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Category: Health

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 29 July 2025 Note for Media IPC Gaza Strip Food Insecurity and Malnutrition Alert

    Source: World Health Organisation

    The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), of which WHO is a member, today issued a Food Insecurity and Malnutrition Alert for the Gaza Strip. The details are as noted below. 

    Key highlights 

    The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) has issued a stark warning today that the worst-case scenario of Famine is now unfolding in the Gaza Strip. Amid relentless conflict, mass displacement, severely restricted humanitarian access, and the collapse of essential services, including healthcare, the crisis has reached an alarming and deadly turning point. 

    Mounting evidence shows that widespread starvation, malnutrition, and disease are driving a rise in hunger-related deaths. Latest data indicates that Famine thresholds have been reached for food consumption in most of the Gaza Strip and for acute malnutrition in Gaza City.

    Recommended actions 

    • End hostilities
    • Ensure humanitarian access
    • Protect civilians, aid workers, and civilian infrastructure
    • Restore life-saving and multi-sectoral humanitarian assistance safely and with dignity
    • Restore the flow of commercial goods and local production capacities.

    About the IPC

    The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) is an innovative multi-partner initiative for improving food security and nutrition analysis and decision-making. By using the IPC classification and analytical approach, governments, UN agencies, nongovernmental organizations, civil society and other relevant actors work together to determine the severity and magnitude of acute and chronic food insecurity, and acute malnutrition situations in a country, according to internationally recognized scientific standards.

    The main goal of the IPC is to provide decision-makers with a rigorous, evidence- and consensus-based analysis of food insecurity and acute malnutrition situations, to inform emergency responses as well as medium- and long-term policy and programming.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: What traditions does the Moscow Estates festival revive?

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Five forgotten city traditions are re-entering the life of the modern capital thanks to the festival “Moscow Estates” project “Summer in Moscow”This season, city residents and tourists are offered to attend performances at the open-air summer theatre, learn to play croquet, try writing with a goose quill, create a flower arrangement in the style of the 18th century and attend a costume ball.

    Open-air performances

    The everyday life of the nobility was strictly regulated by the rules of etiquette – the display of violent emotions was considered indecent. But on the stage – be it a home performance or a production in an estate theater – one could give free rein to feelings: play passion, despair and even cruelty. For high society, bored in their own estates, it was the theater that became a real outlet.

    Preparations for such home productions took weeks: plays were selected, roles were assigned, rehearsals took place, sets were made, and costumes were sewn. Although many amateur noblemen had extraordinary talent, the professional stage remained closed to them, because acting was considered an unworthy occupation in high society. However, home performances among family, neighbors, and friends were the order of the day. In wealthy estates, serfs were often involved in productions: gifted peasants played on par with their masters, and sometimes surpassed them in skill.

    The Moscow Estates Festival continues the tradition of summer theaters and estate performances, turning them into unique walks that take viewers back to the 19th century. On August 16, the Bauman Garden of the Basmanny estate cluster will host a summer theatrical performance, Walk with the Heroes of the Great Russian Writers’ Novels. Participants will meet actors dressed as Alexander Pushkin, the heroes of the novel Eugene Onegin, and the merchant Stakheev. The latter will tell about the history of the Basmanny District estates. One of the shows will take place at night. Accompanied by professional actors, guests will walk through Moscow at night, and the light of an old lantern will show the way, reminding us of past eras.

    History buffs will also be interested in the performance “Cultural and Social Life of the Arbat in the 19th Century.” The show will take place on August 30 on Arbat. The artist in the image of the legendary hussar Denis Davydov will tell about the meaning of the street’s name and its life two centuries ago. This excursion will also take place at night.

    Vorontsovo Estate. From Boyar Estates to the Summer in Moscow ProjectGuests of the Moscow Estates festival will be able to unravel the mysteries of the old Arbat in a new quest

    Forgotten Amusements of Russian Estates

    A colorful folk game that will captivate even modern youth is burners. The rules are simple: an odd number of players (more than 11) gather on the lawn, choose a driver (who will “burn”), and pair up. The players join hands and line up in pairs behind the burner. The participants sing “Burn, burn brightly, so that it doesn’t go out,” and as soon as they finish singing, the last pair unclasps their hands and runs along the column. When they reach the driver, the pair shouts to him: “One, two, don’t be a crow, run like fire!” and runs on. The main thing is to dodge the burner, stand in front of him and join hands again. If the burner tags a player, he and he form a new pair and stand in front of the column, and the participant who is left alone becomes the driver.

    Another popular summer pastime is cerso, or flying ring game. This entertainment was invented in the early 19th century in France, and it was also popular in Russia in the century before last. Two players must throw a light hoop to each other and catch it on wooden swords. It is hard to imagine summer leisure in any noble estate without this game.

    At the festival “Moscow Estates” visitors are told about the rules of various ancient games and offered to master them. From August 2 to September 14, guests are offered to play trinkets, croquet, badminton, gorodki in the N.E. Bauman Garden and Lianozovsky Park. Masters will not only tell about these amusements, but also help to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of noble leisure.

    For guests from all over Moscow. How the count’s name day was celebrated in Kuskovo in the 18th centuryCity residents will choose the best sites for the festival “Moscow Estates”

    Fine handicrafts

    Noblewomen were masters of embroidery and miniature painting, often learning these arts from the best masters of their time. Beadwork was especially popular, becoming a kind of encyclopedia of aristocratic life. Russian embroidery reached an incredible level and could become a worthy gift even for a monarch. From an early age, children were taught needlework: they were presented with special boxes with needles, threads and other tools. By the way, men did not disdain handicrafts either.

    Everyone is invited to try making something with their own hands at the festival venues. For example, in Lianozovsky Park on August 9, 17, 30 and September 7 there will be a master class “Noble accessories. Fans”. There will also be a master class “Noble accessories. Brooches” on August 2, 10, 23, 31 and September 13.

    Visitors to the Moscow Estates festival can take quizzes in the Russpass gameImprovement of the Vinogradovo estate in north-east Moscow has begun

    Transformations at the masquerade

    “Let them talk, but what business is it of ours? Under the mask all ranks are equal…” – perhaps these lines from Lermontov’s famous “Masquerade” best reflect the essence of the costume balls that the Russian nobility loved so much. For the upper class, a masquerade was not just entertainment, but a special game where the impossible became possible. For example, a countess could become a peasant, and an important dignitary could temporarily turn into a jester. The tradition of such balls was established by Peter I, and under Catherine II, masquerades became an integral part of the festivities both in the capital and in family estates.

    The main rule of the masquerade was simple: a costume and a mask gave a person the right to enter the world of reincarnation. By trying on a different image, a guest of the ball seemed to be freed from conventions: a young lady could allow herself daring jokes, and an official – confessions unthinkable in ordinary life. Women especially valued this freedom, for whom the masquerade became a space for risky adventures.

    For those who can no longer attend the old ball today, there are opportunities to feel the spirit of a bygone era and become a participant in the game of transformations. For example, from August 2 to September 14, a retro studio is open in Lianozovsky Park and the N.E. Bauman Garden: here, anyone can put on a historical costume of a 19th-century nobleman and take a photo in this image as a keepsake.

    Theater and film actors voiced audio guides for the “Moscow Estates” projectSergei Sobyanin: 90% of Muscovites live within walking distance of green areas

    The art of correspondence

    In the 19th century, post stations were important points of estate life: mailmen stopped here to exchange letters, travelers changed horses, and most importantly, correspondence was sent and received from here. The nobility treated the epistolary genre with reverence: letters were written on special paper with a coat of arms, sealed with sealing wax, and often dried flowers were specially left between the pages, covered in impeccable handwriting. They waited for a reply with trepidation, and took care of each envelope.

    The atmosphere of the old post office was recreated at the Moscow Estates festival. Guests can learn to write with a quill pen, master the art of wax seals and even send a postcard in a vintage style. Until September 14, the post office is open at the Vasilchikov Estate (Military Uniform Museum) and the Khrushchev-Seleznev Estate (A.S. Pushkin State Museum). On August 2 and 3, you can send a letter at the Valuevo and Sviblovo estates, and on August 9 and 10, the postman is waiting for everyone at the Lopukhins-Stanitskaya Estate.

    The festival “Moscow Estates” corresponds to the initiative “Tourist attractiveness of the country” of the national project “Tourism and Hospitality” and helps residents and visitors to learn about the city’s cultural and historical heritage in a modern format.

    Tourism Committee of Moscow forms a sustainable brand of the capital as one of the main tourist destinations in Russia. All year round, Mosturism creates events that unite residents and guests of the city, and replenishes the city’s program with new events. In winter and summer, Muscovites and tourists can immerse themselves in another era at the historical sites of the “Moscow Estates” festival, join the capital’s tea traditions at the “Moscow Tea Party,” or try the “Moscow Breakfast” dishes at one of the hundreds of restaurants participating in the project.

    Project “Summer in Moscow”— the main event of the season. It brings together the most vibrant events of the capital. Every day, charity, cultural and sports events are held in all districts of the city, most of which are free. The Summer in Moscow project is being held for the second time, and the new season will be more eventful: new, original and colorful festivals and events will be added to the traditional ones.

    Rediscover Moscow: Russpass Invites You to Family WalksFree stretching training sessions are held at the venues of the Summer in Moscow project

    Get the latest news quicklyofficial telegram channel the city of Moscow.

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The first defenses of candidate dissertations took place in the Dissertation Council for Technical Sciences of the NSU Faculty of Information Technologies

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Novosibirsk State University –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    The first two certificates of awarding academic degrees were presented at the Dissertation Council for Technical Sciences Faculty of Information Technology, Novosibirsk State University. Both PhD theses are devoted to computational linguistics: Dmitry Morozov developed a system for assessing the complexity of text using machine learning methods on the example of the Russian language, and Davlater Mengliev developed a hybrid algorithm for recognizing named entities in the Uzbek language. In August, another PhD thesis will be defended, which is devoted to the application of mathematical modeling methods in geophysics.

    — We note the high demand for the Scientific Council for Technical Sciences created at our faculty. Its requirements for dissertation defenses are less formalized than those of the Higher Attestation Commission (HAC), but it sets higher requirements for the quality of publications. Due to these circumstances, our Council will be in demand by a number of employees of both scientific organizations and high-tech companies, for whom the procedure for defending dissertations established by us will be more convenient, but one should not assume that it is simple. This can be confirmed by our first two applicants, who submitted all the necessary documents to the Council and successfully completed all the established and strictly regulated procedures, spoke several times at seminars in front of the scientific community, received high marks for the quality of their work from specially created commissions with the involvement of experts from our Dissertation Council and external experts from several regions of our country and neighboring countries. We are glad that Dmitry Morozov and Davlater Mengliev successfully passed all these tests and their PhD diplomas have the same status as diplomas issued by the Higher Attestation Commission, said Mikhail Lavrentyev, Dean of the NSU Institute of Information Technologies and Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

    Head of the Department of Mathematical Modeling of the Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics of NSU, Professor of the Department of Informatics Systems and the Department of General Informatics of the Faculty of Information Technologies of NSU, Doctor of Technical Sciences Vladimir Barakhnin noted that it is no coincidence that the first two defenses of dissertations for the degree of candidate of sciences are related to computer linguistics – this is evidence of the relevance of this topic.

    — As neural networks and large language models develop, so-called glitches become more and more apparent. The abundance of information loaded onto them inevitably generates a wider range of fake information, and these models are simply no longer able to assess the truth of the information. Therefore, direct or combined methods of information processing that contain classical direct approaches remain important. It is they, as many specialists believe, that will be able to correct the work of large language models. These approaches were used in their works by Dmitry Morozov and Davlater Mengliev. In order for the development of neural networks and large language models not to reach a dead end, it is necessary to involve classical methods of computational linguistics, which uses knowledge of language. In this context, this knowledge is the modeling of human thinking. Neural networks model neural connections in the human brain, but not thinking, and thus implement a purely mechanistic approach to the process of information processing, which is unthinkable without human participation, because humans are both the producer and the end consumer of any information. Therefore, language processing should include an understanding of how it is structured, and not be a mechanical collection of information into large language models, explained Vladimir Barakhnin, the scientific supervisor of both degree candidates.

    Dmitry Morozov’s research is particularly relevant because it aims to establish a correspondence between the text and its potential reader. As Vladimir Barakhnin explained, there is currently a large gap between generations: many words in texts that seem quite understandable to representatives of the older generation turn out to be completely unperceivable for young people. In most cases, these are obsolete words, and in order to understand them, schoolchildren have to turn to dictionaries. The algorithms developed by Dmitry Morozov are aimed at ensuring that the information consumer receives information adequate to his level of education. Then his development and enrichment of his vocabulary will occur gradually. The importance of these algorithms lies in their real adaptation to the properties of the information consumer and taking into account his capabilities. The expert’s assessment is mostly subjective, and therefore not very reliable, and the methods of objective control developed in Dmitry Morozov’s dissertation allow for a more thorough educational process in the humanities.

    — The topic of my dissertation is “Text Complexity Assessment Using Machine Learning Methods on the Russian Language.” It is devoted to assessing how well the text will be understood by the reader or how well the reader should be prepared to understand what is written. This is necessary to assess the complexity of various instructions. Such texts should be understandable to people without special education and training. But there is a problem: they are created by people who have special knowledge about the subject of the narrative, and therefore much of what is incomprehensible to outsiders seems obvious to them. It is difficult for them to objectively assess the text they are creating. On the other hand, a person who does not have this knowledge, assessing the complexity of the text, must fully familiarize himself with it and give his own assessment. This takes a lot of time. Therefore, a vast field for automating the process is being formed in this area. We have a variety of pre-trained large language models that can be used within the framework of different algorithmic approaches and assess the complexity of the text automatically. My dissertation details how to use them to construct a description of a text, so that the resulting description can then be converted into an assessment of linguistic complexity, said Dmitry Morozov.

    The young scientist’s development will find application in compiling instructions for complex products. It is also proposed to use this complex to create a collection of texts that would be understandable to schoolchildren of different ages. This is necessary so that linguists can further study their vocabulary, because the various texts read by schoolchildren become an important source of new words in their vocabulary. In this way, they will be able to create different collections of words and predict which of them are known to schoolchildren and which are not, relying not on subjective experience, but on objective data.

    The research of the second candidate for the academic degree Davlater Mengliev, according to his scientific supervisor Vladimir Barakhnin, is a pioneering one for Uzbek computer linguistics, which began to develop relatively recently. According to him, at present, an entire scientific school has begun to take shape at NSU and several postgraduate students from the Republic of Uzbekistan are working on the development of this topic.

    — I devoted my PhD thesis to the development of a hybrid algorithm for recognizing named entities in the Uzbek language. This algorithm allows extracting key information from the text and recognizing it. Similar developments already exist for other languages, but for Uzbek, as well as for all Turkic languages in general, such work has not yet been done. The use of a hybrid approach, which involves the use of not only modern neural networks, but also traditional rule-oriented algorithms, which, together with several architectures, contributed to achieving good results, gives additional relevance to my work. At the moment, my development has been implemented in various organizations of the Republic of Uzbekistan, in particular, in the reception office of the governor of the Khorezm region. With the help of this algorithm, key information is extracted from requests and applications received by the institution and sent to the relevant divisions and departments. Since there are many dialects in the Uzbek language, my work in this direction is not yet complete, — explained Davlater Mengliev.

    Secretary of the scientific seminar of the NSU FIT, within the framework of which pre-defenses of dissertations are held, Alexander Vlasov is confident that the first two defenses of candidate dissertations are the beginning of a long journey both within the faculty and NSU and the Akademgorodok as a whole.

    Material prepared by: Elena Panfilo, NSU press service

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

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    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Fiji ‘failing’ the Gaza genocide and humanity test, says rights group

    Asia Pacific Report

    The NGO Coalition on Human Rights in Fiji has sharply criticised the Fiji government’s stance over Israel’s genocide in Gaza, saying it “starkly contrasts” with the United Nations and international community’s condemnation as a violation of international law and an impediment to peace.

    In a statement today, the NGO Coalition said that the way the government was responding to the genocide and war crimes in Gaza would set a precedent for how it would deal with crises and conflict in future.

    It would be a marker for human rights responses both at home and the rest of the world.

    “We are now seeing whether our country will be a force that works to uphold human rights and international law, or one that tramples on them whenever convenient,” the statement said.

    “Fiji’s position on the genocide in Gaza and the occupation of Palestinians starkly contrasts with the values of justice, freedom, and international law that the Fijian people hold dear.

    “The genocide and colonial occupation have been widely recognised by the international community, including the United Nations, as a violation of international law and an impediment to peace and the self-determination of the Palestinian people.”

    Last week, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France would formally recognise the state of Palestine — the first of G7 countries to do so — at the UN general Assembly in September.

    142 countries recognise Palestine
    At least 142 countries out of the 193 members of the UN currently recognise or plan to recognise a Palestinian state, including European Union members Norway, Ireland, Spain and Slovenia.

    However, several powerful Western countries have refused to do so, including the United States, the United Kingdom and Germany.

    At the UN this week, Saudi Arabia and France opened a three-day conference with the goal of recognising Palestinian statehood as part of a peaceful settlement to end the war in Gaza.

    Last year, Fiji’s coalition government submitted a written statement in support of the Israeli genocidal occupation of Palestine, including East Jerusalem, noted the NGO coalition.

    Last month, Fiji’s coalition government again voted against a UN General Assembly resolution that demanded an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

    Also recently, the Fiji government approved the allocation of $1.12 million to establish an embassy “in the genocidal terror state of Israel as Fijians grapple with urgent issues, including poverty, violence against women and girls, deteriorating water and health infrastructure, drug use, high rates of HIV, poor educational outcomes, climate change, and unfair wages for workers”.

    Met with ‘indifference’
    The NGO coalition said that it had made repeated requests to the Fiji government to “do the bare minimum and enforce the basic tenets of international law on Israel”.

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

    “We campaigned, we lobbied, we engaged, and we explained. We showed the evidence, pointed to the law, and asked our leaders to do the right thing.

    “We’ve been met with nothing but indifference.”

    Instead, said the NGO statement, Fiji leaders had met with Israeli government representatives and declared support for a country “committing the most heinous crimes” recognised in international law.

    “Fijian leaders and the Fiji government should not be supporting Israel or setting up an embassy in Israel while Israel continues to bomb refugee tents, kill journalists and medics, and block the delivery of humanitarian aid to a population under relentless siege.

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

    62,000 Palestinians killed
    More than 62,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war on Gaza, most of them women and children.

    “Many more have been maimed, traumatised, and displaced. Starvation is being used by Israel as weapon to kill babies and children.

    “Hospitals, churches, mosques,, refugee camps, schools, universities, residential neighbourhoods, water and food facilities have been destroyed.

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

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

    Members of the Fiji NGO Coalition on Human Rights are Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre (chair), Fiji Women’s Rights Movement, Citizens’ Constitutional Forum, femLINKpacific, Social Empowerment and Education Programme, and Diverse Voices and Action (DIVA) for Equality Fiji.

    Also, Pacific Network on Globalisation (PANG) is an observer.

    The NGO coalition said it stood in solidarity with the Palestinian people out of a shared belief in humanity, justice, and the inalienable human rights of every individual.

    “Silence is not an option,” it added.

    Fijians for Palestine Solidarity Network said it supported this NGO coalition statement.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Department raises alarm over escalating intimate partner violence

    Source: Government of South Africa

    The Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities has expressed concern over the pervasive “hidden crisis” of domestic and intimate partner violence, which is highlighted in a Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) report.

    Conducted in 2024, the report revealed that one in three women in South Africa have experienced physical intimate partner violence in their lifetime.

    “These are not just numbers; they represent the lived realities of millions of women, who endure suffering behind closed doors,” department spokesperson, Cassius Selala said on Monday.

    The study also highlighted higher victimisation among black African women and women with disabilities.

    While national statistics indicate a drop in overall violent crime during the second quarter of 2024, gender-based violence (GBV) crimes continue to rise.

    According to the report, between July and September 2024, 957 women were murdered, 1 567 survived attempted murders, and 14 366 were assaulted, resulting in grievous bodily harm. In addition, 10 191 cases of rape were reported during this period.

    Selala said intimate domestic violence manifests in various forms, often intertwined and escalating over time – ranging from physical and sexual abuse to emotional, psychological, and economic or financial.

    He said recognising these different types of abuse is a critical step in addressing the problem.

    Selala also warned that the impact of intimate domestic violence extends far beyond physical injuries, and victims often experience a range of severe and long-lasting consequences.

    “The greatest achievements in women’s economic progress in recent decades are potentially being eroded by domestic violence. Intimate domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behaviours used by one partner to maintain power and control over another in an intimate relationship.

    “This violence is not limited to physical harm; it encompasses a range of coercive and controlling actions that can leave deep and lasting scars,” Selala said.

    Globally, the World Health Organisation estimates that one in three women have experienced physical or sexual violence in their lifetime, most often at the hands of an intimate partner. In South Africa, the figures are particularly grim.

    At the end of 2024, the HSRC released the First South African National Gender-Based Violence Study, which detailed the prevalence of physical, sexual, emotional, psychological and economic violence experienced by women in all nine provinces.

    To discuss some of the survey’s findings, the HSRC recently hosted a webinar titled: ‘Addressing poverty and inequality as drivers of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) perpetrated against vulnerable populations in South Africa: The importance of economic empowerment interventions’.

    The webinar focused on poverty and inequality as drivers of gender-based violence and femicide perpetrated against women, including women with disabilities, women from the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex and Asexual (LGBTQIA+) community, black African women, and older women (over the age of 60). – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Grieving mum speaks out as she prepares to carry ‘Baton of Hope’ in memory of daughter, 18

    Source: City of Leeds

    A mum who lost her 18-year-old daughter to suicide on Christmas Day 2023 is channelling her grief into raising awareness as she prepares to join the ‘Baton of Hope’ suicide prevention tour when it comes to Leeds later this year.

    Bairbre McKendrick, 53, of Wetherby, shared her story as she urged all to be mindful of the signs of someone struggling and to reach out and check in on those around them.

    She is one of the 85 people across Leeds bereaved or affected by suicide who have volunteered to carry a symbolic baton through the city on September 10, World Suicide Prevention Day – when the nationwide Baton of Hope tour arrives in Leeds.

    The tour is calling at 20 places across the UK over two months to raise awareness of suicide and spread the message of hope far and wide, with Leeds City Council and the city’s mental health and suicide prevention organisations, including Touchstone and Leeds Mind, currently planning the Leeds leg.

    Bairbre said, to many on the outside world her daughter Robyn would have seemed “glamorous” and “the life and soul of the party” but in reality was experiencing profound struggles with her mental health.

    Robyn was diagnosed with autism at the end of year 11 when she was 16 and found it difficult to cope with daily life and its many pressures – through school, relationships, friendships and work – often masking her struggles to those around her.

    Bairbre, who works at Leeds City Council in city development, said: “We were obviously very aware but people can be too quick to make assumptions. Robyn was glamorous, had a social life. She was the first up dancing to the music.

    “But she was ill. That saying ‘no one pretends to be depressed, people pretend to be ok’ is so true. That was Robyn. She was always pretending to be ok when in reality she wasn’t.

    “She was great at checking up on others though – she could spot when other young people were struggling.”

    Research shows autistic people are up to seven times more likely to die by suicide, with UK charity Autistica also citing studies which found the risk increases further among autistic people without intellectual disabilities and among autistic women.

    Since leaving school, Robyn had made attempts to take her own life and had been treated at hospital.

    During the last months of her life, she also lost a friend to suicide.

    Both of these factors are also known to increase suicide risk, with evidence suggesting people who are bereaved by suicide may be up to three times higher than the general population to take their own life.

    These events, together with heightening difficulties in her work life, took a deepening toll on Robyn’s mental health.

    Robyn’s death has utterly devastated her family and Bairbre says she wants to encourage people to be aware of the signs someone could be struggling and always be compassionate and kind to others.

    “We are broken-hearted and we always will be.

    “It’s important that people accept that someone could be struggling – it’s real, even if they present as turning up, at school, at work, being the life and soul of the party. Robyn was like that. But they are ill and it’s up to us, everyone, to be kind and supportive and try to help them to have hope for their future.”

    Bairbre said she wanted to join the Baton of Hope tour to connect with other families, which she says can be a healing experience.

    “Coming together in such a public event is also a way to show people who don’t know about the scale of loss of lives to suicide,” she said, adding: “We need to break the stigma around mental health and show people that even though we cannot see their pain, we care and want to help. We will listen and try to find the right support and offer kindness and hope.”

    Details of the route the baton will take through Leeds will be revealed over the coming weeks, with an array of events and activities being planned throughout the day.

    Councillor Fiona Venner, Leeds City Council’s executive member for equality, health and wellbeing, said: “Thank you to Bairbre for sharing her story and channelling her absolutely devastating experience into raising awareness and helping to break the stigma around suicide.

    “Suicide prevention is everyone’s business – we all have a part to play in knowing the signs and checking in on all those around us.

    “We’re proud to be hosting the Baton of Hope tour in Leeds for the first time this year and having people, like Bairbre, bereaved or affected by suicide, carrying the baton will be an incredibly powerful way to honour the memory of a lost loved one and share the key message of hope.

    “We hope people across the city will turn out to show their support on the day and help spread the word.”

    Reducing suicide and the stigma around it is priority among partners across the city, as part of work to make Leeds a mentally healthy city – a key objective in the Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2023-2030.

    Leeds City Council also commissions the Leeds Suicide Bereavement Service, for anyone affected or bereaved by suicide. Visit https://www.leedsmind.org.uk/suicide-bereavement-services-west-yorkshire/.

    For more information on the Leeds leg of the Baton of Hope tour, visit: https://www.mindwell-leeds.org.uk/baton-of-hope-leeds-2025

    For up-to-date details on support services available in Leeds visit https://suicidepreventionwestyorkshire.co.uk/support/leeds.

    The mental health website for Leeds, Mindwell, also contains a range of support and resources. Visit https://www.mindwell-leeds.org.uk.

    ENDS

    For media enquiries please contact:

    Leeds City Council communications and marketing,

    Email: communicationsteam@leeds.gov.uk

    Tel: 0113 378 6007

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Clearer rules and prequalification guidance to support construction

    Source: New Zealand Government

    As part of wider Government health and safety reforms, Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden will be consulting with builders and construction professionals to improve productivity.

    “We’re simplifying scaffolding rules and streamlining the prequalification process to make them more practical and better aligned with the level of risk.

    “I have heard concerns from the construction sector that scaffolding rules are too complex,” says Ms van Velden. 

    The current rules have led to a common view that scaffolding should be used in all situations regardless of risk. This has resulted in the overuse of costly scaffolding when it isn’t required for safety. 

    “Over-compliance needlessly drags down construction productivity, increasing building time and costs for the sector, and impacting new builds and Kiwi homeowners. 

    “My officials will be consulting on proposed new rules that will let people choose safe options based on how dangerous the job is. Officials are currently refining options for a risk-based hierarchy of controls for work at heights (i.e. when to use ladders, harnesses, scaffolding) to test with industry,” says Ms van Velden. 

    “Changes will ensure scaffolding use is better aligned with the level of risk. If it’s not very risky, they will not need to use expensive scaffolding. For example, they will be considering whether a ladder could be used instead of scaffolding for a simple roof gutter repair or minor electrical maintenance when working at height. 

    “I believe changes to scaffolding rules should help reduce costs and speed up work for tradies, construction firms, homeowners and anyone else who needs construction, painting, maintenance or other work done at height. 

    “One of the other common themes I heard on the roadshow was frustration with the wide range of prequalification systems and the time and money they take to complete. I have listened, which is why I am acting to help this sector. 

    “Businesses feel like they have to jump through hoops to tick a compliance box when getting prequalified, even though the prequalification often involves little reflection of the real-world risks workers face. Some have said they have walked away from clients as the cost of getting prequalified is not worth the value of the work. 

    “A lack of consistency across providers means that suppliers need to get a new prequalification for every job they tender for, with one submitter saying they completed 76 in a year. That’s not a good use of anyone’s time or money. 

    “I’ve asked WorkSafe to work with industry to revise its prequalification guidance, including developing free-to-use templates to improve national consistency.” 

    There is also a need for clearer guidance on overlapping duties. This is when multiple businesses share responsibility for managing risks on the same site, such as when builders and drainlayers are both working on the same site and must work together to manage risks. 

    “I have asked WorkSafe to develop an Approved Code of Practice [ACOP] on clarifying overlapping duties, as the current ambiguity may be encouraging the over-use of prequalifications in situations where it is not necessary. Clearer guidance will help businesses understand when and how they need to work together to manage risks.” 

    Work is also underway to update the scaffolding certificate of competence categories, with a review of certificate fees to follow. These certificates show what types of scaffolding work a person is qualified to carry out, from basic to more advanced scaffolding.

    “Concerns have been raised about the distinction between qualifications and actual competency. Many feel that on-the-job experience should be better recognised. There’s also confusion about what constitutes sufficient training, and frustration with inconsistent advice from regulators. 

    “After consultation, I will be seeking Cabinet approval to update the categories and fees to ensure they better reflect current costs and industry best practice. 

    “I am confident that these changes, which are designed to address the concerns of the construction sector, will support safe and more efficient practices,” says Ms van Velden. 

    “These changes will save time and costs for businesses and workers as we cut red-tape to make it easier to do business. When our Kiwi businesses thrive, there are more jobs and lower prices for all New Zealanders.”

    Editor notes: 

    • These changes are part of the wider health and safety reform, which delivers on the ACT-National Coalition Agreement commitment to reform health and safety laws and regulations. 

    • Prequalification is a common way construction businesses check if a company or contractor is ready and able to do a construction job safely, before they’re allowed to bid for or start work. Prequalifications are also often used by businesses outside of the construction sector – for example, local councils using them for groundskeeping tenders. However, prequalifications are most prominently used in the construction industry. 

    • A summary of all the changes and major milestones:

    Amend the Health and Safety in Employment Regulations to simplify the scaffolding rule for construction, including the general work at height 3-metre rule. 

    Targeted stakeholder consultation July – Sept 2025 

     

    Cabinet decisions in November/December  

     

    Commencement mid 2026 

    Amend the Health and Safety in Employment Regs to update the fee for scaffolding certificates of competence. 

     

    Targeted stakeholder consultation July – Dec 2025 

     

    Cabinet decisions in March 2026 

     

    Commencement mid 2026 
    Amend the Health and Safety in Employment Regulations to update the scaffolding certificate of competence definitions 

    Cabinet LEG decisions Aug 

     

    Commencement Sep 2025 

    WorkSafe will work with the industry to revise prequalification guidance and clarify overlapping duties by developing a construction roles and responsibilities ACOP. 

     

    Targeted stakeholder consultation Aug – Sep 2025 

     

    Develop guidance and ACOP Oct 2025 – April 2026 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: New Zealand Clinical Principles Framework for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

    Source: New Zealand Ministry of Health

    Publication date:

    The New Zealand Clinical Principles Framework for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (the framework) describes the expected clinical standards for quality assessment, diagnosis and treatment of ADHD in New Zealand based on existing international clinical guidelines. The framework also includes further considerations that may represent clinical best practice or areas that have limited evidence. 

    The framework has been developed in partnership with a Clinical Reference Group, with members including people with lived experience of ADHD, family and whānau of individuals with ADHD, and New Zealand clinicians with expertise and experience in assessing and treating ADHD. 

    The framework includes: 

    • core general principles that can be used to guide ADHD assessment, diagnosis and treatment for children and young people, and adults
    • age-specific consensus principles that outline expected standards and further considerations for assessment, diagnosis, treatment and management of ADHD within New Zealand.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Public Health Guidance for Hairdressers and Barbers

    Source: New Zealand Ministry of Health

    Publication date:

    Public Health Guidance for Hairdressers and Barbers outlines practical actions that hairdressers and barbers can take to reduce the spread of infection. 

    It covers hygiene, equipment handling, and cleaning and is designed to help hairdressers and barbers across New Zealand keep their clients safe. 

    The guidance is voluntary and can be used in all types of hairdressing and barber services, including salons, mobile and home-based setups, and temporary setups like those at fairs or rest homes. 

    The guidance was developed following the Ministry for Regulation’s Hairdressing and Barbering Regulatory Review. The review recommended revoking the Health (Hairdressers) Regulations 1980 and developing new guidance to manage public health risks. In response to the review, Cabinet agreed to remove the Health (Hairdressers) Regulations 1980 made under the Health Act 1956, effective from 31 July 2025.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Registrar (assisted dying) Annual Report – June 2025

    Source: New Zealand Ministry of Health

    Publication date:

    The End of Life Choice Act 2019 (the Act) came into force on the 7 November 2021. This established the Assisted Dying – Ngā Ratonga Mate Whakaahuru service in New Zealand Aotearoa.

    The Ministry of Health is responsible for the administration of the Act. The Act requires the Registrar (assisted dying) to report to the Minister of Health about the operation of the service by 30 June each year.

    This Registrar (assisted dying) Annual Report covers the period from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025.

    In addition to information required by the Act, this report summarizes information relating to the Ministry’s regulation and monitoring of the service, service usage, workforce and feedback about the service.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Health – Health Accelerator launches to fast-track innovation in primary care across NZ

    Source: Health Accelerator

    A bold new initiative is set to help transform the future of primary care in New Zealand. Today marks the official launch of Health Accelerator, an innovation hub dedicated to developing and deploying digital solutions that empower primary care and improve patient care.

    Health Accelerator is a collaborative joint venture between four of New Zealand’s largest primary care organisations — Pegasus, Pinnacle, ProCare, and Tū Ora Compass Health — collectively representing more than 500 general practices and serving over 2 million patients across the country.

    Bindi Norwell, Co-Chair at Health Accelerator says: “Our purpose is a simple but powerful one. We want to help drive innovation in primary care to improve clinical workflows, enhance patient experiences, and reduce the administrative burden on healthcare teams — so doctors, nurses, and practice staff can focus on what they do best: caring for their patients. 

    “This is about game changing innovation, increasing productivity and expanding innovation for primary care, particularly through leveraging AI and digital solutions,” says Norwell.

    “New Zealand’s health tech sector is valued at $3.7 billion and experiencing an annual growth rate of 8%. Health Accelerator is designed to speed up healthcare innovation by pooling resources, insights, and expertise. Essentially, it’s about creating a smarter, and faster path to innovation,” continues Norwell.

    Justine Thorpe, fellow Co-Chair at Health Accelerator adds: “We know there are innovative digital solutions that can help address many of the challenges our network of practices face. Through Health Accelerator, we’re partnering closely with practices, start-ups, researchers, and government agencies to identify real-world problems and co-design scalable solutions that can benefit the entire sector. 

    “The first innovation we rolled out across the country was robots, which are aimed at supporting cardiovascular disease risk assessments (CVDRA), ensuring all ACC funding is claimed by practices where applicable, and two inbox management assistants. These tools are already making a difference by reducing the time clinicians spend on administrative tasks. We have developed about 10 robots to date and plan to develop more.” continues Thorpe. 

    “We are now looking at what other opportunities it will be able to announce soon, with AI scribes likely to be high on the list,” concludes Thorpe.

    Health Accelerator is also encouraging healthcare practices facing challenges that could be addressed through a digital innovation to reach out, so solutions can be co-designed with users of the solutions in mind. Equally, the company is actively seeking partnerships with healthcare providers, innovators, and organisations who share its vision for a more connected, patient-focused future.

     

    For more information, visit www.healthaccelerator.co.nz 

     

    About Pinnacle Incorporated
    Pinnacle Incorporated is a not-for-profit primary care network supporting over 85 general practices across the Te Manawa Taki region, including Waikato, Taranaki, Rotorua, Taupō-Tūrangi, Thames-Coromandel, and Tairāwhiti. Serving nearly half a million enrolled patients, Pinnacle is committed to delivering high-quality, equitable, and innovative primary healthcare. Through its operational arm, Pinnacle Midlands Health Network (MHN), the organisation provides funding, clinical support, and digital solutions to help general practices thrive and improve health outcomes for their communities.

    About Pegasus Health
    Pegasus Health is a charitable organisation dedicated to improving health outcomes for the people of Waitaha Canterbury. We achieve this through innovative service design and delivery, collaboration with partners, and a commitment to continuous improvement. We lead and collaborate across the primary health care sector with a special focus on Te Waipounamu. We are dedicated to ensuring that all people have access to the primary health care they need, when they need it, closing the health equity gap. Pegasus is committed to overtly, purposefully, and strategically threading equity and Te Tiriti o Waitangi through all we do and how we operate.  

     

    About ProCare
    ProCare is a leading healthcare provider that aims to deliver the most progressive, pro-active and equitable health and wellbeing services in Aotearoa. We do this through our clinical support services, mental health and wellness services, virtual/tele health, mobile health, smoking cessation and by taking a population health and equity approach to our mahi. As New Zealand’s largest Primary Health Organisation, we represent a network of general practice teams and healthcare professionals who provide care to nearly 700,000 patients across Auckland. These practices serve the largest Pacific and South Asian populations enrolled in general practice and the largest Māori population in Tāmaki Makaurau. For more information go to www.procare.co.nz 

    About Tū Ora Compass Health
    Tū Ora Compass Health Primary Health Organisation is a not-for-profit enterprise supporting an enrolled population of over 347,000 patients, through a network of 58 General Practice across Wellington, Porirua, Kāpiti, Hutt Valley and Wairarapa. We also support with a range of clinical services, health promotion and population health initiatives funded through various contracts throughout the region.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Cultural values shape tourists’ view of eco-friendly B&Bs

    Source:

    28 July 2025

    The demand for ‘greener’ bed and breakfast (B&B) accommodation is gaining traction worldwide, but operators should heed cultural differences when marketing their sustainable facilities, according to a new international study.

    Led by Hong Kong Shue Yan University and the University of South Australia, the survey of 800 people from 37 countries examined how cultural values, age and education levels influenced tourists’ acceptance of environmentally sustainable features in B&Bs.

    Previous global studies have indicated that many tourists are willing to pay more for environmentally friendly accommodation, but this is the first time that researchers have focused specifically on cultural attitudes towards B&B sustainable practices.

    The study focused on five categories of sustainable facilities: water treatment systems (rainwater harvesting systems, greywater); greenery systems (sky gardens and vertical green walls); sanitation (hand sanitiser and air purification units); ventilation (natural air or air conditioning); and eco-friendly facilities (LED lights, organic composting bins).

    Tourists from rules-based, autocratic and hierarchical countries such as China, India and Malaysia expressed the strongest support for all types of green features in B&Bs. Deemed ‘high-power distance’ cultures, citizens of these countries were more likely to use energy-saving products and choose natural ventilation over air conditioning, the survey revealed.

    University of South Australia (UniSA) researchers Dr Li Meng and Professor Simon Beecham, who co-authored the study published in Consumer Behaviour in Tourism and Hospitality, say other cultural dimensions were less clear cut.

    “Western cultures such as Australia, the United Kingdom and United States, appreciated rooftop gardens and vertical green walls, but these features were not strong factors in whether they chose a bed and breakfast,” according to the UniSA researchers.

    Tourists from risk-averse cultures such as Japan, France and Greece were less likely to embrace B&Bs with natural ventilation, preferring to control their environment with air conditioning, the researchers say.

    Highly-educated travellers rated sanitation and eco-friendly features more favourably, and younger tourists placed greater value on green systems than older people.

    “These findings challenge assumptions that all green tourists are alike,” says lead author Professor Rita Yi Man Li from Hong Kong Shue Yan University.

    “Many accommodation providers want to operate more sustainably, but few have considered how cultural values affect guest preferences,” Prof Li says.

    “This research shows that guests from different cultural backgrounds respond differently to the same green features. Understanding these nuances can help B&B owners tailor their sustainability investments more effectively depending on their most important tourism markets.”

    Dr Meng says younger guests may be drawn to visible features like rooftop gardens, while more educated visitors may look for practical elements like composting, LED lighting, or air purification systems.

    The researchers say that governments also have a role to play in supporting the development of sustainable B&Bs.

    By offering incentives, investing in sustainable infrastructure, and developing policies such as easing travel restrictions and visa policies, governments can help expand the international customer base for eco-friendly B&Bs, the study recommended.

    ‘Does culture really matter? A cross-cultural study of demand for B&B sustainable facilities’ is published in Consumer Behaviour in Tourism and Hospitality. DOI: 10.1108/CBTH-04-2024-0135. The study involved a cross-disciplinary team of researchers with expertise in economics, real estate, literature and environmental science.

    …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

    UniSA researcher contact: Professor Simon Beecham E: simon.beecham@unisa.edu.au
    Hong Kong Shue Yan University researcher contact: Professor Rita Li E: ymli@hksyu.edu

    Media contact: Candy Gibson M: +61 434 605 142 E: candy.gibson@unisa.edu.au

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: UN warns of ‘catastrophic hunger’ in Gaza as Israel announces humanitarian pauses

    Source: United Nations 2

    But as starvation tightens its grip and “children are dying before our eyes,” UN officials and aid workers warn that the measures fall far short of the much-needed ceasefire and unfettered aid access that could help stem the spiralling humanitarian catastrophe.

    “Welcome announcement of humanitarian pauses in Gaza to allow our aid through,” UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher said on X. “In contact with our teams on the ground who will do all we can to reach as many starving people as we can in this window.”

    In a statement later issued later by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, or OCHA, which Mr. Fletcher heads up, he added that some movement restrictions appear to have been eased today, with initial reports indicating that over 100 truckloads were collected.

    “This is progress, but vast amounts of aid are needed to stave off famine and a catastrophic health crisis. Across the UN agencies and humanitarian community, we are mobilized to save as many lives as we can, he said, but called for “sustained action, and fast”, including quicker clearances for convoys going to the crossing and dispatching into Gaza.

    “Ultimately of course we don’t just need a pause – we need a permanent ceasefire,” stated Mr. Fletcher, who emphasized: “The world is calling for this lifesaving aid to get through. We won’t stop working for that.”

    Also reacting via X, UNICEF said: “This is an opportunity to begin to reverse this catastrophe and save lives.”

    According to the agency, since the collapse of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in March, children have been trapped in a nightmare and deprived of the basics to survive.

    “The entire population of over two million people in Gaza is severely food insecure. One out of every three people has not eaten for days, and 80 per cent of all reported deaths by starvation are children,” the agency continued.

    UNICEF emphasized that while it has never stopped delivering, “we can do a lot more if additional designated humanitarian corridors are created to facilitate the movement of our convoys – as well as commercial trucks, which are essential.”

    ‘A lifeline – if upheld and expanded’

    The UN World Food Programme (WFP) also welcomed Israel’s announcement and its intent to open designated corridors for aid convoys in Gaza, “where hunger has reached catastrophic levels.”

    With nearly half a million people facing famine-like conditions and a third of the population going days without food, WFP said in a press statement that the measures could offer a lifeline – if upheld and expanded.

    Despite recent deliveries, including 350 truckloads last week, aid workers continue to face extreme risks and logistical hurdles. WFP said it has enough food stockpiled or en route to feed Gaza’s 2.1 million residents for three months, but without a ceasefire and consistent access, the scale of need far outpaces current efforts.

    “An agreed ceasefire is the only way to reach everyone,” the agency stressed, calling for predictable and safe conditions to prevent further loss of life.

    ‘An entirely preventable crisis’

    At the same time, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) warned that malnutrition in Gaza is spiralling out of control, with a sharp rise in deaths – most of them in July – marking what it calls a “dangerous trajectory.”

    Of the 74 malnutrition-related deaths recorded this year, 63 occurred this month alone, including 24 children under five. Many died before reaching medical care, their bodies showing signs of severe wasting.

    “This crisis is entirely preventable,” WHO said in a press release, citing the deliberate obstruction of aid for the mounting toll.

    Children are bearing the brunt. Over 5,000 children have already been treated for malnutrition in July, many with the most life-threatening form. But Gaza’s four specialized treatment centers are overwhelmed, running low on fuel and supplies, and staffed by exhausted health workers.

    “The health system is on the brink,” WHO warned, as disease spreads rapidly through communities with no clean water or sanitation.

    The crisis is also devastating pregnant and breastfeeding women, over 40 per cent of whom are now severely malnourished. And it’s not just hunger that’s killing people—it’s the desperate search for food, according to WHO.

    Since late May, more than 1,000 people have been killed and over 7,000 injured while trying to access aid. WHO is calling for an immediate ceasefire and a sustained surge of diverse, nutritious food and medical supplies.

    “This flow must remain consistent and unhindered,” the agency said, urging protection for civilians, health workers, and humanitarian operations.

    ‘The world will judge this conference’

    Looking ahead to the High-Level Conference on Palestine set to open on Monday at UN Headquarters in New York, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights issued a strong call for immediate action to end Israel’s unlawful occupation and the ongoing devastation in Gaza.

    “Countries that fail to use their leverage may be complicit in international crimes,” Volker Türk warned in a statement, urging governments to seize the moment for concrete measures that pressure Israel to halt the carnage and recommit to a two-state solution.

    The UN rights chief described Gaza as a “dystopian landscape of deadly attacks and total destruction,” where children are starving and families are being killed in their search for food. The militarized aid distribution system, supported by the US and Israel, is failing to meet the scale of need.

    “We can never forget that more than 300 of our own colleagues have been killed,” he added.

    Moreover, in the occupied West Bank, violence by Israeli forces and settlers continues unabated, with homes demolished and water supplies cut off.

    Mr. Türk reiterated condemnation of the 7 October attacks by Hamas but emphasized that the scale of suffering inflicted on Palestinians since then cannot be justified.

    Calling for an immediate, permanent ceasefire, the release of hostages and detainees, and a massive surge in humanitarian aid, he concluded:

    “The people of the world will judge this Conference on what it delivers.”

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Critics claim gender clinics are seeing an excess of trans boys. But new data suggest otherwise

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ken Pang, Senior Principal Research Fellow and Group Leader, Transgender Health Research Group, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute

    Gender clinics provide multidisciplinary care that helps trans people to explore and affirm their gender identity.

    The number of adolescents referred to gender clinics has increased worldwide in recent years, especially among those who were assigned female at birth.

    This has prompted claims that “social contagion” is driving young people – and in particular, teenagers who were assigned female at birth – to identify as trans and seek medical care.

    But this notion isn’t supported by robust evidence, and our latest research directly challenges this idea.

    Backlash against gender care

    Despite its lack of evidence, the social contagion theory has been used by critics to help fuel an international backlash against adolescent gender care.

    In the United States, more than half of all states have enacted laws or policies limiting access to gender care for those under 18 years.

    In the United Kingdom, laws now prohibit transgender young people under 18 from starting puberty blockers.

    Evidence has now emerged of the adverse consequences of these laws in both the US and UK. This includes sharp declines in mental health and increased suicide attempts among transgender young people.

    Despite this evidence, the Queensland government in Australia recently halted access to puberty blockers and gender-affirming hormones to new patients aged under 18.

    This decision was made even though a 2024 independent evaluation found that gender care in Queensland is safe and evidence-based and recommended that service capacity be increased.

    Trans people seek gender care at different stages of their lives

    Our recently published study examined gender clinic referrals across the entire lifespan.

    We used data from publicly funded gender clinics in Melbourne and Amsterdam across a three-year period between 2016 and 2019. The Amsterdam and Melbourne services received 2,044 and 1,903 referrals respectively.

    We found remarkably similar results in both countries. The majority of adolescent referrals (around 70%) were for trans boys and non-binary people assigned female at birth. However, among adults, this observation was flipped, with the majority of adult referrals being for individuals assigned male at birth.

    Specifically, 55% of referrals of those aged in their 20s were for individuals assigned male at birth. This grew every subsequent decade, reaching around 80% for those in their 50s and beyond.

    What do these findings mean?

    Previous surveys from Sweden, Belgium and the United States indicate the proportion of people assigned male and female at birth who are transgender is roughly equal.

    Assuming these two groups share a similar desire to access gender clinics, you would expect the number of referrals to be around the same over the course of a lifetime.

    Our new findings are consistent with this expectation but the likelihood of referral to gender clinics seems to be influenced by both the sex a person was assigned at birth, as well as their age. While those assigned female at birth are more likely seek referral as adolescents, those assigned male “catch up” in later years.

    So rather than an over-representation of those assigned female at birth, adolescent referral patterns most likely reflect an under-representation of assigned males.

    Why is this happening?

    Trans misogyny is a unique type of discrimination trans girls and women face. It combines transphobia, the hatred for and discrimination against trans people, with misogyny, the prejudice and contempt towards women.

    The impact of trans misogyny is far-reaching. During adolescence, trans girls experience higher rates of bullying and victimisation than trans boys and cisgender peers.

    During adulthood, trans women remain at high risk of abuse and violence. They are also more likely to encounter housing discrimination, homelessness, unemployment and poverty than the general population.

    Faced with such daunting prospects, it seems much harder for trans girls to reveal their gender identity as adolescents at an already uncertain time of their lives.

    But as trans girls progress into adulthood, we suspect an intrinsic desire to express their gendered sense of self eventually tips the balance in favour of “coming out”. As a result, we see more trans women seeking gender care in their 20s, 30s and beyond.

    These new findings suggest we need to do more to support trans adolescents. Rather than being driven by the fear of “social contagion”, we must instead recognise and address the challenges trans adolescents, and specifically trans girls and women, face.

    This article was co-authored by Freya Kahn, a paediatrician working on research projects at the Royal Children’s Hospital.

    Ken Pang receives research funding from the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council and the Medical Research Future Fund. He is a member of the Australian Professional Association for Trans Health, the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, and the editorial board of the journal, Transgender Health.

    Anja Ravine has paid membership of the Australian Professional Association for Trans Health.

    – ref. Critics claim gender clinics are seeing an excess of trans boys. But new data suggest otherwise – https://theconversation.com/critics-claim-gender-clinics-are-seeing-an-excess-of-trans-boys-but-new-data-suggest-otherwise-257817

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Kakadu upgrades ensure safer access to top tourism spots

    Source: Workplace Gender Equality Agency

    The Australian and Northern Territory governments are delivering long-awaited upgrades to key roads in Kakadu National Park to improve visitor access, boost safety and support economic growth.

    The first tender under the Australian Government’s $70 million program of upgrades opens next week, with construction on Kubara Road and Maguk Road set to begin in 2025.

    These works are part of the Australian Government’s $216 million Growing Tourism in Kakadu package.

    The package was announced in 2019 and is now being delivered by the Northern Territory Government’s Department of Logistics and Infrastructure (DLI) in partnership with Parks Australia and the federal Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts.

    Between 2025 and 2027, upgrades will be completed on five visitor roads – Jim Jim Falls, Maguk, Gimbat, Gunlom and Kubara – to improve flood immunity, support tourism and business, reduce closures and extend safe access to some of the Territory’s most iconic sites.

    Importantly, the works will be staged to minimise impact on visitors and operators. 

    Quotes attributable to Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King:

    “With the increase in unpredictable and extreme weather events, it’s important to have resilient roads which allow reliable access for locals and tourists alike.

     “Improving the standard of these roads will reduce closures, increase productivity and drive the tourism economy of Northern Territory. 

    “We want to see tourists flock to Kakadu to take in the best of Australia’s fauna and flora – some of the best anywhere in the world.”

    Quotes attributable to NT Minister for Parks and Wildlife and Tourism and Hospitality Marie-Clare Boothby:

    “Kakadu is a key economic and cultural asset for the Northern Territory, and these upgrades will support our local communities and tourism operators.

    “These improvements will make it easier to visit stunning places like Maguk Gorge, with its stone amphitheatre and plunge pool, and Kubara Pools, near the Nanguluwurr Art Site.

    “It’s about delivering action, certainty and security for Traditional Owners, tourism operators and visitors.”

    Quotes attributable to NT Minister for Logistics and Infrastructure Bill Yan:

    “By raising and sealing roads, installing new culverts, and reducing flooding risks, these upgrades will make key Kakadu attractions safer, more reliable, and open for longer. 

    “Construction will be managed carefully to ensure continued access – delivering certainty for locals and the tourism sector.”

    Quotes attributable to Federal Member for Lingiari Marion Scrymgour:

    “This investment will make it safer and easier for people to visit some of Kakadu’s most iconic locations and experience this World Heritage wonder.

    “Upgrading these key roads will improve flood resilience and travel conditions, while supporting local businesses and tourism operators.

    “These works are part of our broader commitment to making sure Kakadu remains a world-class destination.” 

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: ABC South East NSW Breakfast with Eddie Williams

    Source: Workplace Gender Equality Agency

    EDDIE WILLIAMS, HOST: Roads, rates, and rubbish, and childcare, disaster recovery, community transport, school holiday programs, even a laundromat. The role of local government has been changing and evolving over the years. It’s been growing. And a new report has found councils across the state are having to foot the bill for one and a half billion dollars in services each year, that they say should be funded by the state and federal governments. This report commissioned by Local Government New South Wales shows councils state-wide are absorbing more so-called cost shifting from the other levels of government, with that cost shifting up by around 10 per cent over the past few years.

    Kristy McBain is the Minister for Local Government, and the Member for Eden-Monaro. Good morning.

    KRISTY MCBAIN, MINISTERREGIONAL DEVELOPMENT, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND TERRITORIES: Good morning.

    EDDIE WILLIAMS: You’ve seen this as a mayor, and now as the federal minister. How much have you seen the role of local councils change?

    KRISTY MCBAIN: I think local councils have substantially changed over the last number of years. I mean, in the last 10 or 15 years I think councils now play a critical role in that emergency response and recovery phase, which, you know, had not typically been the bailiwick of local councils. And I’ve seen that from a community level, and now as the Minister for Emergency Services, the role that councils play in response and recovery is absolutely critical for communities.

    EDDIE WILLIAMS: So are they the best placed level of government for that sort of a role?

    KRISTY MCBAIN: Yeah, clearly. I mean, they’ve got a local workforce and, you know, they have elected officials from that local area with, you know, that inside knowledge that the other levels of government just don’t have from that hyper-localised perspective. So it’s really important that there is a really strong partnership with local councils to be able to assist in times of emergency.

    EDDIE WILLIAMS: Is that partnership there and particularly is the funding there for local councils to play these roles?

    KRISTY MCBAIN: Yeah, that’s right. So obviously, you know, we rely heavily on councils in response and recovery, but, you know, that funding is there to assist them, whether it’s the immediate $1 million after a disaster is cleared to assist with clean-up, or whether it’s the ongoing disaster recovery funding arrangements where councils go and assess their infrastructure and then we work with the state government to ensure that funding can be made to- to be handed to councils to ensure that infrastructure can be repaired and replaced.

    EDDIE WILLIAMS: What about the more day-to-day community services, things like childcare, aged care, disability care, the other sorts of programs that you see like community transport? Should that be part of the local government purview?

    KRISTY MCBAIN: Well, I guess it’s up to every local council to prioritise the services that they’re providing in community. We’ve seen over recent times a number of councils pull out of aged care services in particular and hand those onto not-for-profits or to the market because it is a difficult sector to be operating in. In regards to childcare services, a lot of our councils are providing childcare services because there are no market operators that can do that in those areas, but there are obviously a range of funding buckets for childcare services in particular.

    EDDIE WILLIAMS: Yeah, are the funding buckets all kind of working? You know, things like competitive grants are by definition competitive and some councils miss out. Where do things go from here to make sure councils have the money to deliver all this?

    KRISTY MCBAIN: Well, I guess when we’re looking at competitive grants, we’re usually looking at new or upgraded infrastructure. So councils have got, you know, their own work to do in terms of understanding what their service and delivery plan is going to look like over any four-year term, what maintenance needs to be done on particular assets, and it’s up to them whether they apply for those grants to upgrade or have new assets in their community.

    We have worked really closely with local councils in particular for a range of the funding options that are available through the federal government. We’re doubling Roads to Recovery, which is an automatic allocation to all of the 537 local council areas across the country to allow them to have more maintenance on local roads. And then we’ve got a range of competitive programs, including the Housing Support Program which is all about that enabling infrastructure to get more housing developments underway.

    EDDIE WILLIAMS: What about Financial Assistance Grants? This is something a lot of local government groups talk about. Is the government willing to increase those?

    KRISTY MCBAIN: Financial Assistance Grants is over $3 billion every year. This year’s $3.4 billion is allocated across the country to councils. We have brought forward over $1.7 billion in Financial Assistance Grants, which was paid to councils before the end of the financial year, to assist with a range of service delivery for local councils. There’s long been calls to increase that, but we also don’t want to replace the requirement of the states to do their part in this as well, and a lot of that cost shifting we’re talking about is coming from the state government requirements. And we want to make sure that there is enough money for weeds maintenance for local councils. We want to make sure that there is a range of funding opportunities that also come from the state, because it’s a requirement of all three levels of government to be working together.

    EDDIE WILLIAMS: All three levels working together? Are you all getting into the same room to try to sort this out?

    KRISTY MCBAIN: Look, I chair the Local Government Ministers’ Forum, and we’ve had some broad agreement on some of the things that need to be addressed, including a simple national accounting standard for local governments. It’s different across the jurisdictions. And a national approach to how councils actually, I guess, grade their assets and when they maintain them so that when grants are being applied for, we’re really comparing apples and apples across the country.

    EDDIE WILLIAMS: There is a federal inquiry into local government sustainability that’s been underway. Is the Government willing to take some meaningful action, potentially look at some reforms, depending on what that inquiry recommends?

    KRISTY MCBAIN: Yeah, well, it’s the first local government inquiry in over two decades. And when we look back 20 years ago, the iPhone wasn’t invented and Silverchair was still a band at the top of the chart. So it’s really important, I think, that the inquiry completes its work. We’ll reconstitute that committee so it can finalise the report. But clearly the reason we’ve done that is so that we can get a really good understanding of where the system needs to improve and how we can make that work.

    EDDIE WILLIAMS: You’re hearing from Kristy McBain, the Minister for Local Government and Emergency Management and the Member for Eden-Monaro. On another issue, the NSW Health-funded Goulburn Urgent Care Service has come to an end, attracting and retaining healthcare staff to the regions being one of the challenges cited there. How confident are you that a federally funded Medicare Urgent Care Clinic in Bega will open this year and will stay viable?

    KRISTY MCBAIN: Yeah, well, the closure of the Urgent Care Service in Goulburn was a very disappointing outcome for the community, and one I’ve been working to try to prevent. I’ve been advocating with the NSW Government for it to remain open. It was a well-utilised service, but ultimately the service’s contract was negotiated by the NSW Government, and the state needs to work on their model. But the Medicare Urgent Care Clinics have been a real game-changer across our health sector. In Queanbeyan alone, we’ve had more than 12,000 free presentations since it opened last year, which I think is a real testament to how much this was needed. And anecdotally, we’ve heard from a range of people that utilise the Queanbeyan Hospital, and they’ve said that it’s taken significant pressure off the hospital, which is fantastic.

    We’re providing $644 million to establish another 50 Urgent Care Clinics across the country, including in the Bega Valley. The provider will be negotiated through an independent process by the Primary Health Network, and we’re really confident that it will run effectively like it does in a range of other regional areas across the country.

    EDDIE WILLIAMS: When will that open?

    KRISTY MCBAIN: It will go through that independent process which is being commissioned at this point in time, and I don’t have an exact date on when that’s due to finish. But as soon as I’ve got some more info, I will be out there sharing it with the community.

    EDDIE WILLIAMS: And the way that will work, the way that relationship and provider comes about, is that something that will be ongoing into the long term, or a sort of year-to-year contract? How do you expect that to look?

    KRISTY MCBAIN: Yeah, well the contracts are negotiated and dealt with through the Primary Health Network. It’s run at arm’s length from the federal government because we’ve got Primary Health Networks that cover every corner of Australia, and they do their job in making sure that we’ve got providers that can work within the community, and the Urgent Care Clinics are staffed effectively for our communities.

    EDDIE WILLIAMS: Kristy McBain, I appreciate your time this morning. Thank you.

    KRISTY MCBAIN: Great to be with you.

    EDDIE WILLIAMS: The Member for Eden-Monaro, Minister for Local Government and Emergency Management, Kristy McBain.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 27 July 2025 News release Malnutrition rates reach alarming levels in Gaza, WHO warns

    Source: World Health Organisation

    Malnutrition is on a dangerous trajectory in the Gaza Strip, marked by a spike in deaths in July.

    Of 74 malnutrition-related deaths in 2025, 63 occurred in July – including 24 children under five, a child over five, and 38 adults. Most of these people were declared dead on arrival at health facilities or died shortly after, their bodies showing clear signs of severe wasting.

    The crisis remains entirely preventable. Deliberate blocking and delay of large-scale food, health, and humanitarian aid has cost many lives.

    Nearly one in five children under five in Gaza City is now acutely malnourished, as reported by Nutrition Cluster partners. Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM), which measures the percentage of children aged 6–59 months suffering from acute malnutrition, has tripled since June, making it the worst-hit area in the Gaza Strip. In Khan Younis and the Middle Area, rates have doubled in less than one month. These figures are likely an underestimation due to the severe access and security constraints preventing many families from reaching health facilities.

    So far in July, over 5000 children under five have already been admitted for outpatient treatment of malnutrition in just the first two weeks, 18% of them with Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM), the most life-threatening form. This continues a significant rising trend since May, with 6500 children admitted for treatment in June, which is the highest number recorded since October 2023.

    An additional 73 children with SAM and medical complications were hospitalized in July, compared to 39 in June, bringing total inpatient admissions in 2025 to 263. This surge in cases is overwhelming the only four specialized malnutrition treatment centres in the Gaza Strip, pushing an already fragile health system closer to collapse. All four centres are working beyond capacity, running low on fuel, with their supplies expected to run out by mid-next month. Health workers are exhausted, and the breakdown of water and sanitation systems is accelerating the spread of disease, driving a dangerous cycle of illness and death.

    The crisis is taking a severe toll on pregnant and breastfeeding women. Recent Nutrition Cluster screening data shows that over 40% are severely malnourished. The situation is most critical in the Middle Area, where rates have tripled compared to June, and in Gaza City and Khan Younis, where they have doubled.

    It is not only hunger that is killing people, but also the desperate search for food. Families are being forced to risk their lives for a handful of food, often under dangerous and chaotic conditions. Since 27 May, more than 1060 people have been killed and 7200 injured while trying to access food. 

    WHO calls for urgent, sustained efforts to flood the Gaza Strip with diverse, nutritious food, and to expedite the delivery of therapeutic supplies for children and vulnerable groups, as well as essential medicines and supplies. This flow must remain consistent and unhindered to support recovery and prevent further deterioration. WHO reiterates its call for the protection of civilians and health. WHO also calls for the release of our detained colleague, the release of hostages, and for an immediate ceasefire. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Fatal accident at QMH site probed

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The Hospital Authority (HA) has expressed concern over a fatal accident today on a construction site at Queen Mary Hospital (QMH), where the Architectural Services Department (ArchSD) is carrying out redevelopment works.

     

    This afternoon, a worker employed by a lift engineering subcontractor was trapped in one of the lift shafts. Site management staff immediately called the Fire Services Department to rescue the worker, who was subsequently certified dead upon arrival at QMH’s accident and emergency department.

     

    After receiving a report of the accident, the Labour Department immediately deployed staff to the site and is now conducting an investigation.

     

    Expressing deep sorrow over the incident, the HA extended its sincere condolences to the deceased worker’s family. It also directed the ArchSD to ensure that the contractor involved provides appropriate assistance to the bereaved and supports them in handling the worker’s after-death arrangements.

     

    The HA said site staff from the ArchSD immediately contacted the contractor after the accident to follow the matter up. The contractor has been urged to take the incident seriously and to adopt all necessary measures as soon as possible to ensure site safety. The contractor has also been requested to thoroughly investigate the cause of the incident and submit a report to the ArchSD and the HA, with a view to preventing similar accidents from happening again.

     

    The HA added that it will urge the ArchSD and the contractor to fully co-operate with the Labour Department and enforcement agencies in their investigations.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Hospital Authority’s statement regarding an industrial accident at Queen Mary Hospital redevelopment project construction site

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Hospital Authority’s statement regarding an industrial accident at Queen Mary Hospital redevelopment project construction site 
    The redevelopment project of QMH is being carried out by the Architectural Services Department (ArchSD). This afternoon, the HA was notified by the ArchSD that a worker employed by a lift engineering subcontractor was trapped in one of the lift shafts during work. The site management of the contractor immediately called Fire Services Department to rescue the worker, who was then sent to the Accident and Emergency Department of QMH for emergency treatment. The worker was certified dead upon arrival at the Accident and Emergency Department.
     
    The HA expresses deep sorrow over this incident and extends its sincere condolences to the deceased worker’s family. The HA has directed the ArchSD to ensure that the contractor provides appropriate assistance to the family and supports them in handling the family member’s after-death arrangements.
     
    The HA is very concerned about the incident. Since the lifts involved in the project have not yet undergone all required works and adjustments, and have not been handed over for use and management by QMH. The HA is aware that site staff from the ArchSD immediately contacted and followed up with the contractor after the accident. The contractor has been urged to take the incident seriously and to adopt all necessary measures as soon as possible to ensure site safety. The contractor has also been requested to thoroughly investigate the cause of the incident and to submit a report to the ArchSD and the HA as soon as possible to prevent similar accidents from happening again.
     
    The HA has always placed paramount importance on industrial safety at hospital construction sites. The HA notes that the contractor will report this incident to the Labour Department, and the HA will also urge the ArchSD and the contractor to fully co-operation with the Labour Department and other relevant enforcement agencies in their investigation.
    Issued at HKT 22:41

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • Vaccines prevented over 2.5 million COVID deaths worldwide: Study

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Vaccines have prevented more than 2.5 million deaths caused by SARS-CoV-2, the virus behind COVID-19, according to a new study.

    Led by researchers from the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Italy, the study found that one COVID-related death was avoided for every 5,400 vaccine doses administered.

    About 82% of the lives saved involved people who were vaccinated before contracting the virus. Additionally, 57% of the total lives saved were during the Omicron period, and 90% of the deaths prevented were among individuals aged 60 and above.

    Overall, the study estimated that vaccines saved 14.8 million years of life globally—equivalent to one year of life saved for every 900 doses administered. The findings were published in the JAMA Health Forum journal.

    “Previous studies attempted to estimate lives saved by vaccines using different models, timeframes, or regional data,” said Dr. Angelo Maria Pezzullo and Dr. Antonio Cristiano. “However, this study is the most comprehensive to date. It uses global data, includes the Omicron period, quantifies life years saved, and is based on fewer assumptions regarding pandemic trends.”

    For the analysis, researchers examined global population data and applied a series of statistical models to determine who became ill with COVID-19—either before or after vaccination—and during or after the Omicron period, including age and mortality outcomes.

    “We compared this data with modeled estimates assuming no COVID vaccination. This allowed us to calculate how many people were saved and the number of life years gained due to vaccination,” explained Dr. Pezzullo.

    The study also revealed that 76% of the saved life years were among people over 60. However, residents of long-term care facilities accounted for only 2% of the total benefit.

    Children and adolescents accounted for just 0.01% of lives saved and 0.1% of life years saved. Similarly, young adults aged 20–29 contributed 0.07% of lives saved and 0.3% of life years saved, the researchers noted.

    —IANS

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: How do politicians view democracy? It depends on whether they win or lose

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Valere Gaspard, Research Fellow, Leadership and Democracy Lab, Western University

    There is a heightened concern about the current state of democracy around the globe. These include worries about a decrease in freedom, the growing number of autocracies around the world and citizens’ dissatisfaction with democracy or government.

    A 2022 survey of Canadians found that one-third have little to no trust in democracy and close to half don’t feel represented by government. These concerns aren’t unique to Canada.

    A lot of public opinion research on views about democracy focuses on citizens. Surely this is understandable, since they are the ones choosing who is in power in a democratic state.

    But what do the people in power or those running for office think about democracy? Surprisingly, for all the attention we place on politicians, we don’t know much about how they regard the democratic systems they operate in.

    Why it matters

    Why should we care about what politicians think about democracy? Because politicians can influence the views of citizens, and if they’re elected, they can affect or change democratic processes from within major institutions like legislatures.

    Therefore, to understand the contemporary health of democracies across the globe, we need to factor in politicians’ satisfaction with the way democracy works.

    While there are growing concerns about the current state of democracy around the globe, new open-access research I’ve conducted has hopeful findings, at least from the perspective of politicians. The analysis covers 49 elections in 21 countries — including Canada — from 2005 to 2021.

    The results show that politicians’ democratic satisfaction in a country will be higher when:

    • Elections in their country have high electoral integrity; in other words, when elections are free and fair
    • Electoral management bodies have sufficient resources to administer elections.

    This is good news from the perspective of maintaining a healthy democracy, since the people seeking the power of elected office are more satisfied when their democratic system is working well.

    But these findings become convoluted once we consider some attributes of politicians. Specifically, politicians’ democratic satisfaction begins to vary once we consider:

    • Whether their political party formed the government (winner) or is not part of government (loser)
    • Whether they identify with the ideological left or right.

    Winning and losing

    Nobody likes to lose, so it’s natural that a winner will be more satisfied with democracy.

    Although, the view that may be surprising — or troubling — is the extent to which politicians who won tolerate low electoral integrity, at least in terms of their democratic satisfaction.

    As illustrated above, when electoral integrity is low in a country, politicians who lose will be much less satisfied with democracy than winners. When electoral integrity is high, there is no noticeable difference between politicians that won or lost.

    The difference between winners’ and losers’ democratic satisfaction is problematic, but what is most troubling is that winners’ satisfaction with democracy does not significantly change across different levels of electoral integrity.

    When it comes to citizens, previous research has shown that when electoral integrity is low, democratic satisfaction among citizens will also be low, regardless of whether their preferred politician or political party won or lost.

    Politicians therefore differ from their citizen counterpart — those who won are much more tolerant of lower electoral integrity (at least in terms of their democratic satisfaction).

    In a stable democracy with free and fair elections, this might not matter much. However, if a country begins to experience democratic decline, then these attitudes could become detrimental.

    If politicians who win are not concerned with low electoral integrity, then they might lack the incentive needed to make necessary changes to electoral processes. Those concerned about electoral processes in these kinds of circumstances may therefore need to find alternative routes or incentives to encourage change.

    Left-to-right political ideology

    While the contrast between winners and losers may be discouraging, there are more similarities between those on the ideological left and right. Electoral management bodies having sufficient resources to administer elections matters to both leftist and rightist politicians in terms of their democratic satisfaction.

    However, as shown above, having sufficient resources to administer elections matters more to politicians on the ideological right. This may surprise some readers given past claims that right-leaning groups or people might advocate for more restrictive voting processes and laws.

    For those concerned with democratic stability, it’s promising to note that politicians across the ideological spectrum will generally be more satisfied with democracy when there are more resources to administer elections.



    Read more:
    Two of the US’s biggest newspapers have refused to endorse a presidential candidate. This is how democracy dies

    Overall, politicians on average tend to be more satisfied with democracy when it is working well — specifically, when elections are free and fair, and when electoral management bodies have the capacity to administer well-run elections. This is good news given concerns surrounding the current global state of democracy.

    However, policymakers and practitioners in Canada and abroad focusing on democratic stability and elections should take note of these findings. The attitudes of politicians in democratic countries may not be concerning when everything is working as intended, but if democratic processes begin to weaken or fail, the indifference of winners towards electoral integrity could be troublesome.

    At this moment of heightened concern about the current state of democracy around the globe, researchers and practitioners alike need to better understand the attitudes and motivations of the people who lead our systems of government.

    Valere Gaspard is a PhD candidate at the University of Ottawa and a Research Fellow at Western University and Trent University’s Leadership and Democracy Lab. His research is supported in part by funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (CGS Doctoral award). His views do not reflect those of any employer(s).

    – ref. How do politicians view democracy? It depends on whether they win or lose – https://theconversation.com/how-do-politicians-view-democracy-it-depends-on-whether-they-win-or-lose-261647

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Call for witnesses – Assault – Tennant Creek

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    The Northern Territory Police Force are calling for information in relation to an alleged assault that occurred in Tennant Creek early this morning.

    Around 1am, emergency services received reports that a woman, aged in her 40’s, was allegedly physically assaulted in the vicinity of Maloney Street by and unknown man, who then also attempted to indecently assault her.

    The woman received minor injuries and was conveyed to the Tennant Creek Hospital for assessment.

    Investigators have canvassed all available CCTV and are now requesting the publics assistance.

    Police are urging anyone who was in the vicinity of Maloney Street around 1am on Sunday 27 July 2025, or who has information about this matter to contact 131 444 and quote reference NTP2500075470.

    Anonymous reports can also be made through CrimeStoppers on 1800 333 000.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Sierra Leone’s President Bio Honoured at Liberia Independence Celebrations, as he Delivers Inspiring Keynote on Shared History and Regional Unity

    Source: APO – Report:

    .

    His Excellency Dr. Julius Maada Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone and Chairperson of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, has been honoured with a plaque of recognition by the Government of Liberia in appreciation of Sierra Leone’s critical contribution to the peacekeeping efforts that helped restore stability during Liberia’s civil conflict.

    The presentation took place during the celebration of Liberia’s 178th Independence Anniversary at the Centennial Memorial Pavilion in Monrovia. The commemorative plaque acknowledged the sacrifices of Sierra Leonean men and women, both in and out of uniform, who served through the ECOWAS Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) during Liberia’s most difficult years.

    In a powerful keynote address themed “One People, One Destiny: Healing the Past, Building the Future,” President Bio reflected on his own role as a young officer in the Sierra Leone Armed Forces deployed to Liberia with ECOMOG. “I once stood on this sacred soil not as a visitor, but as a peacemaker,” he said. “I remember walking the streets of White Plains, Gardnersville, and Monrovia Freeport during a time of great hardship. Even then, I could sense the deep endurance of the Liberian people.”

    President Bio described the recognition as a deeply personal and humbling moment. “To be honoured on this day is not just a diplomatic courtesy, it is a homecoming. We receive this honour with pride and renewed commitment to regional unity, democratic stability, and shared peace.”

    Also addressing the gathering, Liberia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Mme. Sara Beysolow Nyanti, expressed profound gratitude to all ECOMOG troop-contributing countries, singling out President Bio for his personal role during the conflict. “You stood with us in our most difficult time,” she said. “The true legacy of ECOMOG is not only found on the battlefield or in treaties signed, but in the peace we enjoy today.”

    The celebration brought together Heads of State and representatives from across the region, including President Joseph Nyuma Boakai of Liberia, President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana, President Umaro Sissoco Embaló of Guinea-Bissau, and President Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal.

    President Bio emphasized the deep cultural and historical ties between Sierra Leone and Liberia, calling the two nations “twin souls” bound by shared rivers, languages, and struggles. “When Liberia trembled under the weight of war, Sierra Leone felt the tremors too. And when we cried out in our own agony, you mourned with us. This is not coincidence. This is kinship,” he declared.

    In his capacity as ECOWAS Chair, President Bio also used the moment to outline key regional priorities, including revitalizing regional security cooperation, strengthening democracy, unlocking economic integration, and building institutional credibility. “Let us align our goals in trade, education, and security and let the Mano River Union become a living promise of solidarity. Let our borders bind, not divide.”

    He called on West African nations to recommit to regional cooperation not only in times of crisis but as a daily practice of development and peacebuilding. “Our youth are crossing borders in search of opportunity. Let us build systems that allow them to do so safely, legally, and with dignity,” he urged.

    President Bio concluded his keynote with a heartfelt tribute to the people of Liberia. “Thank you for reminding the world that peace is not only possible. it is powerful. May God bless the Republic of Liberia, may God bless the Republic of Sierra Leone, and may God bless the deep, enduring friendship that binds us.”

    President Bio arrived in Monrovia by road this morning and is scheduled to return to Sierra Leone later today via the same route.

    – on behalf of State House Sierra Leone.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Long-COVID, viruses and ‘zombie’ cells: new research looks for links to chronic fatigue and brain fog

    Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Burtram C. Fielding, Dean Faculty of Sciences and Professor in the Department of Microbiology, Stellenbosch University

    Millions of people who recover from infections like COVID-19, influenza and glandular fever are affected by long-lasting symptoms. These include chronic fatigue, brain fog, exercise intolerance, dizziness, muscle or joint pain and gut problems. And many of these symptoms worsen after exercise, a phenomenon known as post-exertional malaise.

    Medically the symptoms are known as myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). The World Health Organization classifies this as a post viral fatigue syndrome, and it is recognised by both the WHO and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a brain disorder.

    Experiencing illness long after contracting an infection is not new, as patients have reported these symptoms for decades. But COVID-19 has amplified the problem worldwide. Nearly half of people with ongoing post-COVID symptoms – a condition known as long-COVID – now meet the criteria for ME/CFS. Since the start of the pandemic in 2020, it is estimated that more than 400 million people have developed long-COVID.

    To date, no widely accepted and testable mechanism has fully explained the biological processes underlying long-COVID and ME/CFS. Our work offers a new perspective that may help close this gap.

    Our research group studies blood and the cardiovascular system in inflammatory diseases, as well as post-viral conditions. We focus on coagulation, inflammation and endothelial cells. Endothelial cells make up the inner layer of blood vessels and serve many important functions, like regulating blood clotting, blood vessel dilation and constriction, and inflammation.

    Our latest review aims to explain how ME/CFS and long-COVID start and progress, and how symptoms show up in the body and its systems. By pinpointing and explaining the underlying disease mechanisms, we can pave the way for better clinical tools to diagnose and treat people living with ME/CFS and long-COVID.

    What is endothelial senescence?

    In our review, our international team proposes that certain viruses drive endothelial cells into a half-alive, “zombie-like” state called cellular senescence. Senescent endothelial cells stop dividing, but continue to release molecules that awaken and confuse the immune system. This prompts the blood to form clots and, at the same time, prevent clot breakdown, which could lead to the constriction of blood vessels and limited blood flow.

    By placing “zombie” blood-vessel cells at the centre of these post-viral diseases, our hypothesis weaves together microclots, oxygen debt (the extra oxygen your body needs after strenuous exercise to restore balance), brain-fog, dizziness, gut leakiness (a digestive condition where the intestinal lining allows toxins into the bloodstream) and immune dysfunction into a single, testable narrative.

    From acute viral infection to ‘zombie’ vessels

    Viruses like SARS-CoV-2, Epstein–Barr virus, HHV-6, influenza A, and enteroviruses (a group of viruses that cause a number of infectious illnesses which are usually mild) can all infect endothelial cells. They enable a direct attack on the cells that line the inside of blood vessels. Some of these viruses have been shown to trigger endothelial senescence.

    Multiple studies show that SARS-CoV-2 (the virus which causes COVID-19 disease) has the ability to induce senescence in a variety of cell types, including endothelial cells. Viral proteins from SARS-CoV-2, for example, sabotage DNA-repair pathways and push the host cell towards a senescent state, while senescent cells in turn become even more susceptible to viral entry. This reciprocity helps explain why different pathogens can result in the same chronic illness. Influenza A, too, has shown the ability to drive endothelial cells into a senescent, zombie-like state.

    What we think is happening

    We propose that when blood-vessel cells turn into “zombies”, they pump out substances that make blood thicker and prone to forming tiny clots. These clots slow down circulation, so less oxygen reaches muscles and organs. This is one reason people feel drained.

    During exercise, the problem worsens. Instead of the vessels relaxing to allow adequate bloodflow, they tighten further. This means that muscles are starved of oxygen and patients experience a crash the day after exercise. In the brain, the same faulty cells let blood flow drop and leak, bringing on brain fog and dizziness.

    In the gut, they weaken the lining, allowing bits of bacteria to slip into the bloodstream and trigger more inflammation. Because blood vessels reach every corner of the body, even scattered patches of these “zombie” cells found in the blood vessels can create the mix of symptoms seen in long-COVID and ME/CFS.

    Immune exhaustion locks in the damage

    Some parts of the immune system kill senescent cells. They are natural-killer cells, macrophages and complement proteins, which are immune molecules capable of tagging and killing pathogens. But long-COVID and ME/CFS frequently have impaired natural-killer cell function, sluggish macrophages and complement dysfunction.

    Senescent endothelial cells may also send out a chemical signal to repel immune attack. So the “zombie cells” actively evade the immune system. This creates a self-sustaining loop of vascular and immune dysfunction, where senescent endothelial cells persist.

    In a healthy person with an optimally functioning immune system, these senescent endothelial cells will normally be cleared. But there is significant immune dysfunction in ME/CFS and long-COVID, and this may enable the “zombie cells” to survive and the disease to progress.

    Where the research goes next

    There is a registered clinical trial in the US that is investigating senescence in long-COVID. Our consortium is testing new ways to spot signs of ageing in the cells that line our blood vessels. First, we expose healthy endothelial cells in the lab to blood from patients to see whether it pushes the cells into a senescent, or “zombie,” state.

    At the same time, we are trialling non‑invasive imaging and fluorescent probes that could one day reveal these ageing cells inside the body. In selected cases, tissue biopsies may later confirm what the scans show. Together, these approaches aim to pinpoint how substances circulating in the blood drive cellular ageing and how that, in turn, fuels disease.

    Our aim is simple: find these ageing endothelial cells in real patients. Pinpointing them will inform the next round of clinical trials and open the door to therapies that target senescent cells directly, offering a route to healthier blood vessels and, ultimately, lighter disease loads.

    – Long-COVID, viruses and ‘zombie’ cells: new research looks for links to chronic fatigue and brain fog
    – https://theconversation.com/long-covid-viruses-and-zombie-cells-new-research-looks-for-links-to-chronic-fatigue-and-brain-fog-261108

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Long-COVID, viruses and ‘zombie’ cells: new research looks for links to chronic fatigue and brain fog

    Source: The Conversation – Africa (2) – By Burtram C. Fielding, Dean Faculty of Sciences and Professor in the Department of Microbiology, Stellenbosch University

    Millions of people who recover from infections like COVID-19, influenza and glandular fever are affected by long-lasting symptoms. These include chronic fatigue, brain fog, exercise intolerance, dizziness, muscle or joint pain and gut problems. And many of these symptoms worsen after exercise, a phenomenon known as post-exertional malaise.

    Medically the symptoms are known as myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). The World Health Organization classifies this as a post viral fatigue syndrome, and it is recognised by both the WHO and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a brain disorder.

    Experiencing illness long after contracting an infection is not new, as patients have reported these symptoms for decades. But COVID-19 has amplified the problem worldwide. Nearly half of people with ongoing post-COVID symptoms – a condition known as long-COVID – now meet the criteria for ME/CFS. Since the start of the pandemic in 2020, it is estimated that more than 400 million people have developed long-COVID.

    To date, no widely accepted and testable mechanism has fully explained the biological processes underlying long-COVID and ME/CFS. Our work offers a new perspective that may help close this gap.

    Our research group studies blood and the cardiovascular system in inflammatory diseases, as well as post-viral conditions. We focus on coagulation, inflammation and endothelial cells. Endothelial cells make up the inner layer of blood vessels and serve many important functions, like regulating blood clotting, blood vessel dilation and constriction, and inflammation.

    Our latest review aims to explain how ME/CFS and long-COVID start and progress, and how symptoms show up in the body and its systems. By pinpointing and explaining the underlying disease mechanisms, we can pave the way for better clinical tools to diagnose and treat people living with ME/CFS and long-COVID.

    What is endothelial senescence?

    In our review, our international team proposes that certain viruses drive endothelial cells into a half-alive, “zombie-like” state called cellular senescence. Senescent endothelial cells stop dividing, but continue to release molecules that awaken and confuse the immune system. This prompts the blood to form clots and, at the same time, prevent clot breakdown, which could lead to the constriction of blood vessels and limited blood flow.

    By placing “zombie” blood-vessel cells at the centre of these post-viral diseases, our hypothesis weaves together microclots, oxygen debt (the extra oxygen your body needs after strenuous exercise to restore balance), brain-fog, dizziness, gut leakiness (a digestive condition where the intestinal lining allows toxins into the bloodstream) and immune dysfunction into a single, testable narrative.

    From acute viral infection to ‘zombie’ vessels

    Viruses like SARS-CoV-2, Epstein–Barr virus, HHV-6, influenza A, and enteroviruses (a group of viruses that cause a number of infectious illnesses which are usually mild) can all infect endothelial cells. They enable a direct attack on the cells that line the inside of blood vessels. Some of these viruses have been shown to trigger endothelial senescence.

    Multiple studies show that SARS-CoV-2 (the virus which causes COVID-19 disease) has the ability to induce senescence in a variety of cell types, including endothelial cells. Viral proteins from SARS-CoV-2, for example, sabotage DNA-repair pathways and push the host cell towards a senescent state, while senescent cells in turn become even more susceptible to viral entry. This reciprocity helps explain why different pathogens can result in the same chronic illness. Influenza A, too, has shown the ability to drive endothelial cells into a senescent, zombie-like state.

    What we think is happening

    We propose that when blood-vessel cells turn into “zombies”, they pump out substances that make blood thicker and prone to forming tiny clots. These clots slow down circulation, so less oxygen reaches muscles and organs. This is one reason people feel drained.

    During exercise, the problem worsens. Instead of the vessels relaxing to allow adequate bloodflow, they tighten further. This means that muscles are starved of oxygen and patients experience a crash the day after exercise. In the brain, the same faulty cells let blood flow drop and leak, bringing on brain fog and dizziness.

    In the gut, they weaken the lining, allowing bits of bacteria to slip into the bloodstream and trigger more inflammation. Because blood vessels reach every corner of the body, even scattered patches of these “zombie” cells found in the blood vessels can create the mix of symptoms seen in long-COVID and ME/CFS.

    Immune exhaustion locks in the damage

    Some parts of the immune system kill senescent cells. They are natural-killer cells, macrophages and complement proteins, which are immune molecules capable of tagging and killing pathogens. But long-COVID and ME/CFS frequently have impaired natural-killer cell function, sluggish macrophages and complement dysfunction.

    Senescent endothelial cells may also send out a chemical signal to repel immune attack. So the “zombie cells” actively evade the immune system. This creates a self-sustaining loop of vascular and immune dysfunction, where senescent endothelial cells persist.

    In a healthy person with an optimally functioning immune system, these senescent endothelial cells will normally be cleared. But there is significant immune dysfunction in ME/CFS and long-COVID, and this may enable the “zombie cells” to survive and the disease to progress.

    Where the research goes next

    There is a registered clinical trial in the US that is investigating senescence in long-COVID. Our consortium is testing new ways to spot signs of ageing in the cells that line our blood vessels. First, we expose healthy endothelial cells in the lab to blood from patients to see whether it pushes the cells into a senescent, or “zombie,” state.

    At the same time, we are trialling non‑invasive imaging and fluorescent probes that could one day reveal these ageing cells inside the body. In selected cases, tissue biopsies may later confirm what the scans show. Together, these approaches aim to pinpoint how substances circulating in the blood drive cellular ageing and how that, in turn, fuels disease.

    Our aim is simple: find these ageing endothelial cells in real patients. Pinpointing them will inform the next round of clinical trials and open the door to therapies that target senescent cells directly, offering a route to healthier blood vessels and, ultimately, lighter disease loads.

    Burtram C. Fielding works for Stellenbosch University. He has received funding from the National Research Foundation, South Africa and the Technology Innovation Agency.

    Resia Pretorius is a Distinguished Research Professor at Stellenbosch University and receives funding from Balvi Research Foundation and Kanro Research Foundation. She is also affiliated with University of Liverpool as a Honorary Professor. Resia is a founding director of the Stellenbosch University start-up company, Biocode Technologies and has various patents related to microclot formation in Long COVID.

    Massimo Nunes receives funding from Kanro Research Foundation.

    – ref. Long-COVID, viruses and ‘zombie’ cells: new research looks for links to chronic fatigue and brain fog – https://theconversation.com/long-covid-viruses-and-zombie-cells-new-research-looks-for-links-to-chronic-fatigue-and-brain-fog-261108

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CE attends district forum

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Chief Executive John Lee today led 21 principal officials in attending the 2025 Policy Address District Forum to gather views and suggestions form members of the community ahead of the current-term Government’s fourth Policy Address.

     

    Held at Ma Tau Chung Government Primary School (Hung Hom Bay), the forum was attended by about 120 people from different backgrounds.

     

    The two-hour forum consisted of two sessions. In the first, the Chief Executive and principal officials listened to the views of members of the public. Matters raised straddled land and housing; transport; innovation and technology; financial services; culture and sports; education; youth issues, poverty alleviation; healthcare; and social welfare.

     

    In the second session, community participants, divided into four groups, focused on “pursuing development and economic growth” and “improving people’s livelihood and building our future together” as they engaged in extensive exchanges with the Chief Executive and the officials. Mr Lee also held discussions in turn with each of the groups and listened to their views.

     

    He said: “There are issues that members of the public care deeply about, so I attach great importance to district consultations.

     

    “These views will let me have a better grasp on formulating policies and allocation of resources when I prepare the Policy Address.”

     

    Principal Officials attending today’s event included Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki; Financial Secretary Paul Chan; Secretary for Justice Paul Lam; Deputy Chief Secretary Cheuk Wing-hing; Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong; Deputy Secretary for Justice Cheung Kwok-kwan; Secretary for Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang; Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Christopher Hui; Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung; Secretary for Environment & Ecology Tse Chin-wan; Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Algernon Yau; Secretary for Health Prof Lo Chung-mau; Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn; Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho; Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung; Secretary for Innovation, Technology & Industry Prof Sun Dong; Secretary for Home & Youth Affairs Alice Mak; Secretary for Labour & Welfare Chris Sun; Secretary for Transport & Logistics Mable Chan; Secretary for Culture, Sports & Tourism Rosanna Law; and Acting Secretary for Education Sze Chun-fai.

     

    The Government said it will continue to gather input from a wide variety of organisations and individuals over the coming month through consultation sessions and district visits. Members of the public can also give their views via the Policy Address website, social media platforms, hotlines, email, fax and post.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: UPDATE: Charges – Recklessly endanger life – Darwin

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    The Northern Territory Police Force have charged a youth after a serious assault at the Royal Darwin Show overnight.

    Around 8:20pm, police received reports that a 15-year-old male had assaulted another 15-year-old male with a knife at the showgrounds after an altercation.

    Police and St John Ambulance attended, and the victim was conveyed to Royal Darwin Hospital where he currently remains in a stable condition.

    The alleged offender fled the scene, with police arresting him a short time later at a residence in Palmerston.

    He has now been charged with Recklessly endanger life and Possess, carry, use a controlled weapon.

    The 15-year-old remains in custody awaiting a bail review.

    Police are still urging anyone with information to make contact on 131 444 and quote reference P25199834.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: District governance: New approach to tackling air conditioner leaks

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Troubleshooting is key to uncovering the hidden culprit behind dripping air conditioners.

    In the scorching summer, people turn on their air conditioner for comfort. But if they are not maintained properly, this can lead to environmental problems such as dripping water, especially during the evening when most people are home. This not only causes noise but also poses potential health risks.

    Investigation-enhancing tool

    The Food & Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has recently introduced new technology using cameras with infrared night-vision function to assist teams in tracking down the source of the dripping during nighttime.

    Food & Environmental Hygiene Department Health Inspector Tam Yee-wan describes the challenges inspectors face during nighttime investigations:

    “When our team conduct investigations during the night, sometimes we face difficulties due to insufficient lighting or air conditioners being blocked by clothes drying racks. Our new series of infrared night-vision cameras can clearly capture the source of dripping water from high-rise buildings in dark environments, significantly improving the efficiency of nighttime investigations.”

    Currently, the FEHD has equipped all its 19 district offices with these devices, capable of detecting the source of dripping water up to 20 floors high. The newly introduced second-generation device can observe such problems up to 40 floors high.

    Widespread problem

    According to the data from the FEHD, complaints about dripping air conditioners have been on the rise in recent years, increasing from approximately 31,000 cases in 2023 to about 34,000 last year, especially in old urban districts like Sham Shui Po and Yau Tsim Mong.

    Yau Tsim Mong District Councillor Ann Au stated that such areas face significant challenges due to ageing buildings and facilities. As there is no communal drainage system for many of these old buildings, wastewater from the air conditioners drips directly onto the streets below, which not only affects environmental hygiene but also causes nuisances to citizens.

    City-wide operation

     

    To step up the FEHD’s efforts to address this environmental issue, it has conducted a city-wide operation from May to September.

    Assistant Director of Food & Environmental Hygiene (Operations) Wan Chi-shun shared more information on how the operation works.

    “We have adopted a multipronged approach, including publicity and education as well as law enforcement. We have also selected 30 black spots of dripping air conditioners in various districts which are affecting citizens who queue up for buses on the streets. Our staff will conduct enforcement actions at these black spots at least once a week at different times of the day.”

    He highlighted that such stringent enforcement will be maintained throughout the summer and extra manpower will be deployed to support areas with more black spots.

    As of mid-July, the FEHD has issued about 700 nuisance notices in this targeted operation.

    Public education

    In addition to law enforcement, public education is also important. As such, the FEHD actively collaborates with the Home Affairs Department and district councillors to enhance awareness about the matter through community networks.

    Yau Tsim Mong District Councillor Chung Chak-fai stressed that the district council is willing to serve as a bridge, co-ordinating residents, community organisations and the FEHD in tackling the issue.

    Industry participation

    For private housing estates, the FEHD has been working with property management agents, inviting them to participate in a scheme to assist in handling such complaints. If the property management agents cannot resolve the complaints, the FEHD will intervene by taking up the case for follow-up action.

    An average of more than 80 property management agents and over 200 private housing estates participate in the scheme each year. The scheme has successfully handled over 4,000 related complaints in five years.

    Property Management Services Authority Chairperson James Wong encourages the industry to actively participate in the scheme as there are clear advantages to having property management agents follow up on these key issues.

    “As property management agents thoroughly understand residential facilities, they can identify the issues quickly. Plus, their familiarity with the residents can enhance communication and reduce conflicts.”

    Preventive measures

    Mr Wong also pointed out that the property management agents should proactively conduct inspections, post notices and promote regular maintenance to prevent leaking air conditioners.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 26 July 2025 Departmental update WHO expands guidance on sexually transmitted infections and reviews country progress on policy implementation

    Source: World Health Organisation

    WHO has released new sexually transmitted infections (STIs) guidance and policy implementation data, ahead of the STI & HIV 2025 World Congress in Montreal, 26–30 July 2025.

    The 2 new components of the upcoming consolidated guidelines on STI prevention and care include the Guidelines for the management of asymptomatic STIs, and the Recommendations on the delivery of health services for STI prevention and care.

    These evidence-based guidelines aim to strengthen STI prevention, screening, diagnosis and treatment, especially in high-burden, resource-limited settings. They complement existing guidance covering syndromic management, management of specific STIs: such as gonorrhoea, chlamydia, syphilis, trichomoniasis, genital candidiasis, Mycoplasma genitalium, human papillomavirus (anogenital warts) and bacterial vaginosis, syphilis testing, partner services. 

    Key new recommendations include targeted screening for gonorrhoea and chlamydia in high-prevalence settings with available resources, focusing on pregnant women, adolescents and young people aged 10–24, sex workers and men who have sex with men (MSM). 

    Screening should align with individual risk and resource considerations, with at least annual or 6-monthly screening recommended for sex workers and MSM. 

    Service delivery improvements include decentralizing and integrating STI services, task sharing with trained providers and community health workers, and leveraging digital tools to complement in-person care.

    Together with existing guidance, these new components will form part of the forthcoming WHO consolidated guidelines on STI prevention and care. 

    “These new recommendations aim to close persistent policy and service gaps, especially for asymptomatic STIs, and help countries move faster toward the 2030 goals,” said Dr Meg Doherty, Director of WHO’s Global HIV, Hepatitis and STIs Programmes.

    WHO reports mixed progress on adopting and implementing WHO policy in countries

    As part of its continued efforts to strengthen global STI responses, WHO has released new data highlighting both progress and persistent challenges in national policy implementation. 

    Among countries reporting to Global AIDS Monitoring in 2024–2025, 89% have a national STI strategy or action plan in place – yet only 43% have updated it since 2023. Similarly, while 97% of countries report having national case management guidelines, only half of them have revised them since 2020. 

    Gonococcal resistance monitoring remains limited, with just 37% of countries conducting routine surveillance. Encouragingly, 95 countries have integrated dual HIV/syphilis rapid tests into their national policy – nearly half of these countries adopted them for both pregnant women and key populations. 

    National plans to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis are in place in 72% of reporting countries. As of 1 July 2025, 147 Member States (76%) have included human papillomaviruses (HPV) vaccine – critical to preventing cervical cancer – in their national immunization schedule, and 2 countries have reported partial introduction of the vaccine. 

    These findings underscore the urgent need to accelerate updates to national policies, expand surveillance, and close implementation gaps. STIs remain prevalent and continue to present a major burden of morbidity and mortality. To reduce STIs and prevent complications, the provision of quality STI prevention and care services is essential. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Four people, including three children, died in a fire in a gardening association near Yekaterinburg

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    Moscow, July 26 /Xinhua/ — Four people died in a fire in one of the houses in a gardening non-profit partnership (SNT) in the village of Gorny Shchit near Yekaterinburg last night. Among the dead were three minors, TASS reported, citing the Ministry of Health of the Sverdlovsk Region of Russia.

    According to the report, the fire occurred at 02:58 on Saturday in the village of Gorny Shchit, in the gardening non-profit partnership “Rassvet 1”. As a result of the fire, four people died at the scene, eight people, including six children, were injured. One six-year-old child was hospitalized in serious condition with thermal burns on 60 percent of the body.

    The open fire was extinguished on an area of 48 square meters. According to preliminary data, the cause of the tragedy was an emergency mode of operation of the electrical wiring. –0–

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –