in a public place, they could be arrested. And this law continued for 75 years after the country got independence. That is, if there is a wedding procession and 10 people are dancing, the police can arrest them including the groom. This law was in force for 70-75 years after independence. This law was removed by our government. Now, we have borne this law for 70 years, I have nothing to say to the government of that time, those leaders, they are sitting here too, but I am more surprised by this Lutyens’ group, this Khan Market gang. Why were these people silent on such a law for 75 years? Those who go to court every day, who roam around like contractors of PIL, why were these people silent? Did they not remember liberty then? If someone thinks today, what would have happened if Modi had made such a law? And these trollers on social media, if they too had spread such false news that Modi was going to make such a law, these people would have created a ruckus, would have pulled Modi’s hair.

    Friends, 

    It is our government that has abolished this law from the times of slavery. I will give another example of bamboo, bamboo is the lifeline of our tribal areas, especially the North East. But earlier, you were sent to jail even for cutting bamboo, why was the law made now? Now, if I ask you, is bamboo a tree? Some will believe that it is a tree, some will believe that it is a tree, you will be surprised that even after 70 years of independence, the government of my country believed that bamboo is a tree, and therefore, just as cutting trees was prohibited, cutting bamboo was also prohibited. There was a law in our country which considered bamboo to be a tree, and all the laws for trees were applicable to it, it was difficult to cut it. Our earlier rulers could not understand that bamboo is not a tree. The British may have had their own interests, but why did we not do it? Even the decades old law related to bamboo was changed by our own government.

    Friends, 

    You must remember how difficult it was for a common man to file ITR 10 years ago. Today you file ITR in a few moments and the refund is also deposited directly in the account within a few days. Now the process of making the law related to income tax even simpler is going on in the Parliament. We have made income up to Rs. 12 lakh tax free, yes now there is applause, you did not applaud the bamboo because it belongs to the tribals. And this is going to benefit especially the media personnel, the salaried class like you. The youth who are doing their first and second jobs, their aspirations are also different, their expenses are also different. They should fulfil their aspirations, their savings should increase, the budget has helped a lot in this. Our aim is to give the people of the country Ease of Living, Ease of Doing Business, give them open skies to fly. Today see how many start-ups are taking advantage of geospatial data. Earlier, if someone had to make a map, they had to take permission from the government. We changed this and today our start-ups and private companies are making excellent use of this data.

    Friends,

    India, which gave the world the concept of Zero, is today becoming the land of Infinite Innovations. Today India is not just innovating but also indovating. And when I say indovate, it means – Innovating The Indian Way. Through indovating, we are creating solutions that are affordable, accessible and adaptable. We are not gate-keeping these solutions but have offered them to the entire world. When the world wanted a secure and cost-effective digital payment system, we created the UPI system. I was listening to Professor Carlos Montes, he seemed very impressed with the people-friendly nature of technology like UPI. Today, countries like France, UAE, Singapore are integrating UPI in their financial ecosystem. Today, many countries of the world are making agreements to join our digital public infrastructure, India Stack. During the Covid pandemic, our vaccine showed the world the model of India’s Quality Healthcare Solutions. We also open-sourced the Arogya Setu app so that the world can benefit from it. India is a major space power; we are also helping other countries to achieve their space aspirations. India is also working on AI for Public Good and is also sharing its experience and expertise with the world.

    Friends,

    ITV Network has launched many fellowships today. India’s youth is the biggest beneficiary of developed India and also the biggest stakeholder. Therefore, India’s youth is a very big priority for us. National Education Policy has given children an opportunity to think beyond books. Children are getting ready for the field of AI and Data Science by learning coding from middle school itself. Atal Tinkering Labs are giving children hands-on experience of emerging technologies. Therefore, in this year’s budget, we have announced to create 50 thousand new Atal Tinkering Labs.

    Friends,

    In the world of news, you people take subscriptions from different agencies, this helps you in getting better news coverage. Similarly, in the field of research, students need more and more information sources. For this, earlier they had to take subscriptions of different journals at expensive rates, they had to spend money themselves. Our government has freed all researchers from this worry too. We have brought One Nation One Subscription. With this, every researcher of the country is sure to get free access to the world’s renowned journals. The government is going to spend more than 6 thousand crore rupees on this. We are ensuring that every student gets the best research facilities. Be it space exploration, biotech research or AI, our children are emerging as future leaders. Dr. Brian Green has met the students of IIT and astronaut Mike Massimino went to meet the students of Central School and as he said, his experience has been really wonderful. The day is not far when a big innovation of the future will come out of a small school in India.

    Friends,

    Let the flag of India fly on every global platform, this is our aspiration, this is our direction.

    Friends,

    This is not the time to think small and take small steps. I am happy that as a media organisation, you too have understood this sentiment. You see, till 10 years ago you used to think about how to reach different states of the country, how to make your media house reach, today you too have gathered the courage to go global. This inspiration, this pledge, should be the one of every citizen, every entrepreneur today. My dream is that there should be some Indian brand in every market of the world, in every drawing room, on every dining table. Made in India – should become the mantra of the world. If someone is ill, he should first think about – Heal in India. If someone wants to get married, he should first think about – Wed in India. If someone wants to travel, he should put India on top of his list. If someone wants to hold a conference or an exhibition, he should come to India first. If someone wants to hold a concert, he should first choose India. We have to develop this strength, this positive attitude in ourselves. Your network and your channel will play a big role in this. The possibilities are infinite, now we have to turn them into reality with our courage and determination.

    Friends,

    India is moving ahead with the resolve to become a developed India in the next 25 years. You too should move ahead with the resolve to bring yourself on the world stage as a media house. I believe that you will definitely succeed in this. I once again convey my best wishes to the entire team of ITV Network and I also congratulate the participants who have come from the country and the world, their views have definitely strengthened a positive thinking, I am thankful for this too, because when the pride of India increases, every Indian feels happy and proud and for this I thank them all very much. Namaskaram.

     

    DISCLAIMER: This is the approximate translation of PM’s speech. Original speech was delivered

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Text of the Vice-President’s address at the Colloquium on ‘International Arbitration: Indian Perspective’ organised by India International Arbitration Centre (Excerpts)

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 01 MAR 2025 2:41PM by PIB Delhi

    Good Morning all of you,

    When Chairman, International Arbitration Centre of India extended invitation to me, I had a very frank, forthright thought exchange with him.

     I indicated to Justice Gupta that he has a daunting task to impart much needed credibility to the Indian arbitral system. I was so happy and delighted when he reflected that some step has to be taken. I still recall what he told me. Realistic assessment of a malice and authentic diagnosis is fundamental and quintessence to find a resolution. My response was not encouraging.

     Justice Gupta was insistent. I reacted. Justice Gupta, when UNCITRAL Model came in 1994, UK and India were two countries that had historical connect and had legislation in the same year-1996, but look at the kind of jolts our Act has had ever since then. And compare it with what happened in the United Kingdom, and therefore, to impart credibility and to undertake this very daunting task, there will have to be convergence of stakeholders.

     Those stakeholders are in the legislature, in the executive, in the judiciary, and in the bar. I am so happy and delighted that he has taken the first step, and in the process, though I may be blowing out of proportion, but for a country that is home to one-sixth of humanity, this may be that step which Neil Armstrong took on 20th of July, 1969, when man landed on the moon for the first time. So my best wishes to you.

    I continue to have my concerns and reservations that every inch you will traverse will be difficult. And therefore, my caveat to what the Attorney General reflected, we are not in the global room of arbitration. We are far distant from it. We have to go much beyond our words. Our convergence will have to be on realistic fabric.

     Each one of us will have to contribute, and when we’ll self-assess, we will find we have been in neglect, and therefore, Justice Gupta, I have known him for a very long time. He means business. I therefore compliment him for getting sponsors, Baker, McKinsey, Miss Samantha Mobley, Miss Minnie Van De Pol. Your presence matters because it was in late 90s I had the occasion to attend a conference in your organisation about the state of arbitral position.

     Our Attorney General is as much in law as in academics, and my expectations from him are always more. But I can tell you and share with you, my expectations from the Attorney General are realistic. And I am sure he would carry a message from this place that he will use his office to catalyse the change, particularly with respect to legislation that is ailing our arbitral process with painful interventions that evade finality and expedition.

     I am happy to greet your Secretary General, Asian African Legal Consultative Organisation, Dr. Kamalinne Pinitpuvadol. I recall vividly what happened in G20. It was Prime Minister Modi’s vision and he succeeded in getting African Union as a permanent member of G20. European Union was already a member. When we examine this development in historical perspective, we will realise the qualitative import of it.

     Added to this, an attorney was keenly involved with that process also to put on global radar the concerns of Global South. You were there in some conferences involving members of Judiciary in the past, and therefore, indeed, a good convergence, soothing convergence Asian-African aspect. This forum has brought together accomplished minds, but I find absence of some as impactful as presence of those who are here.

     I had expected there will be greater participation of those who are reaping the harvest, those who are occupying the century stage, who happen to be your peers. In a country like ours, change takes place only when we slightly depart from formality and talk straight. But I have no doubt that this step that has generated confidence and optimism in me and I would be certainly a soldier of your agenda that the deliberations would go a long way and I would urge let the deliberations not end with this colloquium.

     Let there be extension of brainstorming sessions between individuals. We have some of the finest minds here. When I look around, when I look at my friend senior advocate, Gaurav Bannerjee look at his lineage, how many times we have discussed passionately in mission mode and then rested because handholding has to be by government stakeholders. Handholding has to be by law. Handholding has to emanate from people whose pen matters, and therefore, Justice Gupta has taken a big challenge and every challenge has inbuilt potential opportunity.

     I have no doubt we will so convert. I need not underscore the relevance of arbitral process, its need, but in our country and I can say with modest exposure to global arbitral process, I think being in the International Court of Arbitration for about three years and associated with the commission of that outfit for about nine years. Here, we are not to regain credibility. We have to establish credibility of arbitration. There is a moment subterranean where people in commerce fear arbitral process and that has to be overcome. Arbitrators play as much critical role as members of the board associated with arbitral process.

     Surprisingly, there is, I’m saying it with utmost restraint, absolute tight-fist control of a segment of a category that is involved with arbitral process determination and this tight-fist control emanates out of judicial fields and if we examine it on an objective platform, it is excruciatingly painful. This country has a rich human resource in every facet, Oceanography, Maritime, Aviation, Infrastructure and what not and the disputes are relatable to the experience which is sectoral.

     Unfortunately, we have taken in this country a very myopic view of arbitration as if it is adjudication. It is much beyond adjudication. It is not conventional adjudication as historically evaluated globally. I am enthused in making these observations because Justice Gupta’s mind is stirred by these thoughts. With all my intent not to come here, I have to yield under the pressure of his determination. Now if any country needs smoothest of judicial process, it is India, and India needs it more than any other country for several reasons.

     And why? We are a country that is on the rise. The rise is unstoppable. The rise is incremental. Ladies and gentlemen, let me reflect on the state of the nation at the moment, and I do it on some authority because I had the occasion to be in Parliament in 1989, in seat of governance as a Minister, 1991. I therefore know what the scene was then and what the scene is now.

     Exponential economic upsurge that we are witnessing. India has transformed from 11th economy a decade ago to the 5th largest global economy on way to becoming the 3rd largest ahead of Japan and Germany very shortly.

     We have 8% growth heading towards 4 trillion economy US dollars. Get little away from it. Phenomenal infrastructure growth. Those who have been to this country a decade ago and now and this very place you can see how swiftly it came or Yashobhoomi, or Indian Parliament building newer even in the phase of COVID our Highways, our Aviation sector, our Space sector, our Deep sea sector. So we have phenomenal infrastructure growth. We have 4 new airports and 1 metro system built every year. Which country in the world can do it?

     Daily 14 km of highways and world class Highways and 6 km of Eailways. A nation of 1.4 billion has deep technological penetration. 85 million have been benefited with affordable housing. 330 million with health coverage and 29 million small businesses with loans annually.

    I am giving out these figures because they have rational and rational to the extent arbitral process is concerned. Where the nation is heading? We boast of lunar and mars missions, vaccine productions, we are focussing on Semiconductors, Quantum Computing, green Hydrogen Mission. We are in single digit countries least that is focussing on artificial intelligence. We are one of the few countries in the world that is on way to exploitation of 6G commercially. And look at our spread of 4G all over the country. Every village has it. And therefore, we have all pervasive digitisation. 6.1 billion monthly digital transactions.

     Third largest global ecosystem and the largest Unicorn–Well spread out. People centric policies. Toilet in the house, gas connection in the house, electricity connection in the house, internet connection in the house, road connection, everything is there. And therefore, this development of a decade has converted India as the most aspirational nation in the world. People are now rest even in restlessness. They want more. They want more because they have tasted development. They have benefited from people centric policies. All this can come up only with the surge in economic activity. And every economic activity will have differences, disputes, requiring quick solutions.

     Sometimes, disputes and differences arise on account of perceptional variations, inadequate support, or helplessness. In this situation, it is very significant that we focus on adjudication. Now is the time when India is emerging in every field globally. Why not India should emerge as a global dispute resolution centre? If I reflect to myself and I enormously benefited by my stay as a member in the International Court of Arbitration.

     What do they have which we don’t? Their infrastructure is hardly comparable to what we have. There are cultural centres where arbitrators can really engage. Go to Kolkata, go to Jaipur, go to Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, any part, get away from the metro then you’ll have. I have seen in 10 years growth of arbitral centres with credibility in Dubai and Singapore on self-assessment without fear of contradiction. For this reason, I can say we are nowhere.

     We are not in the mind of people who are having commercial relationship with us if it is international commercial arbitration. There was a time when this country had for the first time a power purchase agreement. My friend Gaurav Banerjee will bear me out. The agreement was settled by a law firm outside the country, but Justice Gupta, it provided for tariff on three terms. One tariff was A, if arbitration is in India as per Indian law, then the tariff will be cheaper by A minus 1. If the arbitration is in India but not according to Indian law. It will still be cheaper if the arbitration was outside India and under outside legal regime. That we have to change, and this finds reflection in power purchase agreement of UNRWA.

     We when are particularly suited naturally, culturally and otherwise the richest human resource on the globe with highest adaptability of Indian mind to highly skilled required techniques and that is why you will find formal economy taking place on account of digital transactions, therefore, time for us to get into a groove to be part of the marathon march that is taking place in the country for India to be a developed nation and India is no longer a country with potential and developed nation status is not our dream it is our destination, and all world organisations that in ‘90 when I was a part of the government were absolutely on us are accolading us global centre favourite centre of Investment and opportunity– International Monetary Fund says World Bank has applauded us that our digitisation accomplished in about six years is not otherwise attainable even in more than four decades we have done it.

     And therefore we will have to go to certain basics I can suggest some, A Former Chief Justice of this country, I am not concerned about the legacy left or the footprints, the nature of which he left but he did make an observation process has become old boys club he was referring to retired judges participation arbitral process.

     I should not be misunderstood even for a moment retired judges of this country are an asset to arbitral process they lend credibility to us. I know some of the former Chief Justices and Judges being absolutely appreciated globally for international commercial arbitration – Justice Lodha, Justice Thakur.

     Let me tell you amazing all of the judges justice everyone is doing I am not for a moment saying keep away from them, No!

     But there are areas where the arbitral tribal needs to be supplemented by experts in the field of Oceanography in Aviation in Infrastructure our judges are perhaps the best in the world. They apply mind, and therefore not for a moment, I should be misunderstood. I do not share the observation of the former Chief justice of old boys’ club. Justice Gupta is immediately suited going by his passion and commitment for bringing about a big change, but I am taking a critic’s view and critic’s view is that the Attorney General of the country can really reflect and make a big change this country in the world tell me has suo-moto cognisance by the highest court.

     I am sure I can’t look around, and Article 136 intervention was supposed to be a narrow slit. The wall has been demolished with anything and everything under the sun including what a Magistrate has to do, What a Sessions Judge as to do, what a District Judge has to do, what a High Court judge has to do, that wall demolition is also hurting Arbitral process.

     All I am suggesting in all humility and a concerned citizen of this country that the issue which you are debating is of critical importance to Micro-small industries they want facile easy arbitral process. For want of time I would not be able to say all I wish to say, and since I have shared my thoughts in private with Justice Gupta, I would concludingly sum up.

     Let us navigate because it is time for us to navigate step by step from alternative resolution to amicable resolution. Why should it be alternative it must be first option why should it be substitute to litigation so amicable resolution from dispute resolution to difference resolution why do we label it, dispute these are differences these are differences because a new person has taken to a particular enterprise in Make in India, he has engaged in a startup. there is some difference this difference he wants to iron out because he is not all in all.

     He can’t have various departments and therefore, let us convert it from dispute resolution to difference resolution and then why resolution? Why not make it from resolution to settlement and why look for judicially enforceable package of Awards. Let us get into consensual convergence.

     All these in my modest assessment will secure commercial partnerships. They will not break partnerships. They will nurture partnerships in commerce, business, trade and industry they will ensure their blossoming. This will augur well for the economic growth and this will also place us in the global arbitration room where presently we are far distanced.

     At the moment, ladies and gentlemen, I have no doubt, let me make my mind clear in a concluding sentence: the arbitral process in our country is just an additional burden to the normal hierarchical mechanism of adjudication. I am grateful to the opportunity accorded to me by Justice Gupta. I wish him good luck and I stand committed to be at your disposal in any manner you feel appropriate or expedient.

    Ladies and gentlemen, thank you so much for your time and patience.

    ******

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Hochul is a Guest on WBLS’ “Open Line”

    Source: US State of New York

    arlier today, Governor Kathy Hochul was a guest on WBLS’ “Open Line”.

    AUDIO: The Governor’s remarks are available in audio form here.

    A rush transcript of the Governor’s remarks is available below:

    Fatiyn Muhammad, WBLS: Sister Hazel Dukes has made a lot of history, but back in 2021, she became the first civilian to administer the oath of office to the Governor of New York — swearing in Kathy Hochul as New York’s first female governor. So on March 2nd — look at this in Women’s History Month — on our live line, I want to bring in the Governor of New York, Governor Kathy Hochul. Good morning, Governor Kathy Hochul. Welcome to Open Line.

    Governor Hochul: Good morning.

    Fatiyn Muhammad, WBLS: Good morning. Sorry that it has to be on a sad note, but I know you have some words to share about Dr. Hazel Dukes.

    Governor Hochul: Oh and I thank you for this opportunity. You know, it’s significant that I saw her on one of the final days of Black History Month.

    I was at her bedside on Thursday and she was weak. But she held my hand and she looked into my eyes and she said, “You’re my daughter. I love you, but be strong,” in the way that Hazel talks. And I was just so touched by that and I knew we weren’t going to have her much longer. But as we start Women’s History Month, it is so significant.

    And I’m glad you mentioned Jennifer, the people I was going to reference. You know, the strong women of color throughout our history: Harriet Tubman, who led people to freedom. This tiny woman who’s spent her last 50 years as a New Yorker, just never giving up the fight. And Sojourner Truth, using her voice all over America to talk about injustices, and Hazel was that person of our time.

    And I was so blessed that she adopted me when I first ran as a Lieutenant Governor over a decade ago. I had just lost my mom to ALS just a few months before I met Hazel, and she said she would be my mother; my mother on earth. And I — we’ve been so close. She did swear me in. She was up there with my brand new granddaughter.

    And she heard — the baby heard Hazel’s strong, powerful voice and got scared. She started crying, so it was a little chaotic. But it was such a special moment. We have photos of the baby screaming and Hazel talking. And I was just — she came to my office literally just like a month, or a couple months ago, fighting for the whole effort to have “Choose Healthy Life” money. And I’ve been funding this program, which I so believe in, to bring money to communities. And the connection with churches and the community, and to get vaccinations and arms, and to get food to people and healthy outcomes.

    So, I will just treasure her memory forever, but she has had such a profound influence on my life that I will carry on the fight in her name. That is what I’m called by God to do at this moment: to let her name continue on through our work going forward. And Jennifer, you and I have a lot to do as we try to improve affordability. We had a meeting not long ago about what we could do in our Budget to put more money back in people’s pockets. And I know Hazel supported that.

    So, I’m just incredibly sad today. I’m running off to speak at the greater A.M.E. Church in a few minutes, and I’m going to be talking about hazel. And I’m so grateful to you that you just gave me a moment just to let my heart speak about how I feel today.

    Jennifer Jones Austin, WBLS: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Governor Hochul. We know that she loved you and she rallied around you, and we all are, you know — you’re fighting the good fight. It’s a difficult fight — a lot going on in this state. But you know, you blessed us when you brought her in and you showed us that you want to continue to lift up black people and black people’s issues.

    And so we celebrate you too in this moment, and we want to work with you and continue to work with you just as our dear Ma Dukes did. So we thank you. Thank you for being with us.

    Governor Hochul: I look forward to the fight. Thank you, my friend.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Soaring U.S. egg prices and millions of dead chickens signal the deep problems and risks in modern poultry production

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Tony Weis, Professor of Geography and Environment, Western University

    The recent volatility of egg prices in the United States has been a hot topic. Media coverage has consistently made the connection between supply problems and virulent strains of avian flu that has been afflicting poultry birds since 2022.

    Many articles have indicated that, in addition to millions of birds dying from avian flu, infected flocks have widely been killed en masse in an attempt to contain its spread. The livestock industry euphemistically calls this killing of infected animals “depopulation,” and around 150 million birds have been depopulated since the current crisis began.

    I have studied industrial livestock production for many years and have seen its myriad problems flash in and out of the media — such as greenhouse gas emissions, air and water pollution, food-borne illnesses, labour exploitation, and animal suffering. But it’s rare for the sector to stay in the media for long.

    The unusually heavy media coverage of expensive eggs, depopulated chickens and avian flu has highlighted some of the deep problems and risks of modern poultry production. Unfortunately, however, important context and dynamics have been regularly omitted.

    Unpacking key omissions helps to better understand both the nature of these chronic risks of infectious disease and the perilous response of the Trump administration.

    The spotlight on avian flu

    Multiple strains of avian flu chronically circulate within populations of both wild and domesticated birds. Avian flu is prone to frequent mutations, and occasionally some strains become more virulent and spillover across species.

    In addition to the problems avian flu in poultry production, recent media coverage has also highlighted the virus’s broader dangers.

    Avian flu is currently ravaging many wild animal species around the world, reaching into extremely remote places and even zoos.

    In the U.S., avian flu recently spilled over into cattle — causing widespread illness after a mutation enabled intra-species transmission.

    Avian flu has also caused a small number of severe human illnesses in the U.S. (primarily workers in poultry operations). Although no human-to-human transmission is evident — a necessary condition for a pandemic — this potential remains a grave threat.

    Key issues underplayed

    Although the media coverage of egg prices, depopulated chickens and avian flu has cast a valuable spotlight on many aspects of modern poultry production, it has also tended to leave out some important elements.

    Mentions in the media of many millions of chickens being killed to contain the spread of avian flu will surely sound jarring to some. But such figures pale in comparison to the 9.5 billion chickens slaughtered annually in the U.S. and the 76 billion slaughtered annually worldwide.

    Poultry birds now comprise 70 per cent of the total biomass of all birds on earth. Most are produced in densely-packed operations where reproduction, life and death have been greatly accelerated.

    Modern chickens have been selectively bred to either put on weight (broilers) or produce eggs (layers) very quickly. Broilers reach slaughter weight in a mere six weeks. Layer hens produce nearly an egg a day for about a year or two, before being slaughtered. These short life-cycles are rarely mentioned in coverage of depopulations.

    The growing risk of avian flu mutations relate to both enormity of poultry bird populations — by far the biggest habitat for the virus — and the unhealthy conditions of life in large enclosures.

    According to the U.S. Census of Agriculture, over 97 per cent of layers live in operations with at least 10,000 birds. Over 99 per cent of broilers are grown in operations with annual sales of at least 100,000 birds.

    This scale also relates to a question that has, with a few notable exceptions, received scant coverage: since infected populations cannot simply be shipped to the slaughterhouse, how are the birds actually killed?

    A leading approach to depopulation is ventilation shutdown. This involves turning off the powerful fans needed to make the ambient conditions in large enclosures bearable, and results in agonizing deaths.

    Researchers are investigating ways to augment ventilation shutdown as part of a broader research agenda seeking to develop systematic ways to depopulate large operations. This agenda clearly illustrates that the livestock industry is acutely aware of the great risks of infectious disease evolution within these spaces.

    Undermining infectious disease surveillance

    In the 2024 election campaign, Republicans regularly pointed to high egg prices in efforts to highlight rising inflation. In early 2025, the continuing rise of egg prices has cast a glare on U.S. President Donald Trump’s failed promise to immediately solve inflation.

    In response to scrutiny, the Trump administration initially tried to blame Biden for the depopulation of chickens. While such deflection might work for a time, Trump and his advisors realize they need a strategy to increase egg supplies.

    This emerging strategy must be viewed in relation to Trump’s sweeping assault on state institutions and regulations — which includes undermining crucial capacity for infectious disease surveillance. Trump made immediate cuts to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and forced it to disengage with the World Health Organization. He has also promised big cuts to the National Institutes of Health.

    In this context, it’s unsurprising that Trump is laying out a simple plan to increase the egg supply: rebuilding layer populations, reducing depopulations and trusting the livestock and pharmaceutical industries to find ways of containing avian flu — likely through vaccines and strengthened biosecurity.

    It’s profoundly irrational to be weakening infectious disease surveillance in the midst of the current avian flu crisis (and amid mounting infectious disease risks more generally).
    It’s also hard to fathom how further empowering the leading actors in poultry production can be expected to resolve the risks of avian flu that are so bound up in the nature of modern production.

    Pursuing this course might temporarily bring egg prices down, but it also inevitably means passing untold risks into the future.

    Tony Weis 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. Soaring U.S. egg prices and millions of dead chickens signal the deep problems and risks in modern poultry production – https://theconversation.com/soaring-u-s-egg-prices-and-millions-of-dead-chickens-signal-the-deep-problems-and-risks-in-modern-poultry-production-249679

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: In Letter to Makary, Sens. Murray, Baldwin, Alsobrooks Raise Alarm over Decision to Cancel Critical FDA Flu Shot Meeting Amid Worst Flu Season in 15 Years

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
    Senators: “We intend to use your nomination hearing next week to understand whether you support this ill-informed measure to slow critical public health decision making.”
    Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member and former Chairof the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and U.S. Senator Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) sent a letter to Dr. Marty Makary, President Trump’s nominee to lead the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), expressing extreme concern with the FDA’s unprecedented decision to abruptly cancel the March 13th planned meeting of the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC), which is the annual opportunity for FDA to hear expert advice and make recommendations on the selection of influenza strains to be included in the flu vaccines this coming fall. The cancellation of the VRBPAC’s meeting to consider flu shot characteristics for the upcoming flu season comes while the U.S. is experiencing the worst flu season in 15 years. As of February 15, 2025, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that there have been at least 33 million illnesses, 430,000 hospitalizations, and 19,000 deaths from flu so far this season.
    Dr. Makary is set to appear before the HELP Committee on Thursday, March 6th, for a hearing on his nomination to lead FDA. “We intend to use your nomination hearing next week to understand whether you support this ill-informed measure to slow critical public health decision making,” Murray, Baldwin, and Alsobrooks—all members of the HELP Committee—wrote.
    “The cancellation of next week’s VRBPAC meeting is unprecedented. This Committee has met every year for the past 30 years to discuss the influenza virus vaccines for the upcoming flu season and make recommendations to the FDA. It is essential for this meeting to occur, and its expert recommendations to be issued, in a timely, routine manner,” the senators continued. “Any delay in the Committee meeting and issuing recommendations may impact flu vaccine availability and effectiveness, if manufacturers do not have sufficient time to prepare the correct vaccines.”
    “While we acknowledge you are not yet at the agency, we expect you to answer questions about whether you will adopt a position of responsible public health leadership or continue the Trump Administration’s current, troubling trajectory into vaccine skepticism should you be confirmed to lead FDA,” Murray and her colleagues wrote, asking that Dr. Makary be prepared to address the following questions:
    Will you reschedule FDA VRBPAC meeting to consider influenza virus vaccines for the 2025-2026 flu season? If not, why not?
    Are you planning to remove or otherwise change the membership of the FDA VRBPAC?
    Will FDA accept the expert, independent recommendations of the FDA VRBPAC, for influenza virus vaccines and all other vaccine types?
    Do you commit to convening the FDA VRBPAC on its established annual basis to discuss and issue recommendations on flu shot characteristics?
    The full text of the letter is below and HERE:
    Dear Dr. Makary:
    Next week, you are scheduled to appear before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee for your nomination to serve as the Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). We write today to express our extreme concern with the decision to abruptly cancel the planned meeting of the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC), which is the annual opportunity for FDA to hear expert advice and make recommendations on the selection of strains to be included in the influenza virus vaccines for the 2025 to 2026 influenza season. We intend to use your nomination hearing next week to understand whether you support this ill-informed measure to slow critical public health decision making. 
    The cancellation of the VRBPAC’s meeting to consider flu shot characteristics for the upcoming flu season comes while the U.S. is experiencing the worst flu season in 15 years. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has classified the United States’ 2024-2025 influenza season as “high severity” overall and for all age groups. As of February 15, 2025, the CDC estimates that there have been at least 33 million illnesses, 430,000 hospitalizations, and 19,000 deaths from flu so far this season. The flu vaccine is one essential tool for prevention of flu illness, complications, hospitalizations, and untimely deaths.
    The VRBPAC is comprised of independent experts and is critical for ensuring that public health decisions, including the development and approval of vaccines, are based on the best available science and expert, independent review. VRBPAC members are experts in vaccines, infectious diseases, and epidemiology, among other relevant areas, and are essential to conducting these independent reviews and evaluating the data concerning the safety, effectiveness, and appropriate use of vaccines. The Committee typically meets in March to make recommendations for which strains should be included in the flu vaccines for the upcoming flu season.
    The cancellation of next week’s VRBPAC meeting is unprecedented. This Committee has met every year for the past 30 years to discuss the influenza virus vaccines for the upcoming flu season and make recommendations to the FDA. It is essential for this meeting to occur, and its expert recommendations to be issued, in a timely, routine manner. This is integral to give vaccine manufacturers this information to start production on flu vaccines for the upcoming flu season. Any delay in the Committee meeting and issuing recommendations may impact flu vaccine availability and effectiveness, if manufacturers do not have sufficient time to prepare the correct vaccines.
    In FDA’s response concerning the cancellation of the March 13 VRBPAC meeting, FDA stated that the agency “will make public its recommendations to manufacturers in time for updated vaccines to be available for the 2025-2026 influenza season.” This suggests FDA plans to forgo any independent expertise from the Committee when making its determinations for flu shot strains, and it remains unclear who will be making this critical public health decision.
    The options are not inspiring. The newly confirmed Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. has stated “there is no vaccine that is safe and effective” and called vaccines “sham science.” He refuses to believe the definitive science showing vaccines are not linked to autism. You have promoted natural immunity as “at least as effective as vaccinated immunity, and probably better” and stated, “The greatest perpetrator of misinformation during the pandemic has been the United States government.” President Trump’s nominee to lead CDC has a long history of championing the false connection between vaccines and autism.
    While we acknowledge you are not yet at the agency, we expect you to answer questions about whether you will adopt a position of responsible public health leadership or continue the Trump Administration’s current, troubling trajectory into vaccine skepticism should you be confirmed to lead FDA. Please be prepared to address the following questions:
    Will you reschedule FDA VRBPAC meeting to consider influenza virus vaccines for the 2025-2026 flu season? If not, why not?
    Are you planning to remove or otherwise change the membership of the FDA VRBPAC?
    Will FDA accept the expert, independent recommendations of the FDA VRBPAC, for influenza virus vaccines and all other vaccine types?
    Do you commit to convening the FDA VRBPAC on its established annual basis to discuss and issue recommendations on flu shot characteristics?
    Whether it’s influenza, COVID-19, measles, or other threats facing our nation’s public health, I call on you to recognize the immense responsibility placed on you if confirmed as one of the nation’s public health leaders. It will be incumbent upon you to maintain FDA’s credibility as the nation’s leading agency for ensuring the safety of our vaccines, diagnostics, medicines, foods, and more.
    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two previously deported individuals charged with illegal re-entry

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    BUFFALO, N.Y. –Acting U.S. Attorney Joel Louis Violanti announced today that Manuel Alejandro Estrada-Gonzalez, 31, of Mexico, and Juan Carlos Castro-Cidcas, 44, of El Salvador, were arrested and charged in separate complaints with illegal re-entry after deportation, which carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron J. Mango and Charles M. Kruly, who are handling the cases, stated that according to the complaint against Manuel Alejandro Estrada-Gonzalez, on February 20, 2025, Estrada-Gonzalez was identified as a suspected illegal alien staying at the Buffalo Airport Inn in Cheektowaga, NY. U.S. Border Patrol Agents surveilled the area and located Estrada-Gonzales. He was arrested at the scene. A records check determined that Estrada-Gonzales was ordered removed by an immigration officer twice, once in January 2019,  and a second time in February 2019.

    According to the complaint against Juan Carlos Castro-Cidcas, on February 11, 2025, U.S. Border Patrol Agents were conducting surveillance in Cheektowaga. A records check of a vehicle parked at the Hilton Garden Inn came back to an illegal alien from El Salvador, later identified as Castra-Cidcas. On February 12, 2025, agents returned to the area to conduct further surveillance and spotted him getting into the vehicle. Agents approached Castra-Cidcas but he refused to exit the vehicle. He did exit the vehicle after Cheektowaga Police were called, at which time he was taken into custody. A records check determined that Castra-Cidcas was previously removed from the country in August 2010, and November 2019.

    Estrada-Gonzalez and Castro-Cidcas made initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael J. Roemer and were detained.

    The complaint is the result of an investigation by U.S. Border Patrol, under the direction of Patrol Agent-in-Charge Martin B. Coombs, and the Cheektowaga Police Department, under the direction of Chief Brian Coons.

    The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

    # # # #

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Q&A: Farm Matters on the Menu

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
    Q: What ag policies are on your radar in the new Congress?
    A: While work is underway on writing a new farm bill, I’m also rolling up my sleeves on legislative proposals and oversight efforts to address key issues facing the farm economy and rural communities. Since the new Congress started in January, I’m working on issues that matter to the bottom lines of Iowa farmers, including: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI); Prop 12 restrictions; foreign ownership of U.S. farmland; renewable fuels, including nationwide year-round sales of E15 and sustainable aviation fuel; and tax relief, including a permanent repeal of the death tax.
    Let’s start with the HPAI outbreak that’s ravaging the livelihoods of Iowa’s poultry and egg producers and leading to egg shortages and higher prices for consumers. As a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, I participated in two hearings in February gathering feedback from farmers and ranchers about their operations. I asked representatives from turkey growers and egg producers about the importance of vaccines for egg-laying hens and how USDA’s indemnity program helps producers stay afloat during this crisis in the farm economy. I also pushed for swift confirmation in the U.S. Senate to get Secretary Brooke Rollins at the helm of the USDA. During her first week on the job, Secretary Rollins visited an egg farm in Texas and announced a comprehensive strategy to tackle the crisis that’s wiped out 166 million laying hens since 2022. I’ll continue keeping in touch with Iowa farmers as the USDA rolls out its plan to get this outbreak behind us. I’ll also keep pushing to reduce regulatory burdens that restrict market access and add costly decisions for producers to do business in states like California and Massachusetts. California’s Prop 12, what I call its “War on Breakfast” has jacked up the price for eggs and bacon, making protein-rich nutrition unaffordable for American families. I’ll continue working to restore common sense and economic freedom to the farm economy.
    Q: What is the Farmland Security Act?
    A: Foreign ownership of U.S. farmland has increased 85 percent in the last 15 years. Decades ago, when I represented Iowans in the House of Representatives, I co-sponsored the first-ever reporting requirement called the Agricultural Foreign Investment Act of 1978. It required foreign persons who purchase, transfer or hold interests in crop acres to report transactions to the USDA. They must file an FSA-153 in the local Farm Service Agency office where the land is located, within 90 days of the transaction. Our bipartisan law also directed the Secretary of Agriculture to analyze the information and its impact on family farms and rural communities.
    The upward trend of foreign ownership of U.S. farmland comes up regularly at my annual 99 county meetings. Farmland is finite, once it’s paved over with suburban sprawl or sold to foreign owners, America has one less acre to feed and fuel our people. In addition, foreign buyers needlessly increase competition for young and beginning farmers. There are also serious national security implications if a foreign adversary buys up farmland near U.S. military installations. Last year, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) published a report that showed as foreign investment in U.S. farmland climbs, the USDA’s processes to collect, track and report key information are flawed. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 included my bipartisan proposal that required the USDA to adopt an online submission process and public database by 2025. Currently, real-time data isn’t available for federal agencies, including the Departments of Treasury and Defense and Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States to review for potential national security risks.
    I’ve teamed up again with Sen. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin to beef up existing federal law. Our Farmland Security Act of 2025 builds on our previous efforts to protect America’s rural communities from shady foreign investments. It would ensure all foreign investors, including “shell companies” who buy U.S. farmland must report their holdings and strengthens penalties for those who evade or misreport their filing obligations. Plus, it invests in research to better understand the impact foreign ownership of farmland has on agricultural production. As a lifelong farmer in the U.S. Senate, I’m proud to champion the livelihoods and way of life in rural America. Food security is national security.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: India and EU Strengthen Cooperation in Science and Technology during High-Level Meeting in New Delhi

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 28 FEB 2025 7:47PM by PIB Delhi

    An India-European Union (EU) Meeting on Science & Technology Cooperation was held on 27th Feb 2025 at the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, Vigyan Bhawan Annexe, New Delhi. The meeting was part of the various sectoral meetings being held in wake of the two-day visit of H.E. Ms. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, to India along with the College of Commissioners. The meeting was co-chaired by Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, and Ms. Ekaterina Zaharieva, EU Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation.

    On the Indian side, the meeting saw the participation of Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology (DST), Dr. M. Ravichandran, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Dr. Rajesh S. Gokhale, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Dr. Sanjay Mishra, Scientist ‘H’, DBT, Dr. Monoranjan Mohanty, Adviser, Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser, Dr. Praveen Kumar S, Head, International Cooperation, DST, Dr. Aparna Shukla, Scientist ‘E’, MoES and Dr. Hafsa Ahmad, Scientist ‘D’, Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser. From the European Commission, Ms. Zaharieva was joined by Mr. Marc Lemaître, Director-General, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, Ms. Nienke Buisman, Head of Unit, International Cooperation, Ms. Sophie Alexandrova, Deputy Head of Cabinet to Commissioner Zaharieva, Mr. Ivan Dimov, Member of Cabinet to Commissioner Zaharieva, Mr. Pierrick Fillon-Ashida, First Counsellor & Head of Research & Innovation Section, EU Delegation to India, and Dr. Vivek Dham, Policy Officer, Research & Innovation Section, EU Delegation to India. The meeting aimed to strengthen India-EU research partnerships and drive innovation in critical areas such as clean energy, water, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and climate change research.

    During the discussions, both sides acknowledged the long-standing India-EU Science & Technology Agreement, originally signed in 2001 and renewed in 2015 and 2020, which is now set for extension for 2025-2030. The partnership has played a pivotal role in fostering research collaborations in water resource management, smart grids, clean energy, vaccine development, and climate change & polar research. The meeting highlighted significant achievements in wastewater treatment, vaccine innovations, and deep-sea exploration, which have emerged as key areas of cooperation between the two regions.

    India’s rapidly growing innovation ecosystem, which ranks third globally in startup and unicorn creation, was recognized as a driving force behind the collaboration. The discussion also focused on India’s emerging expertise in renewable energy, biopharmaceuticals, artificial intelligence, biomanufacturing & biotechnology etc.

    The meeting also explored future opportunities in areas such as quantum computing, bio economy, green hydrogen, blue economy, EV & battery technology, high-performance computing, and responsible AI. Both sides emphasized the importance of joint funding mechanisms, increased scientific exchange programs, and stronger public-private partnerships to accelerate progress in these fields. In their concluding remarks, Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood and Ms. Ekaterina Zaharieva reaffirmed their commitment to deepening India-EU scientific collaboration and leveraging joint expertise to address global challenges.

    The meeting concluded with a networking session, where stakeholders discussed practical steps for scaling up joint projects. The India-EU Science & Technology Agreement continues to play a crucial role in strengthening this strategic partnership, fostering innovation, and enhancing mutual economic and technological benefits.

    *****

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Bluetongue epidemic – challenges facing sheep farmers in Portugal – E-002643/2024(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    1. The Commission is not aware of any specific request from the Portuguese Government for the deployment of additional EU resources related to spread of bluetongue virus.

    As referred to in reply to Written Questions E-001845/2024, E-002156/2024, E-002019/2024 and E-001850/2024 bluetongue virus being a subject to optional eradication, EU funding for Bluetongue Virus, including vaccination, is not planned for the 2025-2027 period for eradication programmes in accordance with EU rules[1], nor for emergency measures. Financial resources are allocated to the control and eradication of other major priority animal diseases.

    As mentioned in reply to Written Questions E-001819/2024, P-002410/2024; E-002019/2024 and E-002156/2024 , support to farmers can be provided under the common market Organisation, Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Strategic Plans, rural development programmes, and in line with Union state aid rules.

    2. CAP financial rules[2] already allow farmers who have been unable to fulfil all their CAP requirements due to exceptional and unforeseeable events outside their control not to lose CAP support. The application of this concept is decided by Member States based on relevant evidence and the legal requirements for its application.

    • [1] Regulation (EU) 2021/690 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 April 2021 establishing a programme for the internal market, competitiveness of enterprises, including small and medium-sized enterprises, the area of plants, animals, food and feed, and European statistics (Single Market Programme) and the work programmes (adopted as Commission Implementing Decision C(2024) 2098 of 2.8.2024 for 2025-2027).
    • [2] Articles 3(2) and 59(5)(a) of Regulation (EU) 2021/2116 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 2 December 2021 on the financing, management and monitoring of the common agricultural policy and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013, OJ L 435, 6.12.2021, p. 187.
    Last updated: 28 February 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Central Coast Woman Arrested on Complaint Alleging She Created Hundreds of Bogus Medical Documents for Immigration Applicants

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    LOS ANGELES – A San Luis Obispo County woman has been arrested on a federal criminal complaint alleging she created hundreds of fraudulent immigration documents by misusing physicians’ credentials to show compliance with medical examination requirements for immigrants to register for green cards or otherwise adjust their immigration status, the Justice Department announced today.

    Chantelle Lavergne Woods, 54, of Nipomo, is charged with fraud and misuse of visas, permits, and other documents, a felony that carries a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison.

    Woods was arrested on Wednesday made her initial appearance Thursday in United States District Court and a federal magistrate judge ordered her released on $10,000 bond. Her arraignment is scheduled for March 25.

    “The fraudulent conduct described in the criminal complaint undermined the integrity of our nation’s immigration system,” said Acting United States Attorney Joseph T. McNally. “We commend our law enforcement partners for putting a stop to it.”

    United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) requires the submission of a medical examination and vaccination record that assess several physical and mental health factors to determine an applicant’s legal status. Federal law requires licensed physicians – or “civil surgeons” – to perform these examinations. 

    According to an affidavit filed on February 18 with the complaint, from February 2021 to April 2024, Woods, while operating an Arroyo Grande medical clinic, created hundreds of fraudulent documents pertaining to medical examination and vaccination requirements for individuals seeking to register for a lawful permanent resident (LPR) card – commonly known as a “green card” – or otherwise adjust their immigration status.

    Woods allegedly maintained a website that advertised itself as a “Medical Weight Loss and Immigration Services” clinic that, in part, purported to help applicants with immigration physicals. One of the doctors listed on that website as an “M.D. Board Certified Neurologist and Designated Civil Surgeon for USCIS” was in fact, according to the California Medical Board website, a pediatrician, not a neurologist.

    She allegedly forged several doctors’ signatures – including one doctor who died before Woods prepared the fraudulent immigration forms. 

    A complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.

    The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Ventura Resident Office Tactical Diversion Squad and USCIS Fraud Detection and National Security are investigating this matter.

    Assistant United States Attorneys Elia Herrera of the International Narcotics, Money Laundering, and Racketeering Section and Mark Aveis of the Major Frauds Section are prosecuting this case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Alma íbúðafélag hf.: Ársreikningur 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Á fundi sínum í dag samþykkti stjórn Ölmu íbúðafélags hf. ársreikning samstæðunnar fyrir árið 2024. 

    Leigutekjur samstæðunnar námu 5.160 m. kr. og aðrar rekstrartekjur námu 541 m. kr. Heildartekjur samstæðunnar námu því 5.701 m. kr. á árinu. EBITDA ársins var 4.180 m. kr. og hækkaði um 942 m. kr. milli ára. Heildarafkoma samstæðunnar nam 6.166 m. kr. og hækkaði um 3.970  m. kr. á milli ára. Handbært fé frá rekstri nam 2.193 m. kr. og jókst um 180 m.kr.

    Heildareignir samstæðunnar námu 117,5 ma. kr. þann 31. desember 2024, en þar af voru fasteignir að andvirði 87,9 ma. kr. Hlutfall vaxtaberandi skulda af bókfærðu virði fasteigna nemur 62% og eigið fé samstæðunnar var 40,7 ma. kr.

    Stjórn félagsins leggur til að greiddur verði arður til hluthafa að fjárhæð 4.000 m. kr. vegna rekstrarársins 2024.

    Ingólfur Árni Gunnarsson, framkvæmdastjóri Ölmu íbúðafélags hf.: 

    „Við erum nokkuð ánægð með niðurstöðu síðasta árs og þakklát fyrir góða eftirspurn eftir þjónustu félagsins. Meðaltalsnýting í langtímaleigu íbúðarhúsnæðis var áfram góð, en lækkaði úr 96,1% árið 2023 í 95,2% árið 2024, aðallega vegna ótekjuberandi eigna í söluferli.

    Tekjur af fjárfestingareignum námu 5.160 m. kr. sem er hækkun um 787 m. kr. milli ára. Hækkunin skýrist að mestu af útleigu á nýbyggðu atvinnuhúsnæði sem ekki var tekjuberandi árið 2023. Rekstrarhagnaður af kjarnastarfsemi félagsins fyrir matsbreytingar og afskriftir nam 4.180 m. kr. og hækkaði um 942 m. kr. milli ára. Arðsemi af útleigu íbúðarhúsnæðis nam 3,8% á árinu og hækkaði um 0,4% milli ára. Stjórnendur líta engu að síður svo á að arðsemi af útleigu íbúðarhúsnæðis sé of lág til lengri tíma litið, sér í lagi með hliðsjón af háu raunvaxtastigi.

    Matsbreyting á árinu nam 2.990 m. kr., þar af nam matsbreyting íbúðarhúsnæðis 4.322 m. kr. en matsbreyting atvinnuhúsnæðis var hins vegar neikvæð um 1.332 m. kr. Neikvæða matsbreytingu atvinnuhúsnæðis má rekja til hækkunar á breytilegum verðtryggðum bankavöxtum sem hafði neikvæð áhrif á verðmat félagsins.

    Heildarafkoma samstæðunnar nam 6.166 m. kr. Stærstan hluta afkomunnar má rekja til jákvæðrar afkomu verðbréfafjárfestinga að fjárhæð 4.792 m. kr. eða sem nemur 78% af heildarafkomu. Félagið hefur fjárfest talsvart í skráðum hlutabréfum, einkum í fasteignafélögunum Eik, Heimum og Reitum. Árið 2024 gerði Langisjór, móðurfélag Ölmu, yfirtökutilboð í Eik á grundvelli laga nr. 108/2007 um yfirtökur og lauk því ferli 18. október 2024. Brimgarðar, dótturfélag Ölmu, taldist samstarfsaðili yfirtökutilboðsins, sbr. 3. mgr. 100. gr. laga um yfirtöku. Í árslok námu verðmæti hlutabréfaeigna samstæðunnar í skráðu fasteignafélögunum samtals 13.327 m. kr.

    Félagið hélt áfram að selja eignir sem falla ekki að fjárfestingastefnu félagsins. Í heildina voru 24 íbúðir seldar úr eignasafninu. Horfur í rekstri félagsins eru stöðugar. Góð eftirspurn er eftir þjónustu samstæðunnar en ekki er gert ráð fyrir mikilli hækkun leiguverðs í langtímaleigu íbúða. Gert er ráð fyrir smávægilegum samdrætti í langtímaleigutekjum vegna íbúða sem seldar voru í fyrra og þeirra sem seldar verða á þessu ári. Fjölgun langtímaleigueigna er ekki fyrirhuguð fyrr en íbúðir á Heklureitnum verða afhentar félaginu. Væntingar eru um að skammtímaleiga félagsins skili meiri framlegð en áður, aðallega vegna þess að útleigueiningar sem komu nýjar inn í skammtímaleigu árið 2024 verða tekjuberandi allt árið. Áætlanir gera ráð fyrir að tekjur af leigu atvinnuhúsnæðis þróist í takt við verðbólgu. Ekki er unnt spá fyrir um afkomu hlutabréfaeigna félagsins í skráðum félögum en undirliggjandi rekstur þeirra er sterkur.“

    Nánari upplýsingar veitir Ingólfur Árni Gunnarsson framkvæmdastjóri, ingolfur@al.is.

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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Leiðrétting: Lánasjóður sveitarfélaga – Ársreikningur 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Hagnaður ársins 2.070 milljónir króna

    Hagnaður Lánasjóðs sveitarfélaga nam 2.070 milljónum króna á árinu 2024 samanborið við 1.866 milljónir króna á árinu 2023. Hreinar vaxtatekjur í ár lækka um 4% á milli ára, sem rekja má til lægri verðbólgu.

    Heildareignir sjóðsins í lok ársins voru 211 milljarðar króna en voru 200 milljarðar í árslok 2023 sem er aukning um 5%. Heildarútlán sjóðsins námu 200 milljörðum króna í lok ársins samanborið við 191 milljarð í árslok 2023.

    Markaðsverðmæti verðbréfaútgáfu nam 13,9 milljörðum króna samanborið við 18,8 milljarða króna á árinu 2023.

    Eigið fé nam 24,8 milljörðum króna en var 22,7 milljarðar í árslok 2023. Vegið eiginfjárhlutfall samkvæmt lögum um fjármálafyrirtæki er 361% með fullri mildun. Í árslok 2023 var hlutfallið 416%. Lánasjóðurinn nýtir sér mildunarákvæði við eiginfjárútreikninga vegna útlána til sveitarfélaga í íslenskum krónum sem eru með veð í tekjum sveitarfélaga.

    Stjórn sjóðsins leggur til að á árinu 2025 verði hluthöfum ekki greiddur út arður vegna afkomu ársins 2024 til að styrkja stöðu sjóðsins og tryggja vöxt eigin fjár.

    Rekstur ársins 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020
               
    Hreinar vaxtatekjur……………………………… 1.499 1.559 1.251 686 803
    Aðrar rekstrartekjur …………………………… 879 588 279 102 200
    Almennur rekstrarkostnaður…………………. 308 282 270 252 220
    Hagnaður ársins……………………………….. 2.070 1.866 1.260 536 783
               
    Efnahagur 31. desember          
               
    Handbært fé………………………………………. 558 846 2.863 788 4.349
    Ríkisbréf og ríkisvíxlar…………………………. 7.435 5.988 7.334 7.210 3.031
    Markaðsverðbréf………………………………… 2.762 2.442 265 167 448
    Útlán og kröfur……………………………………. 200.021 190.762 170.229 159.876 135.722
    Aðrar eignir………………………………………… 98 92 87 46 44
    Eignir samtals…………………………………… 210.875 200.130 180.778 168.087 143.593
               
    Verðbréfaútgáfa………………………………….. 182.957 174.170 158.290 146.577 122.529
    Aðrar lántökur…………………………………….. 2.731 2.976 1.510 1.810 1.905
    Aðrar skuldir og skuldbindingar…………….. 394 261 120 102 97
    Skuldir samtals…………………………………. 186.082 177.407 159.920 148.490 124.532
               
    Eigið fé…………………………………………….. 24.793 22.727 20.858 19.598 19.062
               
    CAD- hlutfall m/hefðbundinni mildun……… 54% 53% 56% 56% 61%
    CAD- hlutfall m/fullri mildun………………….. 361% 416% 537% 630% 454%
    Vogunarhlutfall……………………………………. 12% 11% 12% 12% 13%

    Framtíðarhorfur

    Lánasjóður sveitarfélaga væntir þess að eftirspurn eftir útlánum verði svipuð í ár og var árið 2024.  Lánasjóðurinn mun starfa í grundvallaratriðum svipað og undanfarin ár þar sem unnið hefur verið að eflingu á starfsemi hans og betri þjónustu við sveitarfélögin með því að nýta gott lánstraust sjóðsins til að uppfylla meginhlutverk hans.

    Nánari upplýsingar veitir: Óttar Guðjónsson, framkvæmdastjóri, s. 515 4949.

    Attachments

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Lánasjóður sveitarfélaga – Ársreikningur 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Hagnaður ársins 2.070 milljónir króna

    Hagnaður Lánasjóðs sveitarfélaga nam 2.070 milljónum króna á árinu 2024 samanborið við 1.866 milljónir króna á árinu 2023. Hreinar vaxtatekjur í ár lækka um 4% á milli ára, sem rekja má til lægri verðbólgu.

    Heildareignir sjóðsins í lok ársins voru 211 milljarðar króna en voru 200 milljarðar í árslok 2023 sem er aukning um 5%. Heildarútlán sjóðsins námu 200 milljörðum króna í lok ársins samanborið við 191 milljarða í árslok 2023.

    Markaðsverðmæti verðbréfaútgáfu nam 13,9 milljörðum króna samanborið við 18,8 milljarð króna á árinu 2023.

    Eigið fé nam 24,8 milljörðum króna en var 22,7 milljarðar í árslok 2023. Vegið eiginfjárhlutfall samkvæmt lögum um fjármálafyrirtæki er 361% með fullri mildun. Í árslok 2023 var hlutfallið 416%. Lánasjóðurinn nýtir sér mildunarákvæði við eiginfjárútreikninga vegna útlána til sveitarfélaga í íslenskum krónum sem eru með veð í tekjum sveitarfélaga.

    Stjórn sjóðsins leggur til að á árinu 2025 verði hluthöfum ekki greiddur út arður vegna afkomu ársins 2024 til að styrkja stöðu sjóðsins og tryggja vöxt eigin fjár.

    Rekstur ársins 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020
               
    Hreinar vaxtatekjur……………………………… 1.499 1.559 1.251 686 803
    Aðrar rekstrartekjur …………………………… 879 588 279 102 200
    Almennur rekstrarkostnaður…………………. 308 282 270 252 220
    Hagnaður ársins……………………………….. 2.070 1.866 1.260 536 783
               
    Efnahagur 31. desember          
               
    Handbært fé………………………………………. 558 846 2.863 788 4.349
    Ríkisbréf og ríkisvíxlar…………………………. 7.435 5.988 7.334 7.210 3.031
    Markaðsverðbréf………………………………… 2.762 2.442 265 167 448
    Útlán og kröfur……………………………………. 200.021 190.762 170.229 159.876 135.722
    Aðrar eignir………………………………………… 98 92 87 46 44
    Eignir samtals…………………………………… 210.875 200.130 180.778 168.087 143.593
               
    Verðbréfaútgáfa………………………………….. 182.957 174.170 158.290 146.577 122.529
    Aðrar lántökur…………………………………….. 2.731 2.976 1.510 1.810 1.905
    Aðrar skuldir og skuldbindingar…………….. 394 261 120 102 97
    Skuldir samtals…………………………………. 180.082 177.407 159.920 148.490 124.532
               
    Eigið fé…………………………………………….. 24.793 22.727 20.858 19.598 19.062
               
    CAD- hlutfall m/hefðbundinni mildun……… 54% 53% 56% 56% 61%
    CAD- hlutfall m/fullri mildun………………….. 361% 416% 537% 630% 454%
    Vogunarhlutfall……………………………………. 12% 11% 12% 12% 13%

    Framtíðarhorfur

    Lánasjóður sveitarfélaga væntir þess að eftirspurn eftir útlánum verði svipuð í ár og var árið 2024.  Lánasjóðurinn mun starfa í grundvallaratriðum svipað og undanfarin ár þar sem unnið hefur verið að eflingu á starfsemi hans og betri þjónustu við sveitarfélögin með því að nýta gott lánstraust sjóðsins til að uppfylla meginhlutverk hans.

    Nánari upplýsingar veitir: Óttar Guðjónsson, framkvæmdastjóri, s. 515 4949.

    Attachments

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: As flu cases break records this year, vaccine rates are declining, particularly for children and 65+ adults

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Annette Regan, Adjunct Associate Professor of Epidemiology, University of California, Los Angeles

    It’s not too late to get a flu shot. Fat Camera/E+ via Getty Images

    In February 2025, flu rates spiked to the highest levels seen in at least 15 years, with flu outpacing COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations for the first time since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has classified this flu season as having “high” severity across the U.S.

    The Conversation asked epidemiologist Annette Regan to explain why this flu season is different from last year’s and what people can do to help reduce the spread.

    How do flu cases and hospitalizations this year compare with previous years?

    Beginning in late January and extending through February 2025, flu hospitalizations have been higher than any other week since before 2009.

    Most flu cases appear to be from influenza A strains, with a split between influenza A/H3N2 and influenza A/H1N1. These are two different subtypes of the influenza A virus.

    Researchers believe that historically seasons that are predominated by influenza A/H3N2 infections tend to be more severe, but infections from influenza A/H1N1 can still be very severe.

    This year’s season is also peaking “late” compared with the past three flu seasons, which peaked in early or late December.

    Unfortunately, there have been a number of deaths from flu too this season. Since Jan. 1, 2025, alone, over 4,000 people, including 68 children, have died from flu. While the number of deaths do not mark a record number, it shows that flu can be a serious illness, even in children.

    Unless directed otherwise, everyone ages 6 months and older should get a flu shot.

    Why are flu cases so high this year?

    There are a number of factors behind any severe season, including poor community protection from low immunization rates and low natural immunity, virus characteristics, vaccine effectiveness and increased human contact via travel, office work or schools.

    Unfortunately, flu vaccination rates have declined since the COVID-19 pandemic. At the end of the 2023-24 flu season, 9.2 million fewer doses were administered in pharmacies and doctors’ offices compared with an average year before the pandemic.

    In addition, since 2022, fewer and fewer doses of flu vaccine have been distributed by private manufacturers. Flu vaccination rates for adults have historically been in the 30% to 60% range, much lower than the recommended 70%. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, flu vaccination rates were increasing by around 1% to 2% every year.

    Flu vaccination rates began dropping after the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in higher-risk groups. Flu vaccination in children has dropped from 59% in 2019-20 to 46% in 2024-25. In adults 65 years and older, the group with the greatest risk of hospitalization and death, flu vaccination rates dropped from 52% in 2019-20 to 43% in 2024-25.

    Lower vaccination rates mean a greater portion of the population is not protected by vaccines. Data shows that vaccination reduces the risk of flu hospitalization. Even if a vaccinated person gets infected, they may be less likely to experience severe illness. As a result, low vaccination rates could contribute to higher flu severity this season.

    However, low vaccination rates are probably not the only reason for the high rates of flu this season. In previous severe seasons, genetic changes to the viruses have made them better at infecting people and more likely to cause severe illness.

    The effectiveness of annual flu vaccines varies depending on how well the vaccine matches the circulating virus. The effectiveness of vaccines ranges from 19% to 60% in any given season. In the 2023-24 flu season, the vaccine was 42% effective.

    Similarly, early 2024-25 data from the U.S. shows that the vaccine was 41% to 55% effective against flu hospitalizations in adults and 63% to 78% effective against flu hospitalizations in children.

    Something as simple as regular handwashing could keep you from getting the flu.

    How do seasonal flu symptoms differ from COVID-19 and other illnesses?

    It’s important to remember that people often incorrectly refer to “the flu” when they have a common cold. Flu is caused only by the influenza virus, which tends to be more severe than common colds and more commonly causes a fever.

    Many of the signs and symptoms for flu, COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses are the same and can range from mild coldlike symptoms to pneumonia and respiratory distress. Common flu symptoms are fever, cough and fatigue, and may also include shortness of breath, a sore throat, nasal congestion, muscle aches and headache.

    Some symptoms, such as changes in or loss of taste and smell, are more common for COVID-19. For both COVID-19 and flu, the symptoms do not start until about one to four days after infection, and symptoms seem to last longer for COVID-19.

    The only way to know what virus is causing an infection is to test. This can be done using a rapid test, some of which now test for flu and COVID-19 together, or by seeing a doctor and getting tested using a nasal swab. There are prescription antiviral medications available to treat flu and COVID-19, but they need to be taken near the time that symptoms start.

    Some people are at high risk of severe flu and COVID-19, such as those who are immunosuppressed, have diabetes or have chronic heart or lung conditions. In these cases, it is important to seek early care and treatment from a health care professional. Some doctors will also prescribe via telehealth calls, which can help reduce the strain on doctors’ offices, urgent care centers and emergency rooms when infection rates are high.

    What can people do now to help steer clear of the flu?

    There are a number of ways people can reduce their risk of getting or spreading flu. Since the flu season is still underway, it’s not too late to get a flu vaccine. Even in seasons when the vaccine’s effectiveness is low, it is likely to offer better protection compared with remaining unvaccinated.

    Handwashing and disinfecting high-traffic surfaces can help reduce contact with the flu virus. Taking efforts to avoid contact with sick people can also help, including wearing a mask when in health care facilities.

    Finally, remember to take care of yourself. Exercising, eating healthy and getting sufficient sleep all help support a healthy immune system, which can help reduce chances of infection.

    Those who have been diagnosed with flu or are experiencing flu-like symptoms should avoid contact with other people, especially in crowded spaces. Covering coughs and sneezes can help reduce the amount of virus that is spread.

    Annette Regan receives research funding from the National Institutes of Health, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Global Vaccine Data Network, and she is employed by the Department of Research & Evaluation at Kaiser Permanente Southern California.

    – ref. As flu cases break records this year, vaccine rates are declining, particularly for children and 65+ adults – https://theconversation.com/as-flu-cases-break-records-this-year-vaccine-rates-are-declining-particularly-for-children-and-65-adults-250252

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Texas records first US measles death in 10 years – a medical epidemiologist explains how to protect yourself and your community from this deadly, preventable disease

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Daniel Pastula, Professor of Neurology, Medicine (Infectious Diseases), and Epidemiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

    Young children are especially vulnerable to measles. Bilanol via Getty Images

    On Feb. 26, 2025, Texas health officials announced the death of a child in a measles outbreak – the first measles death in the United States since 2015. The outbreak was first identified in early February in Gaines County, Texas, where just 82% of kindergartners are vaccinated against measles, compared with 93% on average across the country. As of Feb. 27, there were at least 124 confirmed cases in Texas and nearby towns in New Mexico.

    In an interview with The Conversation U.S. associate health editor Alla Katsnelson, neurologist and medical epidemiologist Daniel Pastula explains why measles is so dangerous and how people and communities can protect themselves from the virus.

    What is measles, and where does it come from?

    Measles is an ancient disease caused by a virus that probably evolved in cattle and jumped into humans around 500 B.C. One of the first written accounts of it comes from a Persian physician named Rhazes in the ninth century C.E., and measles epidemics were described in medieval Europe and western Asia regularly beginning around 1100-1200. The virus got brought over to the Americas in the 1500s, and it wiped out large populations of native people as Europeans colonized the continent.

    By the 1950s in the United States, there were 500,000 reported cases of measles each year – though the true number was probably closer to 4 million . It was so contagious, every kid was thought to have gotten measles by age 15. At that time, measles caused close to 50,000 hospitalizations annually and about 500 deaths, usually in children. It also caused over 1,000 cases of severe brain inflammation every year.

    The first measles vaccine became available in 1963, and scientists improved it over the following decades, causing the number of cases to plummet. In 2000, measles was declared eliminated from the U.S.

    Since then, there have been occasional minor flare-ups, usually brought in by international travelers, but by and large, measles outbreaks have been rare. No one had died of it in the United States in nearly a decade.

    Today, measles infections in the U.S. are almost completely preventable with vaccination.

    For most people, two doses of the MMR vaccine protects against measles for life.
    Sergii Iaremenko/Science Photo Library via Getty Images

    What are the typical symptoms of measles?

    About 10 to 14 days after infection, people suffering from measles experience a very high fever, cold-like symptoms including a runny nose and sneezing, and eye inflammation called conjunctivitis.

    Next, they may develop white spots called Koplik spots inside their mouth and a diffuse, spotty, red rash that starts at the head and neck, then descends across the entire body. This rash is where the disease gets its name – the word “measles” is thought to come from a medieval Dutch word for “little blemishes.”

    Symptoms of measles infection take about three weeks to resolve. People are contagious from about four days before symptoms emerge to four days after the rash starts.

    What are the possible severe outcomes of measles?

    Epidemiologists estimate that 1 in 5 people who are infected with measles get sick enough to be hospitalized. About 1 in 10 develop ear infections, some of which may result in permanent deafness.

    About 1 in 20 people develop severe measles pneumonia, which causes trouble breathing. Reports from west Texas this month suggest that many infected children there have measles pneumonia.

    About 1 in 1,000 people develop severe brain swelling. Both measles pneumonia and brain swelling can be fatal. About 3 in 1,000 people die after contracting measles.

    In about 1 in 10,000 who get sick with measles and recover from it, the virus lies dormant in the brain for about a decade. It then can reactivate, causing a severe, progressive dementia called subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, which is fatal within one to three years. There is no treatment or cure for the disease. I have seen a couple of suspected cases of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, and none of these patients survived, despite our best efforts.

    Given how contagious measles is and how severe the outcomes can be, physicians and public health experts are gravely concerned right now.

    How does measles spread?

    Measles is one of the most contagious infectious diseases on the planet. The virus is so infectious that if you are in a room with an infected person and you are not vaccinated and have never had measles before, you have a 90% chance of becoming infected.

    The measles virus is transmitted by droplets released into the air by infected people when they cough, sneeze or simply breathe. Virus particles can survive suspended in the air or on indoor surfaces for up to two hours, so people can get infected by touching a surface carrying virus particles and then touching their face.

    Who should get the measles vaccine, and how effective is it?

    The vaccine for measles has historically been called the MMR vaccine because it has been bundled with vaccines for two other diseases – mumps and rubella. Most children in the U.S. receive it as a two-dose regimen, which is 97% effective against measles.

    Children generally get the first dose of the vaccine at 12-15 months old and the second dose when they are 4-6 years old. Infants who haven’t reached their first birthday generally do not receive it since their immune system is not yet fully developed and they do not develop quite as robust of an immune response. In an emergency, though, babies as young as 6 to 9 months old can be vaccinated. If an infant’s mother previously received the MMR vaccine or had been infected herself as a child, her transferred antibodies probably offer some protection, but this wanes in the months after birth.

    People born before 1957 are considered immune without getting the vaccine because measles was so widespread at that time that everyone was presumed to have been infected. However, certain people in this age group, such as some health care workers, may wish to discuss vaccination with their providers. And some people who had the original version of the vaccine in the 1960s may need to get revaccinated, as the original vaccine was not as effective as the later versions.

    In recent years, vaccination rates for measles and other diseases have fallen.

    Based on available evidence, the vaccine is effective for life, so people who received two doses are most likely protected.

    A single dose of the vaccine is 93% effective. Most people vaccinated before 1989 got just one dose. That year, an outbreak in vaccinated children with one dose spurred public health officials to begin recommending two doses.

    People with certain risk factors who received only one dose, and everyone who has never received a dose, should talk to their health care providers about getting vaccinated. Because the vaccine is a live but weakened version of the virus, those who are severely immunocompromised or are currently pregnant cannot get it.

    People who are immunocompromised, which includes those who have chronic conditions such as autoimmune disorders, are undergoing certain cancer treatments or have received an organ transplant, are more susceptible to measles even if they have been vaccinated.

    In the current measles epidemic in Texas, the vast majority of people falling ill are unvaccinated. Public health officials there are urging unvaccinated people in affected areas to get vaccinated.

    What measures can protect communities from measles outbreaks?

    Vaccination is the best way to protect individuals and communities from measles. It’s also the most effective way to curb an ongoing outbreak.

    High rates of vaccination are important because of a phenomenon called herd immunity. When people who are vaccinated do not get infected, it essentially stops the spread of the virus, thereby protecting those who are most susceptible to getting sick. When herd immunity wanes, the risk of infection rises for everyone – and especially for the most vulnerable, such as young children and people who are immunocompromised.

    Because measles is so contagious, estimates suggest that 95% of the population must be vaccinated to achieve herd immunity. Once vaccine coverage falls below that percentage, outbreaks are possible.

    Having robust public health systems also provides protection from outbreaks and limits their spread. Public health workers can detect cases before an outbreak occurs and take preventive steps. During a measles outbreak, they provide updates and information, administer vaccines, track cases and oversee quarantine for people who have been exposed and isolation for people who are contagious.

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

    – ref. Texas records first US measles death in 10 years – a medical epidemiologist explains how to protect yourself and your community from this deadly, preventable disease – https://theconversation.com/texas-records-first-us-measles-death-in-10-years-a-medical-epidemiologist-explains-how-to-protect-yourself-and-your-community-from-this-deadly-preventable-disease-251004

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 28 February 2025 Donors making a difference: community engagement to promote, provide and protect the health and well-being of all

    Source: World Health Organisation

    WHO defines community engagement as “a process of developing relationships that enable stakeholders to work together to address health-related issues and promote well-being to achieve positive health impact and outcomes”.

    WHO’s partners and donors support the Organization to work in this area as there are undeniable benefits to engaging communities in promoting health and well-being. At its core, community engagement enables changes in behaviour, environments, policies, programmes and practices within communities.

    Below are some country stories that demonstrate the breadth of community engagement work that WHO conducts, resulting in more positive health outcomes for the people in these communities than before.

    Uganda trains district health workers on community-based approach to Ebola

    Uganda trains Community Health workers from Kole, Mukono and Wakiso districts on community-based approach to Ebola. Photo by: WHO/Sadat Kamugisha 

    Uganda’s Ministry of Health conducted a training on Ebola disease detection and management for Community Health Workers representatives from Kole, Wakiso, and Mukono districts. Participants focused on multi-sectoral action to safeguard communities from emerging zoonotic diseases with pandemic potential such as Ebola.

    Communities play an integral role in raising awareness, supporting case identification, tracing contacts, and maintaining essential health services. The emphasis on collaboration with local leaders, volunteers, and health workers is vital for effective responses to public health emergencies. Building on lessons learned from past health crises, Uganda has already made substantial advancements in emergency preparedness.

    The three-day event was supported by WHO, and the UK Public Health Rapid Support Team (UK-PHRST), which is a UK aid project funded by the Department of Health and Social care. The community protection approach is a central component of WHO’s new Health emergency prevention, preparedness, response, and resilience framework.

    Visit the WHO/Uganda web page to read the full story.

    Community engagement for access to health services in Lao PDR

    CONNECT team members discuss community health priorities in Khammouane Province, Lao PDR. Photo by: WHO/Enric Catala

    Developed by the Lao Ministry of Health and Ministry of Home Affairs in response to COVID-19 with the support of WHO and partners, the CONNECT initiative enhances local governance and community engagement for equitable access to public services, particularly health.

    Supported by USAID, the Australian Government and Luxembourg, as of July 2024, CONNECT reached over 230 villages across 10 provinces (including Vientiane Capital) and support already in-place for expansion to all provinces.

    An external evaluation of implementation in 12 villages found an increase in essential service uptake for maternal health and improved attitudes towards using primary care; increased trust in health providers; increased sense of ownership of health at community level; and increased vaccination uptake and confidence, especially among ethnic groups and previously unreached communities.

    Visit the WHO/WPRO web page to read the full story.

    Côte d’Ivoire community radios boost public awareness on mpox outbreak

    Community radios, pillar of the fight against mpox. Photo by: WHO/Toiherou De Marfere Sidibe

    A network of community radio stations, known as Radio Santé, comprises 350 stations in West African, with over half based in Côte d’Ivoire. Launched in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic with major support from WHO, Radio Santé has become a preferred channel for disseminating reliable, verified health information. It brings together nearly 1000 journalists and communications specialists.

    Radio Santé is an interactive and accessible tool for mobilizing communities around health issues, throughout Côte d’Ivoire and across borders. Health authorities use Radio Santé to counter rumours and misinformation, and to strengthen community engagement, which is crucial to curbing the spread of diseases such as mpox.

    After WHO declared mpox as a public health emergency of international concern in August 2024, Radio Santé devoted its health talk show to mpox. 185 Ivorian community radio stations have since broadcasted messages on mpox. Over 50 programmes have been produced and broadcast in eight countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo.

    Visit the WHO/Côte d’Ivoire web page to read the full story.

    Bolivia strengthens social participation in health for indigenous population

    Indigenous organizations are clear about their requests. They want free and equitable access to health care, an improved indigenous health network, incorporation of traditional medicine, and the consideration of the indigenous population’s culture, customs, and practices. Photo by: WHO/PAHO

    The Ministry of Health and Sports of Bolivia is engaging indigenous populations in community participation processes, creating space for them to discuss health topics, share concerns, and contribute to a health improvement plan.

    The meaningful inclusion and engagement of indigenous populations in health policy planning, taking into account the social determinants of health, is critical to ensure context-specific interventions, uptake of guidance and services, and positive health outcomes for all.

    PAHO/WHO, through the Universal Health Coverage Partnership, has supported the Ministry of Health and Sports of Bolivia in this endeavour since 2021. The UHC Partnership operates in over 125 countries, representing over 3 billion people. It is supported and funded by Belgium, Canada, the European Union, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Japan, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and WHO

    Visit the PAHO/AMRO web page to read the full story.

    Weaving hope in Honduras: the community wisdom that saves lives

    Maternal health in Honduras Hermelinda shares her experience. Photo by: WHO/Honduras

    In Honduras, high rates of maternal and neonatal mortality are often the result of multiple factors, including socioeconomic barriers, lack of access to adequate healthcare services, gaps in education and awareness about maternal and child health, and cultural differences.

    Hermelinda Hernández, who is familiar with the local practices and beliefs of her community and also recognizes the value of professional medical interventions, participated in the “Knowledge Dialogues Methodology” workshop organized by the Honduran Ministry of Health with the support of PAHO/WHO and funded by Global Affairs Canada.

    The workshop aimed to promote mutual understanding between midwives and healthcare providers to reach agreements that improve the health of women, and adolescent girls in situations of vulnerability within the community.

    Visit the PAHO/AMRO web page to read the full story.

    Grassroots heroes in Cambodia

    Mrs Say Sa with her Baby in Cambodia’s Principal of Health Centre Kok Chuk. Photo by: Aforative media

    In Cambodia, village chiefs stepped up to create a healthier future for their communities. In villages across 25 provinces, 2000 village chiefs and nearly 5400 village health support groups received trainings, organised by the Ministry of Heath with support from WHO and the EU.

    This equipped the chiefs with knowledge and skills necessary to control transmission of COVID-19, influenza, and other respiratory diseases, and collaborate with authorities more closely on health issues facing their communities.

    The chiefs then shared their newfound knowledge during community dialogues, which then transformed how community members adopted healthier practices. Empowered with accurate information, communities embraced protective measures during times of high COVID-19 transmission.

    Visit the WHO/WPRO web page to read the full story, and more on EU’s support to WHO in ASEAN region.

    Bolstering public awareness to help curb mpox spread in Uganda

    Dr Kenneth Kabali, WHO Field Coordinator for Busoga Sub-region sensitizes the community on mpox in Mayuge district, Eastern Uganda. Photo by: WHO/Abdu Mutwalibu Seguya

    Uganda witnessed an upsurge in mpox cases, with laboratory-confirmed cases increasing from 24 as of 21 September to 413 as of 7 November 2024. Health authorities, with support from WHO and partners, worked closely with communities to raise awareness about the dangers of the disease and how to stay safe, and address misinformation and stigma.

    The risk communication and community engagement team reached more than 100 fishmongers, fisherfolk, boda boda (motorbike taxi) riders, 8000 school children and 30 sex workers. In addition, 500 teachers in the district have been oriented on mpox.

    WHO is also using mass media to expand the reach of mpox response communication. With funding from USAID, WHO has contracted 10 regional radio stations and 2 national TV stations to raise awareness and promote preventative behaviour.

    Visit the WHO/AFRO web page to read the full story.

    Combating measles: a comprehensive community-centred approach in Ethiopia

    Combating measles, a comprehensive community-centred approach in Ethiopia. Photo by: WHO/Hassen Ali

    In the districts of Sidama, Central, and South Ethiopia, access to healthcare is often challenging, exacerbated by various health emergencies. A community-led initiative made remarkable progress in combating measles, malaria, and malnutrition through collaborative efforts between local health facilities, community health workers, and government agencies.

    The initiative received significant financial support from the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) bolstering community-based intervention efforts.

    By leveraging collaboration between healthcare facilities, community health workers, and local communities, this initiative represents a beacon of hope in improving healthcare access and outcomes in regions of Ethiopia.

    Visit the WHO/Ethiopia web page to read the full story.

    WHO races to contain malaria resurgence in southeastern Iran

    Malaria resurgence in Iran. Photo by: WHO/Iran

    A race against time is underway in southeastern Iran, where the resurgence of malaria threatens to undo years of progress. The dramatic rise in cases has been attributed to the devastating floods in neighbouring Pakistan in September 2022 which led to an expansion of malaria breeding sites.

    WHO, with crucial support from the Government of Japan, is on the ground in Sistan and Baluchestan Province, battling this public health emergency and working to protect vulnerable communities. Japan’s generous contribution provided 4902 mosquito dome tents offering families protection from infected mosquitos, 50 000 malaria rapid diagnostic tests enabling health care workers to quickly identify and treat infected individuals, and 1655 kg of insecticides, deployed to contain mosquito populations at their source. The combined resources are estimated to benefit 77 400 people in the province.

    In December 2024, a WHO mission observed a proactive approach to malaria control demonstrated by local health workers as they conducted house-to-house screenings, distributed mosquito nets and educated communities on how to use them.

    Visit the WHO/Iran web page to read the full story.

    Mali: screening for malnutrition in affected children to avoid complications

    Screening for malnutrition in affected children to avoid complications, Mali. Photo by: WHO/Razzack Saizonou

    Malnutrition among children is one of the main health problems that the affected populations of Ségou had to face after severe floods hit Mali between July and October 2024. Having lost everything including their food reserves and their means of subsistence, people found themselves in a very precarious situation.

    Among the more than 370,000 people affected by these floods, children, who represent 45% of the affected population, are particularly vulnerable. To enable access to health care, WHO, with thanks to the Central Emergency Response Fund, supported the deployment of mobile clinics on relocation sites.

    In the Ségou region, three sites were set up and equipped with medical tents. Medical staff go there five times a month. Between July and October 2024, nearly 700 children suffering from malnutrition were identified in the three health districts of the Ségou region.

    Visit the WHO/Mali web page to read the full story in French.

    Effective community engagement saving lives in Tanzania during cholera outbreak

    Abdul Zachari, a young man is washing his hands. Photo by: WHO/Clemence Eliah

    The recurrence of Cholera outbreaks has been a threat to many lives in the United Republic of Tanzania for decades now. In mid-2024, situation reports from the Ministry of Health indicated that, the outbreak have been reported in 19 regions of Tanzania Mainland. Thanks to flexible funding available for responding to outbreaks such as this, WHO has been able to support the Government’s efforts to control cholera outbreaks. Risk Communications and Community Engagement (RCCE) Experts worked on the ground delivering an intensive community sensitization in over 92 households and 32 villages . The joint and community-based action plan against Cholera outbreak was built jointly, this way enhancing 54 community members and local authorities from the affected wards and districts. The community engagement strategies adopted generate local solutions tailored to control and prevent further transmissions in these areas. In addition, WHO applied behavioral science approaches to guide tailored interventions to community protection and resilience – and as a result, enhancing many lives in Tanzania.

    Visit the WHO/Tanzania web page to read the full story.

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    Read more about the WHO’s community engagement work.

    The donors and partners acknowledged in this story are (in alphabetical order) Australia, Belgium, Canada, the European Union (ECHO), France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Japan, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund, and the USA Agency for International Development.

    WHO’s work is made possible through all contributions of our Member States and partners. WHO thanks all donor countries, governments, organizations and individuals who are contributing to the Organization’s work, with special appreciation for those who provide fully flexible contributions to maintain a strong, independent WHO.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –